ffffingloud

I love how some people on here think the disbelief in the Devils winning this year (and by so much with so high a score) equates to a hatred of the Blue Devils. I love the Devils-- especially their music. Or at least I did in the past. I think they have the majority of the corps music in my iPod. And as for shows, I liked the My Spanish Heart show, the Bernard Herrmann show, Awayaday Blue, Tommy, Adventures in Time (with Bela and Bird), etc. And I even liked the music in 2003 (what a great sounding hornline!). But their drill that year was ... meh. It just seems that ever since 2003, the Devils have moved more and more toward fragmented melodic statements and drill that doesn't seem to flow well with the music. I think the last Devils show I have in my iPod is "SummerTrain blues". As for Winged Victory... I couldn't describe that show if my life depended on it, and I can't remember a melodic line from it at all. And as for last years... I honestly don't even remember a name or theme. And unfortunately 1930 won't be going in my iPod either at this point.

Well, I guess all we can hope for now is that BD pulls a "Phantom" and drops to like 7th next year. Sort of a 'mea culpa' from the judging community for this year's outrageously inflated scores. Otherwise, copycat corps will start dumbing down their shows and finals will end up as one, big snooze buffet with a helping of yawn sauce.

Sure, the Devils are clean. That's because their show demand is not on a par with the other top corps (except for the last 45 seconds). And honestly, I'm not even sure how you judge "cleanliness" when several times during the show they have what appears to be scatter drill going to their next set for the chair placement. Of course why wouldn't they be clean? THey have 70 freakin' chairs on the field providing visual markers for where to march! It's like adding 70 more hash marks on the field. And I disagree drill that isn't executed well shouldn't win. I'd much rather watch a show with a bit of drill dirt in it that blows me away with velocity and difficulty, than watching the same, slow, follow-the-leader crap. I also have to respectfully disagree about Spin Cycle. That show still blows me away with the sheer difficulty-- AND the hornline totally manages to sound great and balanced too. Sure the music isn't everyone's cup of tea, but hey. I think we forget drum corps is a VISUAL art- and visually Spin Cycle is stunning.

First off, let me say that these one sentence reviews represent my overall impressions of each corps performance on Quarterfinals night. Also, I will say that as a whole, the performance level of all of the top 12 corps is really high. That being said: TROOPERS: I love that they are back with a solid show that looks to the future yet gives a big nod to their past... but I think they are getting a nostalgia boost in the judging because the Colts have the better show. BLUE KNIGHTS: A good hornline sound and a couple of neat visual moves and moments, but overall the show doesn't make me shiver as much as look at my watch. GLASSMEN: The first 2/3 of the show really isn't bad, but the final 1/3 just sort of derails the show and makes you think "what are they doing?" BLUE STARS: Too Many PROPS-- but other than that, this show is really darn good with a loud hornline and good drill which in a normal year would be placing much higher. BOSTON CRUSADERS: They have an exciting show, but the entire time I watched this show I couldn't help but feel like they were trying to reproduce the magic created with their show "Red" in 2000-- and not quite managing it. PHANTOM REGIMENT: I really disliked this show when I saw it earlier in the season, but they have really fixed it and the brass is blowing the doors off-- all of which leaves me questioning why it isn't scoring just a bit higher... probably because it isn't "Spartacus". BLUECOATS: While I really like their music selections, their show design, and overall performance... the Idea theme and the cloud shirts are too much of a stretch and just don't work. SANTA CLARA VANGUARD: A seamless show with excellent show design, music design, guard, and brass which will probably end up higher than fifth... but I think it draws a bit too much from Garfield 87 to truly be a standout. CAVALIERS: Once again they have a visually engaging show with good music, good brass and a great color guard, but the show is lacking in those memorable wow moments we've come to expect and the ending leaves you flat. HOLY NAME CADETS: Of the many, many, many, many, many, many, many times this corps has performed West Side Story over the years, this is probably my least favorite treatments of the music... but they do march with some speed. CAROLINA CROWN: This is probably the best overall show on the field this year with oodles of creativeness, energy, sound, power, and fun... and if it doesn't win it's because that shade of green is atrocious and does not work visually. BLUE DEVILS: Evidently the judges really like sitting and playing, or standing and playing, or walking around and setting up chairs to use as visual markers for where to march on the field, but personally I think this show is a slice of snore pie and I don't understand why it's scoring so well.

I know lots of people equate 16th note runs and rapid passages to "difficulty" in a show. And this is certainly true to a degree. But I also think a lot of folks forget how difficult it is to pull off a sustained "fat donut whole note" passage with a crescendo while moving at a 4 to 5 step size. Personally I'd rather park and blow a rapid, technical passage than run while playing whole notes. The first one leaves you far less sweaty and gasping for air.

I know right were I was... in the tunnel under the stadium with the Cavaliers waiting to march out. I felt so completely sorry for him! I mean, SURE we wanted to beat BD that year... but you never want a soloist to have THAT kind of night. Oh, and while on the field in retreat, I was standing on the side next to the Devils and was chatting with one of the Devil's sops. I told her how much I liked their music and I think she said something about how it would have been better if their soloist hadn't completely "s*** the bed". That was the first time I'd ever heard that phrase, and I think I nearly laughed my a** off. Then we then shared lemon drops that she'd smuggled onto the field. Good times.

Um, it should be painfully obvious to all that the powers that be have decided that they (for some inexplicable reason) actually LIKE what the Devils are doing to Drum Corps. And the judges have been instructed to score accordingly. Personally, I haven't liked a Devil's show since 2000- but some people seem to.

The Cavaliers also have 16 Contras this year...

Well, what an honor it was to see the public unveiling of some of these shows... and overall I think it was a great start. It was a good night for drum corps-- warm and a tad humid, but with very little wind. Hot air balloons even drifted overhead for a birds-eye view of the proceedings. And now for the review (in performance order): THE GOVENAIRES (63.75): For a small group, they actually put out a decent bit of sound. They have a fun show full of rock tune arrangements and a drum major who does the announcing for them. And heck, how can you not give props to a corps that salutes the teachers in the audience by playing an arrangement of "Hot for Teacher"?? MINNESOTA BRASS, INC. (73.125): Ok, I must come clean and admit something. I have always been one to scurv a bit on Senior corps. I pretty much always thought of them as sort of... meh. Even without really ever seeing them in person. I guess I had this concept of them as full of aging bandos trying to relive their glory days and sorta failing at it. Fail?? What was I THINKING! The Minnesota Brass are totally legit!!! They play and play LOUD. They march! They have a great guard and their percussion rocks! VERY entertaining an jazzy show-- and overall very well designed. Much better than some of the world class corps actually. I am sorry I ever was a snarky ######## about them-- in fact next year I just may try out! THE COLT CADETS (57.6): The show is called "Lullaby and Good Nightmare". The musical selections are somewhat fun (Pee Wees Playhouse, Hall of the Mountain King) and they do an okay job at presenting the show. The child's bed on the field is very underutilized at this point. And they use big exercise balls at one point humerously (but balls on a field are a recipe for disaster). But I do seem to recall them having a solid percussion section (for some reason I do remember their snares). I think the show will grow throughout the season. THE RACINE SCOUTS (49.1): Oh my. Their show is a salute to the Big Apple and Broadway. They are definitely a small corps and I do give them mad props for coming out and trying, I really do. But their position in the show lineup didn't do them any favours. For being small, they do put out a decent and in tune sound- and I can tell their show isn't quite finished yet. The ending sort of came out of nowhere, and the whole crowd didn't seem to know that the show was over. Oh, and I hope they fix the tempo on Harlem Nocturne... it really shouldn't be played like a dirge. It honestly made my heart hurt just a little bit. INTERMISSION-- free Old Dutch potato chips and some Famous Dave's BBQ later, and it was time for the World Class corps. SPIRIT OF JSU (63.7): Their show "Live... In Concert" has potential. They do use voice in their amplification, but it is like you are hearing the cues from backstage "Cue lights.... curtain... " stuff like that. And while I'm not wild about some of their rock tune musical selections, they do play well and they are marching a good show design. They also seem to have a good percussion section which they feature a couple times-- including right off the top. This show definitely has room to grow. MADISON SCOUTS (63.7): "Relampago" is a show in which Madison is going to have a bit of fun. They throw in some comedy along with the jazzy sound that Madison does well. (The crowd was appreciative of the comedic turns). Malaga even makes a return, but not in the traditional Scouts way- its much more subtle. I'm not going to ruin the guard costumes here, but they are definitely... different. Now, I love me some Scouts and I desperately want to see them back in the top 5... but I'm not sure this is the vehicle. The show just seems to lack a bit of that old Scouts pizazz. And honestly a bit of the volume too. But I also recognize that the show is a bit unfinished at this point. C'mon Scouts-- lets ramp this thing UP! PHANTOM REGIMENT (72.7): "The Red Violin" is their show. Lots and lots of Pagannini selections/variations (with some Benny Goodman thrown in). Now, I will say as much as I am a fan of the Cavaliers (FMM here), I was waiting with baited breath to see Phantom. I haven't seen them live for several years, and I really wanted to experience them. The good things? YES that hornline can PLAY! Lots of fast runs, riffs, and great volume. 16 bloody contras! Their ballad was my favorite of the evening-- so lush and with a cutoff that I'm sure is still echoing around Stillwater. And their percussion seems quite good again this year, but perhaps not quite as strong as in the previous couple. The not so good things? I don't know if I like the overall show. The jazzy section sort of really cleaves it and sort of destroys the flow. I also didn't feel the story of the Red Violin and the love, fame, loss, etc. But I know this is early in the season, and Phantom will bring it by the end as always. THE CAVALIERS (75.1): "The Great Divide". What can I say? I am a FMM, so of course I'll be a tad biased. Its another really well designed visual program. The corps even starts "divided" on the field. The color guard is in mountaineering outfits with rope even. And the best part?? THE MUSIC! Thank the FSM that they aren't doing original music this year!! Returning to known music has been my biggest desire for the Cavies for several years now (I'm not counting the Billy Joel). Their music is really cool this year and their hornline sounds great. Less power (and technicality) than Phantom, but maybe they'll turn it up a notch later. Some very cool visuals done with the ropes and with constructing "mountains" out of the hornline, etc. And the Cavaliers color guard is really spot on. Again, its obvious the show isn't quite finished and needs more 'ending'... but it's a strong show and will be in the thick of things at the top I think. THE BLUE STARS (66.2): Blue Stars finished off the evening with their "Factory" show. They have tables and sewing machines covering nearly 1/2 of the field... and in the back corner are some laundry lines. I'm not sure why the laundry was there, and I can only imagine that the tables will be used more at a later date. That being said-- Boy can the Blue Stars PLAY! They got some VOLUME on them! I don't think their hornline is as big as either Phantom or the Cavaliers, but I think they might have been the loudest of the night. BIG hits. BIG Volume! YAY!!!! The music is good and the show design overall has a lot of potential. This corps has top 8 written all over it. But I think they do need to fix the table thing. Right now they really clutter the field visually and are a bit of a detraction. Go Blue Stars!! As far as the scoring goes, it was pretty much exactly as I predicted. I know Phantom phans will feel a bit ripped off, but remember Phantom is in all white (SUPER all white this year) which makes any drill flaw just stand out. I was perhaps a bit surprised by the tie between Madison and Spirit... but I'm not sure who I would have given the nod to at this point. Maybe that was the judges problem as well. I can't wait to see the Cavaliers and Phantom clash with the Devils, SCV, and the Cadets!! Boy howdy!!! Its going to be a good season!

The Spartacus Effect sounds a lot like the "Machine" effect, where the Cavaliers chanted on the way into the stadium and had a thematic show that started as they entered, continued through warmup until the last note ended. Hmmm.

I'd have to say any one of the many listed EXCEPT Star '93. I actually liked Star... but that show is a dog. Can't understand why everyone creams their jeans over it.

I'd have to say "Channel One Suite"-- because I think the Blue Devils have played it about every other year since time began. Oh SNAP!

The Blue Devil clip made me pee myself a little.

Yes, the front ensemble for the Devils does seem a bit loud in comparison to the corps in the recording.

First I'd like to start with a few caveats: Musically, I'm a Blue Devils fan Visually, I'm a Cavalier fan Emotionally, I'm a Phantom Regiment fan Underdoggy, I'm a Carolina Crown fan Narrationally, I'm NOT a fan That being said, here are my impressions after listening to the musical performances of 5 of the top 6 corps at Murfreesboro. BLUE DEVILS: What can I say? They are fat with talent, and their hornline is quite impactful. The front ensemble sounds great as always, and the battery is really pretty good (just maybe not Phantom good). Thematically, I'm left a bit wanting this year (as I was last year). While I can't remember specific moments from this show, what I do remember is that it is generally loud. Like 'loud all the time' loud. I really think their show would be better served if they tried things like actually crescendoing and decresendoing rather than just adding or dropping sections for volume change. The show packs a real audio punch, but all the punches sort of add up to more of an aural assault. It makes me miss "Phenomenon of Cool". CAVALIERS: This show is musically well-nuanced and relies heavily on the front ensemble--which I generally like for the differnt colors and effects. However, I do wish the brass would play more. The brass book does have some technical things in it, there just isn't enough of it. Oh, and one of my biggest beefs with the Cavies of late is that the hornline never gets to cut loose and BLOW. Well, that issue seems to have thankfully been rectified. However, the blowing is a bit rough at the end and the last minute or so of music is a bit ragged. Maybe they are really moving at this point, but it needs to be cleaned up. Percussion in general sounds pretty good, and I love the mix of drums in the show. PHANTOM REGIMENT: Big, fat brass line and smoking battery. They probably (definitely??) have the the strongest brass book of the top shows. They play it crisply and well. They also have some big, fat brass hits with some real power to them. They have really been bringing the loud back to drum corps these past few years and I applaud that. I don't know if I like the "I am Spartacus" bits... but I get why they are in the show. My only beef with the show is that musically it doesn't feel cohesive. I'm not sure why I feel this way either, but it feels like maybe the music themes work for the story, but they don't necessarily tie together well. CAROLINA CROWN: Finally a corps that seems to bring the LOW back to the Brass sound! They have probably the best pyramid of sound when they do their big hits, and this is something I've missed since 2000 and the start of b-flat bugles. Crown has been working the HECK out of their hornlines, and they produce a fat FAT sound. Thank you for that! And I rather like the familiarity of all of their musical themes and how they meld together. This show could've been a trainwreck, but somehow it does flow. I think maybe this brand of musical "absurdity" works. There is some real demand in the book too, and they play it pretty cleanly and really well. The only issues I had were with phrases maybe not driving as much as they should, and perhaps some of the musical themes seemed a bit forced when melded together. CADETS: I didn't download this show. I'm sure the Cadets are playing the snot out of their music, but they've really lost me in recent years with the narration and their direction. Which is a shame too, since I worshiped the ground they marched on all through the 80's and through about 1/2 of the 90's. BLUECOATS: Narration in general = meh (for me). However, in this show it pretty much works. At least at the opening. Some of the Rocky Trainer dialog was perhaps a little... you know. But enough of that. As for the brass? Boy they can play! They sound really darn good- and perhaps my favorite moment of all these shows is when the brass line (alone) just blows the snot out of it in this ballad section, and then the corps sings. I LOVE the use of (unamplified) voice on the field for a change of color. The Rocky themes while recognizable didn't grate on me like I thought they would. The Bluecoat's pit is also quite excellent and really adds a nice dimension. Overall I think this show works very nicely thematically and flows well. I don't know if I'm a fan of the ending so much, but in general I really think the show is really solid.