bayareafan

Good structure for the board. This should very effectively represent the interests of the broad spectrum of corps involved in the activity. Between the regular circuit, the G7 shows, and the new Drum Line Battle and Soundsport activities this should be a summer filled with experimentation. Maybe some interesting things will come out of this.

I really hate to see people trying to denigrate any corps director. From what I can see George has always had the best of intentions for his corps and for the activity. Whether or not the specific policies he's promoted at DCI have been the best ones is certainly a matter of debate. But his intentions are good as are the intentions of most corps directors. It doesn't look to me like George's views have changed much at all over the years. I agree with his philosophy of teaching each corps member to compete with themselves - to be the best they can possibly be - and then let the competitive results fall where they may. It's an excellent teaching philosophy and we should really hope that every corps director follows a similar philosophy. Look guys, we're all fans of certain corps generally based on the kind of shows we like and other factors. And then there are other corps we may not like so much. I'm not a particularly big Cadets fan. But they are phenomenal on and off the field and they have excellent leadership. People that get on these forums and try to denigrate leaders like George Hopkins are being petty and are demonstrating that they themselves have nowhere near the personal character of the leaders they choose to denigrate.

I think the DrumLine Battle and SoundSport events are interesting ideas. As I see it, the goal is to lower the barrier for musicians to participate in these events. Putting a corps on the field is a huge and expensive proposition. It takes a huge commitment from the members in terms of time and finances. Of course it is a fantastic activity to watch and life changing for those that can participate. Still, the barriers to participation are large. These events smaller events will encourage small groups to get together and try to do something fun and creative. I think we could be surprised at how much interesting and creative stuff could come out of these groups. I'm glad that DCI is trying this out and if one happens near me I'll go check it out.

The thing that gets me here is that this poster is encouraging corps to take risk and push the envelope, and then he complains about BD which by just about any measure you choose to use was absolutely pushing the envelope this last year. You may not like the results, but if corps trying new and different things is really important to DCI (I think it is) then you have to admire what BD did. To say that they aren't a good corps is complete folly. I'm not usually a big Cadets or Cavies fan - their style just isn't quite what I like. But they are both MONSTER corps and I would never say that they aren't just because I didn't like the style of one of their shows. Folks, DCI is not going out of existence. It may still get a little smaller - I could see that happening. There are a lot of activities for youth these days, and I think any corps has to be of a pretty high quality to attract members these days. That means we'll continue to consolidate most likely to smaller number of good corps. But DCI will reach some sustainable size and we'll continue to have great drumcorps action each summer for decades to come.

I can partly understand what the guy that started this thread is saying. Drumcorps has evolved a lot and the shows are quite different than they were in years past. Personally I still miss the power of G bugles. No corps today can produce the kind of overwhelming power that makes your heart race the way they could back when they were playing G horns. But, the G bugles were harder to play in tune, and while the top tier corps really mastered them well the other corps always sounds out of tune. Today the lower tier corps all sound better to me and the top tier corps still sound great. So....that's an example of the kind of change that has affected DCI over the years. Overall, I think the changes are for the good and contrary to the poster I actually think that what BD is doing is the way many, many corps will move forward. I think once more corps throw out the traditional rule book so to speak the way BD did this year I think you'll see some absolutely incredible shows. Yeah BD's show doesn't have the kind of ending that gets people on their feet, and the first time or two I saw their show I didn't quite get it. But it has really grown on me and I see some real genius in what they've done this year. They don't look at all like a traditional drumcorps and believe it or not that's GOOD!!! It's what The Bridgemen did years back and they moved the activity forward in a big way. It's more variety, more creativity, more options for the various corps to explore. I actually think if every corps feels free to explore beyond their traditional bounds you'll have great shows, more kids participating in the activity, and more fans. So...I don't agree with poster and those that think somehow the demise of the activity is at hand. On the contrary, I think a new wave of innovation is starting and that innovation is exactly what the activity will need to stay fresh, relevant, and vibrant for years to come.

It isn't going to happen, but it would actually be really fun if it did. Crown is awesome this year. I think their horn line is the best I've ever heard any year. And they move like crazy on the field. I'd be happy to see them as a new champion. OTOH, I can also see how the judges might pick BD. That BD show is about the most unique show I've ever seen and they execute brilliantly. So....two great and totally different corps slugging it out. I think the crowd in Indy is in for a real treat Saturday night.

I agree BD did a great job tonight. The only major problem I saw was some mic related problems on the soloists. Otherwise it was a great performance. It's a really unique, complicated and difficult show. One that will be remembered for a long time.

I don't know if I would say they are fully reinventing drum corps, but I think that BD may very well be showing the path forward for drum corps as the activity tries to adjust to changing tastes and to a world where young people have more choices for summer activities. A notable thing about watching this years BD show is that - at least for me - I very much forget that I'm watching a drum corps show when they are performing. The drill design, the look of the corps, the music, the recorded voice (which is the one part I don't like), the props, the stuff they do with their unis - all of that combine to have you forget that a show is being performed on a football field with line markers, etc. I don't think that anyone would have thought 20 or even 10 years ago that a drum corps show would look like this. But is is evolution and I think in fact forward progress. I honestly don't look at the show and say "how are are they marching" or "can the guard all catch that huge toss", etc. At least for me, the things that I typically watch for all kinda of fall to wayside as I watch the spectacle unfold. Soooo....while the show doesn't connect with me quite as well as I'd like I think that BD is on to something with these very complicated productions and I predict that just as the entire activity followed SCV to asymmetric drill designs a lot of corps will evolve to produce shows like the one BD has produced this year. And people will find ways to do these shows so that they really connect with the audience and in the end the activity will be another step better than it is today.

Yeah, BD's show is definitely polarizing this year. In many respects I really like it. You almost forget that it's a drum corps show. The way they approach the show is very different from any other corps and it definitely represents a level of invocation. Innovation is good for the activity. It is also very difficult. Some years people have complained that BD's shows are too easy - that the don't march enough, etc. This show is very difficult in all kinds of different ways. So there's a lot to appreciate. However, I continue to be bothered by all the recorded narration they use throughout the show. It muddies the show in my view and takes away from the brilliant brass and percussion performances. And the fact that they end the show with recorded narration instead of ending with their hornline blowing their socks off makes the ending very disappointing. So, I think their design staff just got a little too clever this year with all the narration. If they'd cut that out and change the ending this would be an absolutely killer show.

I agree with your review on SCV and BD. 'm a BD fan that's been kind of disappointed the past few years. This years show has the potential to be brilliant, but the stupid voice narration really detracts from the GE of the show in my opinion. It muddies up what is otherwise an incredible horn line and drum line. And the show ends with a recording of the old guy saying "Dada is alive" completely with reverb. Really!!!! You have the best horn line in DCI and instead the final sound of the show is a recording of an old guy talking? I don't get it. I think this is a situation where their designers wanted to prove how clever they could be to incorporate all of this recorded stuff into the show. It is clever and actually probably very hard to do. But it isn't effective IMO.

Just watched the Muncie show on the Fan Network. I love the scout show this year and they have really improved. I think it may be my favorite show this year. I think the judges have them scored too low. Watched the Cavs show then went back and watched the Scouts show and I would have placed the Scouts at least 3 points ahead of the Cavs. Better show design, better sound, and way cleaner. I think the Scouts are back to being competitive with the top tier of DCI corps and the judges haven't quite caught up to that yet. I really enjoyed the new arrangements they did of a lot of the older pieces they've done before. Malaga, Malaguena, and Pictures at an Exhibition all sound refreshed and modern. Great to see Madison back in form.

The System Blue camps that they're doing are valuable educational experiences for young musicians. So let's not be too hard on BD for skipping a couple of shows to do these camps.

Just thought those of us on the west coast should take some time to thank the Boston Crusaders, Blue Knights, and Phantom Regiment for making the long trek out here to California. It's a long way, but I know that I really enjoyed the performances of all three of these corps. Each of these corps has a great tradition and a unique style. And they're all performing well. It's a treat to have them out this way. Thanks for coming guys. Hope the rest of your tour is awesome.

I hope they don't try to have this at Sacramento State again next year. Obviously the lack of lights was the mother of all disasters. But even if the lights would have worked it is actually a terrible venue. There are train tracks right behind the stadium and there were several trains that roared by tonight. Unless the corps is at peak volume you hear the train. It really ruins the effect. But that's not all. There's also this really, really noisy elevator that they use on the back side of the stadium to take people up to the press box. It was up & down constantly it's so loud that you can hear it through most of the stadium. And they had exactly one gate open for everyone to go in and out of the stadium. The gate was wide enough for at most two people at a time. So when we all had to leave at once things were really backed up. Add to that poor restroom facilities and the lack of any signs telling you how to find the stadium when you're on campus and you have a pretty awful location for a show. I don't know why they moved it from Stockton this year. Stockton seemed to be a better stadium. Anyway, hopefully they find a better venue next year. On a more positive note, Stanfords stadium rocks!!! It's a great venue for drum corps. So those of us that went on Saturday night got a real treat. Sure do appreciate the corps that traveled out from back east. Think I'll start a thank you thread for those guys. It's a long trek and they provided great entertainment for us.

I'm a big BD fan and even I can't stand this. I'm all for encouraging competition, but winning isn't the only objective in a drumcorps. Putting on a great show that people want to see and hear over and over again is actually more important I think. I think helping young people develop good character is really important as well and making a video like that whining about coming in second last year isn't a great way to teach character IMO. So instead of buying BD souvies this weekend I think I'll spend my money over at the SCV trailer. They have a little more class it seems.

Well, I have to say that I really enjoy all of these corps a lot and have high respect for each of them. But the corps that from year to year I find myself looking forward to most is SCV. It's not just shows that they do, but something about the attitude and style they have. It's special. Nobody is able to duplicate that.

Hmm, an interesting thing I note in reading these is that it looks like most people named SCV as their favorite "other" corps. I always knew they were popular but I didn't think it would be quite this pronounced. So that begs the question, why is SCV seemingly more popular as the "other" corps than groups like the Cadets, Cavies, etc that have dominated the activity competively for the past decade much more so than SCV? I'm thinking maybe people are drawn to the tradition and the consistent identity that is represented by SCV. Perhaps this is clear evidence that people really are drawn to a corps for a lot of reasons that go well beyong winning. Thoughts?

You know when reading the forums I figured that people were just over reacting to the Cadets naration. Hop is always a controversial guy after all. But then after seeing them on Saturday night I totally agree. The naration is just awful. And it's a shame because truthfully without the naration I think they'd be almost assured of a championship this year. They really execute well - better than anyone else I saw last night. And their show is hard. They move a lot and their horn book is wicked. But for some reason they talk over the top of the horm section almost continually throughout the show. I couldn't understand most of the naration. I did get the "athletes of God" line. Give me break!!! I agree with the poster that they are winning in spite of a huge flaw in their show design. I hope that Hop (who in most respects I happen to think is a great corps director) gets this naration thing out of his system and that next year they go back to the basics of being a great drumcorps. The kids deserve it. They have phenominal talent. On other topics, SCV was my favorite of the night. Love that corps. What class. Great show design and I find the music quite engaging though some others don't. Also loved the Bluecoats. BD had an off night (if you can call a night scoring 94.825 an off night). Finally, they need to have more than one concession stand for a major event like this. DCI should know better.

Well I don't generally post to these forums, though I read them a couple of times a week. However, I'M SO GLAD that DCI finally had a show out here at the end of the season that I'm motivated to put my thoughts down. DCI, thanks for putting this show together!!! Hopefully you'll see fit to send a championship our way sometime soon. DCI, did you notice the following: - There was NO RAIN the entire week you were in Cali. - The temperatures were COOL the entire week. It was about 70F at showtime!! - There was very LOW HUMIDITY. - There were LOTS OF FANS. - There were LOTS OF SOUVI SALES. - There are a LOT OF THINGS FOR VISITING FANS TO DO (San Fran, ocean, Nappa, Yosemite, Tahoe,...). Overall, I think a finals in Cali would be a huge success. Please give it some thought. Anyway, on with my impressions of the show. One thing, being local I've seen SCV and DB a couple of times earlier in the year, but this was my first viewing of the other corps tonight. If I had seem them all a few times I might have a different impression. Phantom - I didn't find Phatoms show to be nearly as strong as last years. It never seems to develop much to me, and they really weren't executing well tonight. They have the strongest low brass of any of the corps, however by contrast there were times when you really wanted the high brass to cut through and yet they were always overpowered by the low brass. Last year I loved Phatoms show. It was one of my favorites. This years show just didn't do it for me. But again, first impressions aren't always accurate. Madison - I've historically been a huge scouts fan. I didn't get to see them live last year, so I was excited to get this chance today. Unfortunately I agree with what some of the other reviewers have said about Madison. It's like someone took our scouts out and neutered them. The last 2-3 minutes of the show generates some level of excitment, but up till then they just don't seem to be the Scouts. The biggest problem I see is that they've lost their trademark sound. Remember how you used to always be able to recognize Madison just by their trademark sound. Well, that sound is gone. It didn't sound like a Scott Boerma hornline. The arrangements weren't as good as in the past and the tone of corps just isn't the same. Some of it is due to multi-key brass, but some of it is also just a stylistic change - one that I don't like. The problems that the Scouts had in the past were related to their guard as well as to generally poor execution in marching their drill. However, they always sounded great!! Now their guard is much better, and they're doing a cleaner drill, but their sound is just not strong and the overall package is disappointing. I don't mean to be ragging on the scouts - again I'm a fan!! But I hope that their staff will do a better job of "letting the scouts be the scouts" next year. Their encore was nice though. During the encore you were hearing the real scouts doing what the scouts are supposed to do. I hope next year will be better for these guys. Cavaliers - Great show in every way. Great music, well executed, and without a doubt the best overall drill design of the night. From what I can see they deserved their sixth world championship title. I was originally worried that with a 007 theme, the show could get cheesy. But it doesn't. They carry out the theme with real class. Other corps are stronger in some areas - BD has the best hornline, and realistically both BD and Cadets execute at about the same level as Cavis. But the superior show design of the Cavaliers definately puts them a cut above the others. Somehow these guys just get everything integrated better than any other corps. Overall, a great performance. SCV - I love this show. Great music, good drill design, and the most powerful (though not cleanest) hornline of the bunch. The show is very entertaining and filled with places for the brass section to showcase their powerful sound. The new ending they added toward the end of the season where the guard disappears is great. Very effective. Overall, a great show. I'm glad to see our local corps doing so well :-) Cadets - I'd read all these kind of negative things about this show - how it was cheesy and shallow - and was prepared to dislike it. However, I found that I really enjoyed the show. Of course the baton twirler was gone, so that may have helped. It is not as strong as BD and Cavis, so yes they deserved either 3rd or 4th, but it is still a very good show and they execute it very well. They also did the best encore of the night. They obviously spent a lot of time working on their encore and I appreciate that since that is something extra they were doing for us fans. I think some of the negative reviews have been influenced by peoples disagreements with George Hopkins. Overall, I liked the show and appreciated the Cadets interest in making us fans happy. BD - (I've listened to their preseason CD a few times in addition to seeing them earlier in the year twice. So that might influence my review a bit.) Overall, I think this is a very good show, though not quite as good as Cavaliers. They have without a doubt the best hornline in DCI. Their music this year is very difficult but they play it beautifully - much better than in their preseason recording. From what I can see their guard was also likely the best of the bunch though I don't really know much about guard. However, I do note that drill BD was not as difficult as for instance Cavs of Cadets, and while it was well designed the Cavs are still clearly a notch above on drill design. I think that in future years BD, and for that matter all the other corps, will need to take their overall show design up a notch in order to compete with Cavs. They've definately raised the bar in that area. But overall, a very enjoyable performance by BD. The mass corps activities were nice tonight and the instant encores were a good idea. Maybe DCI should consider the encores for regular competitive shows. They do a good job of filling up the setup time between the corps. Overall, a great night. Thanks to all of the corps for making the trip out here. And thanks to DCI for taking the risk on this.