Oswego show anyone?

[mrmus34]

Anyone got a review from the Oswego show on June 25?

[shaners]

apparently not...

[Old Man]

Anyone got a review from the Oswego show on June 25?

Here are my quick thoughts about Oswego:

Turned out to be a nice night for drum corps under the lights!

Pioneer-I am a fan of Holst 1st and 2nd Suites for Band. This show is very tuneful and happy. For the past couple of years, their drumline has overpowered the corps in size and volume. They need to figure out how to recruit more horns. Overall a nice show.

Crossmen-This group sounds wonderful when they stand still.....the problem is that they can't do that the entire show. Once they start moving it doesn't sound like the same hornline. I know that this will improve as the season progresses, but for now it is holding them back. I must admit that I do not like their arrangements (especially The Planets). The Planets used tidbits of all the movements into their opener. Nothing was developed and it ended sounding cheesy. Sorry if I offended anyone!

Madison--I really believe that the Scouts are still have very talented kids in that corps. With that being said their show design will take them nowhere fast! I think they need to go in a different direction. Ditch the Spanish music and find a new direction or a new style. I know I am old but go back to 1983 and watch what that corps did and repeat! Until their staff finds a good vehicle for this group I don't see them back in finals and that just kills me!

Spirit-I really like the show and their music. The quality of sound produced by the hornline is very characteristic and balanced! There downfall right now is their feet and drill. Very dirty and far behind for this time. Once they fix this they will secure a spot in the top 12 because of talent and design!

Cavaliers-This group knows how to perform. Not only is the design of their show far above the other corps tonight but these guys know how to sell it. I don't this show is perfect and I don't think this show will win as is and I am positive that the Cavalier design team knows that. The hornline does not manhandle you with volume but they use fineses when they play and I like it! There colorguard is going to challenge again for the top spot in Indiana and I feel that the drumline will compete better this year then they did last year.

Well that is all I got for now.

John

[Mello Dude]

I also went to the Oswego show and I have only one thing that ALL the corps out there had major issues with...amps. The PIT on EVETRY corps there is way out of balance to what is going on the field. Quite honestly, I don't see why you need to amp 12-20 players sitting 30 feet from the stands. Every time someone hit a bass drum in the pit the resounding thump from the speakers souded like a sonic shock wave. Couple this with that fact that hornlines simply don't play as loud as they used too they get buried if they face the back of the field or are playing soft melodic parts of their show. I would suggest if they are not going to use a device or person to adjust the volume levels correctly, or at the very least musically move them to the back of the field where you can use them as a "Dr Beat" and lose the overly annoying dutting from the snare line.

That's my rant...;)

I liked the show overall and for early on looks to be a great year for everyone. I thought Madison was scored a little low IMHO, the only corps that actually came close to the volume levels you expect from corps. As a side note I LOVE the design of Cavies show this year. What a complete package...now if the hornline can get the wow factor in there it looks like another ring year.

As a side note to anyone interested I think that the Bb trumpets sound puny and this being the 8th 9th year on the field I would consider substituting some D trumpets out there or something to give them a full sound.