jdCadet07 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 (edited) Made a last minute decision to run up 3 hours to this show (after talking myself out of it a few times, but since this is my last chance to see a show this year I said what the heck).... The weather was good. 93 degrees when I rolled into town. It was hot. A 20 minute rain shower cooled things off a little.. but then got muggy. The evening was nice and cool for the show.. a nice breeze. But it was so packed in the stands that it was just as hot as noon. My gripes: 1. The stadium was under some construction/renovation... throughout phantoms clinic/rehearsal during the day all I could hear was "bang bang, clack clack clack".... at least they quit by showtime.. 2. Also during phantoms clinic, there was a lady wearing a DCI shirt, obviously show staff, getting on EVERYONES nerves. While phantom was playing (standstill performance, and on the field chunks and run through), she would run around the sideline where everyone was standing (due to 3rd gripe, see below) checking anyone with a camera "Are you recording this? This is copyrighted music. you cannot record this!!" Duh, but VERY VERY VERY rude about it. She came to me 3 seperate times (not kidding) - and some people didn't even have video cameras.. just regular cameras, digital or disposable cameras... I still recorded ;-) I plan to upload to my favorite site 3. The rude heffor mentioned above would also not allow anyone in the stands during phantoms clinic... everyone (few hundred people) had to be on the sideline during the clinic. But before the clinic, we were all in the stands so I know it wasn't due to construction or to clear the stadium before showtime because they still made everyone leave before the show. I have to apologize... most of the show I was in the lot an not in the stands.. I will review what I saw: Phantom Clinic/Rehearsal: First chance this year seeing them. They have an awesome show and the clinic audience dug it. There was a few hundred people here. They needed a little coaxing during the Live/Die part, but they eventually got the hang of it. During the first battle where the first guy gets killed, they let one of the high school kids take the place of the guy who gets killed. After a short lesson on what to do, they ran that chunk and killed him instead. Everyone ate it up. Pretty cool. Before doing a full run of the show, they did a standstill performance of it as well as their encore pieces. Ave Maria was nice, 2005's Rhapsody was awesome, March to the cathedral was gorgeous as always. As mentioned in gripe #3, people weren't allowed in the stands. In lieu of this, the staff let people sit on the field in front of their favorite section. Literally people were sitting underneath the horns and in front of the snares, etc. It was pretty loud. :-D Warmup in the lot: I walked around and talked to friends until Blue Devils kicked it into gear. They got into the arc and I found it amusing, and maybe its part of their 'abursdity' gig, but each section of the hornline had one of those aroma wicks or whatever you call it lit an on the ground and centered in front of each section. Maybe to relax them I don't know - first time I've seen that. Anyone else see BD do this? They played through a few exercises and did a few progressions.. STARTED to do some space music (hint of mars by the baris and tubas) but did not finish it.. I was disappointed. But they still sounded amazing. I will say that they did not appear to be as loud as previous years (IMO) but they did have a day off yesterday.. maybe they're not 'back' yet. They broke into sectionals and worked a few pieces of the show. Trumpets kicked ###. After BD warmup, I headed to the stadium but passed Crown and caught the very last bit of their warmup. They did some of that space stuff and then broke into the Hallelujah hit in the closer - gave me chills. Some nucklehead baritone player held over the last note by a full second. But they really do sound fantastic - and notably louder than BD in the arc. Show: (again, all I saw was BD, Crown & Phantom... sorry) I had seats on the 50, almost at the top. Perfect view. BD was up first. Right away they were doing crazy stuff and it got the audience buzzing. Throughout the entire show, ooooh's and ahhhh's were going on, especially during the drum feature when the basses did their cool drum flip stuff.. The tenors and guard feature was cool cool cool. I couldn't help but smile during this show. It is just too cool - but different. People talk about the cadets being different, but THIS is different. Still cool, but different. The hornline didn't seem very loud on the field (compared to Crown and Phantom). The music in this show is bleh. I didn't like it. Not memorable. Not exciting. Just bleh. If it weren't for the visual aspects of this show, I wouldn't really like it. But they do perform the hell out of it and it is fantastic. But I honestly cannot see why they are scoring as high as they are right now.. Crown was up next. This was my 3rd time seeing crown, and at a show just a week before the audience was going NUTS for them. Tonight it didn't seem like that. Maybe it was because they followed BD.. I dont' know. But the crowd just didn't react during this show as they have in previous shows. I thought they did great. The first good reaction from the crowd was at the hit in the opener, got a few people to stand up.. but after that it wasn't until the closer when the crowd got pumped again. They stood and cheered after the 1812 hit and stayed standing through the Hallalujah ending. They did have a longer standing O than BD.. but just during the show, the crowd reaction was minimal. Guard was clearly 'on' and seemed flawless at times. Great great show tonight. Phantom Phantom Phantom.. what do I say? The crowd LOVED the slaves pushing the drum major podium (with drum major atop) onto the field. Horn members had guard chained up dragging them onto the field, beating them, pushing them down etc.... very cool.. really set the atmosphere. This show was my favorite of the night. It grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. Very dramatic and intenese. Favorite moment, end of the ballad where Spartacus and his woman are dancing and the backfield drum major sneaks up and slits her throat, then throws her on the ground (as everyone knows by now) but it was just, well cool! Lots of swords, spears and killing (don't let Rosie Odonnel see this show... she already doesn't approve of DCI) Hornline was on fire, guard was good.. not great but good. I think the ending of this show lacks compared to the rest of it. But we'll see what they bring come august. Also, I don't know when they added it, but I remember earlier on folks talking about their uniforms and lack of color, etc. The drum/hornline replaced their black sashes and gaunlets with silver & gold "throws" (not sure what you call them). Looks very Spartacus-ish......... guard is still in lavender and still needs to change. The encore was Phantom. They rocked the socks off the crowd. I love when corps play old show music. Brings back memories. All in all a great show and great evening. I really hope DCI brings this new show back to Hattiesburg next year. I will be there. Edited July 24, 2008 by jdCadet07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeutralNovice Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 THANKS!!! I still need to figure out how/where to check out warm-ups before shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicBobert Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 They got into the arc and I found it amusing, and maybe its part of their 'abursdity' gig, but each section of the hornline had one of those aroma wicks or whatever you call it lit an on the ground and centered in front of each section. Maybe to relax them I don't know - first time I've seen that. Anyone else see BD do this? Not part of the absurdity thing. That would be Nag Champa incense. They do it all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdCadet07 Posted July 24, 2008 Author Share Posted July 24, 2008 Not part of the absurdity thing. That would be Nag Champa incense. They do it all the time. Neat. Been going to BD warmups for years and haven't seen them do it until this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartyount Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 (don't let Rosie Odonnel see this show... she already doesn't approve of DCI) Huh? I was at the show too. Nice stadium and a great show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medeabrass Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Huh? I was at the show too. Nice stadium and a great show. Actually I think it was Blast that Rosie disapproved of. She liked the show and wanted them to be on the Rosie Odonnell show but didn't want them to bring their "weapons." If that's not PC overkill I don't know what is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris ncsu Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casaba Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Actually I think it was Blast that Rosie disapproved of. She liked the show and wanted them to be on the Rosie Odonnell show but didn't want them to bring their "weapons." If that's not PC overkill I don't know what is. well...to be fair to her and show the proper respect, she is a complete wacked out nutjob and quite possibly the most disgusting person I can imagine in the public eye just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob984 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Thanks for your review! GB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartyount Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Actually I think it was Blast that Rosie disapproved of. She liked the show and wanted them to be on the Rosie Odonnell show but didn't want them to bring their "weapons." If that's not PC overkill I don't know what is. Well if there's one person I would expect PC overkill from, it would be her. Funny how she doesn't mind her bodyguards packing heat, but don't dare bring in a piece of wood shaped like a rifle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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