Bridgeport Reviews - Post them here!

[BX5CM]

Ha! You thought by the date in the subtitle that this might be a review? Well the joke's on you. Come on people, where are they?

[tmignemi02]

[TheMoonlightChef]

[Defender77]

Copied from another thread and repeated with some changes.

"Okay its the second week of the season and we had out second offender. Please if its a request for a review or a question about reviews can we title the topic.."Any reviews" or "where are the reviews"

Drives alot of people crazy when someone titles something "Bridgeport reviews" and they aren't...... "

[BX5CM]

Copied from another thread and repeated with some changes.

"Okay its the second week of the season and we had out second offender. Please if its a request for a review or a question about reviews can we title the topic.."Any reviews" or "where are the reviews"

Drives alot of people crazy when someone titles something "Bridgeport reviews" and they aren't...... "

Sorry, I was trying to make a joke. My bad.

[JohnZ]

Well, let's try and salvage this puppy, shall we?

changed the title, hopefully someone out there is composing as we speak and will post it here for us all to enjoy!

[Sayre Kulp]

I'm exhausted from traveling all weekend, so please excuse me not posting a full review. That being said, here are my quick thoughts from Bridgeport: (please note, I mean no offense to anyone, but I'm feeling brutally honest today) Also note: the weather was weird - kinda on again / off again all the way up til show time. And I was perturbed by the folks at the gate - none of whom could be bothered to point me in the right direction of an ATM. (Kinda sad since I needed to find one before I could give them $60 for tickets.)

The PAL Buccaneers were a tiny local exhibition unit. They field 8 or 9 horns and 3 or 4 drums with 2 kids holding flags. I love checking out these kinds of groups because it makes me feel good watching grass roots drum corps in a world that has all but forgotten its roots. I'll be honest - they struggled - a lot. But you know what? Shame on whoever designed a program for kids this young with such challenging arrangements. You should know better. Choose musical arrangements that are challenging (and require effort to improve) but achievable. It does no one any good to hear 8 players struggle through an arrangement of Russian Sailor's Dance that would make people with three times their experience sweat. I respect those kids for going after it and giving their all - but I hope those in charge get a clue.

Fusion was much improved from their debut at Wildwood last week. A lot of the major issues were more readable. One thing that needs to be fixed is that battery. It' been over three years and that's still a mess. A big part of what bugs me when watching Fusion this year is that they are really trying to push the envelope in show design, but don't have the horses to pull some of it off. Certain parts will eventually clean up, but overall, they are being very ambitious this year. The high point is that they are really reaching to "change perceptions" as they say. The weak point is starts and stops (visually) and the beginnings and ends of musical phrases. Additional stamina will help them surge ahead late in the season. But in order to get to the level they want, that battery really needs to get back to basics.

Carolina Gold was a pleasant surprise last night. I didn't know what to expect as I was thoroughly disappointed with last year's show and didn't feel they should have made the Sunday show. (Again - my opinion, sorry.) However I was excited when I saw their battery tracking parts of the show in the lot outside the stadium. The battery (though small) is rather tight, particularly the bass line, and they add a lot to the program. The guard performs well. I get the play on words with "primary suspects" and the use of primary colors. The program is engaging to the average listener, although some of the Bernard Herman stuff (ala 200 Blue Devils) may be a bit out of their league right now. And I say that, mostly because they only had 19 horns. As their horns get a little more endurance, and the show is finished, they could really upset some of the "primary suspects" at the Class A Finals.

Bushwackers had an up and down evening. There were elements that improved from Wildwood, but I feel like they may have come into town looking to really make a statement and got a little carried away. The control they showed in their debut waned from time to time and exposed some rough parts. The show is developing rather well though, and the crowd was digging "Voodoo." The corps just needs to remember to perform the way they are capable of and they will do just fine. There are still a few more sets (maybe 4-6?) that they need to get on the field yet, and then it'll be time to clean, clean, clean. Bush is notorious for picking up steam as the season rolls on. Right now they are a good shot for the 6-8 spots, however if history holds true for them, there is good potential for a return to the top 5.

The Bridgemen got the first big standing ovation of the night. They were loud, but sloppy. Of particular note was the one soprano player who looked like he just joined the corps that day. He spent half the show with his horn down running around the field, moving through halts, nearly causing collisions, and just being a big-time contributor to the slop factor. Enough about that. The music was good (mostly) but got a little out of hand from time to time. Look, I know it's alumni corps and you're not getting a score, but learn how to toe the line between UGFL and downright crass.

Les Dips never made it because of troubles at the border. Too bad - I was looking forward to seeing them as they're one of the units I hardly ever get to see. Will have to catch them Labor Day weekend I guess.

Bucs had improved on a lot of the things that I was griping about after Wildwood. Stamina seemed improved towards the end of the show. No major collisions. Either there was more detail added to the beginning of the show, or it was stuff I just didn't see the first time. Either way, it helped the big picture. One thing I still can't get past is the drum line. Despite being very good, they have a fair amount more dirt this year than last year and are still receiving ridiculously high marks. Doesn't add up from where I'm sitting. Also, color guard performed VERY well Saturday night. I agree that Reading is still the best corps out there so far, but the point spread is silly. More on that later.

Hurricanes have been quiet all winter, so I was really waiting to see what they would bring to the table. Their show does not disappoint. Musical selections are enjoyable and executed well. There are some minor problems with the marching that I expect will be resolved quickly. There was one near-disaster when some of the bass drummers collided which sent bass #2 (the drum, not the player) rolling across the field. The player made the right call and stepped out of line for a few counts to get the drum back on and get back into his spot. A good recovery that could otherwise have ended really bad. The battery is remarkable this year and I had slightly over Reading (what?! they're THAT much cleaner!) And I'm sorry, but this color guard is the best one. PERIOD. Reading's was really good, Hurcs = BEST.

Cabs were all kinds of bad last night. I mean no disrespect, but I'm not sure what happened between last week and this to make things that were good last week, so dirty a week later. It really bummed me out because I was expecting them to take a big step forwards, and felt they went backwards a little bit, regardless of what the judges saw. Cabs (especially drum line) please CALM DOWN!!! It really felt like they were coming out so fired up that they just got carried away and made silly mistakes, or just lost control of dynamics, articulations, body movements, etc. Same thing seemed to happen to Bush this week, so maybe they were just over-hyping. Point is, I know they are better than what I saw last night, and I hope that's the show I see next time.

There was a fife & drum group (sorry I missed where they were from) that was on while I was trying to tend to my screaming child. What I heard was excellent stuff. That sort of entertainment is not usually my cup of tea, but they're style and performance level made them more engaging to a casual fan such as myself.

The final exhibition was the hometown Park City Pride, who always put on a great show. Their performance of timeless drum corps classics always seem to strike a chord with the older generations and some of the younger folks alike. Again, I apologize for not being able to review them properly, but I had a baby to deal with.

Now - let me make some bold observations. I think the judges have lost their minds over the past two shows. There was NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH that the Cabs should have beaten the Hurricanes last night. There was also NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH that the Hurricane's guard should have been any other place except numero uno. Fpor the record, hear were my scores (using the same sheets as the DCA judges):

Bucs.........80.225

Hurcs........76.325

Cabs.........73.225

Bush.........70.350

Fusion.......64.150

Gold..........63.325

Again - these are just my un-biased, un-filtered, un-censored opinions. Take them with a grain of salt. Please do not take offense at them, I don't mean to p*** anybody off, but I think the good 'ol "everyone was great" reviews don't really do much for anyone.

PS - don't bother sending me hate mail or flaming me on here - I simply don't care.

[bcc]

I'm exhausted from traveling all weekend, so please excuse me not posting a full review. That being said, here are my quick thoughts from Bridgeport: (please note, I mean no offense to anyone, but I'm feeling brutally honest today) Also note: the weather was weird - kinda on again / off again all the way up til show time. And I was perturbed by the folks at the gate - none of whom could be bothered to point me in the right direction of an ATM. (Kinda sad since I needed to find one before I could give them $60 for tickets.)

The PAL Buccaneers were a tiny local exhibition unit. They field 8 or 9 horns and 3 or 4 drums with 2 kids holding flags. I love checking out these kinds of groups because it makes me feel good watching grass roots drum corps in a world that has all but forgotten its roots. I'll be honest - they struggled - a lot. But you know what? Shame on whoever designed a program for kids this young with such challenging arrangements. You should know better. Choose musical arrangements that are challenging (and require effort to improve) but achievable. It does no one any good to hear 8 players struggle through an arrangement of Russian Sailor's Dance that would make people with three times their experience sweat. I respect those kids for going after it and giving their all - but I hope those in charge get a clue.

Fusion was much improved from their debut at Wildwood last week. A lot of the major issues were more readable. One thing that needs to be fixed is that battery. It' been over three years and that's still a mess. A big part of what bugs me when watching Fusion this year is that they are really trying to push the envelope in show design, but don't have the horses to pull some of it off. Certain parts will eventually clean up, but overall, they are being very ambitious this year. The high point is that they are really reaching to "change perceptions" as they say. The weak point is starts and stops (visually) and the beginnings and ends of musical phrases. Additional stamina will help them surge ahead late in the season. But in order to get to the level they want, that battery really needs to get back to basics.

Carolina Gold was a pleasant surprise last night. I didn't know what to expect as I was thoroughly disappointed with last year's show and didn't feel they should have made the Sunday show. (Again - my opinion, sorry.) However I was excited when I saw their battery tracking parts of the show in the lot outside the stadium. The battery (though small) is rather tight, particularly the bass line, and they add a lot to the program. The guard performs well. I get the play on words with "primary suspects" and the use of primary colors. The program is engaging to the average listener, although some of the Bernard Herman stuff (ala 200 Blue Devils) may be a bit out of their league right now. And I say that, mostly because they only had 19 horns. As their horns get a little more endurance, and the show is finished, they could really upset some of the "primary suspects" at the Class A Finals.

Bushwackers had an up and down evening. There were elements that improved from Wildwood, but I feel like they may have come into town looking to really make a statement and got a little carried away. The control they showed in their debut waned from time to time and exposed some rough parts. The show is developing rather well though, and the crowd was digging "Voodoo." The corps just needs to remember to perform the way they are capable of and they will do just fine. There are still a few more sets (maybe 4-6?) that they need to get on the field yet, and then it'll be time to clean, clean, clean. Bush is notorious for picking up steam as the season rolls on. Right now they are a good shot for the 6-8 spots, however if history holds true for them, there is good potential for a return to the top 5.

The Bridgemen got the first big standing ovation of the night. They were loud, but sloppy. Of particular note was the one soprano player who looked like he just joined the corps that day. He spent half the show with his horn down running around the field, moving through halts, nearly causing collisions, and just being a big-time contributor to the slop factor. Enough about that. The music was good (mostly) but got a little out of hand from time to time. Look, I know it's alumni corps and you're not getting a score, but learn how to toe the line between UGFL and downright crass.

Les Dips never made it because of troubles at the border. Too bad - I was looking forward to seeing them as they're one of the units I hardly ever get to see. Will have to catch them Labor Day weekend I guess.

Bucs had improved on a lot of the things that I was griping about after Wildwood. Stamina seemed improved towards the end of the show. No major collisions. Either there was more detail added to the beginning of the show, or it was stuff I just didn't see the first time. Either way, it helped the big picture. One thing I still can't get past is the drum line. Despite being very good, they have a fair amount more dirt this year than last year and are still receiving ridiculously high marks. Doesn't add up from where I'm sitting. Also, color guard performed VERY well Saturday night. I agree that Reading is still the best corps out there so far, but the point spread is silly. More on that later.

Hurricanes have been quiet all winter, so I was really waiting to see what they would bring to the table. Their show does not disappoint. Musical selections are enjoyable and executed well. There are some minor problems with the marching that I expect will be resolved quickly. There was one near-disaster when some of the bass drummers collided which sent bass #2 (the drum, not the player) rolling across the field. The player made the right call and stepped out of line for a few counts to get the drum back on and get back into his spot. A good recovery that could otherwise have ended really bad. The battery is remarkable this year and I had slightly over Reading (what?! they're THAT much cleaner!) And I'm sorry, but this color guard is the best one. PERIOD. Reading's was really good, Hurcs = BEST.

Cabs were all kinds of bad last night. I mean no disrespect, but I'm not sure what happened between last week and this to make things that were good last week, so dirty a week later. It really bummed me out because I was expecting them to take a big step forwards, and felt they went backwards a little bit, regardless of what the judges saw. Cabs (especially drum line) please CALM DOWN!!! It really felt like they were coming out so fired up that they just got carried away and made silly mistakes, or just lost control of dynamics, articulations, body movements, etc. Same thing seemed to happen to Bush this week, so maybe they were just over-hyping. Point is, I know they are better than what I saw last night, and I hope that's the show I see next time.

There was a fife & drum group (sorry I missed where they were from) that was on while I was trying to tend to my screaming child. What I heard was excellent stuff. That sort of entertainment is not usually my cup of tea, but they're style and performance level made them more engaging to a casual fan such as myself.

The final exhibition was the hometown Park City Pride, who always put on a great show. Their performance of timeless drum corps classics always seem to strike a chord with the older generations and some of the younger folks alike. Again, I apologize for not being able to review them properly, but I had a baby to deal with.

Now - let me make some bold observations. I think the judges have lost their minds over the past two shows. There was NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH that the Cabs should have beaten the Hurricanes last night. There was also NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH that the Hurricane's guard should have been any other place except numero uno. Fpor the record, hear were my scores (using the same sheets as the DCA judges):

Bucs.........80.225

Hurcs........76.325

Cabs.........73.225

Bush.........70.350

Fusion.......64.150

Gold..........63.325

Again - these are just my un-biased, un-filtered, un-censored opinions. Take them with a grain of salt. Please do not take offense at them, I don't mean to p*** anybody off, but I think the good 'ol "everyone was great" reviews don't really do much for anyone.

PS - don't bother sending me hate mail or flaming me on here - I simply don't care.

[PureRockFury]

Great review Sayre, hopefully no one sends you hate mail for being honest. That is what reviews are all about!

[JoeDz]

very useful summary review.