DCI Warrenton, VA Show

[Bill_VA]

It is a real scortcher this afternoon with temperatures well into the 100 degree mark. At 5:00pm the temperature was reading at 105 degrees. I stopped by the Jersey Surf practice facility and it was revealed that they corps will be marching with brand new uniforms. The new uniforms were deigned by Michael Cesario but with some minor changes that were member inspired. They are a dark blue with white trim. The styling is close to what a Naval Officer may wear with large silver buttons. They will also be marching with new shakos with a large 14" white plume. It shoould make the members look nearly 10' tall out there and I for one am looking forward their unveiling along with the highly Americana program.

7:00pm is kickoff with six Open Class corps (7th Reginment, Raiders, Les Stentors, Spirit of Newark, Legends, and Racine Scouts). And Jersey Surf as the lone World Class corps.

Tomorrow, several of these corps will be appearing in a parade honoring the Boy Scouts of America who's National Jamboree starts this week.

Quick review will be here later along with the scores.

Edited July 24, 2010 by Bill_VA

[Bill_VA]

COming in live from Bealton, VA - first up is Spirit of Newark. quiet opening of Mr. Roboto working the 12 brass - Cool tune. Some park and play moments with the 8-member color guard on the fron with silks of black and red. Strong ending with percussion pushing forward to front line.

For the size and talent, Spirit has a lot of heart. Opening with a melophone solo to Haven't We Been Here Before and it is a nice ballad for this very young corps. Color guard on blue and white swich flags doing an admirable job.

Next up was a percussion feature of Heavy Metal Poisoning. Many attempts at some visual drill impacts were attempted. Percussion was reasonably expressive. Color guard program is incomplete at this point.

The corps performed Don't Let It End right after the percussion feature and ending the program with a reprise of Mr. Roboto.

Summary, young corps with much heart and they work hard. Crowd was very attentive and gave the corps a good applause.

Next up is Les Stentors - Sherbrooke, QU with their program called "A New Day"

[Bill_VA]

Les Stentors look great out there in their blue uniforms and black pants. Good size corps. color guard is outfitted in yellow and black which complements the corps colors nicely. The corps opens their program with Grace Kelly featuring a duet of trumpets who did a very nice job. Cool visual with color guard on red/white/yellow silks.

Comme au Premier Jour was up next. Interesting percussion featurette in the number with the percussion performing great expression. Color guard is a standout doing a good job with choreography and equipment. Brass is loud and ends the number well.

Pit opens Rock et Belles Oreilles Medley this is a very nice brass ballad - the corps ensemble performance is much more in sync in this number. Expressive and works well with this young corps talent. Very cool effect when the color guard switches to large white silks. Started strong and bold, ended soft and elegant.

Some real swing and tempo change with a percussion opening of Til the Day I Die, audience got into the swing of the number. The bass drums performance with laying the drums down and playing as an ensemble from drum to drum was a lot of fun. Percussion feature has the whole line swing and performing with style. The brass sang and boogied on thefield before the ensemble comes together and closes this fun number with panache.

The software melody of When I Rise was almost a restbit showing off a stronger ensemble performance by the brass. Ending the show was a very expressive performance of La Revolution that had the corps showing more style and stronger performance. Strong ending, nice overall show. The design and demand well suited this corps capabilities.

[Bill_VA]

Next up is the Racine Scouts - Racine, WI with their show titled - Fascinating Rhythms - The Music of George Gershwin! Stay tuned!

[Bill_VA]

With a show designed around Gershwin music, Racine certainly has my attention. The corps looks very nice with their medium blue tunics over white pants with their distinctive silver helmets and short orange plume. DM is using a baton.

It starts with a walking warmup of Summertime a very sultry performance backfield, thern the announcement and the corps continues with Summertime to a loud bold ending. Nice front ensemble moment to the introduction of An American in Paris. Nicely done! The corps does a few change ups with a mixture of Gerwin numbers with a quick intro of Strike Up the Band. Clever writing. The color guard in all yellow is a cool visual statement.

The corps next performance another number from Porgy and Bess called I Loves You, Porgy. This was a nicely designed ballad and shows off a brass line that is improving every season. Percussion has jooined the color guard on flags but I think it would be more effective if they were not so different.

Iteresting moment with the corps performance of I got Rhythm, with a very cool Tuba soloist, a jazzy set drummer in the front ensemble. This is accompanied with the keyboards performing a highly expressive jazz rendition of Rhythm. Some nice brass statements are noted as the corps launches back into a more sultry performance of An American in Paris. Much to enjoy in this overall production. Percussion was first rate and exprssive through the whole show.

Color guard are fes, but they also made a strong effort to bring in a strong performance. Brass has touches of brillance at times and if they can lock into their whole performance it will be something to behold.

Fun show! Crowd loved it!

[gimpy]

Thanks for the updates!

[Bill_VA]

Up next before intermission is 7th Regiment from New London, CT with their performance called Macabre. Sounds evil! Stay tuned!

[Bill_VA]

Looking really cool in their mostly black uniforms, the 7th Regiment took the field in a tight block. The overlay triangle of blue and white stands out prominently, and is the first corps of the evening to use special effects through the front ensemble.

Wow! very bold statement from brass and percussion seconds after the announcements. Trumpets were fantastic with their intonation and overall tone. Outstanding opening with all elements. Color guard has a nicely demanding programs. Brass is excelling tonight. Several different tempo changes and total feel of the music and program handled with aplomb. Danse Macabre was well written for this corps talent which is in great supply.

Excellent effects as the corps danced into the next number A Long, Long Time Ago (from Pan's Labyrinth). Very mysterious and surreal sounding. Nice control brass on the held long notes. Almost full volume. Percussion has been excellent in both support and feature.

Good over drill design and the performers handle it well. Color guard's got real game, they have a nice book and they are doing a great job this evening.

String Quartet in F Major is excellent when near the end of the number the color guard pulled out these stuff... somethings and danced with them to the number loud climax.

Next up was the corps performance of Serenada Schizophrana (mvt. 1 Pianos). Certainly added to the corps overall crafty performance. This is a well engineered program and if they can get consistancy from start to finish will work well for them come Championships.

Visually strong, musical sound, highly expressive, just an overall excellent program. It was much fun to watch, intriguing to listen to, many cool ideas that made this show a plus.

Now intermission! Stay tuned!

[aliceK]

This is greatly appreciated by those of us who couldn't make it to the show. Thanks so much!

Alice Krumenaker

Communication

Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps

[Bill_VA]

Coming out of the intermission, the corps is the Raiders from Wayne, NJ performing their 2010 production titled "Platinum Celebration" like several other corps this season, membership has been at a premium. This seasons corps is small but mighty as they have a nicely talented base of young performers. This is the corps 20th anniversary and according to Tom Maiello, Director, the corps wanted to make this a celebration season so the music is different than previous years with a more upbeat sound and tempo.

Corps is looking sharp with their blue cadets tops over black pants with white trim. Color guard looks lovely in their white dresses with the slight trim in silver. Elegance seemed to be the theme this season.

Kicking off their production was Celebration Fanfare, the corps lines up across the mid field and looks fantastic. Highly bold opening statement from brass and percussion from note one. Loud, strong, majectic. Great start!

Very nice lower brass statement not highly demanding but performed very well and cleanly. The trumpets and mid-range brass take over with their minor feature and sounded very nice. Will say that the lower brass sounds marvelous and they support the musical theme well. Color guard is handling the nicely developed program with cool equipment handling. Very cool abupt ending.

Exultate is the corps nxt number, that opens quietly with the front ensemble. Another place for the lower brass to shine coming off after the pit intro. Visually the color guard is spread through the brass with the front ensemble doing a nice feature and the brass accenting in bidy.. Cool, color guard has some beautiful pastel swing flags that complement their outfits.

The celebration continues with Exhilaration with a ore upbeat tempo and more full brass ensemble. Visually the show moves a nice pace adding to the demand of the performers. Color guard on sabres perform nicely but could use more visual impact as the corps is not moving at this point.

The show ebbs and flows tempo and style wise. This is especially true with New Beginnings where the color guard has moved on to some lovely multi-blue and orange silks. The show slides right to left and concludes with a bold statement.

Brass was nice but mixed performance this evening. Percussion has a nice book but some mixed performance there as well. Color guard has a tough job staying visible at the right time but they work very hard.