OldManAlto Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 ok.... so first I went over to the dorms, just to talk to a few people before they left for warm-up at the stadium. They were all pumped up about a day that they rehearsed as a real show day, top to bottom. The pressures of being trapped in Jacksonville got to a lot of them, and who wouldn't blame them, I'm stuck here as well and there isn't a darn thing to do in this place. lol While the hornline was starting to walk in two's, I rushed over to my car and then back to the line where I placed Spiegadagak on Candy's shako. Wouldn't be a true Spirit performance without our beloved rat watching over to hornline at warmups, and also on the sideline with the staff. About the guard unis, those weren't the real unis....there was a small glitch in the other ones, so they had to send them back...I don't know exactly what they are going to do though, so maybe those will be it for the summer...not to dis on them though, because they look great from the press box About the field condition, I helped bring the podiums onto the field while the corps was still in warmups. I wasn't taking a large step at all and I almost bit the dust. I turned to Jeff Richmond, Spirit's DM, and told him someone is going to bite it tonight On to the show....starts with a chime solo, copying that of a bell tower striking noon, and then one by one, individual sections faintly begin their trek through "time"<------- I just came up with that one. b**bs Faintly you here segaments of Auld Lang Syne and Time in a Bottle backfield and then, striking quickly, the corps turns around, giving the crowd a moment of shock as they push back the stands with Somewhere In Time. The intro ends with the corps forming into an hourglass, as the guard runs down from the top to bottom like sand Without stopping, the corps goes into Mach 1 with Vertical Momentum( Whirr, Whirr, Whirr). They had their biggest problem with this last night, not exactly timing issues, but with the field being so crappy and their feet moving so fast, a few members took a couple spills, but in doing so, still had a great run of it. Those mello runs are something to be drooling over. Side-splitting movement as you watch a few of the pass throughs If you all thought that Spirit's 02 ballad was an emotional moment, you are for some more goose bumps as the corps goes into October. An already amazing piece transformed into another amazing arrangement by Mark Fifer. Only trouble spot they had was the small ensemble group and they working those bugs out today...and if you don't think October wasn't enough to give you a hair raising experience, Matt Burns marching out onto the field in a vintage Spirit of Atlanta uniform, with what looked like an old 1980ish G bugle??( somebody from Spirit clarify this for me), will. Although the Let It Be Me solo is played backfield and not by Matt, it will put a tear in your eye. I was standing up in the top press box of Paul Snow with the likes of Spirit alumni such as Hunter Moss, Mike Morris, et al, and I think just having the old alumni who wore that uniform at one point, see that back on the field, put quite a few tears in their eyes, as well as my own. From a beautiful, emotional piece, to just WOW!!!!! Spirit goes back into the past with a LOUD version of Nuttville/No Jive. The kids are really having a fun time with this. All throughout, the hornline is just searing with energy. The drum solo/block party is really something to groove to, still not being an expert on drums, I can’t talk much about it except to say I can already tell an improvement from last year’s line. When the horns come back in, it becomes more intense than the first part of the tune, pushing the stands back another 100 yards or so. Definitely going to be a crowd pleaser. And finally the closer. More great movement in the drill. The entire corps just settles in after into a groove and lets it ride the rest of the way. Great work done by all sections. Starting out with Appalachian Morning and then starting to work back the time, with another LOUD statement of Somewhere In Time, this time with the horns and drums pushing forward in a company front and the guard up front, doing their best to spin those nasty, wet silks. Show ends with the corps forming another hourglass, this time with the guard running back to the top ….Show ends….crowd goes nuts…keeps cheering…horns and drums arc it up, playing Georgia…crowd goes more ballistic…evening ends….Be prepared to lose your voice Overall... the guard, drums and horns are all much improved since last summer. Sure there are some points that need work, but then again, it isn't August 9th yet :) and the drill, WAAAAAAY better than past summers. Spirit has the package this year. We can only wait and see where they take it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldManAlto Posted June 19, 2003 Author Share Posted June 19, 2003 Hey Carla- let the fallout commence :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soajoe Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 he said "package"...huh huh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCIFanOfAllDivisions Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 :lee: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldManAlto Posted June 19, 2003 Author Share Posted June 19, 2003 he said "package"...huh huh I put that one in there just for you big boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Directorofbands Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Jay covered it from top to bottom. Thanks for that. For those that didn't know, the field was HORRIBLE. Jay wasn't kidding. BAAADDDD!!!!! I was impressed that they were able to march at all in that crap. However, we have to talk about those guard unis. From my seat, they were (being nice) NOT pleasing to the eye. I've got some pics and wil upload for all sometime this weekend. Seriously, from a visual perspective, they clutter the pic.....combine all the black in the guard with the corps proper black pants......I just see clarity issues. More later. One disappointment for me was the drill.......not the execution, but the highly acclaimed Gaines drill. Yes, it's much better than past years, but I expected more. Especially 1) the corps stays between the 35's in front of the front hash a LOT. Some of the effect will get lost in the corps being so close to the pit..... Clarity. 2) field coverage - I don't remember if the corps proper ever made it outside of the 30 on the #1 side. 3) From the design aspect, if I was going to keep the hourglass motif at the end of the show, I would move the hourglass to the very beginning of the show, not at the end of the opening statement.....just a me design thing. Don't get me wrong.....I'm glad they have a better drill....and it is better. Although I want to see them again soon, I'm tied up this weekend so I'll miss Sevierville and Louisville. For those who are going to be there, sit back, relax and just enjoy!!! Spirit will be entertaining, especially for us middle aged old farts. Hope to see them at least three times this season and can't wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiaGirl Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 There's more than one set of guard unis, and the other set is at the manufacturer for fittings and alterations at the moment. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Directorofbands Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 There's more than one set of guard unis, and the other set is at the manufacturer for fittings and alterations at the moment. B) Thanks a LOT for that info. This year's show is on my "gonna be a favorite" list and I didn't want that guard uni to detract from that.....Best of luck Spirit!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssorrell Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 3) From the design aspect, if I was going to keep the hourglass motif at the end of the show, I would move the hourglass to the very beginning of the show, not at the end of the opening statement.....just a me design thing. But, the appearance of the hourglass both times comes in conjunction with the same musical statement...a statement that only comes at the end of the intro. You can hear the theme from "Days of our Lives", and in the opening title sequence of the soap opera, what do you see?...an hourglass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LancerFi Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 OldManAlto, can you tell me what you meant by the following: "Matt Burns marching out onto the field in a vintage Spirit of Atlanta uniform, with what looked like an old 1980ish G bugle??" Does this mean it's not in the show, but was done for their dress regearsal or will someone be doing this all year? Oh, I know I'll have a tear in my eye! Thanks and thanks for the review! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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