Southeastern Championships Atlanta Review - Top 14

[stevie89phan]

Quick background/disclaimer: Have posted Atlanta show review once before under diff screen name (Stevie 222?) in 06. With the exception of 07 have seen all the Atlanta regional shows from 06 on. This is the first year since then that I have felt compelled to review because this year ALL the Corps I saw were so impressive AND entertaining. Seats were in middle sec (220) under press box, on the 40.

Marched 92 and 93 Spirit. I am a horn guy and notice music first but understand with ‘modern’ Drum Corps the visuals are at least AS important as everything else. Appreciate guard and percussion, just can’t speak as intelligently on the two. These are my un-biased opinions as a fan but would never want to offend anyone especially a marching member.

Wanted to see more shows but was mainly worried with getting there in time to see Spirit’s biggest competition (Glassmen and Troopers).

Glassmen – Always like when a guard enters the field in character. Were selling the show and setting the dark, mysterious mood from the get-go. Nice concept. Well thought out. Moonlight theme always good for translating onto football field. Noticed some holes. Good showing from them.

Troopers – I loved this show! Very cool feeling when I saw them enter the field in the old- school looking unis. Bit of a flash back for me from watching the old stuff on DVD and Fan Network, even though I wasn’t around the first time they were popular in 70s/ early 80s I believe? Got to be hard to program for this Corps BECAUSE of the unis though. Not sure they could pull off just any concept but The Road Home fits them perfectly. Communicated the feeling of the open prairie very effectively. Loved the road and wheel visuals. Road tarp fits in nice with the show but is abstract enough to not be too distracting. LOVE THE INFINITY CHORD!!! Played very much in tune I might add. Liked the guard frilly/sleek unis. Just a great package over-all. Love the subtle ending. Want to see this show again for sure.

Blue Knights – Don’t think I can remember a more entertaining show from them. Haven’t always played to the crowd so was very happy about their repertoire. I recognized most of the music and really like all the arrangements. Loved the drumline and the middle section of the show. Hope to see them continue on this path for next year.

Blue Stars – Nice beginning. Don’t mind the prop at first, maybe gets a little awkward later, looks good though. Just wish they could have somehow pulled it apart and spread it out so Corp could have more field coverage. Good energy and nice sound.

Spirit of Atlanta – WELCOME BACK SPIRIT! HELLOOOOO HORNLINE! Of course I’m a little biased as an Alum but the thing that impressed me the most was there confidence and field presence right as they set foot onto the field. Sure the delirious screaming fans didn’t hurt! The front movie screen captures were very tastefully done and helped hold the concept in mind through-out the show. Nice GE moments with forming the A and film strip drill. Impressed with the guard this year too which doesn’t usually happen with them. Loved the film strip flags and all the different film characters. Loud but balanced. Awesome solos throughout. Perfect vehicle for them to re-capture a spot in finals this year and I really think they can do it! Way to go Spirit!!!

SCV – Have always been a fan of SCV. Like their crisp, clean look. Lends itself very well to their always awesome drill. Great marching, just wish I could have connected with the show a bit more. Almost as if they are doing a similar concept as Cadets just obviously darker. Percussion was awesome. Cymbal line is always my favorite thing about their show and they didn’t disappoint.

Boston Crusaders – One of my favs of the night! I love Les Mis! Love their red, white with silver. From high up it looked kinda like the silver on the front of the unis were camera flashes as they were in the block about to enter the field. Nice visual moments through out. Not sure they need the white tarp though. I think I get what they were trying to convey but is still iffy. The thing I liked most about the show is how they mixed Les Mis with 1812. Not sure it would work but they proved me very wrong. Awesome climax. Will want to listen to this one a lot for sure.

Madison Scouts – One of my all time favorite Corps! Brilliant opening statement. One of the things I’ve always been impressed with about them is how they can blend moments of powerful intensity with very emotional heart-felt moments. This year shows off that strength perfectly. The beginning hit with the power chord and then the un-comfortable dissonance as the guard opens the newspaper really grabs you by the throat to immediately submerse you into the pretty weighty concept. Very tricky show to pull off but I think they do it by not backing off while making sure to not trivialize 9/11. Seems the timing is right since it’s now been ten years.

Guard conveys the dis-oriented business man perfectly throughout the show. No lulls in this show. Had my interest the whole time. Feeling of hope and re-newel conveyed very well toward end of show. Hornline sells the heck out of it too.

Bluecoats – Always thought of this Corps as one of the more entertaining ones although this year as well as last year felt a little cold to me for lack of a better word. I did enjoy their rendition of Creep. Some very nice and intricate staging moments, especially the quadraphonic section, I just want MORE of it! Think they fall a little flat in the end though. Sound and look is very competent over-all though.

Phantom Regiment – My other all time favorite Corps! The thing that impressed me most about them this year was their balance and control. Especially during the softer sections. Perfect concept for them. Always prefer them to have an all female guard and was impressed with their unis and guard work this year. Just so wish they had more impact moments musically and yes they need to kick the drill up a notch. I know they can play louder if they want because they absolutely brought it for the closer. I don’t know, maybe the ending was more effective because they held back in the beginning? Do think they always need some sort of cape or flowy type thing on their uniforms though. Just doesn’t seem like Phantom without it. Very beautiful and entertaining none the less.

Carolina Crown – The funnest show of the evening for sure! They were ready to rock from the very beginning. Loved the guard and all the “trust” falls off of the scaffolding, very effective. One thing they always do best is the body movement stuff. Fit with this show very well. Any Corps that can get the whole audience to clap along with their music is ok by me. Not Championship caliber show this year but I am confident it will be soon enough for them for sure. They have been my favorite hornline from 07 on and thought the sound was amazing this night as well. One of the FEW corps that don’t make me miss the G bugles. They got me out of my seat more than once!

Cavaliers – Really appreciated the fact that the horn book was as entertaining as the visual this year. I liked all the gimmicks with the upside down drums, stilts, etc, just too much to take in at once!!! This is the kinda show you have to watch more than once to fully appreciate all that’s going on. Nature Boy tastefully done. Liked the fact that they had a concept but kept it more abstract. Maybe not the best horn performance of the night but am loving their power and intensity for sure.

Cadets – Hands down the best performance of the night and my favorite of the night! This staff has lots of guts to even attempt to pull this thing off. Technically it’s like writing for two separate Corps with the ‘Angels’ and the ‘Demons’ always doing their own thing but once there are together having to make sure it works. They do it INCREDIBLY well. Wasn’t convinced it could work, but think they unify the Corps when they need to by using lots of white to balance everything out. The drill is amazing. The music I think is the most complex book out there this year. The gold and silver ‘pole’ fight was the most awesome GE moment of the night for the whole audience I think. Standing O after that one! I just can’t give this show enough praise. The only thing that bothered me a little was when the final angel came out towards the end and the guard brought out the huge white fabric panels…wish they could have been huge flags to show more movement maybe? All the white was a nice effect though. Had the crowd emotionally invested the entire time. This show alone makes me want to get the DVDs for repeated viewing. One of my new favorites from a pretty small selection from the 00s. My favorite Cadets show in a long long time for sure.

Blue Devils – The horneline reminds me of my favorite old school BD hornlines from yester year. Veeery laid back but still oozing confidence. The guard is great as usual. Some nice moments with the building of the house section from the corps but when your hornline is this good YOU DON’T NEED ALL THOSE PROPS! And I not only appreciated last year’s show but actually liked it. Think the final house prop gets a little lost right over the white of the 50 yard marks. Is the drill complex enough to be a winner? No. Is it enough for them to execute a not so difficult visual show flawlessly? I don’t think so. But it was entertaining just seemed REALLY flat after Cadets for me for sure.

All in all a really freaking awesome night of Drum Corps! Several of my friends, me included said it felt like a finals show. Big thanks to Michael Cesario for spear-heading the effort to nudge the Corps in a more entertaining, fan-friendly direction. After all, without the audience why is it worth it? If you haven’t seen a show, GO! Hopefully this review will be an incentive for someone who wasn’t sure about this year to lay down the bucks and go see a show. It will be well worth it!!!

[JFitz19]

Great review. Thanks!