the lone ranger Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 No joke. BD guard has never lost in World class finals since DCI has moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2009. The last time we saw the unit fall at finals was in 2007, in which they placed third (.4 behind Cavaliers). Kudos to the guard staff at BD, not even Crown brass has been that dominant (yet). Yes and 2007 I believe crown was 2nd in guard with a sixth place drum corps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumManTx Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Blue Stars seem pretty great, scoring very high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxfreq1128 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 BD's guard is good ( as always ) this year, but its quite noticeable to me that they do considerably less equipment work this season than their immediate placement peers. Even several of the lower placing Corps Guards do a LOT more equipment work ( which is more difficult to do ). My suggestion is for those Corps doing more equipment work to rethink this in the offseason. If there is little consequence to doing less of the more difficult equipment work, then scrap that, and do more dancing, gymnastics, gyrating, posing, and solo improv., etc with the Guards, as thats what the judges now seem to prefer and point reward. I'm not sure I agree that equipment work is harder. Movement is extremely difficult to clean on a stage as large as a football field... And expressiveness -- which the majority of guards don't attempt with that much depth, if we're being honest -- only makes it worse. BD's guard is doing some impressive movement during the ballad. The characterization they're going for, the weird, sad, slinky clown bit, is really out there for each performer, and the unison movement so far this season is clearly a struggle for them. Same with the tambourine dance, which has an added element of being a musical component of the show. Very crisp, precise, energetic movements that *seem* easy because they're sexy. The BD have a weird show, like previous years, except Fellini has a uniquely tormented emotional style, and the guard has to do the vast majority of the work when it comes to communicating that clearly. That's hard... A lot harder than if the emotional peaks and valleys are already kind of obvious -- Scherezade, angels/demons, Les Miz, 007, etc. (not hating; just comparing.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxfreq1128 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 And if anyone dethrones BD, it will be Crown. They're the only ones making an almost equally strong showing, and their writing tends to be beeeeeeautiful. This year, though, man... i just don't know. Not feeling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citizen-Seth Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 I can't imagine any guard this year (or probably any guard of any other year) beating BD come finals night. I do think they're unusually dirty for this point in the season, but that is a testament to the difficulty of their show (and their run in Ft. Wayne was just all out dirty.). On the other hand, I do have a little problem with Crown's colorguard...for what seems like the Nth year in a row, the guard starts the show with a ripple of rifle tosses. Seriously, I think the last time they didn't start this way was 2009? It's getting a little stale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 I can't imagine any guard this year (or probably any guard of any other year) beating BD come finals night. I do think they're unusually dirty for this point in the season, but that is a testament to the difficulty of their show (and their run in Ft. Wayne was just all out dirty.). On the other hand, I do have a little problem with Crown's colorguard...for what seems like the Nth year in a row, the guard starts the show with a ripple of rifle tosses. Seriously, I think the last time they didn't start this way was 2009? It's getting a little stale. Nothing wrong with having a signature move/set/horn rip/etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citizen-Seth Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Nothing wrong with having a signature move/set/horn rip/etc. No, not at all, but I think what makes these signature moves great is the way they're constantly reinvented and reworked for the show each year. BD's guard's 8's, for example; everyone knows they're coming, but each year they're at a different point in the show and staged differently. Likewise, BAC's "Conquest" melody is played in minor chords this year to fit the theme of the show this year. I'm all for Crowngaurd having a signature, and an impressive one to boot, but I'd like to see them expand on it. Certainly, I would get a little tired of a hornline starting N shows with a variation on the same 8th note run; this is no different. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUARDLING Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 I'm not sure I agree that equipment work is harder. Movement is extremely difficult to clean on a stage as large as a football field... And expressiveness -- which the majority of guards don't attempt with that much depth, if we're being honest -- only makes it worse. BD's guard is doing some impressive movement during the ballad. The characterization they're going for, the weird, sad, slinky clown bit, is really out there for each performer, and the unison movement so far this season is clearly a struggle for them. Same with the tambourine dance, which has an added element of being a musical component of the show. Very crisp, precise, energetic movements that *seem* easy because they're sexy. The BD have a weird show, like previous years, except Fellini has a uniquely tormented emotional style, and the guard has to do the vast majority of the work when it comes to communicating that clearly. That's hard... A lot harder than if the emotional peaks and valleys are already kind of obvious -- Scherezade, angels/demons, Les Miz, 007, etc. (not hating; just comparing.) good observation and a total look at an entire package instead on just one element of it. Often people mistake ( concerning guards ) is harder is better, higher is better, continuous is better, thousands of tosses are better, not the case in any of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somerville Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 I like BD's guard best. What I like about them is their equipment work doesn't look like everyone elses. Remember when guards had their own unique style...probably not. There was a time when you could definitely tell the different style of Vanguard, Phantom, Madison and Cavies-now not so much. They all do the same asymetric toss now and the same body movement which I find boring and have seen 100 times. Blue Devils guard is just different than the rest of them. I would so enjoy a guard coming out and doing something completely opposite of what they are all doing now....how about military and in unison? The single saber toss on the left and single rifle toss on the right is so tired-we have seen it....move on please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guardguy89 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) From what I've seen so far: I still have issues with the amount of time BD's guard spins on place and how they never seem to toss while on the move, or how they can just run to their next set without work - however, having said this, they are by far my favorite guard program this year. What they bring to the program, the "Felliniesque" aspect of their movement and the professionalism, technique and training of each and every member is spectacular. I thought Crown should have won last year. I felt their equipement, movement and drill was insanely difficult (a 7 blade tosse on the run- sure!!) and their performance level was spectacular. This year, I'm not so sure. They're still fantastic, but there's just something missing - for now anyways - and those round orange disk things aren't doing them any favors. Boston Crusaders have a very, very difficult show with multiple responsibilities. They are still struggling with it, and will need to clean it up if they want to get the credit. Absolutely love how they are portraying the music and what they are attempting to do - it just needs to be stronger. Vanguard - who in my opinion should have been 2nd in guard last year, has another strong guard this year. It doesn't have the "surprise" factor that last year's guard does (who was expecting them to be that good!!!!) - but they are still a very strong ensemble for the corps and I love the ballad choreography. Phantom is Phantom is Phantom. Their book is meatier than last year, and they are gorgeous as usual, but they don't have the wow factor yet. Definitely like the black portion of the show better - and they obviously are very well trained as usual - they just need some "special" moments in there. Not sure how much growth the program has without making major changes. Cavaliers - much stronger program than last year. Great costumes. I'm afraid of the emphasis that is placed on the 8 weapons though. They are clearly front and center for everything, and so far they aren't as strong as previous Cavalier weapon lines, so bobbles and mistakes stick out quickly. Still, I find that their program has alot of room to grow over the season - so I'm excited to see where it will go. BlueCoats are my surprise of the season. They are strong, they are clean and they clearly help sell the Tilt concept. Still not sure that the opening rifle / movement segment and the "V" poles used in the ballad are the right visual choice - but what do I know as they are scoring extremely well. Orange definitely is the new Blue! Crossmen has another strong program. They've been putting out some really excellent guards over the last couple of years, and I think this could be one of their stronger ones. Really seem to have a strong handle on their book early season - so that's always great to see. The Cadets probably have their strongest guard this year since the early 2000's. Still not sure that the blue costume fits all that well with the corps proper though. The opening flag statement at the beginning is gorgeous - they're on their way back to being a dominant power in the guard world. I'm excited toi see what the costume changes bring and hoping that they use the stage more - seems like a waste at this point. Blue Knights - I love what they are doing this year. It's stilll really, really, really dirty, but the potential is there. Not sure that having them in the exact same colors as the corps was a great idea - they kind of get lost sometimes when they're integrated to the horn line in the drill. Last point- is it just me or does Troopers guard "yellow" seem just a shade off??? Later, Mike Edited July 13, 2014 by Guardguy89 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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