RedJazz1900 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 The Cadets were on fire tonight! They seemed very mature, and the changes to the cakes/mannequins really do help. Also, Statue Guy works better shirtless, seriously. I couldn't stop watching the ending fight. I need video proof..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwillis35 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 (edited) I just got back from the show. I have never seen more people at the Massillon show than this one. Holy cow! Had to be over 8,000 in attendance. All the corps put on a wail of a show, and the crowd was really into just about everyone. I thought intermission was a little too long, but the Bluecoats Alumni Corps performed and were a lot of fun, and there were so many people that they had to wait for most to get back to their seats. As for the corps: Phantom Regiment was in exhibition due to illness in the corps. We were hearing close to 30 people. But let me tell you that their brass and percussion put on a show. In stand-still concert form they performed their show music and they were freakin amazing! They got a huge standing O. Pound for pound their brass line is as good as any out there. Definitely one of the best sounds of the night. Madison has a nice back end to their show, but the first 2/3 of the show just fall flat on me. They also were the biggest culprit of using too much synth bass. Way too much. I just think this show was a "miss" this year. Good performers. Blue Knights are really good. I enjoy the show. It's ethereal, modern, and feels like a modern dance recital with brass and percussion. But there is a lot to enjoy, and there are moments their brass and percussion really play some amazing stuff. The colors are coordinated exceptionally well. If they had one or two more impact moments in this show they could move higher. Cavaliers, like Madison, were also one of the biggest synth bass users. It was simply WAY TOO much. I was expecting this show to have a greater impact on me, but it just fell flat most of the way through. However the ending is clever and well done. I think they've taken this thing about as far as they can. Their brass is better but still not in the league with the top 5 corps, and percussion didn't overwhelm me. Guard was wonderful though. Santa Clara has one of the most beautiful shows you will ever see. It's just tremendous from start to finish. But the ending falls a bit flat, and I'm mainly talking about the section leading up to the Vanguard emblem formation. The soft part of the ending is wonderful. I was a little surprised Cadets beat them. I don't think that will happen in Indy, but you never know. Having seen both Cavaliers and Cadets now live, I just do not think Cavaliers are in The Cadets league yet. It felt to me like Cadets should have 2 pointed them or more. The Cadets are flat out marching and playing beasts. Even when their show doesn't turn out as planned, they can still bring it with that brass and percussion of theirs. They were definitely on fire tonight and seemed very in control. The ending is still a mess and just feels flat. But musically this is a great show to listen to. Visually they are cleaning. The guard performed very well tonight. If SCV doesn't clean the feet and perhaps make a few enhancements, The Cadets can beat them -- as tonight was evidence. Carolina Crown is sporting one of the best shows this summer. So fun, so bold, and they are cleaning nicely. Yes, this is a 3-corps race for the title. I'm rooting for Blooo, but Crown was definitely on fire tonight. Their brass line is so good, so balanced, and HOLY MOTHER of LOUD! The guard was on fire, and they have a very solid and amazing percussion section. If Blooo does not clean some feet issues and BD perhaps doesn't get the GE number they need, Crown can easily win this. Having said that, The Bluecoats were also on fire and the general effect in that show is just unreal. It's been a long time since I've seen a show with that level of amazing GE. Brass and percussion are also amazing. Guard was fabulous, and the Coats have some of the most fun music out there. If Bloo is clean at Finals, then it's over -- end of story. Nobody is beating that show if it's clean enough. Not even the great Blue Devils. Thanks to all the corps!! Another amazing Massillon show in the books. Edited August 9, 2016 by jwillis35 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjeffeory Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Wow! Cadets! You've been eating your Wheaties! Good job. I didn't expect you to be able to do that this year. I have to see the "recaps". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defeldus2 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 BD always... Crown? Great brass line, great performers, great idea...to begin with. At this point, the storyline is a muddled mess, and not even the DCP fanatics (who are all awesome, by the way) who are fans of Crown can figure out the storyline. What? The story is dead simple and a child can follow it. The only debate anywhere is if the new ending is better or not. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwillis35 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 (edited) I've heard the Cavaliers had electronics issues tonight. I can only hope that's why they're .5 behind Cadets in GE now, because that makes absolutely no sense otherwise! Actually, it was SCV that had issues with electronics at the onset of their show. That aside, having seen them both tonight live, I just think Cadets have improved and moved beyond Cavaliers. I think Cavies have peaked. They can improve a few things here and there, but they just don't have show construction to go further. Most people around me felt Cadets were way better. Edited August 9, 2016 by jwillis35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjeffeory Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 This show sounds like something I need to put on my bucked list as a Bluecoats fan. Oh yes! It's a LOUD stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Blatch Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Oh yes! It's a LOUD stadium. The overhang helps keep all the sound in. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsd Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 What? The story is dead simple and a child can follow it. The only debate anywhere is if the new ending is better or not. Nope. It has changed too many times, the staging has been sketchy (as far as it relates to promoting the story with the cologuard, etc.), and while it may be simple enough for "a child to follow it", it does not achieve the effect it was set out to achieve. They are a GREAT corps, but this year's show is lacking from a totality standpoint. Same thing with Bloo. The sentimentality for either of those corps to win is currently outweighing rational thinking when it comes to assessing the shows on the field. Bloo is great, but there is no "there" for them. Crown is great, but there is no "story" outside of what they continue to tell fans via other ways besides their show. BD has, once again, the total package. Beginning, middle, end, and my goodness...listen to the freaking ballad in and of itself. They are the better production, and if they lose, it will be based on judging that is founded in sentimental emotion and not objective evaluation of what is on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumManTx Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Nope. It has changed too many times, the staging has been sketchy (as far as it relates to promoting the story with the cologuard, etc.), and while it may be simple enough for "a child to follow it", it does not achieve the effect it was set out to achieve. They are a GREAT corps, but this year's show is lacking from a totality standpoint. Same thing with Bloo. The sentimentality for either of those corps to win is currently outweighing rational thinking when it comes to assessing the shows on the field. Bloo is great, but there is no "there" for them. Crown is great, but there is no "story" outside of what they continue to tell fans via other ways besides their show. BD has, once again, the total package. Beginning, middle, end, and my goodness...listen to the freaking ballad in and of itself. They are the better production, and if they lose, it will be based on judging that is founded in sentimental emotion and not objective evaluation of what is on the field. That is of course just your opinion. :) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defeldus2 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Nope. It has changed too many times, the staging has been sketchy (as far as it relates to promoting the story with the cologuard, etc.), and while it may be simple enough for "a child to follow it", it does not achieve the effect it was set out to achieve. They are a GREAT corps, but this year's show is lacking from a totality standpoint. Same thing with Bloo. The sentimentality for either of those corps to win is currently outweighing rational thinking when it comes to assessing the shows on the field. Bloo is great, but there is no "there" for them. Crown is great, but there is no "story" outside of what they continue to tell fans via other ways besides their show. BD has, once again, the total package. Beginning, middle, end, and my goodness...listen to the freaking ballad in and of itself. They are the better production, and if they lose, it will be based on judging that is founded in sentimental emotion and not objective evaluation of what is on the field. I can't disagree any more without being rude. All three have incredible productions and members of all captions top to bottom, and the fact that they are all so close competitively with such vastly different styles is a testament to the state of the activity and the judges. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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