Popular Post mingusmonk Posted June 23, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2017 Caveat: I am a percussionist. Vantage point between the 40 and 45. Top row of the bottom section. I moved for Bluecoats to the bottom row of the 200 level. Still at the 40/45. Crossmen - missed. Sorry y'all. Blue Stars Their brass sounds better and fuller than ever. They are moving a ton but too far from pulling it off. Their percussion score is legit. Definite growth in percussion. All groups are still heavily editing, but it is very apparent that there is a lot missing in this program today. My verdict remains suspended until there is more meat. One thing that is apparent ... in 2017, this is basically old-school drum corps story-telling show. Cadets I was torn on this. Some of the choices and their approach I just loved (mostly musical). But the things I did not love had the opposite affect. I appreciate that they are trying to evolve but they don't really seem to have their arms around how they are doing it. Unlike many voices around here, my optimism for their potential growth has been tempered by so many staff and designer shifts. I know they are all experienced and proven folks, and some of then experienced within the Cadets system, but they made a lot of changes and that is hard to overlook. This is the result. I feel like the percussion ordinals are just about right although overall spread might be a bit much. As a frequent main offender of overblown electronics, Cadets have improved slightly. But their output implementation lacks the sophistication to make up any further ground in really massaging and helping to nuance what is being pumped into it. I'm talking speaker diversity and placement here. They also need to work on isolating background noise from bleeding into the choral section mics. Battery was getting picked up quite a few times. Cavaliers Being up front here, this show is not my style. I'm not saying it should score poorly. On the contrary, I love that DCI today can consist of so much variety in styles and that are all are capable of succeeding. It is just a little schlocky for my own personal tastes. Moving on. The flag work was fantastic. And they have done a great job designing around that strength. The color and staging kept this drummer fascinated. Mac and Miller crafted a great percussion book. A little frustrating that the snares had struggles with some basics, rolls, etc considering all of the tricks they are doing ... splits, hand-to-hands and what-not. I'm sure they'll clean that up. And that is probably why their Achievement ordinal was 3rd. Other than a problem getting one synth-cart hot to start the show, their electronics are off to a much better start than 2016. Crown We all like live shows better than video. But I have to say this specifically about Crown. This show comes across MUCH better live. Significantly more so than most corps. Of course the brass is stellar once again. The first very sincere wild crowd on their feet in rapture moment came from that opening hit. And it happened more than once. They need to figure out what to do about a 3rd Act that seems like an abrupt shift and has a rudderless feel. And not rudderless in a way that creates freedom. I'm sure they are working on it. They all are. A week ago the vocalist was overpowering the brass. This week, the brass washed her out quite a bit. Evidence that staff knows what is happening and is working it. Percussion has lots of notes and a new swagger but they also have a rare problem for a Hannum unit. They hit the drums real hard. A lot. In last night's stadium setting, they seemed to get no quieter than the rare mezzo forte and it was definitely noticeable due to being sandwiched between two more dynamic groups. Bluecoats We watched some rehearsal yesterday before final ensemble got rained out. Talked to a few folks and learned some details that definitely affected my interpretation of the opening performance. They are behind where they were during opening day last year (my words). Which is fascinating. There was much more last minute work going on. Discussions after the rainout revealed they had only had 4 full run-throughs before last night. And the 1 full dress run through they had did not included the closer because they weren't done learning it yet. Last night's performance was the first "complete" full dress run. Not sure what the theater was showing at the end, but the battery hype ... shouting, screaming, tears ... was legit celebration of a true accomplishment. There is a lot on these kids' shoulders and they went for it hard. I'll let everyone else break this show down because obviously I'm biased. But one thing I mentioned in the official Bluecoats thread that I should repeat: The ballad will only work live. I just don't see how the DCI/Flomarching production crew has the capability to capture and share what is really going on there musically. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMadMan Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 3 hours ago, BRASSO said: Am I the only one that is concerned with marcher safety when those Bluecoats heavily sloped props get wet in the inevitable summer showers in outdoor shows , not completely dried, and Bluecoats performers have to run pell mell down the sloped runways, one right after the other ? Last nite there was a bad fall by a snare drummer, and the show was indoors. Imagine trying to dry these off after it rains as the performers line up in outdoor shows this summer.Oh well, maybe its just me thinking ahead, and it'll be a non issue. Hope my safety concern on this turns out to be way overblown. Everybody keep their fingers crossed though. Otherwise, what an outstanding musical and visual beast of a show the Bluecoats have once again this season, imo Oh, I think that thing is a death trap and a lawsuit waiting to happen. Just risky and irresponsible of the staff, IMO. At least with the ramps, a fall would be broken by the gradual slope. One misstep here could have some very serious consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mingusmonk Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 54 minutes ago, flammaster said: how was bloo closer? been waiting 30 years for another corps to do Zappa. Faithful to Zappa. You'll like. BTW - it is not quite the closer. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinetic inferno11 Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 So since Carolina Crown has an abstract show bashed that it makes no sense, the Bluecoats have just as much of an abstract show but it's adored by many. How does their musical selections portray a "Jagged Line"? I don't listen to it and think "wow, this really fits the show theme, it all makes sense" just like I don't feel that way with Crown either. Both are supper abstract but because the Bluecoats have a line prop it's suddenly crystal clear? I just don't understand how one is too confusing and weird, but the other is an artistic masterpiece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn craig Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 Watched in the theatre. Just a few comments. Crossmen: Props seemed like someone thought "everyone else is using props so we will too." They didn't add to the show except for guard equipment storage. Good music, but as others have said it is visually a mess. Could easily be challenged by Madison/Troop/Colts. Blue Stars: Good show and music. I thought the theme came across better this year. Great brass sound; think they could handle more than given to do. Cadets: Not sure. Trying to hard? Seemed overdone to me. I don't like the last uniform; it doesn't make sense and looks like a onesie. Keep the coats on!!! Cavaliers: Field looked cluttered with too much stuff. Great guard. Was VERY disappointed in the Mars arrangement. Crown: Great brass; and high performance level by the entire corps. Liked the first half of the show but not the second half. They lost me; didn't get the theme. Lose the singer. Liked that they had minimal props. Bluecoats: A prime example of "less is more." Black and white with some nice color from the silks. Nice clean look and enjoyable music. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadtrombonesound Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 (edited) I'll be honest, I don't get the connection of the theme and music for either crown or bluecoats, but I don't fault the corps for that. It's more because I'm not familiar enough with the shows yet. As I see each more I imagine the connection will become more clear. And if it doesn't, I think they are still a lot of fun to watch and listen to. I certainly have the things I'd like to see changed in each one, but whether those things get changed or not (probably not) I'm still excited to see how these shows develop. Edited June 23, 2017 by sadtrombonesound 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 18 minutes ago, kinetic inferno11 said: So since Carolina Crown has an abstract show bashed that it makes no sense, the Bluecoats have just as much of an abstract show but it's adored by many. How does their musical selections portray a "Jagged Line"? I don't listen to it and think "wow, this really fits the show theme, it all makes sense" just like I don't feel that way with Crown either. Both are supper abstract but because the Bluecoats have a line prop it's suddenly crystal clear? I just don't understand how one is too confusing and weird, but the other is an artistic masterpiece. Look at the show description for Bluecoats, it actually makes perfect sense. Mind you, Crown's show makes sense too, but poorly implemented in my opinion 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleveland1 Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 (edited) 36 minutes ago, kinetic inferno11 said: So since Carolina Crown has an abstract show bashed that it makes no sense, the Bluecoats have just as much of an abstract show but it's adored by many. How does their musical selections portray a "Jagged Line"? I don't listen to it and think "wow, this really fits the show theme, it all makes sense" just like I don't feel that way with Crown either. Both are supper abstract but because the Bluecoats have a line prop it's suddenly crystal clear? I just don't understand how one is too confusing and weird, but the other is an artistic masterpiece. everyone seems to love Crown for 2/3rds of the show, until the vocals take over. its not as much a direct result of the concept. Bloo has been doing rather edgy or abstract shows for a while now. Tilt, Kinetic Noise, Down Side Up, and now Jagged Line. Perhaps their concept has gotten progressively more abstract (tilt wasn't abstract but it was very conceptual). But you get the point, people are expecting this kind of show from Bloo. They've medaled each year they've done this. Crown has not, however. They were very "intellectual" with For the Common Good, E=MC2, Out of this world, and Inferno. Relentless was a solid show that told a story. It Is is...different. We don't expect this show from Crown, maybe BD. It is abrupt because Crown medaled 4 times over the last 5 seasons. They didn't need to reinvent themselves. But they did, they want to stay at the forefront of the activity. Edited June 23, 2017 by Cleveland1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superOOk Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 This was BLOO's first full run through in uniforms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 1 minute ago, superOOk said: This was BLOO's first full run through in uniforms. That's impressive and scary as hell. I hope they'll get the safety of the ramps worked out in the next couple weeks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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