Devils Crusade(rs) and Sin Along The Rockies 23

[Cappybara]

19 minutes ago, scheherazadesghost said:

Or perhaps, just perhaps, I simply don't want to discuss anything related to the pandemic with you and realized I should've never brought it up. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Sounds good 🙂 

[Jake W.]

I always appreciate reviews throughout the season from those at the show, so I will contribute. It was an absolutely terrific night of drum corps - not a snoozer or a "bathroom break" show in the entire line up. I truly enjoyed all 9 shows I saw last night!! Now for the novel.

 

The Battalion - It has been so fun to watch this corps start and then grow, and I am thrilled they are traveling to OC Championships for the second season in a row. I hope that's a yearly goal as they continue to explode in growth. Smart uniforms, excellent color choices, a HOT brass line (I really expected them to be closer to Cascades in brass), and meaty brass & percussion books. Color guard writing/general strength & more complex/interesting show designs seem to be their two areas of opportunity as they continue to grow with the next few seasons, but I really enjoyed what I saw tonight. RCR has been pacing similar numbers, and Columbians won't debut for the season until they start making their first trek toward Indy, but I do think a top 5 OC finish behind Gold/Spartans/Guardians/Southwind could be in the cards - that would be a massive feather in the cap of a blossoming young group. I really enjoyed watching them tonight. And again, sizzling brass line!

 

Seattle Cascades - Super happy that these guys are back on the field, and frankly, not in any worse shape than 2019, the last time they fielded a corps. Not bad to come back around or better than where you left off 4 years ago. Their conductor is FANTASTIC! He is passionate, animated, and knows how to get the most out of his group. That said, everything visually is filthy dirty at the moment (some of the drill even looks new? Legit missed transitions abounded in spots), but with massive headroom to grow as they continue to clean. It's a solid design underneath all of the dirt, and there are moments that are already firing on all cylinders, like the low brass chords to begin the Ticheli ballad. They sound shockingly rich & luxurious on those lines. Mmmm. It was unexpectedly good. Keep refining the rest of the show to that level. Guard needs to be grown as a caption in future seasons - they are clearly young with just basic writing this season. But, Cascades seem really healthy! Sustainably healthy. This seems to be a get-back-into-it year, and is going better than I anticipated. I'm looking forward to the finished product. Nice job from this group, and pending their ability to elevate the bulk of the show to the solid moments already coming through, should be able to secure a Semifinalist position.

 

Pacific Crest - They are indeed the real deal this season. They seem to be following the Colts' lead from last season - steady, noticeable strength in all captions - as opposed to exploding forth a la Troopers with an insane show & high GE. I'm here for it!! After last season's young corps struggled all summer to get ahold of the show, the designers seem to have met their group perfectly this year, giving them PLENTY of meat to chew on but pared down enough to be approached & cleaned a little earlier on. The corps is gelling together fantastically.  The ballad is sensational. The corps' brass sound is balanced, controlled, and blended beautifully. Guard work is intricate and punches above their weight. Drumline writing is exposed & musical. I also like that the concept is nebulous enough to be presented clearly, but can be layered in as the season demands. The Porkofiev Scythian Suite hit in the closer is FIRE now that they've moved the drill inward, and I look forward to the design team highlighting & bringing out a few more of those moments as the season progresses. Everything is just working well for PC this year, and they very well could earn their first Finals berth, and it would be well-earned indeed. This is a great show & corps with which to do it. I'm ready for it - they are fresh, nuanced, and firing together on all cylinders. It's a banner season for PC, and the scores are not lying. 

 

The Academy - Of the PC/Scouts/Spirit/Crossmen/BK/Academy tier, I think it's easy to say that The Academy has the "raw" design that looks, sounds, & works the most like a top 12 design. Of course PC has organically layered in or rewritten areas enough to have handily claimed that title by now, but Academy's raw design, which doesn't seem to have evolved much since my first viewing of them, is a really smart show filled with clear detail. They are certainly not maxing it out - the corps seems to still very much be in cleaning mode - but the design really is there. I would venture to say that if the corps can figure out how to max out the design that they already have on hand - as opposed to their neighbors who will be rewriting & reworking all season - The Academy really could make some noise, and at least move themselves top 12 adjacent. PC is probably too far gone to catch at this point, but they've got the leg up on design to the other 4 corps fighting to get close to the top 12. The performance was terrific to watch; they are starting to cook & gel together. I'm actually surprised the brass content scores aren't higher - the back half of the show is full of long, regal phrases mixed organically with solid brass demand, the front half of the show has the brass exposure, and the ballad is full of luxurious, slow, vulnerable builds, both large & small. Guard & percussion contents are quite respectable and right where I would imagine them to be. Every caption is solid all around. The Academy has rarely demonstrated themselves to be a clean-like-crazy corps, but the content is more than present - I'd like to see them polish this and rise up the ranks. Oh, and as one who is screamer-averse, the screamer in the closer nailed it both times. Crowd loved it, as did I. Honestly, it was a really enjoyable show to watch!! I look forward to seeing it again throughout the season.

 

Troopers - I'm not sure why this show is getting more mixed reactions on the forums than last season's masterpiece - maybe it needs to be seen live? The mixed reactions from DCP could not be further from the case when in a stadium - they got the first standing O of the night (slow build to the company front near the end of the show), and had the crowd in the palm of their hands, and I'm not talking just cheering - the entire ballad had everyone around me listening in and focused. Troop was the first corps of the night where all phones around me were eventually put down and no one was fidgeting - especially in that closer. I absolutely LOVE seeing an audience captured like that. Troop has quickly developed this ridiculously effective swagger that allows the corps to command the field immediately and totally capture the audience - any corps outside of the top 6 at the moment should be envious of this. It's dangerous, and they're not stopping their meteoric rise any time soon. Rewatching today didn't have nearly the same effect on me - good god, if you get the chance this season, see Troopers live. Their performance capabilities are almost unmatched. Ok, on to the show itself - love love love it. Probably because I got so tired of season after season of forgettable, mediocre Troopers shows, and still loathe a forgettable, mediocre show from any group (hi 2023 Scouts & Crossmen!), but it's just so satisfying to watch a group completely rewrite their trajectory and burst out of their prior constraints. I do think this year's offering is a mature step up from last year's winner, and the corps is handling it well. They are hungry (starving?) for more. It's a masterfully-constructed design (with a few major kinks - we'll get there in a moment). The journey is clear, palpable, and without question as it gets fleshed out. Harrison's Dream is a beefy opener, and the tuba feature at the beginning is nails. I think I was most disappointed in rewatching the video that the harmonica/French horn duet didn't come across anywhere as nuanced as it did live - THAT is some perfect writing. After the swirling, intense opener, the entire auditory field just strips down to absolutely nothing and you are allowed to breathe and exhale while still being completely captured. The duet is a magical timbre - a longing or nostalgia for a West or Youth that strikes a universal note. It's incredibly stirring writing. The corps is spread out & encircling the entire field at that point, and they've added (or I've never heard before) some simple drumline rise & fall lines that travel around the perimeter of the field in pods, totally encompassing the harmonica soloist & the sun in this incredibly breathy, open, airy way. All of this pays off in a giant build & release that embodies the same out-West openness. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how none of this was noticeable when I rewatched this morning - SEE THIS BALLAD LIVE! And, finally, the two builds in the closer. The first one with all of the brass staccatos & block marching with the tutti pay off - love it!! But, the **minute & a half** build to the company front that immediately follows the first build is just jaw-dropping, and resulted in that first standing O of the day (and the only one mid-show). When do we ever get something like that in our activity? Shows are packed full of demand by nature and have a time limit - to devote a full 1:30 to a simmering build is a bold design choice, and one that is paying off in spades. You can tell the performers are nuts about that whole segment, and the crowd just ate it up. Myself included - chills throughout! Take me, Daddy. Enough gushing and a few notes - god they have got to get that guard figured out. It's not going to happen this season, but I imagine the caption will have new staff moving into next season - honestly, it's the writing, not the performers. There were moments where they just weren't really doing anything. Others mentioned the closer flags - the multi-colors didn't work. I do expect some uneven caption growth as a corps skyrockets up, and their INCREDIBLE drums with non-stop notes more than make up for it, but it's a noticeably weaker caption vs. their design, brass, & percussion strengths. On that note, I still need a proper ending. The 1:30 closer build that got the crowd on their feet was pure joy; anything following that was an afterthought that I hardly remember. This show is a brilliant undertaking and deserves a massive finish. The current iteration ain't it. They are so close - get an ending that finishes me properly and there's no reason to think that 10th is their ceiling at Indy.

Edited July 16, 2023 by Jake W.

[Jake W.]

Mandarins - Just incredible. They are absolutely living up to the buzz, and delivering well beyond that. I adored Mandarins in 2017 and went nuts for them in 2018 - I actually listen to that show frequently. It was fantastic. While I still was thrilled for the corps, their 2019 & 2022 offerings didn't wow me, and I almost never find myself revisiting either one, although I enjoyed each during their respective seasons. 2019 & 2022 both seemed too light in meat & potatoes compared to their neighbors and compared to what you could tell the corps was hungry for. Especially "The Other Side" - despite all of the early-season hype, by Finals, it was clear to me that the design wasn't competing with any of the 9 above them, and that the corps was begging for something more. Well, they got it in spades this season. All of the flash of "The Other Side" but with content upon content upon content. Demand is through the roof for every caption and the corps as a whole just took this on without batting an eye, like, ok, what's next? The design itself is a sleek, laser-like jaw-dropper: everything works so well and is relentless in both pacing and detail. So much happens that you don't notice but the progression is clear and the details come together to constantly create a defined, tightly-plotted journey that reads as lithe & nimble - a programming skill I am stunned they could create so early on in their meteoric growth and one that, frankly, Boston's designers should be envious of. There just is no down moment in this show - it's a masterclass in both intricate & audience-friendly designs. The opener is chockfull of demand for everyone and has so many cool little visual moments, like forming crosses for the marches still in white, as the corps progresses from white to red. The whip work in the second movement is fabulous, and I'm thrilled that I got to type that sentence. The overlays of Smile are vexing & bizarre. Love it. Readings from the book of Isaiah leading into Take Me To Church impact with the corps in a tight circle surrounded by white silks who are in turn surrounded by rifle work - look me in the eyes and tell me that's not a top 4 moment right there. Love the breakneck closer with the Nina Simone voiceovers that slowwwwws down so generously to a hot & heavy finish. I was hesitant to buy into the top 6 hype before last night - hopeful, but hesitant, especially with how last year's hype didn't pan out, and considering they really have not met any competition this season. But, it's real & legit. I am not one for predictions - I usually just enjoy the shows - but there's no way in hell Mandarins are finishing outside of the top 6 this season. It's just not happening. There are zero caption weaknesses and the design is just so tight. Take it to the bank. I adored everything about this corps & their performance. 

 

Blue Devils - I get it, I really do. In my younger years, I wanted anyone but BD to win. It didn't help that my first ever live drum corps show was 2008 Finals night at IU. I came of age when BD was in their Through a Glass, Darkly period, and I was obstinate and not interested. I'm ashamed to admit that I even snubbed Ink because I couldn't appreciate it until a few years later. Finally, in early summer 2017, I was properly schooled on these forums regarding BD's masterful process of putting a show on a field, and that opened my mind. I would implore all those snubbing BD this year to take a step back, take a cleansing breath, forget their tiresome winning history, and just view this show as a single, masterful offering in a one-summer vacuum. It is undeniable perfection, and per their process, will only get better from here as more moments are organically created while Boston tries hard to tie their existing moments together. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. No one wants to hear it, but to watch this show live is an absolute treat, and I can't imagine anyone arguing with that if they take the BD name out of the equation. It's a supple, limber vehicle that is far from formulaic and is engaging as hell. The guard writing in particular struck me as a massively fresh step outside of their comfort zone, and wow is it paying off. So many group tosses & intricate partner moments that stick out in my mind today. And yes, the hype around the Both Sides Now ballad is well-earned. It's truly everything a drum corps fan wants - musical, breathable, airy but powerful, an impact that modulates into a stronger impact instead of ending, and an easily-identifiable & hummable melody that binds it all. Simultaneously gossamer-like lightness paired with elegant muscle -- a ballad for the ages. I loved Moon River last year, but it ain't got nothing on this. Grand Canyon Fanfare is an odd yet appropriate closer, adding in some needed bold & rough brass color & texture to an otherwise glossy show. As always with BD, and the strength that other corps struggle so hard to replicate, the show design is just tight, tight, tight from top to bottom. A densely-packed journey that reads very light upon first glance, but still portrays its density. You don't have to catch all of the density to appreciate it, but there is so much to explore upon second viewings, and every detail serves to buttress the design instead of detract from it - but you don't need to notice or absorb any of that depth to appreciate it upon first read. Everyone from grandma to the judging box can enjoy this show. As we know, the design team will just fill in moments (especially in the closer, I imagine) from here, while the ridiculously-talented corps continues to perfect their skills, all while performing a show that the members themselves & the crowd can sink their teeth into. I get that everyone rolls their collective eyes when they come out ahead year after year, but they were unquestionably the clear winner last night, as EVERY caption showed, and they only get better from here. Again, just watch the show without BD blinders, and please experience it live! Last season felt a little safe, but was still incredible. This is a fresh, masterful, enjoyable show that I look forward to seeing throughout the season.

 

Boston Crusaders - I do want to preface by saying that I cannot WAIT for the day Boston finally claims their first championship. I have adored watching this corps skyrocket up to the top; it's been so much fun to see. Last year, watching San Antonio over Flo, at the ending Lacrimosa hit with the company front, I said to myself, ok, there's a championship-worthy corps right there. That's the moment - they can handle it and it's going to happen sooner rather than later. That's such a terrific memory for me!! So cool to see the first shades of a new champion. That said, this year ain't it. I hate hate hate to say it - and it's a great, audience-friendly show that is absolutely among their best offerings and unquestionably worthy of a medal - but it's not "it". It just isn't. There are some major construction issues with this show that won't be fixed by reworking transitions (I do want to be clear - I mean "major" in a medalist sense - again, in the entire scope, it's another banger of a show). I loved the source material preseason, but it translates to a clunky, meandering, unfocused first half of the show that delivers BEAUTIFULLY with performance captions but does very little to portray a tight, focused, intentional design (again, relative only to medalist designs). None of it particularly ties together - the Thomas Tallis opener is mysterious & shimmering & graceful (I really love it), but then leads into what I would call simply basic drum corps "busy work" after that without much intention or direction. The drum break immediately following, the Swallowtail Jig, The Wellerman, & Shipping Up to Boston are four REALLY cool individual segments, but there is nothing tying them together organically, and again I think it's an architecture issue that adding transitions isn't going to fix. But from there, the ballad is absolutely delightful, and the On the Waterfront hit in the rotating circles is FIRE! Love it!!!! The story definitely becomes clearer from the ballad onward. I could go on and on but I will summarize with this: there are a lot of moments to love (like, really really love), and the corps proper is so talented across every caption. But right now (and I hesitate to say, for the season), you really see more the sum of the individual parts rather than a big picture/greater whole. It's not that I'm not hopeful that the design team will add in elements to tie the show together - of course they will - but I do feel as if it's a structural problem, made even more glaring directly following the tightly-plotted, streamlined, purposeful, efficient designs of Mandarins & BD. I will still enjoy watching this show and its many toe-tapping moments throughout the season!! It's just not going to claim them their first championship.

 

Blue Knights - Ok, I actually really enjoyed this performance, even following BD & Boston!! I do think that the show, while INFINITELY better-written than last season, has design issues that are quite noticeable next to The Academy's & PC's sleek offerings, but BK certainly has the energetic, raw power edge over these groups. A bit unrefined, but raw power nonetheless. The kids clearly enjoy what they're selling and take a lot of pride in their attempt to get their corps back into Finals. I will note that the guard has really cleaned up - the writing is still a little light & amateur compared to their neighbors, but I caught them a week or two ago (I think the show where Impulse beat them?), and they are now light years ahead of that. Kudos to the guard - excellent cleaning work and those caption numbers have improved tremendously. The show itself is intense and unbridled (unharnessed?) and the corps honestly followed up the two big dogs well, if for no other reason than the energy they brought. The Verdi opener was nice. I gotta say, as much as I miss the pre-Covid BK design team, I really noticed from the ballad onward how they are still playing heavily with pacing in bizarre & interesting ways - I love that!!!! That gave me hardcore BK vibes and I was happy to see it. The back half of the show is intriguing. Full brass ensemble sound at times is way overblown, but it's a MASSIVE sound, and I am interested to see how they end up sounding when refine all of that raw energy and power. The Crown-like brass demand segment in the closer is bold and big. I don't know if they will make their way back into Finals with PC fielding such a smart show and talented corps, but the season isn't over, and I think either way, BK seems to have sustainable, hungry energy that isn't just a flash in the pan. I don't know if my expectations were low or what, but really, this BK group held their own at the end of the line up and entertained. It's a scrappy group of kids with a bad ### drum major and a high-powered show. I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed them!

[Vuitton]

@Jake W. What a great review. Thank you. I really enjoyed reading it.

[frank4now]

On 7/15/2023 at 11:03 PM, treved said:

Second announcer this year. 

Because the first time it went over so well...I couldn't believe that happened again.  Thought it was dejavu 

[Tony L.]

After watching the Mandarins show I have to say that on some level they are giving me to Canadian corps vibes:  Ventures for the dress and Les Etoiles for the spinning props.  Love the references.  

[CAtenhut]

11 hours ago, frank4now said:

Because the first time it went over so well...I couldn't believe that happened again.  Thought it was dejavu 

Same announcer was at Utah and Colorado. Same idiotic "joke". 

[jwillis35]

18 hours ago, Jake W. said:

I always appreciate reviews throughout the season from those at the show, so I will contribute. It was an absolutely terrific night of drum corps - not a snoozer or a "bathroom break" show in the entire line up. I truly enjoyed all 9 shows I saw last night!! Now for the novel.

Fantastic Review, Jake!!!!! Loved reading every word. You are correct about the Blue Devils too. When you see them live it makes all the difference. They hit you in the face with every aspect of their ability to perform. Hearing their brass and percussion live is so different to video or streaming. Their body control and body carriage is so pristine. One of the other 3 corps in contention will need to really pull out the stops to come close to the Blue Devils. 

[jwillis35]

11 hours ago, Tony L. said:

After watching the Mandarins show I have to say that on some level they are giving me to Canadian corps vibes:  Ventures for the dress and Les Etoiles for the spinning props.  Love the references.  

I so dearly miss these two corps. 

[2muchcoffeeman]

20 hours ago, Jake W. said:

Troopers - I'm not sure why this show is getting more mixed reactions on the forums than last season's masterpiece - maybe it needs to be seen live? The mixed reactions from DCP could not be further from the case when in a stadium - they got the first standing O of the night (slow build to the company front near the end of the show), and had the crowd in the palm of their hands, and I'm not talking just cheering - the entire ballad had everyone around me listening in and focused. Troop was the first corps of the night where all phones around me were eventually put down and no one was fidgeting - especially in that closer. I absolutely LOVE seeing an audience captured like that. Troop has quickly developed this ridiculously effective swagger that allows the corps to command the field immediately and totally capture the audience - any corps outside of the top 6 at the moment should be envious of this. It's dangerous, and they're not stopping their meteoric rise any time soon. Rewatching today didn't have nearly the same effect on me - good god, if you get the chance this season, see Troopers live. Their performance capabilities are almost unmatched. Ok, on to the show itself - love love love it. Probably because I got so tired of season after season of forgettable, mediocre Troopers shows, and still loathe a forgettable, mediocre show from any group (hi 2023 Scouts & Crossmen!), but it's just so satisfying to watch a group completely rewrite their trajectory and burst out of their prior constraints. I do think this year's offering is a mature step up from last year's winner, and the corps is handling it well. They are hungry (starving?) for more. It's a masterfully-constructed design (with a few major kinks - we'll get there in a moment). The journey is clear, palpable, and without question as it gets fleshed out. Harrison's Dream is a beefy opener, and the tuba feature at the beginning is nails. I think I was most disappointed in rewatching the video that the harmonica/French horn duet didn't come across anywhere as nuanced as it did live - THAT is some perfect writing. After the swirling, intense opener, the entire auditory field just strips down to absolutely nothing and you are allowed to breathe and exhale while still being completely captured. The duet is a magical timbre - a longing or nostalgia for a West or Youth that strikes a universal note. It's incredibly stirring writing. The corps is spread out & encircling the entire field at that point, and they've added (or I've never heard before) some simple drumline rise & fall lines that travel around the perimeter of the field in pods, totally encompassing the harmonica soloist & the sun in this incredibly breathy, open, airy way. All of this pays off in a giant build & release that embodies the same out-West openness. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how none of this was noticeable when I rewatched this morning - SEE THIS BALLAD LIVE! And, finally, the two builds in the closer. The first one with all of the brass staccatos & block marching with the tutti pay off - love it!! But, the **minute & a half** build to the company front that immediately follows the first build is just jaw-dropping, and resulted in that first standing O of the day (and the only one mid-show). When do we ever get something like that in our activity? Shows are packed full of demand by nature and have a time limit - to devote a full 1:30 to a simmering build is a bold design choice, and one that is paying off in spades. You can tell the performers are nuts about that whole segment, and the crowd just ate it up. Myself included - chills throughout! Take me, Daddy. Enough gushing and a few notes - god they have got to get that guard figured out. It's not going to happen this season, but I imagine the caption will have new staff moving into next season - honestly, it's the writing, not the performers. There were moments where they just weren't really doing anything. Others mentioned the closer flags - the multi-colors didn't work. I do expect some uneven caption growth as a corps skyrockets up, and their INCREDIBLE drums with non-stop notes more than make up for it, but it's a noticeably weaker caption vs. their design, brass, & percussion strengths. On that note, I still need a proper ending. The 1:30 closer build that got the crowd on their feet was pure joy; anything following that was an afterthought that I hardly remember. This show is a brilliant undertaking and deserves a massive finish. The current iteration ain't it. They are so close - get an ending that finishes me properly and there's no reason to think that 10th is their ceiling at Indy.

Never mind all that; what about the PROP?

😉seriously, thank you for this insightful analysis. I learned a bunch.