Buccanner Classic 7/15

[BigW]

Seeing as the last review was 11 months ago, It seems those things are becoming needless, but I'll give it a go again. My feelings are pretty conflicted for many reasons. I was pretty ill when I went to Williamsport, and spent the rest of the month in the hospital. If it weren't for the discipline I learned after six seasons at Westshore- I might be dead. Listening to '22 Crown helped get me though some of the tough times during those 22 days last August. Maybe it's caused me to be a bit more impatient in some ways, a little more forthright. I guess it's a warning that some may take offense. It's not hard to offend in this day and age unless everything is candy-coated.

 

The first thing is on me. I misread the stand map and thought I was getting a ticket 4 rows under the Box but got one 4 rows from the lowest row but it was on the 50. I haven't had that issue previously when ordering online show tickets. I'll take the blame on that.

 

I get through the gate, and they're selling programs. "Yes! Do you take cards!?" The answer was in the affirmative, and well, they were selling programs to those in line behind me. I stood there with a smile pointing at the program in my hand for at least 30 seconds. I'm dealing with a micro-aggressive lunatic at work that's trying to take my job and/or trying to cause me to get upset so they can file a harassment claim. I didn't need more of that sort of feeling when I'm not at work, so I put down the program and walked to the stands. One young lady did apologize. Later, a Good Samaritan gave me a program later int he stands after they witnessed it all. I appreciated the kindness. It salvaged the day to that point. It wasn't a lot of fun feeling that I didn't fit in and wasn't really wanted.

 

The Banner Brass was quite good and got my mind back on track. Their arrangements are well thought out, and their Star Spangled banner arrangement is one of the best I've heard short of Eric Leidzen's. Brisk, exact, no fooling around. They how to play a dotted eighth and sixteenth note pattern the correct way, and that was refreshing.

 

Their renditions of "Comedy Tonight" and Farandole" were very much appreciated. Again,  a fresh perspective, crisp, well conducted, and very well performed. Kudos!

 

The Bucs Alumni performed "Eternal Father, Strong to Save/Navy Hymn", "Another Star" (from their 1978 show IIRC), and a fresh rendition of "Sound of Silence". The Mid brass did a particularly fine job given it was still pushing 90 degrees out and that they didn't flag or fall off the exposed sections. All respect. They finished with the Bucs standard "Beyond the Sea", again, well done.

 

I was getting the vibe back until I ran into an Aunt Mabel complete with battery powered neck fans cheerfully blowing away in her face. One can read my previous reviews over the years about "Aunt Mabels". They drive me crazy. They're there to see their friends or family and frankly could really care less about the funny bands on the field that aren't cool like OSU and Penn State on TV. At least some friends and family do get it, but some... it's sad. I wasn't feeling it and hoping that The Raiders and Surf would lift me up.

 

The good news was that they did.

 

The Raiders' circus show is a rather different angle on the story with Key Poulan writing the brass book. Think of traditional circus tunes played in a minor mode and a bit creepy at times if one wants more of a description. There are some really treacherous key changes and modal lines in obtuse modes that require a lot of dexterity and listening from the brass, and for the first time in front of an audience, they got through the stuff pretty well!

 

The percussion section appears to be very cohesive and on the same page, and the writing is very complimentary and never overbearing. They're a real strength to the corps, and if the brass and guard can continue to grow, work on their teamwork and gain confidence, they're going to have a very respectable season. I'll have a better guess on Friday when I see them at Dover against several DCI Open Class competitors where they fit in, but what matters is that development and growth of the members takes place and that the product is the best it can possibly be.

 

I have to say that I really enjoyed Surf. Their "Express Yourself" Program has some great aesthetic choices to set the moods of the various numbers, starting with a black and white semi-Mondrian pattern on the backdrops and uniforms. The Hammond Organ feel in the beginning set a solid vibe into the initial hard impact. They saved me from packing it in and going home. They made me smile after all the bad vibes I'd been having there so far. My deep thanks! Their feature players do a fine job, sound great, and the corps has a lot of enthusiasm that projects to the crowd, and the show is very, very accessible as the colors on the field explode visually and musically to the end.

 

I could care less about where they end up placing. The show is enjoyable and meaningful, and the performers care deeply about their presentation, and that was returned to them by an appreciative audience. I look forward to seeing them on Friday.

 

I'll get to the DCA portion when I have time. Frankly, There's a lot going on, and since my illness I'm borderline anemic which exhausts me- and I have a Kidney Doctor appointment in 8 hours. Again, a lot of good, and a lot of things that concern me.

 

 

Edited July 17, 2023 by BigW
Grammar clean up

[Gary koenig]

Looking forward to the rest of your review.   I do appreciate the kind words for the Buccaneer Banner Brass.   We will be doing the banner both nights at DCI East.

[BigW]

On 7/17/2023 at 5:00 PM, Gary koenig said:

Looking forward to the rest of your review.   I do appreciate the kind words for the Buccaneer Banner Brass.   We will be doing the banner both nights at DCI East.

I really appreciated the fine arrangements and performance of them, Gary. You all have a great sense of each other and where things go. I was lucky enough to play with a couple of the members with the Westshoremen Alumni and always enjoy their company. I'm pretty beat from work but will try and get another corps in here before work!

[BigW]

The Skyliners began the DCA portion of the contest with their "Power of Three" program. The idea reminded me of the 2008 Vanguard's "3HREE" program and I was curious as to what their ideas would be regarding this. My guess is that they're awaiting new uniforms expressing the concept, which would help unify that theme. In terms of the brass, I think Sky's been underestimated in more recent seasons. The arrangements are very well written and written for who they have, not for who or how many people they wished they had. That's critical for a smaller organization. The 3/4 meter woven throughout the music helps to subtly establish the theme throughout what was presented. The corps has two, perhaps three (!) challenges they must overcome. The first is to gain body control and feet timing because they use a lot of double time and triple meter. The second challenge is for the percussion battery to feel comfortable playing together as a more cohesive ensemble. Yes, they look young, but it separates them from the other DCA batteries at the contest. They'll have to develop the confidence and trust of one another and build on that. The third challenge is that the show was incomplete. The final number is needed. I also have guesses that a lot of visual props will also be added to visually unify the theme. In this era, if you purport to tell a story or have a theme, it's got to be ironclad. If the theme is "Soup" (a rather interesting concept...) and the audience has no sense of soup musically or visually... the panel will shoot it down in Effect comp.

 

Sky's modern iteration has impressed me in more recent years as very hard working and well grounded, and again a bit underestimated and undervalued. To be successful this year, I think those three challenges will have to be met, and I believe that they will be, not could be in time.

 

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by BigW
Grammar clean up

[BigW]

The Columbus Saints were next with their "Homecoming" program.

 I was curious to see how they've dealt with COVID and the long trip to Landisville. I've trekked to Columbus years ago, and it's not a very easy drive or ride from here.

The first thing I realized during the first 30 or so seconds of the performance was that this was, in my opinion, the finest performance from the corps that I'd ever seen. It's obvious that they've put a lot of work into developing their brass section and it's beginning to pay off.

This being said, the brass section had a bit of the yips, and that's understandable. It's clear to me that they know what's in the book, which is a very enjoyable, entertaining, and accessible book using solid arrangements of great pop tunes, but that they weren't confident that they knew it. They do know it better than they give themselves credit for but need to get that confidence in themselves, and in each other. They need to encourage each other, build one another up, and work to gel as a unified section, and they can if they work together and support one another. The percussion is setting the table for them, now they have to eat off it.

 

The show is incomplete, but with them, I quickly hand off a mulligan in that regard. This corps is growing, still developing their brand and sense of history, and have made great strides. I've met the members a couple of years ago and they're great young people. I believe in a couple of seasons, They'll be to the point where I'll get tougher on whether the show's finished or not. Take it as a compliment. Stick together. Build one another up and be part of your corps' history is my advice and encouragement.

[BigW]

The White Sabers' show "Invasion" is a take on basically every 50's cheesy Sci-Fi movie. Being a rather avid MSTie, (Look it up if you don't know) I know the genre pretty well. 

 

The music sounds like a typical Albert Glasser (known for his music in a lot of these cheesy movies) score, but far more competently executed and conceived. The narration has that "Outer Limits" vibe. 

 

Some of the Dynamic sculpting in the music is understood but not fully realized. I have a feeling there are some things implied in the narration that aren't quite worked into the program, like the Alien Abduction implications. (One can't have a good cheesy 50's sci-fi movie without one!) They also need a Theremin. If you're going to do 50's sci fi music... where's the Theremin!?

The show came to a cliffhanging incomplete, screeching halt without resolution. I inwardly thought, AAAAAAARGH!!!!!! Not mostly baked bread in the bakery! Not again!

 

Well, the show could go either way. The Aliens will take over, or somehow the Corps will figure out a way to beat them... or maybe the aliens succumb to some War of the Worlds disease like the snifffles. Or maybe everyone tampers in God's Domain.

Edited July 20, 2023 by BigW

[kevingamin]

7 hours ago, BigW said:

The White Sabers' show "Invasion" is a take on basically every 50's cheesy Sci-Fi movie. Being a rather avid MSTie, (Look it up if you don't know) I know the genre pretty well. 

 

The music sounds like a typical Albert Glasser (known for his music in a lot of these cheesy movies) score, but far more competently executed and conceived. The narration has that "Outer Limits" vibe. 

 

Some of the Dynamic sculpting in the music is understood but not fully realized. I have a feeling there are some things implied in the narration that aren't quite worked into the program, like the Alien Abduction implications. (One can't have a good cheesy 50's sci-fi movie without one!) They also need a Theremin. If you're going to do 50's sci fi music... where's the Theremin!?

 

I need to head to work. I'll finish my thoughts on the Sabres later.

This literally happened the day after the show:

[BigW]

VERY cool. I'm one of the kickstarters that is in the end credits of I think episode three of the Netflix reboot. I'm certain you know EXACTLY what I mean by an Albert Glasser score- Teenage Caveman, Viking Women versus the Serpent... Glasser, and it sounds like the same drek over and over regardless of the type of movie or story....

 

I figure you HAVE to like my avatar. The Master would not be pleased if you didn't get it...

Edited July 20, 2023 by BigW

[BigW]

Bush took the field next with their "A Walk in Their Shoes: Tales of Tinseltown" show.

 

I want to start by saying, since I've never said it on DCP- "Pablo" was one of my two favorite programs that season. the thing is, I saw it at least twice before finals weekend, and even the week before, and it took until Finals weekend for it to really bloom, and I was very happy to see the realized and envisioned product.

 

The unis reflect the theme, and kind of remind me of superhero costumes. They're sharp!

 

The percussion section is very polished, the writing is sophisticated and they're clearly ready to go. The pace of the show is very engaging. The Bari duet is solid- and has quite a bit of potential.

 

Here's where the issues lie:

 

They have 24 brass. They have that Bush hustle. They are trying VERY hard. The problem is at the end they appeared to be understandably gassed and just not able to get ti done. The Mellos gave a lot of effort- three of them playing those parts- very physically challenging for them. They have a very difficult row to hoe.

 

They strike me as young. They're not quite comfortable about listening across the ensemble and really getting everything detailed and interpreted. One thing that they have going for them is the fact they appear to be well staged so they don't have to kill themselves to be heard, and the percussion plays tastefully and gives them room and space and doesn't step all over them- and that has happened in the past with one particular corps who's no longer around.

 

What worries me is that, as I mentioned with "Pablo", this show is likely again, something that won't really nail it until Rochester. the good news is it's complete, and they can get the reps and feel of the total package enough to get it done. I'll expound on that at the end of the review.

[BigW]

The Cabs took the field with "Take Me".

 

The Percussion is extremely musical as it sets the tone for the program. The charts are very aggressive and also quite technical and intellectual. The "House of the Rising Sun" segment is very well arranged. The pacing is engaging.

 

At face value when one looks at the repertoire, one might think- how does this stuff relate and how will it make a cohesive musical effort? It does and does it well.

 

The brass knows when to hit and hit hard- the weakness is that at times, they're not quite simpicato and unified yet. Some of it might be some struggling with feet and pulse. Playing together to get the ensemble unity will happen. More reps and working on body control will get everything the way it needs to be.

 

This is a very fine program. I want to make this clear before I move in in the review.