Some Thoughts of DATS

[oldbandguy]

I made a four hour drive to Huntington for the return of Drums Across The Tri-State.

It's great to have the show back at Marshal Univ. They have a very nice stadium for

a DCI event. I'll also put in a plug for Gino's Pizza...great onion rings!

There was a larger crowd on hand than I had anticipated considering there had not

be a show for (I believe) 3 years. I would guess it to be around 3,000. Appearantly

enough to please the sponsors as they announced DATS would return in '05.

This was my third show this year and my second or third viewing of some of the corps.

Division III

Marion 64.95- this corps' drum line is reall top notch. They've made some good improvement

in 3 weeks and I think will certainly be a contender for top Div III line. The horns seemed

to be tired last night and sections of The Planets are still giving them some serious problems.

The color guard had increased from 1 to 5 members, which certainly helps. They are

still learning the guard book, so I expect that to be in much better shape by Denver.

Division I

Kiwanis 66.40 - my third viewing of KK and noticed some nice changes in the show.

The crowd responded well to West Side Story and the corps does a very good job

of selling the "non-musical" stuff. I was again impressed with their guard, especially

with their dance and body work. I was not a big fan of the trash can feature, but I

think it does help to put all 8 together instead of 4 on each side of the 50. The rotation

around the cans is an entertaining idea, but they're going to have to do more than

play on single beat on each drum as they pass by.

Colts 72.50 - my first viewing of the Colts. They opened the show with one of my

favorite band pieces "American Overture For Band" and did a TERRIFIC job with it.

The brass and drum staff are to be commended for this great arrangement.

Unfortunately, (IMUO) the remainder of the show is not on par, either visually or

musically, with the opener. "Old Man River" had some nice moments, but the rest of

the show just didn't have the impact and emotion that it opens with. At this point in

time I would give the advantage to Capital Regiment over Colts.

Crossmen 79.40 - my second viewing of Bones. This corps has always been one of

my favorites. Their Pat Metheny stuff is on my all time top 10. That being said, I just

don't feel this show is on that level. Crossmen have a great drum line and they

played great last night. The brass had some great moments too, but I have yet to

be "grabbed" by this show. I personally feel there are much better ballads out there

than "Both Sides Now" and sure wish they had picked one...but again that's personal

taste and preference.

I did not feel the marching execution had improved much since the Louisville show.

There were execution problems throughout the show and many of the forms just

simply didn't lock in. I did like much of the guard work and I really like their

new uniforms (guard)...still not sure about the corps uniform. Just a bit too much

black.

Carolina Crown 81.60 - my second viewing. First, I'll be honest up front. I don't like

the singing...amps or no amps...I don't like the singing! That makes it very difficult

to understand why this is, without question, my favorite Crown show ever.

The brass is much more powerful that I've seen from CC in the past and the

arrangements are GREAT. So great, in fact, that they certainly don't need the help

of singers! Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is one of the great rock tunes of all time.

I have usually not been a fan of rock tunes on the field (brass does NOT do a good

job covering electric guitar arts), but CC really pulls this one off. The pit scoring does

a great job in making this work.

The marching execution has certainly improved since Louisville.

I think CC is very much in the hunt for the 5-9 group.

Madison 83.75 - my third viewing of the Scouts. I couldn't believe the number of

changes in Madison's show (both visual and music) that they've made since

Louisville. The "Sound Piece For Jazz Orchestra" is such a great piece and the

corps is really starting to play it with a great "groove".

The improved drum line just keeps getting better and better. I was particularly

impressed with some of the new "stuff" the keyboards were doing. They've

certainly taken it up another notch or two. The snare drum accelerando gets my

vote for best drum lick of the season.

The drill changes on the ballad, especially the duo pairings is very effective and

is a great improvement visually.

As I've stated before, "Malaga", (IMHO) is THE CLOSER of 2004. I notced

some new drill work and a few new music changes in this as well...all very

effective. The company front diagonal gate is starting to be performed at the

same high level as the '95 show and really gets a great response from the

crowd (although I will say the DATS crowd, while appreciative of all corps,

was not as energetic as the crowd at Louisville). Madison was the only corps

to get a S.O. before the end of their show.

I was told that the Scouts have been working on even more changes that will

appear in Orlando. They are not just sitting on an already great show.

Madison is certainly in the running for top 6 at Denver.

Phantom 83.90 - my first viewing of PR. I was really looking forward to

seeing this show. PR, like the Crossmen and Scouts, have always been among

my favorites (a little Mid-West bias). On first viewing, this show

did NOT grab me like the 2003 show. Yes, all segments of the corps are great.

They have a great guard (one of their best ever), a hot drum line, and the brass

certainly has the PR sound....but I just didn't get into the music.

The corps seemed to be ready to perform and you could tell the crowd was

appreciative of the fact that PR had stepped in and brought DATS back to W.V.

Maybe it's that I am not very familiar with their music selections, but I just kept

waiting for some of the great moments that their '03 production had, but it just

didn't happen for me.

I certainly want to see this show again and will in Indianapolis. Maybe a

second or third viewing will do it for me...or several viewings of the DVD.

I personally thought the Scouts had jumped back over PR last night, but PR had

a .15 edge.

I'm really enjoying this season long battle that I think will go right through finals

in Denver.

I've now seen everyone of the top 12 contenders with the exception of Blue Devils

and Santa Clara, who I see next week.

The best I've seen so far...The Cadets.

My favorite show...The Scouts

My Most Improved Corps...Capital Regiment

My biggest disappointment...Magic (but I've only seen their first time out)

Can't wait to see how the West Coast is doing.

What a great year for DCI.

[jvsmom]

Thanks for the review!