Carson City/Reno, NV Review

[Tony Flores]

JUly 16th 2004 Damonte Ranch High School Reno, NV

I would like to start on an off-topic note first. I want to extend my thanks

to the Carson City and Douglas County Nevada Fire, Police/Sheriff, Search &

Rescue Team, the Washoe County School District, and the Staff of Damonte

Ranch HS for their help in getting the show moved to such a nice location in

light of the wild fire that is going on in Carson City. And my undying

admiration to all firefighters and rescue squads around the country that have

to fight these forces of nature everyday.

OK ON TO THE REVIEW.

Fusion

A very fine performance from such a small group, I thought they tried their

best and played as best as the can. they have a few members of the hornline

that look like the size of the horn was overpowering them. Nonetheless I

enjouyed the music they performed. Good job and I wish the best of luck to

them.

Oregon Crusaders

First word: BIG SOUND Second Word: 2004 Division III Champs? I just can see

them being beaten in that division, infact they may beat a few division II

corps at All City Stadium in Denver. There was never a dull moment in the

show, If you have a chance to see Div II/III semi's or finals in denver

please do, the Crusaders are very good. Other than a few players sticking out

of the ensemble they play the show like a large Div II corps. The drumline

was very clean and doing som complicated work for their caliber. As I said

before they will be Div III champs, I guarantee it.

SCVC

Wow, what a sound, what a corps. I have never had the pleasure of watghing

them ever. I saw shades of the "A" corps in their sound, visual program and

percussion section. They had a very big sound, almost like Div I quality. The

guard was very gracefull and handled the equipment well and sold the show

very well. The hornline played well at times, at other times they were a bit

timid and had some very bad drill problems. Spacing and timing were the most

obvious. The percussion section seems to be the strength of the corps, the

battery is doing some very difficult passages and I love the sound of the

unamplified pit. These kids are going to be in a close race for the

championship come Denver.

Fever

My favorite show of the night by leaps and bounds. In my opinion the best

hornline on the field that night...even better than PC. The hornline was big,

loud, balanced and AWESOME!!! They filled that little stadium surrouded by

the Sierras with a heck of a lot of sound. Their visual program is very

difficult, almost Div I difficult and they pull it of with amazing skill and

cleanliness, with more than a few minor mistakes, but none the less very

complex. The percussion sections were very clean and I liked what they were

able to put out, just not up to the caliber of SCVC. They will also be in

that 5 corps race for the title with SCVC, Blue Stars, Spartans, and ECJ.

Pacific Crest

I remember how impressed withthem last year in Orlando, and yes I believe

they earned their spot in semi's unlike many people here. They ahve a veru

good balanced and awesome sound coming out of those horns. The battery was

very clean and souded very clear with no hiccups at all and the unamplified

pit projected very well. The visual program is the achilles heel though. Very

sloppy in some section and massive spacing, dressing, and technique problems.

Ifthey are to compete for the 12th spot in finals they will need to clean the

drill in the next 3 weeks.

DIVISION I

1 Pacific Crest 76.350

DIVISION II

1 Vanguard Cadets 81.600

2 Fever 80.950

DIVISION III

1 Oregon Crusaders 76.050

2 Fusion 59.250

I believe that Fever is so much better than SCVC and if they clean that

drill, be certain that Cali will be holding another Div II Title.

[Mike Ferlazzo]

Don't forget about Arizona Academy in the race for the D-II crown too. They apparently are full -- by D-II standards -- and have already beaten Vanguard Cadets and Fever regularly this season.

Thanks for the review. I always love reading about the D-II and D-III shows -- particularly since I'll be going to the grand championships in Denver.

[MadisonDude]

Don't forget about Arizona Academy in the race for the D-II crown too. They apparently are full -- by D-II standards -- and have already beaten Vanguard Cadets and Fever regularly this season.

Thanks for the review. I always love reading about the D-II and D-III shows -- particularly since I'll be going to the grand championships in Denver.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Academy will not be at the championships. They're not doing the full tour.

[Mike Ferlazzo]

That's a shame, since you would think that DCI Championships aren't going to get much closer to Phoenix than Denver -- and it sounds like they would have been a major player.

[Tony Flores]

Don't forget about Arizona Academy in the race for the D-II crown too. They apparently are full -- by D-II standards -- and have already beaten Vanguard Cadets and Fever regularly this season.

Thanks for the review. I always love reading about the D-II and D-III shows -- particularly since I'll be going to the grand championships in Denver.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are welcome, I was a Div II/III guy in my marching career and I enjoy watching the little guys.

[scott414]

You are welcome, I was a Div II/III guy in my marching career and I enjoy watching the little guys.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Small, but mighty, Div II/III corps know how to put on a show.