DCA Finals Review

[CapSndSD]

Stef & George said I should post my review of DCA finals here. You can read my experience at my very first DCA Championships in my journal right here on DCP.

My review of DCA Finals, Scranton, PA:

First off, I'm cold.

Heat Wave (2nd in A, 77.20): Well, they were good, but

they couldn't defeat the bitter cold rain of Scranton,

PA. I like the arrangements (Santana), and I like the

hornline, but it's sometimes hard to sell a show to me

with out a good sized battery (3 snr, 3 bass), or a

pit (all latin toys and trinkets, one keyboard).

Overall, a decent visual package and a nice hornline.

NY Skyliners (1st in A, 80.15): A very good hornline,

with a great amount of volume for their size. Once

again, it's hard to sell it to me without a good sized

battery, and Skyliners didn't have a battery.

However, their pit was pretty good.

CorpsVets (T-12th, 84.55): I thought these guys played

with a great sound, and their drumline had a good show

tonight. I thought they had a good drill, but maybe a

little lacking in guard. I like this corps, because

they are the perfect example of the growth of a pretty

strong organization. Now they are playing in DCA

finals, after only 4 years, and they already won Class

A last year.

Grenadiers (T-12th, 84.55): Now I liked this corps,

and their show concept. I don't think a lot of people

did, though. Their drumline wasn't outstanding, but

they were solid, and I liked their bass line.

Sometimes questionable visually, but overall, I was

very entertained and suprised by their quality.

Renegades (10th, 86.20): Loud, and I loved it. They

have a hornline and a visual program that could be top

4 here. However, the drumline and guard are what's

holding them back. Both were better than the previous

corps, however, when you see the hornline marching and

playing like they did, it can be a little

disappointing. Overall, I loved these guys. They

were fu-un. However, in Renegades fashion, I'll say

that they are only seven drummers, seven CG, and seven keyboards from that DCA trophy. :) I do like myT-shirt.

Connecticut Hurricanes (8th, 88.0): Whew, this

drumline was SMOKIN'. I was impressed by this corps

tonight. They played "Fanfare for the Common Man"

which I thoroughly enjoy, and they had a hot drumline.

The guard and visual package was also very nice. Their

tenor line could stand up against a lot of the ones

that I saw on DCM and DCI tour this summer. mmm.

Yokohama Inspires (5th, 91.85): HOLY CRAP!!! WHERE DID

THIS COME FROM?!? This was an incredible drum corps.

I was amazed. They could drum, they could march, they

had a very nice hornline, their colorguard was one of

the best in the show. And I finally got to see a

great pit. This corps, hopefully, has earned the

respect of everyone out here. What a show!

Rochester Crusaders (9th, 87.30): Well, we found a

corps I didn't particularly enjoy. These guys sounded

good, and they had a pretty decent guard, but I just

didn't like the show concept, nor did I get it. I

feel bad too because originally I thought this was one

of the more interesting concepts of the weekend. Oh

well.

Bushwackers (7th, 91.10): I liked these guys, because

they were different. This corps was very interesting.

I liked the concept, I liked the design, and I liked

the drumline. BUSH!

Hawthorne Caballeros (6th, 91.85): *sigh* I wanted to

love these guys, I really did. They just didn't do it

for me. The drumline wasn't as great as I had heard them to be, and the show didn't come across to me very well. Maybe I just expected a little more.

Minnesota Brass, Inc. (4th, 93.90): Oh yay, my

favorite corps! These guys were on, as usual. They

do everything SO well. Those uniforms give them a very sharp look, and they have a great drumline. This was the best I've ever seen MBI since I first saw them in 1999. That drum solo...yes.

Buccaneers (3rd, 95.55): Good design and an excellent

visual program were the selling points for these guys.

As well as an excellent battery and pit. It was fun

to watch those guys play their butts off, plus I am

all about that Vanguard tilt.

Empire Statesmen (2nd, 96.75): I liked this show

concept, and the bicycle guys were cool. Drumline was

not quite as strong as the rest of the top 4. Sharp looking visual book though.

Syracuse Brigadiers (1st, 98.60): These guys were just

one of those corps, where I wonder what the judges

said. This was clean, clean, clean, and fun, fun, fun. Drumline was tight, played ditty on the field. Yay.

That was all for my trip to Scranton. Overall, I'd

say that it was at the very least, a very educational

experience. Drum Corps has a lot of roots in DCA and

Sr. Corps, but I believe that we must also appreciate the corps of the present to consider ourselves true fans.

~Andy Dittrich

Capital Sound

[Sean1]

Andy, great review. Thanks

[ethlmarie]

Great review, Andy.

I really enjoy reading what people think about the different shows, etc....and it's great to get different perspectives.

I respect junior corps opinions, (as well as the opinions of my "senior" peers), and am especially happy that you liked our show!

Hope to hear more of your reviews in the future.

Marie

BUSH

'93--'96, '00--present

[Jeffsjetta]

great review Andy...sorry I missed ya...i told mom to hug ya for me!

[mikemey]

Great review Andy! :)

[MuZiK11]

nice review :-) ... watch out for us next year :) (rite mikey :))

[MikeD]

Add my congrats on the review, and say Hi! to mom for me!

Mike, Cadets 70-72

[Geoff]

Great review, Andy. Glad you liked our show (Grenadiers). Thanks for making the trip, and it was nice to meet you!

[HappyMom8105]

Nice job, Andy. It was great to have you as THE bus captain of the Camry this weekend.

Isn't it funny how anxious we were to get back to our cornfields after all that mountain greenery?

aka. MOM

[pooh bear]

great review Andy - now how about the Alumni show...