Powder Springs Review

[pitboy06]

Before you get your hopes up...this is not going to be a very detailed review. Everything is straight from what I remember. Also, it needs to be stated that I focus on the pit a lot and was nowhere near a vantage point to clearly address drill. I was in about the second or third row to really experience these wonderful front ensembles. Now that I have gotten all the formalities out of the way....

THE SHOW

CORPSVETS- Hmmm...well the drum major had a lot of entusiasm. They had some nice points but it's best leave it at that. I don't know what was up with the purple/pink signs though. Kind of looks like that took a chapter from Lassiter 2002's drum break. Overall- good show with lots of audience pleasing potential.

GLASSMEN- Wow...I've never seen the Glassmen before, but I'm sure glad I have now. They really introduced the division one corps. The ballad is absoblutely wonderful, and the colors really work. The movement after the ballad didn't really reach me, but man did the closer. New World Tango is hot!!!!!!!!! Thats all I will say. The pit- great energy. I love to see a pit get into their performance and this group did.

(It's quite redundant to say that all the pits played well because....OF COURSE THEY DID! These people are awesome players, and goes without saying)

CAROLINA CROWN- I've seen them every year since Bell-issimo and I must say that this current production did not capture me like the rest. The opening was awesome. But after that it kind of fizzled for me. The visuals during the ballad really conveyed the Angelus theme, but the actual music didn't work for me. It really picked up during the intense Jerry Goldsmith section and the ending was wonderful. Their execution was really good with a few problems with harsh brass sounds. I really wish they would've kept Respighi's Church Windows. The pit- the antiphonal(is that the right word?) timpani are really cool as well as the entire diagonal/slanted setup.

BOSTON CRUSADERS- What a change from PINK! ORANGE! YELLOW! PURPLE! RED! Much more crowd-friendly show, but I actually liked (Boston's original music) - (Narration) last year. The opening reminds me of Spirit 2004 (I loved their intro last year). Candide was...good. I just played this piece at my spring wind ensemble concert so I'm somewhat familiar with it. I really wish they would've explored the lyrical portion of the piece...it's such great music. The little head pop was a nice touch. To be honest...I'm drawing a blank between the opener and Sing! Sang! Sung! (sorry). But the closer is really kickin'. Then they bring in Ode to Joy themes which is understandable but it really needs to be weaved in more throughout the show. Pit- hmmm....don't remember to much except...great playing?

THE CAVALIERS- The Cavies have another home run on their hands. This show draws on their crowd appeal from last year and elements from their original shows. The opener in all of its virtuostic display did not excite me much. It sounds like a Jack Stamp piece, which I'm not a big fan of. The Magnificient Mile section is very good at capturing the essence of a metropolis. Let me just say THAT THIS PIT CAN PLAY AND THESE MEN HAVE CRAZY CHOPS. Now that that is out of me...the baseball section rocks. I love all of the baseball references they have included. So the first part is a solid production fits very well together. The fire section is not angry/dissonant enough for me. And maybe its just me- but I really couldn't pick out Amazing Grace. (The horns sounds during this section are nothing short of brilliant) I wish they would do more with the ladders. During the Sweet Home Chicago section...maybe there is something they could drape around the ladders. Because the circle of ladders looks really cool but not as ladders. Anyway the rest of show is one giant groove after another. The show just needs some better transitions but I know that what I saw was just the foundation for the ever-changing show during the summer. Pit- man o man...were they awesome or what?!?! The only thing I didn't like is that i believe I heard marimba and vibe sounds coming out of the speakers- which means they might be amping their keyboards...NOT COOL!

THE CADETS- First off the door looks really...it doesn't portray the level of quality that The Cadets represent. So as the showis starting I really liked how the announcer kept going on with his "Drum Major __________, is your corps ready" while the corps was already whistling Kill Bill. I even saw George Hopkins(I think it was him) shoot this really annoyed look up to the pressbox. The show is awesome if only we didn't have to figure out what the girl was doing the whole time. It kinda makes me hope they would just resort to a Dstorted Reality type show instead of adding narration and trying to get across this really interesting, yet highly conceptual idea. This corps was loud and good. I think there was only one bad trumpet entrance or cut off, I can't remember. The drumspeak was interesting...I little out of place and random but they could make it work. This would be an awesome show if it was just music and drill- because they were rippin that up. Pit- not much to say except some awesome writing and entusiasm in the drum speak section.

SPIRIT- They had to pull a really hard job of going on after Cadets but handled it as well as they could (I'm getting really tired from writing right now...so this'll be brief) Much room for improvement in all captions. The arrangements aren't really speaking to me right now but I'm sure rewrites will fix that problem. Nice basic show that should do well. Pit- awesome emotion and playing. Arrangements were great...............

Well thats all for right now, I really need all the rest I can get. I might update later. All in All, it was another night of great drum corps!!!!!!!!!!!

Later.

[HornPlayerChris]

So as the showis starting I really liked how the announcer kept going on with his "Drum Major __________, is your corps ready" while the corps was already whistling Kill Bill. I even saw George Hopkins(I think it was him) shoot this really annoyed look up to the pressbox.

Probably wasn't Hop being annoyed with the announcer. The whistled part of Kill Bill is considered their "on the field warmup" (a la 2003) and the announcer is supposed to continue doing his thing while The Cadets continue with their warm up.

[pitboy06]

thanks for that information. I honestly thought it was part of the show.