Orlando Review and pictures

[HornPlayerChris]

This morning, I woke up around 10:00AM and the first thing I noticed was the pitter patter of the rain on my roof. It was pouring rain outside here in Gainesville, FL, but, I've grown to accept rain on Drum Corps show days here in Florida, so I let out an exasperated sigh and moved on with my day. At around 4:00 PM I went and picked up my girlfriend, Laura (who made some sammiches for the 150 mile drive). This is her first live Drum Corps show and she isn't a music person. Her experience is limited to watching the 2003 DVD with me, the 2004 PBS broadcast, and the Classic Countdown at Regal Cinemas. So it would be fun to bring a “first-timer,” to a real live show and see reactions.

Anyways, the rain cleared up on the way to Orlando and we really lucked out, as it was the first show I can remember without rain in Orlando. Anyways, we got there around 6:15PM and went into the stadium to wait for the show to start. Off-topic rant: The Citrus Bowl is such a non-fan friendly stadium btw... inadequate parking, stadium is old, and the place is in a terrible neighborhood (It might as well be on the corner of “Murder avenue, and Crack boulevard”).

The show started right on time at 7:00PM on the money, which is also a rarity. My seats were on the second tier on the 35, good seats to get a grasp of the visual and pretty decent sound. I think no rain and show starting on time could be interpretted as a good omen for things to come and I was right.

For these reviews I won't be talking much about guard or drums, as I am not proficient in either.

DIVISION II:

Teal Sound 1st place, 55.075. (My score: 60.5)

My Teal Sound photo album: Click Me!

They seemed to have grown in size from what I remember them at “Night of Magic” last year. I think they have also taken a step up from last year's season which I thought was the best I had seen them (I'm a big Dream Theater fan). I'm really rooting for Florida's div. 2 corps to do good things with this show this year. It's an original show by Key Poulan (two corps in one night doing original Poulan stuff), and I really like the recurring themes of the show which are very mysterious and powerful. The repertoire seems like a perfect fit for them, just the right amount of difficulty, and enough to please the fans and judges.

Their hornline had around 34 or so members, and it looked like they were marching a few holes. They have some great power moments where they put out quite a bit of sound for a group their size and it truly did surprise me. But, occasionally this volume level comes at the cost of balance issues, especially one trumpet player sticking out repeatedly (might not have been the same player, but I wouldn't doubt it), and many other balance issues came up. Balance seemed to be their biggest issue tonight, with sections overplaying at inappropriate times. Visually they do quite well with the amount of people they have, and the age of this corps. The drill design seemed to challenge them, and you can see fatigue in the individual fundamentals: constant improper horn angles, off step, tense posture. Once they get this thing under them and adjust to the physical demands of this show, it should take them places.

DIVISION 1:

Kiwanis Kavaliers: 9th place: 46.625 (My score: 51.0)

My Kiwanis Kavaliers photo album (new unis and drill): Click Me!

Well, I have to say, this is a step down from what I remember Kavaliers in recent years. I hope everything is going well organizationally, because I always enjoyed the nichê this group filled at Division 1 shows. They are to me a great opening act, fun, easy-to-digest shows with recognizable tunes, and corps members having fun with their program and getting the audience pumped up with fun stuff. This year: not so fun... yet. Maybe since they are getting their first-show jitters out of the way, and they seemed to have a lot of holes tonight, looked like places in the drill where they marched enough for about 4-6 more people could fit in, and they even had a recruiting sign at their souvie truck saying that people could still join for this season. I hope they pick some people up soon, and can make this work. As I counted it they had a couple less in their hornline than Division 2's Teal Sound had, and I'd say if they were scored on the same sheets Teal Sound might have even beaten them tonight.

Their show is “Mission Accomplished” and it is several recognizable themes to various spy movies and TV shows. The highlight of this show was the Pink Panther theme, and the excellent Baritone soloist/Drum Major. This guy can play a great jazz Bari solo. The drill and music seemed to really challenge them tonight, as again, like Teal Sound they had many problems individually with tonal issues and people sticking out. The Percussion section seemed to be the strong point of this drum corps as the guard was lacking work and was mostly not together. Keep working guys, I'm sure things will pick up, but, not a good night for KK.

The Magic 8th place: 59.400 ( My score: 63.2)

My Magic photo album (The “M” drill, sashes and horns, etc.): Click Me!

This is definetely a step-up from last year's program in both demand and execution. They are leaps and bounds above last year's “Night of Magic” debut. The program this year is called “A New Beginning,” which is another original Key Poulan show. The new sashes and horns look great from the stands and up close, and the corps looks a bit older than last year. Only beef with the new horns was that the Tubas look like the smallest I've ever seen, they are tiny. But, this show is a more reserved show musically than last year. They want to build the corps back up competitively and financially and with the new administration and designers, hopefully they won't revert back to the old “broke” Magic.

Anyways, the music for this show has some great moments and impact points, and the brass staff is really getting this hornline to blend together very well, but, they definetely seemed turned down a notch with their overall volume (which is a good strategy I think with this young group, get the blend first and then the volume). The drill design is ten times better than it was last year, whatever they did was a right move, the new drill writer seems to be writing right at their level, not too easy that they max it out and peak too early, but, not so hard they will be struggling. Looking very good for only a two week move-in. I predict they might end up in the top 15 come August.

Spirit of JSU 8th Place: 67.350 (My score: 67.00)

My Spirit of JSU photo album (New unis, giant props, drill, etc.): Click Me!

I really liked Spirit's show last year, and thought they should have been over Glassmen on finals week last year. I thought that show was a great vehicle for the corps, and was my favorite 2000's show from them. This year they are going back to a more fun type show with a large repertoire list like they had in 2003. I don't like a lot of the jumping around with the different pieces, I'd prefer they develop just a few pieces instead of as many as they did. The highlight of this show is the “Luck be a Lady” moment. My GF was really loving this part and was the first time of the night she seemed really hyped up about a performance. Spirit's show was also the first really loud impact of the night.

I'm not sure if Gaines is still writing their drill, but, it still looks great, what a great visual package. Right now some of their individual technique doesn't seem to be up to par to handling their show, but it's really great drill. Their new unis look great under the lights and the hornline was very enjoyable during their big impacts and jazz moments. The drumline and guard were both solid also. I wasn't really feeling the Broadway props as I know they are supposed to be conveying the feeling of being on broadway, but most of the “Playbill”s were of show's music they weren't playing. Seemed unnecessary.

Glassmen4th Place: 70.550 (My score: 72.0)

My Glassmen photo album (new unis, “snow angels,” drill): Click Me!

Firstly: Best G-men show ever. I really enjoyed this one, what a great show. I loved the power this hornline has. This is the best hornline from G-men since '01. Great music and visual design, they move hard and fast around the field, and are handling it very well. I really enjoyed the spiced up arrangement of New World symphony, what a great idea this was, since it seems I've heard many a marching band and drum corps try and play this, but, I can't seem to help comparing those groups to the amazing Phantom '89. No performance of New World on the field has topped that, but, this deserves it's own place beside that great show.

This show actually reminds me of Blue Devils 1998. How they juxtaposed the beautiful melodies of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet with jazzy sounds of West Side Story. G-men have a similar concept that is executed wonderfully, they play the classical music with great blend and tone (although occassionally it seemed the trumpet section over powered the rest of the hornline), and then came out with the hard core crunching jazz. They even manage the Drum Major “cue the audience to clap shindig.” I reall like this show and hope to see G-men back in the elite eight this year.

Carolina Crown 5th Place: 70.325 (My score: 72.2)

My Carolina Crown photo album (drill, “leaning,” dancing, etc.): Click Me!

This show was great, and was my surprise hit of the night. This was the only call in placement where I disagreed with the judges, I had Crown in 4th place over G-men. But, I can also see where the judges are coming from. This show doesn't seem to have nearly the demand that G-men have visually. Musically Their hornline sounded much cleaner and blended than Glassmen, and were even louder. Attack and releases were amazing from them tonight, and the visual is very unique and appropriate for their show.

A lot of the show has the corps leaning on each other, and dancing with each other, and although a great effect, I can see why the judges would place Glassmen above Crown. While Crown's visual was cleaner, it was nearly the same level of design as Glassmen and the upper echelon corps. I really hope they eventually add some more difficult drill to this and beef up their design or they may find themselves peaking too early, because I really love this show and would love to see it do well.

Boston Crusaders 6th Place: 70.000 (My score: 68.80)

My Boston Crusaders' photo album (cool “dual-toms,” drill, etc.): Click Me!

I didn't really like Boston's show design last year. It's been awhile since I watched it, but, I really didn't enjoy their repertoire last year, although I did appreciate their greatly improved visual design efforts. The design of the visual last year was much better than year's past in my opinion. This year it's opposite, I enjoy what they're playing, but not what they're marching. Their visual book seemed pretty lacking of any sort of really big visual impacts that we've come to expect from BAC. And the visual program is performed pretty sloppily, with members missing directions changes and interval issues.

I really enjoyed their arrangement of Candide, though nice, light and played pretty well, and I also loved the drum feature with the cool dual-Tom things they pulled out, very fun. But, I'd say of the pack of three corps all with a score of 70.X (BAC, CC, Gmen), their hornline was the weakest. They never quite achieved the volume of Gmen and CC, nor the great dynamics those two corps played with. A lot of the time BAC's hornline was pretty stagnant dynamically unless it was an impact point. I did enjoy this show, though, really fun and light show, with a few under-developed points (would have liked to hear more Jesu, Joy of man's desiring, and Ode to Joy).

Bluecoats 3rd place: 76.325 My score: 77.0

My Bluecoats photo album (Drill, drill, drill): 2 PAGESClick Me!

Wow! I guess I had to see it to believe it, and now I'm on the ever-present Bloo hype train. What a cool show. Great great great hornline, wonderful visual program, most demanding drill for Bluecoats ever. And it's already being performed at a top 5 level. And if they keep adding to this show and improving, I can definetely see them as high as fourth come finals night. There's a few sections in this show where the music seems to really just sort of stagnate, as if it's just there as filler. Where it's just the pit playing what sounds like chords on the marimbas, and things like that. I'd like to see more added to some of the down points in the show (not many, mind you, but every little bit counts at this level). Otherwise great music, the closer (is it Hajj?) is wonderful, a great closing to a great show, visually and musically designed flawlessly, everything flows and builds into one another.

Their brass sound is very Cavaliers-esque, they go for the bottom-heavy, well-balanced sound that isn't quite as loud as some other corps, but, is as high of quality as the other groups. What a fun and dynamic show. This is a definete must see for you all who still haven't jumped on the Blue train.

The Cadets 2nd place: 78.450 (My score: 79.1)

My Cadets' photo album (the Door, guard unis, schoolgirl clones, etc.): 2 PAGES Click Me! EDIT: Fixed so it goes to proper place.

Well there has been much discussion on this drum corps, and rightfully so, it's a very unique show that seems to be garnering the attitude of “love it or hate it.” The crowd didn't seem that responsive to them tonight, and my friends in the Cadets said they are having better run-throughs at rehearsal than at the show. I would imagine running this beast of a show more than once in a day would wipe them out physically and emotionally, and that they still have to get more into shape for this to continue to grow. This is the most difficult show I can think of, and from reading Hop's Blog, he claims it to be the hardest Cadets show ever, and I don't doubt that.

The hornline was the loudest of the night, and had wonderful blend and emotion. Sometimes it seems the dynamics are static though, not too much contrast besides super loud and mezzo-forte. But, that's Gino for you. The visual design is really cool, and you really need to keep your eyes open to see everything. It's really too bad I can only view this once live, because I'd love to watch it again, but check other aspects of the program out, because there's so much going on with it.

And even for those of you that hate the whole “concept show” and weirdness of this, or are confused, well then just enjoy it on the level it delivers the most at: music and motion. Great all around guard with the cool silks and uniforms, the back of the unis of the corps proper are very effective and the door and the schoolgirl clones/personalities is a great effect. The drill is still sloppy in some areas, and I'd like to see some drill added at the very end where the two beat triplet “twilight zone” theme starts and ends at the last chord.

PS: About the Beat-bopping: For those who haven't seen the film; "Dancer in the Dark" (and if you haven't you should go rent it now, because it's excellent all around film). Basically she has these daydreams in the movie, and the very first beat-bopping thing is lifted directly from that movie, and is actually part of the song The Cadets are playing there, so it is appropriate, and I think it's very effective since it is indeed part of the song. However, the second beat-box session is not.

Cavaliers 1st place: 79.225 (My score: 80.0)

Cavaliers photo Album (unis, guard stuff, ladders, etc.): 2 PAGESClick Me!

This show is the ultimate in GE. It's filled to the brim with it. Everything in this show works together, it's the ultimate design from the best music/visual/conceptual design team in the business. Very entertaining show from Cavies and probably when it finishes up going to be my favorite since 2002. The opening fanfare is very Cadet-esque, with the corps standing still and playing that piece from the mp3 they released recently while the colorguard (with great unis this year) spins flags. Great opening and it leads to some great musical and visual moments. I love the ladders, adds a great third demension to this show and even is used very creatively and thoroughly (unlike some props used in the past by other corps).

The hornline has that great well-blended Cavaliers sound that has been so characteristic of them these last few years. The visual seems like it may be a little easier than the past few years, but I'm sure there's more drill coming to them. I love the humor and fun they put into this show this year. It seems with the 007 The Cavaliers have started to expand their shows to include more jazzy riffs and “hot dogging” as the old folks put it. Just completely entertaining.

Sorry for the super long post, hope those that made it this far by skimming through it didnt find it too mind numbingly boring. And if you did... well then I hate you. ;)

My GF who I mentioned really enjoyed her first live Corps show, and enjoyed Cavies the most, then Blue, and then Cadets. Blue and Cavies most definetely appealing to the majority of fans tonight also.

Also here is a link to the Album index if you don't want to browse pictures by corps name and want to browse them all.. my GF took pictures also, and if any of you want to see more pictures let me know in this thread, and if there is enough interest I'll put them up in the next day or so.. Thanks.

PHOTO ALBUM INDEX: Photo Index

EDIT: Fixed linking so Cadets link goes to correct album.

Edited June 26, 2005 by HornPlayerChris

[chris ncsu]

Thanks a bunch!

[AlbionNY Drum Line]

pics for cadets go to pics for coats

[George]

thanks for the excellent review & all the pics!!

[Orpheus]

Outstanding review. Great pics, too.

edit: After looking at all the pics ... I'd hate to be in charge of the Glassmen's uniforms after a performance on natural grass on a soggy/rainy day!

Edited June 26, 2005 by Orpheus

[chris ncsu]

pics for cadets go to pics for coats

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, but when you click on what are supposed to be Cadets pics, up in the address bar change the '08' to '09'.

[elementwrx]

Excellent Review, and thanks for the pictures too...that's always great while reading!

[jaylogan]

Great review. I agree with practically all that you said.

Thanks for the info about Dancer In The Dark. I think I might go rent it, if it's available here. I did perk up on the beatbox, which comes right after the ballad. Are you saying that the beatbox is part of the ballad, or part of the song after the ballad?

[JMS0527]

pics for cadets go to pics for coats

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, but when you click on what are supposed to be Cadets pics, up in the address bar change the '08' to '09'.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can also click on his photo index...from there, you will get the Cadets pics

[HornPlayerChris]

pics for cadets go to pics for coats

Sorry about that, It's fixed now.

Thanks for the info about Dancer In The Dark. I think I might go rent it, if it's available here. I did perk up on the beatbox, which comes right after the ballad. Are you saying that the beatbox is part of the ballad, or part of the song after the ballad?

It's part of the drum feature. It's a piece called "Cualda." The one that starts right after the ballad with the machine noises. In the movie, she has a daydream while she is working at a factory (hence the helmet like the schoolgirl personality in Cadets' show), and she is pointing at people as if to cue them, and then they say their onomatopoeia. "Clatter Crash Bang.." etc. Pretty neat.

Also, about availability, you should be able to find it, as it's semi-popular, and won the top award at the Cannes film festival, and was also nominated for some Academy Awards for music. I found it at my Blockbuster on DVD, in the Drama section, but, it was not at all the Blockbuster's in my area, so you may need to check more than one place.