Indy musings

[paladin pit05]

Ok...I've never really done one of these before, but we'll give it a go. :)

I did attend both the afternoon and evening shows, but since I've been having trouble sleeping lately, I wasn't completely focused enough to do a great review. I did have favorites from the afternoon: Southwind, Spirit, Glassmen, SCV, and Crossmen.

Now to the evening:

Spirit- I love Broadway...especially "Wicked". They seemed a whole lot louder than they did in the afternoon, and there were also some things that I didn't catch earlier (tunes snuck in during the ballad from the shows on the playbills, the delta trick). It was dirty in act 3 ("Luck Be a Lady"), but that didn't stop me from enjoying this show.

Glassmen- when I saw them in the afternoon, I wasn't sure I'd like the show. Man was I wrong. The guard is huge and phenominal!

Blue Knights- honestly, there isn't really too much I remember about this show. It was done well, but I just couldn't get into it.

SCV- I really enjoyed this show and actually thought they may pass BAC. Even sitting 28 rows up, I could see the star, 1917, CCCP, USSR, and 1991...that was pretty cool. There just seems to be something missing from it, though I don't know what.

BAC- I just couldn't get into it. They performed well, and the guard was great, but some of the tunes were undistinguishable to me. I guess playing Bach the proper way has been beaten into my brain.

Crown- whoa hornline! What a gorgeous sound during "Angel". There were "ooh"s from the crowd when the wings were revealed. I also thought that the flag wings were a cool effect too.

Bluecoats- BLOOOOOOO!!!! I'm a fan of this show...very in your face. The guard was really good too. This is one that will live on my drum corps playlist on my ipod mini once the sound file is avaliable.

Phantom Regiment- HOLY DOUBLETONGUE BATMAN! Dude! Just...wow. Phantom, you have a new fan! I'm a huge Gershwin fan, and this show did his music justice. Another one that has a spot on my playlist when the time comes. And the guard...holy crap! They *definatly* deserved their placement. My only beef is with the guest performer. He's so good...so active...such a pimp...that both my fiance and I found ourselves watching him just about the entire time. Definatly the fan favorite of the night.

Just a quick note about rainsticks. I only saw a few people with them...do not many people know? Or were RCA dome rules in affect (no artificial noisemakers, no objects that look like/could be used as weapons)? I hope this doesn't turn into a thunderstick thing...a bunch of them together sound really really cool, but only 1 or 2 sound...well...dumb. It's definatly a cool effect, and hopefully it will catch on in time for finals.

Madison Scouts- yeah Scouts! My fiance is a huge Scouts fan, and he described it as "Carmen in the hood". Definatly loud and in your face. Carmen wasn't too much of a distraction, but I could see how people say she is...maybe b/c she's the only one in red in a sea of green, black, white, and blue. Guard was great, and I found myself watching them most of the time...the chains were a cool prop too.

BD- ya know...BD just doesn't do it for me this year. It's like narration with musical accompaniment. It's just no 2003, and since I didn't see any of the 2004 shows, it was a huge letdown for me. The show moves in reverse which confused most everyone we were sitting next to. I don't know if they'll be able to pass PR.

Cadets- yes, I am a huge Cadets fan...I mean really...who doesn't like Jay Bocook? After talking to my mello friend after their Murfeesboro performance, they knew what they had to do. I had a gut feeling they'd win no matter what the margin. The door doesn't look like a kindergardner made it, trust me. The narration is nothing. The drumspeak is cool, and the drums *still* throw it down. "Kill Bill" is cool with the guard unis and weirded out corps unis. "Liquid" has some really cool effects. The crowd thought the doorbell was funny. After they were done, they didn't get a great ovation (though I'm speculating it was because the crowd in attendance was a Midwestern crowd, so of course they're gunna go all out for the Midwestern corps), and I even heard the people behind me discussing it.

This show did hit home for me because I haven't been sleeping well or haven't been able to at all, so it just kinda spoke to me. If you know my situation the past couple of weeks, you would understand.

Cavies- the baseball section was definatly cool with the sound effects, especially the one at the end. I personally thought there were a few too many ladders, but they used them well. "Sweet Home Chicago" was loud and in your face, but I almost thought it was *too* loud, especially in a dome where everything sounds muddy. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the guard uniforms though. My only other thing is that, as someone said earlier, they seem to be moving like machines...they don't look like they're having fun or enjoying themselves until the "Sweet Home Chicago" part.

PR got a rousing ovation when they were announced 3rd. When Cavies were named 2nd, I was one of the few cheering (yeah, prolly not a great move on my part looking back at it). However, I did think the boos were uncalled for. Yes, I understand that this is a Midwest crowd that favors the Midwest corps, but no child out there deserves that. Had The Cadets been named 2nd, I wouldn't have booed (I woulda said "damit...oh well" and moved on)...and also the crowd would have been going nuts for the Cavies.

Man it is gunna be a dogfight to the end! I hope you enjoyed reading this, and next time I'll promise not to suck as much.

[George]

Midwest crowds always "boo" when midwest corps don't win or place well. It drives me wacko. They also tend to like more "in your face" shows than esoteric ones which seemed to be preferred on the coasts. Star was the exception to this rule (as is Gmen to a lesser degree) - Star got much better reactions on the coasts than at midwest venues

[decompressed]

Midwest crowds always "boo" when midwest corps don't win or place well.  It drives me wacko.  They also tend to like more "in your face" shows than esoteric ones which seemed to be preferred on the coasts.  Star was the exception to this rule (as is Gmen to a lesser degree) - Star got much better reactions on the coasts than at midwest venues

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can't argue with you here. Some of the rudest fans when their teams don't do as well as they like....case in point:

2000 Mufreesboro when Madison....well...you know the rest.

[PeeWee]

Thanks for the review!

So many great corps to see this season - I'm really looking forward to Gillette Stadium!

[Ben]

Midwest crowds always "boo" when midwest corps don't win or place well.  It drives me wacko.  They also tend to like more "in your face" shows than esoteric ones which seemed to be preferred on the coasts.  Star was the exception to this rule (as is Gmen to a lesser degree) - Star got much better reactions on the coasts than at midwest venues

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i think it has to do with a lot more newbies attending events in the midwest every year, more than the east and west coast. they don't understand why their corps didn't win and some idiots boo. i've seen it a lot in iowa, having lived here my whole life. i kind of hate going to music on the march in dubuque and hearing people moan and groan about how the colts should've won over cavies or whatever d1 corps beat them that year. i witnessed the same thing in ankeny this year when i heard someone say and i quote, "twilight zone shouldn't have won tonight, i thought colts and magic were way better!!" just kind of the hometown mindset here i guess.

[JoeW]

i'd like to thank the the man with his two year old son at the show for staying the whole night even when his son was crying the entire time......sarcasm off.....please people, show some courtesy and dont bring any toddlers or anyone else that affects the crowds experience.

ooo and the review is great....i defenitly agree....my roomie marches cavies and wasnt too disappointed about Cadets winning, they know both corps will have a good battle thru the rest of the season

[PhillyDCIMontreal]

Thamks for the review.

I'm not heading to Foxboro so reading these reviews keeps me informed.

[mdsnsctfan]

Can't argue with you here.  Some of the rudest fans when their teams don't do as well as they like....case in point:

2000 Mufreesboro when Madison....well...you know the rest.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Scouts had an AMAZING SHOW that night in Murfreesboro! The crowd loved it and bought it! When announced in.....*forgot placement*....the crowd simply did not agree.

HAHA, that was awesome. First the boos (disagreement) then the standing ovation lasting for an extensive amount of time!!! Gotta love it!!

THe Scouts.....fan favorite!!!!!

[ann_and_scott]

Not sure that I agree with the comments that the lack of enthusiasm for Cadets winning related to them not being a midwest corps. Many of the people I spoke to weren't too thrilled with the "weird" style of show and didn't find it that entertaining. Of course, I still don't think people should boo, but I didn't hear much of that.

[Jacob]

I was in a sea of green as the awards were announced - Everyone in my row except for me left after Cavies finished to get on the road - then everyone started filing into those empty seats - And everyone was wearing green (I guess hinting at a favoritism toward the cavies...or maybe they just all like green) - Anyway...from where I was, the boos were VERY substantial - I was almost afraid to clap for fear of what people might do. But in relation to what you said in your review, I haven't been a Cadet fan since 2000, and I LOVE this show. Thanks for the review.