Westminster, MD Review

[Maestro767]

Just got back from the show... some quick observations:

Surf: Two of my band kids are in Surf this year, so I was happy to be there to see them perform. Nice show, obviously dirty for this early time of year. Some lulls in the action but the Moulin Rouge music generates a generally audience-friendly show.

Spirit - Loved the show much more in person than I did on the APD. Some very cool moments, and I'm so glad they're portraying some of their roots. The recurring Old Man River theme is a nice touch. Blues in the Night / Blue Shades in the closer rocks. The middle swing section might get a bit long for me, but I'd like to see it in person again before I make that judgement. I agreed with their placement above Xmen.

Crossmen - Very entertaining show. The radio section reminded me of something VK might have tried had they been around a few more years. Overall I'd say the corps has made a big 180 from last year. Different direction, MUCH better design - creative and logical. Good performers, too. They'll be in a dogfight with Spirit much of the year, I think.

Boston - Kinda felt flat to me, and honestly I was surprised they were that close to Crown. A lot of contemporary sounds and disonnances in the horn book, which I expected from the Jennifer Higdon music they chose, but it didn't really draw me in like I had hoped. Not sure if the placement of the props was off tonight or what, but when they are placed on either sides of the 50 it looks like a mistake, and when they are pushed together I'm not sure it got the desired effect tonight. Maybe that needs to happen sequentially, and with some sort of motivation from the guard?

Crown - Hornline will be spectacular again this year. Again some very contemporary sounds, but this music got me hooked. Some dissonances throughout, but the staff has made them fit well (and even groove!). Again, did not think much of this fromt he APD but the live performance was rockin. I can't say enough about the hornline... man were they loud.

Phantom - I am personally not a big fan of the opener. They play it very well, and has some great technical passages, I just don't care for the music. I'll leave it at that. The Ave Maria and Mahler sections were fantastic. As usual, an amazing moment for the hornline at the ballad impact. My only question is about the theme/concept... I barely noticed it. Seems like there are two main "characters" out there, but the female one is not distinguishable from the rest of the girls in the guard. I think getting some more of the theme and interaction between the two characters would go a long way to help this show out in terms of GE.

Percussion:

Cadets - Hmm. A lot of logical things going on throughout the program from a design standpoint. Again purely opinion, I did not care for the spoken stuff from the characters nor did I really see the value in having the vocalist sing during the ballad. It seems pretty unnecessary, especially with the hornline overpowering her. All that said, the kids perform really really well. Championship show? Eh, I don't think so, but at this point last year their show wasn't a championship show either. My guess is it will make several mutations between now and August. We'll see.

Edited July 1, 2006 by Maestro767

[Fran Haring]

Just got back from Westminster myself... way too tired to share many thoughts right now, other than:

The weather was great....I mean GREAT, absolutely perfect for drum corps....the crowd was good-sized (stadium almost completely full).

Nice night for drum corps in Maryland. Nice to work with Sean King and the rest of the YEA crew again.

OK.... off to Dover, NJ, and the DCA side of life tomorrow!

Fran

[Guizeppe]

Great quick review. Nice job.

[decompressed]

Just got back from the show... some quick observations:

Surf: Two of my band kids are in Surf this year, so I was happy to be there to see them perform. Nice show, obviously dirty for this early time of year. Some lulls in the action but the Moulin Rouge music generates a generally audience-friendly show.

Spirit - Loved the show much more in person than I did on the APD. Some very cool moments, and I'm so glad they're portraying some of their roots. The recurring Old Man River theme is a nice touch. Blues in the Night / Blue Shades in the closer rocks. The middle swing section might get a bit long for me, but I'd like to see it in person again before I make that judgement. I agreed with their placement above Xmen.

Crossmen - Very entertaining show. The radio section reminded me of something VK might have tried had they been around a few more years. Overall I'd say the corps has made a big 180 from last year. Different direction, MUCH better design - creative and logical. Good performers, too. They'll be in a dogfight with Spirit much of the year, I think.

Boston - Kinda felt flat to me, and honestly I was surprised they were that close to Crown. A lot of contemporary sounds and disonnances in the horn book, which I expected from the Jennifer Higdon music they chose, but it didn't really draw me in like I had hoped. Not sure if the placement of the props was off tonight or what, but when they are placed on either sides of the 50 it looks like a mistake, and when they are pushed together I'm not sure it got the desired effect tonight. Maybe that needs to happen sequentially, and with some sort of motivation from the guard?

Crown - Hornline will be spectacular again this year. Again some very contemporary sounds, but this music got me hooked. Some dissonances throughout, but the staff has made them fit well (and even groove!). Again, did not think much of this fromt he APD but the live performance was rockin. I can't say enough about the hornline... man were they loud.

Phantom - I am personally not a big fan of the opener. They play it very well, and has some great technical passages, I just don't care for the music. I'll leave it at that. The Ave Maria and Mahler sections were fantastic. As usual, an amazing moment for the hornline at the ballad impact. My only question is about the theme/concept... I barely noticed it. Seems like there are two main "characters" out there, but the female one is not distinguishable from the rest of the girls in the guard. I think getting some more of the theme and interaction between the two characters would go a long way to help this show out in terms of GE.

Percussion:

Cadets - Hmm. A lot of logical things going on throughout the program from a design standpoint. Again purely opinion, I did not care for the spoken stuff from the characters nor did I really see the value in having the vocalist sing during the ballad. It seems pretty unnecessary, especially with the hornline overpowering her. All that said, the kids perform really really well. Championship show? Eh, I don't think so, but at this point last year their show wasn't a championship show either. My guess is it will make several mutations between now and August. We'll see.

Too bad Manny Ramirez can't play left field as well as you write! Go Marlins!!!!!

[Maestro767]

Too bad Manny Ramirez can't play left field as well as you write! Go Marlins!!!!!

[Musicman1084]

Too bad Manny Ramirez can't play left field as well as you write! Go Marlins!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: The first paragraph of this post is in jest, and in no way meant to be retaliatory. As they say, I'm just "bustin your balls."

Eh, so we lost one game after an unbelievable streak where the Sox were batting a team average of roughly .330. It's ok. We can't expect to win them all. However, today's 11-1 lead (as of now) makes up for the loss in the first game of the series. ;) That 28-9 win a few years ago was great, too! :)

Anyway, back on topic... great review Bill! I enjoyed your review because it was concise and I felt you were being honest without any real biases. Great to see someone state the good and "needs work" portions of each show rather than strictly praise or bash a corps.