Very Late Beverly Review

[gcurrier]

I decided I would wait a week to see what I really felt about the show and what hit me because if I remember it now, then it must have made an impact right? Ok, so honestly I was just busy with family being in town and a move at work! BUT, I wanted to add a few things as I recall them just incase you want one more perspective! I will give my guess at rank come finals, however, I am usually going to give a 3 position spread as I havent seen most corps so to say one should or could or will beat one I havent seen is kind of crazy to me! and if spelling counts to you--dont read--because this is not an english paper.

Jersey Surf was up first. I have to say I think the last few years this corps should have been doing better and after hearing the scores this night, I felt the same way again. This is a very different year for them as they dont seem to be going for the Velvet Knights look and instead are picking something a little more serious, yet with some fun in it. They are doing selections from Moulin Rouge and honestly, I thought it was done VERY well. They seem bigger to me then past years and so the sound volume was a bit bigger and it was just a nice way to start the evening. Their biggest issue--they couldnt hold it the who show. Started off wow and loud, but they got more noticeably tired as the show went on! By the end it was hurting them. BUT I think this was their first show--I am excited to see it again in a few weeks. I see like 3-5th place.

East Coast Jazz (who I am mad at because they never refunded me my money for a show they CANCELLED) was up next. GREAT jazz sound-not to be too shocking from them. It was not as loud at times as the Surf, but they held it all through the show which was a huge point booster. They have some great soloist this year too--####! They messed up a bit in their wrap up song but if those guys hit those notes at finals--its going to have peopel jumping out of their seat! It has big time goosebump potential. Could win it again --top 3 easy.

The Magic--the show was very nicely done--not as cutsy as they have done the last few years which made me happy. I think that it is an extremely challenging show however and if a different level corps was doing it, it woudl easily be top 12 maybe the top of top 12. They simply dont seem to have the experience to deliver it! Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is one of my favorite pieces and so beautiful. They do it different then I have heard it, but still very enjoyable. I dont remember much else from this show (sorry) but I do remember remarking how strong I thought the percussion was. I have to say I said that for most corps I thougth their percussion sections were better for them then previous years. Id say bottom pack 23-21.

Southwind-Honestly last years show freaked me out a bit--this years show I found much more enjoyable. They really take the "twisted" eliment and make it work. Ok the guard outfits end up bieng both TIGHT and ORANGE! very orange--but I think it all goes with the show. Its like a WOW moment. now some of the boys are rather endowed and maybe thats why people have been freaking out--but its not different then going to the ballet! RELAX people--its just the human body. Anyway, maybe it was distracting because its mostly what I remember--LOL BUT it was very well done and I think it could possibly even have a shot at top 12 (I would say definetely if it werent shaping up to be a tough year to be top 12). Their best show yet. I loved the mixing of the different themes. Id say 15-12th place.

Crossmen--ok so I liked last year and although I couldnt really find someone in top 12 I wanted out--I wanted them in. Well this show SHOULD put them back in. Its entertaining, fun and has some great moments. Unfortunately getting into the game later, it is so not clean yet. I cant wait to see it when it is. I saw someone say best use of amplification yet and I think I may need to agree. Just be the shear fact that I feel like I remember more about this show--tells me something. They start off liek they are in a car that wont start and eventually it gets going--I thought it was funny, but also well done. As it moves along your like a passenger in the car. Well, the raido station keeps getting changed. they have a white noise effect I think they could make better, but it moves you from one station to the other. I mean your geting traffic reports in here, weather, its a riot. They move from classical, to a full on latin jazz which literally had me busting UP, but yet IMPRESSED! at one point they get to the "half-time show" as UW is winning the football game and they do a very "marching band" half time show moment! KICK ###--I loved! Madison will probably freak. Then it goes to the long distance dedication which is a very beautiful moment reaching out to all those you cant be with. Guard has waht I believe to be large flags with their hometown and zip code on it. Pretty sweet, near teery eyed moment. All of a sudden I realize--dont remember the ending much! LOL but it was all good because I stood up! Guard outfits were odd--like gray jogging suits. but it did the job I guess--guard seemed strong to me, but the judges didnt think so..oops. All elements were very dirty--but once cleaned up--this show will literally rock. my guess after cleanups (as it has the most potential) 13-11th place.

Cadets--man was I nervous about this show. I am a Cadets fan...didnt LOVE last year in any stretch (my favorite show was Phantom-Gershwin--but I still thought Cadets should win). I was sold by the end of last year and maybe thats why once I saw this show, I wasnt nearly as freaked out as people were making me. I guess I am starting to accept the fact that the Cadets are like the yankees of DCI--you love them or you hate them and people that hate them LOVE to hate them! LOL Life goes on people. ANYHOW--The show had some awesome moments--vocals didnt distract me at all but that coudl be because the speakers near me didnt work--maybe that was a good thing. I am wondering why people dont get this show--its almost exactly like the real Alice in Wonderland with kind of a liek hip 70's psychedelic feel to it. Its called through the looking glass--does that not tell you Alice in Wonderland?? In many ways its more accessable then last years show. Some of the charachters are a little wacky--but that fits. The percussion is on FIRE!!!! HOLY CRAP! The one thing I could say is, I dont know how they are losing percussion to Phantom. They do a toss of a stick all the way across the snare line and the guy on the end catches it, and then after sends it back--very cool moment. Oh I forgot--not thrilled with the first 30 seconds--its ok, but it reintroduces last years theme. The section from Pollack is BEAUTIFUL and very well done. Again, if you know anything about the artist, then the show will make more sense to you being a little wacky. The other thing I would say is--the ending is so flat. I knwo they will beef it up for finals, but now its kind of just over. The crowd loved the show from where I was. Top 3 for sure--not 100% it will win.

Phantom-yes guys in the guard and we go back to the less is more theme! LOL I said this year that the theme for color guards seem to be, tighter the better or less material is more. Half naked men right off. I dont know much about Faust and the story is told in its own way, but it seems to be about gay deamons trying to keep one of their own from turning straight! (I say that as a gay man so I mean no reference to gayness being a sin). It was a very tasteful show however. The lead male starts off before the show bwgins looking for the rigth girl and then seemingly meets his match in a beautiful yougn lady of the guard. The little deamon guys start of with leather masks on that was kind of creepy, yet I liked because it defintely gave this dark feel. At one point in the show they kill the girl and bring the boy back to their side. IN the end she is brough back and they are united and it goes well wiht the sound although I am not sure it is true to the story. Percussion is solid, but should not be beating Cadets--just my opinion. BRASS on the other hand--holy cow! I was shocked they didnt--BEAUTIFUL sound from them--very dark as we would expect. Ave Maria allows Phantom to give us the next WOW moment of the year--truly delightful. The section where they all play lower brass...cant be described without feeling it first hand--and I do mean FEEl it. Overall though, the show doesnt have it. I wish it did. Its beautiful in parts and touching in parts, but lacks the next level. Its not last year. I dont predict they will be top 3 again, id say somewhere in the very competive ranks of 6th-4th this year.

Boston-#### nice show--oops probably shouldnt say that about Cathedrals huh? well it is..solid all the way around. Complete different approach from them. They carry the theme throughout the corps and show very well. The guard outfits seem to have cathedral like windows on them. I liked it. Guard was awesome--step up for them for sure--almost beat Phantom score wise and in my mind. Beat Phantom in GE visual and I think thats mostly because they just fit so well together and it just made sense. It all intergrated so well--and gave you a great southing feel like being in church. Percussion probably has the most work, but they will get there. The pillars and cathedral vaulted ceiling slowly comes together in the end to create a solid arch down the middle. Very cool moment, liked it a lot. Id say this show will be competitive wiht teh ranks of Phantom and Santa Clara this year. I put them also 6th to 4th place.

Grwat show--rain held off which was nice! we had field seats which i dont know if they are offered any other place, but its worth the money if its not your only show--you get the feel of being right WITH the corps. Done it two years now and love it. The campus is beautiful at Endicott so it made for a great day all the way around. I welcome direct questions as it may jog my memeory on something I am leaving out. I hope you enjoyed the review--know that I tried to pull out the positives as much as possible because I have no affiliation to any corps from any time--I am just a fan who loves the activity and loves a GREAT show, no matter WHO is doing it! Thanks

[Lance]

I dont know much about Faust and the story is told in its own way, but it seems to be about gay deamons trying to keep one of their own from turning straight! (I say that as a gay man so I mean no reference to gayness being a sin). It was a very tasteful show however.

Okay, I just lost it. :lolhit:

Thanks for the review, too.

[chadwick]

Thanks for the great belated review!! Keep 'em coming if you are going to anymore shows this season. :)

[George]

thanks for the review!!!

[arno0940]

Great Review - I was at the same show and alot of your comments reflect what I was thinking!

You're bang on about Phantom: although the individual sections are great - overall there is alot missing. It will be interesting to see where they end up - my guess is 4th - 6th.

[GMichael1230]

Great review. One thing though, Southwinds uniforms are two shades of blue, one light, one dark, encompassing each half of the body. The orange, and lost of it, comes in the form of their equipment.

~G~

[guardgirl42]

East Coast Jazz (who I am mad at because they never refunded me my money for a show they CANCELLED) was up next.

Nice review, straightforward, etc. But the above a petty comment about ECJ, imo ... what was the cost of the ticket ... $10.00? FYI, the City of Malden cancelled the show, not ECJ. Maybe think of the money as a donation to the corps? After all, they lost big money ... the show's a fundraiser.

[gcurrier]

Nice review, straightforward, etc. But the above a petty comment about ECJ, imo ... what was the cost of the ticket ... $10.00? FYI, the City of Malden cancelled the show, not ECJ. Maybe think of the money as a donation to the corps? After all, they lost big money ... the show's a fundraiser.

ya it was petty--but it was $15 and I had a slew of tickets so it ended up being a pretty hefty donation. I think if I am going to donate to things, I should be able to pick which ones. They didn't "lose" money, they just didnt make any off from anyone other than people they didnt return money too..I guess why I am ###### is not really the money, I have enough, its that they didnt have the courtesy to reply to my e-mail after the fact. They didnt give me the option to say fine--keep it. I usually would--as a matter of example I give generously to the united way each pay check. ONe time they doubled it by accident. Now people who had 2-4 dollars were deminding they get their money back--I simply said keep it after they gave me the option, but not giving me the option--thats a form of fraud. Plan and simple. Just wanted to set the story straight and after today, Ill probably never think of the money East Coast has again as its a good corps that always entertains. HEY I gave them a solid review still! LOL

[gcurrier]

Great review. One thing though, Southwinds uniforms are two shades of blue, one light, one dark, encompassing each half of the body. The orange, and lost of it, comes in the form of their equipment.

~G~

I could have sworn when they ripped off the first uni, the second was orange, but it was a week ago and I coudl be wrong--they were tight thats for sure! LOL

[Cardman]

Half naked men right off. I dont know much about Faust and the story is told in its own way, but it seems to be about gay deamons trying to keep one of their own from turning straight! (I say that as a gay man so I mean no reference to gayness being a sin).

Yikes. I was looking forward to Phantom's show this year, but if there is a gay theme, that is just sad, and I will not watch it. Sigh...