A Night at the Movies....

[BlooooContra]

This being my first time I've been able to catch DCI at Regal, I was very impressed! It's late and I'm a little tired... sitting still that long is a huge feat in my book. :P

Here are my thoughts on each corps. I'll try to keep it basic, brief, and BIASED. No punches pulled, but please read carefully before you try to flame it. Thanks! :)

Southwind- Best non-semifinalist corps in DCI history. Great year for them and I hope that tonight's season wrap-up doesn't get those kids down too much. They did a #### of a job this season and really raised the bar for the organization, as did the staff.

Capital Regiment- Holy #$%^&*, these kids are MOVING in the opener! I was shocked. Music in that tune was great. Heck, I thought that was one of the best single productions of the night. Thought the new unis work very, very well from a box perspective. Such a big step up from where they were just a few short years ago. You can tell the organization is all about challenging itself. However, I felt that the closer was an absolute bag of **** from a design standpoint. I'd have been embarassed to have done it on the field. Kudos to the members for pulling out the performance they had tonight. I hope the momentum can keep up into 2007!

Blue Stars- Welcome back to Div 1. Just one question: where was the corps that did Blue Stars: Reloaded? All I saw was some sappy patriotic show that's been done eight bazillion times. Come on. Really? Seriously? Show designers- what's your deal? I think that deserves a slap for each person who agreed to put that concept on the field. Despite that particular atrocity, these kids came to play tonight. Strong showing by the hornline especially. They'll be knocking at the Saturday night door next year for sure. It's great to see some new (old) blood back in the mix!

Crossmen- What an entertaining show. I laughed in so many places- these guys were clever, that's for sure. It was obvious that the corps dug the show they were given, especially that pit. Some nice, jazzy grooves in the hornline. Drums seemed to have a good show tonight. I don't think that the drill design is anywhere near where it should be to get them back into finals. Staff changes are a #####. I feel where they're at- been through enough myself. Once they get a solid instructional team there, Bones should be back. Until then, I'm happy with 14th place as long as they keep putting out entertaining shows like Changing Lanes.

Colts- Kind of a pity that this show was done the same year as Moto Perpetuo. Think of it as SCV Lite. Wasn't feeling it at all really, but I'd chalk that up to extremely generic brass arranging. Felt like it was pulled from a 90s drum corps textbook. The version of Ride could have been much stronger, especially considering that tune was prominent just 2 years ago with another finalist corps. If you're going to repeat a tune that had seen daylight recently, you've got to really throw down... or at least tweak the heck out of the arrangement. Once again, I think the design team let the kids down with this show. I believe they've got talent on the same level as Spirit, but they don't have the vehicle to get them there.

Spirit- Solid is my word to describe these guys. Music you can hum. Drill you can read. A concept that can be easily grasped. Good stuff. Some of the old school DCI throwbacks in the first movement were really cool. Couple little easter eggs in there. Great music selection. The flow into Blue Shades worked way better than I thought it would have. Solid 12th place corps. I felt that the design and performance were right there where they should be for a 12th place finish, which is by no means a bad thing with such a strong group of semifinalist corps.

Glassmen- The "waltz" in 5/8? Genius. And as always (well... recent years), they Glassmen's guard is hot. There. I said it. :P

I think they had a couple of wow moments, but not enough to really break into the next echelon of corps. I really like the recent trend in Glassmen shows- taking familiar, standard classical tunes and just standing back, poking them with a stick, and seeing what happens.

Madison Scouts- Ok. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge stickler for shows being demanding. I don't give a **** if it's clean if it isn't difficult. Difficulty? Yeah. They've got it. More than they can handle, but it's admirable seeing them try. I give em credit. I've never, ever, ever been a Madison fan. I don't like this show, but you can bet that I respect it. Somebody needs to buy Myron Rosander a copy of Pyware 3D java so he can see the individual step size calculations. lol And maybe he could realize that he writes drill that's nearly impossible to totally clean (see SCV 01, 03, etc.). ...but I suppose that's a tangeant for another day. The Scouts were intense tonight, but if they weren't, the show would have eaten them alive.

Boston Crusaders- I believe that Lil' John said it best when it comes to describing this show: "What?" Seriously. What were the designers thinking? Boston is better than the show they were given. It all seemed so arbitrary and aimless- just a big mass of counts, dots, and note heads on a page. Was it performed well? You betcha. I'd imagine that even the members are scratching their heads on this one. And all those props for one and a half effect moments? *sigh* Boston's gone from totally cheesy to totally out there. Please, design team, find a happy medium.

Blue Knights- To me, this seems like a better thought-out version of Boston's show. No big underlying theme, but they really succeed, through design and performance, in setting an ambient mood throughout. I'll go on record saying that this is my favorite BK show ever. The little swirling circle moment was a really effective point. Visual effect seemed to be their strong suit this year.

Carolina Crown- I think I "get" the show. I just don't think there's enough thematic material to really kind of justify what they're going for (if that makes sense). Hornline was crass during the opener, but really seemed to reel it in and deliver later on. Guard communicated their roles very well up to the box, something that definitely stood out throughout the show. Drumline wasn't a pretty sight- not sure what's happening there. That used to be one of Crown's strongpoints. It was like they were the little WGI corps. Now the horns have really stepped it up, which is good to see. Overall, a pretty solid package. Crown really seems to know what they're doing, getting a little better every year, no matter what numbers or placements might say. These guys are moving forward.

SCV- They're back! Praise the Lord, they're back! I absolutely loathed 04-05 SCV. I thought it totally went against the innovation that they were bringing, especially in the 99-03 years. Moto Perpetuo is the deal. Great little easter eggs through the show. The field exit is total Vanguard innovation. I ate it up. Great stuff.

Bluecoats- You're always toughest on the ones you love. :) I'm not sure what happened tonight, but it didn't feel like the corps I saw in Massillon just a little while ago. Ensemble vis was an issue, especially in the high brass. My buddy (who never marched DCI) who I brought with me was even calling stuff out. They've got the show. They've got the talent. My hope is that it's a repeat of last year- where we had a less than stellar quarters performance, then threw it down on Saturday night. This is definitely the year where they took out all the naysayers who've thought that Blue was a fluke in recent years. Here's to the Bluecoats tearing the house down in 07 with a medal at the very least. This show purrs. Next year needs to roar to get to the top.

Cadets- I like this show. I'm a huge Cadets hater and I like this show. Why? I dunno. Maybe it's the crazy ADD 8 year old in me. Do I have issues with some of it? Yes. Do I think they take things a bit far at times? Yes. Am I disgusted that the hornline was nothing more than a soundtrack, prop, and/or stagehand the entire show? Uh huh. But somehow, I still liked it on the whole. They were light years cleaner than Bluecoats, and I think the placement was right tonight. If Blue can step it up, Cadets won't stand a chance. If not, then chalk up a 4th place finish to the maroon team.

Phantom- Love. Those. Mellophones. This show does anger so well. The demons were slightly more feminine than they were scary, but Faust did a good job. Drill needs to be stepped up if they ever want a ring again. This show is so clean, but I don't think it's on the same level as BD and Cavaliers. I'm a little irked that they're all in the 96es.

Blue Devils- Love it. No more shot notes. No more gratuitous screaming. No more easy drill. THIS is the Blue Devils I've been waiting for the past few years. The beginning of the show is amazing. Most entertaining snareline I've ever seen in DCI. Guard sells their image well. Wow moments are programmed well into the show- great pace throughout. I'm hoping they take the title.

Cavaliers- Love the concept. Hate how thin it wears. To me, it's a case of too much of a good thing. They've clearly got all the makings of a great show, it just grates on my nerves a little bit. Dont' get me wrong- I'm still a big fan. My only other complaint is the music. Other than the little contra lick in the circle, the brass arranging is the most generic stuff to come out of Rosemont in a long time. It's just a soundtrack to their little factory. Maybe that was the point. i dunno. I just think that it should do a better job as a stand-along product that works in tandem with visual effect.

Final rant: I just have to say it... Why on earth is it that they pick cool little historical moments to show before each corps, yet the Bluecoats get their freaking 1996 show????? GAH! DCI! Are you trying to make us look bad? People at the theater were LAUGHING at the show. There's a big reason why that design staff isn't around anymore. At the very least, give us 95. Maybe 01? 87? ANYTHING but 96. (...or 99 or 92)

Edited August 11, 2006 by BlooooContra

[Lousoz]

Final rant: I just have to say it... Why on earth is it that they pick cool little historical moments to show before each corps, yet the Bluecoats get their freaking 1996 show????? GAH! DCI! Are you trying to make us look bad? People at the theater were LAUGHING at the show. There's a big reason why that design staff isn't around anymore. At the very least, give us 95. Maybe 01? 87? ANYTHING but 96. (...or 99 or 92)

First of all, good review, I agreed with most of what you said.

Second, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON THE CHOICE TO SHOW 1996! I was at the show with a few other alumni, and told them the same thing. It was cool that they showed a year that I marched ( and I even got to see myself on a movie screen!) but I feel that in the mid 90's, 1995 was a better year for the corps, and was suprised that they picked 96 over 95. I think the "Red Cape Tango" or 1995 would have been a better choice. I, too, would like to know who picked the clips and why.

But to look at it in a positive note, it did showcase how far the corps has come in a decade.

[Matt_S]

Couldn't agree more about SCV. This year isn't quite the corps that we had 1997-2003, but it's much much closer than the last two years. There's an attention to detail and nuance that I felt was missing in '04 and '05, glad to see it back.

[StupidLikeAFox]

Blue Devils- Love it. The beginning of the show is amazing...Wow moments are programmed well into the show- great pace throughout. I'm hoping they take the title...

...Cavaliers- Love the concept. Hate how thin it wears. To me, it's a case of too much of a good thing. They've clearly got all the makings of a great show, it just grates on my nerves a little bit. Dont' get me wrong- I'm still a big fan. My only other complaint is the music. Other than the little contra lick in the circle, the brass arranging is the most generic stuff to come out of Rosemont in a long time...

Wow.

I could not agree with you more. Thanks for typing out what I was thinking, now I dont have to go through the effort to type all that.

I hope the Dev's take it all, it's an amazing show. But I think the Cavies GE could be too difficult to top.

[jwillis35]

Just an exccellent, excellent review!!!! Bravo!

[Fran Haring]

Did what I'm about to describe happen to anyone else in any other theater?

At the theater where we watched the show (in Abingdon, MD, just north of Baltimore), the Madison Scouts' performance was basically ruined by major glitches/dropoffs in the video feed. The glitches/dropoffs also happened during a couple of other corps in the earlier part of the show, but the Scouts got the worst of it.

When we were leaving the theater, the Regal Cinemas folks gave us free passes that we can use for another movie at that theater. I'm guessing it was a customer service move because of the problems with the video feed.

BTW, this was my first viewing of the year of the Cavaliers and Blue Devils, and the first time I had seen Phantom Regiment since very early in the season. At this show, all three corps, IMO, were OFF THE HOOK...... great show concepts and performances!!!!!

Also, as a long-time fan of the Blue Stars, I was thrilled to see 'em back in action in Division 1. I hope they can move up the ladder next year!

Fran

[MikeD]

Did what I'm about to describe happen to anyone else in any other theater?

At the theater where we watched the show (in Abingdon, MD, just north of Baltimore), the Madison Scouts' performance was basically ruined by major glitches/dropoffs in the video feed. The glitches/dropoffs also happened during a couple of other corps in the earlier part of the show, but the Scouts got the worst of it.

In NJ, the Scouts feed had a lot of problems...I came late, so I can't comment on much prior to that.

[Orpheus]

Great review, although I disagree on a few points (which I've already mentioned in other threads). Thanks!

[TastyWaves]

Some great thoughts here !

I was at the movies too... lotsa fun.

I would only disagree with you on the blue stars review. I COMPLETELY understand what you mean about the patriotic theme and how its been done a "Bazillion" times, but i think thats what you want when your making your "comeback". I always say as an arranger, "Write for what you HAVE, not what you WISH you had". Some corps are out there biting off a bit more than they can chew so to speak. I think they are giving their kids something fun, entertaining, accessable, and achievable. It does have some "meat" to it, its just not overdone. It looks like the kids are into it and they do a fantastic job with it! Maybe next year or down the road they can beef things up a little. I think they are on the right track!

Mr HArring,

In Warrington Pa, there were 2 or 3 real small "glitches". The sound (and video on one occassion) kinda flickered, but the glitches were over before you could even finish reacting to them.

Tony

[dciguy01]

A little harsh in areas, but an honest and well thought out review. You hit a lot of things right on the head. I would like to point out a couple things I think were totally off-base, though.

The only thing really "wrong" about the Blue Stars show IMO is the narration. It's unnecessary and gets in the way of a very strong show. The fact that it is a patriotic themed show has absolutely no bearing on how good or bad it is.

The arranging job done by the Colts this year is quite possibly their best ever. If you are looking for something to nag on with the Colts, look elsewhere.