Santa Clara Vanguard.....93.0 (Percussion, Music Ens, General Effect) Cadets of Bergen County..93.0 (Brass, Visual Ens) Glassmen.................87.9 (Color Guard) Phantom Regiment.........85.6 Blue Knights.............85.6 Magic of Orlando.........82.6 Spirit of Atlanta........77.7 Kiwanis Kavliers.........76.1 Les 'Etoiles.............73.3 Troopers.................62.4 Thanks to Michael and to Brandon Hilton for emailing us these scores!
Well, here it is... my last review of the last drumcorps show I attended this year. :(
I HATE COMPUTERS (sometimes). I was busy writing my review last night around 3 AM so I could put down my thoughts while they were freshest in my mind and I got the lovely "blue screen of doom" with about two sentences to go. I wanted to cry.
So, this is my second attempt at writing this review... if you're reading it, I made it!
The weather at Ypsi was absolutely gorgeous for the second day in a row. It was a little cooler and the wind was a little more brisk as we headed into the evening, but it wasn't anything that bothered the guards tonight.
The hot dogs still taste awesome. :D And the polish sausage stand was doing some serious business as well!
This review is dedicated to one Mr. Tony Flores who thinks I shouldn't be able to share my thoughts with all of you because I never marched in a corps. Well neener neener ha ha ha, I'm doing it anyway!
Let's get started with the corps. First off the starting line tonight were the Troopers (10th Place, 62.4), always a fan favorite for the nearly 20,000 in attendance tonight (!)
The Troop is in the throes of another rebuilding year, and the idea that they should have gone to Division II has been advanced by RAMD members. I must say that I agree with this... the corps, while full of tough kids that are sticking it out this year, is simply not big or accurate enough to justify an Open Class standing this year.
With that said, the corps still has some very nice moments. The Silverado piece includes a very well staged "battle" between the guard and the percussion section with the hornline outlining the action. The patented Troop "sunburst" appears during the closer and whips the crowd up in time to give the corps a standing ovation at the close of their show.
This year's Troopers, although a far cry from their glory days, looks to be on the right track. They are entertaining with the crowd and have lots of kids that aren't afraid to gut it out (even if it means missed or cracked notes). Hopefully the future will give this corps some more members, and a shot at playing on Friday (or Saturday) in the near future.
Following the Troopers were Les Etoiles de Dorion (9th Place, 73.3), who continue to show us that numbers aren't needed to get results, simply talent.
Is anyone else wondering what this corps could do with a full 128 members??? As it stands, they have maybe 80 members, but the entire corps is polished and exciting. Their brassline is absolutely outstanding for their smaller size (they came within .1 of Spirit of Atlanta in Brass Performance) with nary a missed or cracked note. This is a good indication that some solid, strong instructors are teaching this corps and making them succeed.
This year Les Etoiles is doing selections from the motion picture The Rock, and being an owner of the soundtrack, I am happy to say that I could hum right along with the corps tonight (something I couldn't do with BD the night before, BTW.) The arranging and staging for the corps maximizes sound and precision and gives them the illusion of looking and sounding much better. Although they are smaller in numbers than the Troopers, they were much better in terms of presence and clarity.
The guard and percussion help accent their strong hornline with some very respectable work. The two ensembles really start to cook during the closer, when the pit rolls out onto the field and the "spinning snare" contraption goes into use. This gave the crowd its first real reason to stand up and cheer tonight. Right now this is a darkhorse corps to make an appearance at Semis.
Up next was Spirit of Atlanta (7th Place, 77.7) and WOW was I impressed with their performance. With the music of the South, SOA delighted the crowd and made a strong case for their resurgence.
LOOK at all the people! Spirit is almost sporting a full corps this year, and that's a reason to celebrate in itself. The corps proper is nicely attired in a deep purple jacket (which seems to be the color of choice for Southern Corps :) ) and white pants.
The hornline, although slightly dirty, can put out some real sound and treats your ears to quite a ringing during their opener, My Friend and Way Down Upon the Suwanee River. The guard shows its stuff during the lilting ballad Precious Lord, Take My Hand, hoisting crosses with purple cloaks.
The guard got tonight's "Marry Me" award from my Glee Club friend. Last I heard he was planning on moving to the Deep South to find himself one of these lovely belles. :D
A well-enjoyed, entertaining show is topped off by Sweet Georgia Brown, which gives the percussion and brass sections time to jam, much to the excitement of the crowd that was happy to see them back on their feet again. Congrats to SOA for a banner year, and one which will be pointed to in the future. This is the year people will look back and say "Spirit of Atlanta started their comeback here."
The Kiwanis Kavaliers (8th Place, 76.1) were up next, and they've greatly changed their show since my last viewing of them. All of these changes are for the better, in my opinion.
First off, the corps has COLOR now! Yay! The somber and brooding all-black corps has dressed their guard females in tasteful blue and green dresses and put their men in several brightly colored sport coats. THANK YOU, that was needed badly.
Now that the corps has color, it seems as if the entire show is much more interesting and available for the fan in the stands to watch. The visual and musical aspects of the show are starting to come into greater focus, and the kids are marching and playing much better now than earlier in the season. It's as if someone flipped a light switch. :D
The real impact statement of the American in Paris show comes during the closer, when the guard strips off their outer garments and don several multi-colored sashes. Each member has a flag that matches the color they're wearing, and when they cut loose, it looks like a rainbow is exploding across the field. Nice effect! And a very respectable effort from KK this year. We should have no problem seeing them in Semis this year if they keep the hard work up.
Up next, the Magic of Orlando (6th Place, 82.6) and their hornline of wonders.
This... hornline... can... WAIL. To start their Muddy Water Blues production, the corps starts with God Bless the Child. They parked and practically blew the stands away, and the crowd's hearing with it. As if we cared; we all cheered like loony people. :) This hornline is LOUD, clean, and sounds like God's Holy Brass Section right down here on Earth.
Magic keeps the crowd entertained and happy throughout the show, occasionally wailing us senseless throughout the entire production. :D The wonderful hornline is complemented by a fun-loving guard that is a hoot to watch.
Magic's guard gets the award for best costuming this year. Instead of dressing everyone in the same skimpy outfit and embarassing some members, each member gets a different and unique look. The slimmer members flash some skin, while the larger females are tastefully dressed in more conservative attire. This gives the entire guard a sharp, appealing look. And the rich red Creole outfits look wonderful.
Have I mentioned Magic's hornline yet? :D Many fans around me compared them to BD's hornline that performed on Friday. And the comparison isn't that far fetched! Combine them with the guard and a percussion line that isn't afraid to break some rules with their low-tuned snares, and you've got a corps that is great to watch and a blast to listen to. What a wonderful year for the Magic of Orlando.
The Glassmen (3rd Place, 87.9) were up next, and you could immediately tell they were the "hometown" favorites with the barrage of cheers, hollers, and greetings they received when they were setting up.
This is a hell of a corps this year, and it's been a real treat watching them grow and improve over the last couple months. Their percussion line is one for the ages (.1 away from winning Perc. Performance tonight) and the music of Borodin gives the corps a thrilling, exotic flavor that drives the crowd wild.
Let me take a moment to say that the guard deserved the High Colorguard trophy tonight. They were ON FIRE, and I didn't see a single drop, misstep, or kite crash tonight. It was like they were charmed.
The hornline is holding their own as well, with some crisp brass runs and powerful moments that really complement their awesome percussion counterparts. Every part of this corps is clicking right now, and the judges are really starting to take notice.
My favorite part of their show is the beginning of the closer, Polovtsian Dances when the entire corps whips around and nearly knocks you senseless with power and precision. WOW, I wish I could take in that passage every night of my life until I die. :D If you've seen their show, you know which one I'm talking about. This year's show is masterfully produced and arranged, with a ton of talented kids. GMen, take the drill and visual parts of the show up a notch next year and you may very well be looking at a Top 3 corps as we head into the next decade. How's that sound?
The Blue Knights (TIE 4th, 85.6) are an interesting contrast to the Glassmen this year. It's quite a treat watching them head-to-head.
Where the Glassmen's show makes you want to cheer and hoot every 15 seconds, the Masters of the Symphony production from this year's BK draws you into their musical and visual web and holds you in rapt attention for the entire show.
BK's flags (and butterfly wings) this year are a sight to behold as they are flying through the air, and they complement the corps' pieces so wonderfully. They are suitably bright and jarring for the loud Shostakovich, easy on the eyes for the Tchaikovsky, and the butterfly wings are incredibly lovely for the Dvorak New World Symphony ballad.
BK had my prettiest musical moment of the night, when the corps is beautifully playing the climax of the Dvorak and the cymbal lines hoist a guard/butterfly in the air and she flaps her wings, and the entire crowd goes "Oh..." :)
Combine these moments with some whipping drill that makes you think "CBC" and a joyous and entertaining Beethoven's Ode to Joy as a closer, and you have a rich and varied show that the crowd stands up and gives an appreciative ovation to. Like the GMen, this may be the best year yet for the Blue Knights.
Up next, the Cadets of Bergen County (TIE 1st, 93.0) who gave an incredible performance. This is my second viewing of their show, and I must say that it was much more enjoyable this time around.
This really is a show that requires repeated viewings in order to fully appreciate it. The music of Stonehedge is a bit darker than anything CBC has played in the recent past, but all of the classic Cadet elements are here: a wild whiplash drill (no falls tonight, BTW), a technically superb guard, and a show that is pure eye and ear-candy for the crowd.
HOW does this corps MOVE so fast and still play at the levels they do? Their brassline was simply astounding tonight, and they deserved to win Brass Performance. Almost every soloist and ensemble was perfect tonight, and the entire section had some thrilling brass runs that drove the crowd batty.
My only real criticism of the corps this year would have to fall on the guard. (Imagine that!) Don't get me wrong: they're every bit as stunning and precise as always. But... they don't SMILE very much. They have this... pained... expression on their face a lot, kinda like they're passing gall stones or something. :) I don't know if they were told to act like that this year or not, but they just don't look as happy to perform as in the past.
Still, this is a must-see show this year, and the Cadets are looking to be right near the top of the heap once again. With some minor tweaking, this corps could take it all come finals night. And that's quite a statement coming from a sentimental Cavie fan. :)
Do not adjust your medication levels: the Phantom Regiment (TIE 4th, 85.6) may very well be waking up!!! Their show has undergone some major rewrites since my last viewing of them, and although I still don't think it's enough, the package is much improved.
First the good stuff. Phantom's Music of Rome production starts with the Roman Festival Overture. This is classic, Grade "A" Phantom. The 70 member brassline is LOUD, meaty and crisp, and the visual and percussive impacts are very thrilling. PR gets the loudest cheers from the crowd during their opener.
If Drum Corps shows were only 3 minutes long, Phantom would be perhaps 4th this year.
But then things go downhill. One thing I noticed tonight was that the bottom fell out of the brassline, which is very uncharacteristic for them. In past years, PR's contras were almost scary with their powerful and clear playing. Tonight I was straining to hear them after the opening number. This is very unusual, and I don't know why it's happening... I can see them out there, and I know they're playing, but the sound just isn't getting to us.
Also, even after the rewrites for the closer (Pines of the Apian Way), the entire corps plays to the backfield WAY too long! Phantom is enamored with the back stands for almost half of the closer, it seems. I felt like standing up and yelling "HEY!! We're OVER HERE!" When they do finally turn around and give it to us, most of the crowd has already "lost interest" and the impact crescendo doesn't happen.
From here on out, it's much improved. The staging and power of the corps comes through well, and I was happy to see the goofy shields gone and replaced with some excellent oversized flags that give the corps some presence on the field. Add the large gray Roman banner at the end of the show, and the crowd gets excited again and gives a rousing ovation. Phantom is looking much better than before (thank heavens), and although the show isn't quite up to their high standards, they should now have a fighting chance to hit 7th Place this year.
The evening's competition was closed with the appearance of the Santa Clara Vanguard (TIE 1st, 93.0) and I was instantly jealous of all you West Coasters out there who got to see this show a lot. I'm going to be wearing out this track on my finals CDs.
YES YES YES, Santa Clara has got a show that can win it all this year. Their opener, Ghrog, is by far the best opening number of any corps in DCI this year. The piece is so angry and percussive and uncharacteristic of SCV that I was drawing "Star 93" comparisons during it. The opener is excellent, infectious, and VERY COOL.
SCV is really rocketing across the field this year, especially during the opener. Their speed matches that of CBC, and their visuals challenge the Cavies. It's like the best of both worlds. And the percussion section -- HOLY COW. It takes something special to take out the GMen percussion section this year, but SCV has it. The crowd gave an almost startled ovation to them at the end of their closer.
The Vanguard suddenly takes a hard left into some lighter, more familiar Copland for the next two tunes, Hear Ye! Hear Ye and Down a Country Lane. The helter-skelter drill calms down somewhat and the corps concentrates on wowing you with some lovely brass and percussion passages. Included in this section is a very cool guard feature where they flip over "limbo sticks" and get a good response from the crowd.
Speaking of crowd responses, the dancing Tenors in Dance Panels are an ABSOLUTE RIOT and had the crowd rolling tonight. One older man behind me who was laughing so hard he has tears exclaimed, "I didn't even know they could MOVE like that!" This section and the entire closer gives the corps a happier, free-spirited approach that the crowd eats up and really loves. Make no mistakes about it, my friends: SCV can and may very well win with this year's show, and bring home their first ring of the 90s.
After the scores were announced, the crowd was treated to a dual-encore performance (aren't we lucky!! :D ), highlighted by an emotional performance of Send in the Clowns by SCV that almost put me in tears. That song alone was worth the price of admission, and I'm so glad I got to hear it.
Some thoughts as we head towards Allentown:
Well, that concludes my last review for the year. I want to give a sincere thank you to RAMD for the flood of kind and supportive email that I have received over the course of this year. I have saved every one of them, and I cherish them. :) I'm just a happy 20-something kid who loves this activity and tries to share my thoughts with everyone out there. Although I'm bereft at having MY season come to an end with Ypsi, I give a hearty congratulations to ALL the kids out there this year and wish them the best as the great Drum Corps train rolls towards its last stop in Orlando
Thanks for reading.
Jeremiah Peterson
Drum Corps Fan
Brigadiers...............88.0 (GE, Brass, Percussion, Visual) Caballeros...............84.9 (Honor Guard) Sunrisers................78.5 (Drum Major) Hurricanes...............76.1 Bushwackers..............72.6 Generations..............61.1 Thanks to Howie Sederquist on r.a.m.d for these scores!
Hurcs Cabs Sun Bush Brigs Generations
field visual excellence 3.7 4.3 4 3.7 4.5 3.2
John Arendas technique 3.8 4.2 4 3.6 4.3 3
Total 7.5 8.5 8 7.3 8.8 6.2
visual Ens
Stan Ruchlewicz composition 3.8 4.2 4.1 3.7 4.4 2.5
clarity 3.5 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.1 2.8
Total 7.3 8.1 7.9 7.1 8.5 5.3
visual Total 14.8 16.6 15.9 14.4 17.3 11.5
field perc
Dave Pasquarella 8 8.6 7.9 7.7 8.9 6.2
perc ens
S. Wolfinger 8.4 8.7 8.2 7.8 8.9 7.2
perc Total 16.4 17.3 16.1 15.5 17.8 13.4
Brass exc technique 3.7 4.2 3.8 3.4 4.4 3
Ralph Winberg musicianship 3.6 4.3 4 3.3 4.5 3.1
total 7.3 8.5 7.8 6.7 8.9 6.1
Brass ens musical content 4 4.4 4.1 3.9 4.4 3.6
Al Bazzel demand/exposure 4 4.4 4.2 3.8 4.5 3.7
total 8 8.8 8.3 7.7 8.9 7.3
Brass Total 15.3 17.3 16.1 14.4 17.8 13.4
GE Vis showmanship 5.7 6.8 6.2 5.4 7.1 3.9
Bob Everitt design effect 4.6 6.2 5.8 4.8 6.4 3.5
total 10.3 13 12 10.2 13.5 7.4
GE Perc coordination ef 4.1 4.2 3.6 3.7 4.5 3.2
Rick Brown performance eff 3.9 4.3 3.7 3.8 4.5 3.4
total 8 8.5 7.3 7.5 9 6.6
GE Brass repertoire effe 3.7 4.1 3.8 3.6 4.3 3
Vic Chester showmanship eff 3.9 4.1 3.7 3.4 4.3 2.8
coordination 3.7 4 3.6 3.6 4 3
total 11.3 12.2 11.1 10.6 12.6 8.8
GE Total 29.6 33.7 30.4 28.3 35.1 22.8
Final Score 76.1 84.9 78.5 72.6 88 61.1
Div II Patriots.................89.3 Spartans.................87.9 Seattle Cascades.........84.6 Div III General Butler Vagabonds.78.8 Kips Bay Knight Club.....78.1 Spectrum.................70.3 Phoenix NJ...............65.9 Latin Knights............63.0 Cadets of Brooklyn (First Baptist)........56.1 Thanks to Tom Peashey for emailing us these scores!
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