Thanks to Greg Dean on r.a.m.d for this review! Some thoughts and observations on the DCI Focus shows in Allentown this past weekend: THE CROWD: The Allentown crowd is knowledgeable when it comes to drumcorps. The problem is that there did not seem to be enough of them. Even though it appeared that the stands were packed from ten yard line to ten yard line, there were still plenty of empty seats on the fringes. Much of this must be blamed on the lack of any publicity for the event. It amazes me that the Philadelphia newspapers found space for toy, art and car shows in the Allentown area, but not one mention of a drumcorps show. Could it be that they were not told? I suspect that is the answer. (There was also no mention of the West Chester show on August 4th either.) When is DCI going to wake up and get out of their "if you stage a show, they will come" syndrome? There are a couple thousand seats waiting for fannies but no one is going to show up if they do not know about it. I would imagine there are a couple of million people within a sixty mile radius of Allentown who are not on the DCI mailing list and who do not subscribe to Drum Corps World. Isn't part of the object to get these people into the stadium? Another failing grade for DCI's non-existant publicity department. Another interesting point about the crowd is the fact that there was little action from the "Yelling Yahoos". Could the absence of microphones on the field have silenced the "Go Heather" crowd? If so, let's hide all mics in Orlando. THE FIELD: Can somebody do something with the lights at J. Birney Crum Stadium? The lights on the opposite side of the field were brighter than the those on the audience side. As a result, each of the corps played in their own shadow. This was particularly disturbing on Saturday night when the fog started rolling in over the stadium. One good point, Phantom probably got extra points for GE. THE SCORES: What has happened to scoring at the focus shows? At least the scores did not differ between Friday and Saturday night's performances like they did in Madison. However, the scores were lower than normal. For instance, last year, at the Preview of Champions, 10 out of 18 corps scored their highest mark to date of the year. Another four were within a half point of their best. In contrast, 19 out of the 21 corps in Allentown failed to match their best score of the year. Only the Crossmen and the Blue Knights topped their previous high mark. It does not make sense that a top six corps would not put forth its best effort for the Focus Show and score its highest mark. Only Vanguard and the Cavaliers had discrepancies of less than a point. Why is the judging so inconsistent? One, two and even three point differences in scores in one week, at this time of year, is ridiculous and only highlights the problem. THE CORPS: Saturday night's show was one of the fastest moving, and most entertaining, shows I have ever attended. Perhaps it was the presence of the perpetual motion machines of the Crossmen, Blue Devils and Scouts in contrast to the more subdued Pioneer, Magic and Phantom together with the zany antics of VK. This is not a condemnation of Friday's program which also seemed to end all too soon. The following represents some random comments on the players. SPIRIT OF ATLANTA: Give these guys a prize just for showing up.....and following the Atlanta-bound Cadets. I guess echoes of "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Basin Street", et al are firmly imprinted on my mind when Spirit is mentioned. It's great to have them back on the field but they have a long way to go in order to reach their previous level of proficiency. Spirit tries hard -- sometimes too hard, almost as if they are afraid to make a wrong move. They will not make the finals in Orlando but have formed a nucleus for the future. Perhaps they should have started in Division II. I wish them well. TROOPERS: Dean's Law for Watching Drumcorps I -- when the guard outnumbers the horn line, it's time to get a soda. The Troopers have 37 horns -- 33 guard. Close enough. BLUECOATS: Every year Blooo excites me with their choice of music only to disappoint me with arrangements that somehow fail to make the grade. Last year it was "I'll Be Seeing You". This year it's "My Funny Valentine". The problem with their show is that they try to put the holidays in chronological order. It doesn't work. If they insist upon honoring Labor Day, they should select some music which is more appropriate (if any exists). The placement of this rather dull (and now symbolic) interlude between the upbeat Fourth of July music and the melodic Christmas music only emphasizes its inadequacies. Even Halloween would have been a better choice. The addition of a Memorial Day sequence (stolen from last year) would have been more effective between two other songs. Whatever, the Fourth of July segment would have made a better closer. COLTS: I liked the Colts better in Boston in 1994 when they marched like left-footed kickers but played their hearts out. Now they march much better, but the show is not as exciting, or challenging. It's clean -- it's easy -- it's not that impressive. CADETS: I was one of those people who did not like last year's version of Props on Parade. When I heard about the ten two- story backdrops for this year, I again had my doubts. I was wrong. The Cadets have put together one of the most entertaining shows in DCI history and have performed it magnificently. The backdrops don't even bother me. In fact, they add to the show, isolating and highlighting the various sectional showcases. Anyone who criticizes the selection of the Cadets over Spirit (or anyone else for that matter) for the Olympic Closing Ceremonies just does not understand that you bring more fans to the drumcorps world by showing off your best. The Cadets qualify by any standard. BOSTON CRUSADERS: I felt as though I saw this act before, maybe around 1992 (the corps formerly known as S**R), but not nearly as good. Maybe we could call them "Star Lite". The addition of the white sash took away the "call for Philip Morris" look of last year. The Crusaders have improved immensely and many of the holes in the horn line have now been filled. CAROLINA CROWN: Dean's Law for Watching Drumcorps II -- when the number of props on the field outnumbers the percussion line, it's time to get another soda. Crown has 32 props. 'Nough said. KIWANIS KAVALIERS: A surprisingly good effort from this corps which has gotten much better since the DCEast show. It's not the Cadets' West Side Story (or even the Skyryders') but, whose is? It well done and very entertaining. ACADEMIE MUSICALE: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz PIONEER: This corps does not belong in Division II. The ending sequence is a drumcorps classic. VELVET KNIGHTS: Dean's Law for Watching Drumcorps III -- when VK takes the field, make sure you are not in the soda line but in your seat. VK: "Hello Allentown! We're Baaaccck!" Crowd: "We're Glad!" Says it all. CROSSMEN: The back-to-jazz movement a big plus. They should also have a back-to-Aussies movement. The Xmen appear to have greatly benefited from their alliance with YEA. The Cadet influence, especially in the guard, is evident. Matched with the always excellent drum line, the show is exciting, entertaining and successful. At this rate of progress, next year the Crossmen could be the class of the Second Six. BLUE DEVILS/MADISON (or was it MADISON/BLUE DEVILS?): You wait all summer to see two of your favorite corps; read all the reviews and criticisms on the Internet; and read every word in DCW. And then comes the big day when you get to see it live. Are you disappointed? Absolutely not!!! The 23 minutes of back to back excitement and energy were worth every penny. They're loud; they're fast; they're talented and proficient; and, they are remarkably entertaining from the minute they march through the gate to the second they march out the same gate. I still prefer the Blue Devils' finale from the CD over the one performed. To think that this was only their third best performance of the year boggles the mind. It is not by accident that Madison is a crowd favorite. They generate excitement just by taking the field. Allentown is the second home to the Scouts. On Friday night, Cadets shirts barely outnumbered the Scouts. On Saturday, it was no contest. Half the crowd wore some kind of Madison garb. Most of the rest were Blue Devil fans. Some had both. PHANTOM REGIMENT: This is the only corp which could have successfully followed BD/M. Phantom's deliberate, controlled show was just what was needed in the wake of the exhaustion created by the other two....and they did it magnificiently. Even the lighting of the field cooperated. Two points off their previous high score was not justified. OFF TO ORLANDO. Greg Dean
Last updated: August 6, 1996
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