Thanks to Brian T. Schriber on RAMD for this review! OC actually started pretty good but just couldn't keep the sound up. Still as an exhibition it was ok. The judge bellowing through most of the show was the big turn-off. After the show I asked if he could at least lean back a bit so he wouldn't talk through the corps while recording thoughts. Nice guy, contrary to what we usually think, cause he actually worked at being quieter during the following shows. Crown had a little problem with the upper brass tonight during the Enya tune. Mostly a big improvement over what I saw at Rocky Mount. Still I think that upper brass problem was just a tip of some horn instability this evening. Bottom line though is that Crown is humming toward top-12. Have to see if they can sustain to the end, but they looked sharp just about everywhere. Magic was great! I liked the show much more this time around when it is clean. They really powered past Crown this evening. The music was really in sync for them and the brass was better controlled through the second and third movements. Still working on the fine balance in some portions but a very hot show. Bluecoats started nice, slowed during the middle of the show and then just kinda stopped. Got some nice applause and the announcer GAFFED in thinking they were done. It was just a real long pause before they ripped our face off with Sing, Sing, Sing. What a way to end a show. Got the crowd up and at em. Pretty obvious that no changes in order so far. Tight drums and good horn work. Drill was not bad, but overall the show needs something in the middle section because it drags GE wise, and music wise. Still liked it. Crossmen came out and I hoped they could pick up a bit on the two corps ahead of them Crown and Magic. The horns showed mostly good balance but lost it on occasion. The drums were tight as usual for Crossmen, but not as tight as I would have hoped. The drill was very good. I actually had them just barely (by .1) over Magic but could see a tight race between those two. Almost 2 pts is too much in my opinion. Crossmen were much closer to Magic. Phantom. What more needs be said. Favorite corps almost every year. Drill wise they were good but I saw a couple of problems in some gating. GE was good but not like last year. All in all a very nice performance. I liked the drums this year and the Brass is still the same Phantom Brass we all know. I had tehm pegged for 85.2 so I was surprised a bit to hear they were better. Cadets do some really strange stuff this year. Great marching, when they march, and I thought the poles/tress/etc were Ok without being too much. However they had a couple of problems with drill going around the poles tonight. No, nobody hit anything, but I saw a couple of times the drift of a player out of form so he would miss a pole. Cadets were doing fine until Swing, Swing, Swing. WOW!! This was hot. Whether they marched or not it was pure GE with a Capital OHMYGOD! The drum kits juggling the drummers was about as awsome as that incredible monkey move last year by BD. Horn line was nice But I think Phantom had them there. All in all I had Cadets just behind phantom by .1. I knew that Cadets probably also won thought so I was not surprised to hear them win. The margin though is wrong. Phantom was on Cadets tail tonight. Its late and I have rambled on way too much for this tired bod. Now I can crash, as opposed to 20 min ago when I couldn't because I was driving. I like low insurance rates. Have fun and see ya in the horse race at Buffalo. ? The T-Shirt Guy Talisman-O- Brian Schriber Crossmen 84-85 | bschribe@cybernetics.net
Thanks to hugebare@aol.comHug E Bare on RAMD for this review! Cadets- WOW! The hornline is starting to really cook. Middle voices are much more apparent. Guard is still great. Scary to think of the potential with 3 weeks to clean this show Devs! Phantom- Great show, but still lacking from past two year's standard. I expected more from them. Disappointing guard uni's. Too much park 'n blow. Nice drumline. Bluecoats- Great visual corps. Uni's look fantastic and horns sound nice. Great horn book. Can't remember last time I felt this emotional at a show. What I remember corps being like! Magic- Good hornline wasted on a dull book. Note the numerous repeats of phrases and horn licks (mellos). Marching demand isn't there...where are the points coming from??? Crossmen- Have improved since last viewing. Closer nearly fell apart hornwise. GE not there. Crown will catch them again. Guard is good, nice silks. Drums exciting as always. Crown- A bit ragged tonight due to changes. Hornline wasn't aggressive enough to play this book tonight. Needs a boost of confidence and the eye of the tiger for next 3 weeks! Nite Express- Hornline started strong then grew tired. Nice little drum corps. Often hard to pick out melodies in the YES horn book. Still an enjoyable show.
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