June 28, Clovis, CA

Thanks to George Ostrander on r.a.m.d for this review!

Hi,
     I was at the Clovis show last night. All the corps are improving so 
fast I can hardly believe my eyes and ears.

Mandarins: What a show!!!! If you've enjoyed this corps in the past you 
should love this years rendition. Don't let the size of these guys and 
gals fool you. They only have 13 horns but the way they play and march 
they don't need any more. All sections are very strong. Can't wait to 
see them in Orlando.

Blue Devil B: This is the best BDB corps in years. It's too bad they 
have to end their season in Stockton on July 13th. All sections are very 
strong. They have some soloists who could be in the A corps if they were 
a little older. I'm sure nobody on the west coast will touch them this 
year.

SCV Cadets: This, I am told is a rebuilding year for the corps but you'd 
never know it from the show they put on. It's pure Vanguard all the way. 
Russian music and costumes. The horn line keeps inproving with every 
show and the guard and percussion were there from the start. Love the 
Alexander Nevsky portion of the show. Why haven't any of the open class 
corps played this. All I can remember were Valley Fever and maybe it was 
Blue Stars who did it a few years ago. It fits SCV A like a glove. Hint 
JW !!!

This year you should'nt miss any of the Div. II & III corps as they all 
have excellant shows.

Blue Knights: Much improved over last weekend in Sac. and Concord. This 
is a beautiful show and is getting better by the day. The horn line is 
very young and the music still seems to be a bit out of reach for their 
capeabilities. Drums and guard are as good as anything they have put out 
in the past. The drill is very exciting and way ahead of last year. I 
hope the kids in this fine corps will see the potential in this show and 
stick with it because the fans are loving it.

Vanguard A: If anybody had any doubts about SCV being back you can be 
assured it's true. I am getting used to the new unis. and the music is 
fantastic. Just the way I like to hear Vanguard sound. Big full sound 
with several company fronts including SCV"s high stepping. They keep 
closing the gap on BD and this is the second show in a row that SCV took 
high drums. The guard is well prepared and add so much to the show. 
Great sabre work and beautiful silks and matching outfits. The scary 
part of all this is how young the corps is. I'm told by a staff member 
that the average age is 16. Can't wait for the SCV's home show, Pacific 
Procession on July 12th. at Buck Shaw stadium in Santa Clara. Denver 
should be a real shoot out with BD SCV Madison and CBC. 

Blue Devil A: What a horn line! What a guard!!! And percussion isn't too 
shabby either. This is one exciting show and soooo clean already. The 
snares are running all over the field while playing at the same time. 
What can you say about this guard. They have more equipment in the air 
than in their hands through most of the show. Almost in perfect unison. 
The staggered rifle toss which never seems to end is a gas. The horn 
line is what one would expect from BD. Love the opening blast to get 
youre attention. It just gets better from there on. Soloists are 
terrific. I swear this show is less than five minutes long, at least it 
goes by so fast it seems that way.

[scores]

Don't forget to reserve tickets for PP in Santa Clara on July 12th. Call 
John and Gloria Flores at 408- 971-1922 for more information. Total of 
16 units in competion and excibitions, including a corps from Tiawan. 
And the next night in Stockton for the last show in Ca, And the DCW 
Championships. Maybe this will be a real championship in the near future 
with all DCW members     (Troopers, Blue Knights, Cascades, Allgiance 
Elite etc.)

Have a great summer,
             George Ostrander
             SCV & Drum Corps Nut 
     "Never saw a corps I did'nt like" -G.O.

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