First off can I just say that I am SO GLAD the show didn’t get rained out on Friday night?!
My thoughts on the individual shows (in order of performance):
Madison Scouts (La Noche de la Iguana)
I don’t like their new uniforms, as the jackets are a pretty hideous shade of army green that looks awful next to green turf. The show was entertaining though, very Spanish flavored. Trumpet soloist was alright and there is some REALLY cool drill during the drum feature that I’m looking forward to seeing again once it’s cleaner. Easily the quietest corps of the night.
Actual Score: 65.6
Placement: 8
Colts (Day & Night)
I wasn’t expecting great things from them (maybe I’m biased) and the drill was dirty as can be expected, but these kids were really playing their horns. Cute flags with giant crescent moons on them. Not a super memorable show to me, though.
Actual Score: 68.7
Placement: 7
Glassmen (Kar-ne-vel)
This show is so much better than Gitano (last year’s show). Great musical motifs that a lot of audience members will recognize (my favorite part is the trumpet feature). The trunk props are kind of distracting but I love the colorguard work with the whips! The opening fanfare really brings it. I wish I could hear more at the end of crescendos at the big moments (come on, Glassmen!!!!). The music has provided a lot of great chord structures but now it’s up to the hornline. The forms are pretty dirty but again, I would expect that from a lower top 12 corps in June. WAY louder than the Scouts & the Colts before them.
Actual Score: 69.0
Placement: 6
Spirit (Pe-ri-4-ry)
As much as I don’t like Spirit, I have to admit that their show was alright (although I can’t stand their uniform jackets since they adopted the tie-dye look). Their visual looked a little tighter than Glassmen’s. Must be because Cathy Rakowski is on their staff this year. ;)
Actual Score: 69.2
Placement: 5
Bluecoats (The Knock Out)
Couldn’t hear the narration, which was a disappointment because I liked the narration in last year’s show and thought it was done quite tastefully. The theme of the show is obvious which was a nice change from some of the earlier corps. Their performance level was definitely somewhere between the first 4 corps of the night and the last 3. Pretty clean drill and much louder than all of the previous corps as well.
Actual Score: 74.7
Placement: 4
Phantom Regiment (Spartacus)
My favorite show of the night. These kids were running EVERYWHERE and playing the entire time. Lots of the licks sound pretty clean already (I LOVE THE OPENING FANFARE). The chanting of “I am Spartacus” is surprisingly loud and could be heard even from my practically-in-the-endzone seat. I’d like to see this show go all the way.
Actual Score: 76.7
Placement: 2
Carolina Crown
Last year’s show will be so hard to top. Lots of recognizable music moments (Ode to Joy, 1812 Overture), but lots of other drum corps have done these before so they have their work cut out for them if they want to impress anyone. My least favorite uniforms in DCI.
Actual Score: 75.4
Placement: 3
Cavaliers (Samurai)
So the Cavies are playing way more notes than I’ve heard out of their hornline in a long time, and it’s really working for them. The colorguard was spectacular and I LOVED THE MOVE WHERE THE HORNLINE MEMBERS ALL JUMP OVER EACH OTHER OMGZ. The drill is so clean already (duh, it’s the Cavaliers). Definitely the crowd favorite although I’m not sure they deserved all the cheering they received. :p
Actual Score: 78.6
Placement: 1
This weekend has gone by too fast! But I suppose that’s a good thing, because I’m going to visit Corner on Wednesday!!! The weather forecast for Palm Desert, CA during my trip is insane:
Wed Jul 2: 112°
Thurs Jul 3: 110°
Fri Jul 4: 110°
Sat Jul 5: 109°
Sun Jul 6: 108°
Mon Jul 7: 110°
Tue Jul 8°: 111°
My Playstation 3 arrived yesterday afternoon so I’ve been spending some quality time with Grand Theft Auto 4 in between working on my assignment for Google.
