Review - Fort Wayne, IN
AandFBoyFW
The weather started out perfect for a drum corps show, but progressed to be
just a TAD on the chilly side. It's not the best of venues and the field is
less than desirable, especially for horn players (very thick grass and lots of
holes, etc.). I apologize in advance as I know nothing about percussion and
probably cannot make any valid comments about that section. SORRY!
Glory - Aaron Copland show. Very traditional with a think 10 horns on the
field and maybe 5-6 guard (didn't count the percussion). Lots of problems in
the hornline (unbalanced, TQI). Have a long way to go before they will play
well as an ensemble. The cologuard didn't do fast twirls or hard twirls, but
they did some cute things for the division that they are in. In the ballad
they play around with ropes which was cute to watch, and also some pretty solid
sabre work. The strength if there had to be one, would have to be the guard
IMHO.
Tarheel Sun - Well you go from 10 horns to however many TS has, and it makes a
big difference. At times they can pump out some volume, but again lots of
problems music. Very poor TQ at this point. The guard had LOTS of phasing and
some pretty bad writing I thought. Really wasn't put on to watch that was that
enjoyable. Hope they can clean things up all around and tweak some things to
be more successful.
Kiwanis Kavaliers - I remember watching a staff member on the field tuning one
of their timpanis all the way until the drum major was finishing their
salute...Don't they have plenty of time to do that before? I thought it was
pretty distracting and pretty unprofessional as well. Anyhow, Miss Saigon. A
step of from Tarheel Sun I thought but still lots of slow, non amusing drill,
and horns that dont' know how to balance themselves that well. As for the
colorguard, same as above really, it seems I remember July being cleaner than
this.
Crossmen - I have read reviews and I have been at finals for the past few
years, not really caring too much for the Xmen especially last year. This show
was very close to Madison and Phantom tonight, and rightfully so. This corps
has what the 1997 corps had as far as excitement, volume and just plain
entertainment. The colorguard has some problems and are pretty dirty, but very
incredible for this point in the season. They have an entertaining weapon book
to watch, but not too solid yet. I forsee them catching Phantom very soon and
possibly staying ahead of them the rest of the season. I never would have
thought to have said this before I saw the show, but they were the deal
tonight. I thought they were 1st place.
Phantom Regiment - I don't really like the show. They are executing it like
Phantom, but the first half of the show really just sits there. The ballad is
all about the brass, the writing of the Shoenberg piece, and their symphonic
pagaentry. It will be a good drum corps moment by finals. The closer I
understand was just rewritten (probably not for the first time) and, well
...it's the Rite of Spring. Some cool music. Lots of tonguing to keep the
brass busy, very exposed. Lots of risk.
Visually a bag right now. Concerning placings, I forsee them staying pretty
stagnant and IMHO out of the top 6 once again. Close but no cigar
P.S. The new uniforms, my two cents...They make them look good marching band
uniforms. They don't look good from a distance, they dont' look intimidating
like they used to and hopefully they don't last long. Get rid of the khaki and
put them in white!
Madison Scouts - The warmup sets the mood nicely for the Russian theme and then
starts the opener. It's very flat for awhile, the colorguard on the brink of
being pretty good. Keep it up guys! They pick up the pace at the end of the
opener and the rest of the show keeps building for the better visually and
musically. The hornline is very very good and I think they march their asses
off. You will not see higher toes unless maybe at SCV. I thought the show had
a lot of potential and would surpass the pirates in entertainment value, but it
seems to be missing something. I don't know what it is, but I hope it turns
up. It is a fun show to watch and the crowd digs it. The judges did tonight.
Best of luck to the Madison Scouts this season. It'll be a dogfight all the
way until Finals.
Judges placements
High Music - Scouts
High Vis - XMen
High Perc - Scouts
1st- Scouts
2nd-PR
3rd-Xmen
4th-Boston
5-Kavaliers
6-Tarheel
7-Glory
My picks
High Music - Regiment
High Vis - Xmen
High Perc - Regiment
1st - XMen
2nd-Regiment
3rd - Scouts
4th- Boston
5th-7th same as above.
Thanks for your time and thank goodness for drum corps.
Dan Marion
My friend, did you happen to see Boston??
Dan M
AandFBoyFW <aandf...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000712010027...@ng-fo1.aol.com...
Jcrown19
GWCoop
Did I miss something in your post or did you not review
Boston?
Thanks
G.
* Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping. Smart is Beautiful
mswedes
see all the shows thank you again!!!!
Vince Lamb <vince...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8kj0q9$br3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> Time for my take on things. I usually don't post my reviews on RAMD
> before they appear in Drum Corps World, but I'll certainly post my
> comments on someone *else's* review. :-)
>
> In article <8kgv73$1isg$1...@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com>,> Maybe he was getting a hot dog. BAC was the first corps on after
> intermission, which was short, so he may have been stuck in line.
> Anyway I didn't leave the stands at all (unusual for me :-) so I caught
> everything, including Boston.
>
> > Dan M
> >
> > AandFBoyFW <aandf...@aol.com> wrote in message
> > news:20000712010027...@ng-fo1.aol.com...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >progressed to be just a TAD on the chilly side.
>
>
> > It's not the best of venues
>
>
> My only complaint was that the parking was 2 blocks away, which was the
> best the organizers could do.
>
> > > Glory - Aaron Copland show. Very traditional with a think 10 horns
> > > on the field and maybe 5-6 guard
>
>
> > (didn't count the percussion).
>
> Drum Corps World! :-)
>
> > > Lots of problems in the hornline (unbalanced, TQI).
>
> them 3 times and their best brass performance was in Toledo, IMHO.
>
> > > Have a long way to go before they will play
> > > well as an ensemble.
>
>
> > > The cologuard didn't do fast twirls or hard
> > > twirls, but they did some cute things for the division that they are
> > > in. In the ballad they play around with ropes which was cute to
> > > watch, and also some pretty solid
> > > sabre work. The strength if there had to be one, would have to be
> > > the guard IMHO.
>
> surprisingly well, considering that the ending has been completely
> rewritten and beat both Tarheel and Kiwanis in Field Visual.
>
> > > Tarheel Sun - Well you go from 10 horns to however many TS has,
>
>
> > > and it makes a
> > > big difference. At times they can pump out some volume, but again
> > > lots of problems music. Very poor TQ at this point.
>
> in the school auditorium. They sounded very good standing still
> indoors, except for some real brain farts (several early entrances).
> They sounded very muddy outdoors. IMHO, they don't know how to play and
> march at the same time--I could hear their feet through their bells and
> they were breathing to move, not breathing to play. When they had a
> little confidence in what they were doing, they really let loose and got
> the crown into it.
>
> > > The guard had LOTS of phasing and some pretty bad writing I thought.
>
> poorly executed visually (ugh, I'd rather write "marched and spun" but
> there's something strange about how that comes out). The corps can't
> march well even when they're not playing. I saw lots of errors in
> things as simple as a horns up and the individual bearing is
> *atrocious*. The judges noticed--they came in dead last in all visual
> subcaptions.
>
> > > Really wasn't put on to watch that was that enjoyable.
>
>
> > > Hope they can clean things up all around and tweak some things to
> > > be more successful.
>
> during marching rehearsal.
>
> > > Kiwanis Kavaliers - I remember watching a staff member on the field
> > > tuning one of their timpanis all the way until the drum major was
> > > finishing their salute...Don't they have plenty of time to do that
> > > before? I thought it was
> > > pretty distracting and pretty unprofessional as well.
>
> Otherwise, I'd be complaining about George Hopkins too much. :->
>
> > > Anyhow, Miss Saigon. A step of
>
>
> > > from Tarheel Sun I thought but still lots of slow, non amusing
> > > drill, and horns that dont' know how to balance themselves that
> > > well. As for the
> > > colorguard, same as above really, it seems I remember July being
> > > cleaner than this.
>
> done the same thing better.
>
> BTW, no comment about the camouflage netting on the pit instruments,
> combat fatigues, costume changes, and propeller blades? Oh, and how
> about the "male stripper" sight gag at the end?
>
> > > Crossmen - I have read reviews and I have been at finals for the
> past few
> > > years, not really caring too much for the Xmen especially last year.
>
> would make people forget about you. :-/
>
> > > This show
> > > was very close to Madison and Phantom tonight, and rightfully so.
>
> wanted more. They knew they could win this show.
>
> > > This corps
> > > has what the 1997 corps had as far as excitement, volume and just
> > > plain entertainment.
>
> 2. People were tapping toes to the songs.
> 3. The two soprano players shouting HI to the crowd got the crowd to
> wave and say hi back.
>
> > > The colorguard has some problems and are pretty dirty, but very
> > > incredible for this point in the season.
>
> of 1981, when they played "Bustling" and put the guard up front? The
> joke that year was that the song was called "Bustline". ;-)
>
> > > They have an entertaining weapon book to watch,
>
> uniforms--or lack thereof. ;-)
>
> > > but not too solid yet.
>
>
> > > I forsee them catching Phantom very soon and
> > > possibly staying ahead of them the rest of the season.
>
>
> Now time for BAC. They also smelled PR's blood and went on as if they
> could win. They actually got first in GE Visual and Ensemble Visual.
> During the opener, they did the best job of "Bolero" I've ever
> heard/seen on a football field. They start the show spread from 5 to 5
> or 10 to 10, and, while the song builds, the corps does a lot of posing
> (but very tough, not sissy stuff :-). In the meantime, two company
> fronts form from the endzones and move to the 50, picking up members as
> the fronts pass. When the fronts merge at the 50 and then open up into
> a great big block, the audience went ooh! and ahh! That was the kind of
> visual effect they did again and again--well composed and executed
> marching show, but relatively weak guard (4th place). People got a big
> kick out of the "Conquest" fanfare leading into La Fiesta. I thought
> they might just pull a rabbit out of the hat and win the sho
> BAC and Xmen.
>
> > > Madison Scouts - The warmup sets the mood nicely for the Russian
> theme and
> > then
> > > starts the opener. It's very flat for awhile, the colorguard on the
> brink
> > of
> > > being pretty good. Keep it up guys! They pick up the pace at the
> end of t
> > he
> > > opener and the rest of the show keeps building for the better
> visually and
> > > musically. The hornline is very very good and I think they march
> their
> > asses
> > > off. You will not see higher toes unless maybe at SCV. I thought
> the
> > show had
> > > a lot of potential and would surpass the pirates in entertainment
> value,
> > but it
> > > seems to be missing something. I don't know what it is, but I hope
> it
> > turns
> > > up.
>
>
> Gotta run--I'm out of time. No more comments from me!
>
> Vince
> Before you buy.
Vince Lamb
before they appear in Drum Corps World, but I'll certainly post my
comments on someone *else's* review. :-)
In article <8kgv73$1isg$1...@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com>,
"Dan Marion" <dm...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>
> My friend, did you happen to see Boston??
Maybe he was getting a hot dog. BAC was the first corps on after
intermission, which was short, so he may have been stuck in line.
Anyway I didn't leave the stands at all (unusual for me :-) so I caught
everything, including Boston.
> Dan M
>
> AandFBoyFW <aandf...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20000712010027...@ng-fo1.aol.com...
> >
> >
> >
> > The weather started out perfect for a drum corps show, but
> >progressed to be just a TAD on the chilly side.
I never noticed, the stands were so packed in the center.
> It's not the best of venues
<carping deleted :->
My only complaint was that the parking was 2 blocks away, which was the
best the organizers could do.
> > Glory - Aaron Copland show. Very traditional with a think 10 horns
> > on the field and maybe 5-6 guard
7 guard.
> (didn't count the percussion).
I did, but my notes are at home. You gotta have some reason to buy
Drum Corps World! :-)
> > Lots of problems in the hornline (unbalanced, TQI).
One person on a part except for 3 mellophones--very exposed. I've heard
them 3 times and their best brass performance was in Toledo, IMHO.
> > Have a long way to go before they will play
> > well as an ensemble.
They came in 7th in all music subcaptions.
> > The cologuard didn't do fast twirls or hard
> > twirls, but they did some cute things for the division that they are
> > in. In the ballad they play around with ropes which was cute to
> > watch, and also some pretty solid
> > sabre work. The strength if there had to be one, would have to be
> > the guard IMHO.
I agree--they beat both Tarheel and Kiwanis in guard. They also marched
surprisingly well, considering that the ending has been completely
rewritten and beat both Tarheel and Kiwanis in Field Visual.
> > Tarheel Sun - Well you go from 10 horns to however many TS has,
42, by my count and memory.
> > and it makes a
> > big difference. At times they can pump out some volume, but again
> > lots of problems music. Very poor TQ at this point.
I was at Portage, MI, where they were rained out and performed the show
in the school auditorium. They sounded very good standing still
indoors, except for some real brain farts (several early entrances).
They sounded very muddy outdoors. IMHO, they don't know how to play and
march at the same time--I could hear their feet through their bells and
they were breathing to move, not breathing to play. When they had a
little confidence in what they were doing, they really let loose and got
the crown into it.
> > The guard had LOTS of phasing and some pretty bad writing I thought.
I think the show is very well-designed and coordinated, but extremely
poorly executed visually (ugh, I'd rather write "marched and spun" but
there's something strange about how that comes out). The corps can't
march well even when they're not playing. I saw lots of errors in
things as simple as a horns up and the individual bearing is
*atrocious*. The judges noticed--they came in dead last in all visual
subcaptions.
> > Really wasn't put on to watch that was that enjoyable.
<Can you tell what he's trying to say? I can't! :->
> > Hope they can clean things up all around and tweak some things to
> > be more successful.
I suggest they mark time and play in the horn arc and bop their parts
during marching rehearsal.
> > Kiwanis Kavaliers - I remember watching a staff member on the field
> > tuning one of their timpanis all the way until the drum major was
> > finishing their salute...Don't they have plenty of time to do that
> > before? I thought it was
> > pretty distracting and pretty unprofessional as well.
After reviewing Cadets, I've made a point of ignoring stuff like that.
Otherwise, I'd be complaining about George Hopkins too much. :->
> > Anyhow, Miss Saigon. A step of
Step up? Yes but not much of one.
> > from Tarheel Sun I thought but still lots of slow, non amusing
> > drill, and horns that dont' know how to balance themselves that
> > well. As for the
> > colorguard, same as above really, it seems I remember July being
> > cleaner than this.
Oh, I liked their guard. It's just that SCV and Empire Statesmen have
done the same thing better.
BTW, no comment about the camouflage netting on the pit instruments,
combat fatigues, costume changes, and propeller blades? Oh, and how
about the "male stripper" sight gag at the end?
> > Crossmen - I have read reviews and I have been at finals for the
past few
> > years, not really caring too much for the Xmen especially last year.
They had the misfortune to play Blue Shades the same year SCV did. That
would make people forget about you. :-/
> > This show
> > was very close to Madison and Phantom tonight, and rightfully so.
After beating PR in Port Huron the night before, Xmen smelled blood and
wanted more. They knew they could win this show.
> > This corps
> > has what the 1997 corps had as far as excitement, volume and just
> > plain entertainment.
1. Chuck Naffier has outdone himself with these arrangements.
2. People were tapping toes to the songs.
3. The two soprano players shouting HI to the crowd got the crowd to
wave and say hi back.
> > The colorguard has some problems and are pretty dirty, but very
> > incredible for this point in the season.
They won high guard and have really revealing uniforms. It reminds me
of 1981, when they played "Bustling" and put the guard up front? The
joke that year was that the song was called "Bustline". ;-)
> > They have an entertaining weapon book to watch,
Yep, although I had to concentrate or else I'd be looking at the
uniforms--or lack thereof. ;-)
> > but not too solid yet.
I think there was only one drop and most of the catches were clean.
> > I forsee them catching Phantom very soon and
> > possibly staying ahead of them the rest of the season.
Ditto.
Now time for BAC. They also smelled PR's blood and went on as if they
could win. They actually got first in GE Visual and Ensemble Visual.
During the opener, they did the best job of "Bolero" I've ever
heard/seen on a football field. They start the show spread from 5 to 5
or 10 to 10, and, while the song builds, the corps does a lot of posing
(but very tough, not sissy stuff :-). In the meantime, two company
fronts form from the endzones and move to the 50, picking up members as
the fronts pass. When the fronts merge at the 50 and then open up into
a great big block, the audience went ooh! and ahh! That was the kind of
visual effect they did again and again--well composed and executed
marching show, but relatively weak guard (4th place). People got a big
kick out of the "Conquest" fanfare leading into La Fiesta. I thought
they might just pull a rabbit out of the hat and win the sho
> > Phantom Regiment - I don't really like the show. They are executing
Eh. I like them in khaki--and they got themselves together and held off
BAC and Xmen.
> > Madison Scouts - The warmup sets the mood nicely for the Russian
theme and
> then
> > starts the opener. It's very flat for awhile, the colorguard on the
brink
> of
> > being pretty good. Keep it up guys! They pick up the pace at the
end of t
> he
> > opener and the rest of the show keeps building for the better
visually and
> > musically. The hornline is very very good and I think they march
their
> asses
> > off. You will not see higher toes unless maybe at SCV. I thought
the
> show had
> > a lot of potential and would surpass the pirates in entertainment
value,
> but it
> > seems to be missing something. I don't know what it is, but I hope
it
> turns
> > up.
Killer instinct. All the rest of the top 4 had it. Madison didn't.
Gotta run--I'm out of time. No more comments from me!
Vince
> > It is a fun show to watch and the crowd digs it. The judges
Drum Corps Fan
<vince...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I suggest they mark time and play in the horn arc and bop their parts
> during marching rehearsal.
Shouldn't they save that for later, when they have some privacy? Better
yet, have someone else take care of it after the show?
;-)
Vince Lamb
In article <8kj0q9$br3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
Vince Lamb <vince...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> BTW, no comment about the camouflage netting on the pit instruments,
> combat fatigues, costume changes, and propeller blades? Oh, and how
> about the "male stripper" sight gag at the end?
I put the "male stripper" remark in the comments about Kiwanis
Kavaliers. It really is about Tarheel Sun. It was followed by
some "dirty dancing" (nothing worse than what Blue Devils have done)
and was one of the better moments in their show (although I didn't put
that in the DCWorld review--I ran out of room). Thanks for your
patience and I'm surprised no one called me on it!
Vince Lamb
Vince Lamb
"mswedes" <swe...@email.msn.com> wrote:
> Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Boston it is tough not being
able to
> see all the shows thank you again!!!!
Oh, you're welcome! I have an ever better review of Boston's
performance I've submitted to Drum Corps World. If you're going to a
show, buy the copy available next Friday and it will be in there. If
you're not, surf over to www.drumcorpsworld.com and subscribe. I'm
introducing a phrase that I'm quite proud of--"New Beetle Drum
Corps"--to describe BAC's style (and what older fans want to see, IMHO).
> Vince Lamb <vince...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:8kj0q9$br3$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > Time for my take on things. I usually don't post my reviews on RAMD
> > before they appear in Drum Corps World, but I'll certainly post my
> > comments on someone *else's* review. :-)
Heh, time to post my reviews of Toledo and Portage. Gotta defend my
"Best Review" title. :-)
> > In article <8kgv73$1isg$1...@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com>,
> > "Dan Marion" <dm...@prodigy.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > My friend, did you happen to see Boston??
> >
> > Maybe he was getting a hot dog. BAC was the first corps on after
> > intermission, which was short, so he may have been stuck in line.
> > Anyway I didn't leave the stands at all (unusual for me :-) so I
caught
> > everything, including Boston.
> >
> > > Dan M
<snip!>
> > Now time for BAC. They also smelled PR's blood and went on as if
they
> > could win. They actually got first in GE Visual and Ensemble
Visual.
> > During the opener, they did the best job of "Bolero" I've ever
> > heard/seen on a football field. They start the show spread from 5
to 5
> > or 10 to 10, and, while the song builds, the corps does a lot of
posing
> > (but very tough, not sissy stuff :-). In the meantime, two company
> > fronts form from the endzones and move to the 50, picking up members
as
> > the fronts pass. When the fronts merge at the 50 and then open up
into
> > a great big block, the audience went ooh! and ahh! That was the
kind of
> > visual effect they did again and again--well composed and executed
> > marching show, but relatively weak guard (4th place). People got a
big
> > kick out of the "Conquest" fanfare leading into La Fiesta. I
thought
> > they might just pull a rabbit out of the hat and win the show.
BAC was the most intense corps there that night!
Vince Lamb
Anaheim Kingsmen 1978
North Star 1979, 1981
Drum Corps World 1996-2000+