July 13, 1998, Columbus, OH

Cavaliers................84.9
Crossmen.................80.2
Phantom Regiment.........77.3
Kiwanis Kavaliers........60.1
Cincinnati Glory.........47.0
Marion Cadets............35.8

Thanks to Michael for emailing us these scores!

Recaps - July 13, 1998, Columbus, OH

Recaps here (opens a new page with recaps thanks to DCI).

Review - July 13, 1998, Columbus, OH

Thanks to Brett R. Burton for emailing us this review!


Editorial notes:

I am new here so I am giving a review based on a former drum corps age-out, band director, and adjudicator/critic. Cooper Stadium - Columbus, Ohio. I have marched there, but this was a first time as a viewer. I thought the cover over the seats would cause trouble with the sound, but when a corps performed, the crowd was eager to listen and there was very little distraction. A good show altogether.

MARION - Another small size like last year. 5 brass, 8 battery, and 3 or 4 in the pit, as well as 4 in the guard. The 1998 Cadets is a completely different group as the 1997 Cadets that wowed the audience at DCM, and it showed. The brass started out good, but in the ballad, the tuning of the wind ensemble went out of whack. Good drums though and a hot marimba player kept the performance going. Drill also needs cleaning in spacings, and has a lot of work to do by Orlando.

GLORY - Looked like a bigger group than last year, but the theme of the show was an unfamiliar one. The Golden Lancers of Pittsburgh merged with the Glory, and this year is a difficult one for them. Brass sounded really good in the loud and forceful parts, but the percussion had trouble with front-to-back timing. Guard did a good job, but the multi-colored pyramids were sometimes a distraction. (One person in the audience called them "teepees.") Long way to go for this group; needs drill cleaning as well.

KAVALIERS - "An American in Paris" was a very entertaining theme. Sometimes the sound seemed to bleed and run over, but the crisper parts in the music were great! There were several added members, so when the time came, these people came off the field while the rest of the corps continued. I hope they clean their show quickly and get the new ones in. Otherwise, they may be in trouble.

PHANTOM - A colleague of mine said that this group has lots of potential, but the program is poorly done. And after I saw the show, I agreed. When I read the program and saw "Pines of Rome," I was hoping, "Star '91." Instead it was more like "Cavies '84," and the lack of effect visually and musically, it was like an 80's show. I hope this is just an off year for the corps. I marched against them in the early '90s, then I loved them from '93 - '96, then they started to slide back down to the old show styles of the '80s. If they don't watch it they will be out of the top 7.

CROSSMEN - A friend in the corps said they were glad to get away from CBC, but now they had to deal with the Mid-West corps. The first chord was just a small tease of what this corps is capable of doing! The brass reminds me of a smoother version of Scouts. When they first came on the field and I saw blue drums, and blue guard tops, I and several strangers who were in corps felt wierd about the blue and not the traditional red. But once they started up their Pat Matheny sound, and the guard brought out more colors of purple and blue, it showed the smoothness of their sound. While Birdland was "in your face music," "Third Wind" and "First Circle" was "feel good, laid back" Pat Matheny! I see a top six finish again, and I definitely want to see and hear this corps again!

CAVIES - Well, being a former member, I am proud of the 50th anniversary, but this group of guys have definitely matured from a disappointing 1997 season. The guard came out in their former '80s and early '90s black, and marched with tall '70s style flags. The first chord came out and you literally felt that you were back in the '60s getting your face ripped off. You see drill movements like the SNAKE, the 1990 4-count quick drill, the flag tosses over the horn-line, and the sound was amazing! The opener was in your face, the closer was active music-wise and drill-wise, the second piece reminded you of '92, but the third movement almost gave you a feeling of old Garfield music. The musicality was wonderful, and even a guy like me that marched there was surprised that these men can have feeling in their music. The drill of course has been cleaned a little at a time, but the end needs the most cleaning, and with a month to go, it will be cleaned! Sopranos have some trouble playing at high rates of speed with their feet, but that will be fixed as well. I hope to see them on top, but this is my first show, and I have not seen CBC, BD, or SCV, so this could make an interesting year for the top 4.


Review - July 13, 1998, Columbus, OH

Thanks to Phil Lehenbauer for emailing us this review!


Editorial notes:

This was one of the best run contests I've ever attended, as six corps actually performed ahead of the printed schedule, with no intermission, and we had a great night of weather and corps performances! Tickets were only $10, but unfortunately the crowd was nowhere near its usual large size for Pageant of Champions. Here's a quick run-down:

Cavaliers were AWESOME! I saw them one month ago, and they have really improved! Everything you want in a show is there-great drill, great playing, wonderful guard, lots of visual and musical effects, etc. There are so many fantastic things going on in this show, you'll just have to see it for yourself!

This was my first viewing of the Crossmen, and they again have put together a package of high-energy material! Metheny tunes are a great fit with their style. The horns are really wailing, but the drill is quite dirty yet. (I couldn't tell whether there are still lots of holes in the horn line or if their spacing was just really off tonight.) But, they have definitely figured out the entertainment aspect again, and they were a hit tonight!

Phantom has also made great strides in the last month, and I was surprised by the large gap between them and the Crossmen. Their guard continues to be one of the best, and while the horns were much better than in June, the show still seems to be missing impact points. But, I'm sure they'll figure things out like they always do.

Kiwanis Kavaliers had added a dozen horns, guard costumes, and almost completed guard work to make the show sell much better than last time. They've really jazzed up the middle section, but the horns' tone still has a thin edge to it at times. They've obviously made many changes to this program so far!

Cincinnati Glory has added seven purple and blue large tents to the field, which they use and move during the show, and if you haven't seen this second-year corps, you will be surprised! The horns played much better tonight, and there's much interesting drill to watch, but they have lots of cleaning yet to do.

Marion Cadets continue to entertain with their small corps, and even though the horn line was stronger tonight, it still is their weakest part. The snares seemed to be marching particularly well this evening, and the guard adds many nice colors and visuals.


Review - July 13, 1998, Columbus, OH

Thanks to JP Hooten for emailing us this review!


Editorial notes:

MARION CADETS: Sorry, kids...I missed ya...my friends said that your improvement from West Jefferson, OH a few weeks ago was immeasurable!!!

CINCINNATI GLORY: SOMEBODY screwed their heads on straight! VERY nice choice in repertoire. Kudos to doing your winter homework, staff! (but did the Sop soloist drop an octave since I last saw??) Nice impacts; well-trained contra line. They realize the musicality of drum corps very well. This may sound like the review for a 128-member unit, and some of THEM can learn from these VERY nice impact points and spectacularly designed visual moments. HOLD YOUR FOCUS!!!

KIWANIS KAVALIERS: I love 7-ft flag poles, and they got 'em:) The pit seems rather advanced with well-trained musicians and garnered their own applause! For a large group, the drill seems too centered and not as expansive as it could (should?) be. I like the guard staging and effective use of color. The fortissimo horn line is focused well---not forced. Whether this show cuts into the top-12 or not, overall, it's enjoyable.

PHANTOM REGIMENT: Hey, Phantom fans...go get something to drink...I mean it. I now know why they're behind Blue Knights/Glassmen/Crossmen: the design of this show is of utter confusion. What WAS that? We heard 4 distinct pieces without the benefit of transition or impact. The vocabulary of the drill was lost to me as was the guard's staging. On a nice note, the sonority of the horn line was gorgeous in the "Un Bel Di." Bravo, CONTRAS! I like the "new" look, but a top-6 finish is but a pipe dream. Top 8? I doubt it.

CROSSMEN: Clearly the favorite of the night (mine, too). Pat Methany has been DONE...but I cannot remember the Crossmen having such focus and energy in terms of design. Phrasing goes ON and ON. "How did they do it" went through my mind a few times. I was told many times that the Cadets' Jeff Sacktig wrote this drill. BRAVISSIMO! Now, kids, clean, clean, clean. They have a long way to go to make this a final product, but once the technique matches the design and showmanship, this show is THERE!

CAVALIERS: Three letters: P I T. Wow, these boys are good!!! I love the sound from the front line. There are some great moments in this show, and muted sops are ALWAYS cool. Psst...Jay Kennedy...if you're going to write an original opener, make it SOUND original, man! Oh, thanks, AGAIN, CBC...now EVERYONE is doing the 'color guard spins and tosses while the corps plays softly/slowly...' The closer is clearly their best work. There were actually geometric patterns I haven't seen in my videos (save that tedious dragon). Drive, energy and an abrupt (logical) ending kept them in good graces.


July 13, 1998, Endicott, NY

Cadets of Bergen County..88.1
Bluecoats................79.3
Carolina Crown...........73.4
Magic of Orlando.........71.9
Spirit of Atlanta........70.4
Boston Crusaders.........66.7
Spartans.................56.8 (Division 1 Sheets)
Spectrum.................Not Announced

Thanks to Dave Baker, Show Chairman, Sounds on the Susquehanna for emailing us these scores!

Recaps - July 13, 1998, Endicott, NY

Recaps here (opens a new page with recaps thanks to DCI).

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