August 3, Allentown, PA

Thanks to Greg Dean on r.a.m.d for this review!

          Some thoughts and observations on the DCI Focus shows in
Allentown this past weekend:

          THE CROWD:  The Allentown crowd is knowledgeable when it
comes to drumcorps.  The problem is that there did not seem to be
enough of them.  Even though it appeared that the stands were
packed from ten yard line to ten yard line, there were still plenty
of empty seats on the fringes.  Much of this must be blamed on the
lack of any publicity for the event.  It amazes me that the
Philadelphia newspapers found space for toy, art and car shows in
the Allentown area, but not one mention of a drumcorps show.  Could
it be that they were not told?  I suspect that is the answer. 
(There was also no mention of the West Chester show on August 4th
either.)
          When is DCI going to wake up and get out of their "if you
stage a show, they will come" syndrome?  There are a couple
thousand seats waiting for fannies but no one is going to show up
if they do not know about it.  I would imagine there are a couple
of million people within a sixty mile radius of Allentown who are
not on the DCI mailing list and who do not subscribe to Drum Corps
World.  Isn't part of the object to get these people into the
stadium?  Another failing grade for DCI's non-existant publicity
department.
          Another interesting point about the crowd is the fact
that there was little action from the "Yelling Yahoos".  Could the
absence of microphones on the field have silenced the "Go Heather"
crowd?  If so, let's hide all mics in Orlando.

          THE FIELD:  Can somebody do something with the lights at
J. Birney Crum Stadium?  The lights on the opposite side of the
field were brighter than the those on the audience side.  As a
result, each of the corps played in their own shadow.  This was
particularly disturbing on Saturday night when the fog started
rolling in over the stadium.  One good point, Phantom probably got
extra points for GE.

          THE SCORES:  What has happened to scoring at the focus
shows?  At least the scores did not differ between Friday and
Saturday night's performances like they did in Madison.  However,
the scores were lower than normal.  For instance, last year, at the
Preview of Champions, 10 out of 18 corps scored their highest mark
to date of the year.  Another four were within a half point of
their best.  In contrast, 19 out of the 21 corps in Allentown
failed to match their best score of the year.  Only the Crossmen
and the Blue Knights topped their previous high mark.  It does not
make sense that a top six corps would not put forth its best effort
for the Focus Show and score its highest mark.  Only Vanguard and
the Cavaliers had discrepancies of less than a point.  Why is the
judging so inconsistent?  One, two and even three point differences
in scores in one week, at this time of year, is ridiculous and only
highlights the problem.

          THE CORPS:  Saturday night's show was one of the fastest
moving, and most entertaining, shows I have ever attended.  Perhaps
it was the presence of the perpetual motion machines of the
Crossmen, Blue Devils and Scouts in contrast to the more subdued
Pioneer, Magic and Phantom together with the zany antics of VK. 
This is not a condemnation of Friday's program which also seemed to
end all too soon.  The following represents some random comments on
the players.
          SPIRIT OF ATLANTA:  Give these guys a prize just for
showing up.....and following the Atlanta-bound Cadets.  I guess
echoes of "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Basin Street", et al are firmly
imprinted on my mind when Spirit is mentioned.  It's great to have
them back on the field but they have a long way to go in order to
reach their previous level of proficiency.  Spirit tries hard --
sometimes too hard, almost as if they are afraid to make a wrong
move.  They will not make the finals in Orlando but have formed a
nucleus for the future.  Perhaps they should have started in
Division II.  I wish them well.
          TROOPERS:  Dean's Law for Watching Drumcorps I -- when
the guard outnumbers the horn line, it's time to get a soda.  The
Troopers have 37 horns -- 33 guard.  Close enough.
          BLUECOATS:  Every year Blooo excites me with their choice
of music only to disappoint me with arrangements that somehow fail
to make the grade.  Last year it was "I'll Be Seeing You".  This
year it's "My Funny Valentine".  The problem with their show is
that they try to put the holidays in chronological order.  It
doesn't work.  If they insist upon honoring Labor Day, they should
select some music which is more appropriate (if any exists).  The
placement of this rather dull (and now symbolic) interlude between
the upbeat Fourth of July music and the melodic Christmas music
only emphasizes its inadequacies.  Even Halloween would have been
a better choice.  The addition of a Memorial Day sequence (stolen
from last year) would have been more effective between two other
songs.  Whatever, the Fourth of July segment would have made a
better closer.
          COLTS:  I liked the Colts better in Boston in 1994 when
they marched like left-footed kickers but played their hearts out. 
Now they march much better, but the show is not as exciting, or
challenging.  It's clean -- it's easy -- it's not that impressive. 
          CADETS:  I was one of those people who did not like last
year's version of Props on Parade.  When I heard about the ten two-
story backdrops for this year, I again had my doubts.  I was wrong. 
The Cadets have put together one of the most entertaining shows in
DCI history and have performed it magnificently.  The backdrops
don't even bother me.  In fact, they add to the show, isolating and
highlighting the various sectional showcases.  Anyone who
criticizes the selection of the Cadets over Spirit (or anyone else
for that matter) for the Olympic Closing Ceremonies just does not
understand that you bring more fans to the drumcorps world by
showing off your best.  The Cadets qualify by any standard.
          BOSTON CRUSADERS:  I felt as though I saw this act
before, maybe around 1992 (the corps formerly known as S**R), but
not nearly as good.  Maybe we could call them "Star Lite".  The
addition of the white sash took away the "call for Philip Morris"
look of last year.  The Crusaders have improved immensely and many
of the holes in the horn line have now been filled.
          CAROLINA CROWN:  Dean's Law for Watching Drumcorps II --
when the number of props on the field outnumbers the percussion
line, it's time to get another soda.  Crown has 32 props.  'Nough
said.
          KIWANIS KAVALIERS:  A surprisingly good effort from this
corps which has gotten much better since the DCEast show.  It's not
the Cadets' West Side Story (or even the Skyryders') but, whose is? 
It well done and very entertaining.
          ACADEMIE MUSICALE: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
          PIONEER:  This corps does not belong in Division II.  The
ending sequence is a drumcorps classic.
          VELVET KNIGHTS:  Dean's Law for Watching Drumcorps III --
when VK takes the field, make sure you are not in the soda line but
in your seat.  VK:  "Hello Allentown!  We're Baaaccck!"  Crowd:
"We're Glad!"  Says it all.
          CROSSMEN:  The back-to-jazz movement a big plus.  They
should also have a back-to-Aussies movement.  The Xmen appear to
have greatly benefited from their alliance with YEA.  The Cadet
influence, especially in the guard, is evident.  Matched with the
always excellent drum line, the show is exciting, entertaining and
successful.  At this rate of progress, next year the Crossmen could
be the class of the Second Six.
          BLUE DEVILS/MADISON (or was it MADISON/BLUE DEVILS?): 
You wait all summer to see two of your favorite corps; read all the
reviews and criticisms on the Internet; and read every word in DCW. 
And then comes the big day when you get to see it live.  Are you
disappointed?  Absolutely not!!!  The 23 minutes of back to back
excitement and energy were worth every penny.  They're loud;
they're fast; they're talented and proficient; and, they are
remarkably entertaining from the minute they march through the gate
to the second they march out the same gate.
          I still prefer the Blue Devils' finale from the CD over
the one performed.  To think that this was only their third best
performance of the year boggles the mind.
          It is not by accident that Madison is a crowd favorite. 
They generate excitement just by taking the field.  Allentown is
the second home to the Scouts.  On Friday night, Cadets shirts
barely outnumbered the Scouts.  On Saturday, it was no contest. 
Half the crowd wore some kind of Madison garb.  Most of the rest
were Blue Devil fans.  Some had both.
          PHANTOM REGIMENT:  This is the only corp which could have
successfully followed BD/M.  Phantom's deliberate, controlled show
was just what was needed in the wake of the exhaustion created by
the other two....and they did it magnificiently.  Even the lighting
of the field cooperated.  Two points off their previous high score
was not justified.
          OFF TO ORLANDO.
Greg Dean

August Scores

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