July 14-15, Dekalb, IL

Thanks to Richard M. Stuemke on RAMD for this review!

Here is my review of Drum Corps Midwest Championships held at Huskie
Stadium on July 14 & 15 in Dekalb, IL ---

Friday Night Prelims -

Division II --

Nite Express - Looked bigger and better than last year.  Overall show was
entertaining.  The selection of music, although performed reasonably well,
did not excite me. 2nd place.

Pioneer - Wow!  This corps is definetly a "must see" this year.  The horn
line is one of the most pleasant lines to listen to.  The musci is superb.
The opening mello solo sets the tone for the who show.  The middle Irish
number is wonderful and I found myself humming it two days later.  Overall
the marching and drill were excellent.  This corps is very entertaining and
very polished.  1st place.

Division I --


Madison Scouts - I was totally unprepared for this show.  The hornline will
blow the top of your head off.  This is the best show Madison has EVER put
together.  The drill is still in need of some clean up, but overall it 
really moves.  Without a doubt this corps could win it all.  They have the
drill, music, execution and GE to go all of the way.  The crowd was on
their feet many times throughout the show.  The whole show is integrated 
together.  The spanish theme really fits.  Nice sequence where several 
guard members dance the flaminco on wooden boxes.  Very nice.
1st place.

Glassmen - They had the unfortunate position of following Madison which
made their show look pretty flat.  The opener turned me off.  For most of 
this number only about half the horns play and the drum do not play at all.
Lots of stupid movement by the non-playing horns and silly running by the
non-playing drums.  The horn arrangements were very nice.  after the opener
the show picks up.  The Bach music really is nice.  The hornline seems
well balanced.  The drill was sloppy.  Overall not bad, but I do not think 
this show will be able to take the Glassmen as far as they are able to go.
The props stink.  The plastic cubes add nothing to the show. 5th place.

Colts - A very well balanced horn line. Clean drill.  I did not like "Sunday
in Park with George" when 27th played it and I do not like it now.  The 
music is much too simplistic for this corps ability.  This show is below 
the ability of the the corps and will limit there placement.  They are
a very pleansant corp to watch, but not much excitment. 4th place.

Phantom Regiment - After hearing all the bad things, I was really surprised.
This is definetly the "sleeper corps" of 1995.  They have the music, drill
and GE to really go far.  What is lacking is execution at this point.
The drill tonight was sloppy.  The hornline was muddy sounding which is
very unusual for Phantom.  During the opener, the mellos slopped through
a section and the sops muddled through some double-tonguing.  If Phantom
can clean this show up, they could be in contention for the title.
I hated the picture fram props.  They detract from what is going on in
the show.  Very annoying props. 3rd place.

Cavaliers - Cavaliers are hot.  The new arrangements of "The Planets" 
are execellent.  The drill is good, but not as spectacular as past
Cavie drills.  The show seemed a little flat though tonight, lacking 
the drive and excitement needed to win.  2nd place.

Saturday Prelims ---

Division III - I did not attend

Senior Division --

Butler Soundwave - First show ever.  Not bad.  Needs a lot of work but
lots of potential.  

Mirage - New corps also.  Overblowing by hornline.  Played "Bully", which
dated me.

Racine Kilties - WOW!!!  This was the most entertaining Sr. corps of the 
day.  Multiple standing O's.  The Auld Lange Syne closer brought tears
to my eyes.  This corps is wonderful.  Lack of execution kept them out
of the finals.

Vanguard -  Boring.  Tryed to play big hornline arangements with a 
too small horn line.  Overblowing by horns.

Governaires - Entertaining.  Nice drill.

Minnesota Brass - Very nice horn arragements and horn line.  Great sop
solist.  Possible DCA finalist.


Saturday Finals - 

Division III - 

Golden Lancers - One of the two suprises of the evening (for me).  This corps
has 12 horns.  But wow!!! do they project class and style.  The marching
was flawless.  The hornline did NOT overblow and were really balanced.
This 1st year corps came in 4th in prelims but WON the championship finals
and they deserved it.  WATCH THIS CORPS!!!

Americanos - Very entertaining.  The props are too much, lose them. 4th.

Northern Aurora - Clean, but the music of Yanni is really a downer.
They looked really good and sounded good.  Its just the music leaves you
cold.
Blue Stars - After winning prelims, the Blue Stars looked ready to repeat.
This corps projects confidence on the field and LOOKS like a drum corps.
The traditional Blue Star uniforms are a welcome site every time I see them.
Very good marching show and the hornline was execellent.


Division II - 

Nite Express - I took a bathroom break here. 2nd place.

Pioneer - Seemed better than the previous night.  Again the horn music
really was nice and the horns blended together for a beautiful sound.
They "trooped" the stands palying the "Gary Owen March".  This corps is
are real crowd favorite. 1st.


Division I -


Glassmen - They seem to do better tonight.  The drill was definetly cleaner.
The horns again sounded very nice.  Still I was left cold by the drill and
the non-playing drums and horns in the opener.  The Bach rendition of 
"A Mighty Fortress" sounded powerful tonight.  5th.

Colts - There show was at the same level of the previous night.  Clean
but lacking.  4th.

Phantom Regiment -  This was the other surprise of the evening.  This was
not the same corps for the previous night.  The field show projected
a confidence not seen during prelims.  The drill was cleaned up
considerably and the horns were too.  The muddy sounds were gone.
There score jumped by 2 points.  More clean up is needed but again I
have to say this show can take them as far as they want it to if they 
clean up their execution.  The music is absolutely wonderful.  Friday I
did not think I like the Black and Purple look, but seeing them again
I do like it.  The drum line really cooked tonight.  Watch them!! 3rd.

Cavaliers - I thought Cavaliers were hot last night, but tonight they
steamed!  The hornline sounded better and the drill looked cleaner
than during prelims.  I really thought their drill execution was better 
than the Scouts.  2nd.

Madison Scouts - Unbelievable!!! Do I see # 3 in their future!  Fantastic
show which just blows me away.  The hornline smoked tonight.  Nobody does
it like Madison, and I mean nobody, not even BD.  1st.


Comments - The Friday night announcer (who also did senior prelims)
was extremely annoying.  He tries to be a Joe Bruno clone and really
stinks.  DCM needs to lose this guy.  Bad job!!!
 

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