Thanks to Carmen Salvatore Jr on RAMD for this review!
Below are some very general comments. Most of the negative ones are directed
more at the staff members, not the performers. Overall I enjoyed all
the performances. Please remenber these are just my opinions. I sincerly
hope nobody gets offended and I'd really like to hears others opinions
as well.
Comments:
Royal Columbians
I'd first like to state that I give the performers in this corps a _lot_
of credit. They tried desperatly to perform a show that is _far_ too
ambitious. I think they all ought to rally together and beat the hell out
of the staff and program coordinator for putting a program together that
is destined for failure on the field. Staff: Use a little common sense next
time and give the members a chance to perform a show that's within reach.
Kiwnais Kavaliers
Wow. What a pleasent surprise! This corps did a more than respectable
job with an all Methany show. Being a big fan of PM I was very pleased
with the arrangements here. Not overly complex, but with a definite degree
of difficulty. Just right. Quite frankly, it was _very_ nice to be able
to recognize the tunes they were performing rather than straining to discern
any semblence of such, as has been the case when listening to another all
PM show this year.
Bluecoats
Not much to say here. Saw this show earlier in Clifton, NJ. Maybe it
was a bad night for the corps but this performance just didn't do much for
me.
Carolina Crown
Boy, did they have a rough day. Apparently a bus (maybe also an equipment
truck) breakdown left them stranded in Fort Edward, NY for most of the day.
I think this had an effect on the members and showed in thier performance.
The show has some interesting features/effects, mostly percussive. But
overall it was sorta flat. I'd like to see it again, under better
circumstances.
Glassmen
Sorry folks, I know that this show has not been received with open arms
here on RAMD but I liked it. Overall that is. The whole picture so to
speak. I did not like the fact that the drumline either didn't play, or
when they did played cymbals for the entire first number. And when they
did play on drums it was on snare drums that sounded like mush. Yuk!
Tune those puppies! Maybe just a little too much "Body Movement". Pretty
good sounding horn line.
Magic
I liked this show a lot. I'm sure it has quite a lot to do with liking
Robert Smiths' writing, and, the fact that they did a band clinic earlier
in the afternoon and explained the music and design concepts. So by the
time they performed in the evening I had seen the show several times. I
just wish they would put some meat in the drum book.
Crossman
Hmmmm. 4th place? I'm not so sure I agree with this. But I'm not wearing
a green shirt so it doesn't matter anyway. I think this shpw is growing
on me. I like it more now than when I first saw it at a camp they held
locally. Also they seem to have incorporated a _lot_ more unison guard
work. Work that was performed quite well I thought. The drumline is
playing a real nice book. There are a lot of notes there but I think
it fits very nicely. Plus, and a big one for me - their snare
drums have depth and a nice tonal quality. Thank god for MYLAR! It was
great to hear snare drums that didn't sound like plywood. I think the
real problem with the corps is going to be thier hornline. It's rather weak
and roumor has it that several brass members have left for the season.
Can anyone confirm this?
Phantom
Low brass galore! One thing really puzzles me though. Why oh why, with
such a rich sounding brass section does the drumline have thier drums
pitched so friggin' high? I wish they would drop the pitch a little so
that the blend of the drums and brass would be pulled together instead
of going in opposite directions. Nice show though, if they can clean it.
Blue Devils
Wow! Clean, powerful, and exciting. I don't think there is a dull part
in this entire show. It's almost as if someone turned on a faucet full
blast and left it that way for 11 minutes. About the only thing I didn't
care for was too much of the high sticking stuff. A little bit overdone.
But damn, that drumline can play, man can they play. Is this a championship
show? I think it can be beat. We'll see in 3 weeks. Oh, how _do_ they breed
those sopranos-from-hell in Concord?
General
The America the Beautiful retreat thing is _WAY_ too short. If DCI is
going to take away the signatures of each corps at least give us more
than a few power cords in return. One verse with everyone playing
doesn't cut it for me. It's too damn short.
The Blue Devils encore alone was worth the ticket price. Wow, what a rush.
There were even some references to it being better than sex. Hmmmm.
Didn't see any cybercorps t-shirts in attendance. Although it was hard to
tell by color as the show staff was weraing brite yellow shirts as well.
And take a look at the percussion performance scores for Devils,
Phantom, and Crossmen. NO WAY! Sorry, I don't think so. Not at this show!
Well that's it. This is far too long. Can't wait until Allentown!
Carm
P.S. Not responsible for typos, poor grammer, etc. This was written in
haste during lunch at work.
Thanks to WaterPolo on RAMD for this review!
America the Beautiful was great, on this excellent astroturf field at Rome
Free Academy HS. BD stuck around to do its standstill show encore in
front of the crowd. Awesome. 9 snares, 10 contras, tons of depth.
Opening lineup on field is huge. Large rectangle going 0 yd line to 0 yd
line, and side line to side line, with 'mourners' weeping in the middle.
Lots of well timed visuals with guard. Very active drum line. Incredible
control at high speed marching. Many featured solos/duos/quad playing by
outstanding horns. Very crisp performance.
PR had just as many on the field as BD (128), but took up lots less space
per their show design. Tight corps marching didn't allow integration of
guard like most of the other corps. Very professional presentation. No
over-blasting power, even with 12 contras - CONTROLLED. Mellophone solo
under white banner nice. Caught about 1/2 the guard sitting on sideline,
waiting for their turn to display. They should have been doing something
- - dancing or simple pattern, if they don't want flag use to detract from
visuals on other side of field. Very nice 'framing' of the corps with 4
big white rectangles. Very powerful/clean sound coming from them. Drum
feature used lots of xylophone - very intricate, but I'm partial to other
percussion. It all ended too quickly. The show was picking up speed, and
getting better and better to watch, when this power ending brought the
crowd to its applause. Another crisply performed show.
Bluecoats on early (3rd). Very sharp uniforms - white pants, blue tops
that emphasize broad shoulders, and military style slim caps. Very clean
opening song. 7 snares very sharp. Horn in front during drum feature
good. One handed flag toss/catch at end of 2nd song was sharp. Third
song with revely w/ harmony was cool. Then jazzy follow up excellent.
flags left, horns right - balanced visual throughout entire program.
Guard very in unison dancing. Lots of different flags, with well thought
colors/patterns. Very catchy arrangements of all music. Final number of
sing, sing, sing with 'V' flags and 12 big red tom-drums was very
climactic. Best - most spontaneous standing ovation of the evening.
Quite enjoyable.
Crossmen - well balanced horns. Very good guard : tosses well timed, and
cool color schemes on all flags used. White stripe high up the side of
leg adds height to their look of guard. Middle of show dragged a little.
I didn't care for the large white poles (16 feet, round tubes) used. Kind
of an un-marchable musical number. Needed drive. Kicked in with exactly
what was needed. Rifles, swords, new flags - good building effect.
Killer bass drumming. Drum feature had drums spread out, but still very
'together' in their playing. Marched together and merged in mid
field-front. Not the most intricate drum feature, but I like the
marching. Very powerful ending. No problem getting a standing ovation
from the crowd this evening.
Glassmen - classy guard outfits : purple w/ white ruffles high in V-neck,
white bottom adds 'height'. Powerful opening of Jesu, resolves nicely
into relaxed Jesu solo. Marching slow, but in very big formations.
Everyone moving - well thoughtout. 7 xylophone + tympany make pit stretch
25-25 yard line, biggest of night. Fast music, moderate marching speed -
I like this. All 120+ marching kills the corps for a power ending. Guard
is excellent. Drum feature was the best so far (Glassmen were 5th corps
to perform) "Shark Cages" were very well used. I was afraid from reading
in some articles that they would be obtrusive. Their size was just right,
and their subtle coloring was great. VERY well used during the drum
feature to add visual to the backfield. Mightfortress was VERY balanced.
Like the new flags thd their color : purple & light blue. Different flags
at end of song : BIG ones, oragne, purple swirls - very good - use of big
flags for big ending. Strong standing ovation ending. I was impressed.
Magic - lots of color, movement, and integration of guard/drums/horns in
marching. Horn sound was not as impressive as the other corps tonight.
Wings on the guard at the end of their show looked good and big. Needed
better music with more contrasting highs and lows and speed changes.\
Carolina Crown - lavender guard not as flashy as most tonight. The big
thunderbolts used in a very strong opener could have been staged better,
as could the ending of the number. All ended in a straight line, almost
company front. This is not a thunderstorm - straight lines. Great music,
but I'd like to see a different marching pattern for this whole number, so
go better with the thunderous accompanying music. Fast pace, and gurad we
in good unison. Couple of cool marching steps and guard moves that were
unique. Nice mix of guard through horn line in 2nd number. Fast horn
line. Use of big diagonal straight lines were powerful, but easily
judgable as not straight, and clumping/density problems. Thrid song with
horns up slow, had mello soprano few-note solo. Mello marching, mello
guard dancing, mello rifle use. TOO mello! I guess the simulation of an
impending storm coming (calm before storm), but something missing... Red
umbrella, nice contrast. Hoping ending kicks. YES. Thunder, drums
building, horns at 10 yd line, in opposite corners, all coming together in
center. White rifle toss, white sword toss, snares with flags across
center driving. flag toss, horns still building, yellow flags with black
lightning Strong, loud finish.
Kiwanis Kavaliers - nice sound. balanced, but not big. Cool flag colors
red/yellow/green/purple with blue suits - big guard (30). Great field
balance in openter with guard. 2nd number very stand still. Guard fluid,
but not all in unison. Nice blue flag throw at end. Kind of mellow
transition. Drum feature OK. Guard not in unison with 8' gold poles.
Nice pole throw over white sword guard at end of dru feature. Finale was
their best number. Best marching, new flags green,gold, purple, 3 sops/3
mello - nice marching, plus 2 solo sops. Very enjoyable corps.
Royal Columbians. 3 snare, 9 flags, 16 horn, 10 total perc, small corps,
small sound. Guard not in unison. Could have done more with Nutcracker
music - well arranged, but didn't flow the guard and corps marching to
match the music.
Overall, a very enjoyable evening. Big 50/50 up to $3300 total drawing.
I missed it by two numbers! 75 degrees at start, high 60's ending. Great
lighting. Very close parking, and shuttle service to nearby church
parking lots. Started about 15 minutes late, but no big deal - gave me
more time to mingle. Heard there was a 'camp' for all band directors
within 100 miles all afternoon. I could not make it. Great to see this
kind of camp happening. Lots of high school students in the stand. Good
publicity locally. Syracuse Brigadiers were to do an exhibition at
half-time, but didn't. No problem - with 9 corps here tonight, and all of
such incredible talent and caliber, I needed a break. Too much of a good
thing can spoil you - NOT! Looking forward to next year. I'll be at
Endicott Aug 7 to see Madison and Cadets square off. Can't wait.
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