Thanks to Joe Russel on RAMD for this review! Well. Roger and I are having a blast.. everyone is good this year, especially the corps in the lower end of the placing. VK, Troopers, Pioneer... they're really really good! Some of the corps in T12 are boring (including the Devils) such as Blue Knights, and Madison.... JUST KIDDING. Madison is the best on the field this year, probably on of my favorite shows of all time. Take care. J. ...here's the review that Roger typed up n posted this morning: Review of POC Prelims Here's a PERSONAL review of POC Prelims: 20 - 58.5 - Nite Express Brass - Small horn line but they played very well. Perc - Large drum line compared to the rest of the corps. Executed very well. Guard - They have a very nice guard book but it just needs to be cleaned more. The work is at least well written and written to the level of the kids which is good compared to some other corps. Overall - A nice show, very enjoyable. 19 - 63.9 - Spirit of Atlanta Brass - The music is recognizable and it is a decent book but they just don't execute it well. At least it is a starting block. Perc - Able drummers and they did okay. Guard - They need to take at look at the type of work other small corps are doing. The work is written way over their ability level and it is practically impossible to tell what they are doing. Also, the movement work is not done well. Overall - It is nice to see Spirit back. Before they jump back into Open class where they will continue to not do well, they should consider Div II or III for awhile to rebuild. It worked for Carolina Crown. 18 - 65.6 - Pioneer Brass - Really nice horn book and well executed. Perc - Very good drum line for a Div II corps. Guard - Nice work and they handle it well. They add a lot to the show. Overall - Very nice drill and the Irish theme is very pleasing. They should do very well in Buffalo. 17 - 67.4 - Southwind Brass - Solid show, well written and executed. The crowd really enjoyed the gospel theme show. Perc - The bass drum were tuned too tight and were almost impossible to hear. The rest of the drum line performed nicely. Guard - Decent work but the wind was not kind to them. Many tosses were lost as a result and it made it difficult to do the work. Overall - A good show, they have made a nice transition to Open class and hopefully they will continue to improve. 16 - 68.9 - Boston Crusaders Brass - The opening statement was almost unintelligible. Don't know if it was supposed to sound like that but it didn't work. Pat Metheny can be a bit obscure but don't think it is this obscure. The rest of the show was also weak. The soloists throughout are used very well and they were really good. Unfortunately, the rest of line doesn't measure up. Perc - Phasing problems throughout. Not as strong as they could be. The "no-shell" snares offer no audible diff' over everything else out there. Guard - They had some severe timing problems. They could use some long rehersals to clean up the work. The flag designs are really good but they work needs to be better. Overall - We saw Boston in early July and thought they had a lot of potential. They haven't realized that potential and that is what disappoints us. 15 - 70.1 (3.5 pen) - Troopers Brass - Love Copland so was looking forward to this show. They played it very well and the crowd enjoyed it. The horn line was very strong and they executed very well. Perc - Very able drum line and the drum feature was very well done. Guard - Very strong co-ed guard. The work is well written and they did a good job with it. Overall - Think the penalty (which SUCKS) was because they tried to troop the stands. The crowd was on their feet after the silent sunburst ending which was great! Nothing but marching and good guard features.
(Here is another view of the penalty. This one is aparently accurate. - Ed.) Thanks to Steve Burstall on RAMD for this information! TROOPERS - 3.5 pts of penalties??? The reason, from what I've heard, is that this was from an action the percussion section caused last Tuesday. Here is from what I heard. A member of Pioneers supportors was dressed for rain, he was in a rain coat. Troopers percussion line marched around him and started to assult him. To them, they believed the man broke ranks, but until we official words from DCI or Troopers, we'll wait. DCI will be meeting in the next few days to consider the remification of this action. Talk is abuzz about a fine or non-marching in Finals. As soon as there is word, it will be reported. - Steve Burstall (For more discussion on this see Troopers Penalty. - Ed.)
14 - 73.3 - Velvet Knights Brass - VK gets serious. They are still very enjoyable and entertaining but not "slapstick" like in previous years. However, this is their weakest section of the corps... Perc - The drum line was AWESOME... very entertaining and they played well. The 90+ drum feature rocks. Guard - This is the best guard they have marched in awhile. The actually do good, difficult work and appear to be enjoying it at the same time. Overall - Disappointed they didn't make the cut. Drum corps is supposed to be entertaining and this show is! Drum corps is supposed to be serious and this show is. Guess they are missing a few elements. Don't know if they can clean it up in time for finals, though. 13 - 75.5 - Magic Brass - They are playing another original piece by Robert Smith but it is really lacking. The book is very obscure and never got a handle on what they were trying to do. Perc - Some nice features here and there but felt that they were lost with everything else going on. Guard - More weird uniforms. The guard work, when they were doing work, was well written and executed. They spend too much time changing uniforms and it was distracting. Overall - A really flat show that just didn't seem to go anywhere. Not surprised they didn't make finals. And the finalists are... 12 - 77.2 - Carolina Crown Brass - Fairly strong line. They have definitely improved over the years and they are performing more difficult music. Perc - drum feature is really good. The overall drum book is solid. Guard - It is good work but it just needs to be tighter. There weren't major breaks but too many little things. The book is good and well written, they just need to improve execution. Overall - Very nice opener. The whole show is very good and save for some minor problems, they are going to hang on to at least 12th come finals. It is nice to see a program like this succeed. They hung out in Div II long enough to build a strong program and then made the jump to Open when the time was right. If they keep on track, they could break into the upper ranks. 11 - 79.2 - Colts Brass - Very enjoyable book and well executed. A very nice presentation. Perc - Good show. They have matured over the years and it really shows in this performance. Guard - Really good. They add a lot to the overall show and have come into their own. Overall - They were the first "top 12" caliber corps to perform and the crowd took notice. They have a very nice show and the corps ahead of them in Prelims had better check their rear view mirror. Colts had a crappy time slot and their score may have been suppressed as a result. They could jump as high as 8th, maybe 7th, if they are on. 9 - 80.5 - Tie - Blue Knights and Crossmen We'll preface this with: BK went on after the Cadets, Crossmen after Madison. Feel sorry for them, we did. BK - Brass - Nice horn book but the music was just flat. Might have been partly due to their draw. Tonight they might be more lively. Perc - ...well played, not much featuring their talent unfortunately. Guard - Awful uniforms. Very distracting, especially to horny heterosexual men. They are wearing ankle length skirts that have been slit all the way up to the waist so that when they move, the entire leg is exposed. Good thing they at least wear white briefs. the tops are cut above the midriff so they have some Cher belly button action happening. Judging by the comments around us, the rest of the corps should just have stayed home. Overall - Flat. The guard uniforms distract from everything else and the work they do isn't even good. The white dots all over the field don't really add that much either. The grey pants make it hard to watch them march. It looks muddy. Crossmen - Brass - A difficult and interesting book and they handle it very well. They have much improved from when we first saw them. It's not an "on your feet" screaming kind of a show and they followed Madison. Nonetheless, good job. Perc - Really nice stuff... the ten bass drums at the end of the show are really cool. A comment in the stands was that they don't add much musically. Who cares? They look really neat and should just add to the GE score. Guard - They have really demanding guard work but they lack in execution. There were too many breaks and that distracts from the overall performance. The hooks on the rifles and sabers are a neat touch. They do some innovative things with them. Overall - Good solid show that just needs to be cleaned up some more. There score may have been low due to following Madison and they could jump up a spot or two in Finals tonight. 8 - 81.9 - Glassmen Brass - They played and marched their warm-up facing front, something we thought was against the rules. They have a very nice show and it is well put together. The horn line is solid and the partisan crowd (Toledo is about 45 minutes away) really enjoyed it. Perc - Nice solid book and well done. Once again featuring a bunch of Remo stuff. Guard - Very good work and they add nicely to the show. Overall - Another corps that could improve in Finals tonight and in Buffalo. The drum feature is very well done although don't really get the pvc cubes that are used on the field. A comment from the stands: "I feel like I'm in geometry class." 7 - 83.4 - Bluecoats Brass - Nice solid 40's style music. They made a big mistake after a very nice quiet move. A guard member gets presented with a folded flag for her dead husband and the corps starts to play America the Beautiful and about 6 horn players start about 2 counts early. OUCH. Don't think they'll make that mistake tonight. Perc - They got alot of "Class" .Very solid book and very solid performance. Guard - Love the guard uniforms. They do very good work as well. Apparently the instructor wasn't happy. the guard could be seen practicing in the distance after their performance. Overall - Never having been a fan of the Bluecoats, this is a very good show. Solid in all captions. Barring any sneak attacks from behind, they should hang onto 7th in Buffalo. 6 - 86.1 - Santa Clara Vanguard Brass - Very good solid show with difficult and interesting music. The adaptation of the Nutcracker is very good. It certainly isn't what they have done before with this piece. Perc - Great as usual, snares are still playing matched grip (only 6 of them)... bass drums march like mad-men. Guard - They enter the field with some of the most beautiful uniforms ever. They are a dark rusty brown velvet and they look incredible. Too bad they take them off. They change uniforms four times and, unlike other corps reviewed earlier, they do it very well. Overall - Wow. A really great show. Very interesting and well executed. Surprised at the small gap between them and Bluecoats. Think that will widen considerably tonight. 5 - 88.3 - Phantom Regiment Brass - When you start to get to this level, you being to run out of adjectives. Really a great show. Difficult musically and they pull it off. Perc - Definitely a different line over prior years... very entertaining. Cool purple drums... Guard - They are tougher than nails. They have some tough competition on the guard front, but they are simply one of the top three. Overall - They could close the gap between them and the top and who knows what they could pull off. The black uniforms work and work well. 4 - 90.3 - Madison Scouts Brass - Hot. Perc - Hot. Guard - Hot. Overall - Real hot. The crowd was not amused with the score when it was announced. Shouldn't have been either. The show is just incredible... the best Madison show of all time. This is the best guard they have had in years and could walk off with a high guard trophy. The crowd ate this show up and they got multiple standing O's and rightly so. Don't count them out in Finals tonight or even in Buffalo. 3 - 91.2 - Cavaliers Brass - Fast, dark and loud. They really have a good book and they execute it well. It isn't a "wow" type of a show but it is good. Perc - They have some incredible licks throughout and, boy, can they move. Cadets certainly don't have a lock on speed. Guard - interesting uniforms and work. They are very good technically but lack in overall enjoyment. Overall - These boys can march. Plain and simple, they have one of the best drills ever and they make it work. 2 - 92.3 - Cadets of Bergen County Brass - Kick ass horn line. Perc - Kick ass drum line. Guard - Kick ass guard. Overall - What more can be said? They have improved immensely since their preview performance. We had doubts about their show back then but, wow, they have really made it happen. It just gets better and better. Just wonder if they "borrowed" their silent ending from the Troopers. 1 - 93.0 - Blue Devils Brass - What a disappointment. They are playing very well but there is no soul to their show. Yeah, they are technically proficient but it is like listening to a programmed machine. Perc - Same as last year... real good, but lacking in the book. Guard - Just don't get it. The uniforms are not good and the work was very dirty. The skulls are just dumb. Don't get it. Overall - If you like the Devs because they do the jazz thing, well this is not the show for you. This is a bland show. Not saying it is a bad show, it just isn't there. The crowd had the same "polite" applause for them as the had for any other boring show. On a positive note (and opinionated) it's good to see the direction that they have gone w/ this book. It's going to allow BD to eventually perform any genre of music that they wish (kinda like Star).
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