Thanks to John Case on r.a.m.d for this review! The following comments are my own (brass biased) comments of ALL the corps. (not just the DCI members) RACINE SCOUTS - Very small corps, as usual. No marching battery. They did have one very impressive mellophone player. This corps needs a lot of work, but it's up to the staff to get the kids to perform at their best. MARQUIS - Not much larget than Racine. Their horn line was significantly better though. They had a bit more difficult show and performed it rather well. I enjoyed them. KILTIES - I think this corps is living proof that the judges don't have a sense of humor. Everybody in the audience LOVED thier show and the score is no indication of this corps. I also appreciated the Kilties horn line playing while they troop the stands, much like Pioneer has done for the past several years. Why don't more corps do this? The audience really appreciates it. BLUE STARS - They performed Appalachian Spring, and while IMHO that music is overdone in drum corps, I enjoyed their show. Very difficult and the horn line was having some troubles with it, but I know that the Blue Stars work hard and they will work out the kinks eventually. Look for them to be a power in Div. III in Orlando. AMERICANOS - I really enjoyed their Gloria Estefan show. I didn't think I would, but they put out a very entertaining production. I suppose I should have expected that from the Americanos, I'll know better next time. They are quite a bit larger than in years past, and with a little work could be in really good shape going into August. I would have scored them higher, closer to the 50 mark. PIONEER - My own corps, I just love that show. The larger horn line is much more mature than in years past. I thought that they could put out a little more volume, not to say that they weren't loud, but I'm sure that will come with a little more time. The drum line is AMAZING, and this is coming from a mellophone player. Even I, a proud alumni, disagree about the decision to stay Div II, but this corps is definitely the corps to beat in Orlando. GLASSMEN - What the ^@$* was that?!?! I liked the beginning of the show, and then the G-men of last year showed up and spoiled the whole thing. I thought it was an Americana show, and I did hear some Gershwin in the music, but I don't think purple and gold are traditional American colors. This corps performs rather well, and that's what the judges like, but their show designer must not realize that there are a lot of people that pay MONEY to see their show and want to be ENTERTAINED. CADETS - Cool! The scenery didn't do much for me. I thought there were supposed to be pictures on the backdrops. All there was was big blue screens that moved. If they put pictures of an old west style then I think I might enjoy them, but for now they are just distracting. As for the music, YES! Very difficult music and drill, and they are still a little dirty, but I think they are much better than they were at this time last year. MADISON - I don't know what everybody is raving about. They definitely had the most entertaining show, but I think they shouldn't have tried to relive the succeses of last years show. They are quite clean for June, as always, and their sop line is flying, as always, and they are the best marchers around, as always. I liked last years show better, but with a few tweaks this corps can cook. PHANTOM - WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! Amazing horn line. Gorgeous. I think the show is a little short on high points, but I trust the staff will fix that come DeKalb. I was so glad to see the guard in tasteful uniforms. A little short, but I thought they were quite classy. The Regiment has their best shot at a title since '89 and I would love to see them leave Orlando with their first title this August. This is just my personal read on the show, like it or not. Flames welcome and appreciated. John Case Pioneer Mellophones '92-'95 Pioneer Webmaster '96 jmcase@students.wisc.edu http://www.engr.wisc.edu/~casej http://www.engr.wisc.edu/~casej/corps/pioneer.html
Last updated: June 27, 1996
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