Phantom Regiment.........72.6 Madison Scouts...........70.0 Glassmen.................67.0 Colts....................62.4 Pioneer..................57.8 Golden Lancers...........43.6 Americanos...............43.2 Marion Cadets............42.0 Thanks to Jonathan Willis on r.a.m.d for these scores!
I am really starting to get into many of the drum corps now. I think I was rather hard on the corps after seeing the Toledo show, but I just had to review the shows the way I saw them that night, always keeping in mind that my opinion can and most likely will change as the season progresses. So, again, I will do that for this show.
Marion Cadets: A very small corps, but very good at entertaining the audience. It's amazing they were as close to the Americanos considering the size difference. I think the arrangements are well done and the quintet of a horn line is very musical.
Americanos: Although larger than the Marion Cadets, the Americanos have some serious cleaning to do, but when the show is cleaner their potential is very good. In general, I felt as if the marching was the biggest problem. I think the style needs lots of work...the body control seemed non-existent. This is also affecting their playing as well.
Golden Lancers: This is the 3rd time I've seen them, and not much seems to change. The show is weak from a GE standpoint, and it lacks a POINT. At no point in the show do you say to yourself "Oh, that's where this is going." You just sit their thinking "What's the point." At least I do.
Pioneer: I didn't care for this show much when I first saw it. In Parma, Ohio it grew on me a bit more. Tonight, the show grew on me even more. I think the musical arrangements of "Riverdance" are very nice and very musically played. The guard still seems to be the sore point with this corps. If this gets fixed in the near future, the Pioneer may pass up the Colts and possibly have a chance at the top 12.
Colts: Maybe it's just me, but why does this corps have to play so CRASS. I should've brought some Skin Bracer to this show because I got a clean shave after the Colts performed. Lots of edge...uncontrolled edge. The arrangements are rather nice. The guard is not very strong, and their uniforms are UGLY! I like black leather but this is BAD. As far as drill is concerned, the Colts look to have decent demand and GE, but I really think the lack of musicality and look of the guard is taking away from what could be a very good show. I really think they will be caught by Pioneer.
Glassmen: The G-Men were very good tonight, putting a good spread between them and the Colts. I thought the horn line in particular played extremely well tonight. Full sound and very powerful. The Bizet music was much more appealing tonight, but I am still having problems figuring out the ladders. If you watch the show closely, the way their guard uses the ladders kind of looks like a circus act. I say this because the guard is wearing gold sequined tops that look somewhat like 70's high school majorette uniforms and they perform such feats on the ladders that remind you of circus stunts. I just can't put all this with the Bizet show. However, the Glassmen have a solid contender for top 12 again. The only thing I see hurting them is GE Visual.
Madison Scouts: This show is fresh and screams MADISON. I love the pirate ship at the beginning, and the pirate rumble near the end is outstanding. The music is fun and very accessible to the audience. The drill is very difficult but the music seems a little less demanding. This show is already very entertaining and will only be even more so by finals. It's a must see this summer. How well can it do? Well, it's my first viewing so it's hard to say. The last time I reviewed corps for the first time (Toledo) I was really harsh and I didn't take into account how much each corps would improve as the season went on. I also didn't take into account how my own perception of each show would develop and grow as the season went on. However, I don't think the Scouts have the show that could win, but I've been wrong many times. It's definitely a top 6 show, maybe as high as 3rd. It just seemed to me that Phantom was clearly better tonight, and even they have a long way to go.
Phantom:
Speaking of Phantom, they were HOT tonight. They were the only corps to
have to play in pouring rain...lots of it. Yet, Phantom played like the
champs they are. Their horn line is outstanding. Great balance, time,
precision, and POWER!!! Musically they shape the phrases very well. Lots
of great dynamic use. I still think they need to rework some of the Wagner
arrangements. Some of them seem too sudden or just too choppy. I love
their guard, they are just tremendous this year, and their percussion is
not too bad either. This show is definitely starting to grow on me. I
think they won every caption here tonight, but I don't have the recaps.
Jonathan Willis
I just wanted to add my two cents to the review. It was an excellent show, despite the rain and my crew had a great cookout in the parking lot to start it all off.
1. Marion Cadets-- you have to be proud of these guys. Despite having 5 horns, 6 percussion, and 4 guard, they played a hell of a show. I was impressed by the drum major who spent 1/2 of the show in the colorguard leaving the corps to keep its own tempo. Nice job.
2. Golden Lancers---Not bad. I love the guard work, but it needs to be finished. The hornline was strong, but phasing was a problem. The pit was ahead of the corps tempo-wise most of the time.
3. Americanos---Colorguard is bright and lively and together for the most part. The music is upbeat and lively, but had a little dynamic problem. Didn't quite draw me forward with the soft parts and then throw me into my seat with the louder ones.
4. Pioneer---Riverdance?? Well, they tried. With a little more guard work (if you're gonna do the Irish dancing, do it right) they may make finals....maybe. NO penalty for trooping the stands. Were the judges asleep???
5. Madison Scouts---WHOA! In your face again. I had goose bumps the whole show. The pirate ship is a nice touch, but stayed on one side of the field the whole time. The drunken pirates added a little VK style comedy. Check out their tour shirts..I got two! Drum feature from hell.. you gotta see this!
6. Glassmen---Nice uniforms, very classy. I like Bizet, but have no idea what the visual program represents. I guess the ladders symbolize reaching toward the sky?? Something like that.
7. Colts---Guard in leather?? My male roommate was intrigued, but I thought it was a little tacky. they look like the Village People. Hornline had a nice rich sound.
8. Phantom Regiment----Umm, well, I hope it gets better from here. The sound was incredible but the visual program left a little feeling in my gut that said "Need new drill designer". They took forever to get on the field. They performed in a downpour and right before the last push, the rain stopped like God shut the faucet off. I guess they scared away the rain. By the way, where is the rest of Kristy's outfit??
Anyway, this is my two cents. Good luck to everyone out there and I'll see you in Morgantown WV on July 11.
Tiffany J. Adams
"We are the Music Makers, and we are the Dreamers"
FSC marching Band 1993-1997
Ebony Indoor marching Percussion Ensemble, Pit Captain 1996-1997
Soundwave Senior D&B, pit & mello
Recaps - June 18, 1997, Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks to DJ Foremsky on r.a.m.d for these recaps! GE ENS PERFORMANCE MUS VIS TOT MUS VIS TOT BRA PER VIS TOT SUB PEN FINAL PLACE Marion 91 86 177 65 61 126 42 43 41 126 42.9 (0.9) 42.0 8 GLancers 93 92 185 69 63 132 44 45 44 133 45.0 (1.4) 43.6 6 Americano 101 80 181 70 53 123 48 48 39 135 43.9 (0.7) 43.2 7 Pioneer 116 103 219 82 109 191 53 58 57 168 57.8 57.8 5 MadScouts 141 131 272 108 107 215 70 73 74 217 70.4 (0.4) 70.0 2 Glassmen 130 133 263 97 111 208 62 67 70 199 67.0 67.0 3 Phantom 140 140 280 110 115 225 73 71 77 221 72.6 72.6 1 Colts 125 126 251 94 94 188 64 59 62 185 62.4 62.4 4 Thanks to Tiffany J. Adams on r.a.m.d for the judges list! Judges for Pittsburgh were as follows: GE music Rich Saucedo GEVisual Bob Thomas Ens. Visual Jack Rattica Ens. Music Andrew Poor Per. Brass Mickey Stisher Perf. Percussion Glen Fugett Perf. Visual Leonare Kumer Contest Director Dave Eddleman Tabulator Carol Eddleman
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