So, last night (Monday, June 20) was Drums On the Ohio in Evansville. I usually go every year, and this year was no exception. I didn't think the show was all too impressive compared to other years...last year, I think we had the Bluedevils and their show was really great, and the year before that we had the Cavaliers and they did a wonderful show as well.
This year's lineup (with each corps scores)was as follows:
The first few corps that came out were a bit smaller (or so it seems, all div I corps have a certain range for the number of members they have, and Memphis Sound is actually a Div II corps which makes them the smallest of all competing), and the way they set it up at this show, the best corps play later in the night. Best points-wise, at least, because the higher scoring corps aren't always the most entertaining in my mind, and the same goes for much of the crowd most years.
The weather was really nice, it wasn't really hot, it was warm, but there was a nice breeze the entire night, and the skies were clear, so no one had to worry about rain, which caused major problems a couple years back. The crowd wasn't too big, I noticed a couple of the sections with higher priced seats (we sat in general admission as we always do) weren't even filled to capacity.
So, the first couple corps did their shows, and they were all pretty good, nothing that sticks out in my mind honestly, which is why I couldn't even possibly begin to rate each show for a few of the corps...and hearing a show once doesn't allow me to really take it all in and remember various specific aspects of it. Anyhow- a few points did stick out...
First, The Cadets, one of my favorite corps took the field, and before their show starts, a girl dressed up in a plaid skirt, a white shirt, and long dark socks walks across the field down to the end zone. I thought- that's a staff member, I assume, but why on earth is she dressed like that? A bunch of guys in the audience started whistling at her and yelling- "oh yea, baby!" Their show starts..there's a large 10 foot high box with at least 2 doors (one on either side as far as I could tell) in the middle of the field and a line of flags laid out on one side in a straight line, as if a road were leading to the side of the box.
The girl starts to walk across the field, sort of skipping, sauntering about, the corps starts playing...but your transfixed on the catholic school girl who seems out of place. The music seems like it's going to be somewhat slower paced than many of the other corps, not jazzy, not classical- I don't really know how to explain the music. It wasn't all that entertaing a show in regards to the music (actually, it wasn't all that entertaining period).
So, back to the girl walking across the field, and the crowd having no idea why she is there, or who she is, etc. She walks toward the box at some point and she seems to get sucked into it. She comes back out of the box (the door) and has a yellow rain coat on and an umbrella...she goes back to sauntering around the field with no clear purpose.
She disappears into the box again (which is, I believe, right near the 50 yard line, so it hinders what could have been really exciting drill), and then she eventually reappears again with a princess- looking tall hat on...then another, different girl, dressed exactly like the original (and looking much like the original) comes out wearing an orange hard hat...there are amps and speakers in the pit, and you hear someone speaking, or maybe it's just gibbering, it's hard to tell either way- it sounded like weird japanese anime characters, and the weird school girl outfit that you see Japanese girls in all the time, made it seem like that was the case (tho, after reading the concept of the show on the web, it seems unlikely this was actually the case)...the girl with the hard hat is walking all weird, swinging her arms, the corps is doing the same thing...more weird gibberish talk over the loud speakers. The music sounds almost toy-like, something you'd hear in a scene full of dancing dolls and toy robots.
The music picks up pace, much faster tempo, with a number of quick, tight formations in the drill- there are now 4 girls dressed in the weird school girl outfit on the field, all running around looking scared of the corps member...music picks up again with even faster moving, rotating drill patterns, up to a big crescendo, things wind down a bit and the show is over.
Sadly, as you can tell, most of my thoughts during the show were- what on earth is going on? What's the theme, the concept? Who on earth is the school girl walking around without a point (or so it seems)? Why the big distracting box...why the girl walking around, as if you're supposed to follow her action, which totally takes away from the corps itself? The music is not at all memorable and not a bit exciting...the only things that stand out are the things that you probably aren't supposed to keep your attention on, not to mention the sad fact that the guard's show is far from complete, and they spent the last 2 mins of the show in a complete standstill with nothing to do. The brass and percussion also don't have their show completed and end in a prolonged standstill- I've read the comments by Hoppy, and he seems to be unhappy about the situation.
I should also mention the fact that the Cadets, who have always had a traditional uniform that has hardly ever changed, have new velcro additions to the backs of their pants...instead of the regular solid cream colored pants, they now have the fronts in cream color and the back additions are maroonish (matching the uniform coats and hats)- they wanted this addition to add a visual effect, but I don't care for it at all. They look clownish, many people have said. I thought they looked like a college marching band from a traditionally all-black school...the sort of bands that do hip hop music for their programs. That's the picture I got in my head when I saw the pants. They have said they might get rid of them before the season is over, and it's all velcro, as I mentioned, so it's possible they might be gone before Finals.
I love The Cadets, but this show was disappointing. Too much distraction, the story of the show is muddled at best, and there's nothing exciting about the music. The drill was nice, some parts reminded me of the complicated moves that the Cavaliers are famous for, but overall it was a big letdown. I did, however, buy a 2 disc CADETS/CROSSMEN DVD set, and it's actually got some great shows for each corps- gotta love Crossmen 92, when they did the all-original show written by the Crossmen staff, "Songs for Planet Earth," and Cadets of '93 ("In the Springs, When Kings Go Off to War")- always a perfect show.
Enough about The Cadets show...
To the other corps- The Bluecoats (also one of my favorite corps) did a really nice show, and thankfully they did the encore for the night. Surprisingly, they scored 9/10th's of a point lower than The Cadets, and that's odd because it means either The Cadets are having a bad season so far, or The Bluecoats are having a really GREAT one...sadly, when I went by The Bluecoats mechandise booth, I didn't see any DVD's, or else I would have bought one of theirs (jazz from The Bluecoats is some of the best stuff out there...on par with what Crossmen do- who didn't love their 1997 show, Colors Of Jazz, and their '96 program with their fact paced, high energy rendition of Birdland?!)...Their show this year isn't really jazzy, but it's fairly high energy, and the crowd always loves that. They had some really nice drill, the pit did some stuff over the loud speakers (like The Cadets), and it was pretty cool...the corps members themselves start in the chant at one point. Very exciting ending, big crescendo which caused the crowd to jump to its feet for a standing ovation. The Coats were clearly the crowd favorites, and technically they seemed right there with The Cadets (as the scores proved).
As I mentioned, the other shows really didn't stand out in my mind much, so I can't say much about them...no bad shows really, all corps did a great job in the end.
Oddly, the corps didn't return to the field for awards, only the drum majors...and Bluecoats and Capital Regiment returned in a concert arc for awards and America/O'Canada...that was disappointing, because one of the best parts to a drum corps show for me is going to the top section on the 50 yard line and being blown away by 6 or 7 corps and the sopranos busting your ear drums with the section of the medley that changes from America to the first part of O'Canada...that crescendo up to the high note intro to the Canadian national anthem is deafening most of the time, and it's so powerful you can't help but stand their in awe- totally amazing. Not sure why the corps didn'r return for awards.
Anyhow...The Bluecoats started their encore show with a warmup that took full advantage of the fact that sopranos facing into a concert arc, with their horns aimed directly at the crowd can blow you away in no time. This more than made up for the usual ear shattering high notes of the medley. Grown men all around me had their hands clamped over their ears...you hear the high notes and the world just melts away around you- beautful, beautiful stuff.
So, they did their program in the concert arc, tho being there for all the sound and the horns all pointing front the entire time makes for interesting listening- there are a few points in the encore that I didn't even really hear during the show. They did a superb job with the program during the encore, tho half the crowd got up and started walking out, thinking it was over during a brief pause by the drum major (nothing happened, they just thought the show was over due to the end of one of the pieces.)
It was a great show...Bluecoats had the best show on the field in my eyes...Cadets, one of the greatest corps in history, were disappointing to a degree, and the rest did average shows that didn't contain any really memorable moments for me, tho they were entertaining and made for a lovely evening of music.
Oh c’mon you whistled at the girl too, admit it. You like the school girl look. I’m kidding. It sounds like you had a good time. And the weather was pleasant for once instead of all the rain and storms streaming across the country lately. Humor me, what all black school’s marching band wears two toned pants? Surely they’ve got better style than that. You don’t like hip-hop? None!?! To each his own I guess.
For the first time in a really long time I looked at your currently listening to list. My goodness, do you listen to any new artist? All I see is oldies on there, half of which I have never heard before. Dude how I love that song “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” and “Kiss Is On My List” too. I haven’t heard some of those in forever. Now for some reason I keep picturing you dancing around in a shirt, underwear and white socks like Tom Cruise in that movie……dang I forgot the name. You know which one I’m talking about though, lol.
nah. it was distracting. now that it wasn't an attractive outfit, but wholly inappropriate for the setting in my view. and again, way too distracting, wondering- are you supposed to watch the action with her or what?
i don't know of any all black schools with two toned pants, but i went to school in florida and georgia and the high school bands had that going on...as did some local college bands that were traditionally black schools. im not a fan of the look, especially with a corps like the cadets which is all about the CORPS look and not the marching band look that so many corps are going for these days.
i dont like hip hop no. i like music where people speak english and dont talk about bitches and certain alcoholic beverages and sex and such. :) i have many more playlists, i just havent updated it yet and that cpl of days i was listening to a lot of 80s stuff i found. i have smooth jazz lists as well, and other mixed lists. will have to change it up sometime and add the other playlist info.
as for dancing- its something i dont do, and i dont own white underwear so that wouldnt make any sense in any manner.