Curses! Foiled again!
I just got the chance to see the Philadelphia Phillies lose their 10,000th game. I taped the Espys but the game ran over so I got to see the end of it. Strangely enough, I'm proud.
This past Sunday, Megan and I went down to Charlotte for Carolina Crown's NightBEAT. It's the 20th anniversary and the lineup was stacked--Teal Sound, Southwind, The Colts, The Cadets, and my three favorite corps in the same place at the same time--Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Carolina Crown.
I must say, I don't intend to renege on my proclamation that Crown are going to have a top 5 year, but I must say, I'm proud of them if they don't. This year's competition is tough--the could easily finish 7th (currently their highest ever finish) behind The Cadets, Blue Devils, SCV, Phantom Regiment, The Cavs, and the Bluecoats (in no particular order) and still have a helluva year.
One thing that was particularly pleasing for me about this show is that I got to see quite a few plate squads, which are becoming few and far between these days. Teal Sound, Southwind, The Colts and of course SCV all march cymbals. It's certainly a dying art, but they all did it well, especially those badasses at Vanguard (check out this clip if you don't believe me, and feast your eyes on the 50). I'd love to see more corps pick up a cymbal line when the corps limits increase next year (especially Crown) but I think there's something to be said for being the few, the proud, the cymbalists. But if people are looking to add, I hope some corps picks up "my precious" (see my icon in case you forgot)
For those of you keeping score at home, this was the show I intended to tailgate at. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side; it was still raining when we got to Charlotte so we ate at Brixx instead. The rain let up enough for the show to go on (albeit a half hour late) but the tailgating was a wash... oh well... next year!
We were pleased, however, that they had water ice down there... it's actually a family business who is bent on bringing water ice to the Carolinas. We were bonding with the guy who is, (surprise!) from Philly.
We took some of the extra time to walk around the various corps shops a bit. I definitely think DCI corps should start carrying souvenir pennants. I've become a bit of a collector of sports team pennants (we've got a wall full of them in our den and they will one day populate my man cave) and I'd like to be able to represent for my corps like that too.
Back to the show. You know, I wouldn't say I hate, or even dislike, any DCI corps. But if one were to inch close to that honor, it would be the Cadets. I feel like they're just weird for the sake of being weird. Hell, they start marching on the right just because they can. And look at their shows for the past two years. They call it "innovation" and to some degree it is, but somtimes, it's just special. And of course Hopkins is going to keep pushing for more electronics, when I think there's too much already. I think there's a shirt out there that says what I feel about this years show: "This I believe: Shut up and play!" Still though, I can't lie, they're damn good.
The Scouts are definitely having a rebuilding year this year, and they finished second to last of the DI corps (and honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised with last, because I was more impressed with Southwind, who I was seeing for the first time.) Crown took the bronze, with Vanguard at 2nd and Cadets winning, about how I had expected. Definitely a helluva show. And one thing I love about Crown events--the encore they do afterwards is just good times. There encore closer this year is a rockin' rendition of Boogie Wonderland.
And I brought my camera along, pictures will follow soon.
On our way home (and hour and a halfish) we hit a stretch along I-85 where there were like 3 accidents in less than a mile. We were just shy of witnessing one (well, we did witness it, but it was dark enough that we didn't really see anything)
I've mentioned several times that it's kinda crazy that we drive an hour and a half or more on a school night for drum corps shows, but I am so glad it's an option. Interesting note: If I were still in Tampa, I'd be SOL because, while there was a show in Orlando each of the summers I was there, there's no longer any show in the state of Florida. So as the Crown corps song by James Taylor goes, I'm going to Carolina in my mind!
This past Sunday, Megan and I went down to Charlotte for Carolina Crown's NightBEAT. It's the 20th anniversary and the lineup was stacked--Teal Sound, Southwind, The Colts, The Cadets, and my three favorite corps in the same place at the same time--Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Carolina Crown.
I must say, I don't intend to renege on my proclamation that Crown are going to have a top 5 year, but I must say, I'm proud of them if they don't. This year's competition is tough--the could easily finish 7th (currently their highest ever finish) behind The Cadets, Blue Devils, SCV, Phantom Regiment, The Cavs, and the Bluecoats (in no particular order) and still have a helluva year.
One thing that was particularly pleasing for me about this show is that I got to see quite a few plate squads, which are becoming few and far between these days. Teal Sound, Southwind, The Colts and of course SCV all march cymbals. It's certainly a dying art, but they all did it well, especially those badasses at Vanguard (check out this clip if you don't believe me, and feast your eyes on the 50). I'd love to see more corps pick up a cymbal line when the corps limits increase next year (especially Crown) but I think there's something to be said for being the few, the proud, the cymbalists. But if people are looking to add, I hope some corps picks up "my precious" (see my icon in case you forgot)
For those of you keeping score at home, this was the show I intended to tailgate at. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side; it was still raining when we got to Charlotte so we ate at Brixx instead. The rain let up enough for the show to go on (albeit a half hour late) but the tailgating was a wash... oh well... next year!
We were pleased, however, that they had water ice down there... it's actually a family business who is bent on bringing water ice to the Carolinas. We were bonding with the guy who is, (surprise!) from Philly.
We took some of the extra time to walk around the various corps shops a bit. I definitely think DCI corps should start carrying souvenir pennants. I've become a bit of a collector of sports team pennants (we've got a wall full of them in our den and they will one day populate my man cave) and I'd like to be able to represent for my corps like that too.
Back to the show. You know, I wouldn't say I hate, or even dislike, any DCI corps. But if one were to inch close to that honor, it would be the Cadets. I feel like they're just weird for the sake of being weird. Hell, they start marching on the right just because they can. And look at their shows for the past two years. They call it "innovation" and to some degree it is, but somtimes, it's just special. And of course Hopkins is going to keep pushing for more electronics, when I think there's too much already. I think there's a shirt out there that says what I feel about this years show: "This I believe: Shut up and play!" Still though, I can't lie, they're damn good.
The Scouts are definitely having a rebuilding year this year, and they finished second to last of the DI corps (and honestly, I wouldn't have been surprised with last, because I was more impressed with Southwind, who I was seeing for the first time.) Crown took the bronze, with Vanguard at 2nd and Cadets winning, about how I had expected. Definitely a helluva show. And one thing I love about Crown events--the encore they do afterwards is just good times. There encore closer this year is a rockin' rendition of Boogie Wonderland.
And I brought my camera along, pictures will follow soon.
On our way home (and hour and a halfish) we hit a stretch along I-85 where there were like 3 accidents in less than a mile. We were just shy of witnessing one (well, we did witness it, but it was dark enough that we didn't really see anything)
I've mentioned several times that it's kinda crazy that we drive an hour and a half or more on a school night for drum corps shows, but I am so glad it's an option. Interesting note: If I were still in Tampa, I'd be SOL because, while there was a show in Orlando each of the summers I was there, there's no longer any show in the state of Florida. So as the Crown corps song by James Taylor goes, I'm going to Carolina in my mind!