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Post by Shroom on Jul 14, 2022 13:02:07 GMT -6
We don't have one and we need one
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Post by Shroom on Jul 14, 2022 13:12:22 GMT -6
I'll start this thread off with my way too early predictions because I like to argue with people on the internet. Im also bored at work so im posting my unfiltered ramble thoughts over my phone
1. BD (Vis, Perc) 2. Bloo (GE) 3. Crown (Ott) 4. SCV (Guard) 5. BAC 6. Cavies 7. Blue Stars 8. Mandarins 9. Cadets 10. Phantom Regiment 11. Crossmen 12. Blue Knights ------Finals------ 13. Colts 14. Troopers 15. Academy 16. Pacific Crest 17. Madison Scouts 18. Music City
I'm predicting the score gap between 12th and 13th to be pretty big. Bloo and Crown will probably go back and forth all season but Crowns show is kinda annoying and I'm bias. Cadets might beat Mandies if they fix their vis. BAC can beat SCV if they live up to the hype but I honestly don't see it as of rn. Troopers have a lot of potential this year but I don't know if they'll grow into their shoes all the way come finals, they definitely have a solid shot by next season if they keep up the momentum. I don't really follow open class. I'm probably going to completely 180 on half the stuff I've said after the Texas tour tbh
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Post by josephbandfan on Jul 15, 2022 9:29:35 GMT -6
1. BD 2. Crown 3. Bloo 4. BAC 5. SCV 6. Cavies 7. Cadets 8. Blue Stars 9. Mandarins 10. Phantom 11. Crossmen 12. BK
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Post by neop on Jul 15, 2022 15:29:36 GMT -6
Here's my current prediction:
1. Carolina Crown (I don't think they'll start beating BD until a little later in July, but I think they'll pull it off. It'll be really close, though.) 2. Blue Devils (Another absurdly clean show that I can't make myself understand. It feels so disjointed right now. If they manage to pull it together thematically, they'll have a much better chance of winning.) 3. Boston Crusaders (I could see this playing out in a couple ways. Either they start beating Bloo immediately, or they barely edge them out on finals night. Either way, I think this is their medal year.) 4. Bluecoats (See above. I also think with how they tend to fizzle out near the end of the season, they could fall behind BAC if they aren't already behind them.) 5. Santa Clara Vanguard (I do actually like this show, but it lacks a wow factor that would propel them any higher than this. They're definitely not finishing anywhere below 5th, though.) 6. Cavaliers (I love this show and everything about it. They won't finish any higher than 6th, but I see this as a great sign for the future of the green machine.) 7. Cadets (Welcome back! This show is also really well done. I could see them picking off the Cavies for 6th as well.) 8. Blue Stars (This show just looks really beautiful. I love the theme. Their brass is so gorgeous this season.) 9. Mandarins (They definitely do not disappoint this year. This show could crack top 8 in another year. I think there's a slight chance they catch BS, but they'll probably land here.) 10. Phantom Regiment (This show is really exciting and I love the momentum they present via their drill. It definitely needs some serious cleaning if they hope to finish above 10th. If they manage to clean this up, they could go as high as 8th.) 11. Crossmen (When I first saw this show, I thought they were far too dirty to have any hope of making finals. They've proven me wrong so far, and I expect to see them on Saturday night.) 12. Blue Knights (This is a close call for BK. Something about their show just is not connecting with the judges this year. I would hate to see them fall out of finals, but it could definitely happen. Ultimately, I expect them to survive.) -------------------------------------------------------- 13. Colts (This is going to be a close one! What a year for these guys, and what a nice show. I could see this show making finals just as easily as BK. I think it'll be a coin flip, but fortune typically does not favor the Colts.) 14. Music City (This was the first corps I ever saw at my first drum corps show in Avon Lake, OH in 2016. I'm so proud of how far they've come. I'm getting the vibe that they're going to make a run for finals within a few years.) 15. Troopers (This show really wowed me the first time I saw it. It's definitely the best Troopers show I've seen in a looooong time. Hopefully we get to see them back in finals some day soon!) 16. Madison Scouts (I want to like this show, but it is just SO out there thematically that I can't find anything to grab onto. Their performance level is promising, but the design is a miss for me.) 17. Academy (I hate to put them so low because I really do love this show. I just think they're getting outperformed. They're certainly not lackluster, it's just that everyone else is so good.) 18. Pacific Crest (I wish they had gone further with the design this year. Maybe next year!) 19. Blue Devils B (Bit of a slow start for BDB this year, but I think they'll pull it together. I could see them jumping PC.) 20. Spartans (Building off their 2019 successes, the Spartans are back with a vengeance. I could see them jumping BDB and taking Open Class gold.) 21. Genesis (Haven't seen this show yet.) 22. Jersey Surf (This show is a lot of fun! I love to see Jersey Surf go out every year and have a blast.) 23. Gold (A strong showing again this year from Gold. I see a jump to World Class in their near future.) 24. Vanguard Cadets (Like BDB, they're still shaking off the cobwebs of not having a full tour since 2018. They are definitely working to make that comeback, though.) 25. Battalion (Shock and awe! I can really see them making semifinals this year if they keep up the hard work.) -------------------------------------------------------- 26. Legends (Haven't seen this show yet, but I can't imagine that their super late start this season is a good sign.) 27. Calgary Stampede (Haven't seen this show yet. I've seen some videos of them, though, and they're REALLY good!) 28. Southwind (Haven't seen this show yet.) 29. River City Rhythm (Looks like their membership really took a hit from COVID. No matter, RCR continues to impress, even with its reduced size.) 30. Colt Cadets (CC really looks great this season! Combined with the Colts' successes, the organization should be very proud.) 31. Guardians (Haven't seen this show yet.) 32. Louisiana Stars (Haven't seen this show yet.) 33. 7th Regiment (Like RCR, their membership clearly took a huge hit. I really hope they can come back stronger soon.) 34. Stentors (Haven't seen this show yet.) 35. Raiders (Haven't seen this show yet.)
Honorable Mentions: Blue Devils C (This corps never fails to impress me, especially considering the ages of their members. Keep it up!) Columbians (WHAT A SHOWING THIS YEAR! They should be extremely proud. I'd love to see them make the trek to Indy soon.) Golden Empire (Hoping they can make it back to Indy soon! Membership is also clearly smaller this year.) Heat Wave (I love the fun style of their show this year, especially that tuba feature at the end.) Impulse (They've got new uniforms this year! I always find their shows exciting and out of the box.)
Dearly Missed: Cascades Encorps Incognito Shadow Spirit of Atlanta Vessel Watchmen
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Post by supersound on Jul 15, 2022 16:29:31 GMT -6
I keep seeing people say Blue Devils show feels disjointed but I honestly think it’s more straightforward than a lot of corps right now.
Is it a little abstract? Sure. It’ll keep scoring highly in GE though, as all BD shows are designed to the rubric to a tee
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Post by elsie on Jul 15, 2022 16:39:18 GMT -6
Ugh! There’s always a corp that gets stuck in the “Will They Won’t They” finals loop and it looks like Blue Knights is this years pick. I love them so much I’m not sure why they’ve been falling behind. I don’t think Colts can catch up as they’re both IMPROVING a lot but at the exact same pace. When Colts makes a huge stride so does BK. I think it will be like 2019 when we saw Phantom Regiment creating a good gap on semifinals night between them and Atlanta after being kind of close all season
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Post by neop on Jul 15, 2022 16:59:36 GMT -6
I keep seeing people say Blue Devils show feels disjointed but I honestly think it’s more straightforward than a lot of corps right now. Is it a little abstract? Sure. It’ll keep scoring highly in GE though, as all BD shows are designed to the rubric to a tee Just my opinion. I didn't like the way each part of the show flows into the following part. I don't feel that each section of the show gels together with the others so well quite yet. I think the performances are spectacular.
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Post by Shroom on Jul 16, 2022 22:14:41 GMT -6
Semis this year are looking extremely disappointing compared to previous years tbh. Colts and Troopers stand as the exception but it definitely seems like these type of corps were hit the hardest by the pandemic year.
I'm especially let down with how Madison turned out. I was really looking forward to what they would put on the field after 2021 but this year's show is just bad. The execution is still there but there is basically no substance for the actual marchers to perform. It feels like they took 10 steps forward after 2019 and then took 5 steps back after 2021.
Academy and PC aren't as bad and I definitely don't think they stand out as much as Madison does in terms of poor design. Both have great show concepts (especially PC), but the actual drill and such that makes up the show is just mediocre at best. Academy in particular has visual design that looks worse than what most finalist tier high schools put out. They have an amazing hornline this year though.
Troopers have definitely taken it up like 30 notches from whatever 2019 was, and I honestly wasn't that big a fan of 2021 but this show is probably the best thing they've put out since like 2009 or 2016. Not too big a fan of their brass book though, it feels like it lacks definitive substance and often just feels like they're playing a bunch if random riffs rather than an actual piece. I don't know what their chances at finals are but I've always been a fan of this corps and it's nice to see them do well for the first time in a while.
Colts are pretty clean for like the first time... ever and I definitely see them breathing down BK's neck for a finals slot this year. They have a few too many soloists for my taste though
MC has cool uniforms
BK probably has a finalist spot but they are borderline a semis corps at this point. It feels like they're ahead rn because if slotting more than anything and I definitely see them having more problems score wise come the end if the season. I've never been too big a fan of the BK style of show but they filled a nice niche in design and did it well, so it's disappointing to see them like this. They're a solid corps with a lot of history so I'm sure they'll be back and running in a season or two, but this is definitely the worse shape they've been in in a while.
Also what exactly is going to happen to Spirit? I honestly did not follow everything too closely but I do know the outline of what went on. Was their membership from DCI revoked or are they reorganizing internally? Will they return eventually or are they just gone?
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Post by ilikeguard on Jul 17, 2022 18:03:12 GMT -6
I’m disappointed to hear about Madison! I have three former classmates (two who are both former Cammies AND Tigers) marching this year, so I have been incredibly excited for this show. I haven’t watched anyone yet, but I’ve been following scores and it seems to be a little underwhelming. I’m certain I’ll still enjoy it, but I can’t help but wish for a little bit more seeing the scores night after night.
I also have a former classmate marching Troopers- I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see them top The Academy a few times now! I can’t wait to watch all of these shows. I’m waiting until I see a good few of them live this week at Broken Arrow 🤩
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Post by dbalash on Jul 17, 2022 20:57:01 GMT -6
Also what exactly is going to happen to Spirit? I honestly did not follow everything too closely but I do know the outline of what went on. Was their membership from DCI revoked or are they reorganizing internally? Will they return eventually or are they just gone? They took 2022 off to reorganize and come back for 2023. It was probably more of an edict from DCI saying they'll take the season off, or they'll turn into Pioneer and pretty much be declared persona non grata by DCI. Is there still a rule in DCI that if you miss 2+ seasons, the corps is required to go back to Open Class and work their way back up?
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Post by elsie on Jul 17, 2022 23:18:11 GMT -6
Colts are ramping it up! I think Crossmen will see their best scores this week though now that they’re playing in their home state! A lot of Texan marchers end up with the Crossmen since they’re deep in the heart of Texas! It’s likely some of them will be playing in front of their families and friends this coming week in an amount they haven’t throughout the season I expect them to show up with a surprising score boost!
I think Colts might actually jump Blue Knights! This is going to be a really fun battle to watch all season. Also can we talk about Santa Clara Cadets? Wow!!!!! We thought BDB had that open class championship locked but they showed up! They seem to trade off open class championships and you BET this is a Santa Clare Cadets kind of year. Amazing job for Columbia too! The future of open class.
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Post by marimba11 on Jul 18, 2022 14:21:19 GMT -6
While as a Colts alum I would love to see them make finals, this show is nice - but they would have to really push the performance levels to get there. I saw BK this weekend and while they haven't been scoring as well IMO because the show is rather simple and not super risky, I still think it will end up being quite clean enough. Troopers also looking really strong.
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Post by Shroom on Jul 18, 2022 15:33:31 GMT -6
I can't tell how I feel about Music City this year. For me they've definitely broken that barrier that most corps that score in the 20s are stuck in, but I don't know how I think the show will actually size up against "semis" corps like Academy and Colts and such. I really enjoy the show but it needs some serious cleaning and the show seems weirdly designed a lot of times when it comes to instrument placement. I've only seen recordings but the hornline seems worse than it really is a lot of the times when compared to how it sounds in arcs due to how the marchers are positioned on the field. I've heard rumors that some of the design staff is very new to the activity, which I don't know if that's true or not but it'd make a lot of sense then since the acoustics are kinda meh. They've definitely taken a step up from previous seasons though and I'm excited to see what they put out in the future.
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Post by philodemus on Jul 18, 2022 20:25:07 GMT -6
Isn't Shane Gwaltney the program coordinator at Music City this year? That dude has put out some of my favorite show designs ever while working with Music City Mystique. I suppose genius in one medium doesn't necessarily translate to other mediums, but he certainly seems to know how to put a show together.
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Post by Shroom on Jul 18, 2022 20:36:34 GMT -6
Isn't Shane Gwaltney the program coordinator at Music City this year? That dude has put out some of my favorite show designs ever while working with Music City Mystique. I suppose genius in one medium doesn't necessarily translate to other mediums, but he certainly seems to know how to put a show together. I have no idea honestly. I just heard rumors and then from watching the show the rumors seemed to be somewhat legit since it's oddly put together. Ik I probably shouldn't spread unverified information but there are like 7 and a half people that actually follow the DCI part of this forum so ehh
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Post by indyfan921 on Jul 19, 2022 1:00:54 GMT -6
This is somewhat random, but does anyone have any insights about legends this season? They are starting quite late, and I have been a little worried for them. They seemed to have really built something nice in 2019. Hope COVID didn't make it all come crashing down.
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Post by Shroom on Jul 19, 2022 23:14:16 GMT -6
I love Crown but their GE heavy show design attracts people really new to the hobby and its so funny to me. Everytime I go on Instagram I see Crowns massive army of 14 year old fans in comment sections calling a show like Crown 2015/6 "underrated" and it really sends me into system shock. I know I shouldn't take pleasure in it but I am absolutely ecstatic because I get to see a horde middle school angst on social media throwing a hissy fit at BD crushing everyone tonight.
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Post by thewho on Jul 20, 2022 5:31:33 GMT -6
This is very much a nephew moment.
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Post by philodemus on Jul 20, 2022 9:13:36 GMT -6
A bit surprised by the gap between Devils and the pack, but that's really just because I don't 'get' the show. I can tell those kids are all doing their jobs brilliantly, so it doesn't bother me.
The one where I find I have a rooting interest is further down: I really, really want to see Bloo pass Crown, and that close gap last night makes that seem potentially likely. The show is just so much more coherent and well thought out.
Honestly, I'd love it if my second favorite show of the year, BAC, could pass Crown as well, but that might be asking too much of the universe.
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Post by Shroom on Jul 20, 2022 10:20:09 GMT -6
The one where I find I have a rooting interest is further down: I really, really want to see Bloo pass Crown, and that close gap last night makes that seem potentially likely. The show is just so much more coherent and well thought out. I would be a tad surprised if Bloo doesn't pass Crown by a tad come SA. As much as a cavies fan boy I am I kind of want to see Blue Stars keep their position right now. I doubt they'll be able to grow fast enough to keep their pace above the cavies but it's nice to see them doing so good rn
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Post by elsie on Jul 23, 2022 20:38:19 GMT -6
The one where I find I have a rooting interest is further down: I really, really want to see Bloo pass Crown, and that close gap last night makes that seem potentially likely. The show is just so much more coherent and well thought out. I would be a tad surprised if Bloo doesn't pass Crown by a tad come SA. As much as a cavies fan boy I am I kind of want to see Blue Stars keep their position right now. I doubt they'll be able to grow fast enough to keep their pace above the cavies but it's nice to see them doing so good rn While this did not happen guess who DID jump Crown….Boston! It’s all moving so quickly. It’s all changing so fast! Blue Stars have kept their position steadily but Cavaliers are moving in….The Cadets with one of their best recent seasons to date!
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Post by philodemus on Jul 24, 2022 5:52:46 GMT -6
BAC were just undeniable last night, and though the show design is brilliant, it’s the incredible performance level of every section that’s doing it. Really happy to see them getting recognized for it.
Now, come on Bloo! My favorite show of the summer needs a medal.
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Post by Shroom on Jul 24, 2022 18:52:11 GMT -6
I would be a tad surprised if Bloo doesn't pass Crown by a tad come SA. As much as a cavies fan boy I am I kind of want to see Blue Stars keep their position right now. I doubt they'll be able to grow fast enough to keep their pace above the cavies but it's nice to see them doing so good rn While this did not happen guess who DID jump Crown….Boston! It’s all moving so quickly. It’s all changing so fast! Blue Stars have kept their position steadily but Cavaliers are moving in….The Cadets with one of their best recent seasons to date! Yea honestly this season has been so wacky for me. I still think Cavies will be able to pull at least 7th this year but jesus BAC coming and taking 2nd made me gasp. I heard both Bloo and Crown had very underwhelming runs last night though I wasn't able to see them live so I don't know the authenticity of those claims, but I'm super excited to see how the top 5 pan out this year. I'm expecting to see a bunch of jumps in the top 5 up until finals night but I'm going to keep my lips shut for now regarding how exactly I think it'll all pan out since, my predictions haven't been the best this year lol. I am honestly not too big a fan of Vanguard this year but, I really think that they are still in the running for 4th or even 3rd if they up their pace a bit. Their show is underwhelming compared to the GE powerhouses that make up the corps above them, but they definitely have to potential clean past that and do something reminiscent of what they did in 2019 imo. I heard they were insanely loud this year and while I don't like their actual brass book this year I love their hornline, it reminds me a lot of 2018. Honestly anybody can crucify me for this opinion but BS > Cadets this year in terms of enjoyment. I definitely love what Cadets are doing this year compared to whatever the hell they were doing after 2016, but BS is on fire this year and I probably die of joy if they cracked top 6 for the first time since the like mid 70s. I'm also pretty excited to see how high BD ends up placing. I honestly think they have a slight chance to crack 99 or at least 98.8 if they hone in guard and perc. It's not my favorite show but I could definitely see them cleaning it to a 2009 level and cracking a 99.05 or something.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jul 25, 2022 7:25:22 GMT -6
I’m honestly trying to understand what makes the Blue Devils score so much better than the others. It’s definitely not in my top 3 list this year and I just don’t understand what the judges see that I don’t. I felt like their poor soloists in particular were really struggling on Saturday and yet they still scored crazy high. 🤷🏻♀️
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Post by hewhowaits on Jul 25, 2022 13:04:02 GMT -6
I’m honestly trying to understand what makes the Blue Devils score so much better than the others. It’s definitely not in my top 3 list this year and I just don’t understand what the judges see that I don’t. I felt like their poor soloists in particular were really struggling on Saturday and yet they still scored crazy high. 🤷🏻♀️ There are many years that BD deserve the scores they receive. There are just as many years, IMO, that if you put them in different uniforms and announced them as being Colts, they would be given scores in the bottom half of finals. Name and reputation mean WAY more than some are willing to admit. It's an even bigger issue in DCI than in any high school marching band circuit.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jul 25, 2022 13:34:39 GMT -6
I’m honestly trying to understand what makes the Blue Devils score so much better than the others. It’s definitely not in my top 3 list this year and I just don’t understand what the judges see that I don’t. I felt like their poor soloists in particular were really struggling on Saturday and yet they still scored crazy high. 🤷🏻♀️ There are many years that BD deserve the scores they receive. There are just as many years, IMO, that if you put them in different uniforms and announced them as being Colts, they would be given scores in the bottom half of finals. Name and reputation mean WAY more than some are willing to admit. It's an even bigger issue in DCI than in any high school marching band circuit. I think you are 100% correct. I'm also very happy to see you feeling up to posting! Get better soon!!! 🥰🥰
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Post by marimba11 on Jul 25, 2022 15:13:40 GMT -6
When you finally realize that BD wins because they usually are the best, it is a really freeing feeling and makes following the activity so much more enjoyable.
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Post by josephbandfan on Jul 25, 2022 15:55:57 GMT -6
On any given year, BD usually has one of my top 3 favorite shows of the season. Their show this year has a lot of great moments, but I'm just not buying it as a package and likely won't find myself pulling the show up again in the future. It has grown a lot throughout the season so I may change my mind by the end. Regardless, I'll let them have their flowers and will focus on the shows I enjoy. BAC, Bloo, and Crown are my favorites this season and I'm wondering who will be the one left out of a medaling spot. Or SCV comes in and knocks another out which I wouldn't be too mad about since I like their show as well.
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Post by supersound on Jul 25, 2022 16:27:14 GMT -6
I’m very tired of people playing judge, it’s seriously exhausting to see Blue Devils consistent cleanliness treated as if it doesn’t exist. It’s getting extremely tiring, as someone who’s favorite corp is the Crossmen.
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Post by philodemus on Jul 25, 2022 17:50:53 GMT -6
The ABILITY of the performers in BD is undeniable-amazing, astounding, incredible-and obviously that means the level of the TEACHING must be very, very high as well.
But if BD has more General Effect than Bloo or BAC, then it must be the case that I do not know what General Effect is.
This may well be the case, I admit.
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