You Say You Want A Revolution

DCI Prelims

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Yup, I got up early and worked out on the treadmill this morning.  Yay, me!  We had breakfast at Pullman's Restaurant at our hotel, then walked over to Lucas Oil Stadium.  We showed V how to get there because she needed to do some work for a couple of hours first.  Armed with his own cup (with lid) and 3 straws, we were ready for the ordeal at concessions later on.  We shopped a little bit, and I wanted a coin purse.  I finally found one at the Spirit booth, but wanted to shop around a little more first.  Besides, we needed to get to our seats for the National Anthem.

Our seats were in Section 242, Row 9, Seats 7-10, on the left 25-yard line.  Bro wanted me to note that he does not want to get future tickets to Section 242, Rows 5-7, Seats 1-8 because of the glass.

The Star-Spangled Banner was beautifully sung a capella by someone named Kristen.  It was so nice that a guy sitting 4 rows in front of us turned around to tell us that she needs to be at Finals, too.  

Brandt Crocker sounded a bit tired as he named off all of the corps that would be performing today.  No, he didn't sound tired due to how many there were. He sounded tired at the first corps name.  We think he did a bit too much partying last night at the Hall of Fame party.  At least, we hope that's what it was.

On to a long, wonderful drum corps-filled day!  Top 25 scores, marked with a *, advance to Semi-Finals.

BLUE SAINTS -- 52.0

Repertoire: "A Canadian Journey" -- The Elements by B. Balmages; O Canada by C. Lavalee; The Snow is Dancing from "Children's Corner" by C. Debussy ; Winter from "The Four Seasons" by A. Vivaldi ; In the Hall of the Mountain King by E. Grieg

I saw frames.  Bro saw Aztec.  Aztec Frames.  No, we were both wrong, obviously.  I love how we just try to guess the show rather than look in the program that I bought just 20 minutes beforehand.  Dude a few rows in front of us stood up in the middle of the show, stood there for a few seconds, then sat down.  We don't know what that was about.  They had two fake endings.  I like the last ding of the triangle at the real ending.  Bro said that there was too much echo in the building, because it makes the drums sound really muddy.  They've tried to remedy that by putting up a lot of curtains, but it still happens.

RACINE SCOUTS -- 55.6

Repertoire: "From the Ashes" -- The Firebird by I. Stravinsky

They had pretty red rifles.  At one point, all of the corps (except the percussion section) had rifles, although the corps proper did not spin them.  They also didn't get to hold the pretty red ones because those are too pretty for other people to hold.  I thought that they'd end the show wearing their regular helmets like some corps are doing this year, but they kept their paperboy caps on.  I like the double flags with different shades of purple.  Nice mello solo!

LES STENTORS -- 58.25

Repertoire: "25!" -- 1. Remember a dark and energetic time (1997-1998-1996-2004): Interstellar Result  by A. Bhatia; The Lord of the Rings (Gandalf) by J. DeMeij; 2. Our most tender moments (2010-2002-2010-2001): Til the day I die by G. Charles;  Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (Phantom of the Opera) - A. L. Weber; As The First Day - A. Gagnon;  3. Combining our humorous times (2011-2010-2009): Rap Ti-Petang by The Boot smiling; Revolution by Tryo; The Incredibles by M. Giaccino;  4. Majestic and grand final to conclude our tribute. (1998-1999): The Lord of the Rings (Hobbit) by J. DeMeij; Overture to a New Age - J. de Haan

Not PC.  Stentors.

Hey, where did Brandt go?  Who is this guy?  He's loud.  Does Brandt not do the French?  Their first flags look like they belong to Pacific Crest.  They have puzzle pieces with different years on them, to identify the years to which they're paying tribute for their corps.  Did that guy assembling the puzzle do anything else, or did he just deal with that thing?  The puzzle turned into a "25" later.  Bro said that it was magic.  During the percussion feature, the bass drummers laid their drums flat on the ground, and played on washboards.


TAIPEI YUEHFU -- 60.9
Repertoire: "The Butterfly Lovers" -- Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by C. Gang & H. Zhanhao

Pretty!

APPARENTLY, this is a Chinese love story equivalent to "Romeo and Juliet".  The white color guard outfits were very pretty.  Actually, the show is pretty.  The color guard gal dropped off of the stage thing (on purpose) while the corps fell to their knees.  I really liked the white butterflies at the end.  


COLT CADETS -- 63.1
Repertoire: "Red" -- Habanera (from Carmen) by G. Bizet; The Heart is a Lonely Hunter  by D. Grusin;  Happy Ending (from The Red Pony Suite)  by A. Copland; Red in the Air  by T. White & B. Zegli

The Red (Bass) Violin

Heart formation!  Nice duet, and the trumpet solo rocked.  At one point, some kid decided to go down the stairs to watch from the bottom of the section.  Standing up.  Bro encouraged me, and I mimicked blowing poison darts at his neck.  Then after one song, he went back to his seat.  So next year, we're bringing poison darts.  That last flag looked like Mickey's pants.  This was the first corps where Bro noticed that amps were used.  

RAIDERS -- 64.9
Repertoire:  "The Raven: A Descent Into Madness" -- The Raven by K. Poulan

Raven Flags

Oh, no, there's a door!  I just had a flashback to Cadets 2005/2006.  We didn't recognize them because their normally white sash was covered in black raven-like feathers.  Edgar Allen Poe's poem was recited throughout most of the show.  Nevermore!  This was the first show of the day that utilized narration.  It wouldn't be the last.  They had very shiny flags.  I like the big flags that were black with yellow trim.  Why are so many people dropping their color guard stuff today?  This corps and Colt Cadets dropped.  


LEGENDS -- 68.4
Repertoire:  "Ichabod" -- Main Titles from "Sleepy Hollow" by D. Elfman; The Vote from "The Village"  by J. N. Howard; Chester by W. Schumann; Shepherd's Hey by P. Grainger; The Chase from "Sleepy Hollow"  by D. Elfman

Legends Bridge

When we saw them enter the stadium, they appeared to be doing the other songs from Les Miz that SCV was not doing, because there was a bridge (I started to sing Javert's song, "Stars"), and women in long dresses (then I sang "Turning, Turning").  Alas, this was not the theme of the show.  They had pretty flags, one with a full moon, the other with a sunset.  My favorite flag, though, was the horse flag.  There was no actual horse in the show, but we did hear a horse's whinny.  I like the dancing song.

<Intermission>
I tried to buy a kid's meal because it came with apples and string cheese, but those were not available.  Bummer.  So I got a grilled chicken sandwich to share with V, whom arrived shortly after I ate my half.  OMG, now they have lids for the cups and they also have straws.  So we didn't need to bring our own straws.  Or a cup with a lid.  I doubt that they'll have poison darts available here next year, so we'll still need to bring our own.

7TH REGIMENT -- 67.0
Repertoire: "Luminous" (details unavailable)

Well done solos and pretty, sheer white flags.  I also like the gold flags at the end.  They point up a lot during the show.  Not sure if it's to God or the judges.  


GOLD -- 69.95
They added 12 martial artists from the Laizhou Shandong Province, which includes little kidlets.  That one color guard guy no longer struts after catching the high rifle toss.  He now tosses up, and one of the martial arts guys leap frogs over him, and then the guy catches the rifle.  That was fun.  

East Meets West

MUSIC CITY -- 71.55*
Repertoire: "Postcards from Havana" -- El Cumbanchero by M. Hernandez; Rapsodia Cubana;   A Mis Abuelos by A. Sandoval,  La Suerto de los Tontos from Cuban Fire Suite  by S. Kenton

Aw, that reminds me of when I first fell in love with The Academy. in 2006.  I wish that Music City could have articulated the song more, and projected their volume a little more.  I like the contrasting stripe flags and the way the flags look when they spin.


SPARTANS -- 72.8*
Repertoire: "Live Free" - Music from Swan Lake by P.I. Tchaikovsky; Music from Matrix by D. Davis;  Naqoyqatsi by P. Glass

Spartan Ninjas

Dude near us has a great yell voice.  The show starts with guy surrounded by color guard holding chains like whips.  Are they ninjas?  Eventually, a couple of the screens in front show broken links instead of links that are attached.  They change from partially black color guard outfits to all white.  Very nice sop/mello duet.  Great color guard work, nice music, Classic Spartan.  Except for the amps.


GENESIS -- 73.75*
Repertoire: "mOZaic" --  Music from The Wizard of Oz: 1939 Theatrical Version by E.Y. Harburg & H. Arlen; The Wizard of Oz: 2010 Andrew Lloyd Webber Adaptation;  Music from The Wiz; Music from Wicked by S. Schwartz;  Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd;  Music of The Doors by The Doors;  Music of Dead Mau5 by Dead Mau5;  Music of Skrillex by Skrillex

I saw the color guard walk onto the field, and asked, "Are they hobos?"  Oh, they're the scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz"!  They made an Oz formation, with the Z inside of the O.  I like the way they mix in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" during "For Good".  Very nice "For Good" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" solos.  Nice dynamics.


BLUE DEVILS B -- 77.75*
OMG, the tarp is back, and now they're taping it down to the field.  The bass drum heads now have the hypnotic black/white pattern.  Those lines going up vertically weren't there before.  Now the drum major falls to his knees from the hypnosis, or craziness, or whatever.

BD Bass Drums

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD CADETS -- 78.2*
I don't remember all of that lying down before.  Nice job with the Agnus Dei!  What happened to their lines?  I thought it was really cool that the video of their win was playing while they left the field.  Congratulations again, SCVC!  

SCVC Horns One-Handed

<Intermission>
Bro and V saw a new shirt at the SCV booth.  It says "Do You Hear the People Sing" and has a fleur-de-lis on it.  I need that shirt!


PIONEER -- 69.05
Repertoire: "A New Spirit" -- Doxology "Old Hundredth" Hymn by L. Bourgeois; Awesome God  by R. Mullins;  Just A Closer Walk With Thee (Traditional); It's Well With My Soul by P. Bliss; When the Saints Go Marching In (Traditional); Joyful, Joyful by L. van Beethoven; Garry Owen March (Traditional)

Nice sound!  I like how they mixed their jig with "Ode to Joy".  I don't like their big corps being in front of the pit, but it did allow us to hear them better than we usually can.


CASCADES -- 69.85
Repertoire: Solar Sailor from Tron by Daft Punk; Original Music  by L. Norfleet

Uh-oh.  Somebody dropped a mallet.  So why did that one guy do tai-chi or yoga or whatever with the color guard?  Pretty solos, even though they used microphones.


JERSEY SURF -- 74.55*
Repertoire: "Soul Surfing - Bring On The Funk" -- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by G. Jackson, R. Miner, and C. Smith; Faces by P. Bailey, L. Dunn, M. White, and V. White; Always and Forever by R. Temperton 

Always and Forever

Thunder sticks were clapping all over the place.  This corps, with their psychedelic designs, and BD-B, with their hypnotic designs, make my camera crazy and it takes a long time to focus.  Yay!  I love that first song.  Nice hip action during "Always & Forever".  I also like the purple flags with the hearts.  A fun and funky show.  Even Aretha is here!  I love seeing the corps dance.  


THE ACADEMY -- 77.45*
Repertoire: "Piano Man" -- Wilkommen (from Cabaret) by John Kander;  Alabama Song by Kurt Weill; Falling In Love Again by Fredrick Hollander; Piano Concerto No. 2 Mvt. 1 by Dmitri Shostakovich;  Piano Man by Billy Joel

Bienvenue!

The pre-show is a color guard guy playing the character of 'Piano", asking if we know the word for "Welcome" in German and French.  "I know that guy's excited.  He's pushing his tubes together."   Hello, Lola!  (Not my mom). I like the red glove accent to the corps uniform, because it's fun.  I sang along to Billy Joel's song.  I can't help it.  I like the pink piano key flags.  Very nice soprano solo.  Their bass drum heads are mirrors.  Neato!  


MANDARINS -- 79.25*
I'm now wondering if the numbers during the interrogation are formed in the block with the Chinese symbol of that number.  OK, not 7 or 3 or 2, but 6.  V drew it for me, so I'm going to check that out later.  I couldn't really hear them saying the numbers during the interrogation because the drums were so loud.  I guess that's a good thing for us non-narration fans, but it probably takes away from some people understanding the show.


OREGON CRUSADERS -- 78.45*

Repertoire: "My Heart, My Battle, My Soul" -- Going Home (from New World Symphony) by A. Dvořák; Summertime (from Porgy and Bess) by G. Gershwin; House of the Rising Sun (Traditional) ; Rolling In The Deep by Adele; Jericho by M. Gould

V:  "Why did they bring so much furniture?"

Aaaannnd I'm back to disliking the song "Summertime".  I think I need to go lisen to some GLAD A Capella, because they made me really like the song.  I don't need all of the singing in this show, though.  APPARENTLY, the gal singing is supposed to be dead.  I cringed at times.  During the pre-show it was OK, but not during the show, especially several times during the show.  I like the steeple chase horses.  That's the only time the odd off-the-shoulder-looking uniform worked for me.  Awesome solo for "House of the Rising Sun".  It made me miss Rockapella's Kevin, though.

COLTS -- 81.40*

Repertoire: "Field of Dreams" -- Can't Help Falling In Love by H. Peretti, L. Creatore, and G. D. Weiss; At Last by M. Gordon and H. Warren; American Graffiti, an arrangement by A. Guidry; The Place Where Dreams Come True (from Field of Dreams) by J. Horner; Chorale & Fugue In Jazz by M. Gould

From the Back

For the pre-show, we get to hear the choir corps sing "Can't Help Falling in Love", which was nice.  Awesome trumpet duet at the real opening of the show.  I like the effect of seeing the corps' backs with the black in the plume surrounded by the white.  The theme from "Field of Dreams" was beautifully done.  I like to see the Colts having some fun after several years of darker repertoire.

<Intermission>

This was the long intermission in order for the producers to set up for the "Big, Loud, Live" theater broadcast.  I bought the SCV shirt that I needed, along with their 2012 DVD and a Les Miz SCV shield pin.  I also got a flag by contributing to the fuel fund.  No, not just any flag.  It's the French flag!  We got some dinner and Bro got irritated when I left the spot that I said I'd be at for a while, and joined V when she found us a table.  He couldn't find me when he came back.  I told V, "Let's play 'Hide from Ryan'."  I'm a brat.

PACIFIC CREST -- 81.45*

YAY!  This is the first time that PC has made it to the live broadcast, and Glenn told me later on that the theater in Covina was full of PC family and friends, and it was loud.  Yay again! I like how they all raise their chests with the heartbeats of the bass drum at the beginning of the show.  This show has no talking, and it is still an understandable and wonderful show.  Now the purple heart fills up at the end of the show.  They sounded great and looked great.  Congratulations, PC!  I'm really proud of you!

I Heart You, PC!

Brandt is back!  The other guy was good, though.  He knew how to pronounce "Yuehfu" and "Mandarins" correctly.

TROOPERS -- 83.6*

Repertoire: "Magnificent 11" -- Magnificent Seven by E. Bernstein; The Theme "John Dunbar" from Dances With Wolves by J. Barry; Battle Hymn of the Republic by W. Steffe; Original music by R. W. Smith and P. Rennick

Eleven

What a glorious show!  Lots of "11" formations.  I wonder if there are 11 of them.  I love their Sunburst formation at the end during Battle Hymn.  I like the old uniform, too.  Great sound!

CROSSMEN -- 83.75*

Repertoire: "Protest" -- The Prophet's Song by B. May; She's Too Good For Me by G. M. T. Sumner (Sting); The Sound of Silence by P. Simon; They Don't Care About Us by M. Jackson; Some Nights by J. Bhasker, N. Ruess, A. Dost, and J. Antonoff (Fun.); We Shall Overcome by L. Shropshire, adapted & © by P. Seeger, G. Carawan, Z. Horton, F. Hamilton, and M. Horton; Goodbye Blue Sky by R. Waters; Find the Cost of Freedom by N. Young

Good sound.  They form the symbol for "woman" during the Women's Voting Rights portion.  I like the duet for "Sound of Silence".  They also throw peace signs during the Peace formation.  I really like that fun. song, and had it in my head for a while.  What do I stand for?  What do I stand for?  OK, let's go on now, Sher.

BLUE STARS -- 85.5*

Repertoire:  "Voodoo: I Put A Spell On You" -- Voodoo by R. Saucedo, I. Grom, and J. Mapes;  Put A Spell On You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins; At Last by H. Warren and M. Gordon; One Speed by G. Revell

Nice saber work, guys!  I like the big voodoo doll with the corps doing whatever is done to the doll.  I don't really like the colors that the color guard uses, though.  Scary props include a skull that is way too big to be a regular human.

SPIRIT -- 86.75*

Repertoire: "Speakeasy" -- Piano Concerto in F by G. Gershwin; Crazy World by H. Mancini; Overture from "Chicago" by J. Kander; Solace by S. Joplin; Songs for Simon by Psathus; Sweet Georgia Brown (from Bubbling Brown Sugar) by Count Basie; Symphony #1  by P. Creston

Knock Knock!

There's a fake piano on the field.  It's good that it's fake, though, or that thing would be heavy!  The cymbals formed a door on which to knock to get into the speakeasy.  The bass drum heads have a picture of the speakeasy peep hole.  The blue skirts with the blue flags are very pretty.  Fun music, and the corps is clearly enjoying themselves.

BLUE KNIGHTS -- 88.05*

They have a tarp now.  The big blue ball is in the way of my sight line.  They like to do cartwheels.  The one-handed kind.  When the girl spins to twirl her dress around, we all pictured Miss O doing that.

BOSTON CRUSADERS -- 87.95*

Repertoire: "Rise" -- Sit Down, Stand Up by T. Yorke; Water Night by E. Whitacre; Falling Slowly by G. Hansard; Lean on Me by B. Withers; Test Drive (from How to Train Your Dragon) by J. Powell; Time (from Inception) by H. Zimmer; Original Music by R. George

Where's the corps?  Oh, there they are, coming out of the tunnel with a bunch of powder, representing the ashes from which they're rising.  When they do their uniform change, they form the word "RISE" with their discarded clothing.  Did the drummers just spell "rise" using American Sign Language?  I'll need to listen for "Lean on Me" next time, because I didn't hear it during the show.  There are several corps with a revolutionary theme this year.  Especially my favorite one, still to come.

<Intermission>

MADISON SCOUTS -- 89.9*

Repertoire: "Corps of Brothers - 75 Years of Survival" -- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by B. Tyler; Corps of Brothers Fanfare by R. W. Smith; Night on Bald Mountain by M. Mussorgsky;

The Battle Rages by L. Beddis, N Pourcho, and R. W. Smith; Afghanistan 2025 by J. Wall; You'll Never Walk Alone by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Celebrating 75 Years

Nice entry, Scouts!  The battery makes machine gun noises as the horn players mimic machine gun shooting with their horns.  Ooh, helicopters!  The ballad was beautiful, and I loved seeing the alumni stand while singing along with their corps song, "You'll Never Walk Alone".  Very well done.


CAVALIERS -- 89.9*
Repertoire:  "Secret Society" -- Rose of Arimathea (from The Da Vinci Code) by H. Zimmer; Air (from Angels and Demons) by H. Zimmer; Drum Music (Mvt. 3: Incinerate) by J. Mackey; Secret Society by D. Shanefield; Enterprising Young Men by M. Giacchino

Ssshhhh...It's A Secret

Is that chanting I hear?  That pyramid was wow.  Vintage Cavalier acrobatics.  Nice change to the final orange flags!


BLUECOATS -- 92.90*
Repertoire: "...To Look for America" -- Concerto for Wind Ensemble by S. Bryant

Red, White and Bloooooo

Bro is going to go sit on the bleachers that Bloo brought onto the field.  The balloons on sticks look like Dum Dum lollipops.  I like the dynamic contrasts as part of the cops marches in a parade block, while the rest of the corps is playing other stuff.  I pictured Miss O as the girl with the balloon.  That girl is so young-looking!  Maybe it's the shorts.  Or maybe she's the shortest one there.  I don't know.


PHANTOM REGIMENT -- 92.35*
Repertoire: "Triumphant Journey" -- Music from "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" by C. Armstrong and A. R. Rahman; Cape Fear by B. Herrmann; Four Sea Interludes by B. Britten; Enigma Variations by E. Elgar; Symphony No. 11 by D. Shostakovich

Phregiment at Start

Trees.  White trees.  Beautiful sound, as always.  I like the blue dresses that the color guard wears at the beginning of the show.  Is that the evil queen?  Or is that Maleficent?  She turns into a dragon...or at least a queen with bat/dragon wings.


SANTA CLARA VANGUARD -- 95.5*
I'm all verklempt.  Dude with the great yell voice is a Vanguard fan.  So he yelled for them.  Yay!  Pretty screens, and I like what goes on behind them.  The corps is behind the screens during the "Bring Him Home" solo, and then later, different flags are tossed from behind one screen to another, and it flows nicely with the music.  The big fleur-de-lis flags are there only for a moment.  I want one!  I yelled "Vanguard" because I saw all of the other fans getting ready during "I Dreamed A Dream".  A tear formed in the corner of my eye, and my eyes were kind of stinging with tears during the show because I had been anticipating this show all night and there it was!  Beautiful job, Vanguard!

Vanguard Shield

CADETS -- 96.1*
Repertoire: "Side By Side: The Music of Samuel Barber" -- Symphony no. 1; Adagio for Strings; Medea's Dance of Vengeance all by S. Barber

Cadets at Start

Oh, hell no, Cadets.  You are not allowed to beat SCV by playing something that they won with in 1999.  No, no, no.  So, yes, of course I was irritated.  Also, their rendition doesn't move as quickly as SCV's, and it's just not as good of an arrangement.  I'm not biased or anything.  :) So, those big boxes are really only functional for the last 30 seconds of the show?  Whatever.


CAROLINA CROWN -- 97.05*
V was able to concentrate on the brass more instead of the narration this time, so she liked the show more.  This was Glenn's favorite of the night in the theater.  I wondered what the big round things were, and I was informed that they were portals, with the guy going into one and coming out of the other one.  Ohhhhh....  This was the new ending to the show, and they do a reprise of "Also Spach Zarathustra".  They kick butt, but it wasn't as loud as I last saw them, most likely due to the fact that I wasn't sitting as close to them and we were in an enclosed stadium.  

Crown Portal

BLUE DEVILS -- 97.2*
OK, some of that is now being played an octave higher than when I last heard them.  The crowd reaction was flat, as usual.  I kept hearing Tim's analysis of the show in my head as I watched it.  Hi, Tim!

We had some entertainment while waiting for the last 4 scores:  E-Sarn Drumline.  I called the center snare guy "Chun" because our friend Chun is in Thailand instead of here at Finals.  Also, he kind of looked like he could be Chun's long lost son.  They were fun to watch, and will be competing in the drumline battle this weekend.

Chun and Friends

We walked to Shake Shack and I ordered a Peanut Butter Banana shake, which was yummy.  We met a couple whose sons were both in Pacific Crest, and they were impressed that we were fans without having children in any corps.  I told them that I was really proud of PC and they're going to tell their sons about us.  :)

So, that was about 13 hours of drum corps.  Wow.  25 to see at the next show.  I love Finals Week!

Next up: Semi-Finals