Corpse of Corps, er...Course

Tonight would have been the Western Corps Connection in Riverside or San Bernardino, whatever.  It's usually the last night that the World Class Corps compete in SoCal, and the night I go into withdrawal for a month.  But that won't happen today, because I've been in withdrawal since last August.  So let's help me out by taking a dive into the wonder that is The Academy's 2016 show, "Drum Corpse Bride".

I've been enjoying The Academy shows since they first came on the scene as an Open Class corps, or what we called back then: Division II.  I was very impressed with their musicianship, which was to be expected, considering their pedigree of former Phantom Regiment staff.  They soon became part of the World Class corps contingent, and got really cool uniforms that were longer than the traditional ones, with double breasted waistcoats, which were probably very warm in the Arizona sun.  They did some very entertaining shows, tackling Disney and Warner Bros themes leading up to this one.

Blog from my first viewing of the show: MidCal Champions

THE ACADEMY
Repertore: "Drum Corpse Bride" --Corpse Bride Main Titles by D. Elfman; Romeo & Juliet by S. Prokofiev; Sorcerer's Apprentice by P. Dukas; Suggestion Diabolique by S. Prokofiev; Unchained Melody by A. North & H. Zaret

The announcer said "Drum Corps Bride", which does not have the same effect as the proper pronunciation.  Bro prepared me for this show, saying that he loves it from looking at the snapchat feed.  I love it, too!  Awesome themeing throughout, with the pre-show of the wedding, the creepy cool wedding gown, the CG dressed as Death, the CG males wearing the perfectly-hued suits, and the muted purple cumberbunds on the corps uniforms.  Heart formation was pretty and not the standard.  Cross formation - Sherry yelled "YEAH!!!" "Unchained Melody" was very nice.  When the chairs are turned around, they become grave markers.  Xylophones on their chests like they are skeletons!  The set in back is really cool.  I'm going to enjoy the heck out of this show as we see it progress.  Easily the crowd favorite of the evening.  Bro figured he saw what he wanted to see and we could leave.  I told him to at least hang on for SCV, since that is his favorite corps.

Academy Wedding

Yup, I loved the show at first sight.  I would share video with you from that night, but the one that I found has a child talking through some of it, as well as somebody's head in it most of the time.

Blog from my second viewing: DCI West

THE ACADEMY

Bro and I discussed the movie earlier in the day because it had been a long time since I saw "Corpse Bride".  We saw that there were 2 weddings, but it wasn't the same as in the movie.  Bro forgot to look for butterflies, but we figured there weren't any because of the difference.  I'm going to listen for the cool crescendo/decrescendo that Bro is talking about, although I did hear the end of the decrescendo down to one snare drum.  There are wedding rings on the flags.  They move really fast to get to a kneeling position at one point.  I'm glad I get to see this show several more times.

Chest Xylophones

Blog from my third viewing: Moonlight Classic

ACADEMY

Beautiful "Unchained Melody" solo.  OH!  "Ghost"!!!  That's the other reason they're playing this song.  I get it.  Bro told me later that there is a ghost formation.  I'll have to look for that.  I think I may have seen it but didn't think about it.  Heart beats with the big bass drum and the corps moving with each beat.  Very cool. Unlike the movie, there are no butterflies at the end of this show.

Time is eternal for those who love

Blog from Fourth Viewing: Corps at the Crest / Oceanside

THE ACADEMY
Death starts from the left side now instead of the right upper corner.  Awesome guard:  here, let me carry this girl on my back, toss up my saber really high, and catch it with one hand without dropping the girl.  The xylophone players at the graves now wear skulls on their heads so that when they look down at their chests to play, they look like skeletons.  Love the added effect!  That "Unchained Melody" solo was gorgeous.  I've missed this show.

(The reason I wrote "I've missed this show" is because Academy was not at SCV Family Day or the one with all of the encores and no competition that we had attended earlier in the week.)

Fifth viewing of the show: Corps at the Crest / Rose Bowl

THE ACADEMY

A bit dirty, but I just love this show.  I didn't see a ghost formation, so I guess there isn't one. This was Dodie's favorite show of the evening. I think it was Tim's, too.  He loves the choices that the corps has been making in the least few years, and they are becoming one of his favorites.  Their music is familiar but they skew it in a way that is unique.  I mean, who else would think to turn the Death March melody into "Here Comes the Bride"?  The Academy's shows are just so entertaining and understandable that they make it hard not to love them.  I wouldn't be surprised if someone from Disney was on the design staff.  If only they were cleaner, they'd probably make it to Finals night.  Bro is getting sad because he knows that he'll only get to see the show in person 3 more times.  

Wedding Ring Flags

So then they had time to work on their show before we saw them again.

Here's the trumpet/flugelhorn soloist cam from a few days before Finals.  Yes, THAT soloist!  My favorite, playing "Unchained Melody".

Blog from Sixth viewing: DCI Prelims

THE ACADEMY -- 87.15*

Gorgeous. The show was spot on. The changes made the show even better: the circle of chairs, the individual corps members dancing with the bride, the heart around the chairs at the end...beautiful. I recalled what the GE judge on the IndyGo shuttle said about this show: "it's always a cool feeling to be the fan favorite." And look at that score! I'm hoping that we were wrong when they left So Cal in July, and that we WILL get to see them on Finals night. It seems that we're not the only ones hoping for this.

Here is the field judge's tape from that night, although it is just audio and a still of the big heart formation.  I do not understand a lot of the drumspeak, but I like how excited he gets about the drama. "The macabre 'bones" xylophones.  That is really just brilliant...playing the melodic tempo with an eerie sound."

Blog from Seventh Viewing: DCI Semifinals

ACADEMY -- 87.225*

I. Can't. Even. with this Academy show.  As soon as the marimbas played the opening notes of "Unchained Melody", the tears started to well up in my eyes.  Then that beautiful solo hit, and the tears fell.  WOW.  The tombstones today included the names of this year's age-outs, according to Dan Potter's interview with the drum major.  V had overheard them talking about this at the booth yesterday, and it was a surprise to the corps.  We are really, really excited that The Academy has made it to Finals for the first time.  We get to see the show again!  YAY!!!!!!  Congratulations, Academy!

Let's warm up those horns for the last show.  I especially like their arrangement of the Doxology.

Blog from Eighth Viewing: DCI Finals!!!!!  

THE ACADEMY

Wow, nice ovation for them as they entered the stadium for their very first Finals night.  Announcer Brandt Crocker:  "Performing their 2016 program, 'Drum Corpse Bride', Drum Corpse International is proud to present The Academy!"  So awesome that he even said "corpse" for DCI, and he got a good reaction from the crowd.  The "Unchained" soloist blew a kiss to the camera afterward.  He's so dreamy!  I do not recall hearing one wrong note in all of the times that I've seen this show, live or online.  He has been amazing this whole season.  I was weeping by the end of the show.  I mean, I always cry at weddings, but this is ridiculous how much emotion they generate for the audience in their 15 minutes on the field.  The lead CG tossed her bouquet from the DM stand.  Their pit vehicle had a "Just Married" sign and a string of cans on the back.  I heart you, Academy, and pledge to thee my love.

Retreat:

Academy brought their tombstones/chairs, and they received a standing ovation when they were announced to enter the stadium for their first Finals appearance

The Academy

Scores:

11) 86.10 -- The Academy

 (They received a standing ovation, and the other corps applauded them.  Awesome).

I like this synopsis about the show/Academy.

So that was my view of Academy's storied first season at Finals.  I hope they get to go back someday!

Crest at the Crest

I remember the first time I saw a Pacific Crest show.  It was "Dracula".  I'm a fan of vampire stuff anyway, but this show made me pay attention, because I really liked the way they interpreted Feeney's "Dracula".  It started with the color guard on their knees, with faces to the ground, and flapping their bat wings (double flags) to the sound of heart beats.  It was soooo cool!  I wish I had photos of that show to include here.

When I heard that this corps was giving its members a chance to concentrate on summer school or summer jobs and would only be doing local shows, I thought this would be a great corps to support.   I've been supporting them ever since, even when they have a year or two in a row where I'm not that thrilled with their shows.  They have since negotiated with DCI to do shortened national tours, and eventually increased their shows, but I still really like this corps and their style.  

For the past several years, Pacific Crest held its home show, Corps at the Crest at the Rose Bowl, and it's even listed now as "Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl", but I still call it Corps at the Crest.  I've always loved going to this show, mostly because I wouldn't have to drive very far to get to it, but also because I feel like it's my home show, too!  I don't really like the seating at RB, though, because it's so tight.  One of these days, I'm getting a suite for us or whatever the VIP section is called, so my friends and I can stretch out a little bit and enjoy the formations from higher up in the stands.

Back to PC, though.  My top five favorite PC shows:

• 1999: "The Dracula Ballet" -- did not travel to DCI Finals
• 2004: "On Dangerous Ground: The Music of Bernard Hermann" -- 19th place
• 2012: "The Spectrum" -- 16th place  
• The video is a look back by corps members
• Blog from Corps at the Crest 2012:
• PACIFIC CREST
• Repertoire: "The Spectrum" -- Butterfly Yellow by L.J. Buckley; Tarantella Red by L.J. Buckley; Yellow  by G. Berryman, J. Buckland, W. Champion, C. Martin; Blue Sapphire by R. Cichy, End Credits (from "The Green Lantern -- First Flight") by R.J. Kral; True Colors by B. Steinberg, T. Kelly
  
  
  The CG starts with white uniforms to show off their flag colors, until the last piece, wherein their uniforms are the whole rainbow.  I like how they kept the PC teal on one of their arms.  Beautiful yellow double flags.  I like the blue sparkly umbrellas, but one got turned inside out.  Nice, big opening sound!  They really sound great.
• 
  
• 2017: "Golden State of Mind" -- 21st place
• This video is of a rehearsal run through at my alma mater
• Blog from Corps at the Crest 2017:
• PACIFIC CREST
  Uh-oh.  Sounds like the adrenaline from the jazzy piece got to the soloists today.  The jazzy piece was well done, though.  They just need to keep up the energy through the end of the show.  I think one of the formations is the continental US.  Bro doesn't.

  

  Rays of the Sun
  

• 2018: "Here's to the Ones Who Dream" -- 20th place
• Euphonium Cam!
• Blog from Corps at the Crest 2018:
• PACIFIC CREST
  I do love that mambo, during which they do the tap dancing.  Oh, there's an Esther Williams segment, too, with some of the corps members providing the legs as the color guard soloist rises out of the "water".  Cute.  Are those flags Lakers colors on purpose because it's Los Angeles?  If so, thank you, PC!  If not, don't tell me.  Pretty solos, especially the mellophone.  If this was louder, the show would have much more impact, especially in big stadiums like this.  I hate to say that they need amplification, though.  My no-amplification side is struggling with this a lot right now.  Some people were laughing during the show, and I didn't catch what happened.  Later, V told us that someone lost their plume, and another person placed it back on their shako at the precise moment of the *ding* of the xylophone.
  
  
  

  

  Star

  
  

  

  Tap Segment

  
  

  

  Hollywood
  

PC's corps song is Biebl's "Ave Maria",  and I've posted video of it on this blog before, but here's one from the morning of 2019 Semifinals.

Someday PC will get to play on DCI Finals night, and I will be so very happy for them.  Until then, I'm your fan, PC!

Next up:The Academy

Hell Is Empty, and All the Devils are Here

Today would have been Corps at the Crest San Diego, the first of the SoCal DCI competitive shows.  I'm bummed out that I don't get to take the short road trip down to Oceanside with Bro and Rudy, ready to see Rudy's reaction upon seeing the shows for the first time, as well as seeing what has changed in the previous 5 days.  

Strangely, Blue Devils never attends this show because they have an ongoing prior commitment.  So, of course, the rebel in me decided to showcase them today.  

Trying to figure out my favorite Blue Devils show is difficult, because even when I really like a show, there is usually at least one element that annoys me, preventing me from fully loving the show.  It's usually the ballad, but not always.  Sometimes it's the props.   

First, let's tune those instruments.

My first time to see the Blue Devils live was their "Casablanca" show in 1997 (one of Bro's favorite BD shows), and the second time was in 1998, "One Hand, One Heart".  I love this show!  The music is from "West Side Story" and Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet", and I love the way the arranger mashed them together.  I think this is my favorite BD show, mostly for the music, and I also like the story.

Here is a video from the front sidelines at Finals, and here's another one of just the last minute, so you can see the formation of the heart from up above.

I've watched the Blue Devils win many, many championships.  TEN of them.  I feel privileged that I've seen their shows evolve from start of the season to end, and also annoyed because they win so much!  I find it interesting that the BD shows I like the most are actually the ones that didn't win the championship.  

My top 5 BD shows, in no particular order, with a link to a video for each but the first one:

• 1998 "One Hand, One Heart" -- 3rd place

• 2000 "Methods of Madness" -- 3rd place
• I love the music to this show, and most of the visuals, particularly when they're playing Bernard Hermann's the 3 short trumpet blasts for "Psycho", and the movements of the sabers as if they're stabbing someone.  I do not like the visuals during "Vertigo" with the weird purple sheets.  But hey, take a look at this marimba feature, leading to the end of the show.

• 2015 "Ink" -- 1st place
• Drummers on ladders!
• Spinning rifles on ladders!
• That K-Pop dance!
• Those wacky bushy tails!
• Where did that little girl come from?!

• 1999 "Rhythms...at the Edge of Time" -- 1st place (tie with SCV)
• This is the year that the lights went out in the stadium during BD's performance at Precision West.  They're so good that they kept going anyway.  I wasn't there, but there is video evidence!  I think Bro was at that show.  What a cool moment to witness.

• 2006 "The Godfather: Part BLUE" -- 3rd place
• The thing that I don't like about this show is the recorded bits of talking, and it almost didn't make this list, but I do enjoy the music.  Dude, we get that it's Godfather.  We don't need dialogue.  My favorite formation is of the gun firing a bullet.  Also: horse head flags.

I do love the talent that BD brings to the field.  I respect the heck out of the performers and the staff.  I look forward to seeing at least 20 more years of BD, even if they do win 10 more times.  :)

Of course, I could not have a tribute to BD without including a piece from their very first win, in 1976:  "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor".  Love that drum major!

Next up: The Crest

Vive Le Vanguard!

I'm starting to write this post on what would have been SCV Family Day, but it's almost midnight so it will have to wait to be completed, much like other drum corps weeks when I'm way too tired to write for a day or so.

I took a look at my old blog posts and saw that the first Family Day I ever attended was in 2013, the year of SCV's "Les Miserables" show, so hey, I'm going to write about that!

My favorite musical is "Les Miserables", and it is also Bro's.  When SCV announced that their 2013 show would be based on Les Miz, we were very excited.  We wanted to see the show as much as possible, and when Bro realized that SCV would not be touring to So Cal, he decided that we were going to see them in Northern California.

I'm sure glad we went.

Blog from my first viewing of the show, at DCI West:

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Repertoire: "Les Miserables" -- Look Down, At the End of the Day, On My Own, Castle on a Cloud, One Day More, I Dreamed a Dream, Attack on Rue Plummet, Red and Black, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing? (All from Les Misèrables) by Claude-Michel Schönberg w/lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (French lyrics) & Herbert Kretzmer (English adaptation)

I've been eagerly anticipating this show ever since it was announced several months ago.  I mean, come on!  My favorite drum corps performing my favorite musical?!  I saw their uniforms online the week before, and I already knew that I would not be disappointed.  Their uniforms were the most beautiful of the evening.  When they got on the field, I got excited.  Then when they played the first notes of "Look Down", the tears started welling up in my eyes.  They never stopped tearing as I heard each song played.  I'm tearing up now as I type this, that's how powerful the emotions are that are brought forth.  Bro and V told me later that they had the same reaction.  The musical arrangements are beautifully done.  "At The End of the Day" is so awesome, and they even incorporated "One Day More" at the same pace, which really sounded cool.  I can't believe that they so prominently showcased "Attack on Rue Plummet", because nobody ever does that song when they play Les Miz medleys.  Wow.  They do a formation of the word "VAN" and the CG is next to them in a circle.  Get it?  "Van-Guard"!  Fleur de Lis flags!  YAY!  Nice French-ish flag at the end.  The show is not done yet.  I'm going to be bawling at Finals.  Standing ovation, and not just from me.

Here is the percussion ensemble doing a full run-through of the show, before DCI West.  They were already AMAZING at the start of the season!

Blog from my 2nd viewing, at the Moonlight Classic:

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
What I love is the way that the songs end, like "At the End of the Day".  It's done at half time, and it's just different and cool.  Even the flags do it!  The "Bring Him Home" solo was perfect.  I heard little notes down the scale while their horns were in the backfield during that song.  Oh, the red and black flags have fleur de lis, too!  It's no wonder that I love this show so much.

Snares during Do You Hear the People Sing

Encore
SCV!  Yay!  
Bro and I walked to where we wouldn't have people standing in front of us, and got seats in the front stands.

• Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
• Les Miserables
• Send in the Clowns

  

  Send In The Clowns

I never noticed before that they play "On My Own" during "Do You Hear the People Sing".  Bro said that they actually play all of the songs at once.  That is too damn cool.  I liked seeing the expression on their faces, and I got to actually watch the cymbal players, who also had great expressions.  I'm usually so busy watching everything else in the show that I forget to look for the awesome cymbal line.  Do you think I was happy?  Yes, I was.  :)  So was Bro.  There was much happiness around us.

But Ryan T told the leaders to get onto the field before Clowns started, which meant that they were walking behind SCV during that song.  Irritating.

Blog from Pacific Procession / SCV Family Day

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
SCV staff sat in front of us (they had reserved seats), and one of them had a mic recorder.  The corps was still of during "Do You Hear the People Sing", which they worked on earlier in the day.  I love that soprano/mellophone duet during "One Day More"!   I want to have one of each of those fleur-de-lis flags in my house.

  

SCV DM Salute

This video of the full show in rehearsal was taken at Santa Clara High School, which is SCV's home base, and the site for SCV Family Day.  I am not sure if this video was from Family Day, but if it was, we were sitting nearby.

I had tears in my eyes again as I heard the first notes of "Bring Him Home".

Here is the hornline warming up with their opener halfway through the season.

Do you miss the head cams?  Here's one from a mello soloist during rehearsal.

This time I got teary during "One Day More".

Blog from Prelims:

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

Blog from Semifinals:

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD -- 96.5*

As soon as they took the field, there was so much screaming that my ears were ringing.  We took pictures with the sign that the people seated behind us had made, and everyone made sure that we knew when to yell "VANGUARD!"  I was crying by the end of the first minute of the show.  I think that the corps felt us all supporting them (how could they not?  We were LOUD), and kicked it up a notch.  Awesome crowd response to just about everything possible, and we stood a few times during the show.  The "Bring Him Home" solo was brilliant, and the flags during "Do You Hear the People Sing" were incredibly effective.  By the end of the show, I was a hot drum corps mess of tears.

The Elusive Big Ass Flag

This video is a snippet of the official DCI video from Finals night.  

Seriously, can I possibly watch this thing without tears?  I think not!  This time it happened at the company front.

This is the show with audio overlay of the field percussion judge.  I love hearing the judges' tapes!  Especially when they're loving my corps.  :)   

• "Wow, wow, wow! ... Wow." 
•  "Yeah, man, tears coming out of the eyes.  Tears welling up in my eyes!"  (See, I'm not the only one that cries.)  
• "That snare section was frickin' ON!"  
• "You are musicians and artists."

Blog from Finals:

SCV

Get it?  "Van"-GUARD (color guard)

Out.F*c*ing.Standing. OK, lots of tears and sniffling around us.   Also lots of people saying "Oh, my God!" after the first standing ovation.  I loved seeing all of the people standing in the stadium on the big screen in the middle of the show.  INCREDIBLE!  V forgot to look for the really cool flag tosses behind the screens because she was busy looking at the corps on the field.  I so didn't want that to be the last time to see this show.  It's become my favorite SCV show ever. I have tears in my eyes as I type this 2 weeks later.  TWO WEEKS.  OK, let me go on now.

SCV Shield

Score:  4) 96.85 -- SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Thank you to all of the corps for a great year of competition!  To Vanguard, congratulations to SCVC for a terrific win, and to the A-corps, I will love this show forever.  Thank you for making it a reality!

Vive Le Vanguard!

Journey to a Harmonic Past

Happy Father's Day, all of you dads out there!

Today, my family had a (socially distant) gathering, and I asked Bro and V what was their favorite non-Vanguard show.  Bro had a list of shows that he needed to choose from.  V couldn't even begin to think, but agreed with one of Bro's choices:  "Harmonic Journey" by the 2003 Phantom Regiment.

I was not blogging yet back then, but I do remember that season.  Phregiment made a trip to California, much to our delight, and I remember feeling joy hearing their arrangement of Pachelbel's "Canon in D".  

This was the year that we took Rudy to his first DCI competition.  Before Phregiment's show was over, Rudy was in absolute tears.  I loved that he enjoyed the activity so much, and he has joined us every year since then.  Whenever I see him wearing his Phregiment visor, I think of that weekend.  

By the time we got to Finals in Orlando, the show had become a favorite of many, many people.  It is certainly one of my top 3 favorite Phregiment shows, and I cherish my Harmonic Journey shirt from that year, whether or not fits me anymore.

We remember the ending of this show, and Bro can tell you what happens in every part of the video below, even when he's not watching it or hearing the music at the moment.  He was spot on when he was talking about it today.




Here is a video of one of the alumni from that corps year, which is a bunch of still photos with the music from the semifinals recording, dedicated to the rest of the corps.  I love the map he shows at the beginning, showing the tour route.  There we are!

Here is video of the full show.  Check out its simplicity and the beauty.

Phregiment earned 4th place that year at DCI Finals in Orlando, with a score of 94.75.  

Some of my photos from that week:

Quarterfinals Night: End of show

Semifinals Night:  Drum Major Salute

Semifinals Night:  Getting the baton

Semifinals night:  Traditional color guard for Phregiment
at the back stands

Finals Night: just before the leap

I don't know how this was 17 years ago, but drum corps sure has added a lot more props since then!

Next up:  Back to SCV

Back to Babylon

Well, it's June 20, 2020.  Do you know where I had plans to be on this day before the pandemic hit?

Yup.  The first weekend of drum corps.

DCI canceled its season this year, and I'm OK with the reason for it, because when I was watching the "On The Road Again" videos from the 80s, I saw people sharing water bottles and all sleeping on the gym floors, and having fun in the buses, and I was, like, "Oh, hell no, that would have been an absolute disaster!"  I mean, I knew they did all these things before, but seeing it on video after a few months of cringing whenever people get close to each other on TV without masks made me all germophobic.

So what's a blogger to do when she has no shows to write about?  She writes about old shows.

Today would have been my first blogging day after a wonderful early dinner in Fresno at Limon and an opening day of seeing shows for the very first time.  I miss my road trip with Bro.  I miss that restaurant.  I miss writing about the crazy things we say.  But most of all, I miss watching Vanguard in a stadium.

I'm happy to share with you this video of someone watching 2018 SCV's show, "Babylon".  Below the video, you can read my reaction to the show as it progressed through the season, with links to the blog post from that day, if you want to read about the other stuff that happened that day, too.

I'm so glad that she liked all of the stuff that the folks familiar with drum corps cheer about, like the snap, and the music, and the movement, and the creativity.  BTW, I teared up again today.

I think I've hit on what I'll do this season: show you old stuff, maybe through Courtney's eyes, maybe through other means.

For now, enjoy seeing someone react to Vanguard.  Maybe you will react a little bit, too.






First show: MidCal Champions Showcase

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Repertoire: "Babylon" -- My Body is A Cage by P. Gabriel; Journey to the Center of the Earth by P. Graham; Metropolis 1927 by P. Graham; Apology by Z. M. di la Riva; Club Sound by Gent and Jawns

I guess the reason SCV has not given any sneak previews of their uniforms on social media is that they have not received them yet.  Or they will continue to wear what look like pajamas on the field: white with a V on the torso that looks like a check mark.  They use big platforms that look like they are building the Tower of Babel, but they use them in an innovative way, with the shorter platforms fitting under the taller ones.  All of that movement had me mesmerized  I worry when the different people do the acrobatic stuff on top, because I'm afraid they'll fall.  I'm a worrier.  The gymnastics are impressive.  Whoa...that snare ensemble solo!  I hope that their actual uniforms will stay on sufficiently so that they do not have to pull up their pants after the all-corps dance segment.  The horns sound great.  I love this show!

Second show:  DCI West

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

The color guard has uniforms now.  Are the drum majors ninjas? The pit members have their mouths covered by the same type of thing as the drum majors, to show the theme of Babylon, wherein the storyline is for the corps members to find another way to communicate since they do not all speak the same language.  Bro figured that the horn players couldn't wear the same thing since they need to actually play their instruments.  They're playing and getting spun around on their towers, and...wow.  Those snares!  Bro wants Miss O to learn the dance so he can post it.  He said this show looks really good in the big stadium.  Show is not yet finished, and they didn't play the closing number at all.

Not since 2007 has SCV scored higher than BD.  We are happy Vanguard fans today!

When we got back to the hotel, Bro saw that SCV's uniforms are, indeed, cream-colored, although they are different from what we saw yesterday.  I'm not sure we saw the new uniform today because we were far from the field.  

The recaps show that this is going to be a close competition between BD and SCV, and they have the top two scores nationwide from all of the shows last night.  Way to go, WEST!

Third show:  Moonlight Classic

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

#checkmarkband.  Bro and I were laughing at twitter earlier, because the Cadets were calling themselves the zebra cake band because of their uniforms, and people are calling SCV by the aforementioned hashtag.  That girl leaped off of the platform and was caught by the other corps members.  This show gets more amazing every day.  It also gets more dangerous, and I'm glad that DCI's current campaign on the health and safety of its performers not only includes their psychological health, but also their physical health due to the increasing number of props and gymnastics in the shows.

This year is going to be interesting between SCV and BD.  Mandarins look promising to make finals.  It's gonna be a fun season, folks!  I'm looking forward to what Pacific Crest brings when they get into the mix of competition next week.

Fourth show:  SCV Family Day / Pacific Procession

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

How high is that note?!?  Jeepers!  I didn't realize that the people playing that note were on the right side of the field, using mic stands.  This show gets more amazing every day, and they still have only done their closer at a stand still.

Fifth show: Corps at the Crest - San Diego

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
That baritone duet leading to the full corps during "My Body Is A Cage" is just awesome!  How often does that happen that the baritones get so much solo work?  That trio of trumpets, too.  WOW.
Rudy:  THAT IS INSANE!  WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!!?  
He was laughing happily through the whole show.  They did the closer drill!  It's very cool, and I look forward to how it's going to develop until Finals.  The ending right now is of a color guard member on each of two tall towers, coming together.

Looking forward to seeing that SCV closer again in Pasadena!  I can't get enough of that show.

Sixth show:  Corps at the Crest - Rose Bowl

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

I just cannot describe this show, except with superlatives, because GAAAAAAHHHHH!!!  Love the decrescendo in the first piece as the horns kneel and face the right side. Their dynamics are more prominent now.  My whole party went bananas when they saw this show, which made me very happy.  

As predicted by Bro, SCV wins in the bigger stadium.  We are happy Vanguard fans!

The consensus of those of us in the car:  favorites of the night were Mandarins and SCV.  Because my friends have excellent taste.

Seventh show:  Western Corps Connection

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
I tried to see if the color guard guy also does something acrobatic during the other guy's back flip, but he doesn't.  That's OK. This show is still amazeballs.

Two nights in a row over BD, and in a smaller stadium, no less.  YAY!

Eighth viewing:  DCI Prelims

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD -- 96.8*
They keep rolling off of the cages and it's freaking me out because I think they're falling.  I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW. TOO. MUCH.  It makes me nervous, but I love it.

Ninth viewing: DCI Semifinals

SCV -- 98.263*
That. Was.  SPECTACULAR.  Don't fall!  All of us in the Vanguard section went apeshit crazy.  My throat was sore from all of the screaming.  

Tenth viewing: DCI Finals

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
I saw them waiting in the tunnel entrance during BD's show and got all excited.  Go, George!  He is the backfield drum major, and my seat neighbor's son.  I don't remember hearing the recording of the different languages at the beginning of the show before.   ACK! Leo's mic!  Then the guy got hit by the prop.  Oh, geez.  VAAAANNNNNGUAAAAAARRRRRRD!!!!!   

Our section went bananas.  I think I stood up 3 times during the show.  I could barely contain myself from the moment they started.  AAAAHHHH, I LOVE THIS SHOW!  I would like to see that again tonight, please.  PLEASE!!!

Scores

And now, the scores.  (Big exhale).  Caption awards are based on the best average from Prelims, Semifinals, and Finals nights.

World Class Corps Director of the Year:  Shaun Gallant of SCV!!!!!
YAY, SEAN!!!!!  He's awesome.

John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award:  SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award:  SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award: SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
(That's the 3rd year in a row for SCV.  YES!!!)

Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award:  SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

3) 96.95 -- BLUECOATS
2) 97.35 -- BLUE DEVILS
1) 98.625 -- SANTA CLARA VANGUARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Congratulations to all the corps.  Santa Clara Vanguard, the field is yours."

OK, after a week of debriefing this in my head, I have tears in my eyes as I typed that last quote from Brandt Crocker.

The crowd went insane.  We were happy, happy, happy, and I almost lost my voice from the screaming every time Brandt announced SCV's name.  It's been 19 long years since their last title, and they shared it in a tie with BD.  It's an SCV Sweep, y'all.  Both SCVC and SCV won the gold!

Eleventh viewing:  Finals Champion Encore

I went to the restroom because I knew it would take a while to clear the field.  I heard the announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen, we need to clear the field...the field belongs to Santa Clara Vanguard."  That's RIGHT, it does!!!!!

Well, would ya look at that?

Encore

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

• 2018 production:  "Babylon"

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the Go Pro videos
from this encore performance!

Here are links to some of the headcam footage from that victory run (warning: you might get a little dizzy):

Mello Claw Cam  "We did it!"

Contra Cam  "We just won band!"

Center Snare Cam "Let's keep it clean"

Compilation Cam  Wait.  Somebody is singing?

After we all calmed down from watching that amazing victory performance one more time, Brandt said, "There's one more song that needs to be played."  ACK, I'm crying again.

• Corps song:  "Send in the Clowns"

I'm pretty sure Gail Royer was beaming with pride while watching this from his seat up in heaven.

We went to the lot to see if SCV was going to do anything special before letting everyone leave, but they must have said whatever they needed to say back in the stadium tunnel.  So we took pictures of each other before returning to the hotel.

Happy Vanguard Fans

Happy Sibs

From the other side of the cage

Our bodies are by a cage

Thank you, SCV, for this awesome season.  Congratulations on your seventh gold.

One of the DCI.org article opening lines was, "It started with Stanford."  Indeed.  SCV had one loss since Stanford in June, and dominated all season, despite the thoughts of the East Coast fans that the West Coast scores were inflated.  People, we happen to have the best corps out West, so deal with it.  I am proud of this corps.  They had some hiccups during this year's tour, with their food truck getting in an accident (rendering it a total loss and having to rent a temporary one), their souvie trailer also having issues, and the rained-out Allentown show.  Yet through it all, they persevered, they worked hard, they kept up the classy and positive attitude for which they are famous, and they did it!  They won!  19 years ago, when they last won the title, Bro and I attended our first DCI Finals, and we've been hooked ever since.  This feeling of pride in our favorite corps has never wavered, even through the lower-ranked years.  It feels so awesome to see SCV win again, with such an amazing show that will be talked about with superlatives for years and years.  With the Vanguard Cadets winning, too, I am just thrilled for the organization.  There's No Place Like Santa Clara.  

Next up:  Not SCV