From: rwberry@hubcap.clemson.edu (Robert W Berry)
Subject: Atlanta Show - 7/31/92
Keywords: DCI DRUMCORPS ATLANTA
Organization: Clemson University
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 15:31:56 GMT

Here are the scores from the 7/31/92 Atlanta Brass Classic:

              Blue Devils             92.7
              Blue Knights            86.0
              Velvet Knights          84.3
              Spirit of Atlanta       79.0
              Southwind               69.1
              Carolina Crown          63.8

A quick review:

Carolina Crown: 
Unfortunately this show really seems to be heading
nowhere as the season wraps up.  I'm sure that the Crown will do OK at
Class A finals, but I think a top 25 finish is out of the question
unless they do some SERIOUS watering and rewriting before the end of the
season.

This corps seems to have mentally peaked, there were glaring mental
errors all over the place and in a desire to increase GE scores they are
adding guard work and exchanges that really don't stay with the overall
concept of their show.

(I also noticed that they saunter on the field now - a la Blue Devils - but
the effect is laughable, since there is no *need* for them to saunter
onto the field, except to be like Blue Devils.  Feh.)

I wish them luck at Nationals, but I really think the corps staff needs
to examine the direction they are taking.

Southwind:
This corps had so much potential at the beginning of the year.  But they
are young performers, and their immaturity really shows with their
mental errors.  The hornline is particularly succeptible to these errors
especially in intonation and phrasing.

I don't think there's really any question about them winning Class A,
and I don't think there's any doubt they'll be 22nd or 23rd at
Nationals.  If they can retain a large portion of the members, they will
be a force to be reckoned with next year.

Right now, they have some of the same type of "mental peaking" problems
as Carolina Crown.  Maybe a few little changes down the road to
Nationals will help keep the show fresh for them.

Overall they have (what's turning out to be) a very nice Class A show.

Spirit of Atlanta:  Spirit is really spinning their wheels right now.
We were standing next to couple of their staff members after the show,
and they were saying that Spirit's score was inflated by about 3 points
(being Spirit's home show and all I guess.)  If this is correct, look
for Spirit to drop a place or two from their POC position.

The hornline has many ensemble problems, and a large hunk of their soft
piece is really out of tune (the mellophone soloist has a wonderful
sound, even if it is just a little beneath pitch througout.)  Miss Otis
Regrets is finally starting to work, and the guard is watering work left
and right, so they are becoming cleaner every day.

Spirit has a lot of technique problems that could be addressed and
really help their field scores (which always leads to a better ensemble
score also.)  Will they address any of these problems this late in the
season?  Probably not.  They really need a stronger winter program to
fix these types of problems.  They are cleaning everything, and they've
added several snazzy visuals.

They really have to be on this weekend, or the season could REALLY be a
let down for these kids.

Velvet Knights:
What can I say.  Everything about VK is pretty solid.  The horns and
drums are playing well, still some dirt here and there but nothing that
can't be cleaned up by Nationals.  The drill still has several sections
that are dirty, but everytime we see them they've cleaned up at least
one of these problems.

The gags are great, the red/white uniforms are wonderful, the drill is
difficult, the horn and drum books are well designed.  VK will
definitely perform in finals, but I really don't think they can catch
the Crossmen so they are looking at a strong 10th.

One incredible thing is that the VK guard does 5 tosses in 24 counts at
the end of their show.  And they are getting fairly clean.

Blue Knights:
I really like this show.  Unfortunately, tonight the entire first 30
seconds were totally lost because of Spirit and BD warming up outside
the stadium (I really though the was a rule against that, I know that
when I marched in the late 70's we often bussed to the stadium after
warming up and didn't touch the instruments again until the OTL warmup.
But I digress.)  Blue Knights were REALLY tired tonight.  We were
talking to a couple of their staff members, and they have been putting
in loooonnngggg days trying to get ready for the regionals this weekend.

I really think a lot of the corps is bordering on exhaustion, and today
(Friday, July 30) is supposed to be a "light day" for them so they can
get some of thier energy back.  Anyhow, they had some large mental
breaks, but I think most of them can be attributed to exhaustion.

I was suprised that BD beat Blue Knights drum line.  Drums have been
somewhat of a problem for BD this year, but Blue Knights are beating SCV
and BD is beating Blue Knights.  This is a good sign for BD's
championship hopes seeing as how they took visual and brass at POC.

Blue Knights have added some large white flags at the end of their show
and I noticed a minor drill change.  Other than that, they are on course
to an improved placement at Nationals if they can stay ahead of the
Crossmen (which I think they will.)

Blue Devils:
Damn!  This corps is HOT!!  Everything is falling into place for BD.
They made some MAJOR drill changes in the drum solo that are working
much better (the changes are cleaner after two nights than the old
drill was after 6 weeks.)

I still can't get used to BD actually marching a difficult drill.  Their
visual program has really come along in the last couple of years.  The
percussion book has been watered quite a bit, but they are really
performing it well, and I think with a stronger percussion showing, they
have a real chance to take everything at Nationals.

BD's guard is exceptional.  They took high guard at POC (their only real
competition was Garfield) and they are doing everything right.  I think
Scott Chandler has done a real good job of starting out controlled and
getting grittier as the show progresses.  The equipment design is
impeccable, and I really like the dice.

But the high point of the night was the BD hornline.  The heavy horns
are really starting to pump out the sound, and they are finally
balancing out the upper voices.  For some reason I was under the
impression that BD was only marching 4 mellos in the middle section (I
could swear I read that here) but they are really marching 4 mellos with
10 altos and that middle section is WONDERFUL.

As always, BD has some real screamers, and they are really starting to
grove.  The opening section of their show is over 7 minutes of non-stop
music.  And everything is SOOOO thick.  Downey's really outdone himself
this year.  If BD doesn't take high horns at Nationals, there is no
justice.

Well, I've blabbed enough.  I'll be sure to post the results of DCI
South when I get back (anyone have a hunk of floor I can sleep on
Saturday night? ;-)!!!)

Later,
Bob

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