I urge everyone to watch Madison Scouts much closer. There are nonstop visuals, even when standing still there are visuals going on and the use of props is far more integrated into the show than any of the top 12. I will add, those props are being moved around the field, 10 yard line to 10 yard line with the weight of people on them yet you don't see the kids drop the energy level from start to end. There is far more GE in this show than you will see in the next 8 corps. The entrance of the corp after the ballad quintet is nothing but exceptional in both playing and visual with the slowly building crescendo that is really only fully appreciated live. Nobody is hearing what the judges are hearing in percussion and the score just is not valid, they are being scored at a high school level performance.

I saw this in development at Kentucky Wesleyan College in May and this show keeps blowing my MYND more. Incredible.

Great podcast! Thanks for doing this. Plenty of time left in the season and it should be exciting to see what changes each corps makes and whether or not those changes help or hurt. I don't want to count out the Blue Devils. They can certainly make a push and they have fabulous performers but I don't see how anyone catches Bluecoats this year. That show is GE on steroids. As long as Bluecoats remain strong in their performance captions then GE should push them to the top. I still like the Blue Devils show a lot but it does have clutter issues and I do not think the theme/concept is helping. It's a bit generic and plays like some of their other shows, and when you listen to Scott Chandlers description of what they are trying to do I am not sure that is coming across. I love Boston and frankly if someone could potentially take down Bluecoats it might be Boston. But I never rule out BD. I might have had Boston on top in Brass, Percussion, and Guard. Their performance captions are stunning. I feel they should be beating BD in GE. I do agree, however, that the BD color guard is amazing and could win the caption. I agree about Phantom. I think the fact they pulled to within .3 of Carolina is the judges telling Carolina that this corps behind you is about to pass you. I see it happening. Once it does can Phantom pull away from Crown? That will be the question. They will likely go back and forth until Finals. I love SCV from the ballad to the end. Whatever changes and cleaning they have done that last half of the show was outstanding. I do agree about the uniforms but they do look better at night. I think Mandarins may beat them in the end. I feel for the Cavaliers. Poor design is a killer. So no matter how much those kids clean and how well they perform there is not much they can do. I do see Blue Stars taking 8th, maybe Colts in 9th, and Cavaliers 10th (short of some miraculous changes to their show). I like Troopers show but not as much as last year. Enjoy Madison a lot. They have a much stronger brass line and in particular their trumpets which is helping to give them that Scouts brass sound. Crossmen could be a threat to get into the top 12 along with Blue Knights and even Paciffic Crest. It's nice to see so much good competition in the 11 - 16 range. Some really fun and well performed shows in that bunch.

Scouts over Cavies is my vote. PR my favorite but amazed how exposed Bluecoats are. Don’t understand how BD is so high.

I am most impressed with Boston Phantom Mandarins Colts and Pacific Crest. Mandarins are doing very well is visual proficiency. they really do their work well.

Having a hard time getting thru this episode.

Justin your microphone was scratchy

phantom regiment and Boston Crusaders were the only two that gave me en emotional reaction. a bit with Mandarins but Boston should beat Coats

I hope the Scouts make 10th. I’ve been waiting for them to get back into finals.

Your wife is on the same page as me... Phantom, Scouts great. The likes of BD, BC bore me. In fact, most do.

When anyone talks about slotting. It just proofs that they dont know how scoring actually works lmaoo

The Bluecoats have the best drill. They do random prancing better than any corps I've ever seen.

Zephyrus was such a nice surprise. Like they know what they are doing and I hope that group nothing but success.

Their are many from Genesis marching in Boston this year.

Loved Seattle Cascades. Don’t understand why they are in the last neighborhood - maybe content but it was one of the best assumed semi finalist shows. Sounded like a drum corps show. Disappointed in the troopers design this year. Thought they had a better paced show last year. Cavies? Yeesh. I feel Colts aren’t being placed correctly. To me, they are in front of Stars and Cavies. Maybe their uniform design is causing analysis issues? Loved that Madison got 12th. I feel Spirit of Atlanta should be sniffing that 13th spot. Genesis was fun and enjoyable. Jersey Surf was fun as well. Phantom! ❤ Bluecoats! ❤

Boston has a whole week off between Atlanta and Allentown with just one home show on Aug. 1. They have more going into their show. They are going to challenge Bluecoats and should at least top Blue Devils.

In terms of percussion, having the judge relegated to the sideline has really been a lot more noticable this season when looking at the recaps. I don't think the placements would be "massively" different with them being on-field, but there certainly would be a few flip-flops. Having no on-field perc judge has influenced overall show design massively as well. Many shows feel segmented into "brass ensemble, then winterguard, then indoor percussion, and repeat" because that's the only way they can even be read accurately from the front sideline. Groups like Boston and Vanguard are still running-n'-gunning no matter if they're backfield or not (while still placing at the top, mind you), but others are forced to compromise their entire show concept in order to have it read like this. The decision for this being justified by "member safety" is also laughable at best, considering how little that actually matters to many of the exec's in DCI as an org. and many individual corps.

I think scouts only doing a 10 minute show is going to hurt them. They're going to have to fight for 12th. IMO

What is happening with the cavaliers ? They used to be top 3

One correction on my part. Madison percussion score went down from the show before but only by .2. I stated they went up. Had it in my notes incorrectly.

Blue Stars are kicking @$$ this year. Will Phantom catch Crown? That would be epic. I'd love to see the gender-inclusive Madison Scouts make finals. Including Jenn in this podcast = genius move.

'98 Cadets. Just one of those shows that's just quintessential Cadets. Just my opinion, but i think they went 'no props' because the guard was just so good that year. Again, just my opinion.

This year will always be very special to me. It was the first year i was exposed to DCI. I went to Allentown and was blown away. The Cadets stole my heart, had 2 friends marching for Crossmen. But then i saw two shows, BD was just a total crazy vibe. As a percussionist BD and Cadets, chef's kiss. But my favorite show by far was Phantom. The raw power frkm the brass, the precision of the percussion, the all black....Phantom stole my heart in '96.

I marched Black Knights, unfortunately, I didn’t get to wear those bad ass uniforms. I marched in the 80’s before the folded.

DCI memo: All Corps wear blue this year, including SCV.. Blue Coats "don't let the name fool you,as we didn't get the stinkin' memo!" 😂😆 Nice show, well done! By the way, I love the sub numbers going up! Well done you three!

THE SUPREME IRONY of Bloo breaking the Devils' 1500 day streak (and hopefully attempt at a clean threepeat) with a show called.. "CHANGE IS EVERYTHING". Absolutely a broadly felt emotion among so many sick of BD dominance with the samey samey artsy esoteric content.

Boston will beat Blue Devils in Indy.

My favorite brass line of all time is the '91 Blue Devils. The Bluecoats' treatment of Dymaxion sounds like it could have been pulled straight out of that show. Just brilliant. It's the musical moment of the year for me. Also, everything in this show supports and adds to the musical/visual package. There's no fat. Lots of corps have elements that they throw in to "tick a box" A brass run that doesn't add to the music but is there to show "hey look what our brass can do" or a drum feature that seems like it's on a separate island from the rest of the music. Not in this Bluecoats show. The percussion features are all beautifully woven into the music, and continue the melody/effect. The brass shows their ability to sell ppp as much as they do fff, in several styles, with a remarkably difficult book of sections playing off one another rhythmically. I simply love what they are doing. I'm really rooting for them to win it all this year.

Great show and very clean.

That Colorguard came in 4th?!? I’d like to see Boston’s Colorguard to compare them. The Hornline sounds Awesome when they park and bark. I do have “Boomer” issues but those are mine to work out. Thanks again. - Nick

I do not see ANYONE beating Bluecoats this year. This show is REALLY a special one.

How hard is it to do those hits after a moment of silence?

bro talking over the tuba feature making me mad i swear

The person did a good job recording this with one camera. Even with the limited audio a couple of those Phantom power chords gave me the chills in a good way. SUTA to Phantom . Have a great 2024 season.❤

Much more than last year. Like the uniforms more too. Thanks for posting this!

Have been a Phantom Regiment Phan since 1975 when I marched with Guardsmen. I like this show much than last year.❤🎉

No dcp post anymore about Mac but Reddit has the speculation. Just knowing from heresy and friends he can be a fun chill individual so long as everything is going right or you don’t challenge his “vision”/product. Sounds like there was some Design head butting and they were done with the “shit don’t stink” ‘tude. This phantom show is the bomb. I liked last year’s and this is just more good good! Love the content!

that trombone soloist is the now legendary Ben Stone... he was the soloist to start No Walk Too Far as well.. boy has quite the future ahead of him

2:15 as a mellophone at phantom this year, we love the kind words, Thank you!!

Hi guys! I was one of those 5 vets from 87, and then I went and marched SOA. Nice interview and podcast! The Corps sounds great this year, BTW! Hope you both are doing well!

I was incorrect in my knowledge of how the group for San Antonio! I stand corrected. The pull scores from a number of first leg shows to create the groupings is what I read.

I have said for many years that, while corps often say, "Don't sweat the small shit..." Blue Devils ALWAYS sweat the small shit. They cover getting every little thing right. They even have show-specific bass drum heads.

You fail to mention, Suncoast sound, lost their sponsor Circle K, because Circle K asked them to do a parade representing them and Suncoast sound refused. Stupid move by Suncoast sound they lost their sponsor. Additional information you're unaware of John dowling, Drum Corps Hall of Famer one of the best drum instructors in the world, volunteered to help their drumline, that's how I met John and we became close friends, we started, American Spirit, senior alumni drum and bugle Corps but Suncoast sound members including their staff poo poo dust 100%. Our intention was to help perpetuate the activity of drum and bugle Corps competition in the area the numbers we had at the time or from, New York Skyliners, Riley raiders, Hawthorne Caballeros myself Long Island sunrises, Santa Clara Vanguard, and many other former Junior and senior drum and bugle Corps call my wife at the time help raise money with their bingo nights she was a volunteer. I even approached Suncoast to help them raise money as I did Phantom Regiment and the Boston Crusaders but they turned me down as well my opinion call DCI is the main reason for the demise of what was one of the greatest activities in North america, when kids would Age out from a junior Corps, they never encouraged them to join a senior Corps, while I was in a junior Court the Floyd Bennett golden eagles from Brooklyn New York, could not wait to join a senior court and at that time senior course were much better than Juniors because their members came in from Junior c o r p s, with plenty of experience drum and bugle Corps were so popular throughout the country and Canada that more people attended competitions than Major League Baseball games. At one time in North America there were approximately 7,000 drum and bugle c o r p s a good majority, we're only for parades, and small exhibitions at major events, the both of them competed in both state and National competitions if they did well in state, they would consider going to Nationals depending on the distance and the cost. Which brings me dues for most junior members was maybe 10 or $20 for the year some paid a dollar for a rehearsal. We had sponsors like the American legion, vfw, cyo, and some corporations like Circle K for Suncoast sound., was started from a marching band that competed in bands of America, Bob Carter was there, management team leader, is background was with marching bands that's why they emulated a marching band John Dowling, help to help instruct the Drumline but they refused he's the one who developed back sticking, again Drum Corps Hall of Famer taught many national championships and yet they turned them down main reason they did not have to play rudiments for the most part in a drumline put the chin strap from the Shaker in the mouth like a high school band would do, and that was pretty much the overall attitude for most of the members they had a marching band background that's all I knew and they wouldn't listen or want to learn anything other than that. DCI has killed the activity mainly because dues are outrageous for the average family or member going on tour pulling all sorts of props it's like a three-ring circus, that's why it cost so much in the millions these days, the drummers are more focused on rim shots and juggling, it's all about visual nothing to do with real rudimental drumming chords that have most money are generally the ones that are at the top, they can buy judges they can do what they're told and they listen like sheep. Very few people attend competitions these days including DCI World Championship maybe 20,000 at best some national championships pulled in 60,000. Local competitions pulled in 6 to 20,000, depending on what drum and bugle Corps, were competing, like, Mission drums in Boston, National dream competition in Jersey City, Grand Prix, Shriners International in Toronto Canada . These competitions draw well over 20,000 plus at each and every one of them. However, I find your analogy of these organizations today very interesting and I will follow you❤❤🎉🎉❤❤😮

The Muchachos Drumline, instructor Dennis DeLuca, who also took the Long Island sunrises they were DCA world champions seven times. I was a member 1964 through 1968 we won American Legion Nationals in 68 led the Macy Day Parade as well. My opinion, DCI is the reason for the demise of what was one of the greatest youth activities in North america. They never encouraged kids to join a senior Corps after aging out, my opinion major mistake it would have perpetuated the activity. Years ago in Metropolitan New York area on the weekend there were two or three competitions to choose to go to within an hour, or two if you did well in your state in competition, then you would consider going to Nationals. Nothing was mandatory to be competitive. The majority of the c o r p s has supported by the community. Because they competed in competitions in the area and they did parades in the area oh well and special events everybody knew who they were and were willing to donate to support them. Today members come from all over the world nobody knows who they are they do not perform locally they do not receive any support❤❤❤😂😂😂