Beginning where it will all end in August, the DCI Tour Premiere set fire to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday with a mix of great drum corps from the East Coast, Midwest, and South. From a first showing, it seems the fans are really in for a treat this season. Despite the scores reflecting the same results as Finals from last year, the shows being put together by these corps are fresh, exciting, and engaging. Let's take a walk through everything that happened on Thursday night.

Crossmen - 63.80

In the early 2010s, the Crossmen would have felt a little out of place with the other "big dogs" of the East in the DCI Tour Premiere, but they came out to prove that their 10th-place finish to end last year was just the start. As the Crossmen come off their highest placement since 2003, their hornline and battery are marching very tight drill, and their color guard is pretty impressive already. That's not to mention they have a French horn soloist who will knock your socks off. Keep an eye out for the Crossmen this year, or they'll make sure you don't forget them. You can catch them LIVE on FloMarching at The Beanpot Invitiational on July 4!

Blue Stars - 64.15

The Blue Stars have truly designed a masterpiece this year. Their show, "Star Crossed," navigates through three tragic love stories using a combination of beautiful color guard uniforms and changing styles of music. The hornline is a powerhouse -- the cat's out of the bag now, upper brass. Compared to their performance at the Spring Training Finale, the Blue Stars have already made big steps toward improving their drill. The color guard also seemed to have flipped a new page in its skills as it came out looking much stronger and more confident on Thursday night. Watch the Blue Stars perform next on FloMarching at DCI Central Indiana on Friday, June 30.

The Cadets - 68.30

Holy props! The Cadets are taking a different approach to design, and it appears to be working for them after a great performance to start the 2017 season. To start off with the false build into the prayer is a great way to really get the audience on the edge of its seat and immediately invested into such an interesting show concept -- mass. The corps begins its show covered in long maroon robes, which are a serious departure for one of the most tradition-anchored corps in existence. The Cadets have a habit of coming out of spring training with cleaner drill than most, but this year, they're truly setting a new standard. The color guard was also a force to be reckoned with on Thursday night. The Cadets are available to watch next on FloMarching at The Beanpot Invitational.

The Cavaliers - 70.15

Finally, everyone got to watch the end of your show, and it is certainly an exciting ending. The show goes from serious in the beginning to comical in the middle to just flat-out entertaining drum corps in the closer. The Cavaliers' closer features all of the "Mars" you could want, and then transitions into "My Way" by Frank Sinatra using voice samples at first followed by the hornline playing the melody. The transition feels seamless as you watch it, and the ending is definitely one you'll want to keep a close eye on as it gets even better as the season progresses. If you can't make it to a show, the Cavaliers will be live next on FloMarching on June 30 at DCI Central Indiana.

Carolina Crown - 70.95

Sporting their shiny new silver pants and purple jackets, Carolina Crown have entered the 2017 season in stride with their production, "It is..." The second half of the show features their masterful hornline and vocalist playing off of each other's melodies and rhythms, a difficult task to say the least. The show is a field full of excitement -- you never know what to watch. The percussion section has shown improvement and is being featured as such: They even get the hornline involved toward the end of their show. Check out Carolina Crown next on FloMarching with the Cavaliers and Blue Stars on June 30 at DCI Central Indiana.

Bluecoats - 72.30

"The Jagged Line," the Bluecoats' 2017 production, seems to follow in style of their championship show, "Downside Up," while still pushing new things into the drum corps activity. The field is staged with a giant, 10-foot-tall jagged runway down the 50, a tarp covering the back left corner of the field adorned with microphones, and speakers sprinkled throughout the field. The corps spends most of the show running in follow-the-leader-style formations beneath the stage, which creates an interesting effect at such a high velocity. What's most impressive is that the hornline is playing during most of this drill. The percussion and brass sections have shown consistent improvement year by year, and it seems the Bluecoats hornline are really pushing for a Jim Ott High Brass Award this season. Bluecoats will be LIVE on FloMarching on June 30 at DCI Central Indiana, as well!