2017 Drum Corps at the Rose BowlJul 2, 2017 by Michael Gilley
Drum Corps At The Rose Bowl Recap
Drum Corps At The Rose Bowl Recap
Drum Corps At The Rose Bowl Recap
Another Saturday night of drum corps and the 2017 DCI Drum Corps At The Rose Bowl show did not disappoint. Here's how it all went down.
WORLD CLASS
1. Blue Devils - Concord, CA - 74.500
Something about seeing so many snare drums on the field just warms the heart. The classic starting drill, glockenspiel, and rifles along with the traditional shakos lead to some magnificent block drill to open Blue Devil's 2017 production Metamorph. The uniform change is a great use of the props and does anybody do jazz better than BD? The drill for the drum solo has changed along with the printed head for the bass drums. This show continues to evolve daily. Putting the snares on top of the props, drill, and transitions have all been tweaked since seeing them at the DCI West show. (Won GE, Visual, Color Guard)
2. Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA - 73.850
What a new a fresh look from the Santa Clara Vanguard. Their 2017 production Ourboros is based around the circular symbol that depicts a snake or a dragon in a circle eating it's own tail. It's meant to represent either wholeness or infinity. The horn feature in the beginning of their is unbelievable. Great use of props and body work by shaping performers into dragons with the pods of four members. Very clean drill from the top when the props end on the 50 yard line. The flags weaving throughout the corps during the baritone are beautiful. The drill writer's ability to integrate not only the guard but the props for SCV is an absolute pleasure to watch. (Won Brass, Percussion)
3. Blue Knights - Denver, CO - 69.700
What a way to start a show, with headstands on podiums. The mixed colors from the corps uniforms as they begin their show is mesmerizing. Also, shoutout to the incredible baritone solo that kicks off their show. It melds perfectly into the dark sonorous sound coming from the tuba circle on the right half of the field. As many corps integrate microphones on a regular basis, it can sometimes be a difficult task to balance the mic'd soloist with the full hornline, but Blue Knights have found a very good spot in the way they balance volume. This corps will be a visual performance powerhouse by the end of the season based on the guard and drill cleanliness this early on.
4. Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL - 68.300
Welcome to the field...the Phantom Regiment. Can you get anymore nostalgic about drum corps than Regiment? The use of the white helmets vs the black helmets may seem like a simple change but the sum of the effect to the uniform is greater than the parts. The integration of the color guard in the drill is very well done. The ability of the flugelhorn soloist to maintain pitch center at the end of the ballad is something to note.
5. Mandarins - Sacramento, CA - 66.200
Mandarins have been on a mission in 2017 and so far that mission may put themselves in World Class finals. Their show is entitled Inside The Ink and explores the fluid-like movement of ink. Mandarins has now topped last year's 11th place corps, The Academy, and is continuously putting themselves further ahead. This corps is taking huge strides in improving their visual program and it's showing up in July which is certainly setting the corps up to succeed as we get closer to Regional season. At the end of the show the corps reprises "Sound of Silence," runs around for :45 seconds straight, and lets the front ensemble absolutely tear up their instruments. This is quite the show to behold, Mandarins.
6. The Academy - Tempe, AZ - 64.300
After their hilarious show last year involving skeletons and xylophones, The Academy is not disappointing this year with their comedic take on a classic narrative of hunter vs. rabbit. The informal attitude plus formal attire is a great combination that adds to the whimsy for this corps. Make sure you pay close attention throughout their whole show because if you watch a different section of the drum corps, you'll catch different visuals and little details that make this show even better.
7. Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA - 62.600
Pacific Crest's 2017 production, "Golden State of Mind" is a blast to watch. With compelling visuals, recognizable source music and an overall light mood to their show provides for a great viewing experience. The corps' brass section gets to really flex their muscles during and after the very lyrical "Kaleidoscope of Mathematics." The ballad's writing provides a great vehicle to allow Pacific Crest to shine, and transitions seamlessly into the closer. The closer's high energy, high volume, high velocity attitude brings a great finish to a very well rounded show coming from Diamond Bar, California.
1. Golden Empire - Bakersfield, CA - 53.700
Since their last performance on FloMarching at last Sunday, June 25th at DCI West, Golden Empire has made some serious improvements, most notably in their visual program. The drill is markedly at a higher level and the color guard is reaching a new level for this season. The ending of their show has all of the dramatic build that you see from the top corps written into it. The entire corps will undoubtedly continue building their ability to sustain at high energy from start to finish as the season progresses. (Won GE, Visual, Color Guard, Brass, Percussion)
2. Gold - Oceanside, CA - 53.350
First look at Gold Drum and Bugle Corps include the workman-like uniforms with the different shades of brown and baseball style caps. It's great to see the that drum corps is thriving in the open class in California. It's definitely a corps that has potential to grow and feed off the wealth of talent on the West Coast.
3. Watchmen - Riverside, CA - 48.800
Watchmen are bringing it this season with a powerful opening hit and a solid sustain of energy all the way through the first movement. The middle section of their show let's their color guard and battery show off while a fight sequence takes over the center stage between brass. The battery is once again made a focal point after a beautiful ballad surrounding a flugelhorn soloist. Their closer carries the energy that the corps established in their opener and their drill seems to be well on the right path to success for this young Open Class corps.
4. Impulse - Buena Park, CA - 44.950
Impulse presenting their show In The Beginning, starts off with a establishment voice by the front ensemble. Lots of sound from the low brass during their first impact. Their front ensemble may be small but definitely not afraid of leading the way with a little Rite of Spring. Have to say, for only working with 4 members, the color guard performs much larger than they actually are. Smiles on the faces of the performers at the end of their show for another job well done.
5. Incognito - Brea, CA - 42.600
While Incognito may not have the dominant sounds of the World Class, giving young performers like those of Incognito is exactly what makes the marching arts so wonderful. So many thanks to the people like corps director Alex Gray for putting together organizations like Incognito.
How to Watch
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WORLD CLASS
1. Blue Devils - Concord, CA - 74.500Something about seeing so many snare drums on the field just warms the heart. The classic starting drill, glockenspiel, and rifles along with the traditional shakos lead to some magnificent block drill to open Blue Devil's 2017 production Metamorph. The uniform change is a great use of the props and does anybody do jazz better than BD? The drill for the drum solo has changed along with the printed head for the bass drums. This show continues to evolve daily. Putting the snares on top of the props, drill, and transitions have all been tweaked since seeing them at the DCI West show. (Won GE, Visual, Color Guard)
2. Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA - 73.850
What a new a fresh look from the Santa Clara Vanguard. Their 2017 production Ourboros is based around the circular symbol that depicts a snake or a dragon in a circle eating it's own tail. It's meant to represent either wholeness or infinity. The horn feature in the beginning of their is unbelievable. Great use of props and body work by shaping performers into dragons with the pods of four members. Very clean drill from the top when the props end on the 50 yard line. The flags weaving throughout the corps during the baritone are beautiful. The drill writer's ability to integrate not only the guard but the props for SCV is an absolute pleasure to watch. (Won Brass, Percussion)
3. Blue Knights - Denver, CO - 69.700
What a way to start a show, with headstands on podiums. The mixed colors from the corps uniforms as they begin their show is mesmerizing. Also, shoutout to the incredible baritone solo that kicks off their show. It melds perfectly into the dark sonorous sound coming from the tuba circle on the right half of the field. As many corps integrate microphones on a regular basis, it can sometimes be a difficult task to balance the mic'd soloist with the full hornline, but Blue Knights have found a very good spot in the way they balance volume. This corps will be a visual performance powerhouse by the end of the season based on the guard and drill cleanliness this early on.
4. Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL - 68.300
Welcome to the field...the Phantom Regiment. Can you get anymore nostalgic about drum corps than Regiment? The use of the white helmets vs the black helmets may seem like a simple change but the sum of the effect to the uniform is greater than the parts. The integration of the color guard in the drill is very well done. The ability of the flugelhorn soloist to maintain pitch center at the end of the ballad is something to note.
5. Mandarins - Sacramento, CA - 66.200
Mandarins have been on a mission in 2017 and so far that mission may put themselves in World Class finals. Their show is entitled Inside The Ink and explores the fluid-like movement of ink. Mandarins has now topped last year's 11th place corps, The Academy, and is continuously putting themselves further ahead. This corps is taking huge strides in improving their visual program and it's showing up in July which is certainly setting the corps up to succeed as we get closer to Regional season. At the end of the show the corps reprises "Sound of Silence," runs around for :45 seconds straight, and lets the front ensemble absolutely tear up their instruments. This is quite the show to behold, Mandarins.
6. The Academy - Tempe, AZ - 64.300
After their hilarious show last year involving skeletons and xylophones, The Academy is not disappointing this year with their comedic take on a classic narrative of hunter vs. rabbit. The informal attitude plus formal attire is a great combination that adds to the whimsy for this corps. Make sure you pay close attention throughout their whole show because if you watch a different section of the drum corps, you'll catch different visuals and little details that make this show even better.
7. Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA - 62.600
Pacific Crest's 2017 production, "Golden State of Mind" is a blast to watch. With compelling visuals, recognizable source music and an overall light mood to their show provides for a great viewing experience. The corps' brass section gets to really flex their muscles during and after the very lyrical "Kaleidoscope of Mathematics." The ballad's writing provides a great vehicle to allow Pacific Crest to shine, and transitions seamlessly into the closer. The closer's high energy, high volume, high velocity attitude brings a great finish to a very well rounded show coming from Diamond Bar, California.
OPEN CLASS
1. Golden Empire - Bakersfield, CA - 53.700
Since their last performance on FloMarching at last Sunday, June 25th at DCI West, Golden Empire has made some serious improvements, most notably in their visual program. The drill is markedly at a higher level and the color guard is reaching a new level for this season. The ending of their show has all of the dramatic build that you see from the top corps written into it. The entire corps will undoubtedly continue building their ability to sustain at high energy from start to finish as the season progresses. (Won GE, Visual, Color Guard, Brass, Percussion)
2. Gold - Oceanside, CA - 53.350
First look at Gold Drum and Bugle Corps include the workman-like uniforms with the different shades of brown and baseball style caps. It's great to see the that drum corps is thriving in the open class in California. It's definitely a corps that has potential to grow and feed off the wealth of talent on the West Coast.
3. Watchmen - Riverside, CA - 48.800
Watchmen are bringing it this season with a powerful opening hit and a solid sustain of energy all the way through the first movement. The middle section of their show let's their color guard and battery show off while a fight sequence takes over the center stage between brass. The battery is once again made a focal point after a beautiful ballad surrounding a flugelhorn soloist. Their closer carries the energy that the corps established in their opener and their drill seems to be well on the right path to success for this young Open Class corps.
4. Impulse - Buena Park, CA - 44.950
Impulse presenting their show In The Beginning, starts off with a establishment voice by the front ensemble. Lots of sound from the low brass during their first impact. Their front ensemble may be small but definitely not afraid of leading the way with a little Rite of Spring. Have to say, for only working with 4 members, the color guard performs much larger than they actually are. Smiles on the faces of the performers at the end of their show for another job well done.
5. Incognito - Brea, CA - 42.600
While Incognito may not have the dominant sounds of the World Class, giving young performers like those of Incognito is exactly what makes the marching arts so wonderful. So many thanks to the people like corps director Alex Gray for putting together organizations like Incognito.
How to Watch
ON TV: Available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app now.STREAMING: Only on FloMarching with a PRO subscription. A yearly PRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. Join Now
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