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Daniel Valdez's avatar

Quick Recap:

- BD won nearly every caption except percussion and one subcaption in Music Analysis.

- Vanguard and Mandarins improved by about a point from last night.

- Anything above .5 in a subcaption is considered a "sizable" gap. If you're looking at potential Finalists in August, we had some sizable gaps with Mandarins over The Academy.

- It's still early season and the same exact groups are competing against each other tomorrow night. We'll see how margins/gaps/numbers pan out SOS (show-over-show).

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

Scores:

Blue Devils - 72.30

Vanguard - 70.9

Mandarins - 66.45

The Academy - 62.15

Pacific Crest - 57.35

Gold - 54.60

Golden Empire - 46.75

Impulse - 37.50

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

I barely even notice Blue Devils' set piece transitions. They are ridiculously smooth and practically magic. The amount of musical styles they play during this program is astounding. I want to bathe in the Moon River!! Not exactly sure what else you want me to say that they haven't said themselves for the past half century.

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

Those all-white Vanguard uniforms absolutely pop at night! Exposes a lot visually which I'm sure is a challenge they are up for. Loving the Nirvana tunes mixed throughout the program.

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Matthew Carstensen's avatar

There was a little bit of controversy following last night's show about Vanguard's lack of safety rails on props based on where they have members standing. Will this be something that gets fixed?

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Matthew Carstensen's avatar

This is gonna be a fantastic show once they get it together. I can't wait to see it.

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

Pacific Crest has one of the most unique shows of the year. What happens with all of these past drum corps shows after the performers are done with them? They all end up in the void. Existing and not existing at the same time. Super intriguing stuff from Pac Crest.

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

The Mandarins will be in Finals at the end of the season. And they will be COOKING. This show kicks all the booty. Guard is phenomenal! The way the corps interacts with the spinning stage never feels forced. Very natural and creative.

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Matthew Carstensen's avatar

THE Academy is back! This show was very cute last night and I look forward to seeing it again

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

The Academy is about ready to take the field. This production is all of the fun with a side of snozzberries.

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

A million notes is vintage Academy. The crowd is eating up the theme and the energy.

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

INT IS UP!!!

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

Gold's trumpet soloist freaking rocks.

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Matthew Carstensen's avatar

The hats are so cute!

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

We all know about the Pandemic that affected every drum corps in existence, but a year before the World shut down, Impulse! was the target of an awful robbery which resulted in the disappearance of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. SO glad Impulse! has rebounded and is back on the field!

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Daniel Valdez's avatar

I love seeing these alumni ensembles jam out! Nice job, Freelancers!!!

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Matthew Carstensen's avatar

They sounded really solid!

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Matthew Carstensen's avatar

It's nice to see a lot of the Open corps in California still hang on despite restrictions and how much COVID has impacted their member base

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