Drum Corps International Presents The Countdown '09

So last night I went to the theaters at the Carousel Mall in order to watch the 2009 DCI countdown show.  It serves as a kind of prelude to the live cinemacast of the DCI quarterfinals that can be seen on August 6th at the same theaters.  So just what is the countdown you ask?  Last month, Drum Corps International's website at DCI.org, asked for the fans to vote for their favorite shows for the past 5 years.  The top twelve were then revelaed to be voted on again.  Then, the top six were premiered in theaters around the U.S. last evening.  Now from today through the 20th, the fans can log on and vote for their favorite of the top six with the winner being announced that evening.  It is, essentially, a chance for the fan to be the judge.  So let's look at the top 6.

Bluecoats 2007 "Criminal"

The inclusion of this show kind of amazed me.  Personally I preferred their 2008 program, "The Knockout".  This program is well written and has a great storyline featuring a heist story with a twist ending.  It is also a great example of the signature Bluecoats hornline.  At the sametime, however, I feel as though the show was somewhat lacking.  Part of it might have been that the show peaked in score a week too early.  Sixth best show in my opinion.

Blue Devils 2006 "The Godfather, Part Blue"

This is one of the shows that first caused me to fall in love with DCI.  The signature drum and hornlines of the Blue Devils coupled with some of the greatest drill ever written.  The cross moving into the dgger piercing the heart is a moment that gives goosebumps to many hardcore fans of drum corps.  Factor that in with the use of voice ("Sleep with the fishes") and guard flags with fish and horse heads and you have one of the most visually appealing shows ever written.  This was, in my mind, the third best show on the night.

Santa Clara Vanguard 2004 "Attraction: The Music of Scheherazade"

Although not my favorite SCV show, I do love he music used.  This was one of my favorite pieces to play in my high school orchestra.  To see SCV bring it to life is something beautiful.  The guard is what makes this show so wonderful.  They truly embody what Rimsky-Korsakov envisioned when he wrote the music.  However, I feel it was only the fifth best show of the evening.

Carolina Crown 2007 "Triple Crown"

Horse Racing and Drum Corps.  This show was, plain and simple, a match made in heaven for me.  The guard is what really made this show so amazing.  The guards costumes coupled with their movements, and the movements of the whole corps for that matter, showed the grace of horses in a pasture.  It was a crowd favorite wherever the show went.  The best part is the ending with the race of the horses around the track ending in the photo finish that completes the show.  This is one of my top two shows of the evening.

Cavaliers 2004 "007"

What is great about this show is that the 2004 Cavaliers had one fo the best latin drumlines ever.  They prove their mettle throughout this show.  Taking the music of James Bond including the main theme and "Live and Let Die", the Cavis succeed in bringing out the soul of James Bond.  At the same time however, while winning almost all captions in semi-finals, they only won GE at finals.  The last nights show does show some flaws.  Due to this, I placed the show in fourth of the six shown.

Phantom Regiment 2008 "Sparticus"

Drum major getting stabbed and killed with a spear: Check.  Guard members getting beat up on by drumliners (finally): Check.  A guard girl being thrown on the ground and having her head rebound off of the turf: Yep.  2008 DCI Champion: Absolutely.  This show had it all.  It told a great story and featured PR's amazing Hornline.  Good to see Drum Major Will Pitts back from the dead to do interviews on the show last night as well.  This show was also one of my top two shows of the evening.

So who won?  On my scoresheet, with a score of 96...Phantom Regiment!!!  That leaves Carolina Crown the winners with a score of 97.  A win of only one point.  Of course, this is only my opinion.  For those of you out there who want a chance to be the judge, go to DCI.org and click on the Countdown link and vote for your favortie show.  This was a perfect warm-up for the DCI '09 season which will be opening up in June with a tour stop coming to a town near you.

Cheers,

Nick in Gettysburg