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MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
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HyperDuke Offline
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Post: #41
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-16-2017 12:52 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Also a soprano sax probably isn't the best feature instrument outside of the concert hall or jazz hall. Just saying.

Then you never saw Matt Stuver in fall 2001 playing Under the Sea. Sounds corny, but it was crazy good.
(This post was last modified: 10-16-2017 05:19 PM by HyperDuke.)
10-16-2017 05:18 PM
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Dawgfan Offline
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Post: #42
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
Not just you. I've been saying the same thing all year. The band has gotten meh. Need to inject some excitement into the show. I can go to Forbes to see a concert- that's not what I want from band at halftime.


(10-16-2017 01:28 PM)jmufan2008 Wrote:  Not gonna lie...sitting on the old side in the sun after being up early, I only had my eyes half open for most of the halftime show, and that was only out of respect for the MRD's. Kinda lackluster... Was also strange seeing like 80% of the band just go sit down for a piece.

I love the MRDs, but sometimes it seems like they focus on being great musicians, but not necessarily playing for the enjoyment of the crowd... I feel like there used to be a lot more pieces that were super entertaining, while also being great sounding. There needs to be a balance of keeping it interesting for the fans and being technically good. If they want to play concert pieces after the game, that's fine, but at halftime it needs to keep people at least partially amped up. Does that make sense? Not sure if it's just me...
10-16-2017 07:49 PM
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jmuroadwarrior Offline
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Post: #43
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-16-2017 07:49 PM)Dawgfan Wrote:  Not just you. I've been saying the same thing all year. The band has gotten meh. Need to inject some excitement into the show. I can go to Forbes to see a concert- that's not what I want from band at halftime.


(10-16-2017 01:28 PM)jmufan2008 Wrote:  Not gonna lie...sitting on the old side in the sun after being up early, I only had my eyes half open for most of the halftime show, and that was only out of respect for the MRD's. Kinda lackluster... Was also strange seeing like 80% of the band just go sit down for a piece.

I love the MRDs, but sometimes it seems like they focus on being great musicians, but not necessarily playing for the enjoyment of the crowd... I feel like there used to be a lot more pieces that were super entertaining, while also being great sounding. There needs to be a balance of keeping it interesting for the fans and being technically good. If they want to play concert pieces after the game, that's fine, but at halftime it needs to keep people at least partially amped up. Does that make sense? Not sure if it's just me...

Man I could use some good old rousing rock & roll, get the stadium rocking. Do the : a little bit softer now, a little bit softer now..... a little bit louder now, a little bit louder now...... HEY EH EH EH! SHOUT!

Come on Scott be brave and do it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjLFpU2pJ4

or anything that gets the crowd on their feet and involved.
10-17-2017 07:15 AM
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hburg Offline
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Post: #44
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
That would actually be a fun song.
10-17-2017 07:25 AM
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Jay M. Youix Offline
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Post: #45
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-16-2017 11:30 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  I've been thinking this for a couple years now and know it'll be controversial... however, with the announcement of Macys 2018 feel it should be delayed a year... but I'd like to see the MRDs get more selective in their audition process and cut the band size down to 250. Get some cream of the crop and people that really want to be there, get a drill app for phones, and learn a new show every week like ohio state, k-state, etc.

I have wanted to say this for several years, also, but I figured the backlash on here just wouldn't be worth it. The lack of new shows isn't quite as much of an issue to me as the sound that's being produced. It's.... just.... different from when I was an MRD. That's the most diplomatic way I can put it. It's different. I have several theories about why that is.
(This post was last modified: 10-17-2017 01:19 PM by Jay M. Youix.)
10-17-2017 01:18 PM
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Dignan Online
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Post: #46
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-17-2017 01:18 PM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  
(10-16-2017 11:30 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  I've been thinking this for a couple years now and know it'll be controversial... however, with the announcement of Macys 2018 feel it should be delayed a year... but I'd like to see the MRDs get more selective in their audition process and cut the band size down to 250. Get some cream of the crop and people that really want to be there, get a drill app for phones, and learn a new show every week like ohio state, k-state, etc.

I have wanted to say this for several years, also, but I figured the backlash on here just wouldn't be worth it. The lack of new shows isn't quite as much of an issue to me as the sound that's being produced. It's.... just.... different from when I was an MRD. That's the most diplomatic way I can put it. It's different. I have several theories about why that is.

I felt like I joined at the start of the decline, 1994, when we won the Sudler Trophy. That year the band was bloated and didn’t sound like I had seen in the prior years when I was in high school. That said, we learned 3-4 different shows and each one with marching except for the concert piece in the middle. It’s really disappointing to hear that they’re repeating the same show every week now.
10-17-2017 01:42 PM
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JMad03 Online
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Post: #47
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-16-2017 05:18 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  
(10-16-2017 12:52 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  Also a soprano sax probably isn't the best feature instrument outside of the concert hall or jazz hall. Just saying.

Then you never saw Matt Stuver in fall 2001 playing Under the Sea. Sounds corny, but it was crazy good.

Damn right. Stuver was awesome. I believe he had another solo as well that was pretty damn good, too.

I'm not a huge fan on the direction of the band, but I really like the drill. They are doing some more complex stuff than when I marched. The body movements are completely taken from drum corps and now pretty much everyone, including high schools, is using it in their shows.
I get that they want to refine the show and make it look good, but if that's the case, it should be way better than it is at this time in the season. Visually its okay (at times), but musically is where there is a huge issue in my opinion.
If they are going to do it this way, then that show better be f'ing perfect. But it isn't. Also I think those in charge have made a huge error... who are they playing for? Are they playing for a Bands of America show, or are they playing for the JMU faithful? If they were playing for the latter, they would give the fans an entire show every week.
Even when I was marching we had a FULL show on the field by the first game. It may have been not as pretty, but it was still very good.
There needs to be something in the middle, where they can give out a quality product, but at the same time, give fans a full show to enjoy. And not the same show every single game. Starting in the middle of the show doesn't count.
Musically, some of that falls on the section leaders. If you have poor section leaders than the section isn't going to be all that. But you also need players that give a damn. Sad to say it, but that hasn't been the case for a long, long time. They just want to have fun.
10-17-2017 03:38 PM
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Dadgum Offline
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Post: #48
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
Will the MRD's be in attendance this weekend at W&M?
10-17-2017 03:41 PM
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Deez Nuts Online
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Post: #49
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-17-2017 03:41 PM)Dadgum Wrote:  Will the MRD's be in attendance this weekend at W&M?

No. The Parade of Champions is Saturday all day at Bridgeforth Stadium, so no JMU band will be at W&M (not that W&M would invite them anyway).
10-17-2017 04:04 PM
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HyperDuke Offline
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Post: #50
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
I just want to get smacked in the face with sound. Kinda rare recently. And everyone knows I don't complain about the band.
10-17-2017 07:04 PM
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jmuroadwarrior Offline
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Post: #51
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-17-2017 07:04 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I just want to get smacked in the face with sound. Kinda rare recently. And everyone knows I don't complain about the band.

A punched-out Hyper at a football game? Nothing new in that.04-cheers
10-18-2017 06:24 AM
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Deez Nuts Online
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Post: #52
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-17-2017 07:04 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  I just want to get smacked in the face with sound. Kinda rare recently. And everyone knows I don't complain about the band.

which is weird because as I was leaving, the push from the leadership was about sustaining notes. players aren't doing that anymore.
10-18-2017 07:26 AM
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Longhorn Offline
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Post: #53
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
After the drum thingy last Saturday it made me long for the days when the MRD's would belt out numbers like Paul Simon's "You can call me Al"...not sure we'll ever see performances like those again anytime soon...
10-18-2017 02:22 PM
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LovethoseDukes Offline
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Post: #54
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
Wonder what this bodes for the Pep Band at basketball games......
10-18-2017 02:31 PM
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Deez Nuts Online
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Post: #55
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
A thread initially praising the performance of the MRDs has taken an interesting turn a month later.
10-18-2017 02:52 PM
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RamDawg Offline
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Post: #56
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-18-2017 02:52 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  A thread initially praising the performance of the MRDs has taken an interesting turn a month later.

I think we all love the MRD's and the negatives aren't directed at them directly. I think it's more toward the people that are getting a pay check in the music dept. The same people that down-sized the pep band because they were too big and too loud. (at a freaking college basketball game!)

I feel some of Scott's selections of music for football games shows he doesn't understand the game, the people in attendance and the purpose of a college marching band at a game. It's supposed to be energizing the crowd, not trying to educate/expose them with classical ballads. The drum/color guard feature is fantastic, and so is the Russian tuba thing as is the ballad they did last week. The "Music People" sitting in the stands this weekend for POC and the other HS competitions they do are going to love it and the HS kids are going to go ape s*** but has no place at a football game. (in my opinion)

You have a 400+ member band and you're doing solo's and a drum/guard feature with 30 people while the other 400 kneel and watch? I think the Drum feature should be played pre-game toward the student side.

There are reasons Chad is at VT and I respect the decisions made, However I think we may be seeing a little "fall-out" in his absence. Chad "gets" sports and I understand he somewhat kept the football show in check.

I love the MRD's and The Dukettes and as much as a fan as I am a fan of athletics. I'm there for every pregame (time for a new show) watch them every half time and stay for most post game shows. Salvation is created gives me goosebumps every time I hear it and adding All We Do Is Win after the Alma Mater is bad-***. I'm not sure Scott is aware the show he's putting on the field doesn't appeal to the football crowd.
(This post was last modified: 10-18-2017 03:33 PM by RamDawg.)
10-18-2017 03:32 PM
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JMad03 Online
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Post: #57
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-18-2017 03:32 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  I'm not sure Scott is aware the show he's putting on the field doesn't appeal to the football crowd.

To be fair, there have been plenty of shows in the past that may not have been football crowd friendly. I don't have issues with the main band pieces, although that drum feature.... ugh. I dislike it for other reasons.... it's just not good. I guarantee if that drumline was TIGHT, more people would be saying that was different and pretty cool. But they aren't performing the hell out of it. They are just going through the choreography and rhythms with no flair at all. It's flat.
I applaud them for trying something, but if you're going to try it, you'd better perform the hell out of it, and they just aren't.
As for the rest of the band... marching band is going through an evolution, like it or not. But these changes have nothing to do with their handling of halftime shows. I just don't get why it's acceptable to: (keep in mind this isn't exact)
Game 1: Opener and concert tune
Game 2: Opener, concert tune, and ballad
Game 3: Concert tune, ballad, and closer
Game 4 New opener and same concert tune, and maybe old closer
Game 5 New opener and new concert tune
Game 6 New concert tune and closer

As of this year, it's October and the fans have yet to see a full MRD show from front to back. That is unacceptable. Throwing in "Get It On" doesn't count. There's a way to clean drill and learn new stuff and keep the same quality.
Fans deserve better. People used to come to football games for the band. It isn't fair to continuously give fans an incomplete product week by week.
10-18-2017 03:58 PM
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jmuroadwarrior Offline
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Post: #58
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-18-2017 02:22 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  After the drum thingy last Saturday it made me long for the days when the MRD's would belt out numbers like Paul Simon's "You can call me Al"...not sure we'll ever see performances like those again anytime soon...

A number of years ago they played the William Tell Overture. I was so hyped I was ready to run out of the locker room, (if I was in the locker room.) I asked Pat Rooney a few years after that to recycle it, he said it was just so hard to march to, I said: Don't march, stand in place and play it.

One year they had me crying when they played and sang Edelweiss. I know it is not close to a football game song but it was so good.

Elvis's Burning Love was one that Pat did recycle for me when I told him how much I loved it.

All of us posting on this thread have one thing in common, we love the MRDs and are generally pleased, but perhaps not as much as we used to be.
10-18-2017 05:57 PM
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JMDukeARGO Offline
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Post: #59
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
I think I was sober*, and I believe they played "Just a Gigolo" circa 1989-1991. They played the hell out of it and had a great time! Of course, there was still a track in BFS and the tubas still did push ups after every TD...

*not responsible for the veracity of anything after "I think I was sober..."
10-18-2017 06:11 PM
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HyperDuke Offline
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Post: #60
RE: MRDs totally kicked it Saturday
(10-18-2017 05:57 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  
(10-18-2017 02:22 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  After the drum thingy last Saturday it made me long for the days when the MRD's would belt out numbers like Paul Simon's "You can call me Al"...not sure we'll ever see performances like those again anytime soon...

A number of years ago they played the William Tell Overture. I was so hyped I was ready to run out of the locker room, (if I was in the locker room.) I asked Pat Rooney a few years after that to recycle it, he said it was just so hard to march to, I said: Don't march, stand in place and play it.

One year they had me crying when they played and sang Edelweiss. I know it is not close to a football game song but it was so good.

Elvis's Burning Love was one that Pat did recycle for me when I told him how much I loved it.

All of us posting on this thread have one thing in common, we love the MRDs and are generally pleased, but perhaps not as much as we used to be.

Edelweiss is probably in my top 5 all-time MRD tunes. That recording from the mid-90s with the trumpet solo was PERFECT.
10-18-2017 08:36 PM
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