Rubisco

Wow! Lots of promotions! And this means that Jordan has officially made it off the waitlist!

@packwick I think you're being too fatalistic. They've literally got over a month and a half to iron out any kinks. Their seeding score at this stage in the game, whatever it ends up being, doesn't matter. Frankly, there are too few guards in SW for it to matter. I'm gonna chalk most of what you said up to what I call PAS: Picky Alumnus Syndrome. Having seen all the top guards now, I still think this TWHS show is the most imaginative one in the class, even if it has some fixable issues. It's funny you bring up Vanderkolff, because I could actually see him doing a show like this. It has a very intellectual bent. Now, about those videos 👀👀👀 Also, I caught Palm Desert Charter Middle School. I think it has been weirdly quiet on this forum, seeing as, well, you know. 🤯

I don't see why not! I stumbled on a video of Coppell from Mansfield. Love this show! It looks like they're recreating a pop concert, complete with an absolutely hilarious "stage crew" camera guy. I think they've got another crowdpleaser on their hands, but this one seems cleaner than last year. Can't wait to see it from higher up! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OhllAiZyG6k

I think Bellbrook may have been promoted to World class. They're showing up in Scholastic World on the current entries list. Congrats to them, if that's the case! Big accomplishment. I'm still waiting for Jordan to get off the waiting list for A class. I've got my fingers crossed. They've had a great start to their season.

A video of Tarpon's world guard has been posted! I'm not in love with all the talking in the soundtrack, it feels like a bit of a too-on-the-nose lesson, but the performers are executing at a super high level for February. Clearly the cleanest show right now. I love all the cool cat musicians sprinkled throughout. Gives the show an interesting character. Set seems very stripped down for a Tarpon show. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmU_GK-WHkI&pp=ygUMVGFycG9uIGd1YXJk

And I still don't agree with you! 😄 Yes, I use a VPN as well. I'm resigned to the fact that TXBands thinks I'm a spambot. I suppose I might as well be one at this point!

A couple of scores from local circuits people might be interested in. Palm Desert Charter Middle School with a 76.01. Very strong score! Tarpon Springs with an 83.8. If that holds into WGI, they'll be the clear frontrunner.

When you're going through the recaps and see that Friendswood was dead last in equipment in finals 👀 Now that's a ballsy placement, especially considering the reverse placement performance order with Friendswood performing 2nd to last. I'm not sure I'd have them thaaaat low, but I also wouldn't have had them anywhere near 2nd place. I was going to remark on Coppell's incredible jump from 4th to nearly winning in Open class at Mansfield, but it turns out they had a two-point penalty in prelims, so...

It went up actually, but just barely. Their upstairs scores are concerning, and they'll likely need to rework some of the design of the show. Padilla, who judged at Avon, scored Avon, Carmel, and Miamisburg higher LAST week than he scored TWHS tonight. I disagree with that, but I can acknowledge that this TWHS show isn't for every taste; I'd say it leans more toward fans of the outre. On the flip side, TWHS' individual scores were great; in prelims those scores were stellar, trending ahead of Carmel. How about Jordan winning in A?! WOW! I did not see that coming. Way to go, Jordan! It seems like they pulled it off on the strength of their individual analysis scores. Every upstairs judge had Clear Brook 1st across the board.

I like Third Coast Independent. I don't think they're misclassed or anything. I just wish the people in the soundtrack would stop. TALKING!

Oh, also, I wanted to add that I think TWHS has pretty obviously the most challenging show in the scholastic world class this season. I just hope they're able to get it to a high level of polish.

I find TWHS so fascinating this year. It really is something different. I'm disappointed they still don't seem to be done with it, but I enjoyed what I saw. My two main complaints would be 1.) how DARK everything is, from the floor to the costuming; I wish the costumes brought more a light colored pop. 2.) the transition out of the slow movement and into that final chill, trick toss-filled movement isn't very seamless, they don't seem to connect very well. I absolutely LOVE the slow section. That section is pure poetry, but the section after kind of throws me for a loop, and obviously wasn't as clean or interesting from upstairs.

I'm only half paying attention to the Open groups right now, as I eat a roast beef dinner. I was grooving quite a bit to Earl Warren's disco soundtrack. I picked up my phone to get a closer look at College Park because the sparse soundtrack intrigued me. The show has such a wonderful ethereal quality. It really is like we're underwater. This seems like a big improvement for them over last year. Also, I would like a jellyfish hat.

I'm thinking it was an mp3 on the laptop based on what we've been told, no? And the sound of the operator's phone came through because it was plugged in because he was charging it or whatever. I've never received a call when my phone has been plugged into a computer, I'm not sure how that works. I'm pretty sure the soundtracks are uploaded well in advance of the contest.

Ugh. Well, at least it was WGI's fault. Pretty unprofessional, honestly. I feel bad for those performers.

Friendswood. A Safe Place to Land. I love how they have these 3 circles in a chain on the floor, and the performers are often in such close proximity that they seem to transform into 3 separate stages that they move gracefully across. Wonderful use of motif in the staging. I love how that opening line sort of dissolves as the performer moves through it and then reassembles. If you watched Friendswood last year, you'll notice a lot of the same wonderful expressive qualities to the writing. I don't think this was their best performance, in fact it had the most obvious errors of the guards I've watched (starting at Pearland), but the ceiling for this work is much higher. Their position in the top 2 may already be secure. Clear Brook. Self-Reflection. You guessed it, lots of baroque silver mirrors on the floor. I love the creepy opening whispering, like the self-doubting voices in your head. This show is so seductive and sensuous, and the performers absolutely communicate the emotion. Such a clean performance as well. Clarity, clarity, clarity. This is an obvious 1st place for me. I can't wait to see how they do in Dayton!

Jordan! The little band that could with a guard that's now making waves in WGI! Beautiful, expressive show! Georgetown's show is a little dry for my taste -- lots of calm, measured classical string music. I do love the set and the return of the Da Vinci circles. You can't deny that this was a cleeeean performance, with only a couple noticeable mistakes from upstairs. Very snappy! They make the most of their smaller guard for sure.

I thought they were outstanding as well. It is a colder and more clinical show, though. It's interesting seeing it beside that Katy show, with the rousing 60s, 70s rock and psychedelia. They couldn't be two more different shows. Both very well performed.

Awww, Seven Lakes was super cute, too. Did you hear the random audience girl at the end say, "I'm gonna cry!" 😂 Two Weeks Notice. Clearly it's being used as a metaphor for a relationship. Love the department store set design and the pastels. Who doesn't like pastels?

Isn't that Pearland show just lovely?

Yikes! That's not how you want to start your first WGI show! ☹️ I finally went through the available scores. Something like first through seventh in A class at Houston are within like 2 points of each other. That's gonna be fun to figure out! I'm surprised none of the As hit 80. Actually, I'm surprised nobody at all has hit 80 across both WGI contests today. Already we're seeing some major discrepancies between the local and national contests. Not entirely uncommon, I guess.

I think it's possible. I think TWHS probably has the most deeply talented guard in the country, but a lot depends on how the indoor show is written. Some guards are really good at playing to their strengths; other guards unnecessarily tax themselves. Clarity and being interesting and emotionally engaging is ultimately what wins you contests. I'll need to see the full Woodlands show to make a fair comparison to Carmel and Avon, preferably from a higher angle than what I've seen thus far. (And we can't forget about Tarpon Springs, too.) TWHS will probably want to at least match the 80 that Carmel got last weekend to be in the conversation. I don't want to make early season scores seem super deterministic, because they aren't always, but I think a lot will be answered tomorrow, and not just in the world class. I'll try to catch what I can on Flo -- finals for sure.

I guess I'll be looking for you all next time!

Tarpon posted a great, albeit heavily edited video on their Insta showing clips from their world show, The Origin of Cool. Lookin' very clean and snappy! The soundtrack is a fun mix of Take Five and a voiceover talking about the origins of cool, sounds like Wayne Harris maybe. The floor looks totally black right now with black platforms that are moved around. Flags are colorful. A handful of band musicians are scattered across the floor performing live music. Cool! Definitely adds some personality. It reminds me of their New York show from several years ago, but maybe more stripped down in terms of set design. Overall, the video has a very chill, jazz lounge feeling, maybe a little like Carmel. We'll have to wait and see.

My spidey-sense is tingling! Don't judge! I'm sure I'll be spectacularly wrong! 😅 Nice of you to drop in. This Saturday is a big day for Texas guards. Two (!) WGI contests, one in Dallas, one in Houston, plus a TCGC central Texas contest at Hays that features pretty much all the other top groups that aren't going to WGI this weekend. Houston will be streamed on Flo. I may have actually preferred Dallas, just because the lineup seems a little stronger top to bottom, but beggars can't be choosers. The A class at Houston should be very strong and competitive. Round 1 with The Woodlands JV; Round 2 with Friendswood, Seven Lakes, and Grand Oaks; and Round 3 with Clear Brook and Pearland.