LHSax

I’m sure the non-Texas forum will riot if vandy wins without a guard, and I will be sure to bring the popcorn to watch that debate unfold....

I’m sure the non-Texas forum will riot if vandy wins without a guard, and I will be sure to bring the popcorn to watch that debate unfold....

I’m sure the non-Texas forum will riot if vandy wins without a guard, and I will be sure to bring the popcorn to watch that debate unfold....

I’m sure the non-Texas forum will riot if vandy wins without a guard, and I will be sure to bring the popcorn to watch that debate unfold....

Vandy might do it y’all....

No one even comes close to attempting what Hebron is putting out there musically. I disagree with their musical ranking at SA, despite the dirt, but hopefully they get reward more for it this weekend. And then as much as we rave about Hebron’s music, they may be Texas best visual band this weekend as well, besides maybe Vandy. The contrast with Leander is really interesting and I loved both!

No one even comes close to attempting what Hebron is putting out there musically. I disagree with their musical ranking at SA, despite the dirt, but hopefully they get reward more for it this weekend. And then as much as we rave about Hebron’s music, they may be Texas best visual band this weekend as well, besides maybe Vandy. The contrast with Leander is really interesting and I loved both!

No one even comes close to attempting what Hebron is putting out there musically. I disagree with their musical ranking at SA, despite the dirt, but hopefully they get reward more for it this weekend. And then as much as we rave about Hebron’s music, they may be Texas best visual band this weekend as well, besides maybe Vandy. The contrast with Leander is really interesting and I loved both!

Mason was A little too much park and bark for me, but I really enjoy the way they utilize their large band and enormous guard visually. I think they do it a lot better than other bands of their size. I think WM might kick a Texas band out of the top half.

Got on to say pretty much this. It is definitely not a show that will get stuck in your head, but the music is fascinating and so different from why is typically put on a football field and the ballad is really something else.

Got on to say pretty much this. It is definitely not a show that will get stuck in your head, but the music is fascinating and so different from why is typically put on a football field and the ballad is really something else.

Homestead’s ballad is glorious! Overall, the show hasn’t evolved as much as I though it would throughout the season, but still very worthy of finals.

I know the season isn't quite over, but the boards tend to die off after GN, so wanted to do a fun exercise while some people were still around. 
 
So, time to come up with some sequel shows! If a band were to do a part 2 to their 2019 show next year, what would it be? Here are some examples:
 
 
Leander - "The Aftermath" - What happens after the nuclear holocaust at the end of their 2019 show...I'm thinking Fallout vibes (I've never played these games, I just assume that's what it's about). Post-apocalyptic world with complete anarchy and chaos, the perfect use of that edgy Leander sound.
 
Vista Ridge - "Turning the Field" - This is actually Part 3 in a series of shows where VR tries to rotate larger and larger things...this time they find a way to rotate the entire football field.
 
Flowermound - "Shattered Glass" - FM breaks all the glass they made in an angry, determined rise back to the top, eventually rebuilding the glass into some cool sculptural art to keep their artistic trend going.
 
CTJ - I know their show was already a sequel, so instead of a part 3, I'd be totally down if CTJ went on a string of shows feature Disney music....Just think of the possibilities!
 
 
 
Time to get those creative juices flowing!

I know the season isn't quite over, but the boards tend to die off after GN, so wanted to do a fun exercise while some people were still around. 
 
So, time to come up with some sequel shows! If a band were to do a part 2 to their 2019 show next year, what would it be? Here are some examples:
 
 
Leander - "The Aftermath" - What happens after the nuclear holocaust at the end of their 2019 show...I'm thinking Fallout vibes (I've never played these games, I just assume that's what it's about). Post-apocalyptic world with complete anarchy and chaos, the perfect use of that edgy Leander sound.
 
Vista Ridge - "Turning the Field" - This is actually Part 3 in a series of shows where VR tries to rotate larger and larger things...this time they find a way to rotate the entire football field.
 
Flowermound - "Shattered Glass" - FM breaks all the glass they made in an angry, determined rise back to the top, eventually rebuilding the glass into some cool sculptural art to keep their artistic trend going.
 
CTJ - I know their show was already a sequel, so instead of a part 3, I'd be totally down if CTJ went on a string of shows feature Disney music....Just think of the possibilities!
 
 
 
Time to get those creative juices flowing!

It's simple...we just need a separate category.
 
 
Regional
Super Regional
MEGA REGIONAL
Grand Nationals
 
 
 
(Grand Nationals being smaller is intentional)

It's simple...we just need a separate category.
 
 
Regional
Super Regional
MEGA REGIONAL
Grand Nationals
 
 
 
(Grand Nationals being smaller is intentional)

It's simple...we just need a separate category.
 
 
Regional
Super Regional
MEGA REGIONAL
Grand Nationals
 
 
 
(Grand Nationals being smaller is intentional)

It's simple...we just need a separate category.
 
 
Regional
Super Regional
MEGA REGIONAL
Grand Nationals
 
 
 
(Grand Nationals being smaller is intentional)

It's simple...we just need a separate category.
 
 
Regional
Super Regional
MEGA REGIONAL
Grand Nationals
 
 
 
(Grand Nationals being smaller is intentional)

It's simple...we just need a separate category.
 
 
Regional
Super Regional
MEGA REGIONAL
Grand Nationals
 
 
 
(Grand Nationals being smaller is intentional)

I know we've gushed about Reagan plenty here, but I've been watching "not" Reagan videos on repeat the last few days, and now I WANT TO GUSH ABOUT IT MORE! This show has something for everyone. Particularly, the part after the ballad where the character gets led through the circles and the ostinato develops around them might be one of the most effective marching band moments I've ever seen. This is CLASSIC early 2000's Reagan, and I can't get enough of it. It's just darn good design and it is the perfect integration of musical/visual story telling. The drill as a whole is fantastic, and the recurring visual and musical motifs really tie the whole thing together beautifully. I can't wait to see what kind of impact this show has on the activity in years to come, because it feels era defining to me.
 
This show is going right up on the mantle for top high school shows of the decade for me, right next to (and maybe on top of) FM '16 and Woodlands '13...Guess I can't wait for what 2022 has in store...

Just got home from an amazing weekend.  Definitely have some thoughts.  More than ever the depth of this is just mind blowing.  So many good bands that I couldn't fathom how long it would take to give all of them some love.  So many break out seasons for so many programs, I love seeing the progression of so many bands having so much success.  Some surprising results for sure, but I think for the most part the judges got it right.  There were about 15 bands who didn't make finals that I wouldn't have been shocked if they did.  Thoughts on the finalists:
 
Pearland - The ending of this show encapsulates what I loved most about it.  As soon as they hit that tempo change with the FTL boxes, it's just a minute of increasing velocity, shorter moves, and constant compression of the field until it just exploded at the end.  Masterfully done in terms of building tension, both musically and visually.  This announcement came out of left field, but I'm so glad it did.  I've loved them for a few years now, and am so happy they can now say they're a BOA San Antonio Super Regional finalist.  We should have know based on them missing in Houston the last few years but doing really well at San Antonio that they were gonna be hot after their 6th place finalist appearance earlier in October.  Huge congratulations, hearing them going nuts finding out they made finals was one of my favorite moments of the weekend.  
 
Keller - They are daredevils doing a show that hard, they are just flying while playing some really difficult music that whole show.  Their brass has really formed a noticeable approach and achievement level the last few years, and that was no less prevalent this year.  The features in Ostinato were TIGHT.  Their closer was especially wild, the drill was so hard and was perfectly matched by the music, the glissandos in the trombones on top of all that were just so fun.  Loving that they have maintained a high level of success.  
 
Round Rock - This show probably gets the most improved award of the year, they gave two beautiful performances over the weekend.  Very lush and warm ensemble sound that made stuff like Pagliacci and La Vie en Rose really shine.  Fantastic work by the percussion as always, and I though their drill was really well composed overall.  I'm so excited to see them back in, and that bodes really well for Grand Nationals in two weeks.  
 
James Bowie - Their body work was top notch, in both composition and performance.  They performed that stuff with so much attitude.  The aggressive side to side shifting was my favorite of that.  Loved the color palette as well.  Music was really seamless and pretty, always like it when the stuff from Avatar is used on the field.  Very happy to see them back in finals this year, I loved them last year as well.  
 
LD Bell - I really liked the concept of breaking up th tarp/panels in the middle of the file and spreading them out and changing the landscape of the field.  Guard did a nice job filling all the negative space throughout the show.  Really energetic music performance from them, really tight overall and the music had a very mysterious/ethereal vibe to it all.  Also glad to see them back in finals again and improving quite a bit on last year as well.  
 
Flower Mound - The stark white palette they used to portray something like vitrification against was a fantastic decision, the look of this show was so great to look at.  Loved the additional elements that they added to this show throughout.  I thought the music they selected fit the show really well, really liked Neodammerung especially.  Thought their guard really shined this year and were staged in a way that featured them really well.  Really great minimalist type show once again, hope they keep doing shows like that.  
 
The Woodlands - Oh my word, easily one of my favorites of the weekend by far.  This is one of those shows were the kids were given a character and they completely bought into it.  From the second they walk onto the field to the second they leave they put on a SHOW.  Love how they all interact with eachother on the field and even with the crowd.  The music is a blast, they do straight up Bernstein really well.  Tons of great soloists and small ensemble features.  This show defintiely has some room to grow going into GN, so I'm really excited to see this in two weeks in Indianapolis.  
 
Claudia Taylor Johnson - As always they're tackling one of the most physically demanding shows on the field and doing a very admirable job of it.  The velocity of this show is pretty breathtaking to watch (maybe breathless because I would be dead trying to march drill like that right now).  Clearly a fan favorite, the crowd loved this both times I saw it this weekend.  I Can't Wait to Be King is definitely the highlight, they just look like they are having a total blast out there.  Really excited to see how this one grows over the next two weeks as well.  
 
Marcus - Wow, what a gorgeous show.  Probably my favorite of theirs since 2012.  Their prelims run especially was just pristine in every regard, especially musically.  Everything was tight, controlled, focused, etc.  But they played with a little more power this year as well which made it even better.  Percussion and guard are also fantastic, they both really shined in how they were featured in this show.  Woodwinds in Ruslan and Ludmilla and brass in the closer really blew me away.  And good lord that oboe player, I don't know where they get these double reed kids every year but good God.  Incredible.  
 
Hebron - So.  Hard.  Oh my gosh, the level of difficulty they're attempting is just bonkers.  I saw this at DMI as well and it's already grown so much in a week.  Still a lot of room left to grow, but if it gets to where I think they can get it this will be something to behold in Indianapolis.  This is a really hard visual program too, they've really kicked up the difficulty in that regard that last two years.  So much talent all around in every section, they just need to spend a week and a half rehearsing and they'll shine bright here in a week and a half.  
 
Leander - Goodness.  I knew that closer had some stuff to add, but they far exceeded what I expected them to do.  When streamers started shooting in 1812 everyone around me freaked out.  The Oppenheimer quote going into that ending sent shivers shooting up my spine.  Also loved the fabric stuff they added in the ballad climax, really cool stuff.  They're doing a lot more technical stuff this year and some of it is REALLY hitting.  The Texas contingent this year have done a great job of programming shows that will push them towards a later season but not going over the top, and Leander has hit I think the best balance of all of that.  This was probably my favorite of the weekend from an entertainment standpoint, and I don't see that changing.  
 
Vista Ridge - Wow, the energy that this show added between when I saw it in Midland and now was pretty mind blowing.  I've said it 20,000 times but man this show was hard, and they did an amazing job tackling that and then some.  The musical timing with this drill was a ten in difficulty and they killed it.  Visual performance from them was incredibly strong, both in performing the really intricate body and the really high velocity drill.  Guard is better every year, percussion is so underrated and had one of my favorite features of the year, and that soloist, wow.  Amazing job, never heard a bad run from her.  I love that they built on last years successes, and look forward to seeing them grow into next year.  
 
Vandegrift - The top 2 bands were just marching band essence.  Vandegrift as always gave a fantastic twist on some of the classical repertoire and performed the crap outta it.  Clean and clear drill and a musical performance that was pure and powerful.  The micro and macro shaping they do in both section features and full ensemble is mind blowing, and I don't think there are many other bands that can do that that well.  The ballad in this show was them at their best.  Super tasteful and fantastically performed drumline and front ensemble stuff, beautiful dancing from the Vision Dance Company, and that trombone soloist.  WOW!  This has huge potential at GN, and I fully expect them to bring home at least one caption.  Best of luck, this is gonna be an amazing last two weeks for them.  
 
Ronald Reagan - Good lord.  The presence this band had was unreal.  This show was ethereal, simple, seamless, and so many other superlatives.  The visual program just progressed so logically and achieved amazing effect from just straight up and incredible drill.  Some of those sequences in there just blew my mind as someone who is getting into doing some visual design stuff.  That moment in the ballad when the flags circle the field was just.....breathtaking.  The member being taken around the field by the dance team/guard in the band outfit was so fun to watch.  One of my favorite ever moments probably.  Fantastic musical performance too, some really great technical moments and a POWERFUL ensemble sound.  I was shocked when I got onto the field level for the encore how little was actually amplified.  The "Secret World" that they immersed us all in will easily go down as an all time favorite for me and totally deserved that massive score it got.  I love shows with amazing props, great electronics, and so on.  But what Ronald Reagan is doing and having success with is also so refreshing.  They're just an amazing marching band.  I think Daniel Sanchez said it best when he said this show was no fat lean marching band.  It was filet mignon.  This is probably my favorite of the three years I have seen this competition live.  Keep doing what you're doing.  

I know there's been a lot of talk about Hebron's ceiling being high due to the difficulty of their music book, and I agree about the high ceiling and potential, but I'll be super curious, even with the additional 2 weeks, if Hebron can truly reach that ceiling. To be fair, I love this show and still think it should be winning music even with the dirt due to the ridiculousness of what their attempting and succeeding to do very well. What I'm extremely curious about is if they reach this ceiling by watering down the book a little bit (lowering the ceiling slightly), or by somehow getting this show at this difficulty to the cleanliness of their competitors. I have no doubt their capable of the latter, but will be interesting to compare for sure. 

I know there's been a lot of talk about Hebron's ceiling being high due to the difficulty of their music book, and I agree about the high ceiling and potential, but I'll be super curious, even with the additional 2 weeks, if Hebron can truly reach that ceiling. To be fair, I love this show and still think it should be winning music even with the dirt due to the ridiculousness of what their attempting and succeeding to do very well. What I'm extremely curious about is if they reach this ceiling by watering down the book a little bit (lowering the ceiling slightly), or by somehow getting this show at this difficulty to the cleanliness of their competitors. I have no doubt their capable of the latter, but will be interesting to compare for sure. 

Really excited to see what VR can do with an extra week or two of marching season. Their current staff has proven that they are very capable of milking the most out of these shows during the last couple of weeks each of the last 2 years. Turning the Tables was a 7th-10th place show until they made some pretty magical adjustments in the last couple weeks to really make this show blossom into a medal contender.