LKendrick

Is the James Bowie attending "THE" James Bowie? I remember last year in the predictions I predicted a James Bowie that wasn't the Austin one and it kinda tanked me.

So what is Reagan's ballad? Sounds like it's pretty dang awesome from the blog. Excited to see it.

After seeing Wakeland, think they have a chance at spoiling another LISD sweep. They have gotten GOOD the last 2 years.

So no placement predictions just yet. That little snippet of The Woodlands from their game is REALLY nice, music sounds epic. With the right package, easily a contender again. I'll echo what I said about Hebron on the other thread. That ballad is going to be a big ol GE Music explosion. As stated, I think this show with the right elements, could be just as good or better than "World of Wonder". It's pretty bare bones right now as to be expected, but I see the potential, and it's huge. Absolutely cannot wait to see where it goes. Haven't seen anything of Round Rock, but they sound like they're on track for another great GN showing. Keller seems relatively ahead of where they usually are. Nice sounds, great drill, huge and fantastic color guard, and great music. I say potential finalist. Same can be said about Keller Central.

This is impossible. This is my current list of bands I'm considering for finals: Cedar Park Cedar Ridge Claudia Taylor Johnson Coppell Dripping Springs Flower Mound Hebron Hendrickson James Bowie Keller Leander Marcus Owasso Ronald Reagan Round Rock The Woodlands Vandegrift Vista Ridge Wakeland Westlake So that's 20. And that's leaving of bands like Aledo, Friendswood, Keller Central, College Park, ect. This is gonna be a nail biter. There's gonna be a name or two not in the night show that we're not used to seeing out IMO.

Nvm, did some sleuthing.......... So wow. Some great shows. Feel like I'm watching two sets. Set one is Marcus and Flower Mound, still have to finish the show, but what they have is very complete and probably has most of the elements in. Then Keller and Hebron. Hebron's parent performance obviously doesn't have all the elements in (guard costuming, probably some props, show silks, ect). Same with Keller. So Keller and Hebron. Keller seems really strong for where they are early on compared to previous years. Probably really ramping it up for nationals. Opening is really subtle, but I think really nice. Opening it will be incredibly lush. Dat guard doe. Talk about some field coverage, and they're pretty polished. Can't wait to see the show silks, feel like the right colors could just totally fill up the field. Musically, fantastic drumline. Winds are solid, typical season growth should sound good on them. Some really nice drill, and they're performing it very well. Looking at who was in the 8 - 15 range at Grand Nationals last year, they're certainly making a case for finals. They seem really strong relatively. Hebron. Like I said, don't feel like this is the final form. Like Rubisco said, I think with some elements added this can be absolutely fantastic. Can't wait to see what color scheme they use, hope it's something along the lines of "World of Wonder", talk about GORGEOUS. Opening is really nice, typical Hebron. Love the visual AND aural juxtaposition between the brass and woodwinds. Man, that guard can spin for days. They look really solid. Next movement. Holy technicality batman, In November that's gonna be SICK. The way the bring out nuances and stuff later on should prove to make that really impressive. I really like the drill. Might not be breakneck whiplash stuff, but the simultaneous demand per usual is really high. Really polished in terms of design, and they're getting there performance wise. Woah. Ballad. Absolutely breathtaking. Also agree with Rubisco here, kinda sultry, playful mood that I agree will make them stand out. That soloist, whew. That's gonna be a huge Music GE moment at the height of that ballad. I cannot wait to see that show in its final form. They should definitely be in the top 6 at nationals, or at least in the running. Music Caption contender for sure if they clean up like they usually do. Will comment on Marcus/FloMo later. Have watched both, just don't have time at the moment.

Are there some videos yall wanna share? Lol you can send them to me in a message if you want, I wanna see.

It's there. Woooooooow. What a great show, beautiful. Ballad is GORGEOUS. Guard costuming and their work is spectacular, that crimson is just awesome. Percussion is pretty hot as well. Music Ensemble is pretty punchy and intense, mean that in a very good way. Gonna assume there is a little more at the end. Definitely a contender for finals at SA. Have really grown to love their programs over recent years since Dr. Atomic.

Hendrickson is off to a great start. Really excited to see their show, sounds like it could potentially be a finalist. They were the first one out in 15th last year and sound like they could be improved this year. Flower Mound sounds awesome, scores from Birdville are promising for them.

Looks like the show is based on surrealism artwork by Rene Magritte. On their band Facebook page they have posted various pictures of artwork containing images you are talking about. Son of Man has the Apple. False Mirror and Future of Statues has the clouds. Kind of in the same vein of last year, was environmental art last year, Surrealism this year.

Regardless though, top 4 within .5 of each other. That's tight. Nice appearance for Vista Ridge in the early season. Huge jump from last year for Hendrickson as well, good for them. Sure that was an awesome night of competition to watch unfold.

That's what I'm reading on MFA. Which would explain why Round Rock placed above James Bowie even though James Bowie won GE.

WOW. GO LEANDER!

Wow, go FloMo. Care to elaborate on Flower Mound? Was super impressed with the video I saw a few weeks ago. Interested in what their show is about.

I'm incredibly excited to see Hendrickson now based on the comments made about them. Absolutely loved their show last year.

Brief video I saw of Hebron a few weeks ago was very nice. Regardless, you can definitely bet on them being in the running for at least the music caption. If they can have a show that comes together in every aspect, they could potentially do VERY well. Really liked their drill. Round Rock, know nothing about. Interested to see how they do this weekend. The Woodlands will be The Woodlands. Huge moments, incredibly hard visually program. Comes down to all the elements combined. They can probably compete for a title most years, just depends on the show. I'm almost sure all three will be in finals. I'd bet on it. Keller and Keller Central. Two programs that I'd consider pretty close to eachother. Keller had a really good season last year, show was really nice. Little I've seen of this year seems in the same vein. HUGE guard that will give some massive field coverage. Solid musical performance as well. I think they'll at least be in the conversation for finals. Haven't seen Keller Central, could probably echo a lot of what I said about Keller. I think we have 3 REALLY good bands going, that with the right show could really do some damage. And two potential finalists depending on their shows. Think they definitely have the talent.

I'm really hoping Texas does "really" well this year. That topic was getting kinda nasty, really shocked me how many on there only defined success as winning, there's a lot more to it than that in this activity. To be fair, some Texas people were getting really feisty on there, some times it's best just not to respond, I've learned that over the years on DCP, here, ect.

After their growth over previous seasons.............I dunno about that. That's more of a recognition of Westwood's growth, and not anything bad about Westlake. Two fine programs.

If you've got consistent high quality videos of other bands, I'd love to see them. Just talking about what I can see.

So Cedar Park, Leander, Vandegrift, and Vista Ridge are all firing on all cylinders.......Oi. Talk about a 4 way punch.

Hello Vandegrift WOAH.

Vids of The Woodlands, Johnson, and Bowie are not worthy of making any kind of judgement on IMO. Whether it be because of briefness, angle, video quality, ect, don't feel like any of those are a good picture as to how they're doing.

Agreed, there's 18 or so that I'd say could be in depending on who is having a good/bad year.

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So my darkhorse is Vista Ridge, I'm incredibly impressed with what I'm seeing/hearing design wise and performance wise. Think they could potentially do very well. Hendrickson as well, last years show was just downright awesome, they seem to be on an upswing as well. Agreed on Westwood as well.