LKendrick

Also, VERY impressed with Vista Ridge. Hinshaw visual program is FANTASTIC! The guard/dance team costuming and those skirts are just AWESOME, some really neat unconventional moments from them in the front half. Really cool. Winds are sounding fuller every new video I see, and drums are starting to REALLY polish. Love the music as well, they're going places. The music for the closer at standstill.........ooh. That's gonna be fantastic.

Avon had a TOUGH visual package last year, kicked their butts for most of the year in the videos I saw until around the Indy regional when they really built up the endurance and were able to really sell it. This year looks much the same, not a good angle, but there's some REALLY tough looking things in there, they're always one to beat, this year looks no different. 3:26, WOAH. That's gonna be freakin cool. A show about Oil? That'll be intriguing in the least. Love Avon. I'm personally loving Leander, music is absolutely fantastic, beautiful color scheme. Some big GE moments in there, that opening hit makes me smile big every time I hear it. I thought last years show had some issues early on, and then around early October it REALLY started clicking. We'll see, show aside, they're already sounding absolutely fantastic.

So outside the LISD/Area D schools, I'm finding Wakeland extremely impressive early on. Has been fun watching them progress in recent years. I think they'll be up there as a contender as of now. Fantastic ensemble moments musically, and visually they have a fantastic package that looks relatively polished. Should compete really well. So we had Friendswood and Dawson bump up to 6A, opens up two spots from last go arounds finalists. Interested to see who might snag those. Lots of Area A/B/C schools like Azle, Boswell, Aledo, Forney, Poteet, Newmann Smith, Aledo, ect. that I could see competing for those. Anyone have any idea how many Area D schools will advance? Regardless, there's going to be a really good school left off that list.

Ehh. Every time I hear someone talk about a huge graduating class, lots of age outs in DCI, or whatever, they're always just as good or better. They obviously have an extremely talented teaching staff and a set of designers that more than knows what they're doing. And as far as a personal tragedy, don't know what you're talking about, but whatever it entails, they get through it and everyone is ok.

Flower Mound.............very cool drill. Great music too. Definitely seems like what will be another high quality product. Keller, what a guard! Talk about some field coverage.

Aledo's on youtube. Crappy angle, heard New World Symphony and Sabre Dance, Brass is very full, should polish very well. Lots of difficulty combing music and drill, sabre dance on the move in the woodwinds is impressive. Beautiful flute soloist for the Largo ballad, very nice. Guard looks really solid, drums as as well. Marching is very solid individually, can't tell as an ensemble. Looking like another solid year for Aledo as always. Congrats on the 5A honor band!

Wow, some awesome stuff going on this year. Wakeland's VERY impressive, a show that should compete extremely well in both UIL and BOA. Their "Venemous" show last year was a huge step up for them, they seem to improve every year, and this year seems no different. Opening is BEAUTIFUL! I expect them to compete very well at state! Love the drill. Shoutout to that guard, fantastic performers. Hebron, as stated, is VERY Hebron. Of course that is meant in the best of ways. When it is in its final form, it's going to be an amazing display of virtuosity, simultaneous marching, playing, and staging difficulty, paired with what I'm sure will be an incredibly pleasing color pallet. Hard drill just isn't fast high velocity stuff, what they do with staging and simultaneous demand is rivaled by few in its difficulty, I still think back to the 2012 "In Concert" show and the 80 yard spread woodwind isanity that they just nailed. Wouldn't surprise me to hear the opening just a tad faster, played that piece a year or so ago and it moves. Some really cool things in the drill that relate back to the 360 theme, and not just the circles. Really love the clarity and cleanliness in the design of the drill. Paired with the Pitts music book, should be a spectacular package for them tot take to nationals. Can't tell much with Johnson other than that drill looks pretty dang high velocity. Ronald Reagan is impressive. Can definitely tell Mr. Guidry is back on board, opening has a VERY early 2000s Reaganesque vibe to it. Some great drill, guard looks pretty great. They have some more size to them it seems. Some great music as well. Should be nice! I find Reagan's shows tend to really bloom later on, and if this is now, can't wait for later. So the big boys in Leander ISD. Cedar Park also seems to have a lot more size. Great music, nothing less than I'd expect from them. Definitely keeping to the genre's they excel in. Drill is incredibly complex, when cleaned, should really sparkle. Vista Ridge is really solid as well. Some really high velocity drill in there, can definitely see the Hinshaw influences in there. Their evolution has been exciting to follow in recent years, this year seems to be right on track. Interested to see what those pyramid frames turn into. Leander, woah. That opening hit is pretty dang awesome, electronic stuff sounds a lot like what Bluecoats have done in recent years. Pretty neat. 3 schools that should do REALLY well at 5A state. Nice show from Westlake, always love hearing "Kingfishers Catch Fire", nice music overall. Some great drill, should clean up nicely. Lots of great stuff going on early on. I'm thinking 5A state will be absolutely killer.

Leander and Vista Ridge sounding and looking very solid. Some fantastic music in both of those shows!

Kaval Sviri makes for a FANTASTIC opening impact moment, see Vanguard Cadets this last year and Blue Knights in 2003, awesome piece. Quite a design staff too, should be awesome!

CT Johnson - "White Rabbit" Whoever puts together their media is absolutely fantastic.

I've given up on predicting high school, there's too many changing variables and stuff that we just don't know about that happens staff wise. The only one I feel like predicting is CTJ winning McAllen.

63 Bands. Have some friends from out of state coming. Owasso and Archbishop Alter. Owasso should be a solid finalist contender and Archbishop Alter certainly has a chance at the A Class title.

Either they have a nationals conflict or perhaps want to go to somewhere they could be a little more competitive (not an insult I promise)? Just speculation on my part.

Wow, Texas is going to be taking over all over the country! California: Americas Coronado Missouri: Haltom Timbercreek Georgia: Cypress Falls Clements Friendswood Westwood Winston Churchill Indy: Richland Nationals: Cedar Ridge Hebron Keller Keller Central LD Bell Round Rock The Woodlands I find it EXTREMELY exciting how many bands that don't travel outside the state very often that are! And nationals, geez. Talk about a tough group, I consider all these finalist contenders based on recent years and trends: Avon Blue Springs Broken Arrow Carmel Cedar Ridge Dobbyns Bennett Harrison Hebron Homestead Keller Lake Central Lawrence Township LD Bell Marian Catholic Round Rock The Woodlands William Mason So wants to try to trim 5 bands off of there? NOT ME! Keller Central's been really improving over the past few years, they could very well squeeze their way up there. I could say the same about Franklin from Tennessee. Center Grove and Centerville haven't been up there in recent years, but they could improve again. You never know. That's just not fair. Going to be an amazing year from Texas I'm sure!

As far as champions go, I think next year will be Broken Arrow's year again. The past 5 years have been ASTOUNDING for them, being so close so many times, I think they'll really make sure they can push themselves to finally end up on top. The first 2nd place band above a 97? They're a serious force. Their point of view design wise is pretty breathtaking Hebron, if they go, could do really well. They've shown that they can be up at the top in 2013, 2014 was strong to. I think with the right show, they could be up there on top. I think top 6 for sure though. If The Woodlands goes, they'll either be in 4th - 6th or in 1st to 2nd, I think their performance levels and overall effect are always there, I think it's just a question of if they can bring the level of polish they did in 2013 again. If Round Rock goes, I think they'll definitely make finals again. 4th again? We'll see, but they'll be absolutely powerful as always. 2013 seemed REALLY good for them to peak, I've thought they always need another 2 weeks, and with that, they can be up there again. If Cedar Ridge goes, I think they'll be a finalist. They're musically outstanding and are incredibly refreshing. Any show utilizing that beautiful singer will be breathtaking. If their overall concept is a little bit stronger and they can get a little cleaner visually, I think they can push top 6. If Keller and Keller Central go, I think potential finalist and semifinalist respectively. Keller's had a really strong past 3 years, finally busting into the incredibly difficult state finals last year with a beautiful show. James Bowie in 2006 didn't make San Antonio finals and made Grand National Finals, so it can be done. Let's not forget they were a consistent finalist up until around 2009...... And Keller Central, has improved LEAPS and bounds over the past few years, I don't think they'll be QUITE at finalist level next year, but their improvement in recent years is extremely impressive. Hope Blue Springs shows up at either SA or Nationals, or both again. I think they're amazing, was devastated for them in 2013.

The quality of this contest in recent years has shot up pretty dramatically. Some of these could make 6A Finals, in my opinion. Area D is just ridiculous of course, even bands that don't advance could make finals, easily. Cedar Park Connally Dripping Springs Leander Vandegrift Vista Ridge All those are state finalist level programs. I'd bet whatever bands advance to state also advance to finals. Looking at 2013's other finalists. Dawson and Friendswood bumped up to 6A, so that opens up two spots. Wakeland's improvement in the past few years has been pretty staggering, they'll be up there. Same with Waxahachie. Lake Ridge is on the rise, for sure. Wylie's a solid program. Boswell and Azle have been right on the doorstep for awhile, maybe it's time one of them slips in. Newman Smith and Sherman are always solid. Poteet as well. El Paso Hanks has a very solid program. Gonna be a fun SMC to watch unfold.

Yeah. lol I'd say their books are just as difficult as Hebron's myself, in different aspects however. Their music might not sound quite as difficult all the time, but some of the the things they do.......let's just say without their precision it wouldn't sound very good or effective. They tend to stay VERY close to the originals that they put on the field, some pretty complex stuff they're doing that's meant for the concert hall. They sound SO good, that some of the insanely difficult stuff they do can start to sound a little easier, because they do it with such accuracy and musicality. How they get so polished every year blows my mind. (fyi, not discounting Hebron, I'd say a lot of the same stuff for them too). The two best sounding bands in the country in my personal opinion in terms of blend, tone, musicality, all of the stuff that some marching bands can forget about for the sake of being loud and "effective" sometimes. A little more subdued perhaps, but in a way that takes something pretty darn special to achieve.

Well if it's on their sites.....care to share? There's always a PM if you don't wanna. .

I think I know of one, suspect one of the two state finalists, but don't know of the other. Interested to see who these rumored bands are! When does BOA usually release the first list of bands that are signed up?

It'll probably still be a relatively large group, if they're growing at a pretty rapid rate that might be a good idea if they want to remain VERY competitive.

I'm excited to see what they do, they REALLY kicked it up when they got to nationals last year, along with Cedar Ridge, their improvement from San Antonio to Nationals was pretty astounding. When bands have a goal or special occasion, it tends to do some amazing things. Would love to see them up in the top 4 again.

I'm not mentioning it because I know sometimes this early: It's not set in stone. The students might not know. The staff might not want the students to know yet. Some things might not have been finalized. ect. Just respecting whatever schools this is staff just in case there are cases like I stated above. I'm not witholding a conspiracy guys. I promise.

I agree about Cedar Ridge, there's something incredibly fresh and inventive about their shows, besides that breath taking vocalist they make the most of each year. This year especially, their musical package was something fresh and new. The visual program was nice, maybe needed a little more something that I can't exactly put my finger on, but still extremely solid. They placed 11th in finals in 2013, but they were 5th in prelims and semis, and were still up towards the top in music in finals. They're a force to be reckoned with. Bands for the most part REALLY step up their game in a nationals year, Wakeland was hugely improved over 2013 last year, HUGELY, and I expect Cedar Ridge to keep pushing. They're the next big thing in Texas IMO. And that percussion ensemble, drumline and pit, jeez. They're INCREDIBLE!

I know of one who still hasn't been mentioned.

Thinking about out of staters that are not there every year, would love to see Blue Springs come back, loved them in San Antonio in 2012 and was rather shocked when they missed out on finals, along with Lake Central at Grand Nationals. Their "Walk Away" show this year was outstanding. Wando was a hugely pleasant surprise this previous year, would love to see them come again. Tarpons an every other year band as of late, probably won't see them back unless they want to come defend their title. I hope Broken Arrow never ever skips a year again, their last 5 shows have just been consistently amazing. Union's always a nice band when they show up, still shocked about them not making finals in 2012.