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BandFan59

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Everything posted by BandFan59

  1. Given that Indianapolis and St. Louis did not have full retreat, we will probably not see that here. 6A State will probably have a full retreat though.
  2. I'll be honest, I haven't had the chance to see Round Rock since BOA Austin. I gave the edge to Bowie based off how close they were to Rouse at Waco. I've heard good things about Round Rock though, and beating Reagan in all music scores at area is a good sign for them here and at UIL State. The last couple spots were the hardest for me to be able to pick since the bubble is very tight for those spots and there's several bands that could fill them.
  3. I've been struggling a lot with my final predictions here. I submitted a prediction on the Predictions page here awhile ago but my rankings have definitely changed since then, so I'm going to give it another shot with some thoughts. Be warned, this is a pretty long post. 1. Vandegrift (General Effect) I'm still rolling with Vandegrift right now as my pick to win, but I'm not as confident as I was before. A lot of us here thought they would be an easy pick to win given how relatively dominant they've been this season, especially with their showing at the TMC, but being beaten by Vista Ridge in both prelims and finals at area may be cause for concern, even given UIL's rather wonky judging at the area level. Regardless, I think their show is still phenomenal and performed fantastically, with great musical selections (the ballad is one of my favorites of the season) that go well with the theme of the show. 2. Claudia Taylor Johnson (Visual) This might be a surprise, but I really am high on CTJ this year. I've said it before that they have my favorite production of the season, and after getting to look at their performance at area I think they'll surprise a lot of people here. The show is fairly different from their first appearance at BOA Austin and now has better use of the vocalist and different music parts and drill sets that help emphasize the opposites theme more. They have what I think is probably the most visually demanding show of any band, and they perform it VERY well. I think they have a shot at winning here. 3. The Woodlands I have a hard time debating between the Woodlands and Vista Ridge. I'm not the biggest fan of the cabaret theme of the Woodlands' show, but I can't deny that they perform it incredibly well. The guard is the best in Texas and the visual book, while not the toughest, is very clean. Their tenor sax and trombone soloists are FANTASTIC, and while the ending seems a bit almost anti-climactic, it does add a good level of demand to the show. The only thing I'm concerned about is they haven't really had any true competition with some of the other top dogs, so I don't really know how they stack up. 4. Vista Ridge Talk about making a comeback! Vista Ridge seems to have mastered the late season cleaning that epitomized the Woodlands in the past. Beating Vandegrift at area in both prelims and finals is no easy feat. The show has been drastically cleaned up visually, and they're now back in the conversation for a top half finish here, with a possibility of getting a medal. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Katy Perry elements in the past, but I'm come around on them now that I understand the theme of the show better. Their brass is so strong and are a big part of why I'm such a big fan of them now. 5. Hebron (Music) Honestly I'm still thinking this could be a bit low for Hebron. For me they're an easy pick for the music caption. They have an absurd music book that they perform excellently, as they always do. Everything about them from their woodwind features (especially those saxophones in the ballad!) to the trumpets' articulation and powerful low brass screams amazing. I don't think there's a better music performing band in the country. The only thing I think might hold them back is their visual. It's a little bit muddled at times, and the new ending is a little bit dirty right now. Still, they could easily finish higher, and I have them as my pick to win UIL State right now. 6. Ronald Reagan Another great band that I might be under-ranking right now. Reagan's not slowed down a bit since Morrison left, and their show this year is another brilliant production that shows why props aren't necessary to create a stunning show. Visually they're just as good as they've always been and are a good shout to win visual here. For me though the show is just a bit safe and too similar to Secret World (which isn't a bad thing, considering how good that show was). It's going to do great here and at Grand Nats, but I don't see them as a contender to win it all anymore, especially after falling behind musically at area. 7. Cedar Park They've really bounced back this year after spending a couple years out of San Antonio finals. A fourth straight state championship is amazing, and their show this year is the strongest they've had in a good while. The show is excellently executed and does a good job integrating the history of their program. A good contender for the top half. 8. Marcus Probably the most consistent band of the past fifteen to twenty years. They have another beautiful production this year, and while they aren't the loudest band, they make up for it with beautiful and rich sounds. I haven't gotten a chance to see their closer, but if it's anything like their ballad, they will be just fine here and in Indianapolis. 9. Cedar Ridge Although they look a bit smaller than they were in the past, you wouldn't know it based off their sounds. These guys are LOUD. It's not easy being able to top Reagan musically, and while Medea's Dance of Vengeance is getting to be a bit overplayed, they're still performing it beautifully. Another great band that should be solidly in finals. 10. Leander I really like their production this year. It's on a smaller scale than some of their past ones, but it's really fun and entertaining to watch. The introduction with the brass gets stuck in my head quite often and even with the smaller guard, they still look brilliant visually. I don't know how else to explain it, but it's just fun to watch these guys. 11. Coppell It's about time they get back into finals. They haven't been in since 2013, and I think this year has the strongest show they've had since then. While they've always been great musically, they haven't been able to find the right match visually, but I think this year they've hit the mark with a theme that works great, a visual book that matches, and a guard that has become one of the best in the state. Shuttlesworth is going to do great things with Coppell. 12. Rouse One of the big breakout bands of the season! A silver medal at 5A state is an incredible feat, and to follow it up with San Antonio finals would be huge. For a relatively small band compared to their peers here Rouse is incredibly loud and plays with great full sounds. I could see them finishing higher given how well they placed at Waco and state. 13. Keller A lot of people have been down on them this year after falling a bit behind some other bands, but I don't see any reason why they should be counted out of San Antonio finals. They have a fairly demanding show, yes, but they perform it very well, especially musically, and since 2015 they've made finals at every event they've attended. I'd sooner put them in than leave them out here. 14. James Bowie I don't know if there's a band in the country that has been able to weather director changes as well as Bowie. Despite the turnover they've always managed to consistently remain one of the best bands in the Austin area, which is probably the most competitive metropolitan areas in the country for high school marching band. A great showing at Waco is a good sign for them here. First Out: Round Rock Bubble: Westlake, Cypress Woods, Pearland, Timber Creek, more bands that I'm definitely forgetting There's so many other bands that deserve to be praised. All the students performing out there should relish the opportunity of performing in the Alamodome. If you leave everything you have on the field, no one can ask any more from you. Go for it!
  4. This is now Cedar Park's fourth straight state championship! One more will tie Marcus' streak of 5 straight from 2006-2014!
  5. CTJ is a tough band for anyone to perform after, but the Woodlands are an incredible program with a strong show this year that will be just fine. I'm excited for that last block on Friday, it's going to be fantastic.
  6. With Coppell and Keller both being in panel 1, the locks from that panel for me are Claudia Taylor Johnson, the Woodlands, and Hebron. Cedar Ridge and Leander are the bands Coppell and Keller have the best chance at overtaking to advance based on panel, but both are very strong and have grown substantially throughout the season. I have a feeling we'll be seeing all four bands in finals though.
  7. At least they only had to narrow it down to 12 😀
  8. It does seem to be a top half bottom half split. I don't think UIL has ever utilized this format before, so this is a first. We'll probably be seeing similar scheduling for the rest of the state contests as well.
  9. 5A State Finalists (in performance order): 2:15 PM - McCallum H.S. 2:30 PM - Colleyville Heritage H.S. 2:45 PM - Hendrickson H.S. 3:00 PM - Forney H.S. 3:15 PM - Dripping Springs H.S. 3:30 PM - Friendswood H.S. 3:45 PM - Break 4:00 PM - Wakeland H.S. 4:15 PM - Aledo H.S. 4:30 PM - Cedar Park H.S. 4:45 PM - Highland Park H.S. 5:00 PM - Leander H.S. 5:15 PM - Rouse H.S. Congratulations to all finalist bands!
  10. Dawson's a very talented band that's been improving a lot the past several years but unfortunately I think the level of competition here is too high for them to make finals. There's absolutely no shame in that though, because this is easily the most competitive event of the year (except Grand Nationals this year might actually be tougher for once) and just making the top 30 at San Antonio is a notable accomplishment for any band.
  11. I haven't seen a video of CTJ in quite some time, if anyone has a video of them from area my inbox is open 😀 As for predictions here I think I'll wait a few more days before I share my thoughts as I'm still unsure
  12. As far as I know J3 never changes. I think this year though they're moving to a seven judge panel at state with an added content judge similar to GE at BOA events so I'm not sure what the judging panel will look like then.
  13. The first few performance times (generally anything within the first block) aren't preferred because judges tend to underscore the bands in those times in order to save room for later in the day. If a judge gives the first band a 95 out of 100, and then later in the day he thinks other bands performed better, he's only given himself a five point margin to score those bands, so they usually start pretty conservative with the scoring to give themselves leeway for later bands. In 2018, the Woodlands and Coppell, two excellent and historic programs with a lot of success, were the first two bands to perform at state. The Woodlands ended up placing 12th in prelims, the last band to make finals, while Coppell placed 15th. So bands generally want to avoid drawing those first block spots for that reason and the fact that it can be hard on the students to get up at 4 or 5 AM and get ready for a major performance.
  14. Honestly, Cedar Park is a near lock for me. They've consistently placed above Leander and Cedar Ridge this year. I even have them finishing in the top half around 6-7. They have a fantastic show and are back to their excellent standards after a few years out of San Antonio finals. Tough competition to get top 7 here but I think they have what it takes.
  15. I almost agree with this, I think the top 4 will be from an LISD. I think Marcus will fall somewhere between 6 to 9. CTJ may also spoil the top 4 party.
  16. Hebron is my pick right now to win state. Flower Mound won area C by one point, but they were neck and neck with Hebron who won prelims also by one point. I think Hebron's show is tailor made to succeed at UIL though, with the insane music book and execution they have. It's about time they finally win given how incredible their program is.
  17. Waco is basically the midpoint between Dallas and Austin. Not surprising to see finals made up of bands from those two major population centers. A lot of the 5A powerhouses are in the Austin area as well, and this event coinciding with 6A area meant a lot of 5A bands were here.
  18. The judges switch positions from prelims to finals. J1 and J2 become the two visual judges, while J4 and J5 become music judges alongside J3, who stays as a music judge in both prelims and finals. I wouldn't focus too much on the actual scores themselves either, because UIL judges use them more as a way to keep track of bands and have room to place other bands in between and vice versa. Area judging is notoriously fickle, but typically in prelims judges are more focused on getting the right bands into finals, which usually explains why finals sometimes can have drastically different results from prelims.
  19. Wow, VERY rough draws for Waxahachie, Marcus, and Round Rock going 1st, 2nd, and 4th. I remember in 2018 the Woodlands was the 1st band to perform and they nearly missed finals finishing 12th in prelims. Hopefully these groups are still able to perform at a high level.
  20. I think Hebron is much improved visually, but I still don't know if it will be strong enough to win here. There was some noticeable visual dirt at the end of their new closer, but I really liked the additions they made to it. I have them penciled in for the music caption here, but I see them finishing anywhere from 3rd to 5th here. I see them being a much bigger contender at UIL State.
  21. CTJ has my favorite show this year out of any band this year in the country. Really pulling for them to do well here and at Grand Nationals. I really like Reagan's show as well, but I think it's just a bit too similar to Secret World and doesn't take enough risks. They perform it incredibly well though, and I still love the overall design.
  22. State Qualifying Bands: The Woodlands College Park Klein Oak Tomball Memorial Oak Ridge Klein Cain Vista Ridge Vandegrift Westlake Lake Travis Coppell Keller Southlake Carroll Waxahachie Timber Creek Bridgeland Cypress Woods Seven Lakes Jersey Village Pearland Clear Brook Clements Stephen F. Austin John B. Alexander Edinburg North Hanna Harlingen Flower Mound Hebron Marcus Sachse Wylie Claudia Taylor Johnson Ronald Reagan Cedar Ridge Round Rock Westwood Frenship Permian
  23. Have to thing the Woodlands and CTJ feel a lot better going into this event now after some pretty dominant performances today with the Woodlands getting straight 1st places from every judge in prelims and CTJ winning both prelims and finals at area D.
  24. 93.6 is incredibly high for a regional. Scores might be a bit inflated here near the top. But Cedar Park is incredible this year and I'm so happy they finally have a BOA regional title. Definitely the favorite to win state again.
  25. Oh man, a three way tie for the final state qualifying spot. That is a heartbreaker for Dawson and Dickinson.
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