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Imagine

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Everything posted by Imagine

  1. I'm popping in and out on FM so I haven't seen too many. Can't dedicate my whole time till tonight. That said Bowie's musicality was stellar and I loved their uniforms... even though I missed the ever present "B." SFA's show was charming! I hope to see them in finals. And Reagan. Wow. That's really all I can say. And I agree with LostChoirGuy. I loved their stripped down concept last year and I love that they're doing it again.
  2. I love Churchill and root for them every year. Sadly for them, I think you're right on. It's a solid show and they perform it well. I loved having the band kids come up to the stand to sing and the band sounds really good and they're marching it cleanly. But the GE isn't there in terms of the overall design of the show. Edited to add that I do think they can make finals at Houston.
  3. Had a friend invite me to NEISD's Fall Festival last night. Granted, I haven't seen the Woodlands yet but Reagan was impressive last night. Really, really impressive.
  4. Churchill, Reagan, and Johnson have all dealt with lots of water the past week. Yes, it's a lot of water. But we're not talking Harvey levels of adversity here. And I'm sure they all did what most band directors do when they deal with a lot of rain during their prime marching time--they move it indoors and work on perfecting their sound. It's not ideal, but it's not really "adversity." It's more like "temporary setback."
  5. Did anyone catch Reagan's show during their halftime? I'm told it was broadcast on TV.
  6. Best general effect: CTJ Best visual: Vandegrift Best music: Toss up for me between Marcus and Hebron Best visual concept: Reagan Best show idea/concept: Toss up for me between Marcus and Flowermound Best solo: Too many for me to choose from. The soloists all performed at an outstanding level. Best feature: I loved all of the saxophone featured ensembles this year. There were several that just stole the night. Best musical selection: I'm not sure how to choose the best so I'll go with the one I can't get out of my head--Addis Ababa. After that I loved the gorgeous hymns--I Need Thee Every Hour and How Great Thou Art. So cool. Most innovative show: I have 2--I love the stripped down rawness of Reagan's show and I love the color explosion of Flowermound's show--I actually feel like they kind of ended up biting off more than they could chew, but I loved that they pushed the limits visually. But then I always like that about their shows. Most original concept: the Woodlands Best crowd appeal: So if this had been "best crowd reaction" I would have said tie between CTJ and Reagan based on what I saw. It's their "home turf" so that was to be expected. But crowd appeal? Not sure--I'd say Marcus/CTJ&Flowermound were probably designed to be the most appealing to a crowd. Most underrated: Cedar Park--no one saw them coming before prelims! Most improved: Not sure what this category means--is it most improved during the season? Then I'd say Cedar Park. If it is most improved from prelims to finals, then I'd say Reagan. Best colorguard: Reagan Best pit: I really can't pick a best pit--I was actually keeping on an eye on each pit and they all performed at a crazy high level. I feel like if your pit wasn't on fire, you weren't in finals. But if pressed...maybe Cedar Ridge? Tough call. Best drumline: Marcus Best brass: Avon Best woodwinds: Vandegrift Best prop: Hebron--loved the "build it" concept that carried through all the way to being able to climb on it. Best uniforms: Flowermound Best guard uniforms: Hendrickson--really conveyed the story of their show. Best overall pre-show: Reagan Best overall opener: CTJ Best overall ballad Reagan and Hebron Best overall closer: CTJ/Flowermound/Avon And I'm going to add a superlative here: Best crowd cheer: Hendrickson! Their enthusiasm is contagious and I think the parents/supporters are a class act.
  7. Johnson's show was online from their appearance at the Rough Rider's competition but it was pulled down.
  8. Every year I hear/read discussion regarding props. They're expensive, they're pricing out bands that might otherwise be competitive, do you like them, do you not like them, can a band win GE without them, etc. etc. etc. Keeping those discussions of the past few years in mind, that's why I am really hoping to see Reagan in the top 5 or even the top 3. I would love to see a band prove that you can still win it all in San Antonio without props--just straight up music, drill, and guard. That's why I love Reagan's show this year as I mentioned in another thread--it's stripped down and yet innovative and fresh and raw. The kids are their GE and I'm loving it. But GE and what it means to a judge has always been sort of a mystery so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
  9. Well, true, but I was mostly referring to the fact that they aren't making a lot of prediction lists. I'm guessing it's because of past history and a lot of people probably haven't seen their show yet. So since they're kind of flying under the radar I thought I'd just do my part to put it out there that they are one to watch for!
  10. I agree that it was a surprise that New Braunfels didn't make finals. I also wanted to add that I am floored by Reagan's show this year. Their music, their guard, the lack of props--it's stripped down to the music and movement and the effect is raw and fresh. There are no props on the field or distractions/sleight of hand going on--the kids are the GE and they're bringing it. It's really great to see. And I think Cedar Ridge is a dark horse this year. I really think their show is great. I fully expect to see them at BOASA finals this year.
  11. I haven't seen a ton of shows so far this year but I did get a chance to see Cedar Ridge. I think they're going to surprise a lot of people this year. I'm predicting they'll make finals. What place I don't know, but they'll be there.
  12. This year I thought the difference between Texas bands and bands like Avon came down to music choice. I felt like Avon and others who regularly compete in their circle all exhibited a similar sound and tone to their shows. I felt like that tone was more traditional/classic than what the Texas bands brought to Indiana. The thing that really set all of the Texas bands apart at Grand Nats in my mind was that each Texas band put out a product that combined current/recent music with classic marching music and overlaid and intertwined the music in such a way that it was cohesive. Each band felt like they had a soundtrack quality to it--in particular Leander, Reagan, and Cedar Park. It was refreshing and interesting. I acknowledge the incredible level that Avon and Carmel and others performed at, but I really did get the sense that there was an interchangeable quality of tone that pervaded in those bands. My impression is that if you have a Texas band and an Avon play at a high level with a similar level of musical difficulty, who comes out on top will come down to judge preference in terms of the musical choices of the directors--long before the kids ever start to work on the music.
  13. Reagan getting some love from Jennifer Morrison of Once Upon a Time. Learned some stuff I didn't know about their show: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferMorrisonOfficial/posts/10154785076918689
  14. And they have an AMAZING pit. The skill of the kids in their pit astounds me.
  15. Well that was a great show! No matter where everyone places, they should be extremely proud of their effort and performance today! I have no predictions on who will win but the thought occurred to me that no matter where they place--Reagan wins for best message for a post crazy-election day. Did their directors foresee that and that's why they thought we'd need a little "One Love?"
  16. Yes, Mr. Video used to be the vendor that made the DVDs of the competitions that BOA used to sell.
  17. General effect: Flower Mound Music: Reagan/Vandegrift Visual: Leander/Reagan Singer: Reagan--but I sure loved the rapper in Saint James's show! Color guard: Leander/Reagan/Vandegrift Concept: Hendrickson Props: Flower Mound Battery: Field entry: Flower Mound Field walk off: Does this mean like a post-show? Random show feature: The ballerina in Vandegrift, the dress change in Reagan, the voice over guy at the beginning of Hendrickson (dude has a career in voice over work if he wants it!), the wave drill in the Woodlands. There were several trumpet solos that really stood out to me this year but right now my mind is blanking on which ones went with which shows! Also, the fact that Saint James included a student composition in their music was awesome.
  18. In my experience, the thing about props is that they can just as easily ruin a show as much as they can enhance it. And if the band doesn't have a good sound or a clean show, all the props in the world won't make a difference.
  19. I'm going to be the dissenter on Reagan. I sat through many bands this season performing at a high level with great sound and clean marching and I kept thinking, surely these shows can beat Reagan. Then Reagan comes on and their music blows me away. The music itself is fresh and the kids are performing it at such a high level. Having been involved in band for a very long time, I am quite picky about singing in a marching show and how it's presented. If I find myself watching the singer and not the band, then I have a real problem with that. That hasn't happened for me with Reagan's show and I think they've struck a good balance. I wouldn't describe it as " a musical." I would describe what the Reagan team has put together as more of a soundtrack--a soundtrack I'd put in my playlist and listen to again and again like any well crafted piece of music. That being said, I think there's something to the argument that if you have 2-3 bands who all perform at that same high level--great sound, clean show, great overall general effect--it may in the end just come down to the personal preferences of the judges. At the end of the day, that's the "X" factor that's hard to account for.
  20. Shows I would love to see again (from what I've seen thus far): Reagan. The music of their show just sticks with me. Their ballad is sublime. Hendrickson. Fun concept, quirky idea, and their sound is awesome. Bowie. Their show reminds me in many ways of their show that was about B's. Fun, bright and played very well. Shows I am looking forward to seeing how they've grown: Cy Fair. Really enjoyed their show at Conroe. Am looking forward to seeing how it's grown since then. The Woodlands. They performed their music impeccably at Conroe but the show overall felt unfinished (and it was). Shows I haven't seen but am looking forward to seeing: Flower Mound Hebron Marcus Vandegrift LD Bell Vista Ridge Clements Berkner Cedar Park Leander
  21. I only caught their show once this year so I don't know what they look like now, but I really enjoyed Cy Fair's show at Conroe. They were definitely showing potential at that point.
  22. Sure! This list is in no particular order and my methodology is based on bands I've seen and/or placements/scores at the various BOA regionals in Texas thus far: Hebron Reagan Flower Mound Marcus Johnson Leander the Woodlands LD Bell Cedar Park Vandegrift Every band on the list has finished top 3 in a BOA regional this year with the exception of LD Bell and Cedar Park who've placed 4th. I really feel like it's a dog fight for the last 2 spots, but based on the 4th place finishes, there could be a surprise/upset with LD Bell or Cedar Park. I've put them as locks due to their history and because frankly, Cedar Park's show blew me away last year so I'm hoping they'll be just as amazing by BOA San Antonio. But that's why I'm so curious about Round Rock's show--I usually have them on my list for finals and I've heard/seen almost nothing about them this year so far. I can't wait to see their show!
  23. I had a list of 11 "locks" for San Antonio just based on the regionals season. Now that it's confirmed that Bowie has opted out of San Antonio this year, I'm at 10. So of the bands I see fighting for those 2 slots, the one mystery to me this year is Round Rock. I've heard next to nothing about their show. Have any of you seen it? Do they easily grab slot 11 leaving everyone else to fight for slot 12? I'm very curious about their show!
  24. I can also confirm that assuming they make area finals, Reagan will be performing. NEISD is not strict about band attendance at football games. Last year when Johnson and Reagan competed at Conroe, I was told their football teams were competing against each other that same night. This was of interest to me, given that the Woodlands had to pull out of finals due to a football game. Turns out the bands at the feeder schools for both Reagan and Johnson combined to form a band for each team. I commend NEISD, the football teams, and the schools involved for supporting their band programs!
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