FEDude

I actually think they're associated with a program in NISD that rivals Brandeis. I have my theories about which one, but I respect their directors too much to put the whole program on blast over one kid or alumni. They posted last year under a "Clarineter" name. This is obviously a sock puppet account. Same writing style. Same target for hate. That's gotta be breaking some rule.

Pack it up? Time to for that program to give up any hope of making state? What do you mean? This is a mean spirited comment. This area is truly unexciting. You have 2 state champions, 1 bubble band for state finals, and Lake Travis, which is a fine program, but not yet at the same level as the top 3. If there's gonna be a band falling out of the top 4, realistically it'd be LT, and the band taking its place would realistically be Brandeis. It's kinda the ONLY interesting point of conversation in this area. Now, I actually believed both were weaker this year, so I thought another band might take their place. Looks like they had weaker early season performances (though I wouldn't call TMC early season). I'm not in favor of redistricting btw. Vandy and Vista likely won't be as dominant in 20 years. Westlake has been up there forever so they might tbh. Marshall used to be a powerhouse for UIL (their 1990 show could still make state finals). Taft has made BOA SA finals (given it wasn't a super regional then). O'Connor was a bubble band for SA Finals in the early 2010s. You never know where the next powerhouse will be.

Darn, I was hoping for an NISD breakthrough, and it wasn't even particularly close. Looks like TMC was a fluke for LT and they were more solid than I expected. Brandeis also seemed to peak right at end of season. No way of knowing if things might've been different with a finals, but I think prelims results show that 1-4 would've likely been the same.

Is it bottom-top split or random? It doesn't feel too random tbh.

Stevens is one of my favorite NISD bands! They used to write everything (drill and score) in house. I couldn't tell you if they still do. They're also one of the few NISD bands to accomplish a "full" sound all the time.

Stevens is one of my favorite NISD bands! They used to write everything (drill and score) in house. I couldn't tell you if they still do. They're also one of the few NISD bands to accomplish a "full" sound all the time.

In early season comps, Taft has been ahead of the other NISD schools. Lake Travis and Brandeis have both been unable to beat bands that Taft has beaten. Idk, hate to be a homer, and honestly I still think this one is LT's for the taking, but this might be Taft's year.

Bad shows do happen and they were only 1st out. That being said, they really should've been in finals if they're still at the same level as the last few years. If it's not LT, and if Brandeis is truly struggling this year, it'll be whoever has the better show area finals night between (in a very light order recognizing these bands are all kinda at the same level): 1. Taft 2. O'Connor 3. Steele 4. Stevens 5. Sotomayor 6. Clark 7. Judson I'm still convinced LT will take it honestly.

I think another way to say it is phasing. Normally the front ensemble and drumline lose each other somehow, though any section can start the domino effect. Sound from back of the field gets to the audience at a different time than at the front. That split second difference is a universe in music world. Look up Reagan's Grand National Semi Finals in 2007 for a very classic example. Taft, and most of NISD tbh, has always been very inconsistent early season. Placements early season are unpredictable and probably not indicative of how area will look like. I am starting to question Brandeis's dominance though.

In theory, if NISD were allowed to build more schools (which they're not since they've been told they'd need to split the district), we could see more bands move to state.

Stevens, Taft, and O'Connor, and Clark are all kinda at the same level. Sotomayor is still kinda establishing itself, but those kids have proven themselves. Taft has been right behind Brandeis at area the last couple of years, so I have no reason to believe it should be any different. If Brandeis truly has fallen back (which I'm not accepting at face value and I'd need evidence like a director switch), I just don't see any NISD band or Steele or Del Rio beating out LT or Westlake. It's a shame really. I'd be willing to bet Brandeis could place in the high teens at state. But better bands than them don't even make it in other areas.

High School: 1. Reagan 2003 This is a show that didn't deserve to win nationals (despite being so close): Visually it's a mess, whoever played gong that day was always off, you can hear clarinet squeaks through their features, etc. Still, I've never had a show move me so much. When they start playing Jupiter in the second movement, it feels so triumphant. Then when they bring out the giant flags during Horkstow Grange, I consider that the perfect ballad. This isn't even mentioning the powerful first book and the closer that ends right where the show started. On one hand, it's a show about geometry, but on the other hand it's about becoming more than you thought possible. Previous Reagan shows relied heavily on the front ensemble. Here, we got to see the full ensemble push themselves more than ever. I believe this show sticks in your head years after watching it. 2. LD Bell 2006 If this show was a little cleaner, I think it would've swept that season, UIL and Nationals. 3. Reagan 2019 Not as talked about since Hebron 2021 happened, but this show was one of the most exciting shows I've ever seen. 4. Hebron 2022 Not as beloved as 2021, but I'll still put this one on when I have a long drive. Just a pleasure to listen to. 5. Cedar Park 2023 Kept me hooked start to end. Such beautiful visuals, especially during their ballad. DCI: 1. Cadets 2005 2. Blue Devils 2015 3. Carolina Crown 2016 4. Cavaliers 2002 5. Phantom Regiment 2006

Visually stimulating, I think I'd agree. In part it's because of groups like CTJ, TWHS, kinda Reagan, and (in my opinion most significantly) LD Bell pushing the envelope with visuals and guard work throughout the late 2000s and 2010s. I think Texas is still behind in that aspect compared to states like Indiana and California. You could also argue bands like PCEP, Carmel, Lawrence Central, Tarpon Springs, etc, have been innovating the visual space since the 90s, and Texas is just starting to catch up. Creative? I don't know. I really appreciated the musical creativity that came with the prioritization of music over visuals. Maybe it's nostalgia, but my heart melted when I heard Reagan play Gymnopedes 1 layered with Lana Del Ray, CTJ play Fly to Paradise better than some drum corps did that next season, Hebron performing a stunning dress change while performing their Cinderella show. I think you get the point, I like the 2010s a lot and consider a lot of those shows to be very iconic.

I think what sets this show apart is how exposed each section is musically. That's why we can call out any musical issues. The English horn/oboe duet just melts my heart every time.

I think that was their first year with Levi Chavis. I think they had some genuinely great shows under his watch (2010, 2011, 2014). I forget if 2015 was under him or Morrison, but it also absolutely gorgeous. I'll never understand why Reagan can't hold onto a band director for more than a few years. At least 2 ex Reagan directors are now real estate agents, so it's not like they're running off to another band. I guess I was also spoiled and had a director that had been there 11 years before moving.