Tubalord11

How so? There statement pretty much sums up what happened yesterday and is just the reality of the comp at the state level

Welcome back to finals McCallum, and wow I see why!! Love the Fur Elise flute solo into that huge opening hit. So much difficult passages in both the brass and WWs in that second movement, nails. Bats sets are supper effective for the theme, lots of rotating blocks and forms throughout, guard work is great. Lines running through each other at the end into that last chord is so cool, little bit of dirt visually but minor. That last chord rang through the dome, super clean, really loved that performance, they showed why they made it here, amazing job Mac Band!!

Wow Aledo, wow wow wow!! Couldn't think of a better way to get finals going! From start to finish, each member is committed to the theme, both musically and visually. The drill is so engaging, and super clean. Musically so strong, a couple members pushing the volume a little bit at times, but I mean wow they are freaking loud. Love the different planes set in the drill, call backs to top gun, and what they do with the props. One of my favorites of the season for sure, amazing run, and amazing job Aledo!!

What's good everyone! We're back live on NFHS for the finals of 5A state! Last run for all these bands, give it all you got! Super excited, let's get it.

That’s insane!!! The talent for a high schooler to be able to do that is unreal, will definitely be checking it out! best of luck to everyone today, if free will probably watch finals tonight!

Wanted to reflect on what I said last night. As many people are saying, while pass results do you have some implications, each run is its own thing and at this level, you have to remember that you’re bringing in more bands, which is something I didn’t have in mind when making my comments. And to be honest, there have been many times where I’ve watched live, but I’ve heard that in person it’s completely different. And at the end of the day, I’m just another enjoyer of this activity, and while we might disagree with results, each band gave it their all and should be proud of their season. Super excited for this afternoon to see these bands final runs.

No yeah I know, and i definitely know how some are deeper than others, thats less of the point. And Ik you can’t use area results to predict this because to your point, some are deeper than others. I just find it hard to believe some bands got certain scores in certain categories, but that’s just me. Everyone who made finals deserved it

Like having 2 area champs not make it when both had really good runs, that’s what doesn’t make sense. And ik it’s a different comp but to tell me they got worse, like idk. I’m not saying the judges don’t know what to do, like someone help me understand. Bc I felt the same way about some of the 6A results but I’m not trying to start something, it’s just somewhat confusing

Alright guys, wow some crazy results. I need to watch Richland, Hays and McCallms prelims runs, congratulations to those 3! Other than Lone Star in 9th, I don’t think they got much wrong. I do think today, we saw the effect of slotting be a big part of results, and it’s simply what happens with this many bands at one comp. Am I saying that some groups didn’t deserve it, no. But I mean, idk…something feels off in my guts about some of these numbers. I’m not gonna give names, but seeing certain placements of bands over others when like 99% of people would disagree…idk. Anyways, congrats to our 12 finalist, super excited to see how tomorrow shakes out, hoping LS has a better run, but I didn’t hear anything lol

Well, that's it for me today! Good luck to the rest of the bands, I'll probably take a RR break at work to listen to results, and great job to everyone who has performed! It's been an insane day of runs, super happy I got to a apart of it. Here's my block 3 rankings: Rouse Lone Star Centennial Friendswood Anderson Colleyville Heritage Amarillo RGC

Colleyville Heritage- Not a ton to say. I've heard this piece a million times by now, no hate, as they played it exceptionally well! I like how they added some stuff to make it unique while not taking away from the more enjoyable parts. Soloists throughout were so good, they are still killing that backwards marching technique. Some tunning issues in brass at times but very minor, visually really impressive. Really great comeback for them after how they did at local comps, amazing job CH!!

RGC-Great opening flute duet, huge opening sound, little over the top at times, watch pitch brass. Good WW and Brass feats, trumpet solo was great, nice WW runs under. Good ending chord, some holes in the form but I'm guessing that's missing people. Great Flute quartet moving into this waltz-y feeling ballad, some tuning issues in Mellos, much better in the impact, good sounds from 1st trumpets moving up. Fun sax quintet during the perc break, nice injections from low brass, perc is solid, cool moment there. Good ending, nice visual moments, great job RGC!

Rouse: such mature sounds form the trumpets in the opener; they are killing those dark chords. Huge ensemble sound, great job moving into those forms, very clean, great 8th note runs from low brass. Great job rifle solo during the intro, form control moving the big triangle is top notch, great release. Nice FE moment, timing with the visuals in the brass was very together, great brass feat, solid rifle work, clean double tonging at the end. WWs killed that feature, amazing job with the tempo change, lovely Basson solo, they are really showing off their musicianship in this movement, wow. Beautiful WW trio, the rest of them blended very well, same with backfield brass under the oboe solo. Huge ballad impact, great dynamics and flag work. Fanfare-like ending is amazing, so much going on and it's seamless to them. Visually so appealing as we pick up the pace, amazing flag work in the last chord, just wow Rouse, what a show!!

Rouse is in the house

Needed to take a break from extensive writing but still very much enjoyed Anderson!! The theme is portrayed throughout very well, they look and sound great, some really great moments throughout. Super happy to see them back after a minute, great job ya'll!!

Amarillo: Solid work form percussion to get us started, some minor dirt in the snares. Great backfield playing from the ensemble, cover downs are clean. Big opening statement, nice hearing WWs under it all, good sound on the release, great WW quartet moving into the next movement. Spatial awareness is great with the moving curve. Trombones shining through that big hit, great crescendo into the release, Mellos sound really good. Good horn solo, unfortune misses on a couple notes but solid otherwise. Triplets in the trumpets were clean, second horn solo go was much better, ohhh wow what a cool moment with the tarp and uniform change, was not ready for that!! Horn ringing over the full group. Great job maintaining the form in the jazz run, great brass moment with the quintet. Butterfly set is super effective and clean, wish the FE had some more technical runs before this solid WW feature. Again, great form control moving the big block, love the guard costumes with the wins, great GE, go Mellos. Congratulations to Amarillo on their first state run since 1998, great run!!

Friendswood: Super pretty Sax quintet, the 4 balance so well under the Sparano. HELLO brass!! Wow what a sound, not over the top, drill was clean. Funn little WW duet with the drum set, sets the mood of this groovier section. Great WW feature, great guard work with it. My goodness brass, we are jamming out, just a huge sound. Wow, this ballad is just gorgeous. Tone in brass gets a little lost at times, but the ending was much more locked in, lovely flag work. Wow, they are moving those big forms so well. WW feature was nails, great rifle work to go with it. Awesome perc feature really handled the tempo change with no pause really well. And we are jamming again, great closing moments, love the Mello trills, such a fun show, can't wait for that one tomorrow, great job Friendswood!!

Burleson Centennial: Great opening fanfare from high brass, the best I've heard it this season, snares killing their parts. Yeah, that battery is still insane, love this faster paced section, really sets the pace for the show. Huge and controlled chord, lots of sound despite their "smaller" size. WWs killing those technical passages, C-nets killing those repeated articulations in Sym 10. Brass articulation is clean, a little fuzz in the decrescendo. Lots of dynamics, really great visual moment with the rotations into the big set. Beautiful work Flute and Sax duet, WWs playing so lovely, great flag work as we move into the big hit, kneel timing is very together. Basses, wow, so clean as we move into Golden Hour. Supper cool moment with the tarps, really feels like were coming into a big closer moment. Great job with the moving block WWs, some minor spacing issues moving the curve forms. I'm really impressed with their dynamic contrast, soprano just ringing over this last major chord, incredible performance, love the outro, fantastic job Spartan regiment!!

Lone Star: BRASS....OMG!!! My jaw was on the ground for that opening impact, it's so much louder in the dome, and no overplaying, just one massive sound. Great job muted trumpet, so much taste in that tone. Wonderful runs WWs, love the Mello callback to last year. MELLOS, yeah, they are locked in oml. Great sax quartet, Cover downs are clean, and wow, this separate way's part is def my favorite part of the show, so impactful. Great job again Mellos with the 16th note lick, some small spacing issues in the bigger forms but nothing crazy. Love the partner work in the brass during the WW feature here in the ballad, flute solo is so pretty, backfield brass playing is layered on so well. Great stuff from the C-net solo and wow, what a gorgeous ensemble sound, soloists over the full group is great, very thematic with them playing towards each other, great release. Great tuba feature, thank you for dialing down the battery during it. Nice flag work with the WWs, yeah trombones. Great C-net feature, love the rotating pods, and just wall of sound at the end. That imo was their best run of the season, some minor visual things at times in the big forms but I mean wow, great from the C-net as they run backfield, last set is almost perfect. Amazing job Lone Star, I can't wait to see that tomorrow!

LET'S GO LONE STAR!!!

Alright block 2 rankings. Other than Aledo it’s a complete guess, so many good performances: Aledo Lake Belton College Station Liberty hill Kaufman Harlingen South Cooper LH and Kaufman is the biggest unknown, especially with how LH did at the SR

Had to take a call during Harlingen South but still them in 1 ear and wow that was great! A lot of familiar music but executed very well. Soloists were great, really enjoyed their blend and that guard was fantastic! Visually very good, some dirt at times but overall a really enjoyable show, great job South!

Liberty Hill: Lovely playing from Flute and C-net with Son Lux, snare blend is great. Super impactful opening hit, flag work is great, really mature sound. No, we lost a plume! And a whole hat.... Love the pinball moving through the brass, good visual GE. Little bit of dirt in drill, nothing major, good job with the rifle ripple, effective visual. Great trumpet and Euph, FE blends very well. Good runs from the WWs and we pick up the tempo. Good ballad hit, could be a little louder, also watch the pitch trumpets. Prob micing but sound was covered but a little in the softer section by perc, don't crescendo to early brass. Great Bari solo and trumpet quartet. Great effect with the pinballs in the back as we call back to the opener, strong impact, great closing chord. Yeah, I see why they did so well this past weekend, really great job Liberty Hill!

College Station: Strong opening hit, great job tuba soloists! Great pod movement during the high brass feature, a little bit of tone issues in trumpets but they locked in at the end. Lovely Flute and bass C-net duet, good form control with the moving lines. Great dynamics in the big form at the end of the movement, nice flute solo into ballad, beautiful playing from that horn solo, WWs balancing very well under them. Great Mello sustain, cover downs were clean. Ooo watch that entrance, timing was a bit early from some members, good recovery with the release. Good low brass and perc feat, good writing. Great mello solo, oop, was worried that prop was gonna hit that pit member. Very thematic drill in the closer, great flag work with this last chord. Great job College Station!

Aledo: Really great work from FE and Bone and Trumpet Solos to get is started, love the airplane sound effect. Huge sound with Caves, love the Top Gun call, great flag work, drill is super clean. Great sax quintet and Bone solo. Rotating circle from WWs during this awesome high brass feature is so cool. Wow, they have seriously cleaned up so much since I last saw them. Mic seems to be not working for trumpet solo, but you can still hear him, great blend from WWs. Supper effective with the WWs going between the brass with the plane prop, Wow the ending to that movement is so cool, love the tarp going across. Grend blend from full group during the Flute and C-net duet, big bomber plane set is so freaking sick, I am in love with this show. Again, Top Gun call back, love it, big form is very clean. Clean trumpet duet, high brass feature is nails. WWs as well, wow they are not playing around. Star set with the moving planes is great GE. Yeah, I'm losing it; just super entertaining, drill is super engaging, and they sound so good. I do not envy those judges because wow it's going to be tight. Amazing job Aledo!