Nny14

This contest is also almost annoyingly early, so you're probably not getting the best from groups who typically bloom later in the season. I imagine a group preparing for Nationals wouldn't be the exception to this.

New regionals plus the top end competition at the contest formerly known as BOA Austin is ridiculous, so there was always a small chance for one or two bubble bands to make finals. Now Waco and San Marcos gives those bands a better chance at finals, which is great for getting a second round of eyes on your program and is generally more fun for the kids. I don't blame the directors.

Alternates. Usually freshman that couldn't get a spot, so they march a make shift drill block early in the season to gain some experience, but it eventually goes away.

Fair warning but I'm going to be jonesing for Cedar Park all season. The show announcement hooked me and the music is so fun already.

The last time Leander did a show about colors it went pretty well so this one sounds like a strong one in the making.

Not very suprising. BOA Austin has always been a top heavy contest with maybe 1 or 2 finalist spots up for grabs. Now a lot of those bubble bands have a better shot for a second performance with more critiques available early in the season.

I feel like we need a new LD Bell. A top tier Texas program that is willing to head up to Nationals year after year to compete. That will probably be the most realistic chance of Texas winning it all more consistently. Because let's be real, they're not moving Nationals to Texas, or Kansas or whatever location you might come up with. Indy is the place and Lucas Oil is the perfect stadium. The Woodlands are the closest thing we have to that right now. Round Rock also has a consistent propensity for going but they're still building their overall design up despite being a great playing band.

Hebron tied for the highest music score ever. Ridiculous.

Either that or they'll win music and not even medal, joining their fellow Lewisville bands in accomplishing that feat.

The faces of the Fishers kids while they were singing is what this is all about. Priceless.

Also I really love that we got Round Rock and Pearland back to back so we have Dayman vs Nightman.

Round Rock absolutely killed it! Such an amazing thing when your last performance is your best and the Dragon Band accomplished just that. I was with the band when they first made finals 10 years ago, and I hope these guys hold this night in their heart 10 years later just like I do! Bravo!

I'm gonna be a negative Nancy and predict the top 3 stays the same in finals. The Indiana bands are just too strong overall programs for Team Texas to overcome this year. It's just so annoying how it's been 10 years since we sent the SA Regional Champion to Nationals.

It's pretty much impossible for one untrained spectator to guess the collective opinion of 7 judges according to specific rubrics. There's also things like individual music where no one watching at home or even in the stadium will have the viewpoint the judge does.

On the other hand, Avon...

95% percent of predictions are people's emotional favorites haha. I didn't connect to Vandegrift this year but after their finals performance I just threw my hands up and agreed they were the best.

Yeah I'm definitely giving Visual to them lol

Wouldn't that put them in 7th and in the bottom half presuming Avon/Carmel/Hebron/Woodlands are top 4?

Plenty of people are gonna say a lot about their music, but Hebron's colorguard was fantastic!

OK that makes more sense. Personally I only see 3 or 4 Texas bands placing above Brownsburg but you never know.

There's also that band in Carrollton lurking in the shadows...

Nah

Design team swung and missed imo

Pretty insane after placing 4th and 7th at earlier regionals this year. That's what I love about this activity!