FEDude

Carolina Crown 2016. Won 3 captions and got 3rd place. It is odd, but I'm happy Reagan isn't far off on any caption and has a solid chance at the Eagle this year. They really deserve it.

With the drops, I predict the top 2 will be Brandeis and Stevens in no particular order.

I think O'Connor could probably place a little higher. 2019 was a pretty solid show. I guess it just depends on how they've recovered. Btw, I just checked out Taft's musical program. It's genuinely great stuff and they've got great soloists and an actually clean sounding percussion section. The thing that still allows bands like Brandeis and Stevens to win head to head against bands in their district is that it sounds like everyone is playing as loud as they need to be playing. Ig directors would call that a "full" sound. That's kinda Taft's problem right now. If they don't sound full, a charming show won't help much. Stevens seems to consistently have the strongest show design in the district. I noticed it since about 2014. Recently, though, their level of performance has been catching up astoundingly. They have hard shows and are kinda pulling them off really well. It should be fun to see how Brandeis and Stevens face off.

I can see them getting 9th or 10th. I can also see them missing all together. I'll be hopeful though. Also hoping Marshall can do really well here.

The first medal would be Marshall in the 1990s when they were one of the top bands in the US. I believe they got silver at a BOA competition. But yes, this NISD's first gold. This is huge for NISD. The district already has percussion and color guard powerhouses. Seeing Brandeis's rise since about my senior year has been so cool. Idk about BOASA finals, but it looks like Brandeis and Stevens aren't gonna be outside the bubble convos this year.

Agreed. That or United or Georgetown could surprise us as well. A homer can dream though.

If that's the list, there's a very real chance Brandeis could win this! What was the last time an NISD band won a BOA competition? Never I think. I'll be rooting for the orange team this time.

Gotta say, I remember my junior and senior year. All I wanted some weeks was a weekend to rest. Good for those schools for putting their students first.

Taft got 60th, but I hope the kids see that they got a Division 1 at BOA. When I was at Taft, we never got a Division 1 at BOA. Hope those kids are happy with their work, especially considering they're going through a director change.

Oh no! The absolute worst case scenario is y'all driving yourselves down. Hopefully it won't come to that. It happened to my band Area 2014. Difference is that we were much closer to that competition. Hope the bus situation works out.

That opener is very beautiful and there are several great moments. Many very cool visuals as well. Besides, results have not come out for this competition yet. Warren 2014 comes to mind. They were kinda out of everyone's mind the entire season, then BOA SA rolled around and they placed higher than Taft and O'Connor. At that time they also had a godly drum line and color guard which helped them a lot. Madison could end up beating the other SA area bands (besides the obvious 2). Wesley Perkins had a reputation in NISD of being a really funny guy, but also somebody who could be very serious. I remember during district band auditions, there were problems with the percussion room. I was doing economics homework, others were laying on the floor, some were on their phones so there was general chaos. The next morning (since Percussion auditions were a 2 day process) he chewed all of us out. I still did economics homework, but there was definitely a more reverent tone in the room. I think someone got caught with his phone out and got chewed out personally by Mr. Perkins. He's a great director and will lead your band into a successful and consistent track. Your class will be the leaders that helped make that possible.

Oh my goodness, I just saw Not Hebron. That was the best music book I've ever heard. I'm still shocked. This somehow beats the musicality of Marcus '07, Spring '92 and '93, whatever show. I'm so happy that show is going to gnats. Maybe they'll get the highest music score ever in finals.

I'm imagining Gordon Ramsey as a judge now. Even he is great with kids though.

Madison has a very enjoyable opener this year. It was really fun to watch. O'Connor is also very fun to watch. Made me very nostalgic because that's more or less the show from my senior year. I saw Taft at UIL and it looks like they got rid of a certain trumpet feature they just weren't playing well and gave it to the woodwinds. Either way, it sounds great now. I don't care if the scores aren't reflecting this, this is their best show in quite some time. Their "new" director is very talented and will take them where they want to be. Reagan's show is just so beautiful. I hope it wins.

Very happy for Harlan here. Only the seniors would know me from their time in the Taft Front Ensemble. I was pretty harsh as a section leader, but I was impressed with the group's growth over that first season. I'm very happy to hear how good they've gotten in a couple years. I'm excited to see if an SA band (I'm praying Harlan) can make it into state. I'd be there, but Judson is a bit farther than I'd like to drive.

You're right, legendary shows aren't made until BOA SA/State/Gnats. When was the last season with more than 1 super legendary show revered the same as FM '16? I think 2015. But it's rare to have a show so good.

I'll admit, I'm biased toward Reagan because of the friends I've made from there and their rich band history has my favorite shows. It's an all around strong show. I'm not a fortune teller, so I can't actually say they'd be 1st, it's a hypothetical prediction. Not even a super controversial one either. If they were going, we'd totally be discussing a potential Reagan victory in the same way we're discussing Avon or Hebron right now. I predicted Reagan 1st at SA last year and was obviously wrong. I think they'll be very dominant at SA. I could be wrong too.

Dang, everybody wants the last word as if that makes them any more right. I agree, if Reagan would go, they'd dominate at nats. Get the eagle. I think they're due to attend next year. I'm hoping for a Harvey Fully Loaded show. You can't deny it'd be the funnest show ever.

Very proud of the Taft percussion for getting 2nd in that caption. I haven't seen the show for about 2 weeks now, but I assume it's starting to come together in that closer now. I have a really good feeling for Taft at BOA SA. Perhaps they might even break into the top 40.

Reagan 2003-2005 is the main reason I became so obsessed with band in high school. I theorize that if LD Bell or Reagan had gone to grand nats in 04, Texas would have 5 eagles.

It's funny to me that as a freshman, the only thing you want is competitions every weekend. Then, by your senior year, a weekend of nothing is a gift from God. I can only imagine this is true times 50 for band parents.

That's what I'm saying! I didn't get a chance to see the show, but if the closer was as messy as the recording I saw from a week ago, it doesn't surprise me that they didn't make it. That's part of why I never predicted them higher than 9th or 10th. Very fun show though. The music and visuals are so fun!

Oh well, that sucks for Taft. Hopefully they use this as motivation moving toward BOA SA. Really exciting lineup though! It'll be awesome to see who comes on top between Weiss, DS, and LT. Also congrats to Brandeis on the percussion win. Most consistent line in NISD!

I'm really impressed with Taft this year. Something that has been holding NISD bands back for a while is that they don't implement their props in an effective way. Props are a backdrop and nothing else. They also don't bring it so much in the visual package. Taft is really starting to improve in that aspect. Though 100% the doors should be red. It's just a fun show to watch as well. The closer was quite messy from the recording I saw, but they'll clean it nicely I'm sure. Still not predicting them higher than 10th, but this is their best show since 2015.

Mics on soloists (especially woodwinds) is a necessity. I'd assume mics on the whole band won't mask a bad sound or weak players. I like what Richard Saucedo said once, that the best bands have a good dynamic range and that Loud =/= Forte. It's all relative.