formermarcher

Here's a little bit of an area B review. I almost wrote a full review as I usually like to read them, but I simply didn't have time. I was there all day and through finals. I won't really mention every band but here are some overall thoughts on the finalist in performance order. Richland - Cool concept. Some great playing and then kind of random mistakes that surprised me from this usually very musically clean band. Several really awesome marching moments I really like the rotating "+" at the beginning. The vocalist stuff doesn't do much for me, but it was well done. I did think that prelims performance was much better than finals, and wouldn't have been terribly surprised if they had not advanced. Even with that being said if they clean some of the musical mistakes this band could be a finalist at SMC. Summit - This is a pretty new school, but they are alrady doing some really neat stuff. When they marched the drill was really cool, but there was a lot stand still time. They played well, music of Ron Nelson, and I thought they probably deserved the 5th spot advancing to state. Bright future for this group. Bell - I have seen this band through out the years dating back to early 90's, and this is actually one of my least favorite shows. I get the concept I just don't like it. Simply a personal preference. Even with those feelings I thought that they march in a class all by themselves. I don't think there is another band in the state that moves as well or marches as clean. There music performance was o.k. at best. The music is stange and highly synthesized. I could have watched this show a hundred times and never left humming a melody. Still, great execution, but obviously a show geared towards Grand Nats rather than SMC. There's nothing wrong with that just a little bit of different concept. Plano East - Nothing very memorable about this group. I saw them early in the year and thought they looked bery clean, but not much has changed since then. They play pretty well, but no real GE musically or visually. Hebron - More GE than anyone all night. These kids play with more technique than any one at the contest. There marching is much improved. This is obviously a band on the rise. The DDR stuff is cool every time I see it. Just like Richland I thought their prelims performance was much better than their finals performance and it could have cost them a spot. While they are good now in a few years they might be a band to be reckoned with. Allen - I love this band. They are freakshow in everyway, and I mean that as a comliment. Not much to say. They stand a chance in these types of contests but they are fun to watch. I almost wish they wouldn't have advanced to finals so that a band that had a more competition driven show could have had that spot. Sorry for the 11th place band, Lewisville. Creekview - Reall fun concept from a band that does not take itself too seriously, but still puts out a high quality product. As always some of the best written and best executed drill of the night. This band simply needs more players and they will definately take the next step. Newman Smith - I've heard this music several times and I have never liked it. This band is small but marches and plays pretty cleanly. They definately benefited from a late prelims time as they might not have really deserved to be in finals. But in finals they were much improved and earned the alternate spot in my opinion. Marcus - With out a doubt the class of the night. Not the best or most dificult drill out there but marched pretty cleanly. No one is even in the same league with them as far as playing their horns. These kids just sound amazing. They are the poster band for music GE. They also are not afraid to entertain the croud and make every one laugh a little bit. I would say right now they are the band most likely to win the SMC. Haltom - Always a fun band to watch. The Asian concept didn't thrill me that much but they march and play really well. I really like this band eventhough their show design is not my favorite. I would say this group has a pretty good chance of making SMC finals. The advancing bands in order were: 1. Marcus 2. Bell 3. Haltom 4. Richland 5. Hebron My top 5 of the night in order: 1. Marcus 2. Haltom 3. Bell 4. Hebron 5. Summit Richland really didn't have a great performance in finals but I do think they are probably having a great week of rehearsals and will bounce back. Don't be surprised at all if Marcus, Haltom, Bell and Richland all make 5A finals. This Area contest was sick.