longhornsax

yah, but it becomes a lot harder to march in a straight line when your playing "harder than crap music" you've gotta admit. I mean, we can all (well...almost all) march in a straight line if we're playing whole notes, but if your marching in a straight line and playing flight of the bumblebee or something, it becomes so much harder to march in a straight line. your thoughts are on other things... But i see your point...

ha i like the stephen f. austin flag that says "flag"

yah, noticed that...the entire crowd thought it was over too so they got 2 ovations... really liked LD Bell of course...liked every single show of the trilogy. Simply stunning. Also really liked Bowie's show, with their quiet notes followed by huge impact notes. Also really like Akins show as far as local bands go cuz I'm a sucker for sax solos...

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAHHH BELL!!!! REPRESENT! (like how they got the banner up so fast)

ha, i also still like Reagan's "pope" hats. I liked them with last year's uniform better though...

ah, ok, well that's reasonable then, thank you for the clarification on that...i didn't really understand what they were saying.

while we're on the topic of poteet and sportsmanship, did anyone find poteets celebration a little excessive? I mean, I shook hands with a lot of the drum majors after we were released, but when I went to shake hands with the poteet drum majors, they were climbing the fence... Then the whole chant thing...I guess that's tradition and all, but couldn't they wait just a little? I don't know, I just wish that a band, who is a repeat champion, would show a little more respect for the bands who didn't win. I totally understand they deserved to celebrate, but i think they were a little over the top. Maybe that's just me though...

ha, trust me, I am one of the biggest fans of capes. If I had the opportunity to wear one, i totally would. But when I see you drum majors running across the field i'm just like "yes!! batman!"

I really like dripping springs uniforms this year (i think they might be new but I'm not too sure). Really like the three triangles thing Also like Bowie's uniforms a lot with the B shape. Something that bothers me a little is the Round Rock drum major's capes...anyone seen these? These are like...super hero capes. I think they're a little over the top.

how bout... Area D plain and simple

Whew...yesterday was one crazy day and I enjoyed every minute of it. Of course that's how it's been all season long. Amazingly proud of how we did yesterday and haven't even gathered all my thoughts yet. Still can't believe that we are a state finalist band...still trying to get used to that thought Of course huge props to Area D. I know we all kind of joked that it would be cool if all four bands from the area made it, but even i didn't believe that could truly happen. And after 6 finalist bands had been announced after prelims, I was highly doubting that was gonna happen. Kind of ironic that the last four spots in finals went to Area D. They were just trying to scare us I guess. But yah, the announcer wasn't too fun to listen to. We (the drum majors) decided to salute the Area D bands when they were announced, and we couldn't really hear the difference between The Colony and Conally. I don't think there should be any complaining about judges. No matter what scoring system you have, you're gonna have arguments and disagreements, kind of like College football. Judges, like every other person watching the bands look for different things in bands so of course there's gonna be variation in scoring. Plus all of the bands at the state level are so good and close to each other, that I would honestly hate to have their job. Big congratz to the top 3 and especially Conally and their great comeback this year. I really think that Conally had one of my favorite shows this year, and listening to them as they warmed up for finals, I knew they were gonna bring it that night. Their show slowly grew on me this year.

Yes, but Dripping Springs did win the visual caption at this contest. I'm curious to see the full results of Centennial....

I know this contest was probably on a different scoring system than UIL, but this contest does kind of show the strength of Area D. Dripping Springs represented the area well with a great performance here. Would just like to note that Dripping Springs was 5th in prelims and 4th in finals at area. Know it's hard to take results from one competition and use them to predict the results of another considering they're on different scoring systems, but it does make me think

No...there's not really a difference considering 10 bands make finals...? I think it's pretty near impossible to predict the outcome of this contest. So many good bands, i'd hate to be a judge. I think it really depends on what kind of show everyone has. I think everyone's proven that they have a really good show, it's just a matter of how they execute in the Dome. Should be fun...too bad I won't get to see anyone there considering we go second to last...

found some full Area D results if anyone's interested - http://www.uilmusicregion18.com/marching.html

Actually, I think Hendrickson was 3rd after prelims...We (vista ridge) were second in prelims, or so our director said. Good to see that the addition of a new region didn't change much in the area. Still the same bands on top. Conally's still the same old Conally Congratz Hendrickson, Conally, and Dripping Springs. See you at state!

My take on Area D... Wow, what a mess. As if the region wasn't competitive enough 2 years ago, they have to add a top region from another area to the mix. Gotta love the realignment. The way I see it, this'll be a showdown between the powerhouses of region 12 (the Austin area) and region 18 (the New Braunfels area), with a few bands from other regions sprinkled in there. You've got the schools rich in tradition, who have been in the situation many times before like Conally and New Braunfels. Then you got the up and coming schools, like Hendrickson and Steele, both turning heads where ever they go. Both are brand new schools and yet they are already making a lot of commotion. Then you've got Dripping Springs and Canyon, both very clean and both just missing state 2 years ago. How this will all settle out in the end, I have no idea. For the most part, these regions have stayed away from each other as far as competitions go. The only common competition was at the USSBA centex regional at Bob Shelton Stadium (the location of this area), where all three New Bruanfels schools outscored Conally by at least 2 points. The only reason I don't find this results to be too accurate is the fact that William H Taft and McCallum recieved scores only slightly lower than those of the New Bruanels trio, while Dripping Springs outscored these bands the week before by more than 6 points...? Maybe I'm looking a little to in depth to this...Here are 2 competitions that I think display how these bands have done so far this year... just some food for thought there...I of course do not believe that just comparing results from different competitions will show how this area will turn out, but I think it points out a few things, what do you think? But as for my predictions - Finals - Connally Dripping Springs Hendrickson Lake Travis McCallum New Braunfels New Braunfels Canyon Schertz: Steele Vista Ridge and a 10th band up for grabs Advancing...whoever turns it on for the finals performance, could be anyone. Not ever gonna try to guess

Should be fun to see what happens in area D...gonna be pretty crazy to see who gets those 4 spots

Actually, you're missing Marble Falls in Region 26, Area D, so there's pretty much no doubt that Area D will be advancing 4

ooooo, that would be us I'm guessing. Probably my personal favorite set we've ever had. We also have the "door sets" where we set up 2 giant doors that move and morph...amazingly hard to set up too.

hmmmm, well Area D seems to be a mess to me this year. Central Texas is one of the fastest growing areas in the country so I guess it makes sense that bands in the area are becoming so great. I think the area was already tough enough without the addition of New Braunfels and Steele. But the way I see it now is Hendrickson obviously at the top, who I think has a shot at winning it all based on there results so far. Have yet to see their show from the front, but have heard great things. I think Dripping Springs may be the other lock, but I thought the same thing 2 years ago. But have seen their show twice now and as always they are very clean, just hope they don't top out too soon. 3rd (and possibly 4th if the addition of another region allows for it) are pretty much up for grabs in my opinion. New Braunfels, NB Canyon and Steele all had a good showing this weekend and will be in contention. I don't think you can ever count out Connally. Maybe they're not the usual dominant Connally of old, but I still liked their show and can see great things coming from it. Other possible finalist bands include Lake Travis and Vista Ridge (sorry for the biased opinion ...) Just my opinion

vista ridge's Westlake curse continues...3rd straight year of 11th place. As our director described it before saying what place we got "it's like kissing your sister"...Definitely a better year for us, but seems to be a better year for everyone else too.

Everyone always counts out dripping springs for Area D and I don't really get why. They had a off year at area last time around, but I think they probably should have made it and will be a big threat this year. Westlake will be a good preview...

Wow, good to see Leander surprising everyone with their finals-worthy performance. I was honestly kind of doubtful about their show this year, but apparently their doing something new over there. Good to see them back near the top. Congratz leander

Just looking through the bands listed for the predictions and wow there's a lot of talent in the field. Really hard to pick a top 10 with all the great bands going. Looking forward to it...