2025 WGI Color Guard World Championships (April 3-5)

[Rubisco]

Okay, I've been educated by a few people now. I respect the decisions of those involved in the Avon situation. I wish that all the parties involved could have resolved their differences, or just done something else at the last minute, even if it meant the show wouldn't be as strong. I mean, Avon is still Avon.

At the same time, I listen to the song that caused all the trouble and think, "Wow, this is pretty sublime!" Especially the version with the real orchestra. And the lyrics are indeed a big part of that effect, and clearly aren't supposed to be taken literally. Honestly, I think it could have been my favorite Avon soundtrack ever!

[DMiss]

  On 12/12/2024 at 7:58 AM, Rubisco said:

Okay, I've been educated by a few people now. I respect the decisions of those involved in the Avon situation. I wish that all the parties involved could have resolved their differences, or just done something else at the last minute, even if it meant the show wouldn't be as strong. I mean, Avon is still Avon.

At the same time, I listen to the song that caused all the trouble and think, "Wow, this is pretty sublime!" Especially the version with the real orchestra. And the lyrics are indeed a big part of that effect, and clearly aren't supposed to be taken literally. Honestly, I think it could have been my favorite Avon soundtrack ever!

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Wait which song is it?

[LeanderMomma]

  On 12/12/2024 at 8:56 AM, DMiss said:

Wait which song is it?

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“I Am The Antichrist to You” by Bashi. 

[packwick]

welp, Avon's marching band and guard might be looking a bit different next yr...

[Chippy]

  On 12/12/2024 at 10:42 PM, packwick said:

welp, Avon's marching band and guard might be looking a bit different next yr...

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Sad situation all around.  I feel bad for the guard. If anyone could have pulled off a late show design, they could!  💔

[Rubisco]

  On 12/12/2024 at 10:42 PM, packwick said:

welp, Avon's marching band and guard might be looking a bit different next yr...

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Yeah, I wondered if that would happen. Might be hard to bury the hatchet. 😭

Too much drama already, and it's only December. Not that there's usually all that much drama in the first place on these guard threads.

[Rubisco]

Speaking of the overall season, it doesn't look like we're getting any streamed events in Texas until WGI Austin at the beginning of March. Kind of disappointing.

I don't live in Texas anymore, so I won't see anything live. (Don't live close to any WGI regionals, actually.) Others will have to attend the local contests and share some thoughts, and hopefully videos!

[LeanderMomma]

  On 12/13/2024 at 8:12 PM, Rubisco said:

Speaking of the overall season, it doesn't look like we're getting any streamed events in Texas until WGI Austin at the beginning of March. Kind of disappointing.

I don't live in Texas anymore, so I won't see anything live. (Don't live close to any WGI regionals, actually.) Others will have to attend the local contests and share some thoughts, and hopefully videos!

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If you get yourself an Instagram account you can follow me for live clips!  🥰

[Rubisco]

  On 12/14/2024 at 3:02 PM, LeanderMomma said:

If you get yourself an Instagram account you can follow me for live clips!  🥰

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I'll have to do that!

[Rubisco]

Pride of Cincinnati's show is called To the Fullest and features the music of Sleeping at Last. Not familiar with that artist. I'll have to give it a listen! Excited to see them back in the fray.

[packwick]

def interested in seeing Pride. tbh i think any of their shows from the past 10+ years prob would have won last year's IW contest. didn't help that paramount had a design misfire. def pride is my idea of "goal guard" from a performer perspective. don't think they've missed the top 3 since like 1996, + lots of golds.

think all the other top IWs will be stronger this season too. Fusion still maaaybe emerging as the new SCV w/ their design team. etude - hopefully even better recruiting after that silver medal.

also suuuper duper curious to see if Invictus and maybe Menage/Mirage have drawn any talented performers from Origins, which could help elevate them a little.

[packwick]

think imma be right about the IWs. already lookin better than last yr.

i actually reeeally loved Sac's show tonite. the wry way they play against the music at the beginning, then mucho buoyancy and personality w/ the jazz. staging is amaaazing. it's so consistently musical and interesting. dirtier than fusion rn, but my first impression is itll be one of my fave Sac shows ever.

buuuut then this fusion show is reeeally something different and interesting and imaginative. looove the machine learning vibes and guitar motifs. it's one of those shows where im just like, im not sure i would have thought to do something like this, which is a high compliment. lovin' the return of the bluecoats music. actually hearing some of woodlands world's soundtrack in there with the brief pizzicato parts. maybe was brought up during the marching design season, dunno.

[Rubisco]

  On 2/16/2025 at 3:49 AM, packwick said:

actually hearing some of woodlands world's soundtrack in there with the brief pizzicato parts.

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What is the music there?

[packwick]

  On 2/16/2025 at 6:47 AM, Rubisco said:

What is the music there?

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paramour by anna meredith, tho i think twhs is using a more orchestral version. could be the same version honestly, couldn't hear much of it over the girls screaming lol.

[clarinote]

Are there any videos of the woodlands out there? Or any other shows?

[packwick]

heeeere's arcadia world performing their show The Octopus from this past weekend, Feb 15th.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6LzZgDPxE&pp=ygUZQXJjYWRpYSB3b3JsZCBjaGlubyBoaWxscw%3D%3D

gains from fall to winter guard are again suuuuper impressive. performers look stronger yr over yr. the Rosie Q choreo def helps, always a lil dash of originality at the IA level. such an understanding of what's rewarded. they're really starting to look like the old Carmel.

on the other hand, the show is kiiiinda boring besides the decorated pool noodles, ngl. like a dry lecture about octopuses lol. i thought it was gonna be so much more fun than this!! with bigger builds and tension and release!! mostly elegant staging tho, some cool upstairs moments for sure.

b/w woodlands and arcadia, who will come out on top??? they are SOOO different, but woodlands does grip me more right away and doesn't let up. plus their equipment work is way more insane and distributed across more performers, and the addition of difficulty and risk to the SW sheets this yr should help them.

buuut i could also easily see arcadia ending up w/ a clearer, cleaner show, both upstairs and downstairs. hard to compare rn bc the woodlands show i saw was two weeks ago and incomplete. def need to hit mvmnt harder.

anywho, def i applaud both design teams for not just chasing the feel of the Avon show from last season. woulda been boring.

[packwick]

oh also, when i was remarking about flexibility and interesting shapes w/ the body earlier, look at the opening in Arcadia and tell me u don't see a clear difference!!

[J-Mike16]

  On 2/19/2025 at 7:31 AM, packwick said:

heeeere's arcadia world performing their show The Octopus from this past weekend, Feb 15th.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6LzZgDPxE&pp=ygUZQXJjYWRpYSB3b3JsZCBjaGlubyBoaWxscw%3D%3D

gains from fall to winter guard are again suuuuper impressive. performers look stronger yr over yr. the Rosie Q choreo def helps, always a lil dash of originality at the IA level. such an understanding of what's rewarded. they're really starting to look like the old Carmel.

on the other hand, the show is kiiiinda boring besides the decorated pool noodles, ngl. like a dry lecture about octopuses lol. i thought it was gonna be so much more fun than this!! with bigger builds and tension and release!! mostly elegant staging tho, some cool upstairs moments for sure.

b/w woodlands and arcadia, who will come out on top??? they are SOOO different, but woodlands does grip me more right away and doesn't let up. plus their equipment work is way more insane and distributed across more performers, and the addition of difficulty and risk to the SW sheets this yr should help them.

buuut i could also easily see arcadia ending up w/ a clearer, cleaner show, both upstairs and downstairs. hard to compare rn bc the woodlands show i saw was two weeks ago and incomplete. def need to hit mvmnt harder.

anywho, def i applaud both design teams for not just chasing the feel of the Avon show from last season. woulda been boring.

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First time seeing that show.... I actually really liked it. I kind of pre-judged them just on the title of the show but I can see why they could absolutely take it this year. I've always been impressed in what they bring year after year. Not sure if they planned this but their final set was how they started their show last year. Could the two shows share something that most people wouldn't figure out?? (I honestly think I'm a little crazy and that the two shows are not tied together but you never know). Is there a video of The Woodlands out there?

[Rubisco]

  On 2/19/2025 at 7:31 AM, packwick said:

heeeere's arcadia world performing their show The Octopus from this past weekend, Feb 15th.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6LzZgDPxE&pp=ygUZQXJjYWRpYSB3b3JsZCBjaGlubyBoaWxscw%3D%3D

gains from fall to winter guard are again suuuuper impressive. performers look stronger yr over yr. the Rosie Q choreo def helps, always a lil dash of originality at the IA level. such an understanding of what's rewarded. they're really starting to look like the old Carmel.

on the other hand, the show is kiiiinda boring besides the decorated pool noodles, ngl. like a dry lecture about octopuses lol. i thought it was gonna be so much more fun than this!! with bigger builds and tension and release!! mostly elegant staging tho, some cool upstairs moments for sure.

b/w woodlands and arcadia, who will come out on top??? they are SOOO different, but woodlands does grip me more right away and doesn't let up. plus their equipment work is way more insane and distributed across more performers, and the addition of difficulty and risk to the SW sheets this yr should help them.

buuut i could also easily see arcadia ending up w/ a clearer, cleaner show, both upstairs and downstairs. hard to compare rn bc the woodlands show i saw was two weeks ago and incomplete. def need to hit mvmnt harder.

anywho, def i applaud both design teams for not just chasing the feel of the Avon show from last season. woulda been boring.

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I think Arcadia looks really clean for this point in the season, besides a few drops here and there. And yes, they move wonderfully.

I like that they're sort of keeping with last year's playful, quirky vibe. Will the octopus show become the new spider show for bands and guards everywhere? We shall see.

I do see where you're coming from about the soundtrack. I think last year's was better. I also think last year's concept was a bit stronger, with the blindness motifs. But it's all still very well-crafted. It feels very fluid and connected throughout.

[LeanderMomma]

I like it!! 

[packwick]

the cool thing about the Indy regional is that u get to see like 50% of the eventual SW finalists. smallest class, def convenient for getting a big picture view, unlike the bazillion SA guards.

rn i see the top 3 as arcadia, then woodlands, then carmel. arcadia has a very clear and connected looking show, something woodlands has some lapses in, particularly in the "opener." need to guide our eyes thru the flagwork and staging a lil better. woodlands is ofc really exciting and has unmatched spinners and tossers. ending... maybe a lil too quirky again?? but respect that they're going against the grain, marching to the beat of their own drum. Carmel is more of a polite clap for me, just like Pride of Cincinnati. lovely show, lovely staging, solid performers, but i feel like ive seen this a lot before. Pearland's show from last yr doesn't help. kinda the world class version of that show.

scores trending lower at the top than expected. addition of difficulty and risk?? i'll admit none of the ones i've seen scream "typical gold medalist." bad thing?? i dunno. def more of a designer than a performer thing. otoh maybe we just need to shift our perspectives a bit.

def still curious 'bout the FL contingent. have NOT seen Flanagan. maybe they'll swoop in like they did in 2008 and snag the gold from Arcadia/Woodlands like they snagged it from perpetual bridesmaid Avon after James Logan fell off a little.

[packwick]

warren central over carmel in Indy. not surprising, i thought carmel had a weaker run in finals, whereas wc's performers mostly killed it. still keepin' Carmel in 3rd for now. think the content has legs. juuuust need to get more consistent in the performance, otherwise they WILL be beaten again by Warren late season. there's an undeniable effect from watching Warren's perfomers slaaay, even if im not lovin' the music the design team chose lol.

top of the class lookin' kinda unstable tbh.

[packwick]

fusion will remain at the top of the IW standings, as they should. def curious to see what Paramount brings to the table, hopefully a clearer show than last yr. the "shouting into the void" theme def has me intrigued!!

[J-Mike16]

  On 2/23/2025 at 11:25 PM, packwick said:

top of the class lookin' kinda unstable tbh.

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How come?

[packwick]

  On 2/24/2025 at 12:52 AM, J-Mike16 said:

How come?

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well the tippy top prob not so much, w/ arcadia standing out today, but i could see the 80.0 cluster ending up w/ lots of caption splitting. already seeing it at the Indy regional.