BOA Indianapolis Regional

[IMcom-Josh]

All Finalists bands will be at GN. (Any band that doesn't have a State abbreviation below is from Indiana)

 

Finals Results

1) 93.25 - Avon

2) 92.55 - Carmel

3) 90.90 - Lawrence Central

4) 90.05 - Marian Catholic (IL)

5) 89.45 - Centerville (OH)

6) 86.90 - Center Grove

7) 86.35 - Penn

8) 83.45 - Lake Central

9) 83.20 - Lake Park (IL)

10) 81.85 - Ben Davis

 

Music - Avon

Visual - Avon (tie)

Visual - Lawrence Central (tie)

GE - Avon

 

Prelims Results

 

Class AAAA

1) Avon

2) Carmel

3) Lawrence Central

 

Music - Avon

Visual - Avon

GE - Carmel

 

Class AAA

1) Center Grove

2) Lincoln-Way East (IL)

3) Castle

 

Music - Center Grove

Visual - Center Grove

GE - Center Grove

 

Class AA

1) Marian Catholic (IL)

2) Brentwood (TN)

3) Father Ryan (TN)

 

Music - Marian Catholic (IL)

Visual - Marian Catholic (IL)

GE - Marian Catholic (IL)

Class A

1) Union City (TN)

2) Orleans

 

Music - Union City (TN)

Visual - Union City (TN)

GE - Union City (TN)

 

Thoughts on finalists.

 

10th Ben Davis - This years show concept is much more apparent than last years (despite the abundant us of arrows then hah) and it's a fun theme. The drill is slightly harder but still leaves much to be desired. I prefer last years music too. More catchy. I was surprised by how low they scored since it seemed as though they had a good run. They should still be in the mid-teens come finals. My placing, 8th.

 

9th Lake Park - This is the best Lake Park I have ever seen live (which has only been about 5 years). The show is fun and the design is good. If you watch them, be sure to check out the "Wood Element" part of their show. My placing, 10th.

 

8th Lake Central - I am really happy about this group improving their placing from last week. The show design is just amazing (it's like LD Bell meets Broken Arrow)! I was finally able to see the show from a high vantage point and the guard is just even better with great drill design. The music is great too but once I saw it from the 400 level of LOS, I could see their problem. They just aren't playing loud enough! They have the control but they need to let loose when they have those impact moments and their score will improve that much more. Stop playing at a mf level! My placing, 9th.

 

7th Penn - Here's a band most of you I'm sure will never see live which is really sad really. They know how to play and a good portion of their shows would do great at BOA GN (an 86 in BOA is nothing to snub after all). It was great to see this show one more time especially from above. It made me appreciate it that much more. So dear Penn, PLEASE do GN! You would be a band in contention for finals! My place 7th.

 

6th Center Grove - I don't know why the judges aren't caring for this show. It has a great amount of everything in it and is probably my favorite Indiana show this year (who doesn't love the Ice Dance). Still, saxes tear from time to time and choreography can still be refined to be in time. I also preferred your old WGI ending haha. Watch out for your penalties too! They can kill your chances for finals and I really would love to see this show in Finals. My placing 5th.

 

5th Centerville - I have to admit, when I first heard you were doing music by Elvis "The King" Presley, I was really skeptical that it could be done but you proved me wrong and put out one of the most entertaining shows of the day. I can't wait to see this show again. You have great energy which is exactly what you need for this kind of show. I think everyone can appreciate this show and get into it. My placing 4th.

 

4th Marian Catholic - Marian Catholic is Marian Catholic. I have really enjoyed your past two show but this one is just meh for me again. I'm sure with your "power cleaning" it will look great for finals but it just isn't doing it for me. That's just my opinion though. The Miraculous Mandarin is certainly my favorite part of your show though with the trombones (but Homestead did it better still in 94 hehe). The design is solid though but I don't get the energy from the show. My placing, 6th.

 

3rd Lawrence Central - Here is a show you just either love or hate. I just didn't like this show at all at the beginning of the season but as it developed, it grew on me more and more until I saw it live once again at our State Finals. Your guard is probably going to be the best at Finals which goes to show why you are always tops in visual. I have you on the cusp of the top 5 at finals hanging at 6th place. I enjoy the new ending as well although the old one worked for me as well. Either way works imo. My placing 3rd.

 

2nd Carmel - WOW WOW WOW! Here was an unknown practically all season since they only went to one Indiana contest all season (first week out two months ago) and the improvement is showing. This show actually has demand in it as well! Both musically and visually. But with that demand, it is showing that you aren't used to it either. Very dirty (especially visually in the closer) at spots but if you clean, I honestly would not be surprised to see you take the Eagle this year. As much as I tried to not like this show (cause really I don't care for virtually any Carmel show), I simply couldn't. Plus they reach Drum Corps loudness at times too! Clean clean clean and you are fighting for a top 3 spot at finals. My placing 2nd.

 

1st Avon - Yeah we all know Avon. The music is great and your trumpets are GOD! You're more visually dirty than normal it would seem though (perhaps it is because of all the rain we have had this year forcing indoor rehearsals) but if the good weather holds over the next week, I could see that problem being fixed quickly. Other than that though, I think this show is practically maxed out sadly. It's going to be a tight race to the top.

 

I'd like to give a shout out to the Franklin band from TN. Here was a band that surprised everyone and we thought could slip into finals. They played great and the show was fun. If you get a chance, catch this show!

Edited November 8, 2009 by IMcom-Josh

[Mellophone77]

Thanks for the update!

 

I can't wait the see the shows on the fan network. How do you think Avon and Carmel will compare at nationals? And people were saying on the MFA/BOA forums that Carmel's preliminary time was moved, any idea what the reason behind that was?

[IMcom-Josh]

It is certainly hard to compare the bands. Their styles are vastly different but both shows should please the crowd in one way or the other. It's going to be a very tight race in the top 4. I have (in no order) Carmel, Bell, Avon, and Marcus at the top 4 right now with Woodlands and Lawrence Central battling at the edge of that as well. You can't count out Marian Catholic either and their amazing ability to power clean so they will fight for a top 4/5 spot and you never know much the judges will like Centerville and we haven't seen PCEP for quite awhile as well so who knows what they will bring. One thing is for sure, this is going to be a tough tough Finals year and no matter what state wins (yeah...even if it is Texas hehe), I will be happy cause I have loved all these shows so far this year. The crowd is certainly going to be the winner this year.

 

Also, Carmel's prelims time was moved last Saturday. They had requested it because one of their soloists was taking the SAT at the time. I was told they were supposed to receive a .5 penalty for it but then later heard they weren't penalized. In any case, the results are done and final so there is no point in worrying about that either.

[Mellophone77]

I was just wondering about Carmel's time change, though I thought if something like that happened they'd just tell the band to play without the soloist since I'm sure they would of if it wasn't a soloist.

 

A lot of bands at Nationals have great shows...but I'm just glad I'll be watching the webcast and my school's playoff game was assigned for Friday night. At this point I'd say that every band in finals is going to be great.

[JBone]

It's nice to see a good review here so I don't have to go to indianamarching. Thanks.