Favorite shows this season (2009)

[takigan]

There's usually one of these threads each season, and being that it's "late season" now, now's a better time than any to put it up.

 

So who'd ya'll enjoy seeing this year? Live or recordings, doesn't matter. Here's your chance to let loose about some of the cool shows you enjoyed seeing/hearing this season. Interesting concepts, that 'cool Clarinet solo' in the closer, legit choreography, rockin' drumlines, lay it all out!

 

I'll start,

 

 

The Woodlands - The chanting stuff is just awesome. The energy from the world-drum troop in the front ensemble led by the mic'd chanters was electric!

 

Cedar Park - Saw this live at Houston. The opening hit was enough for me. I'll pay money any day of the week to have my skeletal frame jarred by a single sudden deluge of sound!

 

Ronald Reagan - The plume-switching drum major salute sold me on this. For all the schools that are doing plume switching these days, it's nice to be reminded of who started it all.

 

James Bowie - Rock solid music performance, just....awesome!

 

Martin - Slick scoring and probably the most epic arrangement of Equus I've heard on the field (the sax stuff: mmhmm )

 

Harlingen - Best interpretation of Metallica since Westfield '07.

 

 

Others: The Woodlands: College Park, Brazoswood, Jackson Academy, Claudia Taylor Johnson, SFA, Clear Brook; all great shows.

[Mellophone77]

I have plenty from this year. Not being a state year I was expecting the shows to be "more fun" and they were

 

Ronald Reagan - I missed them at BOA Arlington (literally got out of the car when I heard the announcer, "Joining us from San Antonio...") though I saw part of the show from the ground and happy to see half the band with red plumes and the other half with black. I loved their show and the concept of the plume changes

 

Wakeland - I generally don't like classical music being performed on the field, I thought their musical selections really fit the theme of their show.

 

LD Bell - I love the music for their show, and I'm excited to see what they add for BOA Grand Nationals!

 

Plano East - I didn't like the show as much as last year's at the beginning of the season but by the end of the season I thought it was really nice. I really liked that at Plano school did a very BOAish show.

 

Keller - I liked the concept of the show. I really liked the take on Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek for the ballad by using a french horn solo.

 

Avon - They may not be a Texas band their trumpets are AMAZING. I love whistling that part to practice my double tongueing xD

 

Others: Plano ( - what can I say? It's a lame show, but its my lame show), The Woodlands, Richland, McKinney Boyd (I love "It Chooses Me"), and Carmel.

[whitewing09]

The Woodlands: This show was awesome! Love every aspect of it especially the effect of the acoustic...? guitar I think haha

 

Spring: Wow! Their trumpets were amazing and loved the over all show! My favorite spring show to date.

 

Cedar Park: Their sound is epic! I've always been a fan of how emotional their shows can be.

 

L.D Bell: Their show is simply amazing this year! Their introduction is legit awesome! Their arrangement Kingfishers and the Mecca flute thing are sweet! The oboe solo for the ballad is so beautiful.

 

Westfield: Especially loved their opener with the solo! cool stuff

 

Clearbrooke: Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat... Loved it! Hopefully they will do well at GNATS

[blevan]

Wakeland

Sherman

William B. Travis

Hebron

L. D. Bell

Ronald Reagan

[Rocktapus512]

Wakeland-I saw these guys at state and they play extremely well. I saw their warm up and all I have to say is WOW. The dynamic contrast from Triple F to pp is amazing. They have great control of their instruments as an ensemble. Fantastic trumpet section. The musical selection was EPIC.

 

Cedar Park-RAW POWER! Its all about that opening hit and the huge chord in the opener. These kids know how to take it to 11 but still play with a nice fat sound that doesnt go to far. Along with quality sounds in the ballad Cedar Park does some justice to Scheherezade.

 

Dripping Springs-I'm not trying to be bias on this one but i have to say Dripping Springs' show design and music arrangement was stellar this year. The students pulled it off very well, with low brass sounds and the flowing woodwinds, trumpets and horns this show was just the perfect storm.

 

Clements-I saw them at Westlake and they blew my mind. The whole show is really high energy and intense. Nice clean drill is complimented by good round sounds. Fantastic program. I had no idea who they were going into the contest. Now i know who Clements is.

 

Hendrickson-Great program. Hendrickson has placed 5th in the past 3 state contests if im not mistaken so their doin something right. I enjoyed the complexities of their show this year. It was very abstract and they pulled it off well. Plus we know Hendrickson always brings the sound.

 

L. D. Bell-Simply Epic.... thats all that needs to be said.

[takigan]

  Rocktapus512 said:

Clements-I saw them at Westlake and they blew my mind. The whole show is really high energy and intense. Nice clean drill is complimented by good round sounds. Fantastic program. I had no idea who they were going into the contest. Now i know who Clements is.

 

I also saw Clements at the SHSU contest and was EXTREMELY impressed. They beat Duncanville at that contest so there's something to be said about that I'd say.

[the terminator]

  Rocktapus512 said:

Wakeland-I saw these guys at state and they play extremely well. I saw their warm up and all I have to say is WOW. The dynamic contrast from Triple F to pp is amazing. They have great control of their instruments as an ensemble. Fantastic trumpet section. The musical selection was EPIC.

 

Cedar Park-RAW POWER! Its all about that opening hit and the huge chord in the opener. These kids know how to take it to 11 but still play with a nice fat sound that doesnt go to far. Along with quality sounds in the ballad Cedar Park does some justice to Scheherezade.

 

Dripping Springs-I'm not trying to be bias on this one but i have to say Dripping Springs' show design and music arrangement was stellar this year. The students pulled it off very well, with low brass sounds and the flowing woodwinds, trumpets and horns this show was just the perfect storm.

 

Clements-I saw them at Westlake and they blew my mind. The whole show is really high energy and intense. Nice clean drill is complimented by good round sounds. Fantastic program. I had no idea who they were going into the contest. Now i know who Clements is.

 

Hendrickson-Great program. Hendrickson has placed 5th in the past 3 state contests if im not mistaken so their doin something right. I enjoyed the complexities of their show this year. It was very abstract and they pulled it off well. Plus we know Hendrickson always brings the sound.

 

L. D. Bell-Simply Epic.... thats all that needs to be said.

 

oh that's not biased u guys were very good, and ur performance was simply amazing and breathtaking. U guys are so clean marching wise and great music as well. also its so nice that people like wakeland bc when wakeland first started many questioned if this program can do anything to be successful, and without a doubt hearing others to appreciate us its special. probably the biggest thing is when we first opened most of us had not know success the few non-freshmen always watched as other bands made finals and we were left out. i know i'm not there anymore but to see these guys come out of nowhere to be this successful is great for me. and definitely good luck next year hope u guys continue to stay as a powerhouse. i remember watching u guys at centennial the past couple years and i was always impressed

[acsc1312]

L.D. Bell- Simply amazing. I love that they are going from scary/creepy 06/06 to ethereal this year. Everything about this show makes me happy. Kingfishers was a great choice along with Ethiopia III. I'm so glad I get to see them live at GN.

 

Avon (IN)- They will probably repeat, if not be right under Bell. This show is so clean musically. As stated a couple posts earlier, the trumpets are SO clean on their tonguing feature in the first movement. I literally had that part stuck in my head from the minute they performed it and Indy until Saturday night. They could do a lot of damage if they clean up a bit from Indy.

 

The Woodlands- Love the concept of this show. Chant/drum part makes me smile every time. Can't wait to see them live either.

 

Broken Arrow (OK)- Now, I know this was a huge WTF at St. Louis, but the music is great. I've listened to this show so much since then and it keeps growing on me. Hopefully they have added a lot since Stl

 

Marcus- MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC. They are slated to win the music caption on their first GN appearance, and I say even top 3.

 

Bowie- Love their drill design this year, and the music doesn't hurt either.

 

Centerville (OH)- I'm not a fan of Elvis, but what this group has done to his music is great. Very much a crowd pleaser.

 

Those are a few of mine this year. Great year at GN all around...

[jmj]

Marcus - What a production! The guard, trees, flowers, donkey, etc. all help to portray A Midsummer Night

Edited November 10, 2009 by jmj