BOA Plano - October 8th

[ctx]

I think it's important to note some of the top 5 bands from last night are not done with their shows. It is not impossible to see everything change drastically in a matter of weeks.

[northtexasbandfan]

Speaking of Grand Nats...and Flower Mound. Originally the thought was Flower Mound's next trip to Indy would likely be in 2018. However, with the way the late season sked has changed, and now BOA SA, UIL 6A championships and Grand Nats are squeezed into an 8-day window, they have supposedly told their kids (and it would be great to get some first-hand confirmation) that they are going in 2017 instead. My guess is that Marcus would also go (they went in 2009 and 2013). Thinking Hebron's next trip would be 2019, but you never know. But this is something to worry about once this incredible Texas band season is over.

 

What is really crazy to think about is how good the band that finishes 15th in BOA SA prelims and just misses finals is in the big picture.     

[LKendrick]

Some other highlights, because top to bottom this was one of the strongest shows I have ever watched.  

 

Flower Mound - Already gushed about them.  

Marcus - I really loved their whole show.  Probably my favorite of theirs since 2012.  Really well put together, performed incredibly well, and has more energy than I've heard from them in awhile.

Hebron - This show is really stunning, incredibly beautiful and fantastically flowing drill that is really evocative of the theme and they sound just as good as always.  Loved the Jellyfish thing in the ballad, and that brass feature in the closer, dang!  

LD Bell - This is their best effort since The Circles Edge, easily.  Absolutely stunning visual program as always but musically I love how all these pieces are interwoven and really given new life.  Thought the ending was stunning.  

James Bowie - This is my favorite show from them in awhile.  I love love love how they've woven in all the Queen music with the rest of what they're doing.  The ballad with Who Wants to Live Forever thrown in is beautiful.

Keller - WOW.  The ballad was probably in my top 3 favorite moments of the day.  So beautiful, so emotionally satisfying, and so well designed.  They're not slowing down after making Grand National Finals last year.  Can't wait for the closer.

James Martin - Such a clever and well designed show.  Love all the string instrument references in the drill, and the Orawa reprise in the closer is so well done.  They came out of nowhere for me.  

Winston Churchill - I had doubts about them early on, but this show is really coming into its own.  So many cool flower things in the drill, and they sound really great.  They're pushing for a San Antonio finals spot.  

Keller Central - So fun!  Love the uniforms and how they look up top.  Really fantastically fun music program they play really well, love the Ryan George stuff in the middle after the opening.  

Waxahachie - Bohemian Rhapsody hasn't sounded that good in the high school world in awhile.  That opening hit and then the ballad with the flute soloist soaring over the lush brass, so good. 

 

I'll pick one non finalist I loved for now, will talk about some others at a later date.  I think Prosper had one of the strongest designed shows of the day.  I loved the visual design, thought they performed it really well.  The opening stuff from Ashes of War was so well done, and the closing was epic.  I could see this show going a long way at San Antonio when they get it cleaned up.  They're really growing.  

[justabandkid94]

Yeah where is Rubisco this season?? Missing that inside scoop he always manages to track down

[justabandkid94]

Thanks for that recap Kendrick! had plans to go, family stuff came up. Sounds like I picked a bad year to miss!! Congrats to everybody. 

[Vidal28]

I'm just commenting on the shows i got to see.

Flower Mound- Amazing in every sense of the word. Musicality is extremely off the charts and they showed that off with that clarinet duet and the mid brass line at the end. What you would expect from a school sending the 2nd most All-Staters and placing 2nd in honor band!

Bowie-being the one finalist band going to GN, other than Flo-Mo, this show had that GN feel with all the props and just the theme of the show with Queen music providing an over-the-top production value.I really enjoyed all they had going on visuall at the beginning and just taking in that powerful brass throughout. Really enjoyed this show and can't wait to see it again at SA.

L.D. Bell- For a group to have a resurgence, they need to have a fall, and in my opinion, Bell never fell off, which is what I've been hearing from people leading up to and during this weekend. They continue to be fundamentally solid visually. They sounded beautiful in their ballad, and took on the challenge of Sabre Dance. Always impressive

Marcus- They continue to show why they are, what is it, 5-time repeating UIL SMC champions by being incredible musically and visually. The preshow was very soothing and everything sounded like concert band in concert hall, the whole package. Also another show i can't wait to see in SA

James Martin- Being a part of this band, and making finals at this competition when we placed 19th at BOA Arlington a year ago really blew my mind and everyone in our band basically yelled at the top of our lungs when our school was called. We were so ecstatic, happy, and relieved. It was surreal! Hope we surprised some of y'all. This competition was a wonderful experience for me, and i just wanted to share

[PSHSMom]

Did anyone see Coppell perform?  I only went in the morning to see Plano East play, but also caught Wakeland's show.
We went to the finals that night not knowing who would be performing, but I expected to see Coppell there. 

 

Like everyone else mentioned, FloMo was just outstanding.  But we really enjoyed all the bands!  I brought my 8th grader along 
who wasn't too thrilled at first, but then said he was really glad he went.  I think is he is looking forward to marching next year now

 

    
   

[Xenon]

I personally had Coppell making Finals after seeing them. I thought they sounded fantastic, but they need more work on the visual side. The visual has been getting a whole lot better over the past few weeks, so it is something they will definitely be able to grow into later in the season.

[Tenzineo]

I was able to make the trip over to finals and was insanely impressed by what I saw and heard. Here are a few thoughts I had on some of the finalists:

Flower Mound- Simply unreal. I cannot believe how good these kids are this early in the season, their brass sounds like a drum corps and their soloists are superb. LISD has some of the strongest musicians in the state, and the kids really gave a clinic during finals. Barring some tremendous growth from some other bands, I feel as if Flower Mound has San Antonio already in it's pocket. My only complaint is the show had to end.
Marcus- You can tell it's a state year when Marcus marches and plays like this. My jaw dropped at how still those kids could be during the opening hits, their playing and marching was crystal clear and I honestly see them winning another State title in a little less than a month from now. Every year Marcus seems to have the most beautiful props, how do they make those things?
Hebron- I can't wait to see where Hebron is by the end of the season. The colors of blue are so beautiful and give off and amazing visual sense of the show. Their music book is unreal and the execution of it is on point. I still cannot believe that these are highschoolers playing like this.
L.D. Bell- Really brought me back to the traditional Bell from a few years ago. The avoidance of props doesn't hurt this show at all as the students perform super well with the amazing visual and music books they have been given.
James Bowie- Really, really enjoyed the show design for this band, also this may be the first time I've really enjoyed Bowie's props. There's a lot more to add to this show, and I expect them to have a late season surge as they wrap up their show and head to Grand Nats. Bowie's color guard are simply on another level and tell the story of their show really well, and the soloists are fantastic.

The top five at this competition could easily all be in the top 7 at San Antonio (Bowie isn't going unfortunately), and the competition was quite fierce with the tinniest margins between Bowie and Bell, and Hebron and Marcus. Flower Mound have probably the best show this early on in the season that I have ever seen, and I hope to see them at Grand Nationals again soon. As for Bowie and Heborn, I feel as though they have a lot to add on and to clean in their shows and I can't wait to see what they have to offer due November.

[Hard Core Band Fan]

  On 10/9/2016 at 7:47 AM, SnareSnare13 said:

I really wish BOA would rotate around Grand Nats sort of like PASIC. That way you don't have bands that go every year like it's nothing and other bands that go once every twenty if they're lucky

 

It would be nice if it were to come closer to Texas for sure, but we really don't have the facilities to accommodate this type of competition. There may be other cities around the country that do, but I don't think we have any in Texas that are sufficient. The Alamodome can barely handle BOA San Antonio and that's with good weather. Last year with the rain, it was very difficult to provide any real space indoors to warm up and many bands got soaked in the parking lots.

 

Indianapolis is really set up for this type of competition and with enough indoor space (and the tunnel system) to accommodate a large contest regardless of the weather, which can be iffy in many parts of the country in early November.

 

Also, it would be nice for Avon and Carmel to have to endure more than a 20-30 minute bus ride to get to the Grand Nationals. Don't think they would be there every year otherwise!

[Hard Core Band Fan]

  On 10/10/2016 at 9:05 PM, Xenon said:

I personally had Coppell making Finals after seeing them. I thought they sounded fantastic, but they need more work on the visual side. The visual has been getting a whole lot better over the past few weeks, so it is something they will definitely be able to grow into later in the season.

 

Then they should do well at State where the visuals aren't so important. Well, at least the modern type of visuals! Just need those straight lines and sharp uniforms...

[northtexasbandfan]

Indianapolis has positioned itself as the marching arts capital, with the DCI World Championships, BOA Grand Nationals, and PASIC - though the irony is the only time PASIC holds a full-blown drumline marching contest is when it comes to Texas every third or fourth year. The positive for Texas bands of having Grand Nats in Indy also is that it makes it into a truly special trip for everyone involved, as opposed to it just being a competition.

[Hard Core Band Fan]

  On 10/13/2016 at 5:05 PM, northtexasbandfan said:

Indianapolis has positioned itself as the marching arts capital, with the DCI World Championships, BOA Grand Nationals, and PASIC - though the irony is the only time PASIC holds a full-blown drumline marching contest is when it comes to Texas every third or fourth year. The positive for Texas bands of having Grand Nats in Indy also is that it makes it into a truly special trip for everyone involved, as opposed to it just being a competition.

 

Ditto on it being a special trip. I've been fortunate enough to have gone twice as a band parent and there is just nothing else like it. The intensity of the competition and the excitement of making the finals is something I will never forget. Even attending as a fan is an awesome experience. I hope you all get to attend and I highly recommend going at least once in your life just to see what it is really like. Watching it online via the live feed is exiting by itself, but the atmosphere at the competition - the smells, the sound ringing around the stadium, the nervous band parents, and the fantastic performances make the hassle and expense completely worth the trip. My kids are out of high school now, but I am definitely going again soon.

[LKendrick]

I love the idea I've seen thrown around about having it rotate every few years like PASIC does. Still keeps it centralized but with a little variance every now and then.

[NTXBandFan]

Indy is perfectly setup for Grand Nats, with the convention center across the street available for practice, and all the hotels within walking distance.

There are only 3 large covered stadiums in the Texas.
-San Antonio has hotels, but doesn't have the indoor practice space close enough, parking lot for the load & unload is a bit cramped.
-Houston would be a good venue. It has ample parking and the practice space nearby. It just doesn't have the lodging, and the field is natural grass
-JerryWorld has the turf field, and could be a nice venue, the parking lot is a good size, but the logistics of getting props and bands into the stadium could be a challenge. Plus there aren't many hotel options nearby, and zero indoor practice locations. Most importantly though.... the acoustics suck!

Outside of Texas...
-New Orleans... I'm sure people would love to go there. The superdome isn't quite the best location though. THere isn't any indoor practice location, the parking situation for trucks is non-existent. the hotel options within walking distance are limited, especially ones the you'd want to house a bunch of high schoolers.
-Phoenix... Grass field, lack of indoor practice area, although you may not need indoor facilities as much there. No nearby hotels
-Atlanta... THis is probably the best option. There's a large facility next door where the bands could practice. The hotels are a little bit of a long walk though. And there is zero parking at the stadium for loading and unloading. You could unload at the convention center and haul everything to the stadium I guess. With the new stadium being built next door, who knows how that will impact things.

[Anthony V]

  On 10/13/2016 at 5:39 PM, NTXBandFan said:

Most importantly though.... the acoustics suck!

 

It really does suck. In fact, it sucks most of the sound up into the dome, so it's difficult to hear across the ensemble, much less from the box (where the ensemble sound is commingled with every pin drop and napkin crumple from the stands). I don't even know how much a sound curtain in front of the away stands would actually help.

[takigan]

  On 10/13/2016 at 4:54 PM, Hard Core Band Fan said:

Also, it would be nice for Avon and Carmel to have to endure more than a 20-30 minute bus ride to get to the Grand Nationals. Don't think they would be there every year otherwise!

 

I think they would.  I mean maybe not EVERY year, but I think a typical marcher at Avon or Carmel would expect to make at least 3 nats trips before they graduated if the contest rotated between St. Louis, SA, Georgia and Indy each year.  I think Marian Catholic (IL) would as well.

 

Now Lawrence Township, Center Grove, Ben Davis, Homestead, Lake Central etc......I think we'd see a lot less of those groups.

[NTXBandFan]

  On 10/15/2016 at 9:38 AM, takigan said:

 

I think they would. I mean maybe not EVERY year, but I think a typical marcher at Avon or Carmel would expect to make at least 3 nats trips before they graduated if the contest rotated between St. Louis, SA, Georgia and Indy each year. I think Marian Catholic (IL) would as well.

 

Now Lawrence Township, Center Grove, Ben Davis, Homestead, Lake Central etc......I think we'd see a lot less of those groups.

I don't know if they'd go every year. That's an expensive undertaking that they don't have to deal with like the further away schools do. I especially think schools like Marian Catholic would have to end their run of consecutive trips to the finals. Of course they could save some money doing it DCI style and staying in local school gyms, but it's still a big logistics challenge and still costly due to food and transportation. That's a lot of strain on a program.

I'm sure if it were always in Texas you'd see the local powerhouses there every year, even in state years.

[NTxBandMom8]

By Jerry World acoustics sucking, are we talking about the actual stadium or the practice stadium? I'm guessing the practice stadium is too small.

[NTxBandMom8]

PESHMom, tell me your thoughts on Wakeland's show. I really like it, but I'm still a newbie. I know what I like and what I think needs improvement, but I'd love to hear another viewpoint.

[NTXBandFan]

  On 10/17/2016 at 10:53 PM, NTxBandMom8 said:

 

By Jerry World acoustics sucking, are we talking about the actual stadium or the practice stadium? I'm guessing the practice stadium is too small.

The actual stadium. The practice stadium that Frisco ISD uses is too small for grand nats.

[PSHSMom]

I liked Wakeland's show, it was pretty cool.    I think they had some marching issues (like they all do this early on, even FloMo wasn't as clean as they will be!), but I liked the vortex stuff they had going on and they sounded good.    Since they weren't in the finals there, it was kind of hard to compare to the others that made the finals that evening.  I was surprised they didn't make it when I went back for finals, I kind of expected them there (like I did Coppell).  

 

Back in 2012 when PESH went to the BOA regionals in Denton,  they finished like 28 out of 33 bands.  They didn't even put on their whole show. 
However, that is the year they went to State and also placed in the top 14 (11th or 12th can't remember exactly) at the BOA Super Regionals in San Antonio. 
So don't be discouraged,  anything can happen!!!    Plano East never attends as many marching events as many of the other bands, so it's so hard
to judge how they will do this year, but I'm hoping for a repeat of 2012, LOL.  
    

[takigan]

  On 10/17/2016 at 8:12 PM, NTXBandFan said:

I don't know if they'd go every year. That's an expensive undertaking that they don't have to deal with like the further away schools do. I especially think schools like Marian Catholic would have to end their run of consecutive trips to the finals.

 

If Marian doesn't make finals this year, then I would completely accept that idea.  Their running streak is the big reason I could see them continuing the tradition.

 

Broken Arrow has gone every single year since 2006 (except for 2013) despite the distance and the costs.  Bell used to do the same thing.  This is because they have both the financial means and the competitive spirit/interest.  Carmel and Avon would likely assume the role of Broken Arrow as both these schools have a fair amount of money and consistently make finals....while Lawrence Township and Center Grove would not.  They would become the Richlands, the Bowies, the the Woodlands....s .

[Hard Core Band Fan]

  On 10/19/2016 at 7:03 PM, takigan said:

 

If Marian doesn't make finals this year, then I would completely accept that idea.  Their running streak is the big reason I could see them continuing the tradition.

 

Broken Arrow has gone every single year since 2006 (except for 2013) despite the distance and the costs.  Bell used to do the same thing.  This is because they have both the financial means and the competitive spirit/interest.  Carmel and Avon would likely assume the role of Broken Arrow as both these schools have a fair amount of money and consistently make finals....while Lawrence Township and Center Grove would not.  They would become the Richlands, the Bowies, the the Woodlands....s .

 

Another thing to consider is that it's more than just the money when it becomes a long trip to get there. It is a major undertaking to undergo the overall preparation to go, getting your parents to buy in to going, and your getting your school officials to give you permission to go. Then when it's time to go, it's either a multi-day bus ride or by plane, plus the planning and moving of props and equipment cross-country. My daughter's band did it every other year while she was there and it took a real toll on all involved. And cost a lot of money. Also, it is a competition trip with very little fun stuff. You get there, practice, perform, practice, perform, if you're lucky perform again and after the retreat, go to the hotel, get your stuff and head back. It is grueling to say the least. I don't know that people who have almost never had to do this would be willing to do it every year. In truth, we wouldn't know unless is was necessary for them to do it.

 

On another note, I read a post of an Indiana person in a forum on another site that stated that it doesn't matter how far you have to go to a contest, that a stadium is a stadium and either you were good or you weren't and it didn't matter how much you had to travel or how much you had to spend to get there. Once in the stadium, all things are equal. He continued on about how Texas bands were just inferior to Indiana bands and if they were not willing to come where the real competition was, that was our fault. He further stated that there was no advantage for Avon and Carmel to be so close to the Grand Nationals and for them to be able to go every year, and that it had no effect on their level of their performance. Their bands were just better bands than Texas bands. An interesting perspective, but more than a little naive.. and of course way more than a little arrogant.

 

The only thing I can say to that fine gentleman's statements is that if things were reversed, where the Grand Nationals were in Texas every year and everyone else had to come here, that the overall level of competition would likely be much higher. Can you imagine if the Grand Nationals weren't any less difficult to get to than the San Antonio Super Regional for Texas bands and the competition was a national competition? I don't think anyone with anything less than a 90 or 91 would ever make the finals. I also think that medals for out-of-staters would be much less frequent. Even for those superior Indiana bands!

[Xenon]

There were years when Marcus or Flower Mound would have likely won the Eagle if they had gone to GN that year. No, it doesn't reduce the performance level of Carmel/Avon/etc, but it means that the total performance level of the contest as a whole wasn't as high as it could have been and that the GN Champion could have been different.