✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*BOA San Antonio Video Countdown*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

[justabandkid94]

I don't know what it is, but the early 2000s GN finals videos have this feeling of wonder to them. Just feels super magical. I don't get the same vibe watching new videos. I don't know if it's the production quality or what, but just something I notice anytime I watch late 90s-00s

[oldtwhsband]

DAY SIX

 

ld bell 2002. they don't write shows like this in texas anymore. machines, those kids!

 

https://youtu.be/msw2thjrxdY

[Danpod]

DAY SIX

 

ld bell 2002. they don't write shows like this in texas anymore. machines, those kids!

 

https://youtu.be/msw2thjrxdY

 

At the BOA Arlington Regional, L.D. Bell presented us with a giant banner saying "Good Luck At Nationals!!!!!"  Their whole band signed it and we had it put up in the band hall for the remainder of the year.

 

The show was awesome and holy crap, they practically had jetpacks on the field!!  I met their flute soloist that year.  She ended up coming becoming a very special person in my life and I still talk to her to this day.  Wonderful program.

[Danpod]

DAY FIVE

 

ronald reagan 2002. featuring one of the all-time fan favorite moments: plume change!

 

https://youtu.be/Kk2MmVuH0s0

 

It was such a pleasure competing with them that year.  I made so many friends from their program that year that I basically lost count.  Our "rivalry" was a very cordial and friendly one.  We always pushed each other to do better when we were at contests.  Build each other up.  That's how you do it.

 

The plume trick was pulled off by having an orange plume attached to the shako like normal.  A discarded paper towel roll was covered in plume feathers and that went over the orange plume.  With the nearly all black uniforms in close quarters, you could barely see how they revealed the orange plume.  One of the best visual moments ever!    

 

At Grand National Finals retreat, one of my friends from Reagan gave me her plume.  I still have it at home   

[jmj]

DAY SIX

 

ld bell 2002. they don't write shows like this in texas anymore. machines, those kids!

 

https://youtu.be/msw2thjrxdY

Thanks for posting. I had not seen this since... well maybe back in 2002! Not a lot of melody in this one, but oh my, the marching is glorious - they are MOVING!

 

I know this was a Higginbotham original show. Whatever happened to that guy? He was THE composer/arranger of this era. Oh man, some of those originals... Altered State, Spring 2000 anyone? That was a SHOW.

[takigan]

DAY FIVE

 

ronald reagan 2002. featuring one of the all-time fan favorite moments: plume change!

 

https://youtu.be/Kk2MmVuH0s0

 

There are plenty of shows out there that are "better" than this one (as in better performed), but this is my favorite show to watch....ever.  I think some might find it campy, but whatever....it's brilliant writing and tons of fun.  I feel like it truly tells the story of a band rising to the national stage.  Sort of like: "this is the story of our journey here....please watch and listen, and be inspired..."

 

I've watched the breakdown from 6:40-7:20 probably a hundred times by now and I still haven't gotten tired of it.

[LeanderMomma]

 

There are plenty of shows out there that are "better" than this one (as in better performed), but this is my favorite show to watch....ever. I think some might find it campy, but whatever....it's brilliant writing and tons of fun. I feel like it truly tells the story of a band rising to the national stage. Sort of like: "this is the story of our journey here....please watch and listen, and be inspired..."

 

I've watched the breakdown from 6:40-7:20 probably a hundred times by now and I still haven't gotten tired of it.

I just watched it again too. (I woke up at 4 am and couldn't go back to sleep). I love this show so much! And those color guard outfits. WOW! And the plume changes. COOL! Such a great show.

[oldtwhsband]

AND IN FIRST PLACE

 

and your 2002 Bands of America San Antonio Regional Champion, with a score of blah blah blah:

 

the Carmel High School Marching Band from Carmel, Indiana!

 

https://youtu.be/gxHgKxLFcOE

[principalagent]

AND IN FIRST PLACE

 

and your 2002 Bands of America San Antonio Regional Champion, with a score of blah blah blah:

 

the Carmel High School Marching Band from Carmel, Indiana!

 

https://youtu.be/gxHgKxLFcOE

 

Here's to not letting this happen ever again!

[LeanderMomma]

Here's to not letting this happen ever again!

:D

[Rubisco]

I think these shows all hold up pretty well. You have to go back into the 90s to find shows that really don't. I was watching Centerville's championship show the other day and was thinking the same thing I thought when I first saw it: "This was the best show in 1992?!" (Love the cheesy drum major salute, though.)

 

I went to Nationals in '02 in support of Spring, although of course by that point I knew there was a snowball's chance in heck of them making finals. Nevertheless, 2002 was really a watershed year for Texas bands on the national stage. Three new finalists in Stephen F. Austin, The Woodlands, and Ronald Reagan, and four TX bands total in finals. That said, the very best shows from that year weren't from Texas. Lassiter's Liturgical Sketches and Marian Catholic's Dialogues with a Muse are masterpieces and both would probably still factor into my top 10 of all-time. The endings of both of those shows are unforgettable -- obviously Lassiter with their horn choir, but Marian Catholic, too, with that soft chord that slowly crescendoed to a climax as they performed some of the most breathtaking drill I had ever seen. Carmel probably had my 3rd favorite show that year. Easy to see why they came out on top in GE at San Antonio, despite the fact that the music performance was competent at best. I also enjoyed Lawrence Central's first chair show, because I love a good Barber show, and the performance was highly refined.

 

Out of Texas, definitely I thought Bell was tops. Reagan obviously had great things in their future, but the '02 show wasn't the most refined production, and there was an awful lot of parking and playing, which caused a bit of a controversy on the BOA forums back in the day. You know, people timing how much marching and playing they did and whatnot.

[Rubisco]

Also, on the note of marching and playing, I would definitely agree that TX bands don't write shows like Bell's 2002 show anymore. Holy cow. The Texas bands of today know they'd never be able to get that kind of show clean enough to win anything!

[Danpod]

since i'm still awake and it's technically day three

 

DAY THREE

 

the woodlands 2002. makin' colors.

 

https://youtu.be/FFxt0GopO8U

 

Such an underrated show.  This band was massive!!  These guys stayed at our hotel for Nationals we totally didn't run up and down the elevator saying Hello to everyone....

 

This was about a week after the infamous Taco Tuba incident at State.  Yes, they fixed the sousaphone bell in time.

[Danpod]

AND IN FIRST PLACE

 

and your 2002 Bands of America San Antonio Regional Champion, with a score of blah blah blah:

 

the Carmel High School Marching Band from Carmel, Indiana!

 

https://youtu.be/gxHgKxLFcOE

 

Seeing them in the tunnel for retreat, you knew these guys meant business.  Well-designed show and execution.  I remember hearing Dan Potter announce their third movement, "Heavy Metal".  We all looked at each other as if there had been some sort of mistake.  The rocked the house with that final movement!