Sup folk?
I know it's only week 1 and all....and I must say while Im starting to c more and more lesser known programs step into the light (Alcorn, FVSU, Concordia, Livingstone, etc etc), I am not impressed with the heavy contenders....as of yet. I got a chance to check out about 5 different bands this weekend. Overall, the bands performed what they were giving well. I guess my problem is with what they r being giving...what these director's are challenging their students with. Am I expecting too much? Have I been over-sensitized with the emergence of the summer All Star Bands?? Help me out here? I just hope this is not a sign of a lackluster, BUT LOUD, season to come?? I must say...i was more impressed with O. P. Walker's week 1 showing then anything I've seen this weekend. *Kanye shruggs*
What are your thoughts?
Replies
JSU - Powerful, sound pretty good as well on the songs that I heard them play.. I haven't seen them on the field.. Hopefully they cleaned up in that department.. Bones sound good as usual..
ALCORN - the clips that I saw from them were cool.. I always liked their book, I can tell that they improved..
SU - Powerful, a lil imbalanced but I know they'll find it.. Trumpets can play out a bit more to match up with the rest of the band..lol haven't seen their field show, but I know that they left it smokin..
TNSU - Sounds Pretty good as usual..
BCU - Sounds amazing.. Just boring in the stands.. Field show was on point.. I enjoyed playing them for the most part..
PVU - Slow start for us.. But we put on... Got some cleanin to do.. That's all ima say..
Well, from what I saw:
1.) Gotta start with us.....pretty good. Cleaned up alot, and did good on field, still cleaning....that's all I will say.
2.) Alcorn- Murry is the perfect match for them. He has cleaned their sound up alot, not the loudest or most entertaining thing, but they surely showed up and made a statement.
3.) JSU- got alot of numbers, loving that in spite of that, u sacrificed a bit of volume than normally used with those numbers, and fixed balance within the band. Looking forward to good things.
4.) SU- for once....idk what to say about u. It was.....like....ya'll just missed the mark. As loud as it was, quality took a back seat. Phrases that were clearly ignored, a few accuracy issues, but I'm sure they will be cleaned....I hope.
5.) UAPB- forceful sound, pretty good, not as good as prior years, but it's just game one.
6.) PV- had a big test, passed it, but produced probably the dryest fifth I have seen yet......a few balance issues, but nothing too bad.
7.) Cookman....got the wow factor....but very boring.
8.) TnSU...pretty decent
9.) AlaSU.....balance and blend is a problem over there, but hopefully it will be fixed.
10.) MVSU......uh....well.....I expected much more than produced. Sounded better in the spring, but I'm confident it will be fixed.
11.) AAMU straightened up since that first video I saw during camp.
12.) Hampton............if I can't be nice, I will just not speak......
"Am I expecting too much?"
No...but just like Honda 08...youre still there to entertain, dig? This was the source of SO many uncalled for attacks on the Ocean by NSU faithful and MEAC faithful as if the Ocean was doing a pure gimmick show. They did what they do and entertained...and the arrangements they played on the field that year WEREN'T the usual simplistic marching band stuff they HAD played in the past.(dome sound notwithstanding)
But no...you aren't expecting too much. First and foremost our bands are supposed to TEACH, dig? So...musicianship and quality should be the hugest focus...next to University advertisement, football team/basketball team support and entertainment...part of the campus atmosphere. Your marching band should have many members in university ensembles as well playing even more challenging music and showcasing it...even...recording it.
Let me give you and even more serious example: remember on the 5th where someone raised the musicality argument from BCC AGAINST SU? And one dude said he tried out for some jazz regional comp though he wasn't a jazz trombonist from BCC? And the judges told him his tone was great and that his only drawback was that they could TELL he wasn't quite versed in jazz yet and hadn't yet learned or hadn't started to interpret "saying something" on the horn yet. And he felt that this was an attack on SU...but what they were telling him is that he played HOT CROSS BUNS VERY WELL. I'll continue...Paul Adams would've been angry and NOT let that dude go to competition like that. It's not just you playing a good sounding blues scale...it's SAYING SOMETHING IN BLUES...that's waaaaaay above just executing the music..which is why in my opinion BCC as of current as a marching band is actually NOT quite there with NSU, SU or JSU. It's hot cross buns with good tone...not M7-ii64-suspended.....dig? And I won't speak on A&T's clips on the net....
So...no you're not expecting too much. When you get behind the podium(if you aren't there yet), my advice is to go for that without letting it fog your lense and it's just a bandhead/music fanatic extravaganza that doesn't SELL what you do too. Hope that helps....
Now bak to the current year....
It may b too early to call but it doesnt look lik this will b a very memorable year for alota bands. I hope im wrong about that!