September To Remember Music Fest: Not So Memorable
PLANO, Texas- This was not the first time that Third String Productions has hosted the “September to Remember Music Fest,” but from the looks of the crowd and the way the concert was run, you would have thought that amateurs were running the show. The fourth annual “September To Remember Music Fest” was held at the Oak Point Amphitheater in Plano, TX on Sept 11 and 12. The doors opened at noon, and acoustic performers played until 1:00 pm when the opening band took the stage.
On Saturday, the beginning was off to a rocky start. The first half of the concert consisted of local bands such as “Page 9” and “The Background.” Some of the sets were cut from five to three songs due to the concert running behind. Along with small attendance, and the sun being so stifling; many of the performers were both worn out some traveling a distance as far as California to play this event, as well as irritated due to the lack of organization. Many were skeptical of the absence of audience, until around 6:00pm when the attendance increased due to the performance of, “The Secret Handshake,” Luis Dubuc, who aside from performers, “This Providence,” drew the most attendance. Once the sun began to set, there was a short scare where it looked like the weather could have affected the event, but as “The Secret Handshake” performed, the storm seemed to have subsided, the concert went on with out a flinch.
Aside from the local band
performances that day, “The Secret Handshake,” Luis Dubuc’s band put on one of the best performances of the day. With the opening of their set, filled with an all too familiar clip from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” the crowd filled the front of the stage, as the band played songs off the new album, “Night and Day.”
“The Secret Handshake” had the crowd dancing, clapping their hands, and snapping fingers as they played some catchy Mo-Town Revival tunes wearing cardigans, school boy attire, and having podiums as props. The whole vibe of the band gave it a fun mature and soulful feel to the entire set. Using instruments such as tambourines, piano, and female back up singer along with the classic full band, “The Secret Handshake” undoubtedly took the crowd back to one of the original sounds of music.
At the end of the evening headlining band, “This Providence,” put on a memorable performance, playing their hits such as “Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing” and “My Beautiful Rescue.” They finished up the night with an acoustic version of, “Sand In Your Shoes.” Front man, Dan Young, did what he does best, and as a whole the band got the entire crowd in to it. But of course what crowd of teenage girls wouldn’t go crazy over musicians serenading them.
At the end of the night, a guitar signed by all the day one performers was raffled off to one of those who bought a “VIP” ticket for the event.
With day one of the fest at an end, many were weary of Sunday’s attendance. The line up of performers seemed to improve for day two, and with another day of heat thrashing down on everyone who attended, performers, “School Boy Humor,” played their entire set in their boxers, heating up the stage a little more. They played their radio hit, “Camera Shy,” and being the gentleman they are, wooed fans, saying that they were worried to jump around for fear of their genitals falling out.
Aside from the lack of clothing, Beaumont, Texas’ “Barely Blind,” made an impression on the audience with a solid performance and tantalizing stage presence. Another performance that got the crowd rocking out, was “The Wedding” as they played their hardcore version of “Twisted Sister’s” “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” With “The Wedding’s” performance the show’s genre seemed to transition from a Pop Rock sound on Saturday turning to a more sinister Hardcore sound. The concert had turned from straightened hair, tight jeans, and pretty faces, to heavy tattoos, grizzly facial hair, and growling.
With day two nearing an end, “Set Your Goals,” played their set getting the faintly larger crowd compared to day one, in to the music, with moshing and crowd surfing. The band had to also recess the set after a member of the audience jumped off the stage and kneed another member of the audience in the face. “Set Your Goals” guitarist, Audelio Flores Jr. made the comment to the crowd, “we’re not that hardcore.”
Day two headliners, “Sumerian Record Label’s,” “I See Stars,” ended “September To Remember Music Fest,” with their cover, “Your Love,” by 80’s band “The Outfield,” giving the older audience a song to reminisce, along with other’s off their album “3D.” The night was ended with another give away of a guitar signed by all of the performers from day two.
The event had some superior performers, and not so superior, but as I tried to talk to some of them about their thoughts on how the event had unfolded, many from both day one and day two made the comment, “well you might not want to quote me."
Compared to other events that Third String Productions has produced this was obviously not one of their paramount accomplishments. Many of the bands were upset that they even made the drive, but aside from their being a failure in attendance, for what it was, and how it turned out Third String Production could not have done anything more to bring forth an audience. The production company promoted the concert months in advance, on social networks as well as handing out fliers, hanging up posters and personal promoting. It was a combination of things, along with many local bands failing to do their part in selling pre-sale tickets and promoting. It was just failure by design. Who really wants to be out side for 10 hours in the grueling Texas heat, in the middle of September?
Weather conditions aside, a deficiency of locals’ participation in such events can lead to the decline of the music scene in the North Texas area. While concerts and shows will continue to be produced there could potentially, be a lower number of them, because if people do not come, promoters will not make their mark and bands will not get paid.
At the end of day one of “September To Remember Music Fest,” Third String Productions’, Owner, Mike Ziemer, tried to reach out to all concert goers in the North Texas area by tweeting, “Seriously, support local promoters, local bands, local shows, and music in general or it's not going to survive…”
Images Top to Bottom: Josh Roe-Martinez, Lead Vocals, Page 9. Luis Dubuc, The Secret Handshake. Will Smith, Drummer, Barely Blind .
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