Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Opinion

Opinion Columnist: Wes Kimbell

Media Credit: Fred Lambuth [Click to enlarge]

MOST PEOPLE would not have the audacity to compare College Station's music scene to that of Austin. The big city of Austin has been labeled the "live music capital of the nation." Anyone who walks down 6th street on a Saturday night will find numerous bars bursting with quality, live music.

Unappreciated, under-signed and unknown are probably the words most used to describe the much smaller music scene in College Station, which holds no titles.

Take a walk through Northgate on a Saturday night and you'll find few bars that have managed to get a couple of bands to detour to College Station while they are on the road, or perhaps some local talent giving it all they've got.

However, the College Station music scene is more than the generally assumed write-off because it is steadily growing and changing. The annual Northgate Music Festival, held in College Station, gives local and out-of-town talent showcase time and is expanding in size each year. The festival is sometimes compared to Austin's South by Southwest. It gives residents of College Station a chance to see hidden, local talent on more than eight stages and in six venues. So what is keeping College Station from becoming a significant music scene in Texas?

To find the answer, I sought out Bob Turek, Carlos Mendoza and Seth Brenner, members of the band The Flyers. They have years of experience in the College Station music scene and have struggled to create an atmosphere of quality music by networking with other bands in the area.

Turek and Mendoza both see promising musical talent in College Station. The Flyers, The Johnny Cash Cover Band, Circle Birds (Matt Jackson), Clairmont, Best Cellar (Daniel Posey), Squash the Squash and Mandy Clinton are some of the Indie artists drawing attention to the College Station music scene - not to mention the scores of country western bands including Granger Smith. If you go listen to any of these bands, you'll find that there is indeed quality talent coming from College Station. These bands pull hundreds of fans to their shows on Northgate and the surrounding College Station and Bryan venues. Unfortunately, many are unaware of this.

But, according to the members of The Flyers, one of the biggest obstacles preventing the College Station music scene from growing significantly is the simple fact that College Station is a college town. Turek said it took nearly four years for The Flyers and some of the bands they play with to gain the fans they have acquired and, in the meantime, try to turn College Station into a significant music city in Texas. But soon the members of the band will graduate and leave College Station.

And there is the problem. By the time bands have formed and start to grow in popularity, its time to graduate, which usually means leaving College Station and their work building the music scene in the city. Also, every year a senior class graduates and leaves - and it's usually the senior class that supports the local artists the most. A freshman class comes in every year, but they are mostly unaware of the small music scene in College Station. It usually takes a while before these new students discover the good music - sometimes not until their senior year, giving them only one year before they leave.

But the The Flyers are optimistic. They argue that, with enough effort, the music scene would gain significant popularity. For one, bands that emerge from College Station should make a point of playing in the city after graduation. This assumes, however, that the bands stay together after the members graduate. Freshman and sophomore band members should seek to play in College Station and not pass it over in favor of Austin. They encourage local bands in a similar music genre to unite. This means more communication and organization of shows among the artists. Bob and Carlos argue this is key. "The Flyers started in 2004," Turek said, "and gradually found other talented artists and kind of formed a 'coalition' of artists that play shows together." This has helped build the College Station music scene.

"Talented people in College Station shouldn't be afraid to go out and try to play," said Seth Brunner, drummer for The Flyers. "Then there would be many more bands playing. If only they would take the risk and get out and play."

Meanwhile the local talent of College Station continues to play in the area. If music interests you, support our local artists by attending one of their many shows. You might actually love it.

Wes Kimbell is a senior international studies major.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools