AutMus Fest rocks it’s 10th year

It was a hot Saturday night as 3BallMTY, Hysteria, Stitched Up Heart, and local favorites Two Lions took over two stages at this year’s AutMus Fest. Held behind the Texas A&M International University's Sue & Radcliffe Killam Library and put together by the TAMIU Alumni Association, this marked the festivals 10th year. Despite the diverse set of musicians and bands, it was colossal headliners A.B. Quintanilla’s Kumbia Kings All-Starz that really brought the crowd to it’s feet.

For TAMIU student Cristina Yancey, this was the second time she had been to an AutMus Fest. The art major proclaims, “The band line up is really interesting. I am looking forward to seeing Hysteria.”

For students Caleb Sanez and Bianca Cantu, this was their first time ever at the festival. Sanez said, “I was encouraged to come and I thought it would be a great idea. I love music, fests, and to come here with friends.” When asked about which band she was looking forward to seeing, Ms. Cantu stated, “the Kumbia Kings.”  

The festival also had a lot of non-musical related activities for attendees to participate in. Various different booths and food available were made available. From craft vendors selling jewelry, to The Artisans doing face painting, to paintball shoot-outs, and to the Laredo Wrestling Alliance (LWA) showcasing local wrestling talent, there was something for everyone at the music festival. Commenting on the various activities, Caleb Sanez highlighted that shooting paintballs with friends was, “very exhilarating!”

Local Laredo bands DB3 and Two Lions opened the Budweiser Stage to a handful of applause. The two local groups have gained lots of notoriety around town and they both even won this years AutMus Got Talent: Battle of the Bands event this past Summer.

However, as the sunlight decreased the more people arrived to the festival. TAMIU alumni Erika de la Torre looked forward to seeing Stitched Up Heart and Immortal Guardian. “I had heard of them because of AutMus Fest. They were pretty good” claimed the Biology graduate when talking about Immortal Guardian.

By the time Hysteria took the stage it felt like a party had only just begun. If the heavy metal stylings of Immortal Guardian made you stand up off your feet and start head banging, then it was Def Leppard tribute band, Hysteria that made you groove. Doing classic renditions of hits such as, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and “Rock of Ages,” most of the crowd was dancing and singing along.

Still, it was the goth rock anthems of Stitched Up Heart that elevated the energy from nostalgia to pure hard rock angst. Having performed in Laredo a few times before, the Los Angeles-based band assaulted the masses with their intense songs and screeching vocals. Part of their “Heart-On Tour” the female-fronted band were a perfect balance for many of the nights diverse groups.

3BallMTY brought the noise with their brand of eclectic mixes of samples and music. The DJ Collective turned what had seemed like a rock concert into an all-out dance party. Their infectious hooks, thumping beats, bright LED screens, and erratic light show was a sight to behold. It was difficult not to get into it.

Nevertheless, it was A.B. Quintanilla’s Kumbia Kings All-Starz which closed out the night toa  packed crowd. With their Latin flair and hit songs, the Latin Grammy award winning group turned up the crowd for one last party. It was an excellent way to end a day full of exciting music and fun. Laredoans and Dust Devils can expect the next AutMus Fest to be next year on Saturday, October 5th 2015.

(George Gonzalez may be reached at jorge.gonzalez@dusty.tamiu.edu)