School is back, y’all. And that means finding stuff to do across Bryan/College Station. While Kyle Field will be the place to be on Thursday, August 30, all the action will take place in Downtown Bryan the following night.
The Grand Stafford Theater will once again host a great lineup on Friday, August 31, as the Ex-Optimists headline an evening of indie rock music beginning at 7 p.m. Founded in 2008, the College Station-based band puts on a good show with a light-hearted demeanor. While dressing the part of an indie-rock band, the Ex-Optimists express a comical and satirical personality, even going as far to describe their music as “pop songs played with guitars plugged into amps turned way too loud to get over a drummer who hits them too hard, hollered to be heard.”
The band’s music has a very chill yet exciting vibe, one that will definitely lead to some head bobs but will stop short of elevated blood pressure. The onstage presence is exactly what one would expect of a rock band: relaxed and comfortable yet passionate about their performance. Kelly Minnis, who plays the guitar while also supplying the vocals, has the perfect pipes for this group. His voice is strong, clear and soothing. He is joined on stage by Katie Keller on bass, Michael Scarborough on guitar and Colin Witucki on drums.
The Ex-Optimists will be joined by the Wheel Workers, A Sundae Drive and LUCA, but if the music isn’t enough to get you excited, the venue will. The Grand Stafford Theater, located at 106 Main Street in Bryan, has a tradition of entertaining the Bryan/College Station area. The building dates back to the early 1910s, and despite suffering a devastating fire in the 1980s, it still has the classic, old-school charm.
So head on out to Downtown Bryan and the Grand Stafford for some quality live music and a bit of history. It’s sure to be a great way to start off the new semester.
