Koe Wetzel did his part, too, throwing together a show of Texas country artists for a Monday night show at the Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving.
“Texas is home – these floods hit our neighbors hard and they need our help,” Wetzel said. “Music has a way of bringing people together, and I’m grateful to my friends who immediately raised their hands to help when we called. This benefit concert is our way of standing with the people of Texas and doing whatever we can to make a difference as our great state rebuilds.”
Wetzel said during the show that after he heard of the floods, he started calling around to see who could help, and that’s how Koe Wetzel & Friends Stronger Together concert came to be. The lineup for this show was loaded: Wetzel, Casey Donahew, Shane Smith, Ray Wylie and Lucas Hubbard, Mike Ryan, Kolby Cooper, Pecos Hurley and Dylan Wheeler.
Before the show even started, you could feel the buzz in The Pavilion. Fans lined up in the blistering heat before the gates opened, eager to get a piece of the merchandise and make their way into the open-air seating.
As fans settled in, they were greeted by Hawkeye and Michelle from 96.3 New Country, who, along with Tara and Ryan Fox from 99.5 The Wolf, would act as hosts for the night. Right away, the New Country crew told you all the ways you could donate, which included QR codes around the building that led directly to a donation link, buying merchandise, a raffle for various vehicles and most impressively, a silent auction that featured items like signed Mavericks and Stars jerseys, guided hunting and fishing trips and signed guitars. After much anticipation, excited for a night full of great Texas country music, Koe Wetzel came on stage and got the place rocking. Wetzel’s energy and music are indescribable to someone who hasn’t heard it. An alternative-rock country blend with some punk and grunge mixed in to create a hillbilly punk-rock sound that ignites the stage. When he got on stage and the opening chords to his hit song “February 28, 2016” came on, the place went fucking nuts and the party started.
100% of net proceeds from ticket sales plus funds raised through partnerships, the on-site silent auction and additional fan donations will benefit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund via Wetzel’s foundation, Koe’s Kids.
Mike Brooks / Live Nation
Wetzel played a couple of songs and let the show roll on, bringing on Dylan Wheeler as the second act. An East Texas native, Wheeler had a cool demeanor and smooth voice, performing only two songs, one of which was a cover of Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine,” which had the whole crowd singing the sweet melody like it was 1996 again.
Following Wheeler was Dallas legend Ray Wylie Hubbard and his son Lucas. Hubbard was born in Oklahoma, which he jokingly said he wouldn’t talk about on stage, but moved to Dallas in the mid-50s, where he got his musical start. He started his set with his hit song “Snake Farm,” then got the Texas theme rolling with “Screw You, We’re From Texas.” It was a short but perfect showing for Hubbard.
It was clear at this point that we were going to get a snippet of each artist. Nothing long or elaborate, just the best they had for a good cause, and the next guy did it better than anyone.
Let us introduce you to Pecos Hurley. The Paris, Texas native, normally seen with his band Pecos and the Rooftops, delivered the most electric two songs of the night. He got it going with a cover of Toby Keith’s “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue,” and it was pure elation in The Pavilion. The building stood and sang along with Hurley to the patriotic love song that the late great Toby Keith sang for years. He then moved on to his triple platinum song “This Damn Song.” The acoustic opening paired with his deep voice has made this song recognizable by most Texas country music fans, and once again brought the crowd to its feet.
Hurley's performance was going to be hard to beat, but the show kept going, with East Texas’s Kolby Cooper and University of North Texas’s own Mike Ryan. Shane Smith came on and performed his hit “All I See Is You,” a fast-paced, boot-stomping song, then passed the show on to the last artist of the night, Casey Donahew.
The acts came and went, the crowd was electric, the building was rocking and the atmosphere was a country music dream. Then Wetzel came back out, and it was like the show started all over again. Wetzel played the hits, like “High Road” and “Sweet Dreams,” but most importantly, hammered down the theme of the night. Texans help Texans.
“If this isn’t a testament to what we are, who we are as a state, I don’t know what god damn Texas means,” Wetzel proclaimed. “I’m so fuckin’ proud to be a Texan.”
The whole night was about helping the Kerr County flood victims. Every act came on stage and encouraged the crowd to scan the QR codes on the screen and donate, or throw some money into the silent auction. This group of artists wanted every dime they could get to send to flood relief. Not just Wetzel or the other acts, but everyone in the building was proud to be a Texan.
If you want in on the relief action, you can still donate to the cause here.
And for you Wetzel fans, he reminded you that he has a new album in the works and is set to release it soon. His new song, “Surrounded,” which will be on the album, was released on July 25.
Wetzel is considered one of the best performers out there, and he put that notion on full display. As the show ended and the crowds started hitting the exits, “Deep In The Heart Of Texas” played over the speakers, and as everyone clapped and sang along to the rhythmic Lone Star tune, it was like a nod to the incredible show that was just witnessed.
See more photos from Monday's show:
