“Checking, testing,” says the audio technician behind the computer. The band slowly assembles onstage, each tuning their instrument to the perfect pitch, and with one final glance at their bandmates, the lead singer takes a deep breath and begins. The audience looks up in awe, mesmerized by the performance until the final note finishes ringing in the air. Above the proud band basking in applause hangs a banner reading “Strings Attached.”
Strings Attached is a live music club at UTD open to students of all musical abilities, from beginners to experienced musicians and performers. The club is best-known for hosting monthly concerts at the Plinth featuring various themes, from ’90s and 2000s-era aesthetics to crowd favorite “Emo Night,” where members have complete creative control of what they play and how they present themselves during their show. The club’s next concert on Oct. 24 will center around the theme “Americana” and expects a turnout of over 200 audience members and three hours of performances. But the club has not always drawn such a large crowd. Peyton Lawrence, an ATEC senior and president of Strings Attached, said the difference between its first and latest Emo Night events was staggering, with roughly 30 attendees the first time compared to over 200 attendees most recently.
“I remember at [the] time I was getting into Strings Attached and becoming more involved — the concerts were sometimes held at the Science Pavilion because the Plinth was hard to book, and those concerts were much smaller,” Lawrence said. “Now, it’s gotten to the point where it’s just overwhelming. It’s exciting.”
Lawrence said the tech setups at Strings Attached’s concerts have also been continually growing, primarily through collaboration with official UTD classes. For instance, the field recording class assists with live music audio and projection.
Despite the club’s explosive growth, its open-door policy has remained unchanged. Lawrence said that anyone and everyone can join the club and perform live regardless of their skill level — a choice inspired by her time in the Denton music scene, whose DIY, egalitarian spirit she hopes to embody and implement at Strings Attached.
“You put this together because you love the music and the energy,” Lawrence said. “You do it because you love it. If someone has the bravery and the wherewithal to audition, we want them to have the ability to perform.”
Members of Strings Attached come from all backgrounds, both in musical experience and academic pursuits. According to Jorge Rodriguez, CITS senior and junior treasurer of Strings Attached, the club provides more than music; it is an opportunity to enjoy one another’s company and have fun.
“It’s more of a social club full of people who enjoy music,” Rodriguez said. “We want to get you on stage [and allow you] to express that joy in music that is found not only by hours of practice but [also by listening] to music. It’s the people that brought us here that have made Strings Attached what it is.”
For people like Rodriguez and Lawrence, Strings Attached came to them. The community and strength of music convinced them to stay for the long haul. Lawrence said she applied her skills as an audio technician to field recording and mixing live sounds at the club’s concerts, ultimately drawing her into their vibrant energy. Rodriguez said he experienced a period when music burnt him out through constant striving for perfection until he came to UTD and a classmate turned friend introduced him to Strings Attached, reigniting his passion for music and the liberty and freedom of the arts.
“I know that safe space is kind of a buzzword, but I feel that there is a feeling of safety here and that you can be your true self, and that you are not going to get judged if you want to go dance by yourself because you really like that song,” Lawrence said. The various concert themes further encourage authenticity, she said, by allowing people to dress up and express themselves through their outfits from ’50s pep to Y2K disco.
Beyond platforming UTD’s music lovers, Strings Attached also uses its broad reach for educational goals. Lawrence said the club often sets up a table with information about overdoses at their concerts and provides practical training in administering Narcan to combat an overdose. Strings Attached is currently focused on preparing for its upcoming Americana-themed concert.
“It’s an electric atmosphere, especially when all the elements come together right in the right moment, and it turns into a perfect concert,” Lawrence said.