When the Knicks clinched their NBA Finals win, independent music promoter Cristina Mauri — better known as moonbby — was standing in the middle of Times Square.
“I was so sad, seeing [Victor Wembanyama’s] post-game interview, he seemed so defeated and the city seemed so sad,” said Mauri, who attended college in both San Antonio and Austin. “So I thought we need to do something for the community that’s a reminder that it’s still summer. It’s still Wemby forever.”
To lift San Anto’s spirits, Mauri is bringing a live-music show to San Antonio this Tuesday called Wemby 4 Ever Fest. The free house show, organized with San Antonio promoter Ben Rodriguez, gathers a tight lineup of touring acts and local talent at a South Side ranch.
Night at a glance
For the fest, Dead Calm, an LA-based acoustic slowcore project, will play alongside three Texas-based acts: Fort Worth nu-metalcore band Empty Shell Casing, Austin alt-rockers Amelia’s Bestfriend and San Antonio emo artist Gabo.
The show is RSVP-only with limited capacity, and Wemby game highlights will be projected on the side of the house throughout the night.
Mauri said her exposure to San Antonio and Austin DIY culture shaped her creative ethos. Even after moving to New York, she’s kept one foot firmly in Texas and still throws shows here when she can.
“San Antonio is where I got my love for house shows and where I went to my first ever proper show. It was in someone’s backyard,” she said. “I genuinely think that Texas makes the greatest musicians in the world … . There’s just so much inspiration everywhere you look.”
A family-friendly rave ranch
Wemby 4 Ever Fest’s venue, Ranch After Dark, sits on property that hosted Mexican rodeos and concerts before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.
The current owner and her partner, both ravers, have since reimagined the land as a space for underground events. They have hosted gatherings from wrestling bouts and EDM shows to markets and festivals. However, this is the first underground bill at the property.
Dead Calm returns
Dead Calm is the solo project of Ireland-born artist Liam McCay, whose creative life is as itinerant as it is ambitious. Dividing his time between touring, visual work and recording, McCay has built a reputation for pushing his sound across mediums and cities. This spring, he split his time between a national run of shows and a film project in Austin.
“I don’t know really what to expect, but I’m excited to fucking get to play outside,” he told the Current. “Just get a bunch of fucking kids to show up, enjoy the music, should be fun.”
McCay said he planned a San Antonio show during his last tour but had to cancel. He connected with Mauri to coordinate his appearance at tonight’s show — and make amends with his San Antonio fans.
Empty Shell Casing
Fort Worth’s Empty Shell Casing was already heading south for a run of dates when the timing lined up for the group’s participation in Wemby Fest. The “thug metal” band, featuring Ben Rodgers on drums and Christian Smith as DJ, formed in 2024 from the remnants of a previous project and has since toured across the U.S.
“We’ve played San Antonio a good amount of times,” drummer Ben Rodgers said. “There was this whole DIY screamo scene around 2023 to 2024…a lot of those people we still know and talk to. The city feels very homey.”
Free, RSVP only, 18+, doors at 5, June 23, Ranch After Dark, instagram.com/ranchafterdark.
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