Sand sweeps all 100 yards of the football field in a haze of heat supplied by an unforgiving Texas sun. The road warriors stand at attention, and with a single raise of the drum majors’ hands, they snap into place. A marimba strikes wood, and, instantly, feet fly into rhythm. 

Or at least that’s the scene the band hopes to set this year with its show “Unsustainable.”

To raise money for next year, the band is set to unveil all four movements of the show at the Annual Sausage Wrap Dinner and Silent Auction today.

Guests feast on a meal of sausage wraps, chip, and a soda while enjoying stand tunes performed by the band followed by a performance of “Unsustainable.” The show is free admission, but meal tickets are $10, first-come, first serve at the door.

After a precarious season limited by COVID-19 restrictions, the band decided to return with the gusto pent up during the past year. Head Band Director Michael Childress sought a rebrand, featuring an arsenal of new props, uniform tops, and sound and lights equipment to tell a story.

Set in a desolate, post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of action movies such as “Mad Max,” band and colorguard members alike brandish the roles of two warring tribes over the last energy source left, a three-foot tall glowing cube, dubbed “the Tesseract,” by the group.  Conservation and concern of the availability of resources is a particular theme people have experienced first-hand over the crux of quarantine.

The show spotlights quintet members clarinetist Jackie Nunez, soprano saxophonist Jake Perez, alto saxophonist Joey Clark, tenor saxophonist Kyle Peter and bass clarinetist Jake Deviney. The woodwind group stands on a 15-foot tiered prop, sharing the space with canary-yellow oil barrels and nearly 30 color guard flags. 

The band marches its second competition at the Comal Classic Contest on Oct. 9. Tickets are open to anyone seeking to watch all of the bands perform.