What's it like to grow up alongside a music festival?
Two years later, the band, much matured, is appearing again, this time as one of 120 groups on the 2014 docket, with Jack White, Lauryn Hill, and the Wu-Tang Clan headlining. Asked about the upcoming festival, Stephens lights up.
Unfortunately, one unintended consequence of the festival's success in attracting major acts (Snoop Dogg, Macklemore, and the Flaming Lips have headlined in recent years) is the diminishing space for homegrown bands like NYCQ. "It's grown to be more top-heavy," Afra admitted. "At the same time, we've always been committed to featuring local bands. But because there's less and less room in the line-up, we have to be careful in selecting the bands—we try to represent all the different genres going on in Houston, from hip-hop to underground." Other Houston acts this year include The Tontons, Los Skarnales, and DeWayne Jackson.