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Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends of West Texas Music
by Christopher Oglesby
Published by the University of Texas Press:
"As a whole, the interviews create a portrait not only of Lubbock's musicians and artists, but also of the musical community that has sustained them, including venues such as the legendary Cotton Club and the original Stubb's Barbecue. This kaleidoscopic portrait of the West Texas music scene gets to the heart of what it takes to create art in an isolated, often inhospitable environment. As Oglesby says, "Necessity is the mother of creation. Lubbock needed beauty, poetry, humor, and it needed to get up and shake its communal ass a bit or go mad from loneliness and boredom; so Lubbock created the amazing likes of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Terry Allen, and Joe Ely."

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"Indeed, Oglesby's introduction of more than two dozen musicians who called Lubbock home should be required reading not only for music fans, but for Lubbock residents and anyone thinking about moving here. On these pages, music becomes a part of Lubbock's living history."
- William Kerns, Lubbock Avalanche Journal



 

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Amanda Shires
Amanda Shires
In which: the fiddle player for Thrift Store Cowboys shares her passion for Western Swing; discusses her influences, including Lanny Fiel, Alan Munde, Joe Carr, and Andy Wilkinson; talks about her decision to pursue a solo career in Nashville, working with producer Buzz Cason and collaborating with guitarist Rod Picott; and we examine her fascination with owls.

Lesley Sawyer
Lesley Sawyer
In which
: Lesley Sawyer advises musicians to shop locally; Lesley discussses her relationship with Lubbock's most productive producers today - Alan Crossland and Brian McRae; she recalls her past work with gold record producer Clif Magness, another Lubbock native sensationally successful in the recording industry; and kudos to local music sensations including singer Ashley Howell, drummer Mike Bernal, and bassist Joel Smith, and all'round utilty man Curtis Peoples.

Doctor Skoob
Doctor Skoob
In which
: Doug Haines, a/k/a/ Doctor Skoob, discusses the serendipitous events which led to life in Lubbock and music; Skoob's relationship with the Lubbock band Los Sonsabitches, guitar virtuoso David Brandon, and Lubbock's newest guitar phenom Shad Daugherty; what he has in common with Pat Green; performance art on the streets of Lubbock; and why another Lubbock musician has moved to Austin.

Lynda Kay
Lynda Kay Parker
In which: the singer for the rockabilly band Lonesome Spurs of Venice California relates her family's roots in Lubbock and how she learned while an honors srtudent at Texas Tech that she had a talent for writing songs; memories of J. Patrick O'Malley's saloon; desperation in Lubbock; Lynda's connections to Stubb's; the author learns the meaning of the verb "to busk"; Lynda's unique tenor guitar and Samsonite suitcase drum, rockabilly style; "big in Europe" phenomena.

Andy Eppler
Andy Eppler
In which: a representative of the next generation of great Lubbock musicians wonders if it was so difficult for his predecessors as it is for his generation to get noticed in Lubbock (the author assures him it was indeed); Eppler discusses his self-produced record "There is No Underground"; we learn about Scott Farris and Doctor Scoob; Eppler coins the phrase: "Lubbock Texas - Where all the best musicians have to move from."

The Lege'
The Legendary Stardust Cowboy
In which
: the author catches up with the amazing Norman Odam - aka The Lege - of Lubbock, now residing in Sicicon Valley; we discuss his upcoming appearance with David Bowie, whom he inspired to create Ziggy Stardust; his career as a cult music hero to such fans as Princess Sarah, Dutchess of York; his youth in Lubbock; and much more...

Angela Strehli 
Angela Strehli
In which: Angela explains how a middle-class white girl from Lubbock became known as the First Lady of Texas Blues; she provides a history of the founding of Antone's blues club in Austin; we discuss how radio in the heart land could change your life around.

Bobby Keys
Bobby Keys
In which: rock-n-roll's premiere saxophone session player tells about his early friendship with the Crickets in Lubbock, his long-standing relationship with the Rolling Stones; he tells about playing with Lubbock Ace Liquidators, Jay Boy Adams, and Joe Ely.

Mac Davis 
Mac Davis
In which: the hitmaking songwriter and star of TV and movies reveals why Happinees is Lubbock Texas; explains his relationship to Elvis,; and how Buddy Holly's love life inspired Mac to a career in music.

David Halley
David Halley
In which
: a Lubbock native prolific songwriter explains why he has avoided being identified as a "Lubbock musician"; we discuss how one must seek in order to find; how hitchiking can be a spiritual experience, and the value of being aware of synchronicity; and how most people in Lubbock believe they're Republicans but don't know why.

Butch Hancock
In which: West Texas' Poet Emeritus describes how driving a tractor on flatland farms taught him to see the Universe and find the music there; the Zen surreality of the landscape; the confluence of physics and meta-physics. We discuss many Real Things and very few facts.

Jay Boy Adams
Jay Boy Adams
In which: the author tracks down long-lost stadium & roadhouse rocker Jay Boy Adams; Jay Boy explains how he came to tour with ZZ-Top and land a two record deal with Atlantic Records; we learn how hometown boy Bobby Keys returned to Lubbock from years playing with The Rolling Stones; about Danny Raines, Davis McLarty & The Planets; & Lubbock music venues such as Eli's, Rox-Z, & even Dunlap's Department store; Jay Boy relates how he moved from living in tour buses to leasing tour buses for a living.
Human
 HUMAN
In which: a hard rocking group of Lubbock guys - who, soon after the interview, were voted Austin's Top Heavy Metal Band of the time - explain why Metal music has such a hold on conservative Lubbock; discuss why Church of Christ girls like Heavy Metal; Reminisce about their other Lubbock Rock bands such as Relapse, Rat Salad, and the ever-popular Uncle Nasty.
Bob Livingston
 Bob Livingston
In which: a Gonzo Compadre recounts how he and Gary P. Nunn came from Lubbock to create the Austin Cosmic Cowboy Movement; Bob tells what it was like being a Lubbock preacher's kid in the Summer of Love; Bob tells stories about legendary Lubbock figures like: the party band the Fabulous Sparkles, P.J. Belly, & NFL Great Bobby Layne; Bob describes his educational organization - Texas Music International - and his latest project, the Texas Music Museum.
Jimmie Gilmore
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
In which: Jimmie and the author debate whether there actually is a Lubbock phenomenon which can be defined as the "secret to the magic"; JDG concedes that there are uncommon amounts of talented folks from Lubbock who have been recognized as such; He reveals how the Hub City Movers and other Lubbockians were integral in birth of the "Austin Music Scene"; Jimmie tells us about Angela & Al Strehli, and lauds their musical influences; We learn about the group of friends known around Austin as "The Lubbock Mafia."
Lloyd Maines

 
 Lloyd Maines
In which: Texas' top music producer and legendary pedal-steel guitar player relates the origins the great West Texas dance band The Maines Brothers Band; We discuss how much of the great music in West Texas seems to be taken for granted there, even by music-savvy folks such as Lloyd; Lloyd tells how one learns to play the pedal-steel out in West Texas, who his influences were; He gives his philosophy on record production; We briefly discuss the career of Lloyd's famous daughter, Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks.

Wade Parks
 Wade Parks
In which: An up-and-coming Lubbock musician discusses how he came to love the feel of gathering with friends to play music, "just as an experience"; We get an excellent glimpse into the lifestyle and music community in Lubbock which leads one to explore one's musical talents, which one may not have even known he had.
Kimmie Rhodes

 Kimmie Rhodes
In which: a West Texas Angel reveals herself to be a singer, playwright, actress, novelist, and cookbook author, as well as being a favorite songwriter of Waylon & Willie & Wynonna ; We discuss how life can be full of magic if one follows one's dreams.

Colin Gilmore
 Colin Gilmore
In which: The son of Jimmie Gilmore discusses growing up in Lubbock among many of the artists & musicians who made Lubbock famous; He talks about the nagging, stifling boredom a teenager experiences in Lubbock, desperately searching for something else; We discuss the remarkable stream of deep spirituality pervasive in the souls of Lubbock's inhabitants which inspires both beautiful art and moral fortitude. Colin notes that Lubbock has a tradition of being on the cutting edge of technology yet remaining culturally conservative.

Trent Hunt
Trent Hunt
In which: An intrepid young songwriter/musician gives some history about late 80s - early 90s Lubbock alternative bands such as Squarehead, Ground Zero, and Los Tornadoes; We discuss how "Lubbock is a good place to raise your kids, but parents should be prepared to have their kids listen to music and decide they wanta move on down the road;" How the conservative Church of Christ has contributed to many great singing voices from Lubbock; How he and his wife Diane Hunt started the Austin band Something Johnson.

Sharon Ely
Sharon Ely
In which: a native Lubbock woman gives some insights into the power of dreams, why the skill of dreaming seems finely honed in Lubbock folk; Sharon offers a theory as to why UFO's frequently hovered over West Texas honky-tonks in the 50s; She tells how Stubb's Barbecue Sauce began in her kitchen and how John Scott made Stubb's last days happy; Sharon talks about how her group of friends in Lubbock came together with the urge to create happiness out of a bleak environment; We talk about how Lubbock is a nourishing bastion of safety.

Downé Burns
Downé Burns
In which: "An Important American Painter" reveals his secrets for making a living as a working artist; Downé tells how growing up the son of a Lubbock record store owner gave him the urge to have a career in the creative arts; Downé explains why, once he had made it big in the glamorous Santa Fe art scene, he felt the need to give up the big house and fancy car and get back to the basics of love in Lubbock.

Bruce Jaggers
 Bruce Jaggers
In which: The co-founder of Lubbock's long-lived Main Street Saloon and Fat Dawg's tells how he booked the first performance of the Joe Ely Band and how he stood witness to Stevie Ray Vaughan regularly blasting the doors off of Fat Dawg’s; We analyze why great clubs eventually have to die; We discuss the camaraderie and connected-feeling among the Fat Dawg's faithful.
Guy Juke
Guy Juke
In which: Guy Juke tells how his artwork became some of the most recognizable Austin music art; The author reveals to artist Guy Juke a new classification of aesthetic: "Lubbock Ugly"; We learn about Lubbock's humorous performance art tradition,and discuss why people in Lubbock feel the need to disrobe in public.

Jo Carol Pierce
Jo Carol Pierce
In which: a "Bad Girl Upset by the Truth" posits how the epic spiritual & literary book The Bible has had such a great influence on the music, language & poetry of Lubbock; Jo Carol asserts how the desolation & loneliness in West Texas forces one to forge tight bonds of friendship with others, and how there is artistic strength in numbers.
 Deanna Shoemaker
 Deanna Shoemaker
In which: A young director, playwright, and performance artist reminisces about the free-spirited educational experience found in Lubbock High School's accelerated Lubbock's Exemplary Academic Program (LEAP); We compare Lubbock's creative side with it's necessary opposite destructive side; Deanna explains how Lubbock may have been the only place in West Texas where she would have had the opportunity to grow into her art.

Ponty Bone
 Ponty Bone
In which: Texas' premiere road-house accordion player describes the many twists of fate that lead him to a career in music inextricably entwined with Lubbock; Ponty tells bout touring with The Joe Ely Band in those exciting days gone by; about playing with The Supernatural Family Band; a vegetarian, Ponty admits the last beef he ever consumed was Stubb's Barbecue.
Tom X Hancock
 Tom X Hancock
In which: "Lubbock's Original Hippie" tells us about the origins of The Supernatural Family Band, The Flatlanders, and The Texana Dames, and a little about the early days of The Cotton Club; Tom X muses over the benefits of LSD and mysticism towards filling to the void in Lubbock; The author of Zen & the Art of the Texas Two Step explains the difference between "Cool Sex" and "Hot Sex" and why he now considers himself more of a dancer than a musician. We also discuss the "South Plains Voodoo," whatever it is that keeps bringing one back to Lubbock and often holds you there.

Doug Smith
Doug Smith
In which: We meet West Texas' Premiere Pianist & Composer. Doug explains why he usually introduces himself as a "piana player" rather than "pianist"; He defines a new type of music - Power Piano; Doug shares his vision of the spirit of creation hiding 'neath the nothin' in West Texas; Doug offers a theory as to why that same spirit is oft' ignored by our fellow West Texans.

Mike Burk
 Mike Burk
In which: A long-time friend of Lubbock music tells the story of "Live at Tommy's Place" the legendary single-season television series featuring a pantheon of Lubbock musicians; He shares memories of The Cotton Club, Fat Dawg's, and Stubb's; explains why he experienced true freedom at these magical venues; We learn that Lubbock is so incredible that even a weekly show by Stevie Ray Vaughan can seem commonplace.

Cary Swinney
Cary Swinney
In which: Cary Swinney explains life as a "Desperate Searcher" in Lubbock; He tells where he gets his inspiration for writing music; We learn more about the Lubbock Underground, and discuss guitarist Robin Griffin; We posit over why Lubbock audiences seem to have more spontaneous fun that those in "more professional" venues; Cary tells us about his run-in with the cops at the Buddy Holly Festival.

John Nelson
John Nelson
In which: an accomplished recording engineer talks about growing up as a 3rd-generation Lubbockian; John tells us how he got started in the music engineering business.; He identifies "The Immoral Majority" as a contributing force to Lubbock music; John explains Heavy Metal's hold on the pious in Lubbock; We learn about the Lubbock alternative garage band scene in the 80's & 90's, including the Rude Boys and Squarehead.

Paul Bullock
Paul Bullock 
In which: We meet the West Texas Poet Lariat; We discover the magic of the Seychelles Islands and discus how travel is good for the perspective; Geodesic domes and their incorporation into the Cold War; Paul gives his opinion of the Poetry Slam clique; Tells us why he is committed to the legalization of certain banned agricultural products.
Jo Harvey Allen
 Jo Harvey Allen
In which: The world's first woman Country & Western deejay -
AKA: The Lying Woman from David Byrne's True Stories; and the Sex Therapist from Fried Green Tomatoes - explains: How Lubbock resembles India;
The definition of the word "Paradox"; and how her choices of acting roles can be lethal to others; We discuss how the upredictable weather can do interesting things to one's mind in West Texas, how Lubbock is a tabula rasa for a creative mind.
Joe Ely
 Joe Ely
In which: The Lord of the Highway offers his expertise on Lubbock and Lubbock music.;We learn why that pink Cadillac was intentionally drowned at the infamous Tornado Jam; Why the Clash love Lubbock; We are introduced to Lubbock songwriter, artist, and general iconoclast Eddie Beethoven; and we somewhat commence to wade into the Legend of Stubb's Bar-BQ.
Terry Allen
 Terry Allen
In which: We go "Full-Tilt Boogie" with Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band; Terry reveals why he had to leave Lubbock to fall in love with it; We discuss the paradox of having to rebel against moral values one admires.

Richard Bowden
 Richard Bowden 
In which: A former Maines Brother and Austin Lounge Lizard explains the strange karmic connections he has with Lubbock musicians that led him to Lubbock; Richard tells us whom to hang out with when in Lubbock, revealing the Lubbock Underground; He posits about UFO's and their effect on the West Texas psyche.
JesseTaylor
 Jesse "Guitar" Taylor
In which: a legendary rock-n-roll guitar hero briefly retells the story of the first time he met C.B. Stubblefield ("Stubb) and how he came to be the first white man to ever play a gig at Stubb's Bar-BQ on east Broadway in Lubbock, the Blues & Bar-BQ refuge of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lightning Hopkins, George Thorogood, etc...
Don Caldwell
Don Caldwell
In which: We meet the man who owned what was for years Lubbock's only recording studio; Lloyd Maines' mentor; producer of the classic Lubbock: on everything album and Joe Ely's early recordings. Don explains why he never left Lubbock for Tinsel-Town; discusses why Lubbock traditionally has produced better artists than promoters.

Kent Mings
 Kent Mings
In which: a protégé tells how he discovered the magic of West Texas music at the feet of Joe Ely, Jesse Taylor, Lloyd Maines, and Ponty Bone. We learn that it pays-off to be nice to scrawny girls; why Preacher's Kids have more fun; and why one needs to stay clear of the stage when Jesse Taylor is playing guitar.


Do you like these interviews?
Buy the book by author Christopher Oglesby
Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air:
Legends of West Texas Music

"As a whole, the interviews create a portrait not only of Lubbock's musicians and artists, but also of the musical community that has sustained them, including venues such as the legendary Cotton Club and the original Stubb's Barbecue. This kaleidoscopic portrait of the West Texas music scene gets to the heart of what it takes to create art in an isolated, often inhospitable environment. As Oglesby says, "Necessity is the mother of creation. Lubbock needed beauty, poetry, humor, and it needed to get up and shake its communal ass a bit or go mad from loneliness and boredom; so Lubbock created the amazing likes of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Terry Allen, and Joe Ely." - University of Texas Press

buy the book


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