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Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends
of West Texas Music
"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."
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Benefitting Doug Smith The Invitation: "Oh yeah" "Yup. You could write about it." "That sounds pretty cool actually." "Yeah and bring your camera because you'll get a lot of good pictures too." "I just might do that. I do have an article to write this weekend." It was the Friday before Valentine's Day and Andy Eppler and I had just been discussing the ridiculousness of the coming "holiday" over my daily mocha- God only knows the real bitch in me unsurfaces when I don't get my routine shot of caffeine. Sometimes I swear I should just shoot it straight through my veins. He suddenly interjected with the idea that it was okay that I did not have a date this year because I had better things to do than sit at home and dwell on the disaster that is my love life. It's the way that Andy can be so serious yet so lighthearted when approaching sarcasm that strikes me as the most likeable quality about him. But being the naturally masochistic person that I am the first thing to run through my mind was that there was no way I would show up at a party where once again the only ones I knew were the band, especially since this one was at a private art gallery. Those people will just look at me like I am one of their girlfriends again and I have no real place there. However I then moved to the thought "who could blame them though? I am an attractive girl hanging out with nothing but musicians and I actually know something about the subject they study. I guess it's fair to say one can only assume." This is when I realized that the past five years of blowing off school to catch a show here and there and social networking through Lubbock's art community might have actually paid off. I now understood that I had built a reputation amongst friends founded on the ability to think objectively and creatively at the same time- not to mention I do have damn good tastes. And it was here that I realized through their earned respect I had landed my dream job, or through the encouragement they had always given me at least. Andy's invitation would reach me on levels I had been stretching towards for quite a while. If there is anything to come of that night, it is him I give all credit to. The Guest of Honor: On July 25, 2007 the town of Lubbock wept for West Texas piano legend as his car ran off the road leaving him with a severe back injury. He had fallen asleep at the wheel and consequently suffered paralysis. After four months of intensive physical therapy at Colorado's famed Craig Center Doug found himself welcomed back to West Texas with open arms. From the time that we are born, here in Texas people like to boast that no one will show you more love than the south. The idea that someone would perceive me as a southern belle had always been enough to make me regret that I was from here. When I began to see posters plastered on the walls of coffee shops and bars all over town advertising the benefit for Doug Smith and I started receiving invitations from more than just Andy to get in on the party, for once I actually felt proud to be where I was at the moment. It is still true that I have yet to find a place where musicians take more pride in their roots than here. I read an interview once that author Chris Oglesby did at Montelongo's Mexican Restaurant with Doug and posted on his website and it was easy for me to see why people were charmed by the man. "I just feel like I can trust a man with long hair," Doug told Chris as he approached the table. I did not have to read any further before I realized that I too could be good friends with Doug Smith- after all we did share a fondness for men with long hair. But like I said before I was not the only one who found the man charming. The extensive guest list was proof of that in itself: Nic Schute, Andy Eppler, Doug Haines, Austin Davis, Shad Daughtery, Terry Allen, Jay Boy Adams, Andy Wilkinson, Cary Swinney, Lesley Sawyer, Brian McRae, Curtis Peoples, Richard Bowden, Don and Todd Caldwell, Kendra Elliot, Joy Harris, John Chambers, Paul Bullock, Steve Williams, Jake Kellen, Junior Vasquez, Rita Box Reek, Angie Monroe and the list goes on for quite a while. And those were only the ones invited to play in the man's honor! Not to mention the place was buzzing with artists, writers, photographers, bar owners and a plethora of Lubbock's other most creative minds all there in support of the cause. It was an eclectic mix of characters for sure and I was disappointed I had only now met them. I was amazed that I was invited to join in the intellectual conversation at all though. There was a whole underground world here in Lubbock, Texas and I had just discovered it. The Party: The more I thought about it throughout the week before the more I knew I had to be at the benefit after-party. With as many influential people that were invited I had a sneaking suspicion that Chris Oglesby would be there too and I had eagerly been awaiting the chance to meet him since he released his book in 2007. It was called Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends of West Texas Music and it was about Lubbock's big dog musicians and the world here around them. I knew I had to talk to him, I just knew it. I was sitting on the couches in the room off to the back where
conversation and
"Yes, I am Chris Oglesby." "I've wanted to meet you for a long time! I am so glad you are here." "Yeah? Well it's good to meet you too. And your name is?" "Chelsea Roe. I'm a writer too. I've read your book and really wanted to hear more about it." For the next twenty minutes or so we talked about music and
he told me stories from his novel. I felt as though this man
could read my thoughts and understood my intentions as a writer.
I was in awe of this man's articulation on a subject I vehemently
study. Being that I was so comfortable at that moment in time
I "I've already met Chelsea," Chris told him when he introduced us for what had been the second time that night. "She's been telling me about her book idea. I told her the angle she needs to go for has more to do with the South Plains Music College and all of the guys that came out of that school that are making a living here more than just the Lubbock musicians. " "I've been thinking a lot about all of my friends that went there and I kind of have the inside scoop so I thought I could do it justice." "I've wanted to tell that story for a long time." "It's my story!" "Yes girl. It is your story to tell." That last comment rang in my ears for the rest of the night.
I would be walking
More Articles by Chelsea Roe - Chelsea Roe is the music critic for the Daily Toreador at Texas Tech University
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word
of mouth invitation thing and there will be a lot of people there
you should really know. I'm playing, 
