Chaos in Tejas: a look into the music of Texas cont'd

Chapter 2: Fuck Ya'll! I'm From Texas

To reflect on our last entry, Texas was and still is a huge influence and impact on my musical development and that music in Texas has evolved and been created due the atmosphere and culture Texas breeds amongst its residents. Having identified that, over the years I have begun to learn more about Texas artists, the musical roots of Texas, and the degree on which Texas has affected musical development nationally and globally.

To start let’s just got back to Lubbock, Texas in the 1950’s. Lubbock aint really much, its dusty, the water tastes horrible, and it is home to Texas Tech (boooooo). None of those things really matter though when you look at the influence it’s had on rock n roll with the creation of the Lubbock sound.  It was here that the infamous Buddy Holly and the Crickets got their start. It was here in Lubbock, Texas that the classic rock band lineup of 2 guitarists, bass player, and a drummer was solidified by Mr. Holly before his untimely death. The sound created by Buddy Holly was highly influential, and the blend of country roots with the burgeoning rock n roll sound was embraced by a national audience. Even those Britt’s thought pretty highly of this setup, just look at the Beatles and Stones who were highly influenced by Holly. Buddy Holly’s legacy and impact was later captured in the song “American Pie” aka the day the music died, a song detailing the author’s emotions the day Mr. Holly, fellow Texan the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash. As the Crickets went on without Mr. Holly they wrote a little song called “I Fought the Law”, which was adopted by fellow Texas Bob Fuller and went on to gain national acclaim and furthering Texas’ mark on Rock n Roll.

Most people who don’t know much about Texas music probably assume that its main area of expertise in in the realm of Country music, and while we have so much more, I would be lying if I denied how influential this state has been on Country artists. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys may be the most important country figure to emerge from the bountiful Country music scene. Who is Bob Wills you ask?? Well I should not have to tell you, and it infuriates me that I do, but tell I shall. Bob Wills was the creator of the Western Swing sound which went on to influence generations of country musicians to follow, and also jazz, rock n roll, big band, and of course swing. He was the first to introduce instruments such as steel guitar, trumpets and other non-traditional instruments into a country based sound, and some of those took prevalent places in bands to come. Bob Wills was a huge influence on Buck Owens, a Texas-born California cowboy who went on to coin the Bakersfield sound. Buck Owens guitarist used the fender telecasters which was a guitar pretty much developed to fit in with the styling of Bob Wills’s music. The Bakersfield sound was a reaction to the polished, orchestral nature that was happening out in Nashville at the time, and was played by the blue-collar types looking for a rawer styling, and they had to look no further than to Mr. Wills for their influence.

(The Late, Great Townes Van Zandt)

That’s the tip of the iceberg for Country. To jump in a bit further we should look at the outlaw country that started to come out of Texas. One of the biggest influences of this movement would have to be Townes Van Zandt. Townes is possibly the best country artist to have graced this Earth, and you can argue with that but you are wrong. Steve Earle once proclaimed that Townes was a better songwriter than Bob Dylan, and while he later revoked his statement because he felt embarrassed, I will stand by that all day long. Townes was a dynamic songwriter, and had a way with words that allowed you to experience what he was going through without ever having been in his shoes. Throughout his life he suffered from bi-polar disorder which in turn led to a life of drug abuse and addiction, and a really sad life for an amazing poet. Townes has been recognized by musicians, critics, fans, and so many more over the past years, and what was once a cult following has grown into a national fan base who adore the music of a genius songwriter. Townes toured and played in small barrooms, dives, and KOC halls his whole life, and he was okay with it. The man loved to play, and he also loved his drugs which affected his later years and his ability to remain steady in his recording and playing. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle are all musicians who benefited from Townes. Hell, Willie scored a number 1 hit with Townes’ “Pancho and Lefty”. All of these men have gone on to do great things for Texas music, and have brought it into the national spotlight. They have gone on to influence younger generations of country artists throughout the nation. I would challenge you to find someone who does not know Willie Nelson, and if they don’t, slap them in the face. Yes, through Townes and then his successors, Texas Country has left its mark on the world.

(Blind Lemon Jefferson)

(Lightnin Hopkins)

The blues are a music that were developed mainly in the south starting around Mississippi, then over to New Orleans, up to Chicago, and around the beginning of the 20th century, out to Texas. I could not talk about Texas music without mentioning the likes of Lightin Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, T Bone Walker, Blind Willie Johnson, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.  Texas Blues had its own sound. Definitely rooted in the Mississippi Delta style, but relies a bit more on guitar improv and licks to fill the gaps. Blind Lemon Jefferson incorporated jazz into his styling which led to this use of improv. A lot of the Texas bluespeople had a kick of swing in their sound too. Stevie Ray Vaughn may be the best known due to his recent popularity from the 1980's to the present. He took the Texas blues style to a new level with his incorporation of different guitar tones and sounds enhanced by feedback and distortion. Blues. Houston, Texas Legend Lightnin Hopkins was a huge influence on the Texas music scene from the 50's through the 70's. He helped to bridge the gaps between the founders of the Texas Blues and the and coming musicians of the 60's. He gained more national recognition in the blues revival of the 60's along with the likes of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and BB King. Lightnin Hopkins was a mentor to a lot of younger Texas musicians including Townes Van Zandt, the 13th Floor Elevators, Nanci Griffith, and Stevie Ray Vaughn

(The 13th Floor Elevators)

Last post I touched briefly on Mr. Roky Erikson and the 13^th Floor Elevators. If you would to ask any expert in the realm of Psychedelic music what the three most important/influential albums of this genre were I would hope they would say: The Beatles ‘Revolver’, The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds’, and the 13^th Floor Elevators ‘The Psychedelic Sounds of…’.  The 13^th Floor Elevators were revolutionary for their time and place; they started out as the Lingsmen and were just an ordinary rock band. As time went on they added Roky Erikson on lead guitar and vocals, Tommy Hall on Jug and LSD into their lineup. Tommy Hall’s propensity for the drug aided the bands reputation in Texas, and they were one of the first groups to promote the psychedelic lifestyle. Eventually they made their way up to San Fran, got lost in some drugs, and became a cult act for years to come. They were well respected among their contemporaries and bands continue to draw upon their raw psychedelic power to this day as influence. Bands such as ZZ top, The Allman Brothers, Spacemen 3, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and R.E.M. all pay homage to the Elevators and it shows in their sound. In Texas they have been succeeded by the Black Angels, the Golden Dawn, the Strange Boys, and Trippin Daisy.

My favorite area of Texas Music history is easily the punk realm, and what is not to love. For starters let’s take a look at the funk masters of punk, The Big Boys. Propelled to popularity in the 80’s through their appearance in Thrasher videos, the Big Boys were a site to see. A punk rock band featuring prominent cross-dresser and openly gay singer Randy “Biscuit” Turner was a statement, especially for Texas. I can’t say I had the honor to witness them live, but old-timers say it was amazing. The energy, the focus, the attitude, and the comfort in pushing the punk envelope are what make the Big Boys legacy. A punk band these days would not dare to have a “funk off”, but the big boys did not give a fuck. They were who they were. Bands such as the Minutemen, Fishbone, and early Red Hot Chili Peppers pay influence to them as a major influence.  The Dicks were also an openly gay punk band in Texas in the 80’s, two things which were not popular amongst most citizens at the time. Gotta love Texas spearheading the inclusion of LGBT right’s in punk before it was even a thing to do. Here is a whole bunch of Big Boy's videos, enjoy!

 

(The Butthole Surfers)

On the weird tip you had The Butthole Surfers. The best part about the early 80’s was the weirdest noise group fit right in with the punk scene. Butthole Surfers are a punk band, and that is because they do their own thing in a way only they can. Musically they definitely at times have a punk influence, but you then combine that with heavy doses of psychedlia, loud angry sounding noises, and electronic bits and you get a glimpse in the Butthole Surfers. A friend the other night in a debate over the merit of Pink Floyd stated, “When you had the Butthole Surfers to listen to growing up, Pink Floyd did not impress you on the psych end of things”. While I do enjoy Floyd, there is validity in that statement.

The other Texas punk band that needs mentioning is DRI. These crazy men loved to play fast and dirty. They definitely hold their place in the punk hall of fame for their influence on the thrash and crossover genres. This band took the speed and rawness of punk and added in some of the technicality and heaviness of metal to blend into a perfect sound that too many bands have failed at trying to emulate. Along with Suicidal Tendencies and Corrosion of Conformity, they would have to be possibly the most popular of bands that appealed to both metal and punk crowds back in the 80’s and even to this day. They skipped out to Cali though, but they made a return to the homeland. Honorable Mentions: MDC (skipped out to Cali), Verbal Abuse, The Offenders, Really Red, The Skunks, and The Fearless Iranians from Hell

I am not a big fan of Houston, or even most Texas based rap. I can dig the Geto Boys, UGK depending on the album, and certain songs from other artists. Over the years we have turned out such horrible artists as Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Lil’ Flip. I am sure there are more, but I don’t really care to know any of them. I do prefer my hip-hop from out of state artists. All that said, I cannot deny the influence of DJ Screw in the rap community. The chopped and screwed thing influenced a young generation of artists, and not really for the better or for the worse. DJ Screw was great at what he did, it is the reason he was named a Texas Music Pioneer by Rick Perry, it is the reason that “Skrewston” is a common nickname for Houston, it is a huge reason that the purple drank became so popular in the southern rap community (besides that it makes you feel real nice and slooooooow), Dj Screw had an enormous impact that spread to a more national level following his death in 2000. I remember hearing screwed rap when I was 14 and liking it, and hearing it again recently and still not liking it. I don’t get it and that’s ok, I respect Dj Screw for what he did. I do not though give a rat’s ass about the rest of these Texas rappers who are not inventive, and just played out. The dirty south is cheesy, and I have not found an artist to really convince me otherwise. Geto Boys though are awesome, Mind of a Lunatic

(Explosions in the Sky)

We could go on for a while about Texas music. I know we skipped over modern day Austin and its indie experimental scene, and while there is a lot of good stuff coming out of that scene, I feel Explosions in the Sky are really the only band to be a major influence on others or to have helped to pioneer a subgenre. Texas music history is rich with so many different bands, and so many that you may never hear if you are only looking to clear channel for your musical diet. Especially if you live or were born in Texas, know your states roots and be proud of what is has produced. Music is probably the best aspect of this states legacy, well maybe behind Tacos. Tacos are delicious.

 Link: SFMTC Vol. 8b - Fuck Ya'll! I'm From Texas

 SFMTC Vol. 8 - Chaos in Tejas - Chapter 2: Fuck Ya'll! I'm From Texas

01. At the Drive In - Arcarsenal

02. Big Mama Thornton - I'm Feeling Alright

03. Willie Nelson - Sweet Bye and Bye

04. Steve Miller Band - Take the Money and Run

05. Bun B & Middlefingaz - Texas (chopped & screwed)

06. George Jones - Color of the Blues

07. Toadies - Backslider

08. Lightin Hopkins - Devil is Watching You

09. Okkervil River - Listening to Otis Redding at Home Alone on Xmas

10. The Golden Dawn - Starvation 

11. Billy Joe Shaver - West Texas Waltz

12. The Skunks - Hurt

13. Edgar Winter - We All Had a Real Good Time

14. Pat Green - Texas On My Mind

15. Explosions in the Sky - The Moon Is Down

16. The Dicks - Rich Daddy

17. Blind Willie Johnson - The Rain Don't Fall on Me

18. Conqueroo - Words Are not as Strange

19. Middlefinger - Fingernap

20. Roy Orbison - Candy Man

21. Far From Breaking - See Right Through

22. Spoon -  Don't Let It Get You Down

23. Guy Clark - Texas - 1947

24. MDC - Multi-Death Corporation

25. Devin the Dude - Doobie Ashtray

26. Dead Horse - Cod Piece Face

27. Steve Earle - Home to Houston

28. The Polyphonic Spree - Hanging Around

29. Mammoth Grinder - Sick and Rotting

30. The Red Krayola - the Parable of Arable Land

31. Nanci Griffith - Tower Song (Townes Cover)

32. Iron Age - Younger Earth

Chaos in Tejas: a look into the music of Texas

Chapter 1: Don't Mess with Texas

There stars at night are big and bright (clap clap clap clap), Deep in the Heart of Texas. But definitely not deep in the heart of the Houston suburb known as Sugarland. This is where I spent 23 of my formative years learning about music and figuring the facts of life and who I wanted to be. You know the usual adolescent conflicts surrounding rule breaking, the opposite sex, becoming a man, and finding a purpose. The person I have become today owes itself to having grown up in Texas!

For starters, growing up in Texas, you are filled with state pride like no other. You are bred to love your state, and if someone talks shit on Texas they get in a head-butt to the nose, no question. We had a whole year of social studies dedicated to Texas history, helping us to understand our proud heritage and learning a lot of pro-Texas skewed facts. Our focus on our independence from Mexico definitely instills some antagonistic views towards the country (not personally for myself), and no one in Texas will ever forget the Alamo. While there are a lot of proud moments in Texas history, we definitely like to spin negative aspects in our favor, but that is no different than any other states, countries, or empires history. Overall this instilled pride either pushes you away and want to plant roots somewhere else, or sucks you in fully to the point you are ready to sign the petition to secede, I would say these days I am somewhere in between

Texas suburb living was pretty easy, not too much going on really. You would play at the creek and avoid alligators or football in the fields until everything started to get developed, and then soon there was a mall and a movie theater within walking distance. You didn’t walk though, fuck that shit I am gonna drive or be driven just down the street to the Starbucks. So it pretty much went from a nice outlier to a suburban metropolis of strip malls, real malls, dirty theaters, and national chain restaurants and stores. I am disappointed now  due to missing the simplicity of old Sugarland, the loss of local businesses to the corporate model, and the sharp rise in population, but back when I lived there as a youngster that was the most exciting thing going on, and having a theater down the street made my weekends all the better.

Even with all the entertainment and consumerism being built up around, it was not enough to make me feel satisfied. I looked to find something that made more sense for me and something that was a little bit “dangerous”. This is where music really came into play in my life. I grew up listening to whatever my parents and older siblings listened to. Over the course of my young years before I really had my own musical identity I listened to an array of beach boys, vanilla ice, garth brooks, Weird Al, and early 90’s top 40. Alternative music provided a short little insight into the idea that other music was out there, but this was also top 40 in a degree. Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer were about as dangerous as a lamb in baby Jesus’ manger. Then it happened, I found my ride and have been riding that train to this day. That was Punk Rock.

Punk rock became my ticket to breaking the figurative suburban shackles (as it is for many middle class suburbanites across America). I definitely do admit that by the time I got into punk, it was much tamer and was already adopted by a lot of mainstream America (this was at the height of the green day, offspring, rancid surge into radio land). But for a 13 year old kid from suburban Houston, in a pretty conservative, well-kempt side of town, punk was still relevant as a source of expression and energy. My parents were definitely hesitant, what with that image that those punk rockers purvey. The names of the bands, the song titles, and subject matter were all things that you didn’t find in commonplace Sugarland.  I was never much into the punk image, tried a few things (spiky hair, studded belt, a patched up jacket) and realized it wasn’t for me. It was the music, message, and just attitude that grabbed me. I didn’t care about how I needed to dress as long as I was comfortable, that’s punk rock in and of itself right? It was a pretty controlled rebellion, but what those ideas led me to later is what I find important. In Houston I was serenaded by the pop punk of 30 foot fall, the ska of The Suspects, and the weird punk-ska-funk fusion of Middlefinger. While none really broke the national circuit to a large degree, these bands and many others represented that there was something real happening, and encouraged me to dig deeper, to get involved in some way.

 (Middlefinger, still can dig it...)

So why am I talking about my musical youthhood if this a piece about Texas music? Well its two pieces about Texas and this one are to help understand that Texas music is not in just the confines of what the media has portrayed. Texas has seen its fair share of subversive cultures, and musical icons. You look back in the early 80’s and Texas was leading the punk charge with the likes of the Big Boys, the Dicks, Verbal Abuse, DRI, and the Stains. Go back even further and 13^th Floor Elevators helped to start the psychedelic revolution in the Texas Hill Country before it really hit the national circuit. Even within the country realm, Texas has produced some of the artists who push the barriers the most in their respective genres. Townes Van Zandt alone puts Texas on the country map, but just in case we also had Willie and Waylon help to lead the outlaw country singers to gain national attention. Texas has always been a breeding ground for rebellion, countercultural ideas as based on its musical ventures. My reasoning for this is that when one set of ideals is strongly encouraged by the general mass, there will always be an alternative group of people who come back just as strong with their own expression. 

(Willie showing why hes a rebel in Tejas)

The political climate of Texas definitely has an effect on its youth, creating a more outspoken core of vagabonds who just want to stir up trouble. I know for myself, being raised in a state seen primarily as a haven for red-thinking conservatives, I felt pushed in the other direction. It was less about a conservative vs. liberal ideology for me, it was about questioning what I was being told and developing ideas based on what I read and what I experienced.  I remember being young and having a lot of what would be considered conservative/right-wing ideas, and they were really just the ones I learned from my parents.

 It was probably around 18 when I would say I officially became a left-leaning individual (I dont want to categorize but the it fits), and started to distance myself from earlier conservative stances. It was around this time that George Bush had become president, and my current band was writing anti-bush songs. A once unknown idea of who Bush(while he was our Governor for a majority of his terms) was quickly became overtaken by this image of some idiotic bible-thumping redneck now representing Texas to the whole nation (dude is not even from Texas, he was born in Connecticut).  I know I wanted to distance myself from that as best as I could, whether it was through the discontinuation of saying “yall” or just making arguments against Texas. I was allowed to talk shit on Texas though because I had grown up there, lived in, and was present for the fight. If someone else was to talk shit on Texas who was not from the state, they would get a pop in the mouth. Texas became like an embarrassing younger brother for a while. I could rag on him, and give him noogies all day long, but the moment someone else tried to give him shit, you better believe I would stand up for my blood. 

(Roky Erikson of the 13th Floor Elevators)

Texas aint perfect by any means, no state is. Every place has room to grow, and ways to better themselves, and that is human life. I definitely have talked shit on Tejas, but I definitely have love for my home state and can appreciate a lot of aspects of my life growing up there and how it helped to shape me. The conservative climate, Christian presence, and blatant racism that were present a lot of the times pushed me to think differently. I definitely appreciate the challenges that Texas presents to me, and it has made me more aware of what I do want to see in myself, my state and in my country. How can I know what I am fighting against, if I don’t know what I am fighting for?

So looking back I feel I have definitely presented an image that Texas music is all liberal, rebellious and out there due to the overly conservative climate, and hopefully everyone knows that is not the case and recognize that I understand that as well. I definitely have a very personalized view of Texas and its music, as everyone should. It should be based on their own experiences, and I also encourage that we not let the boundaries that we set for ourselves keep us from exploring. Texas has some of the greatest rock n roll, country, metal, punk, jazz, blues, bluegrass, folk, hardcore, ect out there, and not all of it is bleeding through their hearts. Texas music will reflect on what is the counterculture, but just as much on the pro-Texas ideology that is birthed with every baby born in the state lines. 

 (Sweet Big Boys video!)

To end this piece, I was at a bar up here in Portland with my buddy and Texas fanatic, Jack Karlin. We were having a good discussion out one evening when a couple of girls comment on our conversation surrounding Texas, and their response to that being where I grew up was: “Oh I am sorry, that sucks”. There may have been a time I would have agreed, but not that night. This opened up a verbal debate on the merits of Texas, and positives that have come from Texas. To make this short, we debated between Texas, and they both realized quickly that both Jacko and myself were much more highly educated and aware of the history, policies and culture of Texas (mind you that Jack is from Montana too) than either of them were about Texas or even their home state (Florida, which is the second worst state in the Union). I do not care if people don’t like Texas, but I do care that if you start up a debate about the quality of my state that you have something to back it up with. Education is important; before you start ragging on my state make sure you at least know the history, and qualities of your own.

Link:  SFMTC - Vol. 8a - Dont Mess With Texas 

SFMTC Vol. 8 - Chaos in Tejas Chapter 1 - Don't Mess with Texas 

01. Race Against Time - Race Against Time

02. Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter Anymore

03. Ornette Coleman - The Face Of The Bass

04. UGK - Short Texas

05. The Sword - The Horned Goddess

06. The Gourds - Lament

07. 13th Floor Elevators - Thru the Rhythm

08. 30 foot fall - Fuck Ya'll We're From Texas

09. Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Strange Things Happen

10. Townes Van Zandt - Texas River Song

11. Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys - T for Texas (1937)

12. T Bone Burnett - Palestine, Texas

13. Trippin Daisy - On the Ground

14. Blind Lemon Jefferson - Oil Well Blues

15. Pantera - 5 Minutes Alone

16. ZZ Top - La Grange

17. DRI - Money Stinks

18. Robert Earl Keen - Amarillo Highway

19. Big Boys - Gator Fuckin

20. Old 97's - West Texas Teardrops

21.  Bitter End - Terrified Eyes

22. Janis Joplin - Summertime

23. Freddie King - You Can Run but You Can't Hide

24. The Black Angels - The Prodigal Sun

25. Waylon Jennings - Luckenbach Texas

26. Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood

27. Butthole Surfers - Hey

28. Geto Boys - Still

29. And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead  - Monsoon

30. Hayes Carll - Girl Downtown