TEXODUS: One Fan’s Perspective
As Chas Tenenbaum would say, It’s been a rough year, Dad. What with KTXT being pulled out from under us, and all. But the independent (read: good) music scene in Lubbock has arguably only grown stronger since that fateful day (the day the music died, again), united in our never-ending hunt and hunger for worthwhile music, our desire to neither sit at home on Friday nights nor go swing dancing at Wild West. On Saturday night, that hunger was on full display, as the people rose up and came out to feast on a buffet of twelve of Lubbock’s most beloved, bewitching, and ballsy bands.
The event was called Texodus, and it was a leaving-on-a-jet-plane style bash in honor of The Diamond Center, who are flying out of their Lubbock nest and settling into a new one in Virginia, that state where a bunch of presidents came from (Jah bless ‘em). The soiree kicked off in the early evening, and this cat had to work, so while I got there at ten, I missed the first seven (seven!) bands. After a buddy bought me a PBR, I drifted toward the stage, where La Panza was playing. At first it seemed that the space near the stage was empty, but upon further inspection, I discovered that people were sitting on the floor, possibly the filthiest floor on the planet, their necks craned like baby birds, but transfixed– as if awaiting an earthworm so fat and luscious that it couldn’t be believed. I stood there for a minute before succumbing to the music, taking a cross-legged seat on the floor. (A quick note about the venue– Texodus was originally scheduled to be held at Bash’s in the Depot, but due to sound problems was moved at the last minute to Bash’s on Main and University– a much darker, smaller, sweatier venue. At the newer Depot Bash’s, you can kind of hang out in the back and watch the music while sipping on a Long Island Iced Tea. At Bash’s on Main, you’re either in or out. This was a night about committing– to the spirit of togetherness, to the music being performed– and I can’t imagine it occurring anywhere else in town, frankly.) The bands that had already played had clearly set a tone, and the people in the room– spurred on, perhaps, by a long afternoon and evening of downing alcohol– were positively buzzing. A particular set of guitar histrionics and nimble drumming led to a mid-song ovation, and at the end of their set, the people who had been sitting on the floor were on their feet and cheering.
![[popup]](http://www.thellanoidea.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/shout-stream/popup.png "[popup]")