BETWEEN THE LINES: The Rock Box rocks
Leave it to country music lyrics to give its listeners some timely truths. The song "Luckenbach, Texas" was written by country music legend Waylon Jennings, a native of Littlefield. Jennings left the cotton fields of the Panhandle town and became a disc jockey in nearby Lubbock, where he met a young musician by the name of Buddy Holly.
A few years later, Holly died in a devastating plane crash that also took the lives of the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. In the meantime, the Littlefield native became a legend in his own right. Along with Willie Nelson, the two created a brand of music called "outlaw country."
All of this history was revealed to the audience at the evening show at the Rock Box Theater in Fredericksburg last weekend. I am embarrassed to admit it was my first time to visit the popular music venue. For years, members of my Sunday school class at First Methodist raved about the performances they witnessed. Now I know why.
Jennings and his band made the tiny town of Luckenbach a household name for country music fans. The sleepy settlement just southeast of Fredericksburg became quite an attraction for visitors after Jennings’ song hit the top of the country charts in 1978.
Every few years, my wife and I make the bed-and-breakfast scene as we journey to the Gillespie County seat. The highlight of this year’s excursion was attending a show at the Rock Box venue. Needless to say, our decision did not disappoint us. The music was fabulous and the musicians were thoroughly entertaining. It was refreshing to see entertainers who truly enjoy performing for their audience and take the time to shake hands with the audience as they exit.
The musical ensemble consisted of eight performers who moved collectively as a group to Fredericksburg in 2007 to open the theater. They live and attend church in the community. Two of the members are husband and wife.
As the group sang Jennings’ lyrics to "Luckenbach, Texas" in one of their segments honoring Texas-born legends, it reminded me once again of what is really important in life. For truly, “This successful life we’re livin’ got us feudin’ like the Hatfields and McCoys."
The country Hall of Famer’s words hit the bull’s-eye in the following stanza as he sings, “We’ve been so busy keepin’ up with the Joneses; Four-car garage and we’re still building on; Maybe it’s time we got back to the basics of love.”
When I am traveling the hinterlands of America, I see a different country, not the one viewed on the nightly news. Metro areas across our nation are not representative of the values so many citizens of this country share. In the heartlands of the United States reside people with strong religious beliefs who show their patriotism like a badge of honor.
Our nation’s capital within the Washington Beltway serves as an indictment of a culture where greed, political power and personal interest take center stage.
As the ensemble closed their program that evening singing "Amazing Grace," the audience lit candles honoring our nation’s soldiers, who risk their lives daily on foreign soil.
It all came home to me that night during the musical performance. I felt a certain esprit de corps in the 50-plus audience that evening, as we were reminded in their finale of our hopelessness on one hand, and the wonder of God’s grace on the other.
Laughlin is a Christian Libertarian. He is an economist, teacher, father, husband and most recently a grandfather. He has written a weekly column for The Tribune for 12 years. He and his wife Gina reside in Meadowlakes. To contact him, email ablaughlin@nctv.com. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company.