Texas Independence was fought for the right to make Texas Music

Historians might tell you the fight for Texas was fought for Independence from Mexico, or the right to be free to dictate their own destiny, or for farm and ranch land, or just an excuse to make a really beautiful, glorious flag.

It was on March 2, 1836, when the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by 59 delegates officially creating the Republic of Texas. Goodbye “Mexican Texas,” hello free and independent Texas!

The great state of Texas has just about everything you’d want, great weather for the most part, a bunch of Professional sports teams to root for, and some pretty incredible music in all styles and genera. There’s a reason for the saying, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got there as soon as I could.”

That’s what Yuengling did in 2020. Their good folks asked to go in our Texas Independence Day celebration supplying some Yuengling hoodies and t-shirts when KLAQ gives away Texas flags when we do our special Texas music artist spotlights February 21 through March 2. We’re going to make it easy too because we’ll even tell you when to call. Don’t worry New Mexico residents, we’re not going to discriminate against you; you can win too because you at least had the sense to move close to Texas! For this contest standard contest rules apply.

Here’s some of the Texas Rock bands will be putting the spotlight on.

ZZ Top

Duh? You can’t talk Texas music without genuflecting at the feet of that little ‘ol band from Texas.

Pantera

Vinny and Dime were friends of the station during and after their Pantera days. The old timers here are FULL of great stories of how well the Abbott boys treated us and their fans.

At The Drive-In

They’re from El Paso. Yeah, we know some people who use to make decisions here in the past didn’t give them their due when they were breaking out nationally, but that was then, and we’re honoring them here now so suck it up butt-hurt cup.

Nothing More

The San Antonio band who broke out nationwide a few years back have been awaiting the end of the pandemic. Once things resume, they’re still planning on releasing a new album and making a return to the road.

Giovannie and the Hired Guns

If you don’t yet know this emerging Texas band your will soon. We’ve been playing it on the Q for a couple months now and look forward to playing more from the upcoming third release from this Stephenville Texas band.

Toadies

For most the world they’re a one-hit wonder. For Texans they’re a cool band who had a big hit and still tour today to the delight of Lone Star rock fans.

Butthole Surfers

If you were cool in the 90s you might have said it was because you knew about Butthole Surfers. Their biggest hit told the world “They we’re doing it in Texas."

John Moyer

Yeah, we know Disturbed is NOT from Texas, but John is a hometown boy and we had to throw him a salute here or his mom wouldn’t let us hear the end of it (think we’re joking?)

There’s also John’s previous band the Union Underground, Fire From the Gods, Arc Angels, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Sons of Texas, Vallejo, Soak, Pushmonkey, Gary Clarke Jr., The Mars Volta, and a bunch more including one you’ll be hearing a whole lot more of soon Messer. Plus, we’d be remiss if we didn’t raise a toast to the late Classic Rock icons Stevie Ray Vaughan and Janis Joplin.

Texas music, it’s as diverse as the landscape and weather of Texas itself.