The Worst Decision Lubbock Ever Made

Lubbock has never been especially progressive, and sometimes it’s been downright foolish.

Yeah, “stupid” is a strong word. Some parents react to it like it’s a curse word. But what exactly are you supposed to call a decision to effectively kill an iconic music festival because people were worried about the grass? The grass eventually grew back — because grass always grows back. But a once-in-a-generation music legacy blew away with the West Texas wind.

Joe Ely Loved Lubbock — Even When Lubbock Didn’t Love Him Back

I still follow Joe Ely on Facebook, and somehow the page remains active even after his death. In many ways, it feels like Joe loved Lubbock more than Lubbock loved Joe. That’s kind of been this city’s complicated relationship with its own outlaws. Whether it was Joe Ely, Natalie Maines, or even Buddy Holly back in the day, Lubbock has always wanted fame — just not that kind of fame.

Tornado Jam Was Becoming A Massive Texas Music Event

Joe Ely helped launch beginning with the 10th anniversary of the devastating 1970 Lubbock tornado. What started as a local gathering quickly evolved into something much bigger. Over the next few years, the festival grew to the point where artists like Linda Ronstadt and Joan Jett appeared. That kind of star power brought huge crowds, and huge crowds brought growing pains.

The Grass Became More Important Than The Music

The big issue came after heavy rains turned the festival grounds into a muddy mess. Thousands of people tromping across soaked parkland absolutely tore up the grass. But honestly? That sounds more like a maintenance problem than a reason to kill a cultural institution. Throw some seed on it. Water it. Move on. This is West Texas — we literally built an economy on knowing how to grow things.

Instead, the reportedly cited concerns over damage to the grass and would not allow the next Tornado Jam to move forward. A lot of people who were around at the time believe the grass explanation was simply the polite version of, “We don’t want those types around here.” And back then, even acts that now seem downright wholesome — like the The Maines Brothers Band — were considered too rowdy for some of the city’s old guard.

Read More: The Evolution Of Live Rock Music In Lubbock Through Personal Experiences l

What If Lubbock Had Let Tornado Jam Grow?

The saddest part is that might have become something enormous. It could have evolved into one of Texas’ legendary music traditions. For all we know, it could still be running today alongside the biggest festivals in the country.

Instead, one of the worst cultural decisions Lubbock ever made sent it packing.