- Good evening.

On behalf of the office of the president, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the sixth annual Lubbock Lights festival.

This year, we are proud to host country Americana band Flatland Cavalry.

I am Dori Bosnyak, the lead administrator to the Presidential Lecture and Performance Series.

This small but impactful program has been presenting speakers, concerts, dance and theater shows for 15 consecutive years.

And I am thrilled to share that as of this year, Lubbock Lights is officially one of the handful of PLPS shows and part of our season.

Speaking of a season, you might have noticed that PLPS has been on a brief intermission this past year.

Our last event, last year's Lubbock Lights was also conducted in a streamed format and it took place exactly one full year ago, on April 16th.

I am proud that we are able continue this annual tradition, even during these unusual times.

And I am so glad you're tuning in tonight.

But one might ask what is Lubbock Lights?

This annual festival celebrates the musical heritage of the South Plains.

The event features discussions and performances by local and regional musical artists, and gives attendees an inside look at the creative processes and inspirations that go into each artist's work.

The week-long festival consists of the participating artists visiting over a dozen classrooms to discuss their process with students outside and within Texas Tech.

It culminates in a concert, typically held on the Allen Theater stage in the student union building on campus.

This year, I want to take the opportunity to thank the School of Music and professor Amy Faris for hosting the band in her songwriting course.

Her students are so bright and engaged.

Thank you to Lloyd Maines and Andy Wilkinson who started this now long standing tradition.

And thank you to Curtis Peoples for his tireless efforts to help create this event.

Last but not least, thank you to producer Scott Faris for making the connection between Lubbock Lights and the band, and for hosting us at Amusement Park Studio, right here in the heart of Lubbock.

And now to introduce Flatland Cavalry, please join me in welcoming President Schovanec.

- Good evening.

It is my pleasure to be here with you tonight and to welcome the rising country band Flatland Cavalry, which includes four of our Texas Tech alumni.

Flatland Cavalry's music is often described as easy on the ears, heavy on their heart.

And I hope that this stream will offer an evening of entertainment while reminding you of your own memories and experiences on our campus and in the Lubbock community.

Much of Flatland Cavalry's lyrics reminisce about their time at Texas Tech.

And I couldn't be more proud to see how far this band has gone since it began in Lubbock nine years ago.

Flatland recorded their second album, "Humble Folks", while attending Texas Tech.

This number one album featured a number one single, made them a number one band in Texas, and it reached number two on the iTunes country chart worldwide.

Flatland Cavalry is deeply rooted in West Texas musical traditions.

They have a significant following of hard core fans among Texas Tech students and recent alumni.

It only makes sense to present them to Lubbock Lights as they truly align with the vision and intention of this festival.

As we complete this semester, I am optimistic that the fall will look closer to what we all expect in the college experience.

And we can attend performances like tonight in person, together with each other.

Until then I hope that you will enjoy tonight's concert and discussion from the comfort of your homes or rooms.

Most likely you won't bother the person sitting next to you, so don't hesitate to put on your boots, dance, and sing along, and join Lubbock in celebrating our musical heritage and these young alumni's talent and success.

Please join me in welcoming Flatland Cavalry.

(gentle country music) ♪ Honeywine, you're a sight to see ♪ ♪ Auburn hair, runnin' 'round in bare feet ♪ ♪ Cheap sunglasses and your turquoise rings ♪ ♪ Wonderin' what you'd see in a boy like me ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're a sight to see ♪ ♪ Do you recall how you got that name ♪ ♪ You drank that stuff 'til 3 a.m ♪ ♪ Sang John Prine songs, sang harmony ♪ ♪ The night you fell in love with me ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're a sight to see ♪ ♪ You're the sweetest thing that I've ever known ♪ ♪ When the beer runs out and the whiskey's gone ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're all I need ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're all I need ♪ ♪ Honeywine, well I've got big plans ♪ ♪ To put some shoes on your feet ♪ ♪ Take the turquoise off your hand ♪ ♪ Trade it out for a diamond ring ♪ ♪ As we kiss under a cottonwood tree ♪ ♪ I get down on one knee ♪ ♪ Said "Honeywine, go on and marry me ♪ ♪ Let's do somethin' crazy, go on and marry me" ♪ ♪ You're the sweetest thing that I've ever known ♪ ♪ When the beer runs out and the whiskey's gone ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're all I need ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're all I need ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're the one for me ♪ ♪ Honeywine, you're all I need ♪ - Let's keep goin'.

♪ When I say I want you, girl I mean it ♪ ♪ When I say I love you, you're gonna feel it ♪ ♪ Each and everyday I go out of my way, above and beyond ♪ ♪ So you don't have to wonder ♪ ♪ You're the one I want, yeah ♪ Let's get groovy tonight.

♪ Gonna write you love songs to show my feelings ♪ ♪ I could tell you, but I'd rather sing it ♪ ♪ Throw your name in the chorus ♪ ♪ Of a love song story so catchy ♪ ♪ Make everybody wanna sing along ♪ ♪ So you don't have to wonder ♪ ♪ You're the one I want, yeah ♪ ♪ Have all the answers, when I take the floor ♪ ♪ When it comes to uncertainty, I've never been more sure ♪ ♪ Darling when it comes to you, I never had one doubt ♪ ♪ You're the face of the woman in my dreams ♪ ♪ I've been dreaming about, yeah ♪ Pick that guitar now, come on.

♪ Gonna take you dancing, when we get home ♪ ♪ You'll cry because you're happy ♪ ♪ How much your love has grown ♪ ♪ I'll kiss you right on the forehead ♪ ♪ Say, "Hey, baby what's wrong?"

♪ ♪ You'll say nothing I just love you ♪ ♪ Because you never made me wonder ♪ ♪ You're the one I want ♪ You're the one I want.

All right, let's get country and western tonight.

♪ And two steppin' around, all right.

♪ (lively country music) (lively country music continues) How's everybody doing out there?

We're the Flatland Cavalry, coming to you live from the Amusement Park Studio here in Lubbock, Texas.

To my right, on your left, down there at the end from Carlsbad, New Mexico, got Mr. Adam Gallegos playing the piano and the electric guitar for you tonight.

From Farmersville, Texas on the electric guitar, Mr. Reid T. Dylan.

Playing the sweet fiddle for you from Comanche, Texas, Mr. Wesley Hall.

Back there on the rhythm section from Lubbock, Texas, and Midland, Texas got Mr. Johnny Saenz and Jason Brian Albers.

My name's Cleto Cordero, and where the Flatland Cavalry.

Thank you all for hanging out with us tonight.

If you know, the songs sing along at home.

Kick your shoes off, dance around in your socks.

Let's have a good time tonight.

♪ Hand-me-down Ostrich boots, dark wash Levis ♪ ♪ Ray-Ban Wayfarers on bloodshot eyes ♪ ♪ I dress like my daddy did, circa 1982 ♪ ♪ I make old school look brand new, I do ♪ ♪ Raised on George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Pat Green ♪ ♪ Learned how to pick from a VHS ♪ ♪ And Mama taught me how to sing ♪ ♪ Sit out on the front porch ♪ ♪ The crickets and coyotes sang harmony ♪ ♪ And we make old school sound brand new ♪ ♪ It's tried and true, ain't leaving soon ♪ ♪ Or going out of style ♪ ♪ Dance around in your cowboy boots ♪ ♪ With swagger and a smile ♪ ♪ Some call it classic, even old-fashioned ♪ ♪ But others call it cool ♪ ♪ I call it old school ♪ ♪ Well, how 'bout you ♪ ♪ How 'bout you all ♪ ♪Mom and Pop's love still running like their '82 Chevrolet ♪ ♪ The same one that they brought brand new ♪ ♪ On their wedding day ♪ ♪ They still drive 'round town with the windows down ♪ ♪'Cause they're more in love than the day they said "I do" ♪ ♪ It's true ♪ ♪ 'Cause they make old school feel brand new ♪ ♪ It's tried and true, ain't leaving soon ♪ ♪ Or going out of style ♪ ♪ Dance around in your old pearl snaps ♪ ♪ With swagger and a smile ♪ ♪ Some call it classic, even old-fashioned ♪ ♪ And others call it cool ♪ ♪ I call it old school ♪ ♪ Well, how 'bout you ♪ ♪ I call it old school ♪ ♪ Well, how 'bout you, woo-hoo ♪ - I got connected with Flatland when Cleto first came to college.

One of his best friends decided to pay for a demo, and he came in and just recorded some acoustic guitar songs.

And I remember hearing it and going, "You know what, he's green.

"He's not great yet, you know, "but there's something really special there."

I even remember going home and telling Amy, "I had this new kid come in.

"And if he sticks with it, he's gonna be really great."

So I got connected with him, way, way back.

Two or three years later, he calls me and says, "Hey, I want to do an EP."

And that ended up being "Come May", the first EP that I did for him.

And it was really great to work with him early on.

- So Cleto and I met each other over at Midland.

We've been good buddies since junior high or so.

And so we'd go play in each other's garages until our parents came in and told us to be quiet and all that.

We thought a lot of the people we were listening to came out of Lubbock.

Wade Bowen, Will Green, everything.

They play over at the Blue Light Live, which is where we cut our teeth.

We came up to Tech and we met these rascals, like Reid and John, (upbeat music) and started booking our own shows on Broadway.

And then finally up to getting a Blue Light show on a Tuesday.

15 people were there, I think.

- Made 63 bucks.

And some of our family drove in from out of town and stuff.

Like it was a huge deal for like, we were like super stoked about it, you know?

And it was the opportunity to play your original songs for people.

'Cause that's what that Blue Light's known for.

And I think in my mind's eye, at least, I was expecting like a sellout crowd.

And just, you know, people singing, but we didn't even have music out or nothing.

So it wasn't a very big crowd.

And, but it was still a taste of, you know what was to come of, you know, what we wanted to do.

But yeah, without a place like Blue Light, I mean, I really don't, I wouldn't say our band wouldn't exist but we would've figured out another way, another place somewhere, but that place is critical to our success.

It gave us a place to, you know, stand up on a stage and use our voice.

- We were all going to Tech at the time, too.

Most of us, John was at SPC.

And we invited all of our friends from class or we'd go out to parties on the weekend or whatever.

And Cleto would bring out a guitar.

Come late night, play your guitar and everyone would be like, you know, crowd around him.

- I was that guy.

- Yeah, he was that guy, right?

And, and then, you know, say, "We gotta show it the Blue Light."

Or like even local over on Broadway.

We play over there, here and there.

And it would just...

So, Texas Tech, even the school itself really helped.

That was our first fan base really.

And then everybody would go off for spring break, Christmas break and they go to their hometowns, tell their friends.

And so it really helped kind of spread it across Texas at least.

- You know, it's been really incredible to see this band grow.

When they very first started on "Come May" they weren't even really a band.

They'd played three or four times.

They hadn't really jelled.

They hadn't come together.

They still got together and worked really, really hard, but they weren't that great of musicians yet.

They were just really green and young.

And then when we did "Humble Folks", you could just see the exponential growth because they started really playing.

They started getting traction, you know.

Of course, that record was a huge hit for them.

So they started literally playing four nights a week.

And that really improves a band.

- Even before then, like just playing guitar in my room and stuff, writing songs, like I would, you know, I'd see a bunch of people.

Or it would start with a little vision, like, you know, playing in front of your peers.

And then that would happen and come true.

And then, like I said, it'd be a little bit bigger and stuff.

And even still continues to this day.

Even if not something you think about, it's just kind of in your, you can't, it's stamped in your brain, you know.

And I'll see like us playing in front of tens of thousands of people.

And we've had the opportunity to play for 16,000, I think, opening for Luke Combs.

And that was kind of crazy, you know.

But even then they'll still come.

And like, "Oh, I think we could, "maybe that could be us one day.

"We could be, those could be our shows."

And you know people come out and seeing our stuff.

And not like from a proud, ego way but just the joy and thrill and fun of it, you know.

- And connecting - Yeah, connecting.

- That size of people, you know, it's powerful.

After every show as well.

Even that first Tuesday one, we were on such a high that it wasn't even like, "Oh, when's the next one?

"Can we get a bigger one?"

We're like, "This is just so cool."

- [Johnny] We just want to play again.

- It grew and grew.

Not the same high, kind of stay there.

We're just thankful for people coming out in the first place.

- So like we played that Tuesday at the Blue Light, you know and made 63 bucks.

And then fast forward a year, 11 months actually, and we released "Come May", 2015.

Had a CD release at Blue Light and it was sold out.

And that did come true.

We played, and it was 300 people in there.

And our parents were there too in the crowd.

And I can just see them, you know, their faces were glowing.

They were just like, "What is going on?"

You know what I mean?

But it was, that was, I remember when people were singing back louder than you can even hear yourself.

It's just like a rush that you can... You don't know what that's like until it happens and what it feels like.

And it's, I don't know, man, it's a thrill, you know?

- It is, every time.

- And it feels good though.

Doesn't feel like, you know, doesn't feel crazy.

I mean, it does at times, but in a good way that like, man, this is a good thing.

You know, people are all here.

No one's punching each other in the face.

Everyone's singing along, having fun, you know, the comradery, community.

I think that feeling is what you chase.

I think, you know, to continue onward to hopefully get to do that again.

Whether it be for, you know, 15 people again and not, the money kind of part you don't really think about it.

It's just whether you're in it for a small amount or bigger or whatever.

It's just that feeling in between of destroying any kind of walls or barriers that people feel when they go into a place and they're self-conscious.

And, you know, kind of get rid of that.

And you're all kind of there together.

- Everybody's brought together by the music.

- We're gonna play a new song.

We've been working on new stuff.

We went into the studio in Nashville, Tennessee this past December and recorded a whole brand new album.

It's called "Welcome to Country Land".

It's got 14 songs and this is one of those songs.

For all the hard-headed folks out there, it's appropriately titled "Some Things Never Change".

♪ Well I like the shade your wearing ♪ ♪ I like your new tattoo ♪ ♪ I see you went and dyed your hair ♪ ♪ Then got a new perfume ♪ ♪ Well I shoulda known you'd be here ♪ ♪ Dancin' to a fiddle song ♪ ♪ Kickin' up dust and stirrin' up memories ♪ ♪ Blurrin' lines 'tween right and wrong ♪ ♪ I bet the chills and the thrills you're giving me ♪ ♪ Won't last long ♪ ♪ When the lights come up and the smoke clears ♪ ♪ You'll be gone ♪ ♪ Like the lightning strike sheds light on falling rain ♪ ♪ Some things never change ♪ ♪ Well I feel there's still a sliver ♪ ♪ Of my own love-worn soul ♪ ♪ I tangled and tied your heart ♪ ♪ That I lost long ago ♪ ♪ 'Cause longing don't seem to matter ♪ ♪ How many years go by ♪ ♪ You and me, we fit together ♪ ♪ We don't even have to try ♪ ♪ The chills and the thrills you're giving me ♪ ♪ Won't last long ♪ ♪ When the lights come up and the smoke clears ♪ ♪ You'll be gone ♪ ♪ Like a bonfire fades when it runs out of flame ♪ ♪ Some things never change ♪ ♪ Will the way you feel remain the same ♪ ♪ They say true love finds a way ♪ ♪ I know the chills and thrills you're giving me ♪ ♪ Won't last long ♪ ♪ When the lights come up and the smoke clears ♪ ♪ You'll be gone ♪ ♪ And I'll be by myself as the sun shines on my shame ♪ ♪ Some things never change ♪ ♪ Some things never change ♪ ♪ Some things never change ♪ Thank y'all so much.

That was "Some Things Never Change".

And be on the lookout for that sometime in June or July of this year.

Here's another song off of our "Homeland Insecurity" album called "Come Back Down".

♪ You're a sight for sore eyes ♪ ♪ Won't you get on over here ♪ ♪ I'd run and wrap my arms around you ♪ ♪ If I could get out this chair ♪ ♪ Hell, I can't get out of this chair ♪ ♪ Tell me son now how's the city ♪ ♪ How's it all playin' out ♪ ♪ You've been in mine and your daddy's prayers ♪ ♪ Never cast one doubt ♪ ♪ Knew the day we brought you home ♪ ♪ You were bound to be a star ♪ ♪ Just wish you didn't grow so quick ♪ ♪ And have to live so far ♪ ♪ You've been gone for way too long ♪ ♪ Thought you was never gonna come back down ♪ ♪ Throw some coffee on the pot ♪ ♪ Let's sit and talk about ♪ ♪ How we thought you were never gonna come back down ♪ ♪ The winds of change must be blowing ♪ ♪ Look who's back in town ♪ ♪ Did you fall down from your throne ♪ ♪ Or did you lose your crown ♪ ♪ Aw hell, all's well little brother ♪ ♪ Look how much you've grown ♪ ♪ Save your tears for a rainy day ♪ ♪ Our lost one has come home ♪ ♪ You built a castle in the sky ♪ ♪ Thought you was never gonna come back down ♪ ♪ Round the boys up to the spot ♪ ♪ Maker's all around ♪ ♪ Hell, we thought you were never gonna come back down ♪ ♪ I've been gone for way too long ♪ ♪ Thought I was never gonna come back down ♪ ♪ It's good to kick some dirt back up ♪ ♪ In my stomping grounds ♪ ♪ Thought I was never gonna come back down ♪ ♪ Thank God I came back down ♪ We haven't written so much together.

Like, I think we're still, you know we're in the process of doing that together.

But in the past historically it's been, we're touring.

And then we, you know, trying to write songs along the way.

And then, you know, you book the studio dates in advance.

And then you gotta, "Man, I gotta come up with these X amount of songs."

You know, it just kind of stressful.

But these days it's seems to be more like just writing.

Not so much when the muse hits you, but kinda, you know as a practice, like doing it every day.

And not even if every day, like, you know, no one's perfect, but I think just kind of becoming more comfortable with the writing part of it.

And knowing that there's an infinite amount of messages to sing about and write about and just kind of trust in that.

'Cause I mean, there's a part of you that's like, "Man, we gotta put out another album in two years."

And like, I'm already thinking about that.

Like, "Oh, we're gonna have to more songs for another..." There's that little guy in you that's afraid, but then there's another guy in you that's like, "Man, I'll keep doing this until "I have nothing else to say."

- You know, it has been really incredible to actually... God, I hate to use this word, but almost fulfill a mentorship kind of role for those guys.

And that sounds way fancier than it is.

We were just a bunch of morons trying to make a cool record.

And luckily we were able to make three cool ones.

And it kind of fed them up the food chain, you know, as they got out and they worked hard and they became a better band.

Those guys have just really kept striving for excellence at every turn.

And yeah, it's kinda nice to be able to look at that and go, "You know, I didn't play a very huge role, "but there is some small piece of me in that path for them."

And that's something I'll be proud of for the rest of my life.

- We just try to, we would try to meet up, you know via Zoom or something once a week.

And stay connected and say, "All right, we can't tour.

"So how do we continue to grow?"

We've read a couple books together, like- (indistinct) - We're like 40 year old women in a book club.

(all laughing) But it's helped keep us, you know - Tethered together - Keep that momentum.

- It helped our communication out a whole lot.

Cause we couldn't actually jam, so when we're talking musical ideas we have to use words, right?

And that was, that was really something.

But it was a great part for our personal lives.

Being on the road, we do 120 shows a year away from our loved ones, which you ask anyone in this business it's probably the hardest thing, just being away from wives and moms and missing those birthdays and stuff.

So just being at home with loved ones, that was really great on the bands, like a great breather.

'Cause you know, we're still very much excited for the future and we've got some great plans hopefully will come to fruition.

- Yeah, though we didn't play in person, I think whenever we are gonna be able to get to, I think the show is gonna be better than it was if we had just kept going and burning the candle from both ends.

Like having that breather to, you know, sit back, reflect, rest, even not think about music for X amount of days or weeks, you know, and then- - Months - And then it makes you long for it, you know what I mean?

Yeah, I think we're always wanting to, we're never satisfied with the show or, you know what I mean?

We're always wanting them to make it better.

So then people come and they're like, "Wow," you know.

And I think if we do that, you know, we can do it as long as we want to.

Keep working on it.

- You know, I think it's really incredible for students at Tech to get to see this band that started just like them, sitting in an accounting class, you know, sitting in an engineering class.

Or I know Jason studied physical therapy out there.

But they had this dream the whole time.

They put a band together while they were in college, started playing parties, started playing at the Blue Light.

And now they're touring the world.

I just think that's an incredible progression for somebody, a young talent to be able to see.

And I think it's so important for them to be able to see that that can be done right where you're at.

That was accomplished from Lubbock, Texas.

And historically, many of the successes from Lubbock, Texas had to move in order to be successful, in order to get to that level.

And Flatland didn't.

They did it from right here, which I think is just magic.

- [Jason] Let's play a dancing one, huh?

- Yeah, here's a little dance hall tune from our first EP "Come May".

It's called "Ain't Over You Yet".

♪ It all started just the other day ♪ ♪ Should've seen the look on my face ♪ ♪ You were standing there, long brown hair ♪ ♪ A crowded lobby, unaware ♪ ♪ And just like that you were gone ♪ ♪ Before I could smile or wave hello ♪ ♪ And though it's probably for the best ♪ ♪ I can't help but feel in my chest ♪ ♪ If I've learned anything ♪ ♪ I'd be a fool to chase you down and say hello ♪ ♪ Hopin' "Hey girl, how you doing, where you been" ♪ ♪ Would only leave me wantin' more ♪ ♪ I quit smokin' cigarettes ♪ ♪ And gave up drinkin' to forget ♪ ♪ And they say old habits die hard ♪ ♪ They seem to be the hardest part ♪ ♪ I quit lyin' and taking bets ♪ ♪ But some addictions you can't quit ♪ ♪ When it comes to you I always lose ♪ ♪ Guess I need my fix ♪ ♪ Spendin' my whole life with no regrets ♪ ♪ And I guess I just ain't over you yet ♪ ♪ Been sittin' here for hours it seems ♪ ♪ I hope that you, you forgot something ♪ ♪ But I know I'm only foolin' myself ♪ ♪ I should've called you by that middle name ♪ ♪ That no one knows and you'd be ashamed ♪ ♪ But at least you would have recognized me ♪ ♪ Hopin' "hey girl, how you doing, where you been" ♪ ♪ Would only lead to more ♪ ♪ 'Cause I quit smokin' cigarettes ♪ ♪ And gave up drinkin' to forget ♪ ♪ And they say old habits die hard ♪ ♪ They seem to be the hardest part ♪ ♪ I quit lyin' and taking bets ♪ ♪ But some addictions you can't quit ♪ ♪ When it comes to you I always lose ♪ ♪ I guess I need my fix ♪ ♪ Spent my whole life with no regrets ♪ ♪ And I guess I just ain't over you yetú ♪ ♪ My whole life's been one great mess ♪ ♪ And I guess I just ain't over you yet ♪ Her middle name was Rae spelled with an E. She thought it was a boys name, so she was embarrassed by it.

This next song we're gonna play for you is inspired by this place right down the street called Texas Tech University where the majority of us met each other while going to school there.

And we all got degrees and stuff, but luckily we've been able to pursue music full-time since we graduated from there in '14, '15, '14 through '16.

But this is a little image of what life would be like if we all had to get real jobs.

♪ Well, I hate this town, hate this place ♪ ♪ There ain't nothin' to do ♪ ♪ Except go down to the bar each night ♪ ♪ And drink 'til 2 ♪ ♪ I hate my job ♪ ♪ I'm always in a bad mood ♪ ♪ I fear I'm comin' down with a case ♪ ♪ Of the tall city blues ♪ ♪ Well, I'm a CPA, I got my B.B.A.

from TTU ♪ ♪ I crunch numbers in a high rise ♪ ♪ Countin' barrels o' crude ♪ ♪ Me and my buddies bitch in the break room ♪ ♪ 'Cause our boss went golfin' this afternoon ♪ ♪ Left us to fend for ourselves ♪ ♪ In the tall city blues ♪ ♪ Tall city dreamin' is the difference ♪ ♪ In believin' in makin' a livin' ♪ ♪ Or lovin' what you do ♪ ♪ Raisin' a family among strangers and wildcatters ♪ ♪ Who were brought here by the boom ♪ ♪ We'll all be strangers soon ♪ ♪ With tall city blues ♪ ♪ This one bedroom apartment ♪ ♪ Is takin' all my dough ♪ ♪ Fifteen hundred a month ♪ ♪ For Venetian blinds and stained concrete floors ♪ ♪ Lay back in my king size bed ♪ ♪ Each night where I sleep alone ♪ ♪ And I'm dreamin' about my next move ♪ ♪ Outta these tall city blues ♪ ♪ Tall city dreamin' is the difference ♪ ♪ In believin' in makin' a livin' ♪ ♪ Or lovin' what you do ♪ ♪ Raisin' a family among strangers and wildcatters ♪ ♪ Who were brought here by the boom ♪ ♪ We'll all be strangers soon ♪ ♪ With tall city blues, aw yeah ♪ ♪ Got laid off this morning ♪ ♪ Did you not hear the news ♪ ♪ We took too much out of the ground ♪ ♪ Than we knew what to do ♪ ♪ Tonight no one gives a damn ♪ ♪ Whether your collar's white or blue ♪ ♪ We'll drain our glasses by the masses ♪ ♪ And make a toast ♪ ♪ To the tall city blues ♪ ♪ Let's drain our glasses by the masses ♪ ♪ And make a toast ♪ ♪ To the tall city blues ♪ ♪ Tall city dreamin' is the difference ♪ ♪ In believin in makin a living ♪ ♪ Or lovin' what you do ♪ ♪ Raisin' a family among strangers and wildcatters ♪ ♪ Who were brought here by the boom ♪ ♪ We'll all be strangers soon ♪ ♪ With tall city blues ♪ ♪ We'll all be strangers soon ♪ ♪ With tall city blues, yeah ♪ So glad we don't have to get real jobs.

Speaking of someone who needs to get a real job, we had our buddy William Clark Green sing on this song.

I love you, buddy, I'm just messing.

We had a local Lubbock legend, William Clark Green grace his sultry, crispy, greasy vocals on this next song.

We wish he was here to sing with us tonight, but he's not.

So if you know the words sing with us at home.

This one's true story about my old buddy, Mr. Roy Johnson.

♪ Well, I spend all day sittin' in the shade ♪ ♪ Waitin' in my pickup truck ♪ ♪ In not too long, a law man drives by ♪ ♪ And he stops to see what's up ♪ ♪ I had to pull on over and give my eyes a break ♪ ♪ You're a busy man, there's nothin' to see here ♪ ♪ So I send him on his way ♪ ♪ I see his taillights fadin' ♪ ♪ And I grab my glass of tea ♪ ♪ Truth is, my name's Roy Johnson ♪ ♪ Coyote is my trade ♪ ♪ Not five minutes later ♪ ♪ A mesquite bush starts shakin' ♪ ♪ Like it was afraid ♪ ♪ Fifteen men, women, and children ♪ ♪ Jumped in the back of my Chevrolet ♪ ♪ Saw them tremblin' in my rear view mirror ♪ ♪ Through my aviator shades ♪ ♪ Said, "me llamo Roy Johnson ♪ ♪ And coyote is my trade" ♪ ♪ You won't hear me comin' ♪ ♪ You won't see my face ♪ ♪ I cut that trail a thousand times ♪ ♪ All without a trace ♪ ♪ It's my line of business ♪ ♪ And it ain't a pretty thing ♪ ♪ My name is Roy Johnson ♪ ♪ And coyote is my trade ♪ ♪ I did what my mama told me ♪ ♪ Got my five-year degree ♪ ♪ Now I'm an expert in logistics ♪ ♪ I get product from A to B ♪ ♪ Well, I don't cut no corners ♪ ♪ I've always got a plan ♪ ♪ If you're lookin' for my services ♪ ♪ Amigo, I'm your man ♪ ♪ I'll get you across that Rio ♪ ♪ Welcome to the USA ♪ ♪ Tip the hat, say the name's Roy Johnson ♪ ♪ And coyote is my trade ♪ ♪ You won't hear me comin' ♪ ♪ You won't see my face ♪ ♪ I cut that trail a thousand times ♪ ♪ All without a trace ♪ ♪ It's my line of business ♪ ♪ And it ain't no pretty thing ♪ ♪ My name is Roy Johnson ♪ ♪ Coyote is my trade ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ I clearly remember ♪ ♪ Like it was yesterday ♪ ♪ I had that Chevy parked right under ♪ ♪ My usual spot of shade ♪ ♪ Not five minutes later ♪ ♪ A mesquite bush started shakin' like it was afraid ♪ ♪ Fifteen federale jumped out ♪ ♪ They all knew my name ♪ ♪ I guess they saw me comin' ♪ ♪ They saw my face ♪ ♪ I cut that trail a thousand times ♪ ♪ Guess I left a trace ♪ ♪ It's my line of business ♪ ♪ And I ain't ashamed to say ♪ ♪ "My name is Roy Johnson ♪ ♪ Coyote is my trade" ♪ ♪ Now I spend all day sittin' in the shade ♪ ♪ Waitin' in my pickup truck ♪ Now's the part of the time we gotta get away from the federales.

We gotta go, let's go.

(energetic country music) - Well, the day it happened, like Reid was saying the other day, his roommate woke him up and he was like, "Dude, y'all's album is like up there on iTunes."

And he was like, "What?"

- Number two on the country chart.

- He was just like, "I thought y'all were just "kind of messing around in the studio.

"I didn't know y'all were making something like this."

- It was right under Stapleton's "Traveling".

Good place to be.

- I think it, looking back at it, it was a lot of, making it was like a lot of work.

And it was a lot of fun, too.

I mean, we were just kids.

Like, we're still kids now in the grand scheme of life, but we were just kids in college.

And, you know, when you're that young full of piss and vinegar and, you know, you just got passion and spirit, you know what I mean?

And when you go back and listen to it, it's not perfect by any means or anything.

Like, we do sound a little bit youthful, but you know Scott in this studio, he was able to help us make... Like, he knew, he believed in the songs and believed in us.

And helped us make the best possible product.

And I think that you could still go back and listen to it, and it's still kinda maybe like puts you back in, you know, your early twenties, and whatever that feels like.

I think that's what it sounds like.

At least to myself, it sounds like, you know the woes of young college kids, you know what I mean?

I never doubted we would be sitting here today, like still doing this, but it is cool to reflect and be like, "Man, that was five years ago."

And you know what I mean?

Like people still listen to that album, are still discovering it.

And that's cool.

I mean, we could have put it out and no one ever heard about it, you know.

And we wouldn't even be, you know what I mean?

We'd all be doing something else.

- It got us on the road.

It got us outside of our bubble.

We're all primarily from the same area in terms of the whole country.

But I mean, it put us to all corners, to Seattle, to New York, to San Diego, to Florida.

And, you know, you learn lessons along the way.

We're a lot more similar than we are different in terms of that.

And that's a good lesson to learn.

Keep in the back of your head when, you know, times like today, you know.

- One of the things you always worry about when you have a record that is a hit, how do you follow that up?

And so we talked about one of the things we wanted to do is we wanted that to almost bloom like a flower.

We wanted them to grow and to open up as time progressed.

And we wanted to make sure that whatever we were doing was better than what we've done in the past.

And now they are just top-notch.

I mean, they're one of those bands that if you're the headliner you better watch out because they're really good.

They might take you down, you know - I think just his attention to detail and just who he is as a person.

He's not, I've never seen him, I've never seen him raise his voice at anybody or get, you know, upset or mad or anything.

He's just a great human being.

And I think that, you know his patience and his musical ability, you know, whether it's even musicianship or behind the board or...

He's a unique and, you know, special man that, you know, I think without him like, I don't think we could've made that record or the others.

- Any of them.

- Yep.

- It wouldn't have been what they are without Scott.

- The guy just goes full send on everything.

Like every conversation you have with him he is engaged and he's excited about it.

Those are hard people to find, man.

- Like, when we did the live stream.

I love watching it back because Scott's in here and you can see them just jamming out the entire time.

Like, that's awesome.

- Scott's, he's the kind of dude that you didn't even have to ask him.

He'll let you know.

He's like, he gave us his blessing.

He's like, "Dude, I want the long-term success of your band."

He's like, if you decide to work with other guys at any time, he's like, "Don't ever think twice about it.

"I care about you guys as individuals.

"And as your band, I love you guys.

"I want the best for you."

So, you know, we just naturally, I think we may have recorded a couple of singles after "Homeland" with Bruce Robinson and stuff and got a feel, we got to record on tape.

We're trying to learn ourselves, you know, in the studio.

And through powers that be, we got connected with, a really good studio in Nashville and a great producer.

And so, you know, Scott had already given us his blessing.

So we just, we're kind of, we're flying and we left the nest, you know.

But I know we'll make more records together.

And he's helped, he's directing art on this new project.

So, I mean, he's still... - He's a part of it.

I feel like he'll be involved in most any project we do in some sort of fashion, whether it just be an opinion or something, you know.

He'll definitely be involved.

- A lifelong mentor.

- Absolutely.

- You know, when you record a young band many times they're not that experienced.

They generally have a really strong aesthetic, and they may have an artistic vision that's really solid, but a lot of times their skill doesn't live up to it.

So you have to do a lot of work on the record to make them sound like they have the skill necessary.

That's something I don't have to do with Flatland.

They have the skill, they walk in, they lay it down.

I mean, they're so phenomenal and they're so dedicated to their craft.

One of the things that I think is really amazing about the entire band, but Cleto in specific is that he never rests on where he's been in the past.

He is constantly striving for excellence.

I've seen him work with other individuals, and he's the last person to leave the stage.

He is the one who is working the hardest.

And that's how you become great.

And they're great now.

And that's just really cool to see.

Lubbock is an amazing proving ground for musicians.

I think one of the incubators in the United States, not just Texas, that actually helps musicians grow and become national level.

And these guys just flat out are.

- I think everything, you know, the amount of years that we spent here with Scott, just everything that we learned from him that day, you know, when we were there, you know, I think it encouraged us not to be nervous.

And we had, you know, Scott there with us.

Like, "Hey, remember that thing I told you back in the day?"

Like," You're gonna be all right."

And I think that's what helped us make this record too?

You know, just having that feeling going back to that.

- Scott told me one time in the studio, because we've all come a long way in our own regards, you know what I mean?

For me, I have no training in singing at all.

It was just something that I, you know.

You know, I want to do it.

I'm like a little rooster, you know, I don't know what I'm doing.

But when it comes to getting in the booth, he calls it the Humble-ator 3000, you know, and it'll cut you down size quickly.

If something's not where it needs to be, you will hear it.

And I remember feeling deflated, like I want to quit.

I suck, you know.

And Scott, he gave me this little quick vocal lesson and like, a light bulb came on.

And then we started to see progress.

And then when I came back in here or something, he was like pointing at me in the chest and he's like, "Don't..." Man, it's gonna choke me up.

But it's crazy, sorry.

You know, he was like, "Dude, don't ever doubt for a second "there's greatness inside of you."

I was like, "Man, that's awesome."

You know, cause some people don't talk like that.

And he might've said, that's just a voice.

It goes through you, it passes and you absorb it.

But maybe that shows up in the studio in Nashville years later when we were like, "No, we do got this, you know.

"Like, we can be great."

And I think this new project, I mean, I've loved everything that you've done.

And I know that's a snapshot of who you were at that time, but I believe that this next project it's our best work that we've done.

You know, as a collective, everyone did a great job.

The engineers and producers, you know, help us make a good project.

But I think that all started here.

- Here.

- This next song is dedicated to anybody that's had to sleep alone during this pandemic.

♪ Counting constellations on the popcorn ceiling ♪ ♪ And staring at your picture on the wall ♪ ♪ Rays of lonely moonlight slowly slice through the blinds ♪ ♪ As the tears begin to fall ♪ ♪ I'm tired of sleeping alone ♪ ♪ I just wanna be where you are ♪ ♪ Tired of saying goodnight through the phone ♪ ♪ And wakin' up each morning in the dark ♪ ♪ Better say a prayer, turn out the light ♪ ♪ Sigh and hug my pillow tight ♪ ♪ I'll be with you soon my dear ♪ ♪ If only in my dreams ♪ ♪ Who am I trying to fool, baby I'm the one to blame ♪ ♪ For the forces keeping us apart ♪ ♪ I'm stubborn and I'm bold ♪ ♪ And work's got me in a stranglehold ♪ ♪ Keepin' a vice around my heart ♪ ♪ Indifference over distance don't fare well ♪ ♪ Maybe a goodnight kiss from you ♪ ♪ Could break me from my spell ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm tired of sleeping alone ♪ ♪ I just wanna be where you are ♪ ♪ Tired of saying goodnight through the phone ♪ ♪ And wakin' up each morning in the dark ♪ ♪ Better say a prayer, turn out the light ♪ ♪ Sigh and hug my pillow tight ♪ ♪ I'll be with you soon my dear ♪ ♪ If only in my dreams ♪ ♪ Ah, here we go again ♪ ♪ Off to never never-land ♪ ♪ So say a prayer, turn out the light ♪ ♪ Sigh and hug my pillow tight ♪ ♪ I'll be with you soon my dear ♪ ♪ If only in my dreams ♪ ♪ Better say a prayer, turn out the light ♪ ♪ Sigh and hug my pillow tight ♪ ♪ I'll be with you soon tonight ♪ ♪ If only in my dreams ♪ Thanks for letting us take you low for a bit of a moment.

Want to play you another song that we released during the pandemic.

Recorded with a man named Bruce Robinson out in Lockhart, Texas for his project "The Next Waltz".

And we had gone in there to do one song and we had some extra time over and had this song in the back pocket, showed it to the band.

They thought it was cool, so we recorded it.

And all this stuff happened in 2020, and we figured it'd be a good time to release it.

And this one's for anyone out there, too, that's just trying to make it through another day.

It's called "War With My Mind".

♪ I feel like a prisoner doing my time ♪ ♪ Behind bars of regret reliving my crimes ♪ ♪ Down in the trenches, at war with my mind ♪ ♪ I'm losing myself and my will to fight ♪ ♪ I'm lost in a maze that ain't got an exit ♪ ♪ I'm stuck in a phase of bad habits I can't quit ♪ ♪ I've run out of faith and I can't see the light ♪ ♪ Down in the trenches at war with my mind ♪ ♪ I can't put my thumb on the hour or day ♪ ♪ When all of the color faded to gray ♪ ♪I turned to pills to get high when the wine lost its taste♪ ♪ To drift through the sadness in a meaningless haze ♪ ♪ I'm lost in a maze that ain't got an exit ♪ ♪ Stuck in a phase of bad habits I can't quit ♪ ♪ I've run out of faith and I can't see the light ♪ ♪ Down in the trenches, at war with my mind ♪ ♪ When you're all out of reason and needing a rhyme ♪ ♪ To the song your heart's singing ♪ ♪ And you can't find the line ♪ ♪ I've come to know all good things come with time ♪ ♪ Keep fighting the battle, the war with your mind ♪ ♪ Keep fighting the battle, the war with your mind ♪ Y'all keep fighting the battle out there.

We're hopefully closer to being on the other side of everything.

And we got time for a couple more songs for you.

Thanks so much for listening to us.

Once more, we're Flatland Cavalry.

Grateful to be back here in Lubbock, Texas in the place where it all began for us.

We would take trips out to a place called College Station, which when you're 22 years old and you get to travel eight hours across the state, it's a pretty magical quest.

Met a lot of beautiful people out there, inside and out.

And this is our little takeaway about the wanderlust that we picked up out there.

♪ Well, I miss College Station ♪ ♪ Them boys were good to me ♪ ♪ Hell, I burned Northgate down ♪ ♪ I been the life of the party ♪ ♪ I seen that 12th man town ♪ ♪ Through a tailgate seat ♪ ♪ The road goes on, I can't stay long ♪ ♪ I got sights to see ♪ ♪ Raised hell in the panhandle ♪ ♪ Lived young, wild, and free ♪ ♪ Northern winds kicked my rear end ♪ ♪ And got the best of me ♪ ♪ Found myself stuck in old Lubbock ♪ ♪ Playin' my songs for free ♪ ♪ But the road goes on, I can't stay long ♪ ♪ I got sights to see ♪ ♪ The miles I traveled down this road ♪ ♪ I still recall the heart I broke ♪ ♪ Guess runnin' away never got me over you ♪ ♪ Oh baby, 'cause the truth ♪ The truth.

♪ Sometimes this road gets lonesome ♪ ♪ And I wonder how you been ♪ ♪ I can't help but think she's probably ♪ ♪ Somewhere better off with him ♪ - She is, man.

♪ But if you ever hear my songs ♪ ♪ And you still love me ♪ ♪ Darlin', hurry home ♪ ♪ We can't stay long, we got sights to see ♪ Like Lubbock, Texas.

♪ I said, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I said, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I said, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I said, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I said, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I said, oh, oh ♪ - Lubbock Lights is such an incredible concert.

You know, it always represents Lubbock with just phenomenal talent, phenomenal songwriting.

And to get to be involved with a band who I dearly love, who are actually dear friends of mine, who I've gotten to see literally from their infancy to stardom.

To be able to work on that project for Lubbock Lights is just a dream come true.

You know, just to be able to record that, and to get to hang out with my friends as well at the same time.

And to really see them strive for excellence and to do that as well.

Yeah, that was an amazing experience to be a part of.

- It's dusty, it's flat.

It's not aesthetically beautiful.

And there's, I think something about that naturally maybe your imagination, you know, maybe it's not enhanced but it wants to, you know bring the beauty out of it and stuff.

I used to write songs in my garage.

And I'd open the garage, and there would be just dusty plains out there.

And I mean, it would, at times it would make me sad.

You know what I mean?

But I think looking at things like that sometimes, too, it does something, it moves something inside of you that, like I said, you want to bring something beautiful to it.

Or this town in particular, I've always viewed it as like a Petri dish of the outpost of, you know the plains.

Because you got like Fort Worth and Houston, all these big cities everywhere.

And this is like, it's got a college, a local radio station, Red Dirt Rebel.

If you get lucky, you know, they'll play your songs.

A place to play them, Blue Light Live.

A studio like Scott's, I mean it's got all the perfect things to, if you want to start a band, write songs, you know, you have all the different things to, you know, pitch them to and people to play for.

You have kids that are bubbling constantly.

- There's an infrastructure for it here in middle of nowhere, if you're thinking for terms of the country, it's pretty isolated.

But at the same time, there's an infrastructure here to help create that growth, which is kind of, it's interesting to find.

- For this year's event, I'm really, really excited about how much it's gonna connect with students at Texas Tech.

You know, Flatland is one of the favorite bands of the students there.

And so I really love the fact that Texas Tech has taken on this young band who are, I mean this is their alma mater.

I mean, this really means a lot to the guys, too, to be able to do this concert.

I just think it's incredible.

And so I'm really thrilled to see a band like that.

That has such a huge following, that'll connect with the fans here in Lubbock.

- Yeah, West Texas is home for sure.

- It's got a place in your heart for sure.

You know, like you may not physically live here anymore but you're always like, whenever you come back through here, it's like most people are like, "What's going on here," you know?

But like we're driving through Avenue X like looking at all the... "I used to... "I had a beer at that house one time."

- Back to normal, like never stops.

We never moved away, like, it's just kinda... You just get used to the grid again.

- It's the same how we left it, I guess.

- It's easy to get around.

- We parked the van here on Friday.

And when we got here, walked out.

And some kids at spring break, they're in the back of a truck like, "Boys are back in town.

"What's up, Flatland?

We're like, "Wait, really?

"This is awesome."

It's definitely home.

- Well, this is our last song for the evening.

Thanks again for listening to us out there.

We're the Flatland Cavalry.

If you haven't already give us a follow @FlatlandCavalry on all our social websites, excluding MySpace, to check out updates for the new record and everything.

But we're gonna play ourselves back home, wherever that is in our minds and wherever it is for you.

This one's called "Stompin' Grounds" right here.

♪ I'm tired of breathing in all this office air ♪ ♪ I need to get back home, feel that sand in my hair ♪ ♪ And when the sun goes down ♪ ♪ I'll come back around ♪ ♪ And if you wanna find me in that old town ♪ ♪ I'll be out in the backyard with the porch light on ♪ ♪ Sipping on a Shiner ♪ ♪ All my friends in the background passing round a guitar ♪ ♪ Around a bonfire ♪ ♪ Drink the night away ♪ ♪ While the radio plays some old Charlie Daniels song ♪ ♪ Oh, you can find me there ♪ ♪ This damn bar, well it still smells the same ♪ ♪ Still filled with the same damn creatures ♪ ♪ Who will never change ♪ Just like me.

♪ And when the sun goes down ♪ ♪ I'll come back around ♪ ♪ And if you wanna find me in my hometown ♪ ♪ I'll be out at the dance hall with the bar lights on ♪ ♪ Sipping on a Shiner ♪ ♪ Old flame in the background staring me down ♪ ♪ She know I don't mind her ♪ ♪ Drink the night away ♪ ♪ While the DJ plays some old Waylon Jennings song ♪ ♪ Oh, you can find me there ♪ ♪ You can find me there ♪ ♪ And someday, I'll move on ♪ ♪ And when I do, put on your damn boots ♪ ♪ Dance on my headstone ♪ ♪ Bring a bottle of Tennessee for two ♪ ♪ I'll be pushin' up daisies just for you ♪ ♪ You can find me there ♪ ♪ You can find me there ♪ ♪ You can find me there ♪ ♪ I ain't goin' nowhere ♪ ♪ And when the sun goes down ♪ ♪ I'll come back around ♪ ♪ You and I will be two-steppin' in ♪ ♪ Our old stompin' grounds ♪ ♪ Our old stompin' grounds ♪ ♪ Our old stompin' grounds, yeah ♪ Get on down one more time, come on.

(energetic country music) (energetic country music continues) (upbeat country music)