December 10th, 2009
Beaumonts to play benefit at Triple Crown

The Beaumonts, appearing at Triple Crown,  are not “alien” to good music.

By HAP MANSFIELD
Scene Editor

Back in 1951, a v-shaped formation of lights was seen hovering over Lubbock. The sighting was not just reported by folks who’d had a few too many Lone Stars out in the backyard, but also was seen by highly respected science professors at Texas Tech.

The lights were photographed and the pictures appeared in Life magazine. The Air Force said the alleged UFO’s were night-flying moths or birds whose undersides reflected the lights of the city. That explanation calls for a mighty big moth.

The origin of the lights is still a mystery, but is interesting to note that after this time music began to flow from Lubbock. The musicians who have called Lubbock home read like a who’s who of rock and country and include such luminaries as Buddy Holly, Delbert McClinton, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock  Joe Ely, Mac Davis, Terry Allen, Lloyd Maines and daughter, Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines, and a band that will be in San Marcos Saturday, The Beaumonts.

What is known about the Beaumonts, anyway, is that they are a rowdy raucus group of Texas musicians out to play country music and keep Honky-Tonk alive. Saturday, they will do that and something more at their third annual Christmas Show and Honky Tonk Food Drive at Triple Crown, 206 North Edward Gary.

The food drive benefits the Hays County Food Bank, and a donation of non-perishable food items or cash will enter you into a drawing for prizes, including a tandem skydive, an electric guitar, a tattoo, meals from participating restaurants, music, clothing and more. The prizes could be said to be “out of this world, ” even.

The event is sponsored by Triple Crown, Skydive San Marcos, Mazak Music, Green Guy Recycling, Vagabond Vintage Clothing, 1836 Ink, Dizzy Tee Designs, Zen’s Pizza Bistro, Arclight Records, and Chuy’s.

So are the Beaumonts influenced by the radiation that came from those “lights” or are they just energetic and big-hearted country musicians? They certainly are UFOs, Unusually Fun Originals.