Lubbock Lights (2003)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Directors:

Amy Maner
George Sledge

Writers:

Amy Maner (writer)
George Sledge (writer)

Release Date:

15 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Lubbock Lights Documentary Captures Humor and Mystique of West Texas Music, from Buddy Holly to the Flatlanders

Cast

Terry Allen	...	Himself
David Byrne	...	Himself
Legendary Stardust Cowboy	...	Himself
Texana Dames	...	Herself
Joe Ely	...	Himself
Jimmie Dale Gilmore	...	Himself
Butch Hancock	...	Himself
Tommy Hancock	...	Himself
Buddy Holly	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lloyd Maines	...	Himself
Natalie Maines	...	Herself
Roy Orbison	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jesse Taylor	...	Himself

Runtime:

USA:80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

289 Films

A little short on context

The Flatlanders were a group of young Lubbock musicians who came formed a band in the early 1970s. They made one record (not released until much later) and went their separate ways, but later become semi-famous, making their inadvertent supergroup a retrospective legend. 'Lubbock Lights' tells their story, and also that of a few other Lubbock musicians, although rather oddly makes almost no mention of their most famous forebear, Buddy Holly. There's also little old footage (I guess because the Flatlanders really were so obscure that no-one had filmed them) nor any serious attempt to put them into their musical context: it's not even mentioned that Butch Hancock, for example, was the principal songwriter of the group, nor is there any discussion of the musical saw played by Steve Wesson (though at least we get to see him play it). Still, for those who love the music, it's a welcome opportunity to see it on film. Those who don't might still be left wondering.