THIS TOWN…
3-8-2007

I love Victoria. I’ve spent many a year growing up here and have watched it grow from a small town into a medium sized city. I will always call it home no matter what.
Long ago playing on the streets, in the woods, around the creeks and rivers, ponds, there was a sense of forever. You know that feeling when you’re young. You feel as if time is standing still and the days of fun will last an eternity. There certainly were many things to be thankful for back then. The crime rate was fairly low and there were no gangs or rampant drug problems. With hunting, fishing and horseback riding I can honestly say it was heaven. Those tasked with raising me kept me fed and clothed well. My mind was always challenged intellectually and whatever hobbies I gravitated to were encouraged with much enthusiasm.
When I eventually picked up the guitar as a hobby the city was well on its way to what it is now and it grows still larger every year. By the early seventies there were small gangs and their skirmishes, drugs were beginning to be a problem. I fell into that seedy world somewhat and languished in my own little dream-world for the next few years. Like the textbooks say, I started with pot. Years later I got into harder things and crashed my life almost into the grave.
I look back these days often and remember most of what I went thru. I see now how so much of my problems were my own fault. When you have to re-invent yourself you first try to hold onto a lot of the old “you”. Once you finish with yourself you realize how stupid that attempt was. The things you left behind were worthless to begin with. I miss my kids and that’s about it.
Geographically, this city is a true “crossroads”. Lying between Houston and Corpus Christi, it sits in the prime position where people from all over pass thru day to day. I’ve watched tour buses of great bands go by and longed to live a life on the road like they do. Too many artists to name here have appeared in Victoria. Some of my heroes even. It’s sad to say but I’ve only been to one concert my entire life. Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica at the Summit in Houston, (The name of the place has since changed). The Ultimate Sin and Master Of Puppets were the albums they were touring for respectively.
Music is a large part of my life. It has always carried me thru both good times and bad times. In the end, it’s the only thing that I feel is a guaranteed constant. I watched many local bands perform in battles and at clubs or dance halls. Most of them however played cover tunes. It was nice to hear my favorite songs done so well live, but I always wanted to hear new and original music from them. Money was the driving force behind what they were doing. In this day and age I understand their reasons for being cover bands. People want to hear the music of big well known names. Original artist stand little or no chance of getting ahead. It’s no fault of the artists. They do what they have to in order to make a living. I don’t write hit songs, I just like to write songs.
In the early 80s I got together with high-school friends and formed LEGASYS. We practiced a few cover tunes but wrote mostly originals and played a few parties as well as one large show at the Riverside Convention Center. It was a wedding/birthday party and we went on last. It was great to see the youth of Victoria engaged in a triple looped mosh! The spectacle, which I will never forget was cut short by individuals misunderstanding of what was going on. Two people I will not name here began to toss bodies out of the crowd thinking it was a fight. After we rigged down many of the kids approached us to offer their thanks for a great show and wanted to know where we’d be playing next. I wish we could have ridden that wave into history. As it turned out that was the pinnacle of the career for LEGASYS. The pats on the back and the enthusiastic accolades echo strongly in my mind to this day.
It’s been about 25 years since I stood on a stage. Come March 22 of this year I may have that privilege once again. The place will be the Forum Club on Red River. I won’t be with a band but I will be in good company. I’ll be on guitar performing with Jesse DeLAO on an original song of his. I’m eager to do this and feel the power between stage and crowd once more. Wish me luck and come to see us if you can make it.
Jesse DeLaO runs A.O.G. MEDIA. He has a series of COMPILATION CDs that he puts out. These amazing discs contain music from artists of several genres and from many countries around the world. In my dealings with these people I have had nothing but respect and friendships that are always worth the time it takes to keep in touch. Networking and swapping ideas, working on music together even at long distances, is a fulfilling part of my experience with A.O.G. MEDIA. Mr. DeLaO is a great and very hardworking friend who in my eyes and heart is nothing less than priceless. Few in this city give him the respect he deserves. That situation has never stopped him from driving his dreams to fruition. In a stint away from LEGASYS I joined BOIS D’ ARK. It was a great learning experience and to this day I regret not being able to stay in that band. The mixture of covers and originals was comfortable to me. That was a great gig even though I could not stay for personal reasons.
Times change and so do people. There is a new wave of music from off the beaten-to- death-path of the mainstream. Many are downloading it across all genres all over the world-wide-web. You now reading this may even be one of the fans of many of these artists. 99 cents a song is cheap but the power of the music that moves you is priceless. Seek it and you will find good music. By a song or a CD to let them know their music is being heard. I’m one of them. I don’t want your money but I do crave your ears. If a song moves you or touches you at a critical point in life, don’t let it slip by. Add it to your collection. Share it with friends. Blast it to your enemies. Every song tells a story. Take the time to close your eyes and see the movie. Jesse and I, as well as all the artists we are working with have our many varied stories to tell. We hope you find some time in your hearts to listen. Disappointing you is not an option nor will it ever be our intent.
I grew up with this town. I grew up with music. What better way to grow old, enjoying both.
Jose’ Diaz