[jpsb]

"There's plenty of bands out there playing their own songs from the ground up"

Maybe in college towns or big cities, but not out here in the rural east texas. The one local band from this area ZZ Top played cover tunes too, when getting started.

[Huck]

That's your problem. U2 didn't hit it big in east texas either. that's what big cities are for.

[elfman2]

" The one local band from this area ZZ Top played cover tunes too, when getting started. "

Janis Joplin and the Winter Brothers are also from that area. (I’m from Beaumont.)