When Capt. Randolph Marcy, one of the first Anglo explorers to happen onto the site of modern-day Lubbock, arrived, he was something less than impressed. "It was the dreaded Llano Estacado," he wrote, "a land where no man, either savage or civilized, permanently abides a treeless, desolate waste of uninhabited solitude, which has always been and must continue uninhabited forever."Certainly, Marcy would be in for a shock if he were able to see Lubbock today: a city of about 200,000, the home of a major university in Texas Tech, and the economic and cultural center of the surrounding South Plains. Self-labeled as "the nursery" for Austin's music scene, its musical heritage is legendary: Buddy Holly still reigns as the local king, but Tanya Tucker, Waylon Jennings, and Natalie Maines (of the Dixie Chicks) have also called the city home.Named after Col. Thomas Lubbock, a Confederate officer, Lubbock was established in 1890 and grew rapidly, its economy built on cotton and cattle, and, later, oil and gas. The city has long been a regional hub; hence the nickname, "Hub City." Look at a map and the moniker's appropriateness becomes crystal clear: Lubbock is surrounded by dozens of small agricultural towns.A bit rough around the edges, Lubbock is a fun stopover for a night because of its lively dining scene, college-town vibe, and happening nightlife with plenty of good music.