Leaving, Tx

Gripping vocals, intelligent lyrics, and songs filled with memorable hooks are what you will find with Leaving,TX. This original alt.country outfit delivers a clever blend of cutting edge twang-rock mixed with a healthy dose of country.

The music is driven by songwriter Chris Pattersons rugged, in your face, vocal style, ripping telecasters and sweet pedal steel all anchored by a tight, driving rhythm section. This powerful group of musicians makes Pattersons songs really shine.

Formed in late 2004 by songwriter Chris Patterson and bassist Garry Cecil, Leaving, TX has rapidly come to life in the "Americana" music scene. Patterson is a self-taught musician who after leaving the jam-band Grooved Pavement spent the next 18 months studying and writing. During this time he spent many nights on the local singer-songwriter circuit finding out which songs were working with the audience. After a visit to Austin, TX he came back with the desire to finally build the band that would showcase his music.

Patterson soon contacted bass player Garry Cecil and played several of the new tunes for him. The magic was immediate and the two set out to find the rest of the band. Thor Smith was soon brought in to fill the role of drummer, having done the same in Pattersons former band. After several auditions with guitarists, Andrew Buhler showed up on the bands doorstep and after one song together, he was brought into the mix and given his own keys to the city.

Chris Patterson vocals, acoustic and electric guitars. The bands songwriter is a native of Iowa although he has called sixteen cities home over the past twenty years. Patterson received his first guitar at the age of 8 but claims he didnt learn to play it until he was 30. He carries with him very strong Irish roots and spends a couple weeks each year in Ireland seeking out music and his ancestry. His songwriting is strongly influenced by Tim Easton, Jon Dee Graham, The Waterboys, and Hank Williams. In the past Patterson has performed abroad in both Ireland and Scotland. Additionally, he has played a showcase during SXSW Music Conference in Austin, TX and performed "In the Round" at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

Garry Cecil - bass and backing vocals. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Cecil was raised in the wee village of Corstorphine. He was raised on British music but when he arrived in America he soon became schooled by Hendrix, Zappa, and Capt. Beefheart. This eventually led Cecil to the country rock movement and later to bluegrass. It was a trip back to Scotland that had him dive head first into the punk/new wave scene. He has played in numerous bands over the years, Non- Dairy Creamers, Gunpoint Affection, and The Swinging Richards, and most recently the highly regarded Primitive Mind, opening for such greats as BB King, Lunasa, Junior Brown, and Doc Watson.

Thor Smith- drums. Smith is a native of Halden, Norway. He started drum lessons in the first grade and played his first professional gig at twelve years old. After a few years in a Hawaiian show band, Smith moved to New York in the early eighties with an original new wave outfit called Ice Nine. He then spent almost six years with the DC group The Smash Band. Semi-retired from music he was coaxed back into the scene after meeting Chris Patterson and getting hooked on his draft beer at rehearsals and original tunes.

Andrew Buhler - electric and pedal steel guitars. Buhler is a proud native of Miami, Florida. He started fooling around with the guitar after his father bought him an LP of Hendrixs Smash Hits at age 10. From Miami to Japan to Cuba, hes been tormenting his family and friends with the instrument ever since.