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“Shit-kicking honky-tonk… Leaving, TX bristles with raw emotional energy.” – Raleigh Independent

"Compared favorably to Drive By Truckers, Reckless Kelly, and Steve Earle… And not without good cause.” - Maverick Magazine

"One of the strongest contenders to emerge on the alt.country scene in years" - Ontap Magazine

Gripping vocals, intelligent lyrics, and songs filled with memorable hooks are what you will find with the LEAVING, TX. This original alt.country outfit delivers a clever blend of cutting edge “twang-rock” mixed with a healthy dose of raw, whiskey-soaked country. The band is driven by songwriter Chris Patterson's 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 allow Patterson's songs to really shine.

Formed in late 2004 the band’s songs about life, love, and the bottle have caused this DC-based quartet to gain regional, national, and international attention. Their debut CD "100 Miles to Sunday" was released in January of 2006 and quickly rose to 8 on the Euro-Americana Charts. In April of 2007 the band released "Anywhere on Good Roads", the bands sophomore effort, which quickly climbed to 8 on the Freeform American Roots Charts in the US and 11 on the Euro-Americana Charts. The bands third CD “Late Getting’ Started” is scheduled to be on the shelves on March 31st, 2009.

As good as the albums are, where the band really shines is with their high-energy live performances. With over 50 original songs and a couple dozen covers, LEAVING, TX has quite an array of music to choose from in order to entertain any audience. They are just as comfortable in a dirty old honky-tonk as they are before a stadium crowd. Don’t be surprised if during a live show you hear a Johnny Cash, Drive By Trucker, or Ozzy Osbourne tune wedged in between several of the band’s originals. In the first few years they not only headlined too many venues and festivals to count but have served as an opening act for such acts as Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Emerson Drive, and Marshall Crenshaw… Just to name a few.

The “Boys” of LEAVING, TX are…

Chris Patterson - vocals, acoustic and electric guitars. The band’s songwriter is a native of Iowa although he has called sixteen cities home over the past twenty years. Patterson was deeply influenced by the music scene in Austin, TX… Enough so that the name “LEAVING, TX” is a tribute to that city.

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.

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. 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.

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 the LP, Jimi Hendrix Smash Hits at age 10. From Miami to Japan to Cuba, he’s been tormenting his family and friends with the instrument ever since.