New York, NY · emo · post-hardcore

Texas is the Reason

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One of emo's foundational bands, gone almost as fast as they arrived — glassy guitars and yearning restraint. A reunion set that carries real historical weight.

Texas is the Reason formed in New York City in 1994 when guitarist Norman Brannon, formerly of Shelter, and drummer Chris Daly, formerly of 108, set out to leave behind the macho attitude and religious preaching of their earlier hardcore bands. Bassist Scott Winegard, previously of Fountainhead, joined next, and vocalist and guitarist Garrett Klahn, who had played in the Buffalo bands Copper and Support, completed the lineup. The band's name came from Van Pelt frontman Chris Leo, who had considered it for his own group, and it doubles as a nod to a conspiracy theory about the Kennedy assassination.

The band softened its hardcore roots into ringing, melodic guitar lines and restrained, emotive vocals, becoming one of the reference points for mid-1990s emo. Major labels were reportedly interested from their first show, but the band instead signed a two-album deal with the independent label Revelation Records.

Their self-titled 1995 EP made them an underground phenomenon and was followed by a split single with Samuel. The 1996 album Do You Know Who You Are?, produced by Jawbox's J. Robbins, drew further major-label attention and was followed by a split single with the Promise Ring on Jade Tree; its title referenced John Lennon's last words, and several song titles nodded to Kennedy-assassination theories.

On the eve of signing to Capitol Records in 1997, tension inside the band came to a head during a European tour, and the final show, in Bielefeld, Germany, ended the group after roughly three years together. Klahn went on to form New Rising Sons and later Solea with Serge Lobokoff, while Daly started Jets to Brazil with Blake Schwartzenbach. The band has reunited for shows on several occasions since, including brief spells in 2006, 2012 to 2013, and again in 2025.

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emopost-hardcore