Formation, Do You Know Who You Are? and break-up (1994–97) Norman Brannon (a.k.a. Norm Arenas), guitarist for
Krishnacore band
Shelter, formed Texas Is the Reason with friend and fellow
Krishna devotee Chris Daly (formerly of
108) in New York City. Both wished to forgo the macho attitude and religious preaching of their former projects. Ex-Fountainhead member Scott Winegard (bass) was the next to join, after which guitarist and vocalist Garrett Klahn (formerly of Buffalo-based bands Copper and Support) was recruited to round out the quartet. The band's name was suggested by
The Van Pelt frontman Chris Leo, who informed them that the Van Pelt had considered naming themselves "Texas Is the Reason", taken from the
Misfits song "
Bullet". Brannon has also said that the band signed the deal "thinking the majors would back off, but then they basically started trying to make offers to buy Revelation." Produced by
Jawbox's J.Robbins and released on
Revelation Records, the album drew considerable attention from major labels. This resulted from Texas Is the Reason being pegged as "the next big thing," due to the growing
punk explosion on
MTV. Song titles from the album, such as "The Magic Bullet Theory" and "Back and to the Left" were further allusions to various
Kennedy assassination theories. On the eve of signing with
Capitol Records in 1997, the band flew overseas for a European tour. At this stage, the reality of being on a major label had caused considerable tension within the band. Before their final tour stop in
Bielefeld, Germany, Daly and Brannon agreed that if the show was "awesome", it would be their last. As Brannon later recalled, "I walked on stage and we opened with 'Antique' and when Garrett started singing, there were eight hundred Germans singing along with us. I looked at Daly and knew that this was over."
Post-break-up and reunions (1998–present) The former members headed off to various musical projects, with Klahn forming New Rising Sons (1998) and Solea (2001) with Serge Lobokoff of
Samiam. Daly concurrently started indie outfit
Jets to Brazil with
Blake Schwartzenbach of
Jawbreaker. Winegard played in the band Americans, and began releasing various bands' records through an imprint label he co-owns called GrapeOS. The only member to go inactive in the world of
indie rock was guitarist Norman Brannon, who moved to Chicago and worked as a
DJ for almost three years. Winegard and Brannon joined Charlie Walker of
Chamberlain and Jonah Matranga of
Far and
Onelinedrawing to form the band
New End Original, which lasted from 2000 to 2003. Klahn's New Rising Sons released two EPs through GrapeOS, and later signed to
Virgin Records. They disbanded after being dropped by the label, but reformed in 2008. Klahn now plays in the band Atlantic/Pacific with John Herguth of House & Parish. Daly left the now-defunct
Jets to Brazil sometime after their 2002 release,
Perfecting Loneliness. After nine years apart, Texas Is the Reason decided to mark the tenth anniversary of
Do You Know Who You Are by reuniting for a single show at New York City's
Irving Plaza on November 25, 2006. The show sold out quickly, resulting in the addition of a second show on the following night. In interviews leading up to the reunion, the band noted their long-time disappointment at not playing a final show in their home city. They also insisted that the reunion shows were a one-time event, and said there were no plans for additional shows: "While we empathize with everyone who wants to come to the show, but can't come for any reason, this will not become a tour and we are not reforming the band. That is as clear a statement as anyone can make." Winegard, along with members of other emo bands, formed House & Parish in June 2007. In January 2012, it was announced that
Revelation Records would be holding a 25th anniversary celebration at The Glass House in
Pomona, California. The event was scheduled for July of the same year. The band members had been approached about the possibility of another reunion, but ultimately refused. Nonetheless, Daly traveled to California for the anniversary show (which featuring a reunited
Quicksand), and later expressed excitement about the prospect of another reunion for Texas is the Reason. The band then agreed to headline the opening night of Revelation's east coast event in October 2012, at New York's
Irving Plaza. Tickets sold out immediately after going on sale, so a second night was added at the
Music Hall of Williamsburg. Daly was quoted as saying, "It's like we have this really cool old car that's in really great shape…it's not built for, like, a cross-country trip, but it's good to take out and drive around the neighborhood." and a memorial concert for
Jon Bunch. File:13-04-27 Groezrock Texas 03.jpg|Garrett Klahn, 2013 File:13-04-27 Groezrock Texas 07.jpg|Scott Winegard, 2013 File:13-04-27 Groezrock Texas 10.jpg| Norman Brannon, 2013 Texas is the Reason reunited again in 2025. However, guitarist Norman Brannon said he would not be participating, because of negative associations he had with being a closeted gay man during the band's existence in the 1990s. ==Band members==