The Tea Merchants

The Tea Merchants were formed a few years ago (2002, I think it was) by Chris, Charlie, and Rob as a method by which to procure grocery money and a free evening tab at the bar. The name of the group comes from a certain evening when Chris was asked by the local music newspaper what the name of the act was. Chris, having thought the matter through carefully, suggested that the name of the group was "The Boys of the Town". Rob, reacting to the possible implications of the name, reminded Chris that the local Austin fraternal establishment "The Boyz Cellar" was located just across from where the regular Tuesday gig occurred and that the association of names might result in legal matters of copyright infringement. So, struggling to think something up, Chris chose the moniker "Delaney's Tea Merchants" (which was then shortened to just "Tea Merchants" due to limited print space for unknown acts in the music newspaper) because the name had nothing to do with anything at all. Since the little group got together, they have played nearly 200 gigs in just under 3 years and have had their band name painted in golden letters on the wall at the bar.