Chris Morris profile picture

Chris Morris

Chris Morris and the Holdup Band

About Me


Small town fun...come out and see Chris Morris at the Creedmore Mayfest w/ Jon Burklund May 3rd!


It’s Saturday night and you’re walking along the Drag, trying to shake off the responsibilities of the work week behind you, when you realize that all you really need is a cold beer and a good beat to tap your foot to. The beer you can find most anywhere, but the music all sounds the same these days, and it’s been awhile since you’ve heard something that really moved you, excited you. Then all of a sudden the wind picks up. You detect the faint smell of gunpowder. From a dive just up ahead you hear bass and drums, working in tandem like a freight train engine; the plinking of ivory piano keys and the cry of a bow across the strings of a fiddle like something out of an old western; and over it all the sound of…screaming distorted guitar?The music compels you to walk through the swinging saloon doors that just seconds ago you could have sworn were 21st century glass. The scene before you is a roaring crowd jumping and dancing with reckless abandon toward the stage where the singer stands among the band, his words pouring out through the speakers like the last wishes of a condemned madman. You know the song, but you’ve never heard it like this. Your heart pounds; your body moves unconsciously with the music. Then you hear gunfire and the sound of horses in the street—for a brief moment you try to regain sanity and turn to run, only to find yourself staring down the barrels of two cocked pistols. Only then do you realize you won’t be leaving anytime soon. You’ve become part of the music. You’ve just been HELD UP.
Chris Morris and the HoldUp Band hail from Bastrop, Texas and have been keeping the dance floors and barrooms of Central Texas alive and kicking with their blend of traditional and Texas country, rock, blues, and Americana since May of 2006. Mike Dozier knocks out an unstoppable rhythm on the skins, while John Nunley provides the hearbeat of the band on bass guitar with his unique blend of country, funk and jazz finger work. Jack Meyer masters the lead guitar with riffs that go from subtle and swinging to loud and in your face, and Carson Stephens brings years of classically trained expertise as the keyboard and brass player. On some nights, Vinnie “Bean” Garbonzo shares the spotlight with the band with his unmistakable fiddle and slide guitar performances. The band is led by singer/songwriter and rhythm guitar player Chris Morris, whose dynamic stage presence and strong, heartfelt vocals deliver one of the most energetic and unforgettable performances you will see on the Texas scene. See what the fuss is about. Get Held Up.
Wanna hear soothing acoustic songs in a quiet, relaxed setting? With simple lyrics that numb your mind and melodies that soothe you to sleep? THEN LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE. But if you want to be completely entertained without all the noise of a live band, and get the chance to hear the songs performed the way they were meant to be heard--by the songwriters themselves, then come out and enjoy an evening with Chris Morris and Jon Burklund at one of their acoustic duo shows. 2 guys + 2 cowboy hats + 2 guitars = a good time had by all.
Click here to visit Jon's Myspace Page
Come See Us Playing At:
Hill's Cafe in Austin, Texas
Star of Texas Rodeo in Austin, Texas
Cindy's Gone Hog Wild outside Austin, Texas
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe in Austin, Texas
Genuine Oyster Bar in Bastrop, Texas
ColoVista Country Club and Golf Course in Bastrop, Texas
Dirty Dog Bar on 6th Street in Austin, Texas
Ross' Old Austin Cafe in Austin, Texas
Roper's in Sealy, Texas
Texas South in Pleasanton, Texas
Louie's Backyard in South Padre, Texas
.."Myspace Editors" style="position:absolute; left:0px; top: 0px;" border="0" For Booking and Information, contact Chris at: 936-522-6124 Send us an email at [email protected] or just click HERE Click HERE to join our Email List and Subscribe to our Newsletter!
(Or you can send an email to [email protected] with "Newsletter" in the subject line.)
You'll get information before anyone else about upcoming shows, news, songs, and stories from the road. And everyone on the email list will have the chance to get free tickets, CDs and merchandise! Plus it helps spread the word about your friendly neighborhood starving singer/songwriter. This deal is so good it should be illegal.
(Just for the record, we will NEVER use your email address for spam, give it away or sell it to anyone, period. That's just wrong, dude.).."position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px" alt="MySpace Layouts"

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/19/2006
Band Members:

NAME: Chris Morris
INSTRUMENT: Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar and Harmonica
SPECIALTIES: Jumping up and down and breaking things
OFFSTAGE DUTIES: Flirting and wandering aimlessly
BEVERAGE: Jim and Coke
NAME: Mike Dozier
INSTRUMENT: Drums
SPECIALTIES: Counting to 4 and throwing sticks
OFFSTAGE DUTIES: Finding the beer and giving golf tips
BEVERAGE: Miller Light
NAME: John Nunley
INSTRUMENT: Bass Guitar and Background Vocals
SPECIALTIES: Slapping strings and exotic dancing
OFFSTAGE DUTIES: Finding the bathroom and attracting intoxicated women
BEVERAGE: Dos Equis Amber
NAME: Jack Meyer
INSTRUMENT: Lead Guitar and Background Vocals
SPECIALTIES: Blowing up equipment and chain smoking
OFFSTAGE DUTIES: Backing up the trailer and fighting drunks
BEVERAGE: Bud Light
NAME: Carson Stephens
INSTRUMENT: Keyboards, Horns and Harmony Vocals
SPECIALTIES: Playing 12 things at once and keeping it old school
OFFSTAGE DUTIES: Finding the escape exit and Spiritual Guidance
BEVERAGE: Diet Rite
NAME: Vinnie Garbonzo
INSTRUMENT: Fiddle, Slide Guitar and Harmony Vocals
SPECIALTIES: Turning heads and head banging
OFFSTAGE DUTIES: Finding the food and cord sorting
BEVERAGE: Whatever's free
Influences: Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, KEVIN FOWLER, 60's Hippie music, CORY MORROW, random jam sessions, ROGER CREAGER, South Texas brush, ROBERT EARL KEEN, random strangers, GARTH BROOKS, heartache, hearbreak, and heartburn, ALABAMA, dirt roads and forgotten trails, JON BURKLUND, the allmighty dollar, OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, coldbeer, RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, Cormac McCarthy, JOHNNY CASH, Rockabilly music, ELVIS PRESLEY, cowgirls, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, Jim Beam, NIRVANA, 50's and 60's soul and R&B, DWIGHT YOAKUM, ex-girlfriends, THE BEATLES, Texas scenery, PINK FLOYD, anger, AEROSMITH, weeds, BLACK SABBATH, sex, COUNTING CROWS, Montana winters, GUY CLARK, long-haired hippie chicks, TOWNES VAN ZANDT, dancehalls, CHARLIE ROBISON, girls girls and more girls, GILLIAN WELCH, 50's Rock N' Roll, NEIL YOUNG, my Mom, friends, family, the number 19, and life, the universe, and everything.
Sounds Like: The HEART of a Robert Earl Keen story, The PASSION of a Garth Brooks high note, The DEPTH of a Kris Kristofferson memory, and the ROWDINESS of a Kevin Fowler front row. But most of all, Chris Morris sounds like HIMSELF, doing what he loves most--making music and tearing it up with the crowd.
Record Label: What's that?
Type of Label: None

My Blog

BIG THINGS IN 2008! (NEW!)

Well, so far, 2008 has gotten off to a great start.  *We played at the brand spankin' new and improved Roper's Dancehall in Sealy to a packed house. *Every time we play at Cindy's Gone Hog Wild ...
Posted by Chris Morris on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:45:00 PST

Chris Morris World Tour 2007!

Hey Gang! It's official...the first ever, outstanding, collosal, ground-breaking, sweat-stained, beer-soaked Chris Morris and the HoldUp Band World Tour has begun! And landies and gentlemen, we're off...
Posted by Chris Morris on Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:48:00 PST

Thinking about the Year to Come....

Wow, ya'll.  Another year has passed.  One year's worth of time, and a lifetime full of experiences.  In this year I relocated to Austin, I grew a pair and started playing open mic nig...
Posted by Chris Morris on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 08:27:00 PST

Good News!

Hey Gang!Thanks once again for checking out the site.  It's been a long time coming, but I finally got my hands on a portable home recording system (a Boss BR-1180 CD for anyone who's interested)...
Posted by Chris Morris on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:17:00 PST

Success!

Great News! The show out at ColoVista Country Club was a huge success.  The staff really went out of their way to create a really cool and relaxing atmosphere and made everyone feel at home. ...
Posted by Chris Morris on Sun, 16 Jul 2006 02:25:00 PST

Band News, or "Where are you guys playing?"

First of all I'd like to thank all those people who have dropped by to check out the site and who have come back again and again to check out new stuff or leave comments.  As mainstream as MySpac...
Posted by Chris Morris on Sun, 07 May 2006 05:01:00 PST

"Lord Don't the Wheels Turn Slow"

To quote that fantastic song of Alan Jackson's about chasin' that neon rainbow and livin' that honkey tonk dream, the line "lord don't the wheels turn slow" sums up what it's like to be an indepe...
Posted by Chris Morris on Sat, 08 Apr 2006 02:00:00 PST

Welcome Y'all!

Hello all!  Welcome the the site.  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends who have supported me and my music thus far, and I'd also like to give out big thanks to those wh...
Posted by Chris Morris on Sat, 25 Mar 2006 10:05:00 PST