PMP Records

Texas Radio and the Big Beat have been together, off and on, for over twenty years. In the beginning, after playing at most venues in Newcastle NSW and spending time in studios in both Newcastle and Sydney, their tune ‘Wasteaway’ was featured on the Cat in A Hat compilation album. This compilation was released here in Australia through 2NURFM and played on college radio in the United States. The Groove Entertainment Guide gave the band their first review. They wrote that "surprise newcomers Texas Radio and The Big Beat wowed us with their tune ‘Wasteaway’." Wayne Hindson from Concrete Press called Texas Radio "great new local talent. Coming across relatively unknown gems was the highlight for me. Their pop melodies were refreshing in this age of heavy guitar rock."

Texas Radio then released their first full-length self-titled album in 1997 on the independent label, PMP Records. It was also very well received. Chad Watson’s review from The Newcastle Herald was typical. He wrote that "it was a relief to hear sublime pop instrumentation from solid players. The album opens with ‘Wasteaway’, a haunting song that smacks of urban reggae. ‘Hope and Glory’ oozes with gorgeous keyboards while my favourite, ‘Temptation’, was built on moving lyrics and a diverse base of splendid guitar work. An impressive debut album." Greg Cormack from Concrete Press also wrote a glowing review: "Texas Radio bring relatively simple arrangements to life with terrific energy. Highlights are many. It has lots of fun, a lot of feeling and I could only be more impressed if there was actually someone who didn't like something about this record. Seek this album out." Anthony Scully from the That's Entertainment/The Post newspaper rang to say simply that “I've got it on right now. Bloody Excellent!"

The band then undertook a series of short tours from Sydney through to the North Coast to promote the album and in the process they landed support slots with bands like The Saints and Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes. Texas Radio performed at all major venues in Newcastle including Fannies and the iconic Cambridge Hotel but their favourite place for live shows was always the Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, across the railroad tracks in Wickham. Mickie Rumble, music journalist and reviewer for Uturn street press, was enthusiastic about the live gigs they played there, while others, such as Kim Honan, who was writing for the Oz Music Project at the time, reviewed one of their Sydney shows at the Bat & Ball. "If I wasn't already impressed by Texas Radio and the Big Beat via their first CD, experiencing their music live sure as hell cemented it. The line-up included memorable tracks, 'Satisfaction', 'Wonder Why' and 'Wasteaway'. The switch of vocals between guitarist Phil McIntyre and bassist Joe Williams was intriguing and the instrumentals by McIntrye, mesmerising. New tracks like 'Juicy Flirt' left us believing the new CD, due for release next month, may well surpass the stature of their first. The trio, including drummer Dave Carruthers, have a unique musicianship matching the likes of Midnight Oil. A great cover of The Stones' 'Can't Always Get What You Want' ended the set."

In the process of recording and playing live Texas Radio accumulated an extensive media file, including these press clippings, plus television stories with Prime TV, radio interviews and live to air performances (2NURFM, Austereo station NXFM, 2BOBFM and NEW FM). Their songs received regular airplay on internet based ILR radio with tracks being played in Europe, the USA and Australia. After releasing ‘NASA (Be Informed)’ as a Christmas single and video in 2002, ‘Paris Island’, a song featured on Texas Radio’s self-titled album, went to number one on the ILR Radio ‘Aussie’ charts in 2004. The Radio's, as they have become affectionately known, have just released their second album, Everything's Okay, on PMP Records. Joe Velikovsky, who is also a successful screen writer and games designer is known as JoeTV. He is on bass and vocals. Dave Carruthers, who plays various sessions around town and practices law in his spare time, is on drums. Phillip McIntyre, who is also known as Dr Phil, has a long history in the music industry and is on guitar and vocals.