hai tex:

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Formed in Oak Cliff in 1984 by NTSU graduates, Andy Chiles, Rex Bozarth and Jim Flowers, hai tex began playing regionally as a trio using early MIDI computer (Commodore 64) sequenced drums and synthesizers. While the name did evoke an appropriate “high tech” image, hai tex was actually named after a friend observed Japanese tourists at the State Fair of Texas admiring the giant cowboy icon, Big Tex. Early band gigs included art parties, the Stoneleigh P, and very early Deep Ellum venues, Prophet Bar, Theatre Gallery, and Club Clearview. A six-song EP was released on Carl Finch’s (Brave Combo) Four Dots Records in 1985. For this recording at Inside Track Studio in Denton, the trio was joined by drummer Doug Frantz (Schwantz Lefantz) and engineer/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Wren. During this time, the band also produced two music videos, Communication in the 80s and Private Dick which aired nationally on the VEU and Preview networks. In 1985, the (New York) Village Voice described Communication in the 80s as “…a real jerky video.”

Early in 1986, the trio expanded to a quintet with additions of drummer Tim Benton and Jeff Wren. Moving into an old storefront in Oak Cliff, band members along with friend, Derek Carroll, opened hai tex studio and began recording. The band established a following, playing regularly at Club Dada, 500 Café, Nick’s Uptown and Liberty Lunch (Austin). The band would often share the bill with the up-and-coming New Bohemians and the equally as quirky, Ten Hands. Andy and the group were commissioned to compose music for the Dallas Children’s Theater’s modern dance adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s, Where the Wild Things Are. The group also collaborated on projects with Artspiece, a multi-media performance group that combined modern dance, live music, film and other art in live performance.
The films, Quintana Run and Electric Ben Hur were produced during this time and used in live Artspiece productions. By the end of 1987, Tim left the band to play jazz full-time and Jeff joined the Navy. Andy, Jim and Rex took a break.

hai tex regrouped in 1989 and resumed regular live performances. Joining the original three members were drummer Martin McCall, percussionist Gerard Bendix, and vocalist Kim Brown. A 10-song cassette, Strange Things, was released in late 1989 along with a new (unfinished) film, Abandoned Motel, which premiered at the group’s multi-media performance in the Richland College Planetarium. A review of the band in the Dallas Observer described hai tex as having the Club Dada sound, “Club Dada sounding quirky melodicism, slickly crafted appeal, and the seemingly indiscriminate hybridization of musical styles.”

The band broke up in late 1990. Andy and Martin continued playing and formed Ooga Booga the following year. Frequent musical collaborations occurred with Rex and Jim throughout the 90s. In April 2003, hai tex released a compilation CD representing all recorded versions of the group. The film, Abandoned Motel, was updated with new footage and debuted at a band reunion show Deep Ellum’s Redblood Club. Andy, Jim, Rex and Martin continue to work together, and another hai tex reunion may eventually happen.