It isn’t too often you find a band who has a fan base that spans an entire state, that has opened up for stars like Cross Canadian Ragweed, Pat Green and The Eli Young Band among others, and whose songs are stuck in your head all before their first record has even been released.

But that is the case with South First Band. The foursome of Jeff Havard on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Warren Smyrl on lead guitar, Pat Overstreet on drums and Stephen Adams on bass and all four on harmonies are from Lufkin, Texas and have just released their debut album, a year and a half after first beginning to wow fans and fellow musicians with their musical style, vocals and songwriting.

South First Band first came together for the Colgate Country Showdown where they won both their local and state level. From there, the band has grown from a local go-to country opening band to a well-known group that boasts a rocking sound with a country influence, exceptional 3-and 4-part harmonies and an impressive song lineup.

South First Band agrees their vocals, on top of “kick ass music,” set them apart from any other band in the scene. Their harmony acts as a fifth member to the band, adding something that only the four of them together could create.

South First Band’s debut album, Like The Movies, has brought the band and their music into focus. But, Like The Movies wasn’t always the band’s debut album. They had recorded a self-produced album that they decided to scrap, in favor of a grammy-nominated Mack Damon produced album.

Though the band wasn’t happy about shelving their original album, they loved the result. Like The Movies brought out South First Band’s sound and honed in on the intricacies that make them who they are.

The album’s lead-off single, Wake Up Wanting Me, written by Pat Overstreet, is a catchy tune that gets stuck in your head. It is a positive, back-in-your-face love song that reminds you that love comes and goes.  With the band’s upcoming touring stint, it’s likely “Wake Up Wanting Me” will be a fan favorite.

With all four members writing on Like The Movies, songs like “Something Real,” “Backroads” and the title track give listeners a taste of love, friendship, loyalty and good times as well as the writing ability of the foursome. A very guitar-driven, fun sound blends perfectly with South First Band’s songwriting, offering listeners an original sound in Texas Country and the Red Dirt Music scene that can’t be ignored.

As they keep on doing what they do, South First Band will undoubtedly continue to wow fans and fellow musicians in their scene. They are excited about releasing an album for friends and fans that have followed them this far.

For them, it’s about making music that is true not only to them, but to everyone who listens to it.

Jeff Havard - Lead Singer / Guitar

Well my adventure started on December 14 a few years back. Ok well several years back . Like 20 or so.
My parents were in a gospel group that sang all over Texas so I got to spend a little time on the bus they
traveled in. I don't remember it because I was like 1. But I don't think it was anything like stories I hear of
people on buses these days. Ok anyway, So I was raised in an environment of music, music , music. At
the age of 9 I started playing drums in my parents group. I did that until the ripe old age of 16. Then I took
a year or so off and started a band with Warren. We were amazingly horrible. So we decied to quit. Later
on while in college I decided to start my own band. We didn't play country music so you have probably
never heard of us. We were huge in the Lufkin area. We even had our own website for 3 months. I did
that for a while and that is where I met Stephen. Then one day I ran into Warren again and we started
chating about music. We got Stephen and he knew Pat and that is when the South First Band began. We
kind of played around for a year or so, and then this past year we decided that we really needed to do it
for real, or quit. So here we are. Now I get to share the stage with 3 of my best friends every night.

My gear:
Fender Telecaster
Peavy EVH Wolf Gang
Fender Deluxe amp
Orange pics
Black Kapo

Pat Overstreet - Drums

Years back in Houston,TX Ernie and Gwen Overstreet were blessed with the miracle of a new baby boy. After
living in the great city of Houston for a few more months they moved their new family to their home town of
Kountze, TX where their baby boy grew in wisdom and stature. In their home town Pat became a regular at
their local emergency room where all the nurses and doctors grew to adore him. The family made several
moves after the arival of Pat's little brother living in such towns as Fort Worth, Roxton, and Warren, TX; Pat's
fathers love for music continually rubbed off on his son. Pat began to play drums in grade school and
continued to play in college where he met a young keyboard player by the name of Stephen Adams.

While accumulating tens of thousands of dollar in debt on a private school education Pat, along with friends
that he had met while in college, played in different bands through out his college career. Writing songs,
playing drums as well as guitar, and singing became not only a hobby but a passion. Time when by and Pat
took a short break from music. During this short break in his music career Pat took a not so lucrative
position for a major hotel chain. It was also during this break that Stephen called needing a drummer for a
band that he and some friends were starting. Seeing that there was no future for him at the hotel, Pat said
yes and began to write songs and play drums for South First Band...That brings us where we are today.
Watch this bios for updates on the life and times of Pat Harrison Overstreet II.

My Gear:
blue drums
zildjian cymbals
promark sticks
and any free equipment he can get his hands on

Stephen Adams - Bass

Stephen Adams was born in Tyler, TX, and raised in nearby Oakland, a suburb of the thriving Rusk metropolis.
He began playing piano and driving tractors both somewhere around the age of four, and, as there’s not much
else to do in Rusk, did a lot of both growing up. He joined a rock band in high school, and made the fateful
decision to move from the keyboard to the bass in the musically inspirational surroundings of their practice
facility located next to the dinner table in their guitarist’s kitchen. However, following their legendary
performance at the Rusk High School senior skip day party, the band realized that there was, “…nowhere else
to go….” So, in a move similar to the Police’s demise following their multi-night run at Madison Square Garden,
the band went their separate ways. “It was a great time in my life,” says Stephen, “but we wanted to walk away
at the top of our game. After senior skip day, what else could we have done? Prom? Please. It just wouldn’t
have been the same.” Stephen returned to the keyboard for his college band, but somewhere in his heart the
bass had struck a chord (or at least the root note of a chord). So, after the break up of his college band, he
jumped at the chance to play bass in a local worship team. This led to steady gigs as a bass player, and he
ultimately was able to get in on the ground floor of the South First Band in that capacity. “It’s been great, and
I feel really blessed,” he says. “For lightning to strike twice the way it has for me has been really great. Who
knows? Maybe we’ll play another senior skip day party sometime in the future. I can dream, can’t I?”

Warren Smyrl

I was born at 7:35 p.m. My parents took my first dog to the shelter when we went on vacation and they never went to pick him up. This one time, I busted a light fixture with a plastic bowling ball and ended up with 13 stitches in my head. That's why my lucky number is 13. maybe that's why I have really bad luck. My body weight is not indicative of the fact that I love food and eat a whole bunch. I hate the lull between the Super Bowl and the start of baseball season it makes for really crappy TV. In fifth grade a girl pulled my chair out from under me and my head hit the teachers desk (9 more stitches; very funny Allison). I was really shy in high school, although if you know me now, you'd never believe it. What I love most is making music, and making people happy. laugh more, people; it makes life more tolerable.

My Stuff:
Fender Strat w/reissue neck and Tx. Special pickups
G&L Tele Semi-hollow Peavy Classic 50 4/10 combo
Lots of pedals (always changing)
Dr. Scholl's Memory Foam insoles
Hanes Underware
Homemade T-shirts