PHOTO GALLERY - BANDS AND ARTISTS

L-R: Rob Vaughn - guitar / Pat Hood - bass / Gene Coleman - drums / Phil Moran - vocals / Mike Lowell - guitar

Mike Lowell writes:

This band formed from the nucleus of PALE WHITE HORSE with members Coleman / Lowell deciding to give up on mild country rock and form a balls to the wall rock outfit. Rob was recruited from a friendship struck in the previous band. Pat was noticeable for his outstanding showmanship in his current band (which included Rick Carver on guitar & vocal) and decided to join on. Finally, Phil Moran joined to give the project it's hard vocal edge. A powerhouse force was in place. Within months of the debut, the band was a major draw at local clubs filling up the dance floor and breaking attendance records.

After 3 months the band took their mix of original and cover tunes and starting playing the warm up slots at major shows with the likes of Tina Turner, Wet Willie, Too Smooth, and others. Frequent road work led to gigs in Austin and Dallas where booking agents snapped up the group and put them on extensive tour work. Their travels took the band to the west and north covering 5 states with occasional stops back home to large crowds. The band was rock solid and possessed a charismatic charm in live shows. Some local club names I can remember playing were the Zodiac, Oasis, Wild West, The Sting, Eat it Ball it (SA), Gators (Houston), I Gotcha (Ft Worth), Whiskers (Tulsa), Mother Earth (Austin), Mother Blues (Dallas). Many many others that don't come to mind just yet. This version of the band lasted about a year and a half and continuously reached new heights. Eventually, the long stretches of road work took its toll and the original members went their own ways.

(Contributed by Matt Guild) Matt writes:

"I use to come watch Overload at the Zodiac club. I also graduated with Pat Hood, from John Marshall. I always thought you guys, were one of the best cover bands I had ever seen. I can remember the grind, the Zodiac club was on Saturday night. It was a freaking hot club. Hot women, good drugs, good alcohol, and just awesome Rock and Roll. You guys were great! Hey what ever happened to Pat? I figured he was headed for rock and roll stardom. He was a great bass player, and a great showman. I'm a guitar player also! That's why I appreciated what you guys were doing back then. I use to hang with the Heyoka guys back then also. My weekends were about going to the rock clubs to see bands playing. That's why it was exciting to see your website. I really did identify with your band Overload, as your mix of music fit the music that I listened to. I lived in SA from 1972 till 1987. What a ride that was".

(Contributed by John Fonte) JWFonte writes:

"I think we might know one another...reading the Overload stuff....I was hanging around with Robbie and knew Gene from way before then....You guys damn near blew the paint off the interior of the Zodiac....as well as other venues (good name, Overload...it fit). My girlfriend/second wife Joanie was a bartender/server at Zodiac when you were gathering juice with Overload. My weird friend Alan Voight from New Braunfels, did sound for you a few times. Also, one night at the Rock Garden (was that Main or McCullough?) during a sound check, Gene came out with Pat's bass on, and all the honkie boys immediately started yelling Hendrix requests at him. Robbie..,whatever happened to him? He was a good technical player, and had a real mellow heart. I gave Robbie this old Gibson I had glued back together and he put the electronics back in there and had it painted white and wailed on it. I remember Phil and Pat (who later defected to Heyoka...) I do recall helping one of you learn the lead part to Funky Dogs and Nasty Kings when Robbie and I lived in this big place on Queen Anne. We lived in the house Bill Ash owned..... All it needed were a set of Gargoyles up top to make it the Speed Wash that it was. History serves to teach heavy lessons, but it's still hilarious when I recall just how crazy the mid-late 70's really were in Texas....Thanx Mike,Keep it smooth."

OVERLOAD II

Mike Lowell - bass,voc / Chuck Fletcher - voc,harp / Gene Coleman - drums / Vince Coy - guitar,voc / Rob Overall - guitar,voc.

Mike Lowell writes: In an attempt to keep the momentum going, Coleman / Lowell reformed the band adding the guitar team of Coy / Overall with Lowell switching to bass. After some courting, Chuck came on to fill the lead vocal slot. After re-establishing turf locally, the boy's headed for Denver where they joined the powerful Rocky Mountain Management Booking agency. This put the band on a 8 state tour based out of Denver. The agency arranged auditions for CBS records and under agreements would spend the next year playing gigs under CBS guidance which could lead to a record deal. Once again the weariness of the road took its toll on the haggard musicians and a parting of ways among the members took place. Everyone scattered in pursuit of personal goals. Gene would reform the band two more times with different musicians (such as Chuck Pack on bass and Johnny Sweetwood on vocals) and in the end would move to the Dallas area where he joined as drummer for POINT BLANK, who had a national hit with the song "Nicole" the year before. Gene currently plays in the Dallas area. All the musicians who once played with OVERLOAD would all go on to continue with other SA bands for many years to come.

Contributed by Michael Lowell