Bully Tree and the Wisemen

Gary’s first band was Bully Tree.

The original lineup consisted of Gary and Matt Morris, who had switched from guitar to bass. Guitarists and singers came and went until they met Cody Garcia, who became their longtime guitarist.

Following several more singer changes, Gary, Matt and Cody renamed the band Gary and the Wisemen.

Chris Burney suggested the name after recording several of the band’s songs and realizing they still had no idea what to call themselves.

The name stuck.

Gary and Matt continued playing together from junior high through Gary’s college years. Their bands developed alongside a small but increasingly connected Wichita Falls music scene.

Almost everyone knew everyone else.

Erik Chandler dated Matt’s older sister. Erik played in a band with Chris Burney. Chris helped run The Refuge, the coffeehouse and all-ages venue where many of the local bands performed.

Gary was also a fan of Jaret Reddick and Lance Morrill’s band, coolfork!! He attended their shows and asked Lance questions afterward about drums and equipment.

Jaret appeared at several Gary and the Wisemen shows. One night, while the band covered Green Day’s “Christie Road,” Jaret jumped onstage and sang with them.

Eventually, Gary and the Wisemen rented a rehearsal room next door to Bowling For Soup.

They also began opening Bowling For Soup shows.

The connections were getting closer.

Gary simply did not know where they were leading yet.