Welcome to the Short of Breath band website
The SOB band is a Classic Rock
Blues and Country Band
with a extra twist on the country side more of an upbeat
on the older country stuff

The Sob Band has been around since the late eighties, changing members through the years, Big Al is one of the founding members. Tom and Al reformed the band in 1996 and the band disbanded in 2002 and took on other members and names that didnt take, just goes to show that if something isnt broke dont fix it. In 2008 the band got back together with a new drummer Joe Bynum. We added the first week of September 2009 a Keyboard player Michael Swafford, One of the best keyboard players around.
Each Member in the band Has been in a band at some point in time that has opened for well known artist such as

Gary Stewart
Boxcar Willie
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Chicago
Leon Russell
Robert Earl Keen
Smokin' Joe Kubek
 
Al Upchurch  AKA  Big Al
Guitar - Vocals
Tom Patrick
Bass Guitar - Backup Vocals
Joe Bynum
Drums
Michael Swafford
Keyboards - Backup Vocals

We would like to thank Wayne Widner of Waynes Music World
for letting us use his studio to practic in during the winter
months.
We have made our CD demo and it will be available soon
If yoy have seen our shirts , hats , koozies and seen
our initial logo it is SOB
some might thing it stands for Sorry Ole Bastards
no It doesnt LOL
Check out our items we sell
Thanks Tom

E-Mail Address
sob@shortofbreathband.com

Member Bio's

Tom Patrick 
Born in Canadian Texas on March 2 1958, Started playing guitar at the age of 12. with such influences as Buddy Miles, Cream and the Beatles. I was in my first band in Jr High School and High School. After School I just played here and there and met up With Al Upchurch in 1976 When he joined a group of guys I was playing with and we formed the band Dillenger along with Les Goray and that was when I switche to Bass Guitar, because Guitar players were a dime a dozen and still are. In the eighties I was in several Country Bands and made more money doing that than I did at my day job.  Big Al and I got back together in 1996 to reform the SOB band, he was one of the founding members But at that time he was the drummer. In 2001 I  retired from playing, so I thought !, you never get playing music out of your system.  I still play the guitar in my home studio other wise known as a bedroom with a tascam 8 track recorder, I currently have a new Yamaha Bass,a new Fender Jazz 5 String  and my ole stand by Peavey Foundation. My amp rig is a Peavey MegaBass amp with a Peavey 1810 cab, something I had to have since we do a lot of outside gigs. I also collect Fender Guitars I now have 6 Telecasters and one Stratocaster, My favorite right now is my new Seafoam Green Telecaster, Its almost as hevey as a Les Paul since it is mad from swamp ash. I'm in business for my self, married to a wonderful woman that likes to go to all the gigs, fish and hunt , Wow what else can you ask for.
Thanks for reading
Tom Patrick

 
Joe Bynum
Born April 3, 1960 in Hobbs New Mexico, because Lovington did not have a hospital. Started beating on encyclopedias with the round end of butter knives, probly around the age of 6 or 7.  one of my biggest influences was my brother Johnny , he was 10 years older than me and he played drums. I grew up listening to his music, which is now labeled classic rock, Stephenwolf, Hendrix, Joplin, ect.
My favorite drummer would have to be John Bonham
I met Big Al in 1983 , but we were both drummers and had a hard time jamming together. We kept in touch through the years and low and behold in November of 2008 he asked me if I wanted to jam one night , and thats how I came to be with the Short of breath Band.  The rest will be history someday.
I also have a beautiful wife named Christina, a beautiful daughter Amanda, A handsome son
Stephen Ray ( I named him after Stevie Ray Vaughn).

Thanks for stickin around
Joe Bynum

Al ( Big Al ) Upchurch
The old man of the band , very late fifties very , very, Was born in Cleabern Texas on April 4, 1951. Started playing guitar when he was 4 years old. was in nurmous local bands such as (Chapparrells 1973 - 1975),  (Dillinger 75-77), (Short of Breath-86-90 96-2001), (Dr. Ugs and the MDs 06-08) opened for bands such as Lenard Skynard, Leon Russell in 04 and 05 , Short of breath 09-in progress, Alley Cat and Friends still going part time. Al plays a California Series Strat that he plays left handed and is still strung for right hand use. some would have a hard time looking at him and try to follow him and figger what key he was in but I have played with him for so many years Ican tell what chord he is playing ) ( I'vv herd some say Big Al dosnt know how to play the blues I say Bull SHIT just come out and listen. Tom Patrick)
Thanks for your support
Al Upchurch

Mike Swafford

   Born April 15, 1956 in Nashville Tenn. Took Piano lessons for 20 years and begain his musical career at the age of 16. Mike palyed in bands in Collage and in 1978 and 79 he played in a band Called Mother Earth that opened for Chicago for those two years. He has two years in clubs at Vegas and did Studio Work in Lobbock Texas, Moving to PK Lake in the last few years He joined SOB Band in Sept of 2009. I will have to say that I would put Mike up aginst any well known keyboard player and he would out do them or at least keep up.
 Thanks