Today we’d like to introduce you to Rich Williams ThReE CaR GaRaGE.
Hi Rich Williams, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Three Car Garage started the way many Texas bands do—accidentally, and with a lot of heart. Back in 1995, it was just Rich and Doug messing around in a kitchen in Lubbock, banging on pots and pans and strumming an acoustic guitar. A youth pastor heard the ruckus and invited them to play at a church event, and just like that, they had their first gig.
What began as a “crazy worship band” quickly turned into something more. Travis joined a few years later—after Rich taught him how to play bass—and the trio was complete. They played Nirvana and Alice in Chains covers, recorded cassette tapes in bedrooms, and even handed one to Vanilla Ice, who listened to it in his 5.0 and laughed all the way through. (He gave them permission to keep covering his song.)
Through it all—moves, marriages, careers, and kids—the band never really stopped. They just adapted. Every few years, they’d get back together to record, perform, and reconnect. What’s made it even more special lately is that their own children are now part of the music, laying down tracks and harmonies that echo the early days.
Now, 30 years in, Three Car Garage is less about chasing a record deal and more about creating something real with lifelong friends—and passing that legacy on.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For Three Car Garage, the biggest challenge wasn’t fame or failure—it was figuring out what kind of band they even wanted to be. “We never could decide if we were a serious band or if we were the cover of Vanilla Ice,” Doug joked. That tension between heart and humor, between spoof and sincerity, defined much of their early journey.
Geography also worked against them. Life scattered the band across Texas—Longview, Lubbock, Tyler—making regular practices and gigs nearly impossible. Add in careers, marriages, kids, and the usual demands of adulthood, and it’s a miracle they stayed together at all. But once a year, like clockwork, they find a way to reunite and record.
Money’s been another hurdle. Recording music isn’t cheap, especially when you’re self-funded and not expecting a dime in return. “They’d have to listen to our songs on Spotify like 10 million times before we’d break even,” Rich quipped. But the band has always seen the investment as worth it—for the art, the memories, and the bond.
And sometimes the obstacles were just plain ridiculous. Like the time Travis drove six hours in the wrong direction after a gig, arriving at sunrise to return a sound system they’d borrowed from a church. Or the ill-fated show with a jazz drummer and brushes that left the crowd more confused than inspired.
But through every setback, Three Car Garage stayed true to the reason they started: friendship, laughter, and the joy of making music—no matter how weird, wild, or offbeat the road gets.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Three Car Garage’s music is a mix of nostalgia, personality, and decades of chemistry you can’t fake. It’s not polished for radio—it’s honest, messy, and full of heart. They’ve recorded everything from tongue-in-cheek covers to emotionally grounded originals, and their latest sessions at Niles City Sound reflect just how far they’ve come, both as musicians and as people.
Their upcoming BLOOM and SUNDAY’S ALRIGHT EPs are the most collaborative yet, featuring not only the original trio but also their kids—Tyler on trumpet, Darci on violin, and Charlie on vocals. It’s not just music anymore; it’s legacy work. Rich describes it as “songs we liked enough the first time to revisit them now that we’re better,” and Doug agrees: “Recording technology’s better, and so are we.”
Their live shows may be rare now, but when they do happen, the energy is still there. From opening for Bowling for Soup to playing youth lock-ins where crowds danced for hours, their performances have always leaned into fun, connection, and unpredictability.
In the end, Three Car Garage’s work is less about chasing perfection and more about capturing moments—funny, awkward, beautiful moments—frozen in songs that matter most to them and, hopefully, to the people who’ve followed along.
What’s next?
For Three Car Garage, the future isn’t about world tours or chart-topping singles—it’s about staying connected, creating something meaningful, and letting the next generation into the garage.
Their immediate plans include finishing the BLOOM and SUNDAY’S ALRIGHT EPs, which blend their old-school vibe with fresh energy from their kids. The studio sessions have taken on new meaning now that their children are contributing trumpet solos, violin parts, and vocal bridges. “It’s wild hearing your kid harmonize with the voice you had at their age,” Rich said.
They’ll keep up their tradition of gathering once a year to record—wherever life takes them. Whether it’s Fort Worth, Tyler, or someone’s kitchen, the band treats these annual meetups as both a reunion and a ritual.
Rich dreams of hosting a small listening party or concert for friends and family, maybe even inside a literal three-car garage—bringing the band full circle. And there’s talk of finally putting together a proper digital release of their older material, mixed with newly recorded versions.
Long-term? No one’s ruling anything out. As Doug put it, “We’ve already lasted 30 years. At this point, we might just outlive most bands that were ever actually famous.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://threecargarage.blog/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threecargarageband/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3CGBAND/
- Twitter: https://x.com/3cgband/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@threecargarage/
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/usw23aCiRsfqXnhUA/
- Other: https://threecargarage.bandcamp.com/
