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TISHAMINGO: THE SUN SHINES A LITTLE BRIGTHER
ATHENS, GA'S TISHAMINGO COULD BE THE NEXT BIG THING IN SOUTHERN ROCK

From time to time, a new band will rise from Athens to generate a buzz across the nation. Since the early success of REM, it became common place to hear the best of these up and coming bands referred to as "Athens next big thing," as if there was no doubt that the musical mecca would indeed give birth to yet another hot new band.

As REM grew from local boys made good to worldwide mega stars, a very unassuming cast of characters known as Widespread Panic came to forefront of the musical community. As Panic spent most of the past decade as the cities favorite musical sons, numerous musicians continued to converge upon Athens, performing together in many varying combinations. While no one band seemed to emerge as the obvious "next big thing," the musical community continued to thrive, bringing forth a constant string of highly talented and accomplished performers.

As Panic prepared to go on the first extended vacation of their career, Tishamingo, a gathering of long-time friends originally from Tallahassee, Florida, have come to the forefront as the band most likely to make a worldwide splash as Athens hottest musical sensations. Their music is blues-based, guitar-driven rock, reminiscent of many bands that have inspired the members of this quarter throughout the years - from the obvious influence of the Allman Brothers Band to the soulful sounds of Steve Wonder to the newer jazz/blues fusion being played by the Derek Trucks Band.

"We've all known each other for a long time, musically and personally," says drummer Richard Proctor, whose musical pedigree includes a stint being mentored by Allman Brothers Butch Trucks. "(Bassist Stephen) Spivey and Jess (Franklin, lead guitar) had played together all through high school, and then in college. Cameron (Williams, guitar and lead vocals) and I had played with each other that long as well, and (keyboardist Jason) Fuller played with Cameron and I in a previous band (the Black Creek Blues Band)."

At the same time that Black Creek was becoming one of the more popular band on the Southeastern tour circuit, the early 1990's, Jess and Spivey were touring as Jess Franklin and the Best Little Blues Band, which they had formed while still in high school. Jess's reputation as a guitarist quickly grew, as seasoned musicians spread the word that everyone should see "the kid" play.

Over time, Jess and Cameron developed a habit of getting together to jam after they had finished playing their respective gigs. A special chemistry developed between the two, and, after a series of acoustic shows in and around Tallahassee, and it soon became apparent they should join forces on a permanent basis.

"We were at a point n our lives," Richard recalls, "where we were ready to put our heads together and make our own band. We'd admired each other's bands musically, so we figured what the heck, let's put it together and see what we can do."

Or, as Fuller joked, "You guys kind of fired their rest of the guys in the bands, took the best of both groups and put it together."

"We actually all spent one New Year's Eve (2000) together at my house in Atlanta," Cameron adds, "before we even knew we were going to the band together. We kind of talked about a band, then a couple months later we were making plans door Jess to move to Atlanta and thank god that did not happen."

Instead, the band rented a farmhouse in Watkinsville, on the outskirts of Athens. Realizing that rent was much cheaper, and that Athens was much more conducive to life of aspiring young musicians than Atlanta, the foursome decided to make the move.

As Cameron recalls, "I think it was essential that if we were going to form this new band together, we had to be outside of Atlanta or Tallahassee or any of our other previous comfort zones, into a place that does not have a whole lot of distractions. Of course, Athens does have a lot of distractions now, but at the time we didn't have anything to do but to write music and get to know each other musically. We did not know a soul, didn't have a day job, and we just moved into this farmhouse out in Watkinsville. There, we had no distractions, and nothing to do but play music.

"When we were first getting together," Spivey adds, "we were kind of just getting together to write. We played a gig at Potbelly's and started doing different albums while we got our own stuff together. It sort of helped bond the band."

This series of weekly gigs at Potbelly's were the result of Jess needing to stay in Tallahassee for one final month to work at a local furniture store, where the band would first begin to rehearse.

"We all went there and stayed with our family," Cameron says, "while Jess worked during August (2001) in a bed store. We'd practice there every night. We learned five different albums that month and we'd play every Friday at Potbelly's. The first set would be music that we had written in the past with other bands, or covers we'd collaborated on. Then the second set would be an entire album. We did Allman Brothers first album, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin's first albums, Jimi Hendrix's 'Axis Bold as Love' and Derek and the Domino's 'Layla.'"

Having moved to the farmhouse, the members of Tishamingo spent day and night together, writing, playing (not only music, but also Tiger Woods' Playstation 2 video game), and watching movies. It was while watching their favorite movie - "O Brother Where Art Tho'" - that the band found its name. Tishomingo (the name of a Chickasaw Indian chief) was a county in Mississippi - spelled with an 'o' in the middle, which the band replaced with an 'a' - where cast of the movie sing into a tin can for $10 each.

"Evidently," Cameron joked, "back then, you got paid to record. Hell, We'd have recorded a lot more albums by now if we got paid ten bucks."

This new breed of Tishamingo are a friendly group of unassuming players whose music is obviously influenced by their upbringing in the swampy wetlands of Northern Florida. After recording their self-titled debut in 2001 with producer John Keane, the band is preparing to record their sophomore effort at David Barbe's Athens studio.

With their first album having been such a tremendous personal success, capturing the band at a moment in time just as they hit a creative peak. The result was an amazingly polished, accomplished piece of work, sounding more like an album from a group of seasoned veterans than a band's debut release.

"Usually when you think of a bands first album," Jess says, "you think of it being raw. But, if you listen to our first record right now, there is not a lot of raw there, it is pretty polished. I think our biggest fear at this point (as they prepare to record their second album) is that we really put our hearts into that first album. When we went into the studio with Keane, there really was not a lot of producing thing he did as far as arrangements of songs, because we really worked our ass of in the practice room and on the road on the songs that we figured we would record at some point. So, we pretty much knew exactly how we wanted them to go down. We are so proud of that first album because of all the hard work we put into it, and all of the positive feedback that we've gotten from people. I think our goal is to make that second album as good as the first one.

"The same guys going to be writing and playing on it," he adds. "So that is a good sign."

Tishamingo plans to head into Barbe's studio in April, with hopes of having the album ready for release by late August. In the meantime, they have signed a licensing deal with Innerstate Records, a Berkley, CA based company that will be re-releasing the band's debut album on a national basis on March 16. Tishamingo will celebrate the re-release with a tour of Colorado before returning home to record.

"We are going to be recording on two inch tape," adds Cameron, "so it will probably have a little bit more of a vintage sound, which we are excited about. It will sound different, which will be good. I think Barbe will do a great job of making this band sound like we sound right now, after two and a half years on the road."

Less than two months before heading into the studio, and Tishamingo remains unsure of what material they will be recording. But, as Fuller says, "There is nothing like setting a date ahead of time to make you write some songs."

"Just like 'Lazy Susan,'" says Cameron.

Jess adds, "And 'Little Red,'" referring to a song very reminiscent of the Allman's "Little Martha." This familiarity can be heard in many tunes in the Tishamingo catalogue, invoking memories of past legends, and serving as the launching point for the band's own fresh new sound.

"We were going to record with Keane in April," Cameron recalls, "but he suggested we go with another producer because he got behind and could not record us until July. He did not want to put us behind, waiting on him. Those songs came out (during that time), and I am glad we put on the CD."

After recording the album, Fuller, a former touring member of Ween who moved from Massachusetts to Georgia to join the Black Creek Band, was asked to become the fifth member of Tishamingo. While he tours with the band as much possible, he does miss an occasional show while o fulfilling his obligations with another Athens band, the Kinchafoonee Cowboys.

"We all knew the entire time that we definitely wanted keys and organ as part of our sound," Jess says, before lightheartedly adding, "When our first three or four choices didn't pan out, we got Fuller."

Jess' sense of humor is typical of the genuine, unassuming nature of all the members of the band. In many ways, the make up this band is much like that of Widespread Panic during their earlier years, a group of genuine friends, who truly enjoy spending time together, musically, and personally. The result is a united collective of stellar performers who seem poised to take their talents well beyond the friendly confines of Athens.

The past year was kind to Tishamingo, as they were asked to appear at the Mid Atlantic Music Festival (were Richard was asked to sit during Panic's headlining performance), and also received tremendous exposure for numerous guests who joined the band on stage.

When asked to name a favorite guest, everyone in the band was quick to call out JJ (Grey) form Mofro. As Jess said, "He takes the cake."

Tinsely Ellis, another strong supporter, recently called Tishamingo his favorite new band.

"He is a really great guy," Cameron says. "I used to open for him back in the Black Creek Band, and we become buddies. He likes what we are doing a lot. He is a really good supporter of the scene."

When it comes to guest appearances, never in their career had Tishamingo ever received the outpouring of support they witnessed during the inaugural Jam Cruise this January. While they may have walked in to the boat as one of the lesser known names on the cruise's lineup, by the time the ship returned to port, the name of Tishamingo had already begun to spread far and wide as numerous internet reports spread of musicians from nearly every band on the boat joining to play with "Athens next big thing."

"It was a fun," Cameron recalls. "You'd look up and there is Rob Wasserman jamming on bass, and other people that I'd never even said one word too. Like Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident), I had never spoken a single work to him, then I look up and there they'd be playing with us. Everyone was welcome to be one the stage, but it is kind of funny jamming with someone you'd never even spoken to."

With that experience behind them, Tishamingo is back to doing what they do best - touring clubs across the country, adding fans one show at a time.

As Cameron says, "We are going to be doing it non-stop all year. We are really excited about touring Colorado. We've played out there before, but we'd just fly out, play a couple of shows, and come back. This time, we are going to be there for two and a half weeks. We'll actually be gone from home most of the month of March. And it looks like we are going to be playing Europe in July. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it looks like we'll be doing a lot of dates in Italy, and some in Germany."

In between tours, the band decided to move out of the farmhouse at the end of 2003, with each of the members moving into their own homes in Athens. While the farm had been critical in the formation of the band as unit, they saw this as the next logical step.

"We never want to get into a rut," Jess says. "When you are in a rut, it is hard to see. Even though we loved living on the farm, we are all not living there any more and that is a goal that we really wanted to happen. There will always be a place in our hearts for the farmhouse, but it is nice to realize that you are growing."

And grow they are. From the halls of a high schools in Florida, to smoke filled bars of Athens, to highlighting Jam Cruise I, and all that has come in between, Tishamingo continues to grow, musically, personally, and, most importantly, as a collective unit - one of the hottest young bands on the road.

As Jess says, "I think this second album will give us a surge of energy. We all want to grow musically; we are dead set to keep touring. We are definitely in this for the long haul."

If they do not pan out to be "Athens next big thing," they will, at the very least, continue to earn legions of new fans along the way. After two and half years of playing bars and wing joints, who knows, maybe they'll even enjoy a steak one day.

"You know, we love chicken wings," Cameron says. "But maybe (playing) a steak house instead of a wing joint would be something (to accomplish) this year.

"Just look at getting the Jam Cruise," he adds. "And now, we are getting a licensing deal. (That is) something new for us, and for the people that listen to our music, too and appreciate us. They see good things happen to us, and it kind of confirms them and gives then, and us, something new to stand on."

** First appeared in An Honest Tune magazine, Spring 2004

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