From the rolling hills of Northern Georgia comes the newest distillation of Southern Rock. Aged to perfection and sweet to the senses, Athens-based sensation Tishamingo intoxicates audiences with their driving guitar solos, gritty vocals, and rock n' roll attitude. From their original arrangements to the popular covers they spin with the Tishamingo twist, the four members of the band create a musical cocktail one part old-school Southern Rock, one part blues, and one part modern rock-and-roll topped with a splash of funk. Comprised of band members Cameron Williams (guitar/vocals), Jess Franklin (guitar/electric piano/vocals), Richard Proctor (drums), and newcomer Chuck Thomas (bass), the guys of Tishamingo have toured incessantly for years, sharing the stage with a myriad of nationally renowned musicians. These include Emmylou Harris, Widespread Panic, North Mississippi All-stars, Gov’t Mule and Galactic, just to name a few. A product of the Southeastern music community, Tishamingo gained a strong fan base early in their career and it didn’t take long for them to take their down home Southern music all over the country. They boast appearances at Jam Cruises I and III and a nomination for Best New Band at the 2005 Jammy Awards in New York City. The nomination came on the heels of an incredibly successful European tour where Tishamingo played in Italy, Switzerland, and Austria sharing the bill with blues legends B.B. King and Robert Cray. Not only has Tishamingo shared the stage with great musicians, they have shared the studio with producers just as talented. Their self-titled debut album (Interstate Records, 2002) was produced by the legendary John Keane (Widespread Panic, R.E.M., Indigo Girls, Uncle Tupelo) and received critical acclaim. Their sophomore release, Wear N’ Tear (Magnatude Records, 2004), was produced by David Barbe who has worked with such musicians as Son Volt and the Drive-by Truckers. With an extensive repertoire of original music, Tishamingo boasts strong songwriting. Their honest lyrics and story-telling abilities are a perfect match for the soulful vocals of Cameron Williams and Jess Franklin. To complete their soulful, blues sound, Franklin has also gone back to his roots- his father was a concert pianist- and brought the Fender Rhodes electric piano to the mix. With two albums released (and another on the way) and an international touring schedule, Tishamingo far exceeds most bands their age, and they do so with a style all their own. And we can’t fail to mention that just like any good Southern distillation, Tishamingo only gets better with time.
