Cigar Store Indians
Encyclopedia
Cigar Store Indians is a roots rock
, rockabilly
band from Crabapple
, Georgia
.
The band formed in the summer of 1991 when singer/songwriter Ben Friedman and lead guitar player Jimmy "Lownote" Lavender began to jam together as both shared a love for the 1950s rock/country sound (now called rockabilly music). In 1995, after developing a large fan base in and around Atlanta, Ga. The band was offered their first recording contract on Landslide Records. Constant touring and memorable songs landed the self titled first release to # 3 on the Gavin Americana Charts. Highlights include an extended tour with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. "El Baile de la Cobra" was the bands second release and it rose to #10 on the Gavin Americana Charts. "Guestlist" a live recording found on Overall Records gave listeners a chance to sit in on a CSI live set from Smith's Olde Bar and Eddies Attic both local Atlanta music mainstay clubs. Their last album was Built of Stone, again released on Overall Records. At present the band has broken up.
The band members that toured together the longest are listed below.
Ben Friedman, Singer/guitar
Jimmy Lavender, Lead Guitar/ Vocals
Keith Perissi, Bass Guitar/ Vocals
Paul Barrie, Drums/ Vocals
Jeff Sprayberry was a fairly new addition to the band, after the departure of Jim "Low-note" Lavender at the end of 2003. Barrie has been with the band since just after the release of "el Baile de la Cobra". Friedman wrote the majority of the band's material, although they did mix in a few cover
s. Johnny Cash
's "Ring of Fire
" and are among their best-received remakes.
Ben Friedman is the owner/operator of his family's organic farm called Deep River Farm. He also is the music supervisor and voice over talent for Discovery's "Cafe Racer".
Paul Barrie is playing drums in local bands, as well as teaching.
Jeff Sprayberry is also still active in the local music scene.
Jim Lavender still plays music around the Atlanta area and a school teacher.
Keith Perissi is Associate Director of the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, GA and is a booking agent with Nimbleslick Entertainment, LLC.
They toured extensively, primarily in the Southern United States
, but have toured Europe
as well. They've also played in Jamaica
.
http://www.retroradar.com/cigar-store-indians-built-of-stone/
http://archives.nodepression.com/1998/11/step-right-up-but-not-upright/
http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/the-cigar-store-indians-expand-on-their-rockabilly-roots/Content?oid=1389038
http://www.epinions.com/review/musc_mu-296163/musc-review-6BA7-8FBFA3-394ADFE6-prod1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjTdA2XT3aU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE7wak60B0I&feature=related
Roots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
, rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
band from Crabapple
Crabapple, Georgia
Centered today at the crossroads of Georgia Highways 140 and 372 , Crabapple, Georgia, is one of the oldest parts of Fulton County, Georgia. Originally part of Cherokee County, Georgia, , Crabapple was part of the land contributed in 1857 to form Milton County, Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
The band formed in the summer of 1991 when singer/songwriter Ben Friedman and lead guitar player Jimmy "Lownote" Lavender began to jam together as both shared a love for the 1950s rock/country sound (now called rockabilly music). In 1995, after developing a large fan base in and around Atlanta, Ga. The band was offered their first recording contract on Landslide Records. Constant touring and memorable songs landed the self titled first release to # 3 on the Gavin Americana Charts. Highlights include an extended tour with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. "El Baile de la Cobra" was the bands second release and it rose to #10 on the Gavin Americana Charts. "Guestlist" a live recording found on Overall Records gave listeners a chance to sit in on a CSI live set from Smith's Olde Bar and Eddies Attic both local Atlanta music mainstay clubs. Their last album was Built of Stone, again released on Overall Records. At present the band has broken up.
The band members that toured together the longest are listed below.
Ben Friedman, Singer/guitar
Jimmy Lavender, Lead Guitar/ Vocals
Keith Perissi, Bass Guitar/ Vocals
Paul Barrie, Drums/ Vocals
Jeff Sprayberry was a fairly new addition to the band, after the departure of Jim "Low-note" Lavender at the end of 2003. Barrie has been with the band since just after the release of "el Baile de la Cobra". Friedman wrote the majority of the band's material, although they did mix in a few cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s. Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's "Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (song)
"Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...
" and are among their best-received remakes.
Ben Friedman is the owner/operator of his family's organic farm called Deep River Farm. He also is the music supervisor and voice over talent for Discovery's "Cafe Racer".
Paul Barrie is playing drums in local bands, as well as teaching.
Jeff Sprayberry is also still active in the local music scene.
Jim Lavender still plays music around the Atlanta area and a school teacher.
Keith Perissi is Associate Director of the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, GA and is a booking agent with Nimbleslick Entertainment, LLC.
They toured extensively, primarily in the Southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but have toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well. They've also played in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
External links
http://www.retroradar.com/cigar-store-indians-built-of-stone/
http://archives.nodepression.com/1998/11/step-right-up-but-not-upright/
http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/the-cigar-store-indians-expand-on-their-rockabilly-roots/Content?oid=1389038
http://www.epinions.com/review/musc_mu-296163/musc-review-6BA7-8FBFA3-394ADFE6-prod1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjTdA2XT3aU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE7wak60B0I&feature=related