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All Music Guide:
The Atlanta-based rockabilly combo Cigar Store Indians formed in 1993 after the breakup of frontman Ben Friedman's previous band, the alternative rockers IBM. After enlisting Jim "Low Note" Lavender on guitar, Keith Perissi on bass, and Francis "Fast Pedal" Ferran on drums, the band grew quickly from an underground sensation to one of the Atlanta club scene's most popular acts. After releasing a cassette on a local label in 1994, the Cigar Store Indians made their formal bow with a 1995 self-titled LP.
Wikipedia:
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 band's 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. For many years the band was on hiatus but recently as of 2012, Ben and Jimmy "Lownote", along with former members of the band "The Blue Jays", Jay Murphree (upright Bass) and Matt Spaugh (drums), have begun to perform live. One can only surmise that the cable TV show "Cafe Racer", which uses a Cigar Store Indians song "Get on the Throttle" as its opening theme, has sparked a renewed interest in the band. The band members that toured together the longest are listed below.
Jeff Sprayberry was a fairly new addition to the band, after the departure of Jim "Low-note" Lavender at the end of 2003. Barrie was 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 covers. 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.