Stateside's DIY take on new CD pays off
By JER COLE
Knoxville News Sentinel
Knoxville TN
June 4, 2004

This Saturday will see the return of a Knoxville legend when Stateside plays Patrick Sullivan's. John Paul Keith, one-time member of The Viceroys (later redubbed The V-Roys), embarked on a winding rock 'n' roll journey after leaving The Viceroys and Knoxville in 1997. After forming Stateside in Nashville, Keith and the rest of the band backed up Ryan Adams on his "Demolition."

Later, when presented with the opportunity to tour with Adams following the release of his "Gold" album, Keith declined in order to devote his energy to Stateside, but the rest of the band did not. Frustrated, Keith moved to New York until he was able to assemble a new crew, which he located in Birmingham, Ala.

In 2002, Stateside was reborn, and in April of this year, the group released its first album under the new lineup.

"Phonograph," released on the Disgraceland label, features a Wilco-style blend of country and rock with a bit of classic-rock influence and a Southern twist.

"I took some stylistic detours over the years, especially in Nashville," says Keith. "But for those folks in Knoxville who know my old stuff, this stuff is closer to my old Knoxville influences. We don't play down our country influences, and we work really hard on our harmonies.

"One thing we're proud of is the fact that we recorded the album ourselves, in (Greg Slamen's) house. We have amateur equipment, and it took forever, because we did all the engineering ourselves and had to learn as we went. But we're happy with how it came out."

The same sense of independence that led Keith to reject the offer to tour with Adams is also evident in Keith's writing style. The man who once wrote all of Stateside's material was so pleased with the cooperation of his new unit that "Phonograph" features the collaboration of the entire band.

"Before I met these guys, I used to write all the words and music by myself," explains Keith. "I didn't want any help. But once this lineup got together, we started co-writing, mainly because I just relaxed.

"Our drummer Thomas (Mimikakis) helped write the vocal melody and lyric to 'Fool on a Wire.' On 'Light Years Away,' Nikolaus (Mimikakis) wrote the music, but I wrote most of the words, even though he sings them, which is an unusual but very cool situation.

"Anyway, my point is, we all contribute in all kinds of ways."

Saturday's show will be unusual as it will feature headliner Mic Harrison, who actually filled in for Keith when Keith left The Viceroys. This will also be Stateside's first show in Knoxville since the release of "Phonograph."

Stateside is currently writing material for its next album before polishing off its U.S. tour (which kicked off in April) in July and proceeding to Europe in the fall.