Shalina Ramirez - The Paris News
Texas music band Miles From Nowhere has conquered the local social circuit with their unique country-meets-southern-rock sound. But after winning the invitation-only Shiner Rising Star 2006 competition last night in Plano, the men of MFN have a chance to make it even bigger. The group earned a $15,000 record contract with Shiner Records by outlasting 25 of the best unsigned bands in Texas music during the 13-week contest.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Merrol Ray, lead guitar/vocals, said. "It has, but it hasn't. The support from our fans and peers was unbelievable. It was just one of those electric nights."
The pulse of MFN is cousins Ray and Adam Walker, whose country/blues swagger and straightforward lyrics keep the band frequenting local hangouts and opening for artists like Aaron Watson and Jason Aldean. Wesley Joe Malone likes to lay it down deep and fat on drums with talented Joe Allen Jordan, bass/vocals, rounding out the group.
Competition finals wrapped up Thursday at Love & War in Texas (Plano) and were broadcasted on KHYI 95.3, The Range. The finals featured MFN, Blacktop Gypsy, The Bois D’Arcs and Becca Dalrymple as well as a host of celebrity judges. Judges included CMA and Billboard Magazine Country Female Entertainer of the Year Janie Fricke, actor Burton Gilliam, coach Joe Avezzano and Shiner Bock head Jay Finnigan.
MFN was the the third band to take the stage shortly before 11 p.m. with “When I Get Mean,” the lead track off their recently released self-titled debut album. Avezanno referred to Miles From Nowhere as being the least known of the competing artists. However, he had only one other comment.
“Wow ... Y’all are good!,” Avezanno said.
Joshua Jones, general manager of KHYI 95.3, The Range, gave the group “the highest score I’ve ever given anybody in this competition.”
As winners of the top prize, MFN will be the next new artists signed to Shiner Records (nationally distributed through Universal Music). The band also earned a spot on the main stage at next year’s KHYI Texas Music Revolution and will appear on the 2007 Shiner Bocktoberfest lineup.
Their self-titled debut album by Tree House Records, is available online at www.milesfromnowhereband.com as well as Hastings in Paris and all of MFN’s live shows.
“And on our person too,” Walker said. “We carry them with us all the time. I sold one out at the deer lease the other day.”
The band wrote and played most of the 11 songs on the album long before they recorded them with producer Sandra Taylor, explaining why the music sounds so natural.
“It’s definitely a sound of its own,” Walker said. “It shows diversity.”
“Put it this way,” Malone interrupted. “It’s just brilliant.”
While most local bands often rely on comparisons to bigger artists, MFN – though bearing similarities to Myrle Haggard and at times, the Allman Brothers – have a sound so alluring that it speaks for itself.
“We enjoy the originality of our Compact Disc,” Malone said of the 10-song album with a surprise bonus track.
MFN’s “I Am” is based on Ray’s real life struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
“November” illustrates love gone bad and was written by Walker in about 20 minutes on a crisp, fall day.
“It’s cool,” Malone said. “We’ve got different songs for different people.”
“We’ve even got a waltz on there,” Jordan chimed in, referring to the song “Faces.”
Other fan favorites include “Last Gunslinger” and “Bloodline,” played by request on KOYN, K95.5 and KHYI 95.3, The Range.
Miles From Nowhere performs at the Elks Lodge on Oct. 14 and at the Blossom Volunteer Fire Department Street Dance on Oct. 21. The band performs at Dillon’s on Oct. 27 and Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 28.
Published: October 6th, 2006