Playing live in fact is where Cravin' Melon is at its best, so it's only fitting that the bio tells the story of the fans, as much as the band. From the fanatical FRC (Front Row Club) to newly indoctrinated "melonheads", the age range of faithful followers spans 3 generations. Instantly addicting, fun-loving melodies battered up with swaggering southern charm is the classic recipe for a down-home party with Cravin' Melon as the congenial hosts! The re-loaded rhythm section of bassist Rob Clay, drummer Gary Greene, (former percussion player for Hootie) and keyboardist Chad Barger, crank out the horse-power for the road-hugging vocals of lead singer Doug Jones, and the top-down guitar licks of Jimbo Chapman!
Formed on New Years Day in 1994 as a combining of members from Doghouse and The Next Move, Cravin' Melon was born. With only a few months of gigs under their belts, they signed to Carolina producer Dick Hodgin's M-80 Management company and embarked on a rigorous tour schedule through the Southeast that would last two years. On the strength of the band's energetic performances, Cravin' Melon sold over 20,000 copies of their indy release, "Where I Wanna Be". With word on the street about the live shows, and the band's cutting-edge presence on this "new fad" called "the internet", it wasn't long before the major labels came calling. In 1996 the band inked a deal with Mercury and in Jan, 1997 released its debut , "Red Clay Harvest". Constant touring coupled with the major-label release more than tripled their sales base. The next two years saw them emerging as a Southern power-house, packing clubs headlining the star-rich Jim Valvano celebrity V-Jam, and pocketing the 1998 South Carolina Band of the Year Award. Previous recipients include James Brown and Hootie And The Blowfish.
Mercury then released "Squeeze Me", a plate-full of hearty live renditions of fan-faves recorded live at the House Of Blue in Myrtle Beach SC. One listen to "Come Undone," and the Southern anthem, "Sweet Tea" and it becomes clear that the members of Cravin' Melon ( and certainly the fans) revel in the enjoyment of playing live. The seven tracks are filled with a perfect balance of rock muscle and spunky jams.
Corporate takeovers, mergers and general depression in the music industry led to the band's exit from Mercury in 1999. Undaunted, the band turned to Hootie's percussionist, Gary Greene, for the beat, and New-Boy, Chad Barger for keys, then resumed their relentless touring schedule. The match was an instant success as fans were awed at the energy level. In December, 1999, the band entered a small studio in Columbia SC to begin tracking what has now become their most definitive collaboration, "The Great Procrastinator". This 12 song disc released in Summer, 2000, instantly became the fan-faithful favorite, pushing the web-site over 100,000 hits. With an eclectic mixture of styles and sounds, the guys began another touring assault that would take them from New Orleans to Rochester NY sowing new melonseeds along the way.
I doubt this is your official page, but I don't care....it has one of my very favorite songs on it that you guys ever did. "Take me hoooome to Freedom Tooooown!" :P lol Damn that voice gets to me everytime! LOL I am SO stoked you guys are back together!! :D I loved you guys and got a bunch of my friends hooked on y'all back in the day too...so I was excited to be the one to hear them scream with excitement (like I did) when telling them that you guys were back together again. lol A couple of them have an event with Tom Hanks and others that they can't miss next Sat. night, but said to give y'all a big hug & kiss for them...cause rain or shine, MY ass will BE THERE! :P lol So I'm bringing a couple newbs to the scene that haven't heard you guys. Can't wait to see you guys again! Take care and love you all! ;D
My husband and I completely enjoyed the show this weekend at the jammer! It was great to see you guys together again and hear the music live instead of on the cds like the past seven years. Nothing beats you guys live! Keep playin and we'll keep comin.
The show at Lincoln Theater in 1 word. Ah-Maz-inG!!! My throat hurt from screaming & my hands hurt from clapping. I know I was grinning so cheezy but I couldn't help it. So excited to be there with you and the rest of your great fan(atic)s. We're crazy bout you guys. I got really great pics, Thank you Jimbo for taking the pic of the crowd, awesome!
Hey guys. We missed yall in Raleigh... our tickets went to waste but we will be road tripping to SC Friday night.. I can't wait. Yall are my sis-in-laws favorite band and I am a brand new melonhead!
Awesome show @ The Lincoln Theatre! You guys looked like you were having the best time!!! It was great to see you performing again on the stage... Welcome back!!!!
Getting ready to leave for Raleigh. Super excited bout the show tonight. Some of my co-Melon fans had to bail on us but oh well, we'll still have fun w/o them! C U soon!
Last night lived up to the expectations of the last seven years and then some!!!! It was amazing seeing you all together again...Thanks for a wonderful, blissful night with my fellow melonheads! :)
Ill see you guys at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh Saturday night.. Its been way too long!! Great interview on the radio with Foster the other day Doug!
Rumor has it you will be in Augusta, GA in a few weeks! I am pumped! It's probably a silly request, but I've had a rough past 6 months and it would make my year to hear Sweet Tea. Will take me back to Clemson, 95/96... ah, memories!
