1. Ryan Adams (vocals/guitar); Caitlin Cary (fiddle/vocals); Phil Wandscher (guitar/vocals); Chris Laney (bass); Steve Terry (drums).

Adrian, Jason. "Area to get Swig of Whiskeytown." Daily Egyptian Online 12 June 1997.

Band classifications can be vague.

The word "alternative" is used to describe the musical style of such popular acts as U2 and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as underground acts such as Lush and Bad Religion.

Now the titles of "alternative country" and "twang-core" are being tossed around to describe bands such as Son Volt, Wilco and the up-and-coming Whiskeytown, which will lead off this year's Sunset Concert Series at 7 tonight on the steps of Shyrock Auditorium.

Hailing from the Raleigh, N.C., area, Phil Wandscher and Ryan Adams (both guitarists/vocalists) met while hanging out at a bar there. They formed Whiskeytown in October 1994.

Both musicians were part of the Raleigh music scene and shared interests in country artists such as Gram Parsons, but they also enjoyed listening to rock acts such as the Replacements and the Rolling Stones. These acts gave a wide range of influences to the band's songwriting.

Wandscher said Adams' vocal style almost emulates the emotion and rawness of the Replacements' Paul Westerberg, while the country-hinged twang of their songs borders on that of Parsons' band, the Flying Burrito Brothers.

The vocals and songs, combined with guitar and violinist Cary Caitlin [sic], makes the band hard to define.

Riding on the critical success of their 1996 debut album, Faithless Street (Mood Food), Whiskeytown rides into Carbondale with a cache of about 50 recorded songs waiting for an album.

Thirteen of those songs will be part of their sophomore effort, Stranger's Almanac. The new album is slated for a July 29 release on Outpost Recording, a subsidiary of Geffen Records.

Wandscher said the album has a good mix of country and rock, and it is the type of album to "clean the house to."

On tour, Whiskeytown will bring along drummer Steve Terry, who played in the studio for Stranger's Almanac. Bassist Chris Laney will round out the touring unit. Some of their dates this summer will have them traveling as far north as Toronto. They also are scheduled to appear at the mega-popular Summerfest in Milwaukee, which has included such acts as Pearl Jam in the past.

Aside from a fluctuating tour schedule, Whiskeytown was asked to contribute a song for the upcoming Big Star tribute album. The tribute's roster boasts several big names, including Julianna Hatfield, Matthew Sweet, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, Teenage Fanclub and the Gin Blossoms.

At the Ardant Studios in Memphis, Tenn., Whiskeytown recorded the fan favorite "Give Me Another Chance" with former Big Star drummer Jody Stephens.

If "country" is not what some people may deem as pleasurable listening, they should not dismiss Whiskeytown for how it has been labeled.

Instead, they should take comfort knowing that, unlike many of today's country superstars, the members of Whiskeytown will be performing what they have written themselves. That might add some honesty to what today's country music is missing.