Chris Wheeler has been known to take an enormous amount of time to finish a single meal, even when his friends have long finished their plates and are waiting for the waitress to bring the check. His roommate, Benjamin Ware, is constantly on his case about the two hours it takes Wheeler to actually prepare and finish his food even at home. This preciseness, however, is what makes Wheeler one remarkable bass player for the Southern rock/funk band WILX.
Visiting Whiskey Blues for the third time on Saturday, WILX will typically play a selection from the golden days covering hits from the Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood or The Who. The show will start at about 10 p.m.
Wheeler said they’ll throw out three or four covers on a given night, but the majority of music, they like to keep original – hit or miss.
“I’m really digging the rock indie bands – original sounds like the Flamings Lips, My Morning Jacket and Andrew Bird,” Wheeler said. “But deep down I’ll always have a solid core of the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Phish.”
Wheeler isn’t the only member of WILX that displays talent. As a matter of fact, he was one of the last members to join.
Grant Mitchell and Hayden Smith, both on top of the lead guitar and vocals have been playing together since 1997 – both from Atlanta. Their history of practicing music together at an early age is revealed through their live music. Influenced by the playing of Duane Allman, Mitchell picked up the guitar at age 16. Smith, also influenced by the classic rock era, was compelled by the pair of Allman and Dicky Betts. Leading the vocals of WILX for the majority of each show, Smith’s fans describe his voice as “soulful” and “authentic.”
“It’s been a great trip so far,” Mitchell said. “But it’s also been a long and difficult road to go down, as most musicians would know.”
In 2002, the core of WILX really began to take form when Grant and Mitchell ran into drummer Wilkes Evans while attending the University of Mississippi. Evans, from Columbus, Ga., began playing music in the sixth grade with drums as his No.1 choice. Dave Grohl, Bobby Rock and Ringo Starr are a few of Evan’s favorite drummers. With Evans in the mix, WILX proceeded to take shape.
Wheeler’s first gig with WILX took place at the First Popular Street Arts and Music Festival in Athens, Ga. Two months later, WILX met their fifth and final piece to complete the group, keyboardist Daniel Bender from Memphis.
Bender began playing the piano at age 5. Jazz has always made a heavy impression on him as his admiration grew for musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Theloneus Monk, Miles Davis and Page McConnell.
“The outstanding friendship that I have with the band members is something genuine,” Wheeler said. “We’ve had to put up with each other’s s— so much that it kinda gets to be family.”
Music runs through the veins of Wheeler’s entire family. Born and raised in Meridian, his father is a world-class bass player and a raging “Beatlemaniac.” Taught by his father the basic chords, Wheeler’s first love is the guitar, he said. In addition to a few lessons when he was young, he picked it up mostly by listening and playing until he could get it right.
“I took up a real interest in music when I was 9 or 10 with the piano, but my fingers were to small to play the guitar until I was about 12,” Wheeler said. “I had a great drummer buddy back in those days. We were two people who would play every chance we had and not stop until someone unplugged us.”
To be released in May, WILX completed its first self-titled debut album in March of 2006. The 10-track CD includes a variety of music genres and was created at Tweed Recording Studio in Oxford (Charlie Mars, Kudzu Kings and Cedric Burnside).
WILX made its rounds this summer traveling and performing in Athens, Atlanta and Columbus, Ga., as well as Charleston, Raleigh and Asheville, N.C. However, they can be found playing most often at Proud Larry’s located in the square in Oxford.
Aside from their lives as musicians, Bender is working on a degree at the University of Tennessee at Memphis, and Smith, Mitchell and Wilkes are students at Ole Miss. Wheeler graduates in May with a degree in lab science from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and also plays with the band Cool Papa Bell.
“We always look forward to coming to Starkville and appreciate all the people that come and support us,” Mitchell said.
“I’d say we’re well put together – cool, solid, groovin’ beer guts,” Wheeler said. “I’m not much of an animal on stage, but I put it all in the guitar.