Jackson Free Press

Murph Caciedo is one face you might not recognize in public. This semi-shy, talented and friendly guy, while unknown to most Jacksonians, is arguably the hardest-working musician in the city. He started some of the best bands in Jackson and still plays drums, sings and writes songs for four bands.

I caught up with Caciedo recently at Fenian's Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055). I clumsily spilled my drink all over the table. But as a good drummer does, Caciedo quickly cleaned up my mess without even missing a beat.

"Are you OK?" He asked.

This nice guy's history is steeped in music. His parents were both musical and encouraging, and when he turned 7, he began to play the drums. Growing up in a military family, he honed his chops in Tacoma and Seattle, Wash., before his dad uprooted the family and moved them closer to his mother in Pearl. At age 15, he received his first drum kit and has been playing ever since. Caciedo credits his dad for pushing him to learn different Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin songs. When he mastered them, his dad would buy him more equipment. His parents still come to some of his shows.

Goolosh was Caciedo's first band, founded early in high school. Another high-school band, Kitty Foyle, followed. His first gigging band was Probable Cause. When that band took breaks, he would have to go outside because of the patrons' debaucherous acts and the fact he was still a teenager.

He graduated from bar cover band to start the punk band Storms for St. Louis with Brad Walker and Josh Little. Caciedo also played with Jackson punkers The Tuff Luvs. The band was together for eight years, released two albums and had Universal Records' interest, but never saw its big break come to fruition.

Caciedo's sixth band, Redneck Trucker, featured Sam Smith, Lenny Bradshaw and Mike Dollar. The band turned up and tuned out, playing a mix of southern rock, punk and grunge. Caciedo drummed for friend and singer Eric Luttrell's band, Nox, and he also managed to squeeze in some drumming time with The Pates Family for two years. He also played with Luttrell's short-lived 1990s tribute band, Dixieattle.

"People still want to hear '80s music. They still want to hear Poison and Warrant," Caciedo says.

Two years ago at a New Orleans Saints football party, Caciedo ran into another local-music badass, bassist Don Hawkins of Roosevelt Noise. The two hit it off immediately, and along with Roosevelt Noise's Drew McKercher, formed Spacewolf, which has become one of Jackson's most sought-after rock bands. Spacewolf will put out an album in 2012.

Caciedo's 11th band, Frank and the Meltones, was created during a raucous practice session between Spacewolf and Los Buddies, neighbors in the Midtown Arts District. Caciedo moseyed over to Los Buddies' practice to say hello, and they asked him to sing. It was Caciedo's first rock-singer role, and he says he was "terrified" the first few times he sang to eager fans. Drums had always been his security blanket. He has overcome his stage fright since. Caciedo says it's his friends who always saw his potential of being the frontman, and he's getting used to vocalizing things he never could say.

Guillermo is Caciedo's newest band, with veteran rockers Kurt Thomas and Josh Little. This punk trio looks forward to an album release some time this year. Caciedo has gotten so comfortable with being a band's frontman, he has started another hardcore rock band with Spacewolf members and JD Burns (formerly of Deltagun and now with Coffin Breath) called Hinges, and they too are releasing an album in 2012.

While Caciedo has many band practices and recording sessions this year, he's seen plenty of recording time with Lizz Strowd, Caroline Crawford and Misha Hercules, as well as playing on the Skate Mississippi compilation album in 2011.

Caciedo is also making a name for himself collegiately. His friend Daniel Guaqueta, a drummer and musician, works at Belhaven University. Guaqueta asked Caciedo to play percussion for Belhaven's dance department, making his hobby a full-time career. When he plays percussion for dance students, he makes each drum note "a part of the dance," he says. Caciedo teaches private drumming lessons at his studio.

He says his family drives him to be successful, even his younger brother, Corey, who has autism and lives with his parents.

"I want to do the best I can, because I want my little brother to be provided for one day and to have the best care possible," Caciedo says.

He shared this philosophical gem while we chatted at Fenian's: "Music is like golf: Out there, it's just you and the ball."

When you're in the mood for awesome music and want to meet a solid, friendly drummer who works hard to promote the music, come hear one of Caciedo's bands.

Spacewolf is performing at Martin's Feb. 17 with Bloodbird. Follow any of the bands on MySpace or Facebook.

CORRECTION: We spelled the band names Goolosh and Kitty Foyle wrong in an earlier edition. We apologize for the mistake.

Previous Comments

ID

167023

Comment

I corrected the spelling of the two early bands Murph was in, Goolosh and Kitty Foyle. Sorry for the errors.

Author

Valerie Wells

Date

2012-02-09T09:28:41-06:00