Coffee Creek

Coffee Creek was an occasional side project of Uncle Tupelo, consisting of Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, Mike Heidorn, and Brian Henneman. Coffee Creek was a country cover band which played out only four times; once in late December of 1991, once in June of 1992, and twice in late July of 1993, each time at Cicero's Basement Bar in St. Louis. The use of the name Coffee Creek was in large measure a way to give UT the opportunity to play the tiny Cicero's after the band's popularity in St. Louis had made it difficult for them to play there under their own name. People around St. Louis quickly figured out who Coffee Creek were, however, and all the shows after the first one quickly sold out.

COFFEE CREEK
Jay Farrar -- Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Brian Henneman -- Vocals, electric and lap steel guitars, Master of Ceremonies
Jeff Tweedy -- Bass, vocals
Mike Heidorn -- Drums, goofy grins

The band obviously had an enormous amount of fun playing country and country rock tunes by Doug Sahm, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Neil Young, The Byrds, George Jones and others. Brian Henneman acted as the 'emcee' of the shows, aping some of Doug Sahm's song introductions word for word and keeping everything real loose. Jay and Brian did most of the singing, with Jeff generally singing only one song per show, CCR's "Wrote a Song For Everyone."

It was rumored at one point that the band was considering recording an album, but the Uncle Tupelo breakup unfortunately meant the end of Coffee Creek. Coffee Creek is credited with producing Brian Henneman's 7" single "Indianapolis" and the cover of Merle Haggard's "Movin' On" on the 20 More Explosive Fantastic Rockin' Mega Smash Hit Explosions! compilation, but that is the extent of their officially released output.

(mug sold at the Coffee Creek shows in July, 1993)