Tator taking on a challenge

The band Tator has come a long way since they started playing together last year.

When rock musicians Bryon Dial, Danny White and Barry Clark got together to form their own band, they didn't know what they would play until they met vocalist Andy Combs.

"He's got that good ole country voice," said Dial, guitarist and back-up vocals.

After picking up drummer Rick Roberts of Bedford, the band just meshed together to become a "rockin' country" band.

"I thought I would never play in a country band, but here I am ... and I'm enjoying it," said Clark, guitarist and back-up singer. "We've always played rock and roll. We don't play the old traditional country, nor would I want to, but country music has changed so much."

The band went from practicing three times a week to playing a gig about every weekend since September. Playing at places such as the O'Brien Street Bar and private clubs in Seymour, Tator performs songs from a variety of popular artists such as Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry and even John Mellencamp.

Their practice has paid off. Tator was accepted as one of only 16 bands to be battling in French Lick Resort's $10,000 Country Band Challenge this Saturday.

"This will probably be our largest crowd so far from all the gigs we've done around here," said White, bass player.

The bands, from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, will face off in round one this weekend with Tator playing at 9:30 p.m. Saturday and their opponent Bigg County playing before them at 8 p.m.

The band members said they felt a little nervous when they heard who they were up against in the first round.

"These guys have a recording contract in Nashville and they've been together for 13 years," Dial said of Bigg Country. "They've opened for Brian White and Tracey Lawrence."

Fans and supporters of the bands, age 21 and older, are encouraged to attend the casino performances since the bands are judged by crowd applause until the final round.

The Tator band said they are trying to get as many people there as possible. That's why they've made special accommodations for their fans by setting up a bus to meet in the city parking lot (behind the Eagles) to take people to the performance in French Lick.

The bus is scheduled to leave at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in riding the bus can contact Wanda White at 524-9843.

The eight bands that win their battle this weekend will go on to perform June 5-6. Four semi-finalists will perform June 12 and the competition will come full circle on June 13 when a panel of judges picks the big winner. Preliminary round performances are free for casino guests. Tickets for the final showdown are $10 and may be purchased at the Hoosier Sugar Company in French Lick Springs Hotel or at the door the night of the show.

"I'm not going down there to win, I'm going there for the experience of playing in front of all those people," Combs said.

His band members had a different opinion.

"I'm going to win, I want the ten grand," Dial said. "If we get beat, we are going to get beat by someone that is really good."

While the band doesn't know what they'd do with the money if they won, they do know they love playing music together.

"That's what I tell everyone, I couldn't have got any luckier to be playing with a better group of guys for my first band," Combs said.

For anyone interested in going to the show, Dial said, "Wear a helmet, 'cause you are going to have a good time.

"We get out in the crowd and party right along with them," he said.

Roberts added, "We aren't like most bands; we don't just get up there and play songs, we get up there and put on a show."

If you go

What: French Lick Resort's $10,000 Country Band Challenge

Who: Tator

When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: French Lick Resort

Admission: Free

Information on fan bus leaving from Seymour at 5:30 p.m. Saturday: Call Wanda White at 524-9843