Neon lights from the Ferris wheel beckon in the distance, while the aroma of fresh funnel cakes and popcorn fills the night air. It starts with a bone-cracking beat followed by a ripping guitar solo that grabs the crowd’s attention.

The Tennessee Valley Fair is the only place that houses this sort of concoction, and that’s exactly what country rockers, Parmalee, were here for.

An up-and-coming country band, Parmalee took over the Chilhowee Park stage Tuesday night.

In a music industry full of “first name last name bands” and numerous solo artists, Parmalee has got something others don’t, including a band name with a history.

Lead singer, Matt Thomas, sat down with The Daily Beacon to discuss a number of topics — including the story of his band entitled “Parmalee.”

“The reason we call it Parmalee is because we had our rehearsal barn out in Parmele, (North Carolina),” Thomas explained. “We would leave the college town and go out here and rehearse. And that kind of became our refuge.”

Though their beloved small town refuge is roughly nine hours from their new home in Nashville, Tennessee, Parmalee is serving as a country rock refuge in the music industry.

“I’d say we’re definitely on the country side of a rock band,” Thomas said. “We’re from the South — the southern, country thing’s already there. We love rock ‘n roll, good country music, pop and soul music. But we’re kind of the country side of a rock band.”

The band first hit the country music scene with rockin’ country party anthem, “Musta Had A Good Time,” which charted for 20 weeks on Billboard’s “Hot Country Songs.”

The song displays a hypnotic, rockin’ riff with a side of country twang and Southern-inspired lyrics, and it also illustrates the sort of good times Parmalee is used to having.

“It’s all from actual events. We like to have a good time and we all live in the house together, and we used to in college. We’d always have parties over there and you always wake up and there’s somebody on the couch you don’t know, and somebody’s done donuts out in the front yard,” Thomas said. “Growing up and in high school we’d have a party out in the middle of a field and pull some siding off a barn and make a fire and my buddy drove his truck into the creek. So they’re all true events.”

Following their first single, the band found success with the number one hit “Feels Like Carolina,” a multi-week No. 1 hit on country radio as well as the longest climbing single by a duo or group in the 24-year history of the Billboard Country Airway Chart.

However, “Carolina,” as it is so affectionately referred to, means much more to Thomas.

“We spent two or three months in California and we got back home to our little studio,” Thomas said. “The studio reminded me of being out in California, but when I walked outside, I felt like I was home — I knew I was home, so we kind of put that idea together that it feels ‘like Carolina, looks like California.’

“It’s pretty much our staple song. It’s a representation of us, my voice and us as a band.”

Though the band performs and behaves more like a group of best friends, there’s more of a family affair — Matt Thomas on lead vocals and guitar is accompanied by his brother, Scott Thomas on drums, cousin, Barry Knox on bass and childhood best friend, Josh McSwain, on electric guitar.

Yet, with the band on the fast track to country music stardom, an attempted robbery and shoot out nearly ended their dreams.

Two men attempted to rob Parmalee inside their RV, and in the chaos, Scott Thomas was shot three times, leaving him in the hospital for 35 days and in a coma for ten of those days, with a five percent chance at living.

One of the suspects was killed in the incident while the other is still in jail.

“It was a hard pill to swallow. But he made it through luckily,” Thomas said. “We had a lot of support and the fans rallied around us. Four months later, we came out to Nashville and did a showcase for Stoney Creek and got our record deal.”

A few years after, “Feels Like Carolina” was released, leading to their success.

Though they’ve experienced great success from their country rock sound, Parmalee knows exactly where they fit as a band, and who to thank for paving that road.

“Luckily Jason Aldean and Eric Church came along and kind of opened doors,” Thomas said. “They’re kinda more like rockin’ country guys and we’re like country rockin’ guys, so it all works out. They kind of paved the way and helped us out with country radio, so we’re just lucky to have a seat at the table.”

Four seats which Parmalee hopes will become permanent.

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