By DEEANN RESK - The Buzz

Article Launched: 06/11/2008 11:01:50 PM PDT

CHICO -- It's been a rollercoaster the last two years for Ten Mile Tide, an Americana/Fiddle-rock band from the city by the bay.

The San Francisco sextet "has gone from national success to burnout to tragedy and now they are back" according to the band's press release. The 2006 New Groove of the Year Jammy-nominated group recently got back on track after a self-imposed hiatus when tragedy struck. The resurrected Ten Mile Tide performed at Lost on Main in Chico last Saturday night, a quick stop in their bounce back California tour.

The tight-knit band, founded by twins Justin Munning (lead vocals, acoustic guitar and banjo) and Jason Munning (vocals, electric guitar), lost their younger brother turned tour manager, Nathan Munning, due to a drug overdose in October 2006.

Jason Munning recalled the grim period.

"What helped me most was music," he said. "It took me a long time to be able to start channeling my sadness in the form of music, but once I did it was the most cathartic experience I could ever have. When I would get so sad that I couldn't shake it, I picked up my guitar and played until the music I was playing matched what I was feeling."

He now truly understands the power music has to connect people on deep, emotional levels he said.

Now the twins are back and ready to hit the road again. The rest of the band is eager to get the show on the road, too. Filling out Ten Mile Tide includes Chico State alumnus, Jeff Clemetson (bass), Steve Kessler (fiddle), John "Knuckles" Morales (drums) and Matt Mitchell (keys, B3).

"It feels great to be back," Jason Munning said. "We've all done a lot of soul searching the last couple of years (and) we all realized this is exactly what we wanted to do."

The guitarist explained how the band members are all best friends and there was an "empty void" when they weren't playing music together. Now, "We all have renewed energy and focus," he said.

With a current west coast tour underway, an east coast tour scheduled this fall and a new album coming out later this year, the band is full steam ahead.

Some of the new songs on their yet-to-be-titled album includes, "Heartbeat of San Francisco," an acoustic rock number about the city's vibrant, diverse energy and how the city finds kindness and tolerance in multiculturalism, and country rock song, "You and Me Gonna get Drunk Tonight," about old-time friends getting together to have a good time.

"We pretty much run the gamut," Jason Munning said of the band's music. "We (enjoy playing) everything from deep, meaningful songs to fun, party songs." Makes sense from a band who describes its work as "feel-good acoustic rock, foot-stomping folk and beer-drenched bluegrass."

To learn more about Ten Mile Tide's rocky and reviving ride, visit the band's website at www.tenmiletide.com/.

DeeAnn Resk can be contacted at deeannresk@gmail.com.