Like students, many teachers live a double life outside of class. While James D. Mixson has been teaching medieval and European history, he has also been active across the Tuscaloosa music scene.
Mixson is an associate professor of history at the University, currently teaching “Western Civilization to 1648” and an upper-level research seminar. Starting from his undergraduate years, though, he has been an avid keyboard player.
“I had to decide whether I was going to go try to be a professional musician or, you know, be an academic,” Mixson said.
For several years now, Mixson has been able to play music in multiple different groups in Tuscaloosa. In 2022, Mixson founded The 603 Band, composed primarily of graduate students and professors from several different fields. The band plays a wide variety of music and has performed at bars and on campus.
“I called it 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Everything from The Beatles to Foo Fighters, everywhere in between, and those guitarists could play like you wouldn’t believe,” Mixson said.
On top of regular performances, The 603 Band has fundraised for suicide prevention at Tide Against Suicide’s Rhythm for a Reason concert and for a nursing scholarship at AshFest, a festival run in memory of Mixson’s late wife. They have even played Ukrainian arrangements with a visiting scholar. Given the band’s size, it can be difficult to organize practices and these performances.
“You’ve obviously got your regular teaching and your research and your responsibilities to do. And the challenge really is, what night of the week can we get together,” Mixson said. “When can everyone get in one place for a couple hours and play.”
With upcoming graduations, The 603 Band has been in flux, but it intends to keep playing despite the changes.
“Anytime you change instruments, change guitarists, you change vocalists, you get different possibilities, right? So we’ll probably come up with a new name and get a new schedule going for that,” Mixson said.
The 603 Band is far from Mixson’s only band, however. Mixson has played with the local band Meanderthal and jams with other professors frequently. Over years of performing, Mixson met and recently married his wife, and in turn joined her band Haunted Housecat.
While jam sessions are common, the performances are what keep the commitment worthwhile.
“Some shows are better than others, but when you’re having a great show with your friends and you just absolutely nail a song, you know, it’s just the most incredible feeling,” Mixson said.
With his wife, Mixson has had the opportunity to learn to write music, and with his numerous bands, he has been able to meet many different people. He said playing music has helped him make connections and meaningful experiences outside of class.
“There are all sorts of famous stories about bands that you know perform together and then they hate one another as soon as the music gets turned off,” Mixson said. “It’s just the opposite. Like every one of these groups … we love one another.”
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