I’m sitting in the corner of a big-city cafe with the four members of I Nine. They look thoroughly tired, as if they woke up only minutes ago. Like they’ve been driving for hours. Like, well, a rock band on the road, with wrinkled jeans and sleepy eyes. I can’t help but wonder, do they even know what city they’re in?

Nobody ever said the cross-country grind of the musician’s life promised a good night’s rest. These twentysomethings’ faces attest. “I bet you guys miss home,” I say, prompting a spate of wistful remembrances of Orangeburg, home sweet home.

“I miss the sound of silence,” says singer Carmen Keigans, sipping tea to soothe a scratchy throat. “And seeing stars.” Cellist Bryan Gibson adds, “I miss milk shakes at the Dairy O. They have the best milk shakes in the world.” Guitar player Brian Whitman pines for Dukes’ Bar-B-Q. Bassist Matt Heath nails the small-town longing on the head. “I miss the smell of grass,” he says. “Orangeburg smells like grass.”

Thoughts of home compete with the requirements of making it, because I Nine is a band rising. Since the quartet teamed up less than four years ago, both film director Cameron Crowe and music mogul Clive Davis came calling to take notice of the group’s fresh alt-pop sound. This different-joint-every-night journey will take these childhood pals a long way from Orangeburg.