Briefs

*Down-home duo hit the OGD *

Ricky and Micol Davis met in Knoxville, Tenn., married and created Blue Mother Tupelo, a mix of roots-rock and Hill Country blues. After positive reviews of their debut release “My Side of the Road,” moved to Nashville to pay dues at local venues. They quickly developed a reputation with their fiery stage presence and remarkable sound. In 2001, they released “Delta Low-Mountain High,” and more and more people began to take notice of this duo as they toured across the Southeast.

Blue Mother Tupelo was on the Southern fried soundtrack to the 2005 indie film “Daltry Calhoun” starring Johnny Knoxville and Juliette Lewis. Recently, their song “Boogie Blues” was featured on Showtime’s “The L Word.”

They recently rocked the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic alongside T-Model Ford, Bobby Rush and North Mississippi All-Stars. They will play Big State Festival in Bryan-College Station alongside Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen and Drive-By Truckers and are hard at work recording the follow-up to “Delta Low-Mountain High.”

*The beast arises once again *

Despite the controversy that surrounds them, RGT’s Beast has been taking their blasphemous sound coast-to-coast on impressive tours. Their May/June tour took them to Los Angeles and back to Austin, Texas. Rabble rouser Uncle Joe Butler wasn’t able to make it out on this one, so Tim Gray acted as stand-in for Butler’s fiery, pond scum commentaries on life. The Beast is gearing up for another wide assault with dates in Baton Rouge, Austin and Houston.

Emerging from the ashes of Fry Cook and The Amazing Coincidence, Abstract Artimus has also appeared on a national and soon to be worldwide level. Armed with an iPod, an old school Casio and a throat full of chaos, this one-man powerhouse has already found a home at the My Little Floppy label out of the U.K. His recent shows in New York were so successful he plans on relocating to the Big Apple in the near future and is set to record a split EP with Berlin’s GGUK.

*Blood-suckin’ guitar-totin’ cowboy *

Whether he’s voicing Early Cuyler on Cartoon Network’s “Squidbillies” or performing his chart-toppin’ hits on stage, Unknown Hinson proves why he’s the “King of Country Western Troubadours.” Despite rumors of vampirism and chauvinistic domination of women, Hinson attracted Capitol Records, who released “The Future Is Unknown” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Straight from Hell.” In 2006, he released his latest chart-toppin’ album “Target Practice” on Coffin Records.

Looking beyond his country-western vampire appearance and humorous songs, Unknown Hinson is one of the most talented musicians on the tour circuit. When Hinson randomly breaks into songs like “Manic Depression,” one can close their eyes and think Hendrix is there.

Soul at the Blue Gill

Mobile can’t get enough of Marc Broussard, and the feeling is mutual. Broussard is once again returning to the Blue Gill Aug. 25 with Shannon McNally kicking off the show. Tickets are on sale now, and they will go fast. Broussard is currently touring in support of his latest release “SOS: Save Our Soul.”

Broussard uses this release to pay homage to some of the great soul singers that inspired his style and his version of Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” is getting steady radio and video play. Broussard also takes on Stevie Wonder with “You Met Your Match” and performs Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “If I Can Build My Whole World Around You” with Toby Lightman. With summer drawing to a close, enjoy an evening with Broussard at the Blue Gill.

Leapin’ leprechauns

Mithril has been charming crowds across the nation with their contemporary Celtic Folk sound. This quartet is at it again with their latest release on Flying Frog Music “The Return Home.” Judging from their two-day Summer Solstice/CD release party at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, the fans were ready for this one.

This 240-seat auditorium was filled to capacity on both nights with extra chairs having to be brought in and people being turned away. “The Return Home” is filled with exemplary examples of this group’s sheer passion for their genre. Songs such as “Sparky at the Wheel” and “The Good Natured Man/The H.O.F.” are jaunting jigs that should get any listener on their feet. There are also very soothing aspects to this album as with “The Poet of Tolstoy Park” and “The Little Lady.” Pick this one up at iTunes, CD Baby.com and www.flyingfrogmusic.com.

Goin’ bipolar

Last year, Lagniappe introduced its readers to Mobile’ s guitarist extraordinaire John Kline and his critically acclaimed release “Instrumental Conditioning.” This album (now in full circulation) recently reached number one on the online music store Rhapsody. Kline has also put together a rag-tag group of musicians and formed Bipolar Express. Look out for Bipolar Express and pick up Kline’s album locally at Satori Coffee and online at CD Baby and Fossil Records.

Paroled

When it opened its arms to the underground, it was the first venue in LoDa to feature original, underground acts as its primary line-up. For several years now, Cell Block has earned the reputation as Mobile’s premiere venue for the underground.

Now, this well-loved venue is planning to close its doors in the near future, but the doors won’t be closed long. In its place will reside an ‘80s retro-themed bar.

Stephen Centanni is Lagniappe music editor. Contact him at scentanni@lagniappemobile.com.

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