Briefs

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals

Date: Wednesday, Oct.17 with doors at 7 p.m.

Venue: Saenger Theater, 6 S. Joachim St., 208-5600

Tickets: $25.50/$34.00 available at Saenger Box Office and through Ticketmaster

When Ryan Adams dropped out of high school in 10th grade, he began a perilous journey that has taken him to the top and at times pushed him to the edge of sanity. After cycling through several bands, he founded an alt. country group called Whiskeytown. While with this band, he developed an attractive roots rock sound that lasted even after Whiskeytown parted ways in 1999.

Even though sales of his debut “Heartbreaker” were not stellar, artists such as Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris lent their talents, and it served as a foundation for his follow-up “Gold.,” which earned him Grammy nominations.

Adams kept up an almost insane momentum with yearly album releases. And 2007 ushered in his latest effort “Easy Tiger.” This release was created as Adams was battling a serious addiction to speedballs (heroin and cocaine) as well as alcohol and prescription medication. Adams retreated to the legendary Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village to create this album, which critics call his most “cohesive” work. He also recruited Sheryl Crow to sing back-up on the song “Two.”

Recently, Lost Highway Records announced that they would be releasing a box set of live recordings. Adams’ unreleased albums “48 Hours” and “The Suicide Handbook” will be included.

B-Side Players and the Salvador Santana Band

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 23 with doors at 8 p.m.

Venue:Soul Kitchen, 219 Dauphin St., 433-5958, www.soulkitchenmobile.com

Tickets: $10 in advance available at Soul Kitchen

Salvador Santana is following closely in the footsteps of his famous father Carlos who made a name for himself creating a hybrid of rock and Latin beats accented with his iconic guitar sound. Salvador picked the keyboard as his instrument of choice, but he has taken his father’s creation to the next level with a combination of Latin, rock, soul and hip-hop sounds laced with his own gift of poetry. Recently, he contributed an updated version of “Evil Ways” for a tribute album called “A Song for my Father.”

The B-Side Players will be headlining this evening with their world music sound infused with funk. This band shot out of San Diego almost meteorically in the early ‘90s, and their latest album “Fire in the Youth” shows you why.

When “Alegria” kicks this album into gear, the grinding, dance hall sounds of Jamaica are seductive as well as catchy. Hopefully, the Port City will invest in some good dancing shoes for this one.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals w/ special guest Matt Nathanson

Date: Monday, Oct. 22 with doors at 6 pm

Venue: The Swamp Room, 1530 Battleship Pkwy, 626-6710

Tickets: 92 ZEW Free Concert Series

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are taking a breather from their tour with Gov’t Mule to showcase their brand of good, old-fashioned rock-and-roll to the alligators and other folks who venture into The Swamp Room under Felix’s Fish Camp.

In early August, the nation began its love affair with this group after their television appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Good Morning America,” among others. This promotional juggernaut was due to the release of their third album on Hollywood Records, “This is Somewhere.” Potter’s seductively cool voice is positively impressionable on this release, and local fans should be quite pleased with it.

San Francisco singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson will be opening for the Nocturnals. He is currently touring in support of his sixth studio album “Some Mad Hope.” With his mellow croon and heartfelt lyrics, Nathanson has developed quite a following.

The Rundown

When Tea Leaf Green made their Port City debut, many were taken by this San Francisco band’s sound. This group has created their own contemporary jams, yet they have riddled it with a classic rock attitude that has enthralled many seasoned music critics in their hometown.

Their debut at Bonnaroo turned so many heads that they were invited back in 2007. This is a band with a hardcore touring ethic and plenty of stage energy to go round. Huka Entertainment knows a good thing when they hear it, so they are bringing the boys in Tea Leaf Green back Oct. 12 for another night of unique rock in support of their 2006 release “Rock and Roll Band.”

Sister returns

The Hazelnuts will be falling off the trees in full force when Sister Hazel returns once again to the Soul Kitchen Oct. 24. The love for Sister Hazel is still strong in the Port City judging from their past sell-out shows. The Hazelnuts are abuzz with the latest news out of the Sister Hazel camp – they are preparing for the release of their latest album “Bam!”

Currently, they are offering a free song download of “What Kind of Living” off of “Bam!” If this is evidence of what’s to come, Sister Hazel has not lost the originality of their sound. In other news, lead guitarist Ryan Newell was featured on WE’s reality show “Get Married!” His wedding was featured, and Newell wrote the original score.

Old school longhairs

On Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Saenger, the Mobile Symphonic Pops will perform an evening of spooktacular music featuring Jon Williams’ Harry Potter Suite. The orchestra and maestro Scott Peck will don costumes and conjure up musical spirits from the likes of Grieg, Gounod, Danny Elfman and many others. Head down to LoDa for a terrifying good time with the Mobile Symphonic Pops.

New Saenger show

As 2007 inches towards 2008, it seems as if the Saenger is already busy preparing for another year of quality entertainment. On Jan. 12, the Saenger will kick off the new year with a unique performance from Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby. These two legendary musicians will be sharing the stage for an intimate evening filled with Hornsby’s beautiful work on the piano and Skaggs’ down-home sound. Tickets go on sale on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Saenger Box Office and through Ticketmaster.

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

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