Briefs

Voices and verve

Kristy Lee and Hussy Hicks

Date: Tuesday, July 22, 9 p.m.

Venue: Fabachers (5602 Old Shell Rd.) 414-1417

Tickets: TBA

Mobile native Kristy Lee has a powerful, soulful voice, and her folksy blues sound is one part Tracy Chapman, one part Janis Joplin, marinated in Southern goodness. Her singer/songwriter skills placed her as a runner-up in “Best Area Singer” category of the Nappies.

At the age of 18, Lee release her first nationally-distributed CD “Lifescapes.” The studio admirably caught the deep soul in which she has fashioned her voice, and her live performance personifies the emotion felt in each track. Lee is currently touring across the Southeast with Australia’s Hussy Hicks.

Hussy Hicks are comprised of Julz Parker and Leesa Gentz. Though these two are from a different hemisphere, they have directed their sound towards the folk side of things as through their travels, they have picked up the characteristics of folk music from around the globe.

When they take the stage at Fabacher’s, they will also have copies of their debut release “Life Plays Out.” Hussy Hicks will wrap things up in America in Orlando before heading back to Australia.

Lotsa’ birds, one stone

Grayson Capps and the Stumpknockers

Date: Saturday, July 19, 6 p.m. (Bluegill), Sunday, July 20 (Callaghan’s)

Venue: The Bluegill Restaurant, Callaghan’s

Tickets: $5 at the door (Bluegill), Callaghan’s TBA

Grayson Capps and the Stumpknockers are taking home two Nappie Awards. Grayson Capps won the Nappie for “Band With the Homeliest Groupies,” while Stumpknocker and Mobilian John Milham won the Nappie for “Best Area Drummer.” Capps and his team of musicians are joining forces with The Bluegill for a relaxing evening of stripped down jams amongst brown waters and gators. The Bluegill also won a Nappie for “Best Outdoor Bar to See Live Music.”

Capps is gearing up for the release of his fourth album on Hyena Records, “Rott ‘N’ Roll,” due in stores Sept. 9. The title is based on the way his audience classifies his style of music. Capps and the Stumpknockers set up shop in his farmhouse to lay down tracks for this one. “Rott ‘N’ Roll” is said to capture Capps’ live performance, and many of the tracks are said to be first-takes.

And if you miss them at The Bluegill, they will also be playing a “Hangover Sunday” show at Callaghans July 20. This OGD bar took home the Nappies for “Best All Around Bar,” “Best Burger,” and “Best Hangover Food.”

The ladies’ favorites

Grits-N-Pieces

Date: Thursday, July 24, 6:30 pm

Venue: Felix’s Fish Camp (1530 Battleship Pkwy) 626-6710

Tickets: Free

With this trio’s down-home sound, it is no surprise Grits-N-Pieces won the Nappie for “Band with the Hottest Groupies.” The “country-rockin’ blues with a little grass” music that is the creation of Mark Willis (vocals/lead guitar), Troy Brannon (vocals/rhythm guitar) and John Keuler (bass) has made them quite a favorite at various watering holes across the Port City, and they are currently infiltrating the Mississippi Gulf Coast by way of the Imperial Palace Casino.

They definitely have a good old boy image with the heart of an outlaw, and this is reflected in their music. In addition to the old standards, Grits-N-Pieces do have a repertoire of impressive originals and have recorded a few in the studio including the heartfelt “So In Love With You” and bad boy number called “Runnin’ Up the River.” If one was looking to take this band home with them, they do have “Live at the Bluegill” for sale on their Web site.

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

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