Briefs

The seasons in the Port City are like a group of dysfunctional siblings constantly fighting over who gets to be the center of attention. Right now, Old Man Winter and Lady Spring are at odds. I’m hoping the latter will win this one, as outdoor venues are some of the best places to experience music. In the coming weeks you’ll have plenty of chances to have these “experiences” because outdoor shows will be blooming in abundance right along side the azaleas.

Last issue, we featured the Pat McGee Band who is playing at The Blue Gill Friday, March 31 but didn’t talk much about the opening acts traveling with them, Bain Mattox along with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. You will want to make sure you get there early so you don’t miss these guys.

Kellogg and the Sixers describe their sound as rock that “replaces attitude with sincerity.” The sound is somewhere between one of Ryan Adams’ 3,000 albums and a Rob Thomas solo project without the annoying white boy Latin infusion.

Atlanta’s Bain Mattox has racked up an impressive bevy of awards with titles like “Best Rock Band” and “Best Singer/Songwriter” from Athens’ Flagpole Music Awards and “Best Front Man” and “Best Instrumentalist” from others. So all around, an award-winning rock-and-roll band.

Down Under dude

Just when you thought it was safe to leave The Causeway after the Pat McGee show at The Blue Gill, you have to return just two days later. The aptly-named Swamp Room under Felix’s Fish Camp will be back in business Sunday, April 2, as 92Zew and Budweiser kick-off their Summer Concert Series with the John Butler Trio.

This Australian jam band is (not shockingly) led by John Butler. The trio’s, which is actually a quintet, latest album “Sunrise over Sea” debuted Down Under at Number One on their charts and has done quite well here.

The Swamp Room is the first stop on their American tour after being in Europe for the past couple of months. So let’s make sure we give them a warm Southern (and American) welcome. Things will get started around 6 p.m. and is a free show, as all of the shows are in this great concert series.

Tunes for a good cause

Also on Sunday, April 2, the American Legion Post 199 will be turning out the jams on the ESho and raising money for a very worthy cause. Musicians for Music (MFM) will be throwing quite a beach bash in order to raise money for their scholarship fund. MFM is an organization that provides financial support to school music programs, church music programs and aspiring musicians in need of a little push.

An art show, featuring Fairhope street artists as well as many other well-known artists, is also on the schedule. If you’re looking to get out of the sun, then step inside to witness some of MFM’s success stories as they perform live. I would make it a point to bring a lounge chair because the Locust Fork Band will be going on the Beach Stage until 7 p.m. with an open jam to follow.

The Locust Fork Band has become a regional favorite over the past 30 plus years that they’ve been together. This band plays everything from “western swing to country and rock and roll.” With jamming on the brain, The Locust Fork Band plans on rocking the crowd with many of their favorites, as well as selections off their albums “Overnight Success” and “Playin’ Possum.” The six-member-strong band is guaranteed to put on a great show. So, head over to the E Sho, get your jam on and support an extremely worthy cause.

Jamnesty

Amnesty International has evolved into an extremely successful, worldwide organization. They have spent many years exposing human rights violations across the globe and tried their best to liberate its victims. Over the years the music industry has become quite entangled with this humanitarian group with U2’s Bono being one of its most outspoken members. These days, everyone from Gwen Stefani to The Red Hot Chili Peppers support Amnesty International. We’ll get a taste of this in the Port City April 9 at 12 p.m. when Spring Hill’s chapter of Amnesty International once again throws its annual “Jamnesty” show on Dorn Field (on the west side of the Avenue of Oaks).

This show is three bands strong. First, Soul Kitchen veterans Perplexium, Inc. are scheduled to rock the humanitarian masses.

They will be followed by Baton Rouge-based band The Elements. The Elements will be providing their positive-vibe reggae sound that will take them back to the NOLA Jazz Fest this year.

And Birmingham-based singer/songwriter Owen Beverly will finish things up.

Blue Gill Jeans

I couldn’t harp on outdoor shows without another shout-out to the Blue Gill’s Waterfront Amphitheater. Situated on brown waters in the open air, Harry Johnson’s latest renovation at the hands of Katrina is really making the grade. Since the warm weather is right around the corner, 92 Zew has once again started up their Second Tuesday concert series. The Zew is bringing back a local favorite in the form of Wes Jeans. Every time I hear Jeans’ music, I’m amazed that they aren’t pumping him out of radios across America. He has the potential to easily become a household name with his brand of Texas Flood blues.

Over the past few weeks, Jeans has been in Dallas hard at work on his latest album, which he hopes to release in early summer. Wes recruited the talent of Lance Lopez and Eric Gales for this one. The coolest part is that he will be distributing 5,000 bootleg copies that will be signed by Wes and numbered. I’d get my hands on one of these if I were you.

Other entities are noticing Jeans as well with all the sponsorships he has earned. Mills Acoustics has even engineered Jeans a custom cabinet that they donned “The Beast.” So, head back down to the Causeway (again) and catch Jeans. If you can’t make it out, then definitely tune into The Zew, who will broadcast the first hour of the show live from 7 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Zewtopia

The ZEWtopia Music Festival is getting bigger and better as April 15 inches closer and I keep hearing rumors there might be even more huge additions to the line-up. If these rumors are true, then the mystery guests will be joining confirmed acts Dr John as the “Night Tripper,” the subdudes, Cracker, Mike Doughty, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Mindy Smith and Eliot Morris

Scheduled for “D-Utta Stage” is singer/songwriter GOAT, as well as Austin’s own Big Blue Hearts. Big Blue Hearts is the epitome of a genre that some are calling Country Alternative. Their music harkens back to the days of Roy Orbison with a rock-n-roll twist. These clean-cut men wearing black suits and Wayfarers are going to be a guaranteed crowd pleaser with their dreamy lyrics and clean guitars.

The musical performances won’t be the only entertainment at the festival. ZEWtopia organizers are also planning on having an arts and crafts section as well as holding KIDfest, which will feature a children’s art area, face painting, arcade games, and much more.

If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, then you’re missing out. They’re available now at 92Zew.net, so get online and get ready for one of the best concerts to hit Mobile in a long time.

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

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