Briefs

Well, I guess Saint Nick was kind enough to put all of us music lovers on the Nice List. Trust me; I’m just as shocked as you are. Maybe he doesn’t read Boozie Beer Nues. Well, whatever the case, the jolly old man is delivering a sleigh-load full of musical gifts to the Port City. This aural generosity will begin Dec. 22 and keep on giving until the wee hours of New Year’s Day.

Last year, I concentrated on all the shows taking place on New Year’s Eve. This year, there are so many choices and genres to choose from, that I just couldn’t find myself concentrating on one night. If this holiday season is a preview of what’s to come in 2006, then it will definitely be a good year for music in Mobile. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started.

Bands of Christmas Past

Christmas is a time for getting together with old friends, and Mobile’s bands of Christmas past are no exception to this rule. The boys in Chifauco are once again getting crunked for their annual Chifauco Freak Party Reunion Dec. 23 at Soul Kitchen.

Chifauco broke into the Mobile music scene in 1991 by way of Davidson High School. They quickly gained popularity in the underground and the mainstream for their music, which they describe as “Sade getting gang molested by Herbie Hancock and A Perfect Circle in a Persian opium den.” Blair Shotts, Chris Freeman and Ali Afzalirad perfected their ‘90s alternative funk sound and played with bands such as Loppybogymi, Mutant Speed and Shut Eye.

It seems as if they all still have their big toes in the music industry. Shotts and Freeman have been making their mark in the Los Angeles music scene, working with Producer C. Wood, who has also worked with Alicia Keyes and Lenny Kravitz. Their most recent project is called Aerial Caravan.

Shotts is also still playing in the Los Angeles-based Fredalba with actor/singer Eric Balfour (The O.C.), and they have released a video for “Gimme More” on MTV. Afzalirad has been working with Donald Eley (also a Mobile native) on Doubledown Records.

No Pain at Callaghan’s, but close

Callaghan’s will be pumping out some uncut Christmas spirit Dec. 27 with a performance from Birmingham-based guitarist Stuart McNair. McNair’s versatile sound is one part old school country, one part folk, and a whole lotta sheer talent. If McNair’s name seems familiar, then you probably recognize it from the Mobile-based, punk/ska band Pain, whose breakup many are still lamenting. McNair was also instrumental in forming Mobile’s Red Label Revolver.

After his stint in Red Label Revolver, McNair began his solo career. Two years later, he hit the national music scene with his first release “Building a Fire.” McNair’s homespun folk/country sound and insightful lyrics will only compliment the laid back, neighborhood atmosphere at Callaghan’s. Joining McNair will be Phil Proctor on mandolin. To make it even sweeter, this performance is absolutely free!

An Ugli New Year

Everyone wants to party on New Year’s Eve, and Ugli Stick is always ready to provide the soundtrack to your festivities. This year will be no different as Ugli Stick plans on ringing in the New Year (and probably the sunrise) at Monsoon’s with their brand of funk-infused rock. The will have a warm-up for this soirre Dec. 30 with an all-acoustic show at Monsoon’s.

Despite their rigorous Southeastern tour schedule, Eric “the Birdman” and the rest of the Ugli gang, have made time for the studio, spending most of September recording at the renowned FAME studios. So, all you minions of the Stick can look forward to another release from one of Mobile’s favorite bands.

The Tiles come home

We haven’t heard much out of The Tiles over the past couple of months. They have been playing gigs across the Southeast, but it has been a while since they graced the Port City with their sounds. I know many people have been jonesin’ for their pseudo-pop fix and wondering where The Tiles have been?

Craig, Wilco and Brad have been busy at work recording a follow-up to their release “Please.” The Tiles recruited Zero Return in Atlanta to complete this task. Zero Return is the studio owned by surf rock aficionados Man or Astroman?. But thankfully, they are taking time out of their busy schedule to play a Christmas gig at Red’s Outback Dec. 22. So, will fans of The Tiles be able to get their hands on their latest sounds at the Red’s show?

“It won’t be mastered or professionally pressed or anything,” explains Guitarist/Vocalist Craig Ricci, “but we’ll have burned copies of the studio mix of the songs available to give out.

Nothing to Vomit Over

The Vomit Spots will be celebrating 20 years as the reigning kings of the Mobile Underground at Cell Block Dec. 23. Many individuals (including yours truly) were baptized into the Mobile Underground scene at the hands of these punk masters with songs such as “Axl Rose (Cut Your Hair),” “Nina Haagen-Dazs” and “Beano.” After touring extensively across the U.S., appearing in an HBO documentary about Skinheads (even though they obviously are not) and releasing “Tone Def,” the V-Spots decided to call it quits and scatter to the four corners of the Earth (literally). Now, Keith, Al, Anton and Robbie unite once a year to reaffirm their hold on the Mobile Underground scene.

If you feel the need to get warmed-up for the Vomit Spots show, then AllGetOut will be playing the night before on Dec. 22 at Cell Block. AllGetOut has been confined to the Whiskeytone Studio Compound and recording their follow-up to the magnificent “Southern Business.”

If you’ve never experienced AllGetOut’s Southern fried hybrid of Southern rock and punk, then you need to check this one out. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more out of AllGetOut in 2006.

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

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