Briefs

Michael Franti and Spearhead

Date: March 8; Doors at 9 p.m.

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

Tickets: $18 in advance/$22 at the door

The Port City will get a little taste of Bonnaroo 2007 when Michael Franti and Spearhead hit Soul Kitchen. Franti and Spearhead are currently touring in support of their latest release on Anti- “Yell Fire!”

In the late ‘80s, Franti formed the band The Beatnigs under the guidance of Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles record label. Later, he delved into hip-hop with the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy on 4th and Broadway.

In 1994, Franti evolved into a funk/soul outfit named Spearhead. With their admirable combination of funk, soul, reggae, rock and hip-hop, Spearhead has both charmed and informed a new generation of fans hungry for the truth and the groove.

In 2004, Franti was frustrated with news reports on the War in Iraq and decided to seek the truth on his own. He traveled to Iraq privately with a film crew and spent time wondering the streets of Baghdad speaking to the locals and experiencing the unadulterated side of the war.

The experience was filmed and released as a documentary called “I Know I’m Not Alone.” This trip also served as inspiration for some of the songs on “Yell Fire!”

Tea Leaf Green

Date: Monday, March 12; Doors at 8:00 p.m.

Venue: Soul Kitchen, 219 Dauphin St., 433-5958 Tickets: $10 at the door

San Francisco’s reputation for pumping out legendary musical groups is as well known as Nashville’s. It seems as if the next band to hit the big time from this city is Tea Leaf Green. The critics are touting that this band is on its way to being “the next big thing” in the jam scene. Tea Leaf Green’s sound is inundated with an impressive psychedelic, flower power sound that hasn’t been heard out of San Francisco in years. When their music reached the ears of Trey Anastasio (Phish and Oysterhead), he handpicked them as a tour opener.

“It was a great honor,” says Josh Clark (guitarist/vocalist). “It was a really fun tour that we did with him. It’s really awesome to be recognized in some capacity by the people that you admired and looked up to when you were first starting off. In any business or in any art, there’s people who you aspire to and people who influence you when you’re young. To interact with them is surreal, but in other ways, it was completely normal.” During that time, many jam fans were introduced to Tea Leaf Green’s electrifying stage show. The hybrid of quality music and dominant stage presence has added kindling to their popularity and has earned them spots at Bonnaroo (including the upcoming Bonnaroo 2007) as well as Mountain Jam.

“We try to bring a lot of energy to it and try to make it fun for everybody,” says Clark. “For me, it’s pretty much what I want to do, so I get up there and pour just about everything into I can.” In October of 2006, Tea Leaf Green released “Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” to an eager public. This album is a perfect example of the energy and attitude this band displays on their way to the top.

Lonestar, Blake Shelton, BayFest Battle of the Bands

Date: Saturday, March 10

Venue: Hog Wild Festival at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds, www.bbqmobile.net

Tickets: $25 through Ticketmaster

For several years now, The Mitchell Company BBQ Championship and Hog Wild Festival has brought out many lovers of both barbeque and music, with all the proceeds going to United Cerebal Palsy. This year, the Hog Wild Festival is features performances from country superstars Lonestar and Blake Shelton.

Lonestar broke out of the badlands of Texas in 1995 with their first major hit “Tequila Talkin’.” They followed this single with “No News,” a number one hit in 1996.

Even though his latest release is called “Pure B.S.”, Blake Shelton is proving that he is anything but. Shelton began his successful career with his hit “Austin” and continues with this album, which was produced by Nashville big dogs Bobby Braddock, Brent Rowan and Paul Worley.

This festival makes many local musicalfans hog wild the BayFest line-up with its “Battle of the Bands.” This year’s participants include: Revel, Signull 47, StereoHype, Muskrat Hannah, Grind Squad and Johnny Barbato and the Lucky Doggs.

Huka Productions and Front Gate Tickets made their local presence known with a Lundi Gras/office warming party that was as festive as the party outside. Huka has been working closely with local venues and brought in acts such as G. Love and Special Sauce and Blues Traveler. Basing their offices near the action in LoDa, Huka plans to continue their good run with more entertainment on the way including Sound Tribe Sector 9 in April.

The Saenger Theatre bids farewell to general manager Allen Sanders. With Sanders at the helm, the Saenger experienced an upswing in musical entertainment by bringing such acts as Allison Kraus, Keb Mo, Bonnie Raitt and Delbert McClinton. His efforts have not gone unnoticed judging from his latest career move. Sanders has taken a job in Montgomery at a stellar Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Spa running their “Broadway-quality performing arts center.” Good luck to Allen Sanders; you will be missed.

For more on Sanders’ departure, read this issue’s edition of Artifice in the arts section.

Buzz has increased since The Police decided to give it another go and the fans are going crazy with news of a major U.S. tour. This tour plans on making a stop in NOLA at the New Orleans Arena on June 30, but there is a heavy price to pay for tickets. Judging from sales at other venues, the nosebleed seats could be in excess of $150 (not including service charges), but there are those fans out there willing to pay any price for a concert of this magnitude. However, there are alternatives that are cheaper after analyzing the situation.

The initial line-up for Bonnaroo 2007 has been released, and The Police are included in the line-up. Other artists include: The White Stripes, TOOL, Mute Math, Widespread Panic and many more (including those who haven’t been listed yet). Tickets for this three-day experience are starting out at $184.50 (with the price increasing over time).

It seems as if more Mobile natives are making themselves known out on the West Coast. Native Mobilian Donald Eley (aka DJ Dizzy) has gone public with his label Hi Fi Alliance. The musical act to be signed to this new label is Thomas Lunch. Lunch hypnotizes the listener into their world with a dreamy, eclectic style. This is outside the box music at its finest, and the world can experience this with his release on Hi Fi “Diagrams Without Instructions.”

Cary Hudson and Molly Thomas

Date: Sunday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

Venue: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, 916 Charleston St., 433-9374

Tickets: $3 at the door

Cary Hudson began his career in The Hilltops with John Stiratt (Wilco/Uncle Tupelo). When Stiratt departed, Hudson continued his career with an alternative country group called Blue Mountain that later found a home on Roadrunner Records. After a successful stint with Blue Mountain, Hudson pursued a solo career featuring a worthy combination of roots-rock and old school, Mississippi juke.

Joining Hudson will be local favorite Molly Thomas. After playing with Slow Moses, Thomas became a successful session violinist, playing with the likes of Todd Snider, and solo artist. She is currently touring nationwide promoting her release “Shoot the Sky.”

Peelander-Z

Date: Thursday, March 8, 10 p.m.

Venue: Cell Block, 216 Dauphin St., 431-0186

Tickets: TBA

Peelander-Z delighted the crowds at Cell Block with their intense underground rock attitude and exaggerated anime-inspired costumes. There are few concerts out there where one can experience the thrills of human bowling while a quality punk band rages on stage. When these four young men from Japan take the stage, eyes do not tend to wander and the audience is permanently enthralled throughout the night. After rocking out to Peelander Red, Peelander Yellow and Peelander Blue, fans can pick up a copy of their latest effort “Happee Mania” and take the enigmatic magic of Peelander-Z everywhere they go.

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

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