Briefs

*Taking a glance… *

Peek

Award: Best Local Band

The Port City can’t get enough of Peek. Once again, this smooth rockin’ outfit has brought in the votes with their attractive brand of rock-and-roll.

“I am truly honored we have won,” said Andy Cobb (Bass/Vocals). “We love Mobile, love the people and love playing music for them and look forward to still meeting more and making new friends and hope to continue to see them at new and interesting venues all around the Gulf Coast.”

When these star-crossed musicians got together several years ago, they gathered quite a following. This fanbase grew with the release of their debut “Safe Harbor.” Many fans have grown eager for the next release from Peek, and there is one in the works, but a release date is still unknown. As with many bands, time and finances are a factor in its completion, but this album’s creation has created an admirable philosophy among the band members.

“Well, we are still working on finalizing songs on our next album,” explains Cobb. “It’s a long and hard process since we don’t have a fortune to go sit in a studio. We have to know exactly what we want to do first.”

This year also brought the sound of new bells for one musician. “Our drummer just got married, and he is honeymooning in the South of France,” says Cobb. “So, we are off for a few weeks, but we will be back on Dauphin St. the 11th and 12th of August at Grand Central.”

With the promise of more performances and a new CD on the way, all the Peek fans out there can look forward to a very promising year. Until then, you can catch Chris and Andy at the Met Groove at 9 p.m. on July 19.

Playin’ over the pond

Lisa Mills

Award: Best Area Singer

You don’t need the Nappies to know Lisa Mills is one of the area’s most talented and accomplished sirens, but Mills’ talent reaches beyond not only the Gulf Coast but also the United States.

Many out there might take this musician for granted while watching her perform at venues such as the Blue Gill or Pirates Cove, not knowing that she has made an indelible mark on Europe, where she is currently on tour.

I spoke with Mills via e-mail to inform her about her Nappie win.

“This news brings a little ray of sunshine into even the bleakest of English summers,” she wrote.

It was only a month ago that Mills rocked the crowd in the U.K. at the Tenby Blues Festival with a little help from The Revelators. Reviews across the pond found her performance to be “stunning in its passion, intensity and sheer exuberance.”

It seems as if Mills had a good time in the U.K. as well, despite some very dreary weather.

“The show at Blues on the Farm (Chichester), where I was joined by my friends Ian Jennings (double bass/Big Town Playboys) and Mo Birch vocals/tambourine/Go West) almost ended in disaster when we encountered some ferocious rain storms and had to stop during the middle of our set as lightning began to lash all around us! When we went back I had rain dripping down onto my arm and my guitar as I played. I was just doing my best not to touch the microphone. I was just amazed at how impervious English audiences are to inclement weather,” she explains.

This tour will wrap up in France on July 30. The French will get a little taste of what the crowd at the VFW in Fairhope did a few weeks ago when Beverly Jo Scott joined Mills for a performance. Fans can catch Mills when she returns home at the Mariner Restaurant on Aug. 12 at 2 p.m.

Best ‘by his lonesome’

Wes Loper

Award: Best Solo Musician

With his rich voice and Southern charm, Wes Loper was the top choice for Nappie readers for Best Solo Musician. Whether he’s playing in Gulf Shores or Oxford, Miss., Loper’s sound creates an intimate atmosphere for each person in the audience. When it comes to winning this Nappie, Loper remains humble on the matter.

“It’s pretty cool that people think that; I don’t agree,” Loper explains. “I think there’s better solo guys out there, but I appreciate it.”

Currently, Wes Loper and his band are working on a live album, and they are gunning for a fall release. The coming months may also produce a highly anticipated studio follow-up to his 2005 release “Keep on Growin’.”

“We’re writing for a new studio album,” Loper says. “We’ve got an appointment, actually next week, and we’re going to a Nashville writer. Actually, he’s from Fame Music in Muscle Shoals, but now he lives in Nashville.”

Sirius radio has also opened quite a few doors for Loper. Jimmy Buffett’s station “Radio Margaritaville” has been playing “Shreveport to L.A.” on a regular rotation. This has allowed Loper’s music to travel beyond the Southeast, and Loper has found himself with quite a few more fans and more CD sales.

“We’ll get sales on CD Baby from like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and Maine,” Loper says. “We’re like, ‘Man, I’ve never been there,’ and I doubt all those people have been here to vacation.”

You can catch this Nappie winner on Sunday, July 22 at 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on July 23 at the Flora-Bama.

Winner reactions

Heath Underwood (El Cantador) on winning Best New Local Band:

“We are too new on the scene to be winning any awards. Gotta pay our dues, you know? But, it is appreciated. Can we trade with whoever won Best Mexican Restaurant?

“Johnny’s girlfriend Gin makes killer fish tacos.”

Les Hall (Phar Fletcher) on winning Hottest Groupies:

“I guess when you get right down to it, it’s the drummer that all these wild, hot women are hanging around for. He’s just sitting back there drummin’ and vibin’, vibin’ and drummin’. You know how it is…”

Bo Roberts on winning Best Area Piano Player:

“It feels wonderful because there are some awesome piano players around here. I feel privileged.”

Corky Hughes (Vibration Configuration) on winning Best Area Guitar Player:

“Man, I’m thrilled. It’s my hometown; I was born here. I’m speechless. There are so many great musicians in this town who deserve to win as well…I don’t know if win is the right word.”

Johnny Gwin (El Cantador) on winning Best Area Bass Player:

“Wow! I am totally shocked! I’m not even the best bass player in El Cantador.”

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

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