Box(ing Day) of Rain

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Dec 22, 2015 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Band: The Stolen Faces
Date: Saturday, Dec. 26, at 7 p.m.
Venue: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, 916 Charleston St., www.callaghansirishsocialclub.com
Tickets: Call 251-433-9374 for more info

Photo/Pat Berguson/facebook | The Stolen Faces

Photo/Pat Berguson/facebook | The Stolen Faces

This year heralded the end of an era in rock history. The members of the Grateful Dead played their last show under the band’s moniker. With the passing of this iconic band, Deadheads will have to find satisfaction with bands such as Dead & Co. (featuring three members of the Grateful Dead and other musicians) and the numerous Grateful Dead tribute bands that are currently touring. One band out of Nashville has been doing an exemplary job of paying tribute to the music of The Grateful Dead.

In relatively little time, The Stolen Faces have become the Southeast’s premiere Dead tribute band. With his experience in bands such as Grayson Capps & the Lost Cause Minstrels, many locals are already familiar with bassist Christian Grizzard’s musical talents. Now Grizzard is pouring his talents as a bassist and vocalist into The Stolen Faces. This Nashville resident has filled this personal project with some of Music City’s most impressive session musicians. The line-up of The Stolen Faces boasts impressive respective backgrounds that include work with Billy Currington, Jimmy Buffett, Lou Rawls, George Strait and many more.

Some tribute bands focus on looking just like their chosen band, and others choose to sound just like the band that they are covering. The Stolen Faces have admirably chosen the latter. Both instrumentally and vocally, The Stolen Faces cover the Grateful Dead’s music with sheer perfection.

About The Author

Stephen Centanni

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s. He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing. While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer. His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade. As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children. Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.