Down to the river

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Oct 25, 2017 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Band: The War and Treaty
Date: Thursday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Venue: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, 916 Charleston St., www.callaghansirishsocialclub.com
Tickets: $10 at the door

The story of many musicians begins in childhood, but Michael Trotter Jr. of The War and Treaty nurtured his musical talent in a most unlikely place. In 2004, while serving in the U.S. military in Iraq, he found himself camping in one of Saddam Hussein’s private palaces. While there, Trotter began teaching himself piano and composing songs — on an instrument that belonged to the former dictator.

After returning home, destiny joined him with vocalist Tanya Blount. The couple pooled their music talents into a project they call The War & the Treaty.

Trotter and Blount have created a sound expertly combining soul, blues and gospel influences from the early 20th century to the present time. Their upcoming EP is “Down to the River.”

The War & the Treaty transforms its mix of jazz, Delta blues, soul and funk into a charismatic sonic revival that should gain luster in a live setting.

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.