Stringing along

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Jul 26, 2017 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Band: Crystal Garden featuring Boyd Tinsley
Date: Saturday, July 29, with doors at 8 p.m.
Venue: The Merry Widow, 51 S. Conception St., www.themerrywidow.net
Tickets: $15 in advance/$18 day of show; available through Ticketfly

Many would consider Dave Matthews Band one of the most prolific musical groups to emerge from the ‘90s. Since the band’s early years, Boyd Tinsley has lent his violin to the band. With the group taking a break from touring this year, Tinsley decided to hit the road with his Crystal Garden project. In preparation, he spent two years searching for the best musicians, ultimately tapping Mycle Wastman (guitar/vocal), Charlie Csontos (bass) and Matt Frewen (drums) to fulfill his vision.

Crystal Garden will be performing cuts from its debut album, “Let the Rocks Cry Out.” This release boasts 11 tracks of mature rock sounds riddled with jazz influences. The eclectic nature of Crystal Garden’s sound is one of its most appealing aspects. However, the band maintains a smooth, mellow persona throughout the album’s 11 tracks. While listeners might pick up on sounds reminiscent of Dave Matthews Band, Crystal Garden exists in its own universe.

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.