Thick cuts

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Sep 6, 2017 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Band: The Handsome Scoundrels EP Release Party
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9, 9 p.m.
Venue: The Merry Widow, 51 S. Conception St., www.themerrywidow.net
Tickets: $8, available at The Merry Widow and Ticketfly

Mobile’s punk scene has always been an enigma. Local groups focusing on this underground genre come and go, but a few Azalea City punk outfits have managed to last. The Handsome Scoundrels are one such band.

For seven years, The Handsome Scoundrels have delivered an adrenalized brand of punk rock that is both beguiling and fun. Just when the public thinks this Nappie Award-winning band has faded into the shadows, it emerges triumphantly with a new release and a run of live shows.

This show will introduce the local audience to their latest release, “Thick Cuts” on Outloud! Records. For this special occasion, the group has recruited metalcore masters Son of a Gun to help energize the crowd.

Many punk groups tend to force evolution on their sound, with horrible results. Pulling inspiration from classic artists such as The Vandals and Assorted Jelly Beans, The Handsome Scoundrels maintain their appealing punk style.

The band maintains upbeat rhythms throughout “Thick Cuts,” even with the acoustic-driven ballad “Drive Thru Angel.” Considering the content and production, this EP is some of The Handsome Scoundrels’ best material to date.

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.