Thursday thrill

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Mar 28, 2018 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Band: Thelma & the Sleaze, Craig Brown Band, Cyster Sister
Date: Thursday, April 5 at 9 p.m.
Venue: The Merry Widow, 51 S. Conception St., www.themerrywidow.net
Tickets: $5 adv./$10 day-of available through Ticketfly

Start your weekend early at The Merry Widow, where “$5 Feature Thursday” will bring three bands to this LoDa venue’s stage. Comprised of Sally Robertson, Nikol Blaque and Elizabeth Wright, Mobile’s own Cyster Sister gives the local scene a dose of edgy rock with a much-needed feminine touch.

Third Man Records’ Craig Brown Band will add its unique honky-tonk rock to the mix. This band’s rowdy full-length debut, “The Lucky Ones Forgot,” is providing a new context to the alt. country genre. Craig Brown Band exists in a realm mingling The Rolling Stones’ backwoods anthems with Steve Earle’s hits and keeps it classic with beautiful harmonies.

Thelma & the Sleaze is bringing a fresh indie pop rock (heavy on the rock) sound to the mix. The band’s 2017 release “Somebody’s Doin’ Something” takes on a variety of musical personalities. Thelma & the Sleaze has crafted a sound entwining influences from ‘80s and early ‘90s rock, cutting it with bittersweet pop.

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.