Viral guitar virtuoso, one night only

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Oct 22, 2014 | Music Briefs | 0 |

The world met Andy McKee through YouTube. The virtuoso of acoustic instruments went viral with his unique style of playing. McKee not only utilizes the guitar for strumming but also as a percussive instrument. Through unorthodox hand positioning, McKee has the ability to pop and strum across the strings while adding percussive rhythm through slaps across the guitar body. This technique adds a new meaning to the term “one-man band.” McKee’s style of playing is especially thrilling in a live setting. McKee has been fortunate enough to open for musical acts such as Dream Theater and Prince.

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McKee has been relentlessly touring in support of his latest EP “Mythmaker.” The album’s title-track properly showcases McKee’s style. While a typical acoustic sound is dominant, McKee’s percussive works on the strings make his guitar take on the soul of a dulcimer. The relaxing setting of Azalea Manor should perfectly complement McKee’s music.

Andy McKee
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m.
Venue: Azalea Manor, 751 Dauphin St., www.azaleamanormobile.com
Tickets: $20 at the door and through the Azalea Manor website

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.