Live Music Venues in Mobile, AL
If you’ve ever listened to Jimmy Buffet’s version of ‘Stars Fell on Alabama’ you’ll hear him mention “Mobile, my home town.” Deep in the heart of Dixie, Mobile is a lovely Alabama coastal city of about 200,000 with plenty of live music venues hosting a variety of rock, country, blues, and other artists both large and small.
The website for Mobile’s The Soul Kitchen (45 Dauphin Street, Phone: 251-433-5958) says the party goes on “24/7.” Acts here include bands in a variety of styles ranging from acoustic rock to blues. Both original acts and cover/tribute bands play. Most of the acts are of the local variety including bands with names like Friday Night Gigolos, Eleven, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and Strut .
Saenger Theater ((334) 438-56866 Joachim St.) is not for the performing arts, apparently, but “for the living arts.” Allrighty, then. Opened in 1927, as part of a chain (they had them even back then), the theater is currently owned by the city of Mobile. It houses 1993 people. Along with civic events and comedy and theater, the Saenger also hosts live music events. including the Mobile Symphony, The Mobile Opera, gospel acts, jazz (Dr. John was scheduled to appear early 2006 for a New Orleans benefit), oldies cover groups, country acts like Merle Haggard and nationally known folk groups. Tickets for the venue events are available through Ticketmaster.
The Mobile Civic Center (401 Civic Center Drive, 251-208-7261) actually has two concert venues. According to the website, it’s “not uncommon for two very different events to be happening at the same time.” The Civic Center Theater holds 2000 people. Live music there includes touring Broadway shows, opera and renowned artists like BB King. The Mobile Symphony also plays there on occasion. The Mobile Civic Center Arena is a much larger venue holding 10,000 people and hosting concerts throughout the year include nationally-known gospel acts, rock acts like Don Henley and kids’ shows. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
TP Crockmier’s (170 S. Florida St., 251) 476-1890) not only has an awesome name that sounds like an insult (don’t be such a crockmierâÂ?¦) but it also has live rock on the weekends and open mic’s every Wednesday. It is a restaurant/bar, so the emphasis is on food. Bands are local. Be forwarned, there’s also a karaoke night.
Other live venues include the 150 capacity Liquid (661 Dauphin St., 432-0109) which has jazz on Wednesdays when the Vibration Configuration performs (no cover.) Other live acts including local rock bands. Veet’s (66 Royal St.) has live music on Thursdays and weekends and acoustic sessions on Wednesdays. Also with live music every weekend is The Garage (9 S. Washington Ave., (334) 433-2223).
Alabama may not be the musical mecca that Louisiana, Tennessee or some other Southeastern states are, but it’s got plenty of music. The coastal town of Mobile is just one city where blues, jazz, rock and even Broadway and classical music is there for mass consumption.
