Thursday To-Do: Mike Farris
MIKE FARRIS
9 p.m., Juanita's. $12 adv./$15 d.o.s.
In his official bio, former Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies lead singer Mike Farris talks about God a lot. And not just God, but Jesus and love and grace. Several years back, Farris pulled a prodigal son and returned to the flock after a long battle with chemical dependency. Along the way, he started recording what became “Salvation in Lights,” a document of the faith that girds his recovery. All that might be reason to ignore Farris for those of us who would rather listen to white noise than praise music. But Farris isn't plying chirpy, hand-waving pap. His worship music comes in the far more palatable soul-gospel variety. On “Salvation,” he covers standards like “Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down” and “Oh Mary Don't You Weep” and sings blue-eyed soul as convincingly as anyone. His music borrows from dozens of Southern traditions — Memphis soul, Johnny Cash, early New Orleans gospel. Farris' performance will be acoustic; 18 and older will be admitted.
