Born for it

On stage and screen, Stacy Kendro finds the funny

Though she didn’t start performing until her thirties, Stacy Kendro’s journey to the standup spotlight started much earlier.

Before starting college, she waitressed at a restaurant in Framingham, Mass., when it became a suburban outpost of Nick’s Comedy Stop. For someone who would eventually major in art and minor in theater, whose dad loved comedy and had a record collection that included Rodney Dangerfield and Spike Jones, it was timely.

Since then, “it’s kind of been my whole adult life,” she said by phone recently. Urged by coworkers, she did characters for the Nick’s crowd a few years in. “It was awkward, but I got laughs,” she said, “There were like 15 waitresses, and none of them did standup, but I did. So it was already in me, I think.”

Later, she sporadically duoed with her now ex-husband, an experienced comic. When the two weren’t working, she crafted a solo set and tried out her nascent act at one of her friend’s shows.

“I didn’t tell my husband at the time,” she recalled. “I wanted to not have anybody looking at what I was writing, just go do it, fail a bunch of times and see how it went.”

When Kendro got serious, she headed to L.A., doing shows at the Comedy Store’s female-centric Belly Room, along with the Ice House, which had an annex for young comics. All the while, she’d hit every open mic she could find. Then she headed home. “I kind of cut my teeth in Boston,” she said.

Later, she performed on cruise ships. “That was interesting…. I met singers, but mostly it was piano players and magicians that I became really good friends with. Then I went to New York in 2000…. I came back at the tail end of the pandemic.”

Kendro’s comedy is street-smart and world-weary, with sharp wordplay leavened in. She’s written a series of film shorts called Albanian Assassin set in Las Vegas. She’s won accolades, including placing second in a national Ladies of Laughter competition in 2019. Kendro’s writing is also getting noticed. She wrote a couple of pilots, one of which was picked up by Women in Film Video New England for a table read and more. “We’re also going to block, which is great, because you can see everybody act it out, but also network with filmmakers.”

Since returning home, Kendro has become a regular on Rob Steen’s Headliners circuit, which includes a show in Gilford on July 12 with Jody Sloane and Amy Tee at Beans & Greens’ Notch Biergarten called Ladies of Boston Comedy. She’s not crazy about the name, even while understanding the marketing of showcases like Mothers of Comedy and others.

“It’s like we’re a novelty,” she said. “You know, there’s never an all-male show, there’s just a show…. Interestingly, bookers are still in the boys’ club in their heads. They kind of base a lot of who they book on what their tastes are, not realizing that half the audience is women. In that sense, it’s harder to be a woman.”

Kendro once opened for Joan Rivers at a New Hampshire women’s expo and recalls watching her perform as revelatory.

Her set mixed humor and reflection. “She managed to talk about her personal life and some triumphs. She even said to the audience, ‘You think just because I’m famous that my life is easy? I got fired off the Tonight show. My husband committed suicide. I’ve been through some trials.’ But she made it funny, she was very skillful in that.”

Later, the two talked about Rivers’ early years in a comedy world even more dominated by male comics than today’s. “I asked her what it was like,” Kendro said, and the answer exemplified the legend’s no-BS worldview. “She said, ‘Oh, it was easy, because I was friends with Richard Pryor, and Carlin, and we drove around the Village, and I did stuff with them.”

Ladies of Boston Comedy w/ Jody Sloane, Stacy Kendro, Amy Tee
When: Saturday, July 12, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Notch Biergarten by Beans & Greens, 245 Intervale Road, Gilford
Tickets: $27.50 at beansandgreensfarm.com

Featured photo: Stacy Kendro. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 25/07/10

Local music news & events

Song pull: Led by quirky Austin singer-songwriter Matt The Electrician, Family Game Night is a unique variation of a writers-in-the-round event. Natalia Zukerman, Kris Delmhorst and Erin McKeown join Matthew Sever to swap stories and share songs, the latter coming from “playful prompts” that result in “plenty of laughter, camaraderie and the occasional audience participation.” Thursday, July 10, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $25 at thewordbarn.com.

Good mix: Blending elements of alt country and harmony-rich classic rock, Slim Volume is a breath of fresh air on the local music scene. At the core of the quartet is the songwriting team of Trent Larrabee and Jake DeSchuiteneer, who met as coworkers at SNHU’s Manchester campus, bonded over a shared love of ’60s bands, and found their mojo at Strange Brew’s downtown open mic. Friday, July 11, 7 p.m., Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St., Suncook, slimvolume.band.

Young gun: It’s been said that modern country music is a lot like Tom Petty in the 1970s, and Gavin Marengi is a good example. The Salisbury, Mass., native’s most recent album, Northbound, offers raved-up rockers like “Back to Boston” and the soulful title cut. On the latter he sings about being “with my old six-string in a bar in Boston without a drink,” which makes sense — he’s still in his teens. Friday, July 11, 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $21 at ccanh.com.

Summer fun: Canadian national treasure Barenaked Ladies top a ’90s throwback concert with Sugar Ray and Fastball, part of their Last Summer On Earth Tour. No worries, they called it that in 2022. Saturday, July 12, 7 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $30 and up at banknhpavilion.com.

King looper: The reference point for many one-person bands is Howie Day, who was looping long before every bar act in the country discovered it. A few years ago, Day was so impressed with a parody of his biggest hit “Collide” done by three CERN graduate students that he volunteered to re-record it with them himself. The result is just lovely, and it’s definitely worth checking out on YouTube. Monday, July 13, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $42 at tupelohall.com.

Arts week

Film, fine arts, music and more in Sunapee Harbor

Center For The Arts, located in the Sunapee region, has a wide reach. This distinction will be apparent during the annual Arts Week, which opens July 11. Along with bucolic paintings and photographs at a “Naturally New England” juried show in the historic Livery, there will be a film about barn preservation, and a songwriter’s circle.

“We dabble and focus on not only the visual, but performing and literary arts, which is super different — I don’t know of many that really address all three of those things,” Dana Stahlheber, CFA’s Executive Director, said recently. “I love that, I think it’s really special … the performing arts and music piece is just so beautiful.”

Stahlheber will moderate the July 19 Behind The Lyrics event ($15/$20) with Tom Pirozzoli, Click Horning, Grace Rapetti and Colin Nevins. The four will, she said, “share their storytelling and how they go about writing their music, and then they’ll play a song. It’s an open discussion and sharing on … the creative process that they use to come about their songs.”

A Friday evening kickoff party ($45/$55) at Prospect Hill Antiques marks the event’s official start. After a temporary tenancy at the still-closed Anchorage Restaurant, a Bow craft brewer has moved its Sunapee outpost to the first floor of the gallery. “It’s a wonderful marriage,” Stahlheber said.

Prospect Hill’s upper level remains a gallery store.

“We’re going to be up there for a good portion of time, with art from the’ Naturally New England’ artists up there,” she said. “But down the stairs on the first floor is the Hoptimystic Brewery now. There’s a little mini porch out front that you can sit on and look at the bubbling brook that goes by.”

Guests will receive tickets to sample beer, enjoy live music and explore art. Some artists will speak about their work or demonstrate their process, adding an educational and interactive layer to the evening. As Dana notes, “We’re raising funds at this point for a community arts campaign,” a sign of how much the organization has expanded in just the past year.

The 14th annual Arts in the Harbor happens July 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a gathering of crafters, artists and artisans under tents, with fine art and crafts for purchase such as oils, acrylics, watercolors, monotypes, pastels, drawings, photography, block prints, sculpture, pottery, fine jewelry, gold and silver work, weaving, fiber arts, wood, metal, stone and sculpture.

On July 13 at the Livery, located at 58 Main St. on the approach to the harbor, there’s a showing of Jim Westphalen’s film Vanish – Disappearing Icons of a Rural America ($15/$20), along with an art exhibit dedicated to the many barns, meetinghouses and historic buildings that are quietly disappearing from New England’s landscape.

The Livery itself is a testament to the importance of preservation. Once an old structure, it has been revitalized into a jewel of the community, frequently hosting music and art events. For example, on Friday, July 11, Grammy-nominated singer songwriter Ari Hest will perform, a show that’s not affiliated with Arts Week ($20, thelivery.org).

Stahlheber urges the curious to “come and make a weekend of it,” noting that while Sunapee may be a bit off the beaten path, that’s part of its charm. It remains laid-back, scenic and accessible, with a medium bowl of porridge feel — just right. Yes, parking in the harbor can be tight, and shuttle solutions are still under discussion, but the slower pace and close-knit vibe make up for logistical challenges.

Sunapee Arts Week
When: Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 20
Where: Sunapee Harbor and other locations
Tickets: centerfortheartsnh.org

Featured photo: LiveryFalls By Jay Fitzpatrick Courtesy photo.

American music

The Range hosts Pure Prairie League & The Weight Band

Two bands performing at an upcoming show in Mason have never been on stage together but have a shared history. Mike Reilly of Pure Prairie League met The Weight Band’s Jim Weider in 1970, when both lived in Woodstock, New York, a haven for musicians.

“Jimmy played a lot of gigs with the band I was in,” Reilly recalled recently.

Weider was friends with The Band at the time, and he would eventually assume Robbie Robertson’s role after The Last Waltz, while Reilly was a couple of years away from joining PPL. Fifty-plus years and myriad personnel changes later, the band carries on, with Reilly, steel guitar player and founding member John David Call still aboard, along with drummer Scott Thompson, keyboard player Randy Harper, Jeffrey Zona on guitar and bassist Jared Camic.

In December 2024, Back on Track, their first new Pure Prairie league album in nearly two decades, was released. It’s a solid effort that stands up to music the band made with front men like co-founder Craig Fuller and Vince Gill. Standouts include the high-energy rocker “A Love Like Yours,” the Jimmy Buffett pastiche “Price of Love” and some great covers.

New members Zona and Camic initially pitched a four-song EP, but when Reilly learned they’d written a few more songs, he said, “‘the hell with the EP; let’s do a record, man!’” He suggested a pair of songs by Gary Burr, a PPL member in the ’80s and ’90s who also sings on the new album, along with a favorite Little Feat tune and Elton John’s “Love Song.”

With layered harmonies, stomping fiddle and deft finger-picking, Feat’s “Six Feet of Snow” is a perfect choice for a band that helped define the idiosyncratic hybrid of rock, bluegrass and country that ultimately came to be called Americana. In their early days, though, they confused the music business, including their record label.

It was a good problem.

“In the early ’70s, [it was] us, Poco, the Byrds and the Burritos, and stuff was just a mash,” Reilly said. “We were too country for L.A. [and] not country enough for Nashville. They couldn’t figure out where to put us. As far as I’m concerned, it was to our benefit. We got to do what we wanted to do, and stuck to our guns and made it happen.”

Take their biggest hit, which sank without a trace as a part of Bustin’ Out, the first album Reilly worked on with the band. A few years later it was reborn as a result of relentless touring.

“Probably 250 to 275 colleges a year,” he said, “cramming ‘Amie’ down all these students’ throats. Every Stephen Bishop wannabe with an acoustic guitar could play the chords.”

They’d lost their record contract when Fuller went to jail for draft evasion, but a ready-made hit made them a safer bet. So they were re-signed, though the label never could decide where they fit in. At one point the company president decided to design a high-tech cover for Can’t Hold Back, their first record with new member Vince Gill and their last with RCA.

It was a botched undertaking, beginning with relegating Luke, the band’s Norman Rockwell-drawn mascot cowboy, to the top left corner of the album cover — and it got worse. “He spelled the band’s name Pure P-I-R-A-R-I League,” Reilly said. “I flew to New York from L.A., jumped on the desk, and was promptly escorted out.”

At their next label, Casablanca, they would enjoy what Reilly called “another 15 minutes of fame.” A string of hits began with “Let Me Love You Tonight,” followed by “I’m Almost Ready” and “Still Right Here In My Heart.” Gill left after for a solo career, and these days, he’s playing with The Eagles.

Asked why his band continues to tour and record, Reilly offered a simple answer.

“It’s all about the music,” he said. “When I heard Pure Prairie League the first time, I went, ‘Wow, I really like what these guys are doing.’ … Craig’s voice and John Call’s pedal steel just knocked me for a loop. I said, ‘I want to be in that band,’ and two years later, they called me. That’s it. I’ve stuck with it ever since because I love what we do. I believed the music needed to continue [and] that’s the reason it turned into my life’s work. I never imagined it would be 55 years later.”

Pure Prairie League and The Weight Band
When: Saturday, July 5, 6 p.m.
Where: The Range, 96 Old Turnpike Road, Mason
Tickets: $60 and up at etix.com

Featured photo: Miss Alli. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 25/07/03

Local music news & events

Croon time: A free outdoor concert has the 19-piece Compaq Big Band performing with guest vocalist Ed Scheer, who promises to channel Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Bobby Darin and other famous swinging singers. Given the proximity to Independence Day, the big ensemble plans on playing some patriotic numbers, and the venue has ample space for any dancers looking to kick up some dust. Thursday, July, 5 p.m., Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, compaqbigband.com.

To freedom: Celebrate Independence Day with free music sponsored by New Hampshire Underground, which offers an opportunity to buy a meal for a veteran, along with food from Liquid Therapy Brewery & Grill. Performers include Lone Wolf James, doom rockers Dead Harrison, alt hip-hop artist 6 Minds Combined, and lo-fi EDM from DJ The Healer. The event benefits Nashua Veterans Promise. Friday, July 4, noon, 14 Court St., Nashua, newhampshireunderground.org.

Junk party: After hitting on America’s Got Talent and later in Las Vegas, Recycled Percussion came home and opened its own venue. “Giving them full freedom to turn every show into a one-of-a-kind experience,” the junk rockers explained on their website. A 1980s-themed summer run kicks off with two shows. Saturday, July 5, at 2 and 7 p.m., CAKE Theatre, 12 Veterans Square, Laconia, $49 and up at tix.com.

Boogie band: Al fresco music abounds, including blues rock in the afternoon with The Love Dogs in Manchester’s North End. The Boston-based band packs a punch, featuring a pair of hot horn players, barrelhouse piano and a rhythm section that Blues Review magazine called “the best in the business.” The raucous, bopping “Rockin’ At The Doghouse” is a set standout; ditto the rollicking “Big & Hot.” July 6, 2 p.m., Stark Park, 650 River Road, Manchester, thelovedogs.com.

Power duo: Keep it outdoors with Cold Chocolate, the pairing of Ethan Robbins on vocals and strings and Ariel Bernstein, percussionist, banjo player and singer. The two are critical darlings; Boston Review’s Simon Waxman raved that their music “sounds softer than the dew on the mountainside, harder than a Harley pushing back red dust, sweeter than true love.” Tuesday, July 8, 5:30 p.m., Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth, strawberybanke.org.

American made

Fourth of July weekend craft fair at Gunstock

From chainsaw art to high-tech birdhouses, along with pottery, jewelry and paintings, there’s a little bit of everything at an upcoming crafts fair at Gunstock Ski Resort in Gilford. For two days, more than 120 individual exhibitors will offer wares that are unaffected by tariffs — everything’s made in America, mostly in New England.

The event is one of several organized by Joyce’s Craft Shows. Joyce Endee is a former educator who turned to her quilting hobby when she grew frustrated with the job market more than 30 years ago. Promoting crafts shows came naturally, she said in a recent phone interview.

“I turned my passion into a business,” she said. “I was a business teacher, so I liked doing marketing and advertising. It’s been very good to me, and I’ve made a lot of good friends. I care about these people; I hope that sets me apart…. I work to help them be successful. They’re exhibitors, but by and large, these are all artists too.”

The fair is not just a marketplace; it’s an immersive experience that offers glimpses into the creative process. One of the best is a demonstration by an artist who takes a chainsaw to large chunks of reclaimed trees and sculpts intricate figures, all without sketching a design beforehand.

“She doesn’t even draw on the wood, she just does it from her brain, and it’s amazing,” Endee said of Sanbornton wood carver Elise Ford. “She carves beautiful bears and a whole different group of birds, like cardinals. And then she’ll stain them — the bears will typically be black, the cardinals, obviously, red.”

The live artistry continues with a potter who’ll be working on a wheel, showcasing traditional ceramic techniques. Other craftspeople will be spinning yarn and creating handmade jewelry. Some artists offer customization of their works, Endee said. “I have a wonderful exhibitor that makes his own charcuterie boards and cutting boards, which he will personalize, so it makes them extra special.”

There are some options for those interested in what Endee calls “true art,” but it’s really a crafts show.

“I do have artists; I have one that does watercolors of mountains, and people love his work,” she said. “He does very well because I have a lot of shows in the mountains. I don’t have a lot of acrylic artists; I’m always looking.”

Endee emphasizes that her fair offers a way to support both the local economy and its arts.

“These people have amazing creativity, and I’m very proud of them,” she said.

4th of July Weekend Craft Fair
When: Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Gunstock Mountain Resort, 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford
More: joycescraftshows.com

More Fourth of July events
Concord also celebrates on Friday, July 4; festivities start at 6 p.m. in Memorial Field with food vendors and music followed by fireworks at 9:20 p.m., according to the city’s parks and rec summer brochure. See concordnh.gov.

Manchester’s Independence Day celebration starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, in Arms Park with vendors and DJ Adam Furious, according to the city’s Economic Development office’s Facebook page. Fireworks are at 9 p.m. The NH Fisher Cats game on Thursday is also slated to have fireworks; gametime is 6:35 p.m. versus the Portland Sea Dogs. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Merrimack’s Fourth of July celebration include a patriotic concert on Thursday, July 3, at 6 p.m. in Abbie Griffin Park; a parade on Friday, July 4, at 1 p.m. and fireworks at Merrimack High School that evening at 9:15 p.m., according to merrimackparksandrec.org.

Amherst’s July 4th celebration starts at 9 a.m. on Friday with food vendors and activities on the Village Green, according to the Amherst NH July 4th Committee Facebook page. A children’s bike parade is at 9:45 p.m., before the main parade at 10 a.m. See amherstnh4th.org.

Nashua’s July 4 celebration starts at 11 a.m. with a Silver Knights game at Holman Stadium (first 500 adults and children under 12 get in free; reserve tickets in advance at nashuasilverknights.com). A free concert with The Slakas starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by other local acts at 7:30 p.m., the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. See nashua.gov.

New Boston’s July 4 happenings are at the Hillsborough County Youth Center Fairgrounds, where the gates open at 4 p.m. and offerings include kids’ activities, food, live music and more before fireworks at approximately 9:30 p.m., according to newboston4thofjuly.org and the organization’s Facebook page.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

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