Author: Michael Witthaus

Bringing the jokes home

Comic Koutrobis films special in Nashua

One of the reasons comics decide to make a special is inertia. Unlike the case for musicians who can lean on their hits forever, once a set of jokes is committed to video, a comedian needs to write some new ones. When Mike Koutrobis greets a hometown audience at Nashua’s Center for the Arts on March 21, he’ll say goodbye to his tight 60, ready to face the blank page.

It makes sense. When Koutrobis began standup 30 years ago, he was a single guy, and the laughs came from trying to remember who was in the photos on his girlfriend’s apartment walls and being stymied by one hung with a sample picture still in it, like some kind of weird test.

These days, he’s married and a father.

“The material’s writing itself now,” Koutrobis said in a recent phone interview. “My son just turned 5 and I’m turning 53. He’s getting more active; I’m getting less active. He’s learning new ways to do things; I’m learning new ways to cope with an injury.”

Entertainment is in his blood. In high school, Koutrobis worked as a professional clown, juggling fire and riding 6-foot unicycles. Upon graduation, “I literally joined the circus,” he said. “The day out of high school, I was a performing clown at York’s Wild Kingdom in Maine.”

At 21 he started hanging out at bars, and soon was hosting karaoke.

“I couldn’t sing, so I made it funny,” he said. “I love the attention — middle child syndrome. It just kept going, and I’ve never turned back. Anything to do with entertainment or being in front of people just attracts me.”

A booking agent pointed him to an open mic night at Stitches in Boston. “He says, you’re funny, do you write jokes? I go, ‘I don’t know … I’m just being myself,’” Koutrobis said. “I went down, and I was absolutely horrible; I still have it on tape, I’ll never get rid of it. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

Rising to the challenge, he kept at it, studying other comics, looking for clues to their success. He recalls Boston comedy legend Patrice O’Neal complimenting him early on. “He goes … ‘I don’t know what the hell it is, but you have something.’ I thought, now I gotta figure out what the hell that is.”

Since then, Koutrobis has done a little bit of everything, appearing in movies and on television, promoting shows, teaching other comics, working as a DJ, and that’s for starters.

“I have 72 jobs,” he said. “I’m literally in a parking lot right now about to be a hospital clown at Tufts Medical Center … there’s not much I don’t do.”

When he quit his day job, Koutrobis realized that ubiquity was his key to success in entertainment.

“I need to be the guy where someone goes, ‘We need this for a party, let’s call Mike — either he does it, or he knows somebody that does.’ My business card says, and it’s my favorite quote of all time: ‘Eventually, you’ll hire me for something.’”

Koutrobis is excited to appear at the newest venue in the town he’s called home since he was a toddler. Advance sales for the show have been brisk.

“I’m already beyond what I was hoping for,” he said. “People from high school that I haven’t spoken to in years are messaging me, and they bought tickets. We’re already over 300 sold, [and] honestly, that was my number.”

A retirement party for material that long served him well had to happen, Koutrobis concluded.

“I got lazy with my writing, but when you put something out there it’s, ‘OK, that stuff’s done now.’ Look at Juston McKinney or Bob Marley, speaking of two local guys. As soon as they put out a CD, or Juston does his Christmas shows, it’s pretty rare you’re going to hear any of those jokes ever again.”

Mike Koutrobis Comedy Special
When: Saturday, March 23, 8pm
Where: Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua
Tickets: $27 at nashuacenterforthearts.com

Featured photo: Mike Koutrobis. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 24/03/21

Local music news & events

• Emerald Islanders: Keep basking in a green glow at an evening with Altan, a band considered one of Ireland’s finest musical exports. Their just-released album Donegal celebrates the county where they were formed. The new record is also their first with recently added fiddler and singer Claire Friel, who takes a lead vocal on “Faoiseamh a Gheobhadsa.” Thursday, March 21, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $35 and $45 at palacetheatre.org.

• Founding father: Richard Thompson has stayed a folk music force since he co-founded Fairpoint Convention in 1967. His memoir, Beeswing, was published in 2021, and he recently dropped “Singapore Sadie,” the first single from the forthcoming album Ship to Shore. Friday, March 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $60 and up at tupelomusichall.com.

• Helpful humor: Enjoy dinner followed by a free comedy show with Chris Tabb headlining. Presented by the charity-minded Comedy On Purpose, the night includes sets from Sara Poulin, Nick Gordon and Bill Douglas. Saturday, March 23, 7 pm., Stonebridge Country Club, 161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown, call 497-8633 for reservations.

• Bluegrass power: A regional roots supergroup, Little Wishbone is the combination of Green Heron — married duo Scott Heron and Betsy Green on banjo and fiddle — and Old Hat Bluegrass Band, which has Steve Roy on mandolin, guitarist Whitney Roy and Amanda Kowalski on upright bass. The band plays an afternoon show at a barbecue restaurant run by another member of the bluegrass community. Sunday, March 24, 3 p.m., MrSippy BBQ, 184 S. Main St., Rochester. More at littlewishbone.com.

• Empire statement: Extending the program begun 30 years ago by Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents is a touring initiative currently featuring Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III, the latter affectionately known as BB3. Both are trumpet players and singers, exploring the Great American Songbook. Wednesday, March 27, 7 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $43.75 and up at ccanh.com.

Classical video games

Symphony NH performs Game Over(ture)

By Michael Witthaus
[email protected]

For many years, video game companies operated like old-school movie studios. Everything was done in-house, including the music. That began to change in the late 1990s, a shift that would impact the life of Austin Wintory, a young composer studying at USC. A lifelong gamer, Wintory had always been intrigued by the scores of Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda, but he had no interest in working 9 to 5 at a tech company.

“The whole appeal of being a composer is you make your own hours,” he said in a recent phone interview. “You pursue your own opportunities … perpetually take swings and gambles, and bet on yourself. It’s an entrepreneur-type path, like running a small business.”

One day, a fellow student invited him to work on a game he was developing. Wintory recalls it as “very humble, tiny little project” that itself went nowhere, “but it led to him introducing me to some of his classmates … in particular was this guy named Jenova Chen, who was working on his master’s thesis video game project.”

Flow, the game Chen was developing and recruited Wintory for, became an online hit in 2006. Its success led Sony to hire them to code a version for the PlayStation, which had more music composed by Wintory. It became a hit on that platform, as did a sequel (that he didn’t work on).

In 2009, the team reunited to make Journey, a game that “exploded beyond anyone’s wildest imagination,” Wintory said. “It essentially made me a so-called video game composer, even though I’ve never seen myself that way… I was always passionate about games, and always wanting to be a composer. In hindsight … they were always on a collision course.”

Journey became the first video game to be nominated for a Grammy, shoehorned into the “Score Soundtrack for Visual Media” category. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score for Girl With the Dragon Tattoo took the prize, but Wintory set a precedent that led to the creation of a video game category 10 years later. He’s been nominated both years it’s existed.

He responds with humility at the notion that he’s some kind of trailblazer.

“I honestly find it baffling; I don’t claim to be the one who should have been the first,” he said. “Many iconic scores came before me that simply weren’t nominated.”

Over the years, Wintory has become friendly with Symphony NH Music Director Roger Kalia, and on March 23 and March 24 he’ll guest conduct music from Journey, along with the Final Fantasy Seven’s climactic finale “One Winged Angel,” a piece he sheepishly requested Kalia let him lead at the concert.

“It’s always fun to conduct more than just my own music, but I am the guest, it’s Roger’s show; I’m not trying to pull focus or steal undue podium time,” he said, adding that his selection recalls operatic works like Verdi’s Requiem. “Carlos Orff’s ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana. It’s a piece in that kind of a vein, an absolute massive grand symphonic statement. It’s a real popular one because that game was just such a landmark.”

Kalia, he continued, has conducted Journey himself several times — on the West Coast where Wintory lives, and with the Evansville Symphony Orchestra. Wintory considers the Game Over(ture) concert, which will also include music from Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers and Prince of Persia,an ideal way to help expand the reach of classical music.

“What I love about these kinds of shows is they’re a real celebration of … cultural touchstones that people are likely to be imminently familiar with,” he said. “I’m a believer in the preservation of the classical repertoire, and the solemn duty orchestras consign themselves to. Making sure that this massive, particularly orchestral canon is well looked after, taken seriously, performed and continuously exposed to new audiences.”

Beyond that, though, is a need for “showcasing the music audience members are likely to have some kind of contact with or familiarity with on a day-to-day basis; not just appeal to so-called classical music lovers. Roger has a very similar mind and is a great advocate of that sort of programming. I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to be a periodic beneficiary of it.”

Game Over(ture)
When: Saturday, March 23rd, 8pm
Location: Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $20.75 and up at symphonynh.org

Also Sunday, March 23rd, 3pm, Keefe Center for the Arts, 117 Elm St., Nashua ($10 and up)

Featured photo: Avatar of Austin Wintory created by Angela Bermúdez. Courtesy photo.

Green weekend

St. Patrick’s Day nightlife options

For those looking to put on their Irish, however briefly, there are a variety of ways to approach St. Patrick’s Day 2024. Start with a pub crawl; there’s one in Manchester and another originating in downtown Nashua (see pubpioneers.com). There’s a traditional Irish music concert from the Spain Brothers at Manchester’s Rex Theatre on Friday the 15th, and a few places are celebrating on Saturday night.

Of course the best way is to lock in a favorite Irish public house, the kind with a St. Patrick’s Day countdown clock on the wall running 365 days a year. There are many of those on the list below, along with casual entrants who need a reason to add corned beef to the menu or dye their Bud green. They’re usually less crowded, but whatever the choice, Sláinte!

Friday, March 15

• Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) An evening of Irish songs and stories from Manchester’s own The Spain Brothers.

Saturday, March 16

• Cara (11 Fourth St., Dover, 343-4390) Cara/Chameleon Club St. Patrick Eve Blowout Party, $10 at eventbrite.com.

• Hillsboro Moose Lodge (15 School St., Hillsborough, 464-6024) St. Paddy’s Day dinner and dance for members and bonafide guests. Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m, dance is 7 to 11 p.m. $15 dinner only, $20 dinner and dance.

• Pipe Dream Brewing (40 Harvey Road, Londonderry, 404-0751) Young Folk provide the music; raise a pint and sing along to the great tunes of old Ireland, and a bit of the new as well.

• Stark Brewing Co. (500 Commercial St., Manchester, 625-4444) The Bar Hoppers perform, with a bagpiper visit promised.

Sunday, March 17

• Alpine Grove (19 S. Depot Road, Hollis, 882-9051) Mike’d Up Comedy show follows Irish dinner at 6 p.m., $55 at eventbrite.com.

• Artisan Hotel (17 Via Toscana, Salem, tuscanbrands.com) Celtic Celebration $75: live music from The Rebel Collective, creative whiskey cocktails with a menu including pretzel bites, beer cheese, shepherd’s pie, croquettes, potato skins and a buffet with Guinness beef stew, corned beef, bangers & mash and more.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 371-2296) Gather in a private igloo for a four-course St. Patrick’s Day themed Mystery Dinner with wine pairing. Seating starts at 6:30 p.m. $299 (four people, additional guests $59 each) at exploretock.com.

• Barley House (132 N. Main St., Concord, 228-6363) All things Irish: music, dancing, beer, corned beef.

• bluAqua Restrobar (930 Elm St., Manchester, 836-3970) Acoustic BS debuts, offering a blue/green approach to the day.

• Casey Magee’s (8 Temple St., Nashua, 484-7400) Kieran Mcnally plays noon to 3 p.m., Acoustic Tandem 4 to 7 p.m., with Secondhand Band closing out at 8 p.m. Limited menu includes corned beef dinner, fish & chips, burgers, Reubens, Caesar salad, brownie sundae and select sides. Guinness and Bud Light promotions in the afternoon, $5 cover charge after 4 p.m.

• Copper Door (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677) Brunch at 11 a.m. with violinist Lilly Innella and a menu including potato leek soup, warm Reuben dip, corned beef hash and Guinness-braised corned beef.

• Copper Door (42 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033) Brunch at 11 a.m. with pianist Steve Aubert and a menu including potato leek soup, warm Reuben dip, corned beef hash and Guinness braised corned beef.

• CrowBar Hardware Store (38 Opera House Square, Claremont, 504-6085) Moonlighter Burlesque presents St. Patrick With Love Late(r) Show, $35.

• Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) D-Comp starts the music at 4 p.m.

• The Farm (1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276) Traditional corned beef dinner, Guinness ice cream floats, and Irish step dancers at 1 p.m.

• Flannel Tavern (345 Suncook Valley Road, Chichester, 406-1196) Food and drink specials and live music all day. “Mr. Party” Brian Booth plays 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., local favorite Joe Pero is on 4 to 7.

• Foundation Kitchen + Bar (32 W. Broadway, Derry, 216-5590) Scott from Whiskey Business plays Irish sing-alongs and drinking songs starting at noon, with traditional Irish fare from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Pipe and Drum Corps makes an appearance in the afternoon.

• Frogg Brewing (580 Sawyers Crossing Road, Swanzey, 547-7639) NH Music Collective presents Paul Driscoll, with refreshments from Voodoo Box Food Truck, Wine by Cabana Falls Winery, Sweets by Kupcakes & Kindness and Happy Girls Bakery, and a crazy hat contest.

• Fury’s Publick House (1 Washington St., Dover, 617-3633) Open at noon and there are specials all day, with Erin’s Guild playing traditional Irish music at 6 p.m.

• Harlow’s Pub (3 School St., Peterborough, 924-6365) Boiled Dinner and Guinness Beef Stew noon to 4 p.m.

• Hen House (85 S. Main St., Newton, 382-1705) Second Take provides the shamrock ’n’ roll.

• Holy Grail (64 Main St., Epping, 679-9559) Rasmyth Duo plays from noon to 3 p.m., Karen Grenier 4 to 7 p.m. and Kitchen Party 8 to 11 p.m., with Jameson drink specials, giveaways, raffles, contests and more.

• Kathleen’s Irish Pub (91 Lake Street, Bristol, 744-6336) All weekend long: toga party on the 15th, and the big day opens with a toast and sing-along of “Ireland’s Call” followed by food, fun, friends and music, including a set from O’Brien Clan.

• Kelley’s Row (417 Route 108, Somersworth, 692-2200) Music from Bradigan and Maggie’s Ramblers, along with Irish dancers and bagpipers, $15 cover charge. Three seatings for dining: 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., with the usual traditional fare, along with Kelley’s Prime Rib and Guinness-braised short ribs. Reservations required.

• Makris (354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 225-7665) Taylor Hughes plays from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, and there are St. Paddy’s day specials all weekend. Saturday’s party starts at 7 p.m. with Lichen. Throughout, there will be raffles and giveaways, a visit from the Easterseals Scarf Lady, Slap Me I’m Irish shots, and a jig dance contest.

• Mama McDonough’s (80 Airport Road, Keene, 338-0105) Young Folk hit the stage at 2 p.m. with craic, great Irish music and a few originals — quaff a pint or three and sing along.

• Marker 21 (33 Dockside St., Wolfeboro, 569-8668) DJ Dan Hayman spins on Saturday, with live music and food specials like Irish Cuban sandwich and loaded crisps on the big day.

• Merrill’s Tavern (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 382-8700) Hoppy Duo offering Irish music from 1 to 5 p.m. Food includes cod cakes & beans, corned beef boiled dinner, bangers & mash and shepherd’s pie, along with special beverages like a Chase the Rainbow cocktail — crème de menthe, white chocolate liqueur and vodka.

• Murphy’s Taproom (494 Elm St., Manchester, 644-3535) Dancing Madly Backwards hits the stage at 7 p.m., after all-day celebrating.

• Newfound Lake Inn (1030 Mahew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-9111) St. Patrick’s Day dinner on March 16 featuring an Irish-themed menu and live music by WhiteSteer Duo. Open from 3 to 9 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with an Irish twist. Bottomless mimosas and live music by Dan Fallon.

• Northwoods Brewing (1334 First NH Turnpike, Northwood, 942-6400) A twofer, with St. Patrick’s Day trivia and karaoke hosted by Liquid Knowledge.

• Old Salt (409 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 926-8322) Open at 11 a.m. with live entertainment all day, along with corned beef and cabbage and green beer.

• Olde Kilkenny Pub (30 Middle St., Milford, 283-6632) At mid-day, a dollar from every Irish pint sold (Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, Guinness 0.0) will be donated to The Memo Fund.

• Patrick’s (18 Weirs Road, Gilford, 293-0841) Music from the Quincy Brothers at noon, Bagpipers at 3 p.m. and DJ Eric Grant from 4 to 8 p.m., with traditional dishes, seven Irish whiskies to choose from, and a lot more.

• Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535) This real deal Irish pub opens at 8 in the morning with a kegs & eggs Irish Breakfast, corned beef and other Irish favorites, with music from the Rambin’ Rogues Band starting at 10 a.m. The Jim Coyle & Joe Kessler Band follows, from 3 to 7 p.m.

• Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 431-5186) Bangers and Mash-Ups with DJ Chad Banks at 8 p.m.

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 369-6962) Live music performed by Half Price Whiskey starts at 1 p.m. Corned beef & cabbage special plus green beer.

• Salt hill Pub Lebanon (2 W. Park St., Lebanon, 448-4532) This true Irish “local” begins with a ceremonial first pint at 9 a.m. and offers a full Irish breakfast, traditional menu, music from Rebel Collective (9 a.m.), Atlantic Crossing (1 p.m.), High Drive (5 p.m.) and O’Hanleigh (8:30 p.m.), Irish dancing, photo booth, the drive-by-bagpiper, Guinness Girls, cash and other prizes at each ShP, with an Ireland trip-for-two grand prize awarded pub-wide.

• Salt hill Pub Newport (58 Main St., Newport, 863-7774) Same deal as the flagship Lebanon location, with the following musical schedule: O’hAnleigh at 9 a.m., Rebel Collective at 2 p.m.

• Salt hill Pub Sunapee (1407 Route 103, Newbury, 763-2667) At the “Shanty” — named after the Sunapee pub formerly in the same location owned by ShP founders Josh and Joe Tuohy’s parents — it’s the same deal as the flagship Lebanon location, with the following musical schedule: Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio at 9:30 a.m.; O’hAnleigh at 2 p.m.; Atlantic Crossing at 8 p.m.

• Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) Kicking off at 5:30 a.m. with breakfast served through 11 a.m. and first pints at 6 a.m. Live music starts with Rockspring at 1 p.m. with The Rebel Collective playing from 8 p.m. to close.

• Stoned Wall Bar & Grill (37 Manchester St., Manchester, 698-2049) St. Patrick’s Day Drag Show starts at 4.

• Strange Brew (88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292) At 9 a.m. it’s Andy Happel, at 1 p.m. it’s Jake Pardee, at 3 p.m. Thanks to Gravity performs, and at 7:30 p.m. NHPA Pipes & Drums stops by, then Jake Pardee & Friends take it to the finish line starting at 8:30 p.m.

• Throwback Brewery (7 Hobbs Road, North Hampton, 379-2317) St. Patrick’s Day brunch and fiddler’s jam as Melissa Caron & Ellen Carlson join forces from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Listen and jam with them while enjoying farm-to-table food and drinks, including menu and cocktail specials aligned with the occasion.

• Toll Booth Tavern (740 Second NH Tpke N., Francestown, 588-1800) Sheepdip playing classic shamrock ’n’ roll favorites sprinkled with some traditional Irish favorites starting at 3 p.m.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100) St. Patrick’s Day with the Glengarry Bhoys; show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets $39 at tupelohall.com.

• Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) Corned beef cabbage dinner and Reubens all day with live music from D-Comp at 11 a.m. and Bob & Amberly at 3 p.m. Giveaways and Irish drink menu, special desserts with Amberly’s Guinness Stew too.

• Wild Rover (21 Kosciuszko St., Manchester, 669-7722) Recently completed renovations should boost the already venerable pub’s St. Paddy’s Day celebration.

New addition

The Rebel Collective welcomes fiddler

Soon after they formed a few years ago, The Rebel Collective became an in-demand band on St. Patrick’s Day. Their mix of traditional Irish music and Celtic rock rivals the Pogues or Dropkick Murphys; they’re a great fit for the annual revelry. In fact, an ex-member is currently the Dropkicks’ full-time piper.

Thus, they have multiple gigs on the big day, and a pair of lead-in dates to boot. Most were booked a year in advance.

Beyond that, the group recently welcomed a new member, fiddler Audrey Budington. A Berklee graduate with a resume that includes solo recordings and multiple collaborations, she’s injected them with new energy. This extends to sessions for a new album in the works, their guitar and mandolin player reported in a recent phone interview.

“Truthfully, she’s way too good for our band,” Ross Ketchum said, “but she wants to be a part of a group that’s playing constantly. She takes our sound to a whole new level … [and] she’s so intuitive on where to chop, where to pull out and where to really hit a good lead. It’s been unreal working with her.”

Ketchum got a tip about her from Andrew Richardson, who runs the New Hampshire Highland Games.

“He called me up on a random Thursday night saying, ‘You’ve got to get to Penuche’s in Concord, there’s a fiddle player here who is unbelievable.’ I tossed out a bunch of names and sent some pictures. He said, ‘No, it’s a completely different person.’ I was like, ‘OK, I’ll take your word.’ I live right down the street, so I walked over. Immediately, I was like, ‘Holy crap, this girl is unbelievable.’”

Budington recently performed with Senie Hunt’s band at Bank of NH Stage in Concord. One of the reasons she was keen to join Rebel Collective is she’s aiming to become a musical ambassador.

“She’s trying to get her international musician’s visa, which allows her to work in any country that accepts it,” Ketchum said. “She needs to show a panel of people who she’s playing with, her past repertoire recordings, all that stuff. This will definitely help her out.”

The band had been looking for a new fiddler since last August. At last year’s Highland Games, “we ended up flying in our cousin Brian who used to be in the band on accordion to kind of fill in the sound,” Ketchum said. “We kind of had given up hope to find someone.”

With the busy St. Patricks’ Day schedule approaching, the new arrival was timely. This year kicks off in an unlikely place, the Artisan Hotel, in Salem’s not-quite-Irish Tuscan Village. The venue’s new events coordinator had hired them for a couple of release parties when she worked at Flag Hill Winery, Ketchum explained.

They’ll perform for a dinner crowd at the event, dubbed A Celtic Celebration, which includes an Irish whiskey tasting.

“A predominantly Italian place throwing an Irish event … it’s a pretty big deal,” he said. “They’re giving the whole ballroom in the new hotel to the band to throw the dinner.”

It happens Friday, March 15. The next night they’re in more familiar confines, at Salt hill Pub’s Sunapee location, The Shanty. On the big day it’s Salt hill’s Lebanon location in the morning, then on to their Newport pub for a midday set. After that, they’ll pack up and head to Manchester, where they’ll close out the night at Shaskeen Pub.

When all that is complete, they return to work on their next album, with Budington helping to reshape their sound.

“She’s already started writing her own parts for some of the songs that we previously released,” Ketchum said, “and she’s written a bunch of new stuff. After our St. Patrick’s Day run, we’re going to get her back down into the studio and get her ripping on some of this stuff so we can get some tracks coming out.”

The Rebel Collective
When: Friday, March 15, 8 p.m.
Where: The ArtisanHotel, 17 Via Toscana, Salem
Tickets: $75 at tuscanvillage.com
Also playing Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. at Salt hill Shanty in Newbury, and Sunday, March 17, at Salt hill Lebanon (9 a.m.), Salt hill Newport (2 p.m.) and Shaskeen Pub in Manchester (9 p.m.).

Featured photo: The Rebel Collective. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 24/03/14

Local music news & events

• Kilting it: Start the upcoming Green Weekend early at the 4th Annual Celtic Night. Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day food and drink specials along with music from Warren Smith, playing what some tongue-in-cheekily call one of the four instruments of the apocalypse, the bagpipes (the others are banjo, accordion and bongo drums). Anyone showing up in a kilt will receive a dinner discount. Thursday, March 14, 5 p.m., Flannel Tavern, 350 Suncook Valley Hwy., Chichester, facebook.com/flanneltavern.

• Gospel guys: With accolades including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Blind Boys of Alabama have cemented their place as legends in the gospel music world. Last year’s Echoes of the South album looks at facing hard times and echoes the band’s credo: “As long as everybody gives all that they have to give and we sing songs that touch the heart, we’ll live on forever.” Friday, March 15, 7:30 p.m., The Flying Monkey, 39 Main St., Plymouth, $45 and up at flyingmonkeynh.com.

• Dead set: With only five shows booked this year, Lichen doesn’t often perform these days, but the venerable band keeps the fire burning. Loosely formed in 1981 after friends John Zevos and Charlie Windhausen bonded over their first Grateful Dead concert, the group mixes tasty originals and classics from the Dead, Allmans, Springsteen and Little Feat, with an occasional guest joining in. Saturday, March 16, 6 pm., Makris Lobster & Steak House, 354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, facebook.com/eatalobster.

• Blues power: As a kid in Texas with a concert promoter/radio DJ dad, Kenny Wayne Shepherd was inspired to play guitar by watching Stevie Ray Vaughan from backstage while sitting atop the blues legend’s amp; since, he’s carved a solid niche of his own. His latest, Dirt On My Diamonds, was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Fellow Lone Star Stater Ally Venable opens. Sunday, March 17, 7 p.m., Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $48.25 and up at ccanh.com.

• Local lights: The Tony Mack Band is known for a solid mix of deep tracks, classic rock and rhythm & blues. Among their set highlights are a raved-up version of “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” complete with horn refrain. Monday, March 18, 7 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $15 at jimmysoncongress.com.

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