Author: Michael Witthaus

The Music Roundup 25/10/30

• Late showman: When he finished following David Letterman on CBS late night, Craig Ferguson returned to doing standup comedy and making specials. He’s still on television, though, hosting the game show Scrabble on the CW. He got an Emmy nomination for his 2015 special Just Being Honest and did a six-part standup/docuseries, Hobo Fabulous, for Amazon. Thursday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $75 and up, etix.com.

• Southern men: With a pair of guitarists sharing a long history in Southern rock, Once An Outlaw plays a Lakes Region show. Macon, Georgia, native Chris Hicks played with the Marshall Tucker Band for many years. Chris Anderson, born in Florida and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina, spent time in the Outlaws. Traveler – The Chris Stapleton Experience also appears. Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m., The Barn at The Inn on Main, 200 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, onceanoutlawband.com.

• Alt popping: Support the area underground scene at Alt Pop-Punk Night, a triple bill offering a Halloween vibe the day after. Included are GRIM the Acronym, a punk and hardcore trio, along with two female-fronted acts, Vices, Inc., from Portland, Maine, and Boston-based Island of Alaska, who just released the buoyant, energetic single “Holy Ghost.” Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., Terminus Underground, 134 Haines St., Nashua, $15 and $20 at newhampshireunderground.org.

• Local hero: The New Hampshire music scene got some validation when Charlie Chronopoulos sold out BNH Stage late last year. A producer whose credits include Jelly Roll and Joyner Lucas, and writer of gritty songs about hardscrabble living in his home state, Chronopoulos returns to the venue on the heels of “Shot,” a tough new single from an album he’s working on in a historic mill studio. Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $36 at ccanh.com.

• Story teller: Singer, songwriter and raconteur Vance Gilbert performs. His most recent album, 2023’s The Mother of Trouble, includes “Simple Things,” a song Gilbert described as “what happens when a Black kid from Philadelphia who grew up listening to Earth, Wind & Fire, and didn’t know the Average White Band was white, tries to write a song like John Prine.” Sunday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $25 and up at thewordbarn.com.

Murder most fried

Interactive mystery show at Majestic Theatre

Last year the Majestic Theatre staged Murder’s In The Heir, a comedic mystery about a billionaire, a will and an untimely demise, with the audience voting via secret ballot to name the perpetrator. The show was a hit, so when time came to pick a show for the 35th season, Majestic director Robert Dionne looked for another work from that play’s writer, Billy St. John.

He found Southern Fried Murder. It hews to the idea of “where there’s a will, there’s a play,” but with a difference. The story centers on a dinner party in a hotel dining room organized by a matriarch named Magnolia Capote. She’s devised a sort of scavenger hunt that’s detailed on the last page of her will. It will reveal who gets her money.

Magnolia dies early, killed with her walking stick. The so-called fourth wall dissolves as cast members wander through the audience to look for clues, about the money, and her murder. Interactions begin when patrons are seated by actor/ushers; in character, they begin dishing on fellow cast members.

That back-and-forth continues throughout the performance, as the cast veers away from the script into a blend of improv and standup crowd work that includes accusing audience members of committing the crime. Occasionally, they wander into the crowd, looking for clues and asking for input.

At the end, there isn’t a vote to name a killer; the deed-doer’s identity is already known. The challenge for the audience is to guess it correctly. One other twist not in last year’s production is that someone from the crowd will be drafted into the cast and given a script to play the small but important role of Terry, the hotel’s manager.

It’s directed by Becky Rush, who also helmed Murder’s In The Heir. In a recent phone interview, Rush explained that it’s a choose your own adventure show that can be done as dinner theater or something else. Majestic chose the latter, more or less.

“We’re passing out recipes and serving refreshments, bottled water, after-dinner mints and whatnot,” she said.

An observant person will be able to glean a clue or two while they quaff, but Rush was careful to withhold any details.

“Billy St. John always has some really interesting audience twists,” she said. “So this is another way that he gets them involved with his shows.”

Four actors from Murder’s In the Heir are returning this year: Natasha DaCunha Lund is Maggie St. Lawrence, Matthew Davis plays Ben Parker, the lawyer, Ilana Pete is Stump, and Katie Davis is Magnolia Woods. “They just really enjoyed the Billy St. John last year,” Rush said.

Other performers include Krystal Timinski, Chad Boutin, Aimee Baker, Jordan Gagan and Jeff Caron, who’s a veteran of the company.

“He’s been around The Majestic for many, many years; I actually was in a show with him in February, Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” Rush said. “So Jeff is no stranger to The Majestic stage.”

Boutin is, Rush continued, “sort of a surprise, playing both the role of the mother who gets killed and the son, Lou. So he’s doing some really cool stuff. We’re trying to get some nuance to this character, where the mother stands a certain way and then Lou stands in the exact same way, but with a little twist …mirroring those two characters.”

Rush has been with the company for 30 of its 35 years and is enjoying the current anniversary season.

“I’m so proud to be affiliated with The Majestic,” she said. “Even though we’ve lost our space a couple of times, we just keep getting back up and fighting the good fight and being an active part of the community. I believe 100 percent in this organization and what we do for the community.”

Southern Fried Murder
When: Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m.
Where: Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester
Tickets: $15 to $20 at majestictheatre.net

Rebirth

Six years later, Bungalow returns with live music

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

Manchester’s independent music scene lost an important resource when Bungalow Bar & Grill closed in 2019. The Valley Street venue was an anchor for the heavier end of the spectrum, welcoming a lot of bands with the word “core” in their genre description. On the final weekend there, metal stalwarts Regime and Kaonashi co-headlined.

Many of the shows at Bungalow were booked by NH Booking, a company begun in 2004 by Richie Downs. He continued doing shows at Jewel Music Venue following the closing, but felt the loss, nonetheless. Six years later, he’s bringing back Bungalow, beginning with a six-band show on Oct. 25.

“It’s really, really important that the Bungalow exists,” he said recently, citing a primary reason. “Right now, pretty much nobody is putting on all-ages shows … and I think you’re missing out on one of the most important parts of the local music community by not having that.”

Downs found refuge in attending shows while he was a teenager and trying to cope with a family tragedy.

“Music in a live environment honestly saved my life,” he said. “Being up front, screaming every word of all these lyrics that mean so much to me and being a part of that energy, it was the closest thing you can get to being a spiritual experience.”

A show in Worcester that included future national stars Coheed & Cambria and Taking Back Sunday was a turning point for the young fan.

“It was just the best feeling in the world coming away from that show,” he said. “I was like, ‘I need to make this happen as much as I possibly can for the rest of my life.’”

It was around this time that Downs began doing shows in a Sandown church basement that informally became known as The Crossing, inspired by that night.

“I got into booking,” he explained, “trying to create opportunities for other bands to create those moments and those experiences with fans themselves.”

The bill at the “grand re-opening” Bungalow show is topped by a pair of bands celebrating new releases.

“Whenever a band has a special show like an album release, we typically collaborate with that band to choose the rest of the lineup,” Downs said.

Iron Gate is a Manchester death metal group that formed in 2022 when singer Jeff Higgins placed an online ad: “Who plays an instrument and wants to play heavy, ignorant music?” he asked, according to a 2023 story by Ryan O’Connor at NoEcho.net. The quartet cites bands like Traitors, Bodysnatcher and The Acacia Strain as influences, the story said. Their new EP is called Crushing Weight of Existence.

Hailing from Bristol, Connecticut, Burying Point is a deathcore band that boasts on its Facebook page to exist “with one purpose … violence.” Released last month, their latest EP is called In the Absence of…. The six-track effort leads off with “Deicide,” a three-minute assault of staccato machine gun drums and bullhorn vocals, and gets more intense from there.

The undercard for this decidedly un-subtle evening begins with Rose Lane, followed by Pure Bliss, Edict and Frog Mallet. The next show at Bungalow will offer a change of musical mood with Millington, a six-piece Albany, N.Y., band that calls its ska/punk sound brass emo. That show happens Nov. 9 and is a co-production with Rhode Island-based Rambudikon.

Downs hopes there will be more collaborations at the venue.

“I’m going to put out a blanket statement right now,” he said. “If you are a promoter that is putting on shows and you’re respected by the community, you’re not taking advantage of bands [or] fans, doing it just to make a buck, you’re respected by the community that you are putting shows on in, I want you to be a part of what’s happening at Bungalow.”

Iron Gate, Burying Point, Frog Mallet, Edict, Pure Bliss & Rose Lane

When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m.
Where: Bungalow, 333 Valley St., Manchester
Tickets: $15 in advance at dice.fm, $20 at the door

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 25/10/23

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Folk room: A female-forward evening has sets from Maia Sharp and Catie Curtis in a venerable Sunapee region venue. Sharp is a singer-songwriter whose tunes have been recorded by everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Trisha Yearwood and The Chicks. Curtis is a veteran artist and songwriter who was at the forefront of the mid-’90s new folk movement. Thursday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille, 40 Andover Road, New London, $30 at flyinggoose.com.

• Real deal: With a catalog of active rock hits stretching back to their 2008 eponymous debut, Saving Abel hits town for a downtown show. The group’s best songs up the ante, looking for a formula lead singer Jared Weeks calls “a little deeper, a little tougher and a little more rock.” Their new single “Stars” reflects that, a metal-edged rocker with bone-crushing riffs and a memorable chorus. Friday, Oct. 24, 9 p.m., Rock n Roll Meatballs/ Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, $38 at ticketweb.com.

• Laugh lines: A twin bill of comedy has Tim McKeever and Pat Napoli adding hilarity to a Nashua craft brewer’s menu. McKeever’s set includes bits like one about a cocktail called an Irish Car Bomb, which is “a shot of Jameson and some Bailey’s; you drink it and then drive into someone’s living room.” Napoli’s “sharp observational humor” has made him a New England favorite. Friday, Oct. 24, 8:30 p.m., Liquid Therapy, 14 Court St., Nashua, $23 at headlinersnh.com, 21+.

• Roller ghouls: Costumes, party music and roller skating blend as Pop Punk-O-Ween offers a head start to Halloween fun. DJ Shamblez spins classics like Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” and the Ramones’ “Pet Sematary,” with perhaps an appearance of Simple Plan’s version of the Scooby Doo theme, a costume contest, giveaways and lots of four-wheeled fun. Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 p.m., Remix Skate and Event Center, 725 Huse Road, Manchester, $20 at skateremix.com. 18+.

• Dead twist: The Bus Came By And I Got On by Kristina Marinova is one the year’s more interesting albums, a solo piano collection of songs from the Grateful Dead’s mid-’60s, early ’70s repertoire. She offers mesmerizing transformations of songs like “Uncle John’s Band” and “China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider,” played with delicate dexterity. Sunday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $20 and up at ticketmaster.com.

Brave stage

First-timers gather for Not Afraid to Fail Fest

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

Stepping out of one’s comfort zone to try something new is daunting, often frightening. However, at the upcoming Not Afraid to Fail Fest, it’s the whole point. Hosted by Manchester-based Queerlective, it’s billed as “a celebration of queer expression, risk-taking, and community care,” and a reflection of the nonprofit’s core values.

Among the first-time performers on stage Oct. 24 at BNH Stage in Concord are Ann Kinne, a farmer, woodworker and slam poet who will sing and play guitar, and Alysa Hemcher, who works by day as an operations director for a regional nonprofit and plans to cross standup comedy from her bucket list.

A pair of spoken word artists will try to up their game. Avery Bondra left the stage a decade ago, but they’re back to share some poems “that capture the essence of love and vulnerability,” according to a press release. Cory MacEachern has done open mics before but plans a much more personal performance that addresses the death of her brother last winter.

Both Cecilia Kiely and Star are taking the stage for the first-ever time. Star, who works in special education, will perform the Ethel Cain song “Janie” and accompany herself on guitar. Kiely is an aspiring writer who hasn’t revealed what she will share for her debut, but promises “a unique blend of humor and heart.”

The comedy-packed night continues with Michelle Rebidue, who mixes standup and animated storytelling for an act called Life In a NutChelle. Kelso & Aoife are a married couple with a skit that begins with an attempted handshake and devolves into a chaotic stew of awkwardness. Jay Galloway’s standup set will focus on being a New Hampshire newcomer.

The bold cast is rounded out by two members of the Queerlective working board. Jason DeYoung coordinates large events for the organization. A member of the New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus, he will step into the spotlight to sing “Who’d I Be,” one of his favorites from Shrek The Musical.

Executive Director Randall Nielsen doesn’t have a performing slot, but is making his debut in another way. “Somebody asked about me having my own thing, and I’ve never emceed an event,” he said in an interview that included DeYoung recently, adding, “and Queerlective has never put on an event like this before.”

The spark for the effort came from strategic planning sessions last January. They discussed ways to reflect the boldness that was required to form an organization in 2022. “Not being afraid to fail was very key to us, starting from scratch and not knowing anything about nonprofits,” DeYoung said.

Nielsen spoke of his interest in using art as a tool for community building.

“I just had too many ideas, so I thought, ‘let’s just let people bring their own ideas as well.’ If you’ve ever wanted to try something, or need a reason to learn a new skill, that’s kind of what we were thinking of as well when we were putting this together.”

A call for participants went out, and all who applied will perform in the show.

“That’s a goal for this project, along with encouraging the community to be more adventurous,” Nielsen said. “We see a lot of hesitation and anxiety from people just to even go out and attend an event, let alone to put together something on their own.”

In late September, everyone attended a workshop led by a local clown to work on stage presence and getting comfortable in performing a show that Nielsen described in a Facebook post as “part open mic, part talent show, part joyful mess and one hundred percent about showing up with courage, creativity and the community behind you.”

To that end, guidelines will be spelled out when the show commences to foster an environment of encouragement and support for performers who are taking a big risk.

“That’s one of the big things,” Nielsen said. “No matter what happens, we’re clapping, we’re cheering, we’re supporting these people. If they mess up, it’s OK. We’re all going to mess up at one point or another. That’s life.”

Not Afraid to Fail Fest

When: Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m.
Where: BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $18 at ccanh.com

Fresh laughs

Juston McKinney films new special

One thing fans of comedian Juston McKinney can count on is never seeing the same show twice. Another is the promise of a respite from divisive humor. The closest he comes to dipping his toe in political waters was in a recent online video, when McKinney claimed he’d turned down an opportunity to perform in Saudi Arabia.

“It wasn’t for that festival, it was a café,” he said with a smile. “But I’m not gonna do it … so keep your thousand dollars.” Apparently, however, not everyone’s funny meter was turned on. A few fan comments hit pretty wide of the mark.

“People were actually like, ‘Good for you, way to stand up,’” McKinney said in a recent phone interview. “I go, ‘Did you not know that was a joke?’ I guess I should have said two hundred bucks. I think that’s how you know the economy is bad. People were thinking, ‘A thousand dollars? Man, this guy’s making it.’”

McKinney is preparing to film his sixth comedy special, using footage from a pair of upcoming shows in Manchester. His most recent special, On the Bright Side, filmed in 2022 at Concord’s Capitol Center, has amassed over 1.2 million views on YouTube — an achievement that surprised the comic. “I didn’t think I’d get to a million,” he admitted.

The new special is untitled, and no-repeat McKinney is bummed he can’t re-use 2012’s On Midlife Support. “That would have been a good name for this one; I’m actually more in midlife now,” he said. “But I’ve got like half a dozen names that I’m thinking of.”

Family life continues to fuel McKinney’s act. His eldest son is college-bound next fall, and he just added his other son, a high school sophomore, to their auto insurance policy. The lifelong New England Patriots fan also has words for new NCAA coach Bill Belichick, and maybe a story about his youngest son coming out as a Kansas City Chiefs fan.

It’s been a thing since middle school, and much to McKinney’s dismay, only got worse.

“A few years ago, he goes, ‘Dad, can I go to Arrowhead Stadium? I want to see the Chiefs play in Kansas City’ and I go, ‘Maybe in 10th grade,’” he said. “That turned into, ‘You promised!’ So … now I’m taking him to the Detroit Lions-Kansas City Sunday night game.”

The game happened days before McKinney’s planned taping of his special, so he masked up to be safe, and played the experience for laughs, ordering a sign reading ‘things we do for our kids — even if they’re traitors.’ When it was delivered, though, the word “traders” had replaced “traitors,” obscuring its meaning.

Problems with the order, it turned out. “I did talk to text and didn’t realize the typo was there,” McKinney said. However, he did wear his Pats hat and fulfilled a promise to “snap a picture of me sitting in that sea of red.” Both father and son flew back happy. The Chiefs won, and the Patriots beat New Orleans the same day.

Perhaps the hardest-working man in New England showbiz, McKinney will start work on his annual Year In Review the morning after he films the new special. He promises an all-new batch of material for the run of shows, which includes six in Portsmouth, three in Nashua, along with stops in Laconia and Lebanon in the new year.

“All those shows are going to be coming up eight weeks after the special,” he said. “Yeah, this year was a mistake … I should have done it in the spring, and now I’m like, what did I do?”

To keep things fresh and craft new jokes, McKinney spends a lot of time in small venues, including The Winner’s Circle in Salisbury, Mass., and other open mic nights in the area.

“I need places to practice,” he said. He’s also on the road every now and again, most recently doing shows in Atlantic City, New York City and Stamford.

He’s so dedicated to exercising his comedy muscle that he recently did a celebration of life for a longtime fan. Held at a private home next to a pond in Sanford, Maine, the gathering was intimate, with about 40 people attending. “It was the first time I’ve ever done that,” he recalled. “Her daughter reached out…. She told me all about her mom.”

It was a fun time, so much that the folks there asked if he planned to do any similar events in the future.

“‘Yeah, you guys got my number,’” McKinney replied. “‘Call me when the next one goes.’” Though his set was well-received, he declined to use every comic’s favorite way to describe a successful gig.

“I didn’t kill,” he said. “I showed up afterwards.”

Juston McKinney – Comedy Special Taping
When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 5 & 8 p.m.
Where: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester
Tickets: $42.50 at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: Juston McKinney and his son. Courtesy photo.

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