Author: Michael Witthaus

Life during wartime

New Hampshire writer pens historical novel

Award-winning journalist and former New Hampshire Public Radio host Laura Knoy recently published her first novel, and it’s a gem. The Shopkeeper of Alsace is historical fiction, drawn from real events during the two world wars and in between. At the story’s center is Sarah Seibert, an amazingly resilient Jewish woman.

During World War I, Sarah fled her Polish village and occupying Russian forces as a teenager, first moving to Warsaw, and emigrating to France two years after WWI ended. There, she ran a shop with her family, as well as meeting and marrying her future husband, Melach Seibert. A few moves and upheavals later, they settled in Colmar, Alsace. The rumblings of a new war were beginning.

Knoy expertly pulls the reader into the menace of multiple wars in Poland, the later horror of World War II, and the stench of prejudice that spans generations and takes multiple forms. Setting the novel in the border region of Germany and Alsace instead of Paris is another aspect that sets it apart from historical fiction of that era.

How the Seiberts avoid the Nazi peril, along with Vichy turncoats and other threats, is at the novel’s heart. Knoy has a deft ear for detail, such as how the similarity of Yiddish and Alsatian dialects helped Sarah blend in. However, the greatest gift was one bestowed to her, when she was a college exchange student in Strasbourg, France, during the mid-1980s.

There she met Seibert’s real-life daughter, Annette. The two were paired together during a school-organized weekend trip to Colmar and formed a friendship that lasted decades. Knoy would hear of her friend’s childhood war experience only in fragments. That changed when she spoke with Annette’s daughter Brigitte Aumont in 2018, three years after her death.

“I always wanted to tell your mother’s story, but now it’s too late,” Knoy said while the two had dinner in New York City. It wasn’t — she learned there was an uncle, still living, who “remembered everything.” So she flew to France and met 95-year-old Jacques Seibert. Later, she listened to an oral history compiled by the family in 2005 that included Annette.

This treasure trove of information, along with dogged research and truly stellar skills for a first-time novelist, makes for a lively, entertaining and frequently harrowing read. The facts of the story are true, but Knoy chose to write a novel as a way to give it color, shape and depth. What results is a page-turner that’s satisfying throughout.

In a recent Zoom interview, the former host of NHPR’s The Exchange said much inspiration for her novel came from The Blue Bicycle (La Bicyclette Bleu), a series of wartime books by French writer Régine Deforges.

“I didn’t realize until I read Régine,” she said, “just how big, and complicated, and awful, and messy, and difficult it was.”

The Alsatian people were tempest-tossed by war for generations, she continued. One of the book’s characters was born a French citizen in 1870, became German in 1871, was again French in 1918 with the end of WWI, then became German in 1940 when Alsace was annexed. “And you’re French again in 1945,” she said.

Knoy expertly weaves that history into her novel. “I think that’s what makes my book different,” she said. “It’s a World War II story, but it starts in World War I — because I would contend that’s really where World War II starts…, It’s about a war-torn region, Europe.”

Some of the historical documents she cites, like a xenophobic newspaper left in Sarah and Melach’s Colmar shop, serve as reminders of the axiom that while history doesn’t repeat, it often rhymes.

“A lot of the language that the Nazis and French fascists used,” Knoy said, “is the same language that was used in Rwanda.”

The newspaper warned that “Jews, and mixed-race mongrels” would destroy France. The Rwandan genocide of 1994 was preceded by warnings of “bugs, cockroaches and dogs” posing a similar threat.

“Language skillfully used is a great way to divide people,” Knoy said. “And again, once you divide people, you can do whatever you want.”

Knoy is embarking on a short book tour to support her book. It begins Wednesday, Nov. 12, at BNH Stage in Concord, an event sponsored by Gibson’s Bookstore. She’ll be joined by Rick Ganley, host of NHPR’s Morning Edition, with a book signing following their conversation.

Authors On Main at the BNH Stage – Laura Knoy
When: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.
Where: BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $30 includes copy of The Shopkeeper of Alsace, $15 admission only at ccanh.com
More: lauraknoy.com
Also Monday, Nov. 15, at Saint Anselm College in Manchester and Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth

Blues rock, with a bit of soul

Joanne Shaw Taylor brings her guitar chops to Nashua

Growing up in the English Midlands, Joanne Shaw Taylor was a fan of guitarist Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who made her love the blues, then Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who were young enough for her to believe she could become a professional blues guitarist. Even as a woman — the guitar is a gender-neutral instrument, she told herself.

That belief found clarity the first time she heard Susan Tedeschi.

“All of a sudden, there are these kids who look kind of like me … but again, they were boys, then Susan came out with Rock Me Right,” she said by phone recently. “Once you’ve been given an example of someone else who’s done it, you feel like you don’t have to break through.”

Up to then, the female musicians she looked to emulate came from the rock and pop charts — Sheryl Crow, Fleetwood Mac and Dusty Springfield were early favorites.

“I was learning pre-internet,” she said, “Just going to the local CD shop, asking, ‘Who can you get me in that’s a female that plays guitar?’ And they’d be like, ‘Ani DiFranco?’” She pressed on.

Taylor was gigging as a teenager. When she was 16, Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame saw her at a charity show and invited her on his European tour with D.U.P., a supergroup that included Jimmy Cliff, Mud Bone Cooper and Candy Dulfer. Stewart also signed her to a record deal, but the company had financial problems and she never went into the studio.

She made her first album on indie label Ruf Records, 2009’s White Sugar. It received a British Blues Awards nomination for Best New Artist Debut. During that year Taylor headed ’cross the pond, moving to Detroit, a strategic decision to be near the U.S. blues scene. In 2022 she moved again, to Nashville, where she’s lived since.

“All my influences were American,” Taylor said when asked why she moved. Upon arriving, she learned a lot of history that wasn’t taught in U.K. schools. “Segregation and slavery was something new to me, and the idea that this magical genre of music was born out of it was crazy to me.”

Though she loves the blues and records for Joe Bonomassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive label, Taylor suggests that fans new to the genre should begin with B.B. King or Muddy Waters before buying her records.

“I think I’m a blues guitarist that is a soul singer, that likes writing pop rock songs,” she told podcaster Alan Paul last year.

This eclectic aesthetic is well-rounded on Taylor’s latest LP, Black & Gold. The countrified growler “Hold of My Heart” features Sav Madigan of the Accidentals playing fiddle. “Summer Love” is a driving-with-the-top-down rocker that would be at home on a Bob Seger setlist, while “I Gotta Stop Letting You Let Me Down” is solid blues rock.

The buoyant title track was a British hit in 2008 for Sam Sparro that Taylor found “driving up and down the motorway to gigs in the U.K., when my first album was about to come out. It was always on the radio, and I loved the heaviness of the lyrics…. I don’t actually know what it’s about, I just know what I think it’s about and how I view it.”

“Love Lives Here,” a Faces deep cut from 1972, is another great cover on the new album. “There’s two male vocalists I’ve always felt like I have a bit of them in me … Paul Rodgers and Rod Stewart,” Taylor said. “I loved them so much growing up; I’ve taken on a couple of little inflections. I got to open for Rod a couple of years ago and it was absolutely fantastic.”

Taylor made Black & Gold at Nashville’s Studio A, where artists from Elvis to My Morning Jacket have recorded. “It’s kind of like a church,” she said. “I’m not a religious person. I’m not sure where I stand on faith, to be honest, about what comes next. But, you know, you go into a thousand-year-old church in Spain and you feel something. RCA is like that.”

It’s the second time Taylor has worked in the iconic facility; she also made 2024’s Heavy Soul there. Bonamassa also lives in Nashville, which helps her find top talent to work with and great places to make music. She’s also contributed to a pair of LPs by Dion, an early signing to Bonamassa’s label.

The two met in 2008, backstage at a festival in Norway. Later they spent hours talking about their shared experience as blues prodigies, and she felt seen.

“To have a conversation with Joe and go, ‘Oh, you were 13 as well, and your mum and dad were driving and flying you around so you could open up for B.B. King.’ I’d never met anyone like that.”

It wasn’t like either of them was Macaulay Culkin, she continued.

“We weren’t massive child stars, but it was still a bit unusual to say, ‘I’m leaving school for a week to go play with Jimmy Cliff.’ That was just a massive connection, and he’s been a massive champion of me ever since. And a big brother, to be honest, because his career was far ahead of mine at that time.”

Featured photo: Joanne Shaw Taylor. Courtesy photo.

Frightful fun

A weekend’s worth of adult Halloween choices

Without a doubt Halloween is the greatest deal in history. Dress up, knock on doors and demand candy — what could be better? Alas, youth is wasted on the young, but adults can still have fun on Halloween. This year there are a bevy of bashes, most on the official day. Here’s a day-by-day rundown of area gatherings.

Thursday, Oct. 30

Ash Cigar Lounge (92A Route 125, Kingston, 285-5174) 6 p.m. Smoke & Shadows: Halloween costume party, costumes encouraged, cocktails flowing, and cigars smoldering.

Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) 8 p.m. Karaoke with Christine and cash prizes for best male and female costume.

LaBelle Winery ( 345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898) 7:15 p.m. Halloween disco party with Booty Vortex Band. Disco attire is encouraged. $40 at labellewinery.com.

The Word Barn (66 Newfields Road, Exeter, 244-0202) 7 p.m. All Hallow’s Eve: Spooky Tunes, Songs and Tales From Scotland. $25 at thewordbarn.com.

Friday, Oct. 31

Arts Alley (20 S. Main St., Concord, artsalleyconcordnh.com) 7 p.m. Alley After Dark party with DJ music, specialty cocktails, costume contest and giveaways, $30.

Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564) 6 p.m. DJ Chris hosts karaoke, with a bonfire and costume contest; gift cards first $100, second $50 and third $25.

Auspicious Brew (1 Washington St., Dover, 953-7240) 8 p.m. 5th anniversary weekend includes Halloween house party with a drag show from Raya Sunshine + friends at 8 p.m., two DJ sets w/ DJ MAM and DJ XO from 9 p.m. to midnight, face and hair glam by Tease Salon, a costume contest and more, $17 advance, $20 day of.

Beanie’s Bar & Grill (58 Route 129, Loudon, 961-0372) 8 p.m. Wacko Magnet, an area trio, performs at this Halloween party.

Big House (322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-9100) 9 p.m. 7th annual Big Stage karaoke Halloween party with host DJ Tim.

Bogie’s (32 Depot Square, Hampton, 601-2319) 7 p.m. Michael Troy performs with drink specials and prize for best dressed costume.

Bonfire Country Bar (950 Elm St., Manchester, 2017-5600) 7 p.m. Halloween costume party with Lexi James performing.

BrickHouse Restaurant & Brewery (241 Union Square, Milford, 672-2270) 8 p.m. Hell On Heels plays rock covers.

Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) 8 p.m. Halloween party with Stray Dog playing covers and cash prizes for best male and female costume.

Cercle National Club (550 Rockland Ave., Manchester, 623-8243) 7:30 p.m. Dancing Madly Backwards plays rock covers and originals at this social club’s party. Costume contest, with first-, second- and third-place winners.

Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) 8:30 p.m. 16th Birthday Halloween Bash with Casual Gravity and prizes for most original, couple, sexiest and king & queen. $20.

Crotched Mountain (534 Mountain Road, Francestown, 808-0174) 5 p.m. Blue Bear Halloween Party with buffet 5-7 p.m., costume contest and DJ music, $30 adults, $12 kids under 12.

Exeter Brewing (156 Epping Road, Exeter, 686-7253) 8 p.m. 21+ Halloween social with costumes, prizes and DJ dancing.

Flannel Tavern (345 Suncook Valley Road, Chichester, 406-1196) 6 p.m. Dave Graham plays music at this party.

Forum Pub (15 Village St., Concord, 565-3100) 8 p.m. Rabbit Foot plays at 7:30 p.m. at a party featuring a costume contest and hosted by Maizy Rae that concludes with an open jam session.

Front Four Cellars (13 Railroad Ave., Wolfeboro, 633-5433) 6 p.m. Dakota Smart plays music from 6 to 9 p.m. at this Monster Mash & Merlot Halloween costume party.

Fury’s Publick House (1 Washington St., Dover, 617-3633) 9 p.m. Jam stalwarts Superfrog perform at a party including Frenzie and Roots, Rhythm & Dub along with a costume contest.

Haluwa Restaurant (44 Gusabel Ave., Nashua, 864-8348) 8 p.m. Bush League rocks at this Chinese stalwart.

Henry J. Sweeney Post (251 Maple St., Manchester, 623-9145) 7:30 p.m. Mugshot Monday performs with a costume contest, prizes for scariest, funniest and sexiest.

Hop Knot (1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731) 7 p.m. DJ Ctrl F spins at this party hosted by Cabana Love. No cover, costume contest and great pretzels.

Lafayette Club (34 High St., Nashua, 889-9860) 8 p.m. Mighty Colors perform, $8 in advance (available at the bar) or $10 at the door.

Lost Cowboy Brewing (546 Amherst St., Nashua, 600-6800) 7:30 p.m. Justin Federico plays country songs.

Lower Level Lounge (North End, Nashua, facebook.com) 6 p.m. Spooky Speakeasy, cocktails & bites, and costumes are encouraged.

Luk’s Bar & Grill (142 Lowell Road, Hudson, 889-9900) 7 p.m. Johnny Roberts plays acoustic music.

Makris Lobster & Steak House (3544 Sheep David Road, Concord, 225-7665) 8 p.m. Stray Dog Band returns to Makris Seafood for a highly anticipated local show and Halloween party.

Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org) 8 p.m. Space Oddity, the Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience. Costumes encouraged. $30 and up at themusichall.org.

New Nan King (222 Central St., Hudson, 882-1911) 7 p.m. Maestro’s Music Karaoke and a costume party.

Newfound Lake Inn (1030 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-0911) 6 p.m. BOOOOOs Fest featuring DJ music and “horror d’oeuvres” along with specialty cocktails. Costume contest. $25 at eventbrite.com.

Par 28 (23 South Broadway, Salem, 458-7078) 8 p.m. DJ Styles spins with a costume contest and specialty cocktails.

Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535) 9:30 p.m. Magnificent Bastards play high-energy rock covers at this event promising ghosts, ghouls and questionable costumes.

Pembroke City Limits (134 Main St., Pembroke, 210-2409) 7 p.m. Haunted by Humans performs with a costume contest.

Polish American Club (15 School St., Nashua, 889-9819) 8 p.m. Karaoke with Kelly, private club, guests need to be signed in.

Porkbarrel Productions (107 Moose Mountain Road, Brookfield, eventbrite.com) 6 p.m. Backyard Boulderdash with The Boneheads. Costume ball and contest with cash prizes, 15 and under free admission, $20.

Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, 430-9122) 8 p.m. Halloween party in the third-floor nightclub with costume contest, prizes and music from DJ Koko P, and a Day of the Dead party the following night.

Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 431-5186) 9 p.m. Dan Blakeslee’s alter ego Doctor Gasp performs with his band the Eeks, the 23rd Annual Halloween Special begins directly after the Portsmouth Halloween parade.

Red’s Kitchen & Tavern (530 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-0030) 6 p.m. Ignite Band rocks at this party, with a $500 gift card for the costume contest winner.

Reed’s North (2 E. Main St., Warner, 456-2143) 7 p.m. Spooky Halloween Party with music by Randy Hawkes. Costumes encouraged but not required. Ghoulish cocktails and pub menu.

Rooftop at The Artisan (19 Via Toscana, No. 550, Salem, 458-3028) 7 p.m. Boos & Brews at The Rooftop offers DJ dancing, spooky sips and more, $15

Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 347-1313) 8 p.m. Bite the Bullet plays rock covers, with costume contests and specials.

Salona (128 Maple St., Manchester, 624-4020) 7 p.m. DJ, karaoke, raffles, and a prize for best costume.

Salt hill Pub Lebanon (2 W. Park St., Lebanon, 448-4532) 8 p.m. Local rockers the Conniption Fits provide the music for this party, with prizes for best costumes.

San Francisco Kitchen (133 Main St., Nashua, 885-8833) 8 p.m. DJ Triana spins with a costume contest, $100 cash for first place, $50 gift card for second, two complimentary drinks for third place.

Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) 9 p.m. Annual bash with DJ Myth spinning, costume contest and Guinness promo.

Spice Restaurant & Bar (300 Main St., Nashua, 417-7972) 8 p.m. DJ Daryl spins with a costume contest, $100 cash for first place, $50 gift card for second, $25 gift card for third place. Drink specials and giveaways.

Stark Brewing Company (500 Commercial St., Manchester, 625-4444) 9 p.m. The Cats — Andre LeClair and Jimmy Croons — perform at this party.

Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) 7 p.m. Two-day Grateful Dead party with Stone Dead, a collaboration of New England musicians with roots and associations going back to the Stone Church scene of the ’80s and ’90s, from acts such as Percy Hill, Groove Child, Thanks to Gravity, Trade and others. $25 advance, $30 day of show, $45 two-day pass.

Strange Brew (88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292) 6:30 p.m. Lisa Marie offers blues rock and boogie.

Sun Bar & Grill (586 Nashua St., Milford, 633-6012) 8 p.m. DJ John spins with a costume contest, $100 cash for first place, $50 gift card for second, $25 gift card for third place. Drink specials and giveaways.

Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) 8 p.m. Halloween costume party with Bob Pratte.

Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 926-6954) 6 p.m. Prospect Hill 16th annual Halloween party with Above Snakes and Major Moment. 21+, tickets $25 at ticketmaster.com.

Wolfeboro Inn (90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3016) 6 p.m. Drinks, games and music in Wolfe’s Tavern to benefit the Justin Hartford Scholarship Fund, $15 advance, $20 door.

Zorvino Vineyards (226 Main St., Sandown, 887-8463) 6 p.m. Hallowine with themed trivia 6-8 p.m., all-day costume contest on the final patio dining night of the season.

Saturday, Nov. 1

Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) 11 a.m. Mr. Aaron’s Halloween Bash, a kid-centric show.

Hare of the Dawg (3 E. Broadway, Derry, 552-3883) 7:30 p.m. DJ Dave the Rave provides the music, with prizes for most creative, funniest, worst and group costumes.

Loaded Question Brewing (909 Islington St., Suite 12, Portsmouth, 852-1396) 8 p.m. Halloweeen Party happens a day late, but it’s still the weekend.

Paddy’s American Grille (27 International Drive, Portsmouth, 430-9450) 8 p.m. Bad Breath Microphone performs with prizes for best costume.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

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.

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