Author: Michael Witthaus

Making lemonade

Country singer Annie Brobst stays positive

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

There’s a timeless adage both revered and reviled among songwriters. Essentially, it says that any misery is mitigated if it produces a song. Shawn Colvin once responded to this sentiment with terse words. “I’d rather do anything,” she sang back in 1992, “than write this song for you.”

Annie Brobst can look at it from both sides.

For more than a decade, Brobst has been a big part of the region’s country music scene. The single “Red Wine On Mind,” from 2021’s Where We Holler, netted her latest in a string of New England Music Awards. The album is packed with gems like the popgrass rocker “Little Girl Dreams” and the blues-inflected “On the Record.”

Brobst didn’t set out to be a singer. She found her talents belting out her favorite hits in Boston karaoke bars, and followed her muse after meeting songwriter Roger Hagopian. He encouraged her to channel the elements of her life that resembled a country song into her own music.

Her first song came after a breakup. Brobst had followed her boyfriend from Ohio to Boston, where the romance faded. In response, she wrote “Ghost,” and won her first NEMA. On the other hand, she’d be content with skipping the experience that produced her second drawn-from-life composition, “After the Rain.”

Eighteen months ago, Brobst and her husband and creative partner Ryan Dupont returned from an out-of-town trip to find a burst pipe in their third-floor bathroom. “The place was ruined,” Brobst recalled in a recent phone interview. “We were displaced from our home for about a year.”

Initially, she didn’t feel inspired to write something like When We Holler’s charming “Make Lemonade,” however fitting that might have felt.

“I was just in this mind space,” she said. “I didn’t feel super creative in the time. Once we started to get on the other end of that, I did write a song about that. And then we have a couple more that we wrote and recorded.”

She’ll perform those and others from her debut EP and two albums — the other is My First Rodeo, released in 2018 — when she appears at Lost Cowboy Brewing Co. in Nashua on June 13. It’s one of a few shows Brobst has coming up in New Hampshire, a state she’s played infrequently, though she and Dupont were married in the White Mountains.

On June 28 she’ll headline an early evening show at Stone Church in Newmarket, backed by singer/songwriter Keith Crocker and special guest band Punktry Bumpkins. On July 12 she opens for country rapper Big Murph at The Flying Monkey in Plymouth, and she returns to The Range, a buzzy outdoor venue in Mason, on July 17.

Though the new song was inspired by Brobst’s own tragedy, its message is universal.

“It’s for anyone in that moment of limbo,” she explained. “There’s sun that comes out after the rain; you just can’t quite see it yet. That’s definitely what the song’s about. I think it can apply to so many people and so many situations that they’re just pushing through.”

“After The Rain” and a few others that have been polished in the studio will make their way into a future album.

“Yeah, we’re going to release some singles, and definitely keep writing now that we’re in a better space,” Brobst said. “I definitely always like to have my singles live on an album at some point. That’s kind of always been my M.O. “

Brobst, who’s spent close to 15 years in New England, is resisting the pull of Nashville as her next career move.

“I’m happy here,” she said. “My husband and my stepdaughters are here, so I do have our life rooted…. We’re going to be ourselves, write our music, play our awesome shows out this way, and see if at some point we can’t gain some traction or attention. I don’t see moving in our future anytime soon — not to say we wouldn’t if the opportunity was a great one.”

Annie Brobst

When: Friday, June 13, 7 p.m.
Where: Lost Cowboy Brewing Co., 546 Amherst St., Nashua
More: anniebrobstmusic.com

Also Saturday, June 28, 5:30 p.m. at Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket ($15 at stonechurchrocks.com)

Featured photo. Annie Brobst. Photo by Liza Czech.

The Music Roundup 25/06/12

Local music news & events

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Enduring: A band that grew out of jazz’s rising popularity in the late ‘70s, Spyro Gyra broke through with the crossover hit “Morning Dance” in 1979. The group, formed in Buffalo, got its name from a type of algae that founding member Jay Beckenstein learned about in college. They’re currently touring in celebration of their 50th anniversary last year, with an upcoming stop in Derry. Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $57 at tupelohall.com.

• Gathering: In its first socially distanced iteration, the Northlands Festival was a creative way to offer live music during the pandemic, with a series of pod seating shows. Now in its sixth year, it’s grown to three days, with the cream of the jam scene headlining each night. This year includes String Cheese Incident, Cory Wong, moe., Umphrey’s McGee and Lotus. Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 15, Cheshire Fairgrounds, 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey, $99 and up at northlandslive.com.

• Rolling: New Hampshire drivers should check their mirrors twice as Laconia Motorcycle Week is back for nine days. The oldest bike rally in the United States always has a lot of live music. For the past five years, an AC/DC tribute act has held forth, with guitarist Jonny Friday as Angus Young and Dean Celisia doing the late Bon Scott and his replacement Brian Johnson. Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m., The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, more at laconiamcweek.com.

• Jamming: Named after its front man, a Senegalese rhythm guitarist, Mamadou is strongly influenced by West African music, along with reggae, salsa, merengue and Cubano. All lyrics are sung in Wolof, Mamadou Diop’s native language. Sunday, June 15, noon, Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, mamadou.com.

• Honoring: Led by 2016 American Idol alumni Tristan McIntosh, The Linda Ronstadt Experience offers an enjoyable re-creation of the singer’s prime era. Ronstadt’s longtime producer Peter Asher gave McIntosh a thumbs up for her solid work interpreting songs like “You’re No Good,” “That’ll Be the Day,” “It’s So Easy,” “Heat Wave” and “Just One Look.” Wednesday, June 18, 7 p.m., Town Common, 265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, londonderryartscouncil.org.

Singular

A Chorus Line closes out Palace season — a review

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

When A Chorus Line opened in 1975, it upended the Broadway world. The behind-the-scenes look at casting a musical has no star; it’s a study in a shared spotlight. An impossibly massive ensemble of dancers opens the show, singing “I Hope I Get It” in unison. Each is vying for one of eight spots on the line, and half are dismissed in the first 10 minutes.

The musical ends the current Palace Theatre season, and it’s a detour from the multimedia-enhanced productions done so far. The staging is spare, set changes are minimal, and raw emotion drives the action, as Zach, the show’s director, admirably played by Justin Wolfe Smith, probes the remaining 17 hopefuls to learn more about them.

What begins with Zach asking a reluctant group about when and where they were born quickly leads to prodding the aspirants about their hopes, dreams and demons. Mike (AJ Love) recounts how he began dancing in preschool, while streetwise Sheila (Olivia Warner in a standout performance) dismisses the process.

The cracks in Sheila’s hard exterior are then laid bare in “At The Ballet,” an early musical highlight that reveals how she turned to dance as a refuge from a painful childhood. She’s joined by fellow auditionees Bebe (Alexis Yard) and Maggie (Jessie Roddy) for the poignant number, as both describe similar experiences.

One by one, each has their moment. Tone-deaf Christine (Palace veteran Emilee Clapp) and her supportive husband and dancer Al (Matthew Quintero), too short Connie Wong (Madeline Falco), Mark (Kevin Bowman), struggling with sexual identity, and others respond to the Oz-like Zach, who stays offstage for most of the show.

As Diana, Camille Theriault shines in her solo of “Nothing,” a song that reveals a primary theme of A Chorus Line, the line separating those who perform in search of acclaim from others who simply seek a sense of belonging. Spoiler alert: Everyone here belongs to the latter group.

“One,” the most well-known song in the show, is performed twice; the first time is a rehearsal, the second fully fleshed out and splendid. The initial run-through reinforces the tone raised by Diana, when Zach tells the dancers to move in perfect synchrony, commanding, “I don’t want anyone to draw my eye.”

The Act Two spotlight closes in on two characters who clearly don’t want it. During a tense interaction with Zach, Maggie pleads for a spot on the line as she performs “The Music and the Mirror,” a showstopper that brings her past to the surface, and finally shows a bit about the mysterious Zach.

Director Carl Rajotte does a solid job of bringing A Chorus Line’s many elements into focus, particularly in the first act. With help from Assistant Choreographer Sebastian Goldberg (who doubles as Zach’s number two in the show), an enormous cast is distilled fluidly, meeting the show’s biggest challenge of making many into one.

The show has many memorable and expertly performed songs, including AJ Love’s wonderful reading of “I Can Do That” and “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” a comically NSFW number done by Brooke Cox as Val. In “What I Did For Love,” Camille Theriault is joined by the full cast to testify everyone else longs to belong to the family of dance. The final number, brimming with the Palace’s signature flash and verve, is a great payoff. This production of A Chorus Line is by all means worth seeing, with a solid cast, wonderful music and a vital message.

A Chorus Line

When: Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through June 22
Where: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester
Tickets: $39 and up at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: The cast of A Chorus Line. Photo courtesy of AnnMarie Lidman Photography.

Legendary voices

Crowned28 tribute show honors icons

In 2023, when Jordan Quinn did her tribute to generations of great female singers, called “Queens,” it was a one-woman show. She had backing vocalists, but the artists she chose were solo icons: Aretha, Whitney, Cher, Dolly, Gaga and the like. For her latest take on the format, the Manchester performer decided to open up the playing field a bit.

The result is Crowned28, a night of music that includes the aforementioned solo stars but also songs from groups, like the Pointer Sisters, and LaBelle, with its ’70s smash, “Lady Marmalade,” and a version of “I Say a Little Prayer” that, although an Aretha Franklin hit, hints at what Diana Ross & the Supremes might have done with it.

The show is also more theatrical this time around, Quinn explained in a recent phone interview.

“It allows me to blossom and transform into other people, which I really enjoy doing,” she said. “We try to take advantage of that, bring out a side that maybe you wouldn’t see in a typical tribute show with some of these artists.”

The costumes and choreography reflect this, and the milieu also has changed from the last production, which was done for a seated audience at Manchester’s Rex Theatre. This show is cabaret style and will be held in the Angel City Event Space of Rock ‘n Roll Meatballs on Elm Street.

“We are selling more tickets than there are seats, so there will be more standing around,” Quinn said. This will allow the singers to mingle and dance with the crowd, creating a nightclub vibe. Along with Quinn, there are two featured singers, each of whom will have their own spotlight during the show.

Mariah Delage won the Best Voice In Keene competition last year and appeared as a featured dancer in the Actorsingers’ recent production of Legally Blonde. Aysa Carnucci has worked with Palace Youth Theatre, Exeter’s Pine Street Players and the Amato Center’s dance company.

For Quinn, singing together with Delage and Carnucci is Quinn’s is a highlight of Crowned28.

“I really like the ensemble pieces; I love sharing the stage with them,” she said. “‘Lady Marmalade’ is one of my favorites, and the Pointer Sisters’ ‘I’m So Excited’ and then, of course, listening to the other girls sing Cher and Christina Aguilera is just a gift.”

For her solo turns, Quinn enjoys doing Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best,” and her take on Celine Dion covering “All By Myself” while decked out in an all-white suit was a showstopper in “Queens.” The three singers also do a solid version of Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” and give Heart’s “Barracuda” a terrific three-part harmony that it never had before.

While she continues to perform in the area’s restaurants and bars as a solo artist, Quinn is carving a niche with shows like Crowned28. It’s a pursuit that’s less about enjoying tributes, though watching her convincingly cover Donna Summer or Pat Benatar makes it clear she likes it.

“It’s the fact that it’s mine,” she said. “I grew up in the theater industry, and the whole idea behind creating my own show is because when you go into an audition for a musical theater piece, all you have is 36 bars to sing in front of the director. Then the director and their team decide if you’re right for the part or not. Thirty-six bars is like a minute of singing. In my mind, it’s like I am so much more capable than just 36 bars.”

Shaping a mood and casting an ensemble, which includes a band with drummer Stephen Baberadt, Greg Kieffer on guitar, bass player Jack Lianos and Derek Tanch on keyboards, is more satisfying than just taking part in a show, she continued.

“I feel like I’m able to show all of my capabilities, I think that’s what’s really exciting, because I have found a way to not limit myself,” she said. “There is no one category that everyone belongs in [and] I wanted to create a theatrical piece that everyone can enjoy, but also to showcase that we don’t belong in one category.”

Crowned28 – A Celebration of Iconic Women in Music
When: Thursday, June 5, 8 p.m.
Where: Angel City Event Space/Rock N Roll Meatballs, 179 Elm St., Unit B, Manchester
Tickets: $20 at eventbrite.com

Featured photo. From left to right: Mariah Delage, Jordan Quinn and Aysa Carnucci Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 25/06/05

Local music news & events

• Jersey night: A Bon Jovi tribute act with a following in the rocker’s home state, 1 Wild Night features look- and sound- alike singer Alex Barbieri backed by a solid three-piece band. The group covers songs like “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ On a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” with energy and conviction, something they’ve done for over a dozen years in a tough market. Thursday, June 5, 7:15 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, $40 at labellewinery.com.

• Local and: A packed bill has two Brooklyn bands. Debbie Dopamine is led by Katie Ortiz and is currently cresting on “Negative Space,” a song about gender dysphoria. Youth Large has whimsical songs that will appeal to boygenius fans. Joining are Manchester emo faves Happy Just to See You, who released the charming Ways To Cope in 2024, and Donaher performing an early set. Friday, June 6, 8 p.m., BAD BRGR, 1015 Elm St, Manchester, $12 at the door, bad-brgr.com.

• Odd milestone: Literate, ethereal singer-songwriter Aimee Mann has been busy of late. The reunion of her band ’Til Tuesday for its first show in 35 years was the highlight of last month’s Cruel World Festival in Southern California, and she’s currently on tour celebrating a quirky anniversary —it’s been 22 and a half years since her fourth solo album, Lost In Space, was released. Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $64 and up, etix.com.

• Surfie sounds: Last year, Jakob Nowell led his late father’s band Sublime at Coachella. Jakob’s Castle, which released a debut album Enter: The Castle recently, headlines with Spray Allen, led by Sublime bass player Eric Wilson, making the Lakes Region show something of a reunion. Also at the afternoon Punky Sunday party are surfer songwriter Jesse James Pariah and Strange Case. Sunday, June 8, 4 p.m., Surfside Burger Bar, 41 Route 25, Meredith; see jakobscastle.com.

• Many talents: The after-work crowd will enjoy a musical treat when Dan Blakeslee performs a midweek solo set at a Seacoast pub and restaurant. The erstwhile troubadour’s blues-infused urban folk music has been a mainstay in the region for decades. Be sure to hit the merch table for some of Blakeslee’s art, including his book, Draw Them In, published last year. Wednesday, June 11, 6 p.m., Riverworks Restaurant and Tavern, 164 Main St., Newmarket; see danblakeslee.com.

Artistic growth

Grant winner showcases new works

As a child growing up in Houston, Texas, Aris Moore was fascinated by creatures.

“I spent a lot of time with toads and cicadas and lizards, just looking at small things and finding comfort in them,” she recalls. “Looking at a frog … was just so different than looking at another human. There was something so pure about it. I always found them wise and beautiful.”

Moore leaned in to her childhood impulses and made them a successful career. Her drawings of both invented creatures and people that resemble what Diane Arbus might have done had she been a sketch artist and not a photographer have hung in galleries and appeared in publications like New American Paintings and The Creative Block.

Though her creative spark started in Texas, Moore has lived in the Granite State for most of her adult life, raising twin daughters here. She’s currently a Teaching Artist at Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC).

Recently she received a $25,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, part of their Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement program. “This grant enables artists to advance their work and careers while remaining in the area, mutually benefiting individual artists and the region as a whole,” NHCF said in a recent statement to promote Moore’s exhibit to celebrate the award at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth.

Moore will show larger works at the exhibition, something the award allows her to do.

“I really wanted to work large, and I really didn’t have the time to take that on … this afforded me that,” she said. “I could worry a little bit less about selling my work and just really immerse myself in making these larger drawings. It definitely gave me time and, honestly, it gave me confidence. It was really amazing to feel supported like that.”

A unique aspect of Moore’s art is the way it combines drawing with assemblage. In her classes, students work in layered sketchbooks, laying noses, eyes, ears and such onto a face, sketching and experimenting to find a form.

“I like it content-wise, and then I also just like physically the look of it,” she said. “Things sort of coming together but being disjointed, but then also sort of seamless. I think it’s an interesting place to play.”

Play is a concept that informs all of Moore’s work.

“The best work I make is when I don’t feel like I’m working,” she said. “I don’t have a goal in mind, and I’m just really at a point where I’m like a kid and I’m just playing and just moving things around. I guess that’s what being in flow would be. That’s the truest place where I create from. ”

She looks forward to unveiling her new works at 3S Artspace. The June 6 event is also part of the regular First Friday Art ‘Round Town happening throughout downtown Portsmouth.

“I’m interested in how people are going to relate to larger figures,” she said. “Are they going to be more unsettling, or are they going to go to the point of being sort of humorous because they’re larger? It’ll be interesting to see. I live in a small condo, so I don’t have them all hanging up. I’m excited to see how I’m going to feel about them in a larger space.”

NH Charitable Foundation Artist Advancement Grant Exhibit by 2024 recipient Aris Moore
When: Friday, June 6, 5 p.m.
Where: 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth
More: 3sarts.org

Featured photo: Jonathan Vail, resource manager of the electronics department at MakeIt Labs, on the Lobster Roll Kinetic Vehicle.

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