Author: Michael Witthaus

The Music Roundup 22/01/06

Local music news & events

• Prime cuts: While partaking in a namesake 3-pound steak, or lighter fare, listen to Joanie Cicatelli perform. A veteran musician who attended New England Conservatory, her tastes run towards classic acts like Fleetwood Mac and The Pretenders. She’s also a part of Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room, providing lead and backup vocals, along with her own band Cool Change, formed in the early 2000s. Thursday, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m., Tomahawk Tavern, 454 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, tomahawktavern.com.

• Crafty jamming: Enjoy a bountiful microbrew selection and music from Slack Tide, a quintet stretching the jam band genre’s definition. It’s led by Berklee-trained guitarist Chris Cyrus, who grew up on Jack Johnson and Sublime, while also listening to psychedelic rockers like The Doors and the Dead. “My two big influences were hippie rock and white boy reggae,” he said, “and to make the best party I can.” Friday, Jan. 7, 4 p.m., Pipe Dream Brewing, 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, pipedreambrewingnh.com.

• Laugh launch: After a successful New Year’s Eve event, weekly comedy kicks off with Jason Merrill at a downtown eatery offering a large draft beer selection. Area standup fans will remember when this venue held a regular midweek open mic. Presented by Dave Rattigan’s Scamps Comedy Productions, the show also includes Chris Cameron, Colleen McCauley, Ryan Shea, Bill Douglass and Amber Born. Saturday, Jan. 8, 8 p.m., Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester, tickets $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Barn burner: Finish off the weekend in a bucolic setting with a Blues Brunch led by guitarists Rick Campbell and Leadfoot Sam Markson. The two trade scorching licks on their original song, “Lockdown Quarantine Blues,” written back in 2020, as well as running through a range of other stellar selections. “International Blues Man” Leadfoot Sam has a good sampling on his personal SoundCloud page. Sunday, Jan. 9, 10 a.m., Twin Barns Brewing Co., 194 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, twinbarnsbrewing.com.

• Royal visit: The first family of New Orleans jazz stops by as Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra perform at a Seacoast music showcase. A gifted trombone player with a long production resume as well, Marsalis’s credits include founding the Uptown Music Theatre in his home city and training hundreds of young musicians, while staging multiple productions. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth. Tickets $30 to $85 at ticketmaster.com.

2021 all done

Looking back, and forward

In the parlance of performance, 2020 wasn’t a hard act to follow — anything would beat a year of livestreams and solo shows. So the year began hopefully, and it got better as vaccines became available and venues were able to ease capacity restrictions.

Area supergroup Marble Eyes, for example, was Zooming from the Press Room in January; by July they were playing to a packed Prescott Park in Portsmouth.

Tupelo Music Hall returned in the spring with more drive-in shows but was able to head back indoors at summer’s end. Manchester’s Palace and Rex Theatres reopened in June, while the Capitol Center and Bank of NH Stage in Concord waited the summer out, running local-flavored shows in nearby Fletcher-Murphy Park.

On the Seacoast, Portsmouth’s Music Hall split the difference, offering outdoor shows and socially distanced events at its indoor Historic Theatre. The Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach endured several close-to-the-wire cancellations before it returned to a semblance of normal in mid-July.

Creatively, 2021 was a great year. Several area performers released albums, including Liz Bills & The Change. The band’s self-titled record was rewarded with multiple NEMA nominations, including a win for Pop Act of the Year at the awards show in October.

Andrew North & The Rangers made a highlight reel of an album, Phosphorescent Snack. Among the best tracks were the Phish-adjacent “Aditi,” the buoyant, upbeat “Dig Deep” and “Epiphone” — the latter a guitar-free romp, even if it shared its name with a famous six-string.

April Cushman’s debut album, The Long Haul, dropped in July. The title song perfectly captures the struggle for success in the music business, particularly for women. Cushman sings about the “10-year turnaround” she faces as “just another girl among a thousand crowns … in a working man’s town,” the latter a reference to Nashville, where the disc was finished.

After a March 2020 release show was cratered by Covid-19, Married Iguana waited a year to make its hometown debut in Manchester, and their debut EP includes one of the best songs to come out this year. “Go With The Flow” chugs along like a rolling party bus, punctuated by scorching guitar licks from band leader and principal songwriter Brett Higgins.

All three bands have plans to start 2022 with a bang. Cushman will perform with her band on Jan. 13 at Bank of NH Stage in Concord, a venue Andrew North & The Rangers will also appear at, on Feb. 10. Married Iguana will headline a local showcase with The Humans Being and Earthmark on Jan. 22 at Shaskeen Pub in Manchester.

Comedy provided relief to a pandemic-weary region, first with socially distanced shows at places like Chunky’s Cinema Pub, with multiple locations, as well as Newmarket’s Stone Church and Kathleen’s Cottage in Bristol. Maine funny man Bob Marley played an April Fool’s Day show at Saint Anselm College’s Dana Center, while Juston McKinney did several small-capacity socially distanced sets at area venues.

By summer Wednesday night comedy had returned to Shaskeen Pub, accompanied by word that the weekly event would be taken over by Ruby Room Comedy. Longtime promoters Nick Lavallee and Dave Carter announced plans for a handoff with an eight-weekend run of shows. Standup popped up in some new spots, like Backyard Brewery and Yankee Lanes in Manchester, Concord’s Area 23, and Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston.

Sadly, 2021 ended with a series of losses to the music community. Billy Conway, drummer for Morphine and Treat Her Right, and former Concord resident, died on Dec. 19, the same day that David Surette, who for decades was a fixture on the area scene and Concord Community Music School faculty member, also died.

Granite State native Bill Staines lost his battle to prostate cancer on Dec. 5, and singer, songwriter, activist and provocateur Chelsea Paolini died at age 32, also on Dec. 5. She was a firebrand, whether lighting up the fretboard of her Gibson SG or dressing down perceived ignorance wherever she found it.

Finally, the death of drummer and bandleader Chucky Tester shocked the rock community. A memorial dubbed Rock In Peace happens Jan. 16 at A-Brews in Dracut, Mass. On the bill are Manchester prog rockers Mindset X, Prospect Hill, blindspot and A Simple Complex. For the latter band, it’s an early comeback, their first live performance in over two years.

“We saw the grief in the music community,” A Simple Complex frontman Mark Ingoldsby said recently, “so we decided to break our silence and come off hiatus early to organize a tribute benefit show in honor of Chucky.”

2022 shows to get excited about

Rex Theatre
Morgan James, Jan. 15 (rescheduled from December)
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox, March 24

Palace Theatre
Seth Meyers, Feb. 9
Celtic Angels, March 5

Capitol Center for the Arts
Juston McKinney, March 26 (recording a comedy special)
Heart By Heart, April 2 (featuring original band members)

Bank of NH Stage
Enter the Haggis, Feb. 3
Andrew North & The Rangers, Feb. 10

Tupelo Music Hall
Corey Rodrigues, Kyle Crawford, and Alex Giampapa, Jan. 14 (Comedy)
Martin Barre, Aqualung 50th Anniversary Tour, Feb. 11

The Music Hall
Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive) and Vilray, Jan. 29
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Feb. 27

SNHU Arena
JoJo Siwa, Feb. 22
KoRn & Chevelle, March 19

Bank of NH Pavilion
Ringo Starr & Avett Brothers, June 4
Jack Johnson, June 21

Featured photo: Chelsea Paolini. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 21/12/30

Local music news & events

• Familiar tunes: Roll into the long weekend with Eddie Sands, a singer and guitarist with a lengthy list of cover songs, including “Leader of the Band” from Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” and Kenny Loggins’ ode to his brother, “Danny’s Song.” The venue is a dual market and eatery, serving lunch in the daytime while offering bar fare, burgers, entrees and adult beverages at night. Thursday, Dec. 30, 6:30 p.m., Michael’s Flatbread Bar and Grill, 8 Stiles Road, Salem.

• New crew: Among the many possibilities for New Year’s Eve entertainment, the Faith Ann Band is a great choice, with a forthcoming album, In Bloom, and new guitarist Mike Stockbridge bringing a solid jazz background to the group. Check out the latest psychedelic single from the disc on their website, but those with a clown phobia may want to skip the video, which has an unmistakable It vibe. Friday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St, Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord, more at thefaithannband.com.

• Start it up: Is timing the best thing about this new year? Continue Friday night’s fun with The Far, a festive six-piece featuring a male and female lead vocal team. Their setlist stays up to the minute; singer Neely Luna’s cover of Adele’s “Easy On Me” is excellent, as is a fun take of Tone & I’s “Dance Monkey.” They also deliver a few classics, such as Boston’s “Foreplay/Long Time” and “Separate Ways” by Journey. Saturday, Jan. 1, 8 p.m., The Derryfield, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, more at thefarband.com.

• Battle on: A competition between young local bands, Pizzastock 5.5 is a benefit for the Jason R. Flood Memorial Fund, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention, access to mental health services and providing a safe space to gather for tweens, teens and young adults. This year’s acts are Rock Bottom, Second to Last Minute and Castle Island. Last year’s winner Cozy Throne will close out the show; Casey Daron of Afterimage hosts. Sunday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, tickets $15 at tupelohall.com.

• Laugh in: Water cooler comics and raconteurs can try working in front of a crowd at Do You Think You’re Funny? The weekly comedy open mic is held at a unique venue specializing in vintage vinyl and microbrews. The hour-long event is happening for the first time in 2022, so anyone with a New Year’s resolution to try something new and step outside their comfort zone has just the place to test their mettle. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m., Defiant Records & Craft Beer, 609 Main St., Laconia, defiantnh.com.

Escape to 2022

Music, comedy and more for New Year’s Eve

Send off 2021 in style with music, comedy and more on Friday, Dec. 31. Know of a party not mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected].

• 603 Bar & Lounge (368 Central Ave., Dover, 742-9283) A night of DJs offers Sex on Decks with support from DJ Deja and Pete Vitello. 9 p.m.

• 815 Cocktails & Provisions (815 Elm St., Manchester, eventbrite.com) $100. The theme at this downtown speakeasy is Red Carpet — think Music Awards, and the fun wardrobe that goes with that. Open bar, eats, dancing, unlimited photo booth, midnight Champagne toast. 9 p.m.

• Alan’s (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631) NYE with Stray Dog, $15 per person, 8 p.m.

• American Legion Post 47 (551 Foundry St., Rollinsford, 742-5833) Acoustic Radio fifth annual bash with opener Aunt Peg, $15, with prime rib dinner available. 7:30 p.m.

• American Legion Post 70 (169 Walton Road, Seabrook, 474-2430) Ghost Riderz rock in the New Year, $20 per person. Starts at 9 p.m.

• American Legion Post 98 (43 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, 429-0343) Kid N’ Play Style New Year’s Eve Bash with a mix of ’80s/’90s hip-hop and R&B music. 9 p.m.

• Angel City Music Hall (179 Elm St., Manchester, 931-3654) Rock in 2022 with Everybody Wants Some – A Tribute to Van Halen ’78-’84; The Hellion – Judas Priest Tribute; and Caliente Pistolas. $50 dinner buffet by Chef Sean, Champagne toast at midnight. Starts at 7 p.m.

• Area 23 (State Street, Concord, 881-9060) With edgy new song “Deathmask,” Faith Ann Band performs, joined by special guests Alfredo Benavides and Ben Harris. 7 p.m.

• Ashworth by the Sea (295 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-6762) Party with a live band, hors d’oeuvres and a seated surf & turf dinner, a cash bar, late-night snack, midnight Champagne toast, and fireworks on the beach. DJ dancing. 6:30 p.m.

• Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564) Stuck In Time Band performs ’60s, ’70s and ’80s covers, with free buffet and midnight Champagne toast. 8 p.m.

• Backstreet Bar & Grill (102 Plaza, 76 Derry Road, Hudson, 578-1811) DJ Bobby Lane leads a dance party. 8 p.m.

• Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, eventbrite.com) $45 to $90. Shuttavac NYE Spectacular is inspired by the bold speakeasies of the Roaring 1920s to the iconic New York nightclubs of the 1970s, where people escaped to celebrate in inclusive, bold and glamorous worlds. 8 p.m.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540) New Year’s Eve dance party with DJ Hustle Boy, $55, cash bar. 7 p.m.

• Blue Ocean Music Hall (4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury, Mass., 462-5888) The tradition continues with a New Year’s Eve bash starring The Fools & Psychedelic Relics, with optional dinner buffet. Champagne toast, party favors and midnight balloon drop. Dinner and show $92; show only $28 general admission. 7 p.m.

• Bonfire Restaurant & Country Bar (950 Elm St., Manchester, 217-5600) Martin & Kelly perform country rock. 9 p.m.

• Boston Billiard Club (55 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 943-5630) Live music from The Apathetics, $10 cover. Reserve a pool table for the night for $175. Includes an appetizer platter, bottle of Champagne and the cover is waived for up to four people in your party. 9 p.m.

• Breezeway Pub (14 Pearl St., Manchester, 621-9111) Drag Roulette Fridays. 8 p.m.

• Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) Mystical Magic performs downstairs, with DJ upstairs spinning all night long. $45 per person includes buffet (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) and party; $20 for party only. Hats & tiaras, noisemakers, beads and Champagne toast. 8 p.m.

• Buckey’s (240 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Moultonborough, 476-5485) Red Hat Band plays its traditional NYE set. 9 p.m.

• Cask & Vine (1 East Broadway, Derry, beerfests.com) Celebrate this gastropub’s 10th year with its NYE masquerade party. $25 deposit will be applied to the bill. Includes midnight Champagne toast. 6 p.m.

• Castleton Banquet and Conference Center (58 Enterprise Dr., Windham, eventbrite.com) $200. Dress to impress with three-course meal, open bar all night, 50/50 raffle, Joey Dion from Main Event Entertainment, photo booth, midnight Champagne toast. 7 p.m.

• Central Ale House (23 Central St., Manchester, 660-2241) Gatsby Gala Midnight Masquerade with 1920s style dress code, midnight Champagne toast. Starts at 6 p.m. Email [email protected] to RSVP.

• Cercle National Club (550 Rockland Ave., Manchester, 623-8243) Drink specials, party favors and Plan B playing rock covers at this members club. 6 p.m.

• Chen Yang Li (520 South St., Bow, 228-8508) Great Gatsby party hosted by DJ Kenny P. 8 p.m.

• Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) An evening of active rock with Leaving Eden and Band, Inc., led by 18-year-old singer and bassist Giuliana Amaral. 6:30 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, headlinersnh.com) Two events: Comedy with Matt Barry, James Dorsey and Greg Boggis in one room, Dueling Pianos in another. $30 each show, 7 and 10 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, headlinersnh.com) Two events: Comedy with Joe Yannetty, Joey Carrol and Mark Scalia in one room, Dueling Pianos in another. $30 each, 7 and 10 p.m.

• Coach Stop (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022) Pete Peterson performs an early set. 7 p.m.

• Common Man (88 Range Road, Windham 898-0088) Singer-songwriter Karen Grenier performs an early set. 6 p.m.

• Concord Holiday Inn (172 Main St., Concord, 224-9534) Comedy with Mike Donovan and Amy Tee, dancing and toast — with dinner and room $276 per couple, dinner-only $188 per couple, $94 single. 8 p.m.

• Copper Door (41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-3033) Jodee Frawlee plays an early set. 3 p.m.

• Copper Door (15 Leavy Dr., Bedford, 488-2677) Jordan Quinn plays an early set. 3 p.m.

• CR’s (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972) Rico Barr Trio playing holiday hours 5 to 11 p.m.

• Crow’s Nest (181 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 974-1686) DJ Golo provides the music with prizes, giveaways and extended hours. 9 p.m.

• Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) Chad LaMarsh rocks the party. $20 a ticket includes admission to see the music, Champagne toast at midnight and party favors. 9 p.m.

• Farm Bar & Grille (1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276) The Gold Everything Party: Jam’n 94.5’s DJ Sammy Smoove and Boston’s DJ Real Ace spin top 40, hip-hop and Latin hits. Gold attire is encouraged but not mandatory for entry. $25. 8 p.m.

• Flying Monkey Movie House (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551) Comedian Bob Marley is back, performing three times, at 3, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets start at $39.50. 8 p.m.

• Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015) Joe Wedge Experience performs. 9 p.m.

• Fody’s Derry (187 1/2 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946) Pop Roks plays fun covers. 9 p.m.

• Fratello’s (155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022) Clint LaPointe plays. 8 p.m.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (194 Main St., Nashua, 889-2022) Justin Jordan entertains. 9 p.m.

• Gibb’s Garage Bar (3612 Lafayette St., Portsmouth, portsmouthnh.com) Elijah Clark plays an early set at this throwback automotive-themed restaurant. 7 p.m.

• Grill 28 (200 Grafton Road, Portsmouth, 766-6466) Dave Gerard of Truffle plays an early set. 6 p.m.

• Headliners (700 Elm St., Manchester, 988-3673) Open after a long hiatus, with three comics and DJ spinning in the ballroom. Packages include food, drink and dancing, starting at $40. 8 p.m.

• High Octane (1072 Watson Road, Laconia, 527-8116) Masquerade party with EXP Band playing, best mask cash prize, Champagne toast as this Lakes Region club celebrates its first anniversary. 8 p.m.

• Hillsboro Moose Lodge (15 School St., Hillsboro, 464-6024) Cellar Dwellers, Superbug and Probable Cause perform, with a Champagne toast at midnight plus snacks, appetizers and food. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 6 p.m.

• Homestead (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022) Ralph Allen performs. 6:30 p.m.

• Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, ticketmaster.com) Grammy-winning jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta Big Band perform. $375 to $425. 7 p.m.

• Jocelyn’s (355 S. Broadway, Salem, 870-0045) Brian Walker performs an early set. 6 p.m.

• L Street Tavern (17 L St., Hampton, 967-4777) Craig LaGrassa performs. 8 p.m.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898) New Year’s Eve dinner with Freese Brothers Big Band followed by a stroll through the LaBelle Lights. $121.50. 9 p.m.

• Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832) Sindicate rocks in the new year. 9 p.m.

• Murphy’s Taproom (494 Elm St., Manchester, scampscomedy.com) Dancing Madly Backwards follows a comedy show with Dave Rattigan, Chris Cameron, E.J. Murphy and Casey Crawford. $22. 8 p.m.

• Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org) $38, Champagne Pops, Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra led by special guest conductor Dr. Dirk Hillyer and guest vocalist Jacyn Tremblay, performing selections from Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Cabaret, Chicago, The Godfather, West Side Story and a collection of Gershwin swing favorites. 8 p.m.

• Nan King Restaurant (222 Central St., Hudson, 882-1911) Patty Shock’s Energizer Karaoke provides entertainment. 8 p.m.

• Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588) Recycled Percussion is again home for the holidays — ring in 2020 with junk rock. Two shows, 4 and 7:30 p.m. $35 to $45.

• Pasta Loft (241 Union Sq., Milford, 672-2270) Fatha Groove fills the dance floor. $10 includes Champagne toast at midnight. 7 p.m.

• Pats Peak Ski Area (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 728-7732) New Year’s fireworks (slopes close at 10 p.m.) and dancing to The McMurphys in the Sled Pub. 6 p.m.

• Penuche’s Ale House (6 Pleasant St., Concord, 228-9833) NYE party with Felix Holt. 9 p.m.

• Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 436-8123) Lady Ro drag show is back after two years. 10 p.m.

• Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, 430-9122) Boston Circus Guild – Welcome to The Show. Cirque du Soleil-inspired evening with live entertainment and DJ music. VIP packages available by emailing [email protected]. 8 p.m.

• Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588) Juston McKinney’s Year In Review comes to Manchester, $35 (also New Year’s Day). 8 p.m.

• River Hill Grange (32 Horse Hill Road, Penacook, penacook.org) Midlife Crisis album release party with K Daver, Kinetik, Mass Militia, Livid Rhymer and Quincer. $20 includes free drinks. 7 p.m.

• Rochester Elks Lodge (295 Columbus Ave., Rochester, 332-9700) Bill Vendasi performs at a Mad Hatter’s party, $45 per person includes cocktail hour with appetizers, prime rib or chicken cordon bleu dinner, dessert and midnight toast. 9 p.m.

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 369-6962) Bite The Bullet Band plays fourth annual bash, $55 tickets include buffet from 7 to 9 p.m. and a late-night pizza buffet, Champagne toast and party favors. 7 p.m.

• Salt Hill Pub (2 W. Park St., Lebanon, 448-4532) 19th annual New Year’s Eve party featuring Vermont and New Hampshire’s only cowpunk-thunder boogie band, Road Trash. $10 admission, 8 p.m.

• Sawbelly Brewing (156 Epping Road, Exeter, 583-5080) Parker Richards, back for the holidays from Nashville, performs an early set. 5 p.m.

• Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) Lock The Doors Bash is reprised with limited $50 tickets covering a food buffet, midnight Champagne toast, giveaways, Chris Bennett, a.k.a. DJ Myth, spinning and open bar. The club will be closed to anyone without tickets (21+ only). 8 p.m.

• Sheraton Hotel (250 Market St., Portsmouth, eventbrite.com) Mark Riley, Ryan Gartley and host Steve Scarfo provide the laughs at the 12th annual show presented by Live Free and Die Laughing. Early show $28 (8:30 p.m.), late show $38 (10:30 p.m.).

• Soho Bistro (20 Old Granite St., Manchester, 222-1677) $20 for starters with up to $600 for VIP packages gets you into an elegant NYE party. 9 p.m.

• South Side Tavern (1279 S. Willow St., Manchester, 935-9947) Cox Karaoke hosts with dancing, party favors and Champagne toast at midnight. No cover. 9 p.m.

• Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) Club d’Elf with special guests John Medeski & David Tronzo. $75. 6 p.m.

• Stonecutters Pub (63 Union Sq., Milford, 213-5979) KJ-Dave O hosts New Year’s Eve karaoke with spot prizes for ugly sweaters and much more fun in store. 9 p.m.

• Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210) Swipe Right Band performs. 8 p.m.

• Sweeney Post #2 (251 Maple St., Manchester, 623-9145) The Lexi James Band, with lots of food, lots of great music and lots of fun. 8 p.m.

• The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 767-2226) Back in the Day plays this Weirs Beach room at 8 p.m. $10.

• The Goat Hampton (20 L St., Hampton, 601-6928) Alex Anthony performs at Hampton Beach’s only country bar at 8 p.m.

• The Goat Manchester (50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 603-4628) NYE party with Those Guys at this club family’s newest location at 8 p.m.

• The Goat Portsmouth (142 Congress St., Portsmouth, 658-4628) Chris Toler plays early. 9 p.m.

• Thirsty Moose (21 Congress St, Portsmouth, 427-8645) Connecticut pop rock band Mattson performs in the basement music space while great beer flows on both floors, 9 p.m.

• Tower Hill Tavern (264 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-9100) $10. Resident DJ Kadence hosts a karaoke NYE party, 8 p.m.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100) Adam Ezra Group and opening duo Sirsy play with a four-course dinner at 5:30 p.m. for $95; 8:30 p.m. show only is $40, and all tickets include a Champagne toast.

• Tuscan Market & Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467) The Deviant (Mindset X leader Scott Haiduchuk’s acoustic alter ego) performs. 8 p.m.

• Veteran’s Club (118 John Stark Hwy., Newport, 863-3945) $10 for Talkin’ Smack, a popular cover band playing the hits. 7 p.m.

• Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) Paul Lussier plays an early set. 5 p.m.

• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 926-6954) Boston based rock/pop cover band Down A 5th performs at this party. 9 p.m.

• Waterville Valley Ski Area (1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley, 236-8311) Gabby Martin at T-Bars and Henry LaLiberte at Freestyle, with fireworks at midnight. 3 p.m.

• XO Bistro (827 Elm St., Manchester, 560-7998) Acoustic Moxie performs an early set. 6:30 p.m.

• Yankee Lanes (216 Maple St., Manchester, 625-9656) Roll New Year’s Eve three-hour bowling party $99.95 per lane for up to six people. 9:30 p.m.

Featured photo: Courtesy image.

Enter laughing

New Year’s Eve comedy across the state

Laughter just may be the best medicine as New Hampshire and the rest of the world lurch into 2022, evidenced by the number of standup comedy shows on tap for New Year’s Eve. No fewer than eight events are scheduled, from marquee shows at Manchester’s Rex Theatre and The Flying Monkey in Plymouth, to clubs, movie houses and all manner in between.

Start with the big names. A Seacoast mainstay moves to Manchester for 2021’s final night, though Juston McKinney – A Year in Review will have a four-day run at Portsmouth’s Music Hall from Dec. 26 to Dec. 29. Along with his New Year’s Eve Rex Theatre appearance, McKinney has a New Year’s Day show slated. Up north, comedian Bob Marley does three shows at Plymouth’s Flying Monkey, in what’s becoming an end of year tradition for the Maine funny man.

Similarly venerable is the annual bash at the Sheraton Harborside in Portsmouth, now in its 12th year. Presented by Live Free or Die Laughing, an early and a late show stars Mark Riley, with support from Ryan Gartley and Steve Scarfo. In Manchester a showcase with Dave Rattigan, Chris Cameron, E.J. Murphy and Casey Crawford precedes a New Year’s party with a live band.

The rest of the night belongs to New England King of Comedy Rob Steen, whose Headliners franchise is offering no fewer than five standup showcases, along with a pair of dueling pianos events. Three are gala events, capped with DJ dancing and midnight toasts, preceded by dinner and laughs.

The biggest of the bunch is at their Manchester flagship location. It stars Robbie Printz, Tim McKeever and Tom Spohn; Steen will host. It’s a Roaring Twenties, Great Gatsby themed event. Attendees are encouraged to dress accordingly, and for those wanting an extra touch, fedoras will be provided for the guys, with feathered headbands available for women.

Making the show happen meant clearing a few hurdles.

“We were supposed to start back up a year ago, but they had no staff,” Steen said by phone recently; a planned summer 2021 reopening was also delayed. “We opened soft the first week of November, in the small room…. Dec. 11 was our first night in the comedy club.”

Safety is a watchword, Steen continued.

“Every customer that buys a ticket has to call me for seating, and the first thing I ask them is, ‘How do you feel about going — are you comfortable?’ We’re only doing 500 people, not 1,000 like in the past, so it’s not going to be jammed.” As for masking and vaccination protocols, “we’re following the guidelines.”

Low capacity requirements this year have led to one event already selling out, a show with Mike Donovan and Amy Tee at Concord’s Holiday Inn. The final gala is up in the Lakes Region, at the Wolfeboro Inn, with Boston funny man Mike Bain and Jody Sloane, who parlayed her talents as a Duck Tour guide into a standup career.

If all the galas sell out, customers can redirect to two shows each at Chunky’s Cinema in Manchester, where Joe Yannetty, Joey Carroll and Mark Scalia perform, or the moviehouse and pub’s location in Nashua, where Matt Barry, James Dorsey and Greg Boggis hold forth. Each location also offers a 10 p.m. Dueling Pianos show to ring in the new year.

Though there are a lot of options for comedy fans this year, Steen doesn’t expect a plethora of choices to impact his efforts. In fact, he’s prepared for more than a few patrons to double dip in the fun, and head to one of his late shows after seeing an early one.

“One thing feeds the other,” he said. “People will tell me, ‘you’ve got too much competition,’ but in a way we’re all working together. I’m having one of the better years I’ve ever had in 2021, because people are dying to get out.”

New Year’s Eve comedy shows

Who: Juston McKinney’s Year In Review
Where: Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 8 p.m. (also Jan. 1)
Tickets: $35 at palacetheatre.org

Who: Bob Marley
Where: Flying Monkey Movie House, 39 Main St., Plymouth
Tickets: $46.50 and up at flyingmonkeynh.com (shows at 2, 5:30 and 8 p.m.)

Who: Dave Rattigan, Chris Cameron, E.J. Murphy and Casey Crawford
Where: Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $22 at scampscomedy.com

Who: Mark Riley, Ryan Gartley, Steve Scarfo
Where: Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 Market St., Portsmouth, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Tickets: $28 and $38 at livefreeordielaughing.com

Who: Robbie Printz, Rob Steen, Tim McKeever, Tom Spohn
Where: Headliners at the DoubleTree, 700 Elm St., Manchester, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $35 and up at headlinersnh.com

Who: Mike Donovan, Amy Tee
Where: Holiday Inn, 172 N. Main St., Concord, 8 p.m.
Tickets: SOLD OUT

Who: Matt Barry, James Dorsey & Greg Boggis
Where: Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 7 and 10 p.m.
Tickets: $30 at headlinersnh.com

Who: Joe Yannetty, Joey Carroll & Mark Scalia
Where: Chunky’s Cinema, 707 Huse Road, Manchester, 7 and 10 p.m.
Tickets: $30 at headlinersnh.com

Who: Mike Bain & Jody Sloane
Where: Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $369 per couple (room, dinner and show) $169 per couple (dinner and show) at headlinersnh.com

Featured photo: Robbie Printz. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 21/12/23

Local music news & events

• Back for Xmas: In what’s become a holiday tradition, Abrielle Scharff returns for her fifth annual Abby Holidays show. Now living in New York City — a few years back, her original “New York Makes Me Cry” earned a top three finish in Pop Dust’s Coffee Music Project competition — the Portsmouth native promises “seasonal songs, bad jokes and a lot of love” for her homecoming set. Thursday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m., Portsmouth Book & Bar, 40 Pleasant St,, Portsmouth. Tickets $20 and $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Lead into fun: Head to a music-friendly taphouse and eatery for Early Music Christmas Eve, a local showcase starring Becca Myari, Angela Stewart, John Farese and Crazy Steve sharing songs, stories and good cheer. Singer and guitarist Myari has a gorgeous acoustic rendition of the classic “O Holy Night” to anticipate, along with various stouts and barley wines. Friday, Dec. 24, 4 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St., Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord, facebook.com/area23concord.

• Rock it forward: Work out post-Christmas ya-yas at Holiday Hardcore Fest 2021, a two-stage event commencing in late afternoon with a sprawling list of bands including Trauma Kit, Hard Target, Sophisticated Adult, Clock Out, I Know A Ghost, Bleach Temple, Trading Heroes For Ghosts, Duress, Spit, Duress, Ten to One, Voluntary Victim, Choke Out, and Slug; by showtime likely a few more will be added. Sunday, Dec. 26, 5 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $12 and up at eventbrite.com.

• Tri tip time: Joined by area mainstays Paul Costley and Nate Comp, Jess Olson hosts an Artist Showcase. The Granite State singer-guitarist has kept busy of late, recently spending time in Nashville, sharing a stage with new expat Amanda McCarthy at Pete & Terry’s Tavern, and performing at a songwriter round at the Copper Branch club there, along with doing a photo shoot at the Opryland Resort. Tuesday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m., KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, facebook.com/TheJessOlsonBand.

• All in one: Midweek mirth and music, including an EDM-infused version of “Tequila,” comes from Lee Ross, a Boston dance machine who works keyboards, horns and a psychedelic light show into his act. If that’s not enough, his wild head of hair takes over. One set highlight is the New Orleans second line staple “Money Back,” and he also has a long list of funk, reggae and rhythm & blues bangers at the ready. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, youtube.com/HouseOfLeeRoss.

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