Author: Michael Witthaus

Whiskey man

Chris Stapleton tribute act Traveller hits Riley’s Place

Traveller is not Alec Antobenedetto’s first tribute act. There’s the Allman Brothers-based Peacheaters, now in its 25th year, and Confounded Bridge, which covers Led Zeppelin’s catalog. However, Antobenedetto is particularly suited to songs like “White Horse” and “Parachute,” so his Chris Stapleton-centric band happened almost by acclamation.

For years he’s been a drummer and occasional singer. A few years ago he began to notice crowd members turning to each other whenever he sang a Stapleton song, nudging, pointing fingers, looking at him incredulously.

“People started coming up saying, ‘You sound just like him,’” he recalled in a recent Zoom meeting. “‘It’s scary how much like him you sound.’”

One year ago in April he threw caution to the wind and booked Traveller’s first show — before the band had ever gathered together to play.

“It’s just what I do; I’ll schedule a gig before we have our first rehearsal,” he said. Their debut came last September at Boggestock, a western Massachusetts festival he organizes every year.

“It took off like wildfire,” he continued. Now leading from the front of the stage instead of the back, Antobenedetto brings a few distinctive touches to the band’s performance. He talks with the audience more than the regularly reserved Stapleton, and he doesn’t play guitar. The latter is something he’s cheerfully unapologetic about.

“It hurts my fingers. I don’t like it. The guitar and me do not have a good relationship,” he said with a laugh, adding that it doesn’t interfere with the mission. “People are coming for that Chris Stapleton experience. They’re coming for the songs that they love and want to hear when Chris is not playing the area. I try to fulfill that need.”

That said, Traveller doesn’t simply mine Stapleton’s hits, though “Tennessee Whiskey” is usually a set closer. He’ll ask the crowd for liquid fortification before kicking into the song. “Because if they buy me a shot of Jack Daniel’s, I’ll sing it much better,” he said. Where it’s sold, he’ll drink some of Stapleton’s own whiskey (with the same name as his band).

The set list goes deep, including songs from Stapleton’s early bluegrass band The SteelDrivers, his covers of Vince Gill’s “Whenever You Come Around” and “Shameless” by Garth Brooks, along with the rowdy Rodney Crowell rocker “Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This” as it was interpreted by Waylon Jennings.

Because Antobenedetto knows that every fan has a favorite.

“If I ask the audience, I’ll get a hundred different answers,” he said. His personal choice is a deep cut, “When the Stars Come Out.” He’s also partial to “Crosswind” and “What Are You Listening To?” along with Stapleton’s cover of John Fogerty’s “Joy of My Life.”

Traveller includes Peacheaters bandmates Rick Goode on guitar and bassist Dave Hines, along with Jay Tullio on acoustic guitar and mandolin, Leon Melanson playing keys, pedal steel and guitar, Mike Duca on percussion and Mike Iannantuoni on drums. When he’s unavailable, Peacheaters drummer AJ Vallee fills in.

Standing alongside Antobenedetto at every show on backing vocals and light percussion is his girlfriend, Tina D’Aurizio. “How lucky are you to be able to do music with the person you’re in love with, you know what I mean? I’m very blessed with the guys that I work with.”

An upcoming show at Riley’s Place in Milford is a return. The Peacheaters were there recently, getting two encores.

“They wouldn’t let us get away with just one,” he said, praising the venue’s warm wooden-walled sound. “For anybody that is a true music fan, this is a place that they have to go. You could actually record an album in that room; it would be amazing.”

Antobenedetto remains a bit bemused by the reception he gets as a doppelgänger, but as a fan he welcomes the chance to celebrate Stapleton in Traveller.

“People ask me to sign stuff for them, sometimes they think I’m him,” he said. “But it’s really all about the music. The music is the captain of the ship, in every way possible.”

Traveller – The Chris Stapleton Experience
When: Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m.
Where: Riley’s Place, 29 Mont Vernon St., Milford
Tickets: $15 at eventbrite.com

Featured photo: Traveller. Photo by Penny Aicardi.

The Music Roundup 26/05/07

• Civil roar: With a 2025 concept album inspired by George Washington’s Rules of Civility, Paul Gilbert continues his WROC world tour with a stop in Derry. The shredding legend’s latest is high-energy rock blending humor, history, and precision guitar work from the man who co-founded both Mr. Big and Racer X. Blues and jazz guitar giant Greg Koch opens the energetic double bill. Thursday, May 7, at 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 and up, tupelohall.com.

• Roots unit: After he left Hot Day at the Zoo, Michael Dion formed Daemon Chili and electrified many of his old band’s bluegrass songs, comparable to Bob Dylan’s transformation at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Inspired by the Dead, the Allman Brothers and others, they fuse elements of rock, blues, reggae into an Americana sound. The most recent LP is 2017’s Mercy of the Sea. Friday, May 8, at 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, $5 at the door, 21+.

• Totally fab: In a crowded field of Beatles tribute acts, Britain’s Finest stands out for youthful exuberance — according to their website they’re the youngest touring Fab Faux. The detail and scope of their act is also notable. They perform in period costumes, use vintage Rickenbacker, Ludwig and Gretsch instruments, and perform songs once done live alongside studio-only tracks. Saturday, May 9, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $44, palacetheatre.org.

• Family way: Nobody knows John Prine’s songs like his brother Billy Prine. During concerts celebrating a life in song, he tells stories behind his beloved catalog, like the first time John played a reel-to-reel recording of “Paradise” for their father at the family kitchen table. The show includes classics like “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” and “In Spite of Ourselves” (with singer Scarlett Egan). Sunday, May 10, at 4 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $54, ccanh.com.

• Victory lap: Marking the 30th anniversary of their breakout album Bringing Down the Horse, The Wallflowers perform in the Lakes Region. On the strength of hits like “One Headlight,” “Sixth Avenue Heartache” and “The Difference,” the 1996 release earned multiple Grammy nominations and helped move Jakob Dylan out of his famous father’s shadow to establish him as a musical force. Tuesday, May 12, at 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $57 and up, etix.com.

Olde World Fun

NH Renaissance Faire returns

Long before Danny Scialdone became general manager of the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire, he was better known as court jester Aspergillius Gleekman, mirthfully roaming the annual event. That’s not changed, and when Scialdone is called to answer a problem at the Faire these days, he still arrives with bells on.

It’s a visage not everyone is prepared for, he recalled in a recent phone interview as preparations for this year’s Faire in Fremont were underway.

“Some of the looks that I get from the people when I come walking up,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Hi, I’m Danny, how can I help you?’ and they’re like, ‘Oh, OK, you’re the manager? OK.’”

That blend of whimsy, warmth and genuine community spirit is exactly what the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire is all about. It’s why thousands of visitors make the trip each spring to step back in time, eat an enormous turkey leg, and lose themselves in a world of knights, aerial artists, fairies and more.

The Faire has come a long way since its founding in 2005, when it launched with a modest lineup of about nine vendors. This year roughly 170 merchants and performers will fill the fairgrounds. Many are traveling from across New England and the East Coast, with some coming all the way from Michigan, Ohio and beyond.

The growth reflects a hunger for the immersive, cosplay time travel experience provided there. “In the early 2000s, the only New England state that didn’t have a Renaissance Faire was New Hampshire,” Scialdone said, and founder Shannon McCracken-Barber from Farmington wanted to change that.

Scialdone came on board in 2012, a year after McCracken-Barber departed.

“It got to be a little bigger than I think she had ever expected it to get, and trying to run it all by herself was getting more and more daunting,” he said. To ensure the Faire continued, she urged the formation of a nonprofit. Three Maples Renaissance Corporation was born.

For curious first-timers unsure of what to expect, Scialdone’s advice is simple: just show up.

“It’s an amazing experience, and it’s hard to actually describe,” he said. “My recommendation is to come out and experience it. Even if it’s the only time that you ever do, I know you’re going to love it.”

The Faire is designed to be a fun family day out, reasonably priced for parents and kids to enjoy without stress. Archery instruction is one of many extras included with admission, offering the chance to learn from a professional bowyer and fire a volley of arrows at a real target. “It’s a very popular activity,” Scialdone noted.

For those who crave more spectacle, the Brotherhood of the Arrow and Sword sets up a fully authentic 15th-century knights’ encampment, complete with armor displays and live, unchoreographed sword fighting. Aerial artists are among Scaildone’s favorite participants, bringing a modern dash of circus flair.

Storytellers, period performers and roving characters fill every corner of the grounds. Scialdone also confirms drumsticks are still very much available, though he warns that as the day winds down so does the supply. “People can be absolutely devastated when our vendor runs out.”

Some of his best memories from past Faires have little to do with planned programming. Last year a soaking rain flooded part of the grounds. The staff referred to the resulting mess as Lake Complain, but two small boys dressed as dragons were overjoyed and spent the afternoon gleefully splashing through mud and puddles.

A crowd of onlookers laughed and filmed their spontaneous romp, turning a potential disaster into a fun memory.

“That’s the biggest take back for me,” Scialdone said. “Just getting to stand there and watch people have such a blast.” He’s also proud of the Faire’s success as a fundraiser.

Since the current team took over, the Faire has donated more than $700,000 to causes including the New Hampshire Food Bank, Meals on Wheels of Rockingham County, Exeter Hospital’s Beyond the Rainbow cancer recovery program, and several others. “Our entire goal and purpose of doing what we do,” he said, “is to help out people in need in New Hampshire.”

2026 New Hampshire Renaissance Faire
When: Saturdays (May 9 & 16) and Sundays (May 10 & 17), 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Brookvale Pines Farm, 80 Martin Road, Fremont
Tickets: See nhrenfaire.com

Featured photo: Renaissance Faire. Courtesy photo.

Downtown sounds

Concord First Friday 2026 unveils six months of music

The rich music scene in Concord will be on display through early November, with the help of a local musician who’s also a local business owner. Eric Reingold was inspired to volunteer for the monthly First Friday series after catching one of its events last year.

Sensing an opportunity to add his expertise to the mix, he reached out to Intown Concord, the organization behind First Friday, Market Days and other downtown events. Reingold has worked with Intown for many years, both as the owner of Endicott Furniture on Main Street, and as a performer in acts like JamAntics, Up and People Skills. Stressing the many hats he wears, Reingold offered his services.

“I’m basically a full-time musician, I know all the bands around here, I run sound, and I can put on a huge festival with equipment I’ve accumulated over the years,” he told them. “By way of shortening the story, they were like, ‘Well, if you think you can do it, why don’t you?’”

That was last summer, and he’s been booking bands since, assembling a lineup that serves as a love letter to the Capital City’s music community.

“I have seen every single one of these bands,” Reingold said. “My opinion is that the music in Concord is incredible. There’s so much good talent here that I’ve been both lucky to be part of and also just experience.”

On May 1, the inaugural First Friday of 2026 will offer live music on two stages. In Bicentennial Square, RGB Trio will kick things off at 4 p.m., followed by Chasing Ghosts from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Over at City Plaza, near the capitol building, Wandering Souls take the stage at 4 p.m.

RGB Trio consists of drummer Ryan King, Gary Smith on bass and a unique eight-string guitar, and singer/guitarist Bob Dwyer. They’re booked at this year’s Strange Creek Campout and are a favorite at Penuche’s and other local night spots. They mix originals and eclectic covers ranging from Phish to Hendrix.

Chasing Ghosts is a young, high-energy ’90s cover band out of Henniker whose drummer once stepped in last-minute for one of Reingold’s own gigs without knowing any of the songs.

“He was a real trooper; it was kind of a legendary move,” he recalled. “They’re young and fresh. They haven’t kicked around too much yet.”

With a setlist touching on the ’90s pop side with songs like Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me,” Wandering Souls is 10-member band that also hosts a weekly jam session at Christ the King Church. “They’ve been supporting Intown Concord for a long time,” Reingold said. “So it was important to continue using them.”

Upcoming in June are Kyle Erickson, Ashborne and Trade, one of two bands including guitarist Scott Solsky that are part of the series. The latter is organ-forward trio J3ST, on a jam-forward Sept. 4 quadruple bill with Supernothing, Bosey Joe and Superbug.

In deference to Intown’s citywide multi-stage street festival running June 27 through June 29, there’s no July event. “I think that’s kind of their big break,” Reingold said. “It’s kind of a mini-vacation after Market Days because they’re so straight out during that weekend.”

August’s First Friday welcomes the return of Senie Hunt, a local favorite who relocated to Tennessee a few years back but comes back every summer for local dates. Celtic rockers Rebel Collective join Hunt on the Bicentennial Stage, while a band of local doctors called No Copay play from 4 to 8 in City Plaza.

In October, Reingold does double duty, performing both in his band Up and with his old JamAntics mate in Lucas Gallo & the Guise.

“Intown told me I could play as much as I wanted, but I didn’t want to abuse my position, especially because I know so many bands that are better than I am around here,” he said. “But it was important to get my ‘Guise’ up there.”

Heather Smith & the Constants and Robin Gaming round out October’s First Friday, with Lee & Dr. G and Andrew North & the Rangers along with Martha Hubbard in November. Reingold’s overall goal is to reinforce downtown Concord as a go-to hotspot: “Cool and inviting to the locals, but also people that want to visit.”

Concord First Friday Music
When: Friday, May 1
Where: Bicentennial Square – RGB Trio, 4 p.m., Chasing Ghosts, 6:15 p.m. / City Plaza – Wandering Souls, 4 p.m.
Full schedule: firstfridayconcord.com

Featured photo: Chasing Ghosts. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 26/04/30

• Laugh learning: Many comics began in education. Share It with the Class – A Teachers Comedy Show showcases four of them. Mark Riley is an ex-teacher and hockey referee who spent a week in the NHL before realizing he enjoyed the stage more. Dan Crohn and Mr. B (Jim Bowes) both still teach by day and tell jokes at night, as does middle school science teacher Bill Douglas. Friday, May 1, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $34, palacetheatre.org.

• Rock show: More than 25 years after the release of their eponymous first album, post-grunge stalwarts Tantric are still on the road. Led by front man and lone original member Hugo Ferreira, who founded the act with what was left of Days of the New, they hit the Billboard Mainstream Rock Top Five with “Breakdown” in 2001. Chunky Love, Thumz Down and Dead Time open a local show. Friday, May 1, 7 p.m., Bungalow Bar & Grill, 333 Valley St., Manchester, $26, dice.fm.

• Kiss goodbye: Discovered in the mid-’70s by KISS bassist Gene Simmons, Angel is in the midst of a farewell tour that stops in Derry. Blending hard rock, prog and a glamourous white satin image, the Washington, D.C., band rose with songs like “Tower” and their cover of “Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore.” Founding members Frank DiMino and Punky Meadows lead the current lineup. Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45, tupelohall.com.

• Sun country: Based in Tempe, Arizona, emo pop punk band Sundressed are in town with fellow Take This To Heart Records labelmates Thanks! I Hate It and nu-punk band 40 Lashes opening the all-ages show. Lead singer, guitarist and lyricist Trevor Hedges started the group as therapy for his addiction and a path to sobriety, as detailed in the band’s first EP, 2015’s Dig Up A Miracle. Sunday, May 3, 8 p.m., BAD BRGR, 1015 Elm St., Manchester, $10 at the door, badbrgr.com.

Twice as nice

For Free Comic Book Day, industry change means more for fans

It’s counterintuitive that bankruptcy would make a company’s big event bigger, but it happened when the distributor that launched Free Comic Book Day went bankrupt last year. The company that bought it, and with the trademark, promised to continue FCBD. However, one distributor, Penguin Random House, broke away and launched a rival version.

Fortunately, customers are the winners in this battle — both events will happen simultaneously. On May 2, stores will hand out titles from both FCBD and the newcomer, Comics Giveaway Day — no strings attached. Michael Boddy, the owner of Collectibles Unlimited in Concord, summed it up thusly: “It sounds different, but it’s going to be the same.”

Actually, it’s better. In 2025 two dozen titles were given away; this year at least 46 will be available for the event, created in 2002 to build interest in comics and, at the time, promote a new Spider-Man movie.

There are two huge events happening in the state, one spilling out from a store into a function hall with dozens of vendor tables, and another that takes over an entire downtown, with a festival’s worth of musical guests during the day.

Collectibles Unlimited

25 South St., Concord, 228-3712, collectiblesunlimited.biz

Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A Concord fixture since 1984, taken over in 2005 by Michael Boddy, offering comics, role-playing, board and card games, along with miniatures, paints, coins and bullion. Because the shop skews heavily toward tabletop gaming, FCBD is also a good chance to browse discounted board and role-playing game stock while picking up free comics.

Double Midnight Comics

252 Willow St., Manchester, 669-9636, dmcomics.com/freecomicbookday

341 Loudon Road, Concord, 715-2683, dmcomics.com/freecomicbookday

Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Held in The Factory on Willow event hall adjacent to its store, Double Midnight’s Manchester event is one of the largest FCBD celebrations in northern New England. There’s a large vendor floor, artist alley, cosplay contest, and panel/signing area, and the retail space is also open for shopping.

Visitors can grab the official free comics, meet creators like illustrator JK Woodward and Legacy of Valor’s Kurt Springs, check out movie cars like a Back to the Future DeLorean or a Jurassic Park Jeep or participate in the 15th annual costume contest, and watch Clemenzi Crusaders perform “the soundtrack of pop culture.”

“We invite everybody to come on down and experience the events — we go all out for this,” Chris Proulx, owner of Double Midnight along with his brother Scott, said by phone recently. “We love comics, and we want to have a good time … it’s a great event for families to drop in for the day.”

Double Midnight’s Concord location will also hand out official titles (with a per-person limit). It’s a convenient stop for those coming from the Lakes Region or anyone looking to avoid the larger Manchester crowd while scoring a free comic book or graphic novel like Chris Proulx’s pick from this year’s batch, Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Jetpack Comics & Games

37 N. Main St., Rochester, 330-XMEN (9636), jetpackcomics.com/fcbd-cgd

Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Founded by Ralph DiBernardo, Jetpack Comics launched one of the state’s signature FCBD celebrations. The event has grown into a full-day bash in downtown Rochester, with a mini-music festival and a late night afterparty. There’s even a custom city-only title: Dungeon Crawler Carl with a bespoke cover.

A citywide comic book scavenger hunt offers kids, teens and adults special titles at participating downtown businesses. Extras come with the purchase of a $10 Power Up Band. Benefiting Rochester Performance and Arts Center, it includes admission to the seven-band Rock n’ Roll Playground Festival and Curmudjun’s afterparty concert. At official FCBD host Rochester Opera House, there’s a vendor hall and The Turtle Den. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in nearby Dover, and DiBernardo premiered their first comic book at a convention in 1984. “We’ve had close ties forever,” DiBernardo said. “It’s like a big Turtle party.”

Merrymac Games and Comics

550 DW Highway, Merrimack, 420-8161, merrymacgc.com

Hours: Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday noon – 6 p.m.

As in past years, Merrymac’s giveaway is paired with creator appearances, including former Black Caravan co-publisher Rich Woodall, also known for his work on The Bloody Ring of Dracula, Gods of Brutality and others. He’s also worked on covers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Powerpuff Girls and Masters of the Universe.

Also appearing is Sara Richard, a New Hampshire-based artist and writer whose work includes comic book covers and book illustrations for DC Comics, Marvel, Dynamite Comics and other publishers, along with other illustration work for DC Collectables, StormKing and The Witch House in Salem, Mass.

Newbury Comics

777 S. Willow St., Manchester, 624-2842

99 Rockingham Park Blvd. (Mall at Rockingham Park), Salem, 890-1380

310 DW Highway (Pheasant Lane Mall), Nashua, 888-0720

The big New England retailer is listed as a participant on the FCBD website.

Pop Culture Cards Comics and Collectibles

66 Route 27, Raymond, 244-1850, popculturenh.com

Along with comic book giveaways, there will be regular gaming going on. At 10:30 a.m., author Mike Marks will sign copies of the first issue of Helsing Files, his detective and vampire thriller funded by a Kickstarter campaign.

Stairway to Heaven Comics

105 Gosling Road, Newington, 319-6134, stairwaytoheavencomics.com

Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Owner Brad Gile expects a “fun, festive atmosphere,” with guests including local creators HG Bradley and Jeff Lorentz (Skin of My Teeth, My Coworker is a Vampire) with Katie McMahon returning from last year. Luke Fletcher will show off Overpower, a game that’s been refreshed from its ’90s beginnings, and give away an Invincible card.

Featured photo: Photo by Zombie Leader of Carolyn and Christian Lopes as Jubilee and Wolverine browsing at Double Midnight.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!