Author: Michael Witthaus

The Music Roundup 22/11/24

Local music news & events

• Hail queen: Basking in the glow of a New England Music Award for Country Act of the Year, April Cushman plays a local microbrewery. Cushman was nominated in six NEMA categories, and she performed at the ceremony with guitarist Brad Myrick, who also picked up a nod that night. Cushman’s most recent album The Long Haul represents some of the region’s best music, so her shiny disc is much deserved. Friday, Nov. 25, 6 p.m., Backyard Brewery, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester. See facebook.com/aprilcushmanmusic.

• Rap represent: A celebration of the area hip-hop scene, Hellhound for the Holidays offers a long list of artists. The show is curated by Hellhound Crew, which includes Cody Pope, Byron G, 8-BZA, Fee The Evolutionist, Deja Solo, Even Tho, Trip Seat, Neek100 and more. Friday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $10, see facebook.com/donebooking.

• Clam clowns: Due to a health issue, an evening with Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing is now switched to The Fools, Girard’s longtime group and sometimes musical comedy troupe. Born in “Home of the Fried Clam” Ipswich, Mass., the group broke through the 1970s Boston scene with its irreverent Talking Heads parody “Psycho Chicken,” later scoring a national hit with “It’s a Night for Beautiful Girls” and touring extensively. Saturday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35 at tupelohall.com.

• Nineties redux: A fantastic double bill for music mavens is led by Sophie B. Hawkins. The singer is touring to mark the 30th anniversary of her smash debut, Tongues and Tails, with its ethereal breakout single, “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover.” Since that start, she’s acted and released five more albums, scoring a big Adult Contemporary hit with “As I Lay Me Down.” Talented singer-songwriter Seth Glier opens the afternoon show. Sunday, Nov. 27, 4 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $55 and $65 at ccanh.com.

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Drinksgiving

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Wobble for a landing

This year’s pre-Thanksgiving options

The night before Thanksgiving is often called Drinksgiving. It’s Friendsgiving for the sober and sober-curious, the Pre-Gobble Wobble for others (OK, maybe the last one is an invented term). Historically for most watering holes, the day before Turkey Day (Wednesday, Nov. 23 this year) is the second busiest of the year, after New Year’s Eve. Whatever one chooses to call it, the evening offers a chance to meet up with old friends and contemplate a four-day weekend of overeating and familial bonding.

Here are a few options to consider, from concerts to karaoke, song pulls and serenades, with or without adult beverages.

• American Legion Post 69 (45 Washington St., Somersworth, 692-9898) Acoustic Radio plays. Tickets $8 at ticketleap.com.

• Amphora (Hood Commons, 55 Crystal Ave., No. 3, Derry, 537-0111) Eddie Sands is a versatile singer and guitarist who plays a variety of familiar songs.

• Area 23 (State Street, Concord, 881-9060) Open Mic Wednesday starts at the appropriate time of 6:23 p.m.

• Bonfire Country Bar (950 Elm St., Manchester, 217-5600) Nashville by way of New Jersey country singer Nikki Briar performs.

• Boston Billiard Club (55 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 943-5630) Drop some bucks on poker and dice, or play it safer at the weekly trivia.

• Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511) During the annual Holiday Stroll, get into the Christmas spirit with a light show choreographed to classic holiday songs, enjoy professional carolers or sing a few yourself at the Carol-aoke stand.

• Castaways Boat House (209 Ocean Blvd., Seabrook, 834-6030) High School Reunion Karaoke with DJ.

• Castro’s Back Room (972 Elm St., Manchester, 606-7854) Boo Boo Groove plays jazz and blues at this downtown cigar bar.

• Chapel + Main (83 Main St., Dover, 842-5170) Dan Blakeslee loves the sweet spot between Halloween and Christmas, so his show in Dover should be a treat.

• Chen Yang LI Riverside Lounge (520 South St., Bow, 228-8508) DJ Kenny P hosts karaoke at this beloved Chinese eatery’s downstairs bar.

• Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) Karaoke with DJ Manny starts at 7:30 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888) Thanksgiving Homecoming Comedy Show stars veteran standup Kenny Rogerson.

• Club Victoire (111 N. Main St., Rochester, 332-9753) Enjoy rock covers from area band The Side Gig.

• Copper Door (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677) In what’s becoming a tradition, area favorite Chad LaMarsh sings and plays guitar.

• Copper Door (41 S Broadway, Salem, 458-2033) As this location celebrated its fifth anniversary, Jodee Frawlee plays for diners and imbibers.

• Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631) Singer-songwriter Paul Driscoll performs for customers picking up treats for tomorrow’s feast.

• Crow’s Nest (181 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 974-1686) Bite The Bullet rocks the house.

• Davignon Snowshoe Club (218 Wilson St., Manchester, 623-8239) Jennifer Mitchell performs with her band at the show, which is open to the public.

• Defiant Records & Craft Beer (609 Main St., Laconia, 527-8310) Mike Loughlin brings his original rock tunes and this unique hybrid of vintage vinyl and craft beer.

• Derryfield Country Club (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) D-Comp Band is a regular favorite at this Manchester restaurant and bar.

• Dwyer’s Pub (96 Bridge St., Portsmouth, 319-6770) David Corson, a singer-songwriter praised for his personal lyrics and personable performing skills, plays an evening set.

• Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015) There’s trivia between music from Joe McDonald at 6 p.m. and Ben Harris at 10 p.m.

• Fody’s (187 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946) Two area musicians perform: Kevin Hopkins at 5 p.m. and Brian House at 8:30 p.m.

• Fratello’s (155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022) Singer and piano player Jordan Quinn performs covers and originals.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (799 Union Ave., Laconia, 889-2022) Piano music from Richard Cumming.

• Getaway Lounge (157 Franklin St., Manchester, 627-0661) Mugshot Monday plays classic rock hits with Wally Nichols on drums.

• Giuseppe’s (312 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3313) Harmonizing husband-and-wife duo The Sweetbloods perform soothing cover songs.

• Granite State Music Hall (546 Main St., Laconia, 884-9536) Country singer Jodie Cunningham returns with Close Range. DJ Tim Parker hosts karaoke, along with mechanical bull rides.

• Hawg’s Pen Café (1114 Route 11, Farmington, 755-3301) Barrington rock cover band Daisy Cutter 6 plays favorites.

• Hermanos (11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669) Brian Booth plays covers.

• Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 888-603-5299) The James Montgomery Band is joined by Blues Music Hall of Famer Christine “Beehive Queen” Ohlman. Tickets $10 to $45 at ticketmaster.com.

• Lithermans Limited (126 Hall St., Unit B, Concord, 219-0784) Not music, but four music-themed taproom releases: One Hit Wonder, Keep On Keepin’ On, Soul Doubt and Cosmic Bakers.

• Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832) Sindicate plays its final show.

• Michael’s Flatbread & Grill (8 Stiles Road, Salem, 893-2765) The Regular Gents are an eclectic acoustic duo playing fun versions of songs spanning the decades.

• Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400) Pre-holiday comedy as former Fallon writer headlines Midweek Comedic Relief, with support from Alex Giampapa, John Balgio and Izzy da Rosa. $10.

• Nashua Garden (121 Main St., Nashua, 886-7363) Three bands share the stage, beginning with Tumbletoads kicking off the night, followed by The Faith Ann Band, and then The Humans Being.

• Pasta Loft (220 E Main St., Milford, 378-0092) Plan B plays a special Thanksgiving Eve show.

• Pipe Dream Brewing (40 Harvey Road, Londonderry, 404-0751) Reggae rock stalwarts Supernothing play a free show.

• Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, 430-9122) Amanda Dane Band performs in the nightclub.

• Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 431-5186) Get funked up and family-ready with Harsh Armadillo and The Bulkheads with a portion of the $20 and $25 tickets going to the Gather NH charity.

• Rage Cage (10 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 402-4196) Get the angst out of your system by smashing a few things in advance of the family gathering at this specialty venue dedicated to stress reduction through destruction.

• Riley’s Place (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford, 325-2177) Bat Magoon Band performs at a restaurant offering comfort, Cajun and barbecue.

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 347-1313) Have fun, win prizes and enjoy classic rock, soul, blues and modern sound while playing games with Musical Bingo Nation.

• Sea Dog Brewing (9 Water St., Exeter, 793-5116) Dyer Holiday, duo from Lowell, Mass., play a mix of classic rock, country and folk music.

• Stark Brewing Co. (500 Commercial St., Manchester, 625-4444) Two options on tap, Cox Karaoke and F.O.L.D. Glow Night ($10 event charge) with dancing lessons under black light. For the adventurous, wear white and neon colors, paint your face or bring light-up bracelets.

• Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) A show celebrating Ape The Grim’s new release i Deal, Too includes support from The Perceptionists (Mr. Lif & Akrobatik), Bakari JB, Rayel, Bugout and DJ Clashious Clay. $20, 21+.

• Strange Brew (88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292) First Responders’ Night with Jake Pardee & Friends at this favorite downtown restaurant and tap room.

• Stripe Nine Brewing (8 Somersworth Place, Somersworth, 841-7175) Dancing Madly Backwards is back at a Somersworth microbrewery.

• Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210) Small Town Stranded, a longtime favorite area band, performs.

• Telly’s (235 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-8225) The 603s duo holds forth on Thanksgiving Eve.

• The Goat (50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 222-1677) NEMA Best Country Artist Winner April Cushman and free line dancing get things going at 7:30 p.m., followed at 9 p.m. by Sugah Rush — the Eric Grant Band sporting a dancier vibe.

• The Goat (142 Congress St., Portsmouth, 590-4628) Alex Anthony returns.

• Thirsty Moose (21 Congress St., Portsmouth, 427-8645) Hijacked plays rock ’n’ roll.

• To Share Brewing (720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947) Back to the ’90s party in the taproom from 3 to 9 p.m.

• Tower Hill Tavern (264 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-9100) Trivia Night in the Lakes Region.

• Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) Live music with Bobby and Amberly performing.

• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton Beach, 926-6954) Eric Marcs released his solo debut Hope in 2020, a collection of indie rock; he performs with his band Solid Ground.

Featured photo: Chad LaMarsh. Courtesy photo.

Holiday tradition

Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s big show returns

Few acts usher in the holiday season quite like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, with its Christmas cocktail of classic rock, classical music and theatrical flourish topped with lasers and smoke bombs. Fans set their calendars by them, gathering families to take in a show that gets bigger and better each year.

For their stop in Manchester on the day after Thanksgiving, TSO will reprise the rock opera that put them on the map, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. Originally a 1999 television special, it offers traditional songs such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and originals including “Music Box Blues” and “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24),” the latter the template for the massive band that’s captivated audiences for over 25 years.

Recent times have been challenging. In 2017, visionary founder Paul O’Neill died, but at the behest of his widow Desi and other family members TSO carried on. Three years later, the pandemic sidelined them from playing live; instead they did a virtual pay per view show that was a far cry from their epic arena firepower.

“It was as strange for the band members as it was for the fans,” drummer Jeff Plate said of the lost year in a recent phone interview. Returning to the stage in 2021, he had “a whole new appreciation for wow, we are so lucky to do what we do. But we were also in the bubble; we were anxious, there was this anxiety … I was so relieved when we got done.”

Breathing easier this time around, the group is focused on keeping O’Neill’s vision going, a task that in the days after his death seemed overwhelming.

“When we lost Paul, I’ll be honest with you,” Plate recalled, “there was a moment when I sat down on the couch with my wife and said, ‘maybe that’s it’ … none of us were really sure what was going to happen.”

However, it soon became clear that continuing was “exactly what Paul would want us to do … he had said many times, ‘It’s going to outlive us all, we’re going to pass this on from generation to generation.’ The reality is, TSO has become a tradition. That’s a pretty heavy statement, but it’s true…. Some people can’t even function until they see TSO to get their holidays going.”

Moving forward was also helped by the fact that TSO is a well-oiled touring machine, with separate East and West Coast runs. Each has its own cast, crew and semi-truck fleet.

“We’ve been operating like that since the year 2000,” Plate said. “Losing Paul was huge, but everybody knew the job at hand and just how much more focused we needed to be…. There’s no way to make these tours as good as they are, and as successful as they are, without that kind of commitment.”

Plate first worked with O’Neill in Savatage, the band that spawned TSO, on their 1995 album Dead Winter Dead. “It was a really interesting time, because the band had changed so much and Paul’s gears were turning all the time,” Plate recalled. At first, no one knew what to make of the “Carol of the Bells” meets Emerson, Lake & Palmer track “Sarajevo,” which would reappear on the first TSO album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories.

“We were all questioning, what was Paul thinking, putting this song on this record, but there was no denying how great the final version was,” Plate said. “To see that song take off in a completely different direction and all of a sudden become this huge hit, it was like, you know, Paul could see down the road further than the rest of us.”

Once again, the upcoming show will be divided into two acts, starting with Ghosts of Christmas Eve stitched together with narration, followed by a greatest hits segment. “This is a fan favorite, and it’s a band favorite too,” Plate said, “one of my favorite shows to play. It’s high energy, with a really good vibe to the whole thing.”

As the interview ended, Plate made sure to make a note of another TSO tradition: donating a dollar from every ticket sold to a local charity. It came with another nod to their founder’s family. “Over $16 million we’ve donated across the country all these years,” he said. “It could have easily gone away when we lost Paul, but his wife and daughter really stepped up. … We can’t thank Paul enough for everything that he’s done, but his family has also been very, very critical to all that too.”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
When: Friday, Nov. 25, 3 and 7:30 p.m.
Where: SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester
More: $52.50 to $102.50 at snhuarena.com

Featured photo: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 22/11/17

Local music news & events

• Listen & learn: Given the recent focus on her career and a summer return to performing, The History of Joni Mitchell is a timely celebration hosted by the guitar/vocal duo of Chris Albertson and Cait Murphy. They’ll discuss her growth as an artist, and the performers Mitchell influenced, while playing selections from her debut Song to a Seagull through Shine, her final record, released in 2007. Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m., Leach Library, 276 Mammoth Road, Londonderry. See facebook.com/TheChrisandCait.

• Funny Friday: A triple bill of jokesters hold forth at Tupelo Night of Comedy, led by veteran comic Kenny Rogerson, who began in Chicago before moving to Boston during the burgeoning early 1980s comedy scene. He later appeared in Fever Pitch and Something About Mary. He’s joined by Ryan Gartley, who was goaded by friends on a Portsmouth booze cruise into doing standup over two decades ago, and local favorite Dave Decker. Friday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $22 at tupelohall.com.

• Power pop: Making the case for an oft-neglected musical decade, Donaher delivers songs clearly inspired by ’90s bands like Weezer, Nirvana and Jellyfish. Their newest record, Gravity And The Stars Above, released earlier this year, is packed with gems like “Lights Out,” a hook-tastic breakup song brimming with pain, and the equally happy/sad “Sleepless in New England.” Lovewell and Cool Parents round out a rocking trifecta. Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com..

• Local lights: Though officially disbanded, JamAntics continues to perform, and the JamAnnual GetDown is becoming a regular thing. This year’s celebration welcomes another area fixture, Supernothing. Being in the band, which formed in the mid-2000s and helped jump-start the Concord music scene, is like riding a bicycle; however long its five members are apart, at the moment they plug in and play, their reliable groove reappears.. Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $15 to $25 at ccanh.com.

• Get chronic: Mississippi by way of the West Coast rapper Afroman rose to fame on his early millennium hits “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap,” earning a Grammy nomination in 2002. He’s appearing at a downtown bar/restaurant just in time to roll out a few selections from his unconventional mid-2000s holiday disc A Colt 45 Christmas, which has bangers such as “O Chronic Tree” and “Afroman Is Coming To Town.” Sunday, Nov. 20, 8 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $29.50 at ticketmaster.com.

Friendly fusion

Eclectic band Annie In The Water hits Manchester

The music of Annie In The Water is a contagious hybrid of rock, funk and rhythm infused with a feel-good reggae groove. It’s the kind of sound that’s kept Michael Franti bouncing around the globe for decades, done with capability and verve.

For many years the band was a duo; singer-guitarists Michael Lashomb and Bradley Hester met while attending college in upstate New York in 2006. When a female friend fell into a lake trying to tie up her boat, they found a name, and gigged steadily in the region.

Ten years later, Lashomb and Hester began assembling what would grow into a six-piece band. One of their recruits was drummer Josh West, then at a crossroads when his longtime band decided to forego touring for local shows. West stuck around for a couple of years, departing to work on his own record; the collection of songs, completed during the pandemic, will drop next spring.

West returned to the group last summer. In an interesting twist, he replaced the original drummer of Lucid, the band he’d been in before joining the first time. Along with Hester, Lashomb and West, members now include bassist Chris Meier, Matt Richards on keyboards, and percussionist Brock Kuca.

It’s a big sound, West agreed in a recent phone interview.

“We’re really taking the time to explore what it means to play in a band with that many people and all these layers, and make sure that we’re not overplaying,” he said. He’s known Richards since his days in Formula Five and Meier from his earlier band Space Carnival. “We hadn’t really done much playing together; but we’re friends… we’ve respected each other’s musical abilities.”

Influences for the group come from a myriad of sources. West is a big fan of drummer Bernard Purdy, who played with Steely Dan and others, along with Carlton Barrett of the Wailers. He also names Snarky Puppy and Ghost Notes as favorite bands. Others in the group cite festival mainstays like Grateful Dead and Phish, along with ’90s alt rock.

A recent Halloween show was indicative of the group’s wide-ranging oeuvre. “We’re playing everything from Prince to Blink-182 to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Radiohead, to Daft Punk,” West said. “A big eclectic kind of influence there, but I think all these songs really speak lyrically and are kind of timeless pieces.”

When it first came together, the band was mainly a vehicle for the original duo’s material. A debut album, Time To Play, “was pretty much all songs that Brad and Mike had written 10 years ago,” West said. The second studio effort was more collaborative; though he wasn’t on the sessions for this year’s The Sun At Dawn, West called it evolutionary. “Since I’ve been back, that kind of energy has carried over.”

West recalled a recent songwriting session at a hunting camp in northern Vermont, where the band is now based. “We each brought a song to the table, and on top of that, we all have little parts,” he said. “It’s really a very democratic process, [with] open and equal energy… which is very inspiring.”

The newest lineup is already poised to follow up Sun At Dawn.

“We’ve got pretty much a new record of songs that we’ve written in the last three months,” West said. “We’re getting ready to hit the studio for this winter.”

That energy has translated to the stage. “The camaraderie in the band between members is at an all-time high; we’re firing on all cylinders right now,” West continued. “Pretty much every show we’ve been playing lately, the energy is tangible in the room; it’s just something you gotta come check out.”

Jordan Paul’s JigsMusic agency booked the band’s Veterans Day show at Shaskeen Pub in Manchester.

“I’m so excited to bring Annie in the Water back to the Granite State,” Paul said in a recent text message. “We haven’t seen them since before the pandemic. I know they’ve been picking up a lot of steam with their new lineup and I’m very excited to see this new chemistry everyone’s been talking about.”

Annie In The Water w/ DJ SP1
When: Friday, Nov. 1, 9 p.m.
Where: Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester
Tickets: $10 at the door
More: See facebook.com/annieinthewater

Featured photo: Annie In The Water. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 22/11/10

Local music news & events

• Billy double: Piano player Ben Eramo, who fronts tribute act Cold Spring Harbor, began playing at age 4 and became enamored of Billy Joel at 11 when his teacher gave him a copy of “My Life” to learn. He did so quickly, then soaked up the rest of his songbook. He and a friend formed a duo dedicated to Joel’s music in middle school. Since then, the now four-piece band has become one of the region’s favorites. Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101, Amherst, $35 at labellewinery.com.

• Key difference: A band that regularly leads an open mic in a music-friendly restaurant, Andrew North & The Rangers kicks off the weekend there with a free show. They’re in fine form of late, evidenced by a pre-Halloween set at Feathered Friend Brewing that included covers of “Werewolves of London” and “Ghostbusters” along with sneaky nods to “Thriller” and Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein.” Check it out on archive.org. Friday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St., Concord. See andrewnorthandtherangers.com.

• Comic relief: Now that autumn leaves and campaign signs are gone, it’s a good time to laugh, and Comedy Night with three well-known standups provides such an opportunity. Paul Nardizzi is a regional favorite who appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show and Comedy Central. Jody Sloane got her start entertaining tourists while driving a Duck Boat tour bus in Boston. Dave Decker opens the bring-your-own-food affair. Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., VFW Post 1670, 143 Court St., Laconia, $20 at venue or call 524-9725.

• Sunday swing: Two local treasures join up as The Freese Brothers Big Band and Alli Beaudry perform an afternoon show. Formed in 1982 to “support and encourage the development of the musical talents of the public” and foster music appreciation, the family troupe dates back to the 1930s; their shows highlight the Golden Era of Big Band. Manchester-born Beaudry is an effervescent singer, songwriter, and booster of her home city. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 at palacetheatre.org.

• Dynamic duo: This week’s alt comedy night is a special one, with Eddie Pepitone and JT Habersaat sharing the stage. Whoever first said, “you can take the boy out of NYC, but you can’t take NYC out of the boy” most likely had Pepitone in mind. The Staten Island native moved to L.A. over two decades ago for a part in Old School and became a mainstay in clubs there. Habersaat just wrapped his annual Altercation Fest in Austin. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com.

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