Category: Featured Content

Rockin’ the park

Where to find free music in the fresh air

In Summer 2020, al fresco was the only option for fans of live music. One of the pandemic’s few silver linings, however, was mostly sunny weather for shows in parking lots and open fields during that moment of masking and social distancing.

This year, not so much; from May through a stormy Fourth of July and beyond, nature’s fury has remained relentless. To paraphrase Mick Jagger, what can a poor boy do to sing in their rock ’n’ roll band?

Even without a torrent of phone battery-draining AccuWeather alerts like we’ve had this year, seasoned New Englanders always keep an eye out for changing skies. It turns out the folks who fill the gazebos and bandstands in New Hampshire’s cities and towns all got the memo on preparing for the worst.

A quick check with a few of them revealed many well-crafted contingency plans.

For example, Bedford’s Family Concerts in the Park series began June 28 with the Dr. Harp Blues Revue Band, and predicted rain moved it indoors. Jane O’Brien is the Bedford Recreation Department’s sole full-time staffer; she runs the town pool and summer camps along with the weekly gazebo events.

“If we go inside, we go to Bedford Town Hall,” O’Brien wrote in a July 6 email. “My first concert we had inside, but the library happened to have their big room available, so we went there. We do it rain or shine, as I don’t have room to reschedule with everything going on around town.”

Belknap Mill’s biweekly Arts in the Park series happens Fridays in Laconia’s Rotary Park. It moves indoors to the mill’s historic museum for inclement weather. A performance from the Newmont Military band kicked things off on May 26; the series concludes on Sept. 8 with the ’50s-themed Rockin’ Daddios and a classic car show.

When reached by phone the morning of July 6, Belknap Mill Marketing Manager Jill Desruisseaux was in good spirits, as the series’ most recent event, a June 30 performance by the Catfish Howl Zydeco Band, had been a sunny one. “We had finally had some nice weather and a really decent turnout,” she said.

The overall season has been an even mix, Desruisseaux continued. “We’ve had four shows and only two of them have been outside. Normally in past years we’ve maybe had to move the first one inside, and then the weather has been amazing. This summer it’s a little different. Mother Nature is not in the mood to cooperate.”

Holding shows in the museum’s third-floor event space is less than ideal, but other options aren’t much better. Indoor crowds are always smaller, but rescheduling acts is too difficult.

“The Park is the perfect place to … get a little live music and continue on with your night,” Desruisseaux said. “Sometimes you feel a little more pressure to stay when you’re inside.”

Performers face their own set of challenges. A chat with a couple of bands well-acquainted with the summer music season, and a performer who also works as a booker, revealed just how difficult this year has been compared to others.

Studio Two, a Beatles tribute band that’s a mainstay of the summer outdoor concert season, has had to pare down its schedule to protect itself against last-minute, no-pay cancellations. “I know weather is unpredictable, but enough of those can cripple a tour,” founding member Stephen Murray said by phone. “After years of experience of doing this, I’ve come to the conclusion that the only way our band business can run is if the concerts that we play either have indoor venues or a rain date.”

four band members on covered outdoor stage, playing in front of crowd in town, seen from back
Rebel Collective will perform in Henniker on July 25.

This year’s Henniker Concert Series began on June 16. The Tuesday twilight event showcases local acts like Rebel Collective (July 25), Not Fade Away (Aug. 1) and Nick’s Other Band, a beloved hometown group that closes things out on Aug. 29. The shows are always rain or shine.

Acoustic roots band Peabody’s Coal Train was the first act to perform in Henniker this year. “They asked us to kick off the summer series and sure enough, the thunderstorms were rolling in,” guitarist Jason Teaster recalled in a phone interview. The show was relocated to the town’s community center, right behind the bandstand.

“We still had a packed crowd, but it was a more intimate show,” Teaster said, adding, “people were hungry for live music, and we fed them. It was a hat tip to the committee for having that backup plan ready.”

Guitarist Brad Myrick is both a booker and a performer. Experience has taught him to plan for outdoor shows. Back in 2016, “I had a weekend with seven concerts in three days, and I think six of the seven got rained out,” he said by phone. “I lost like two thousand bucks, which for me at the time was just … I couldn’t do it.” That lesson guides Myrick at NH Music Collective, the booking, artist development and production company he co-runs with two other partners.

Given the seemingly endless precipitation, there’s not been much discussion this year about the other side of extreme weather. Plans are needed, however, not just for rain but also for excessive heat. Every now and then Studio Two’s Fab Faux have a need to remove their vintage Beatles suit jackets.

Another problem is ensuring that expensive acoustic instruments don’t get sun-bleached. It’s one thing to be a hot guitar player, quite another to play a hot guitar.

“We’re asking outdoor venues to have tent cover,” Myrick said, recalling that at one open-air gig, “I had to keep turning out of the sunlight after every song.”

That said, rain is still top of mind for everyone trying to mount or play an outdoor show. Myrick is keeping his fingers crossed for The Sunflower Festival, an August event in Concord that will feature a bevy of NH Music Collective performers. “I think I have 16 musicians over two full weekends,” he said.

Unlike a lot of performers and town music organizations, NH Music Collective has mostly dodged the wet and wild weather thus far. “We’re lucky as a company in that we have not lost too many shows,” Myrick said. “I know a lot of musicians that have had cancellations, just by watching people on social media.”

Music outdoors

Here are some of the places you can find regular (and free!) outdoor (weather permitting) musical performances. Know of any concert series we missed? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Multiple days

• Concord Parks and Recreation (concordnh.gov) presents concerts on several days in multiple locations throughout the city.

On Sundays at 10 a.m., acoustic concerts will take place in White Park (in inclement weather Merrimack Lodge, which will be open from 9 a.m. to noon during concerts). Concerts include Andrew North on July 23, Hometown Eulogy on Aug. 6, Paulie Stone on Aug. 13, Steve Blunt on Sept. 10 and Ben Harris on Sept. 17.

The Nevers Band (classic orchestral) has two Tuesday night concerts at 7 p.m. left in a series played around the city: July 25 at the New Hampshire Statehouse and Aug. 8 at Kiwanis Riverfront Park (behind Everett Arena).

Thursday night concerts at 7 p.m. in Eagle Square include Freese Brothers Big Band on Aug. 3, Jah Spirit on Aug. 10 and Club Soda on Aug. 24.

The Concord Public Library also has a live performance on the schedule: David Shore’s Trunk of Funk will play on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. at Prince Street at the Concord Public Library.

Sundays

• The Friends of Stark Park (550 River Road in Manchester; starkpark.com) have a series of concerts at the Stark Park Bandstand on Sundays at 2 p.m. Upcoming shows include Another Tequila Sunrise (Eagles tribute) on July 23, Love Dogs on July 30, Reminisants on Aug. 6, Swing Times Five on Aug. 13, Wolverine Jazz Band on Aug. 20 and Compaq Big Band on Aug. 27.

Tuesdays

• Amherst’s Concerts on the Green (amherstnh.myrec.com) run on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Amherst Village Green (2 Main St.). Upcoming shows include Bass Quintet on Aug. 1, Glitter and Camo on Aug. 8, and the Amherst Town Band on Aug. 15. A show on Tuesday, July 25, with the Bat Magoon Band will take place at the Baboosic Town Lake Beach (25 Broadway); $5 cover for non-Amherst residents.

• Derry Parks and Recreation’s Summer 2023 Concert Series (derrynh.org) takes place in MacGregor Park (64 E. Broadway) on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Upcoming shows are Mo Bounce (funky & danceable) on July 25, The Slakas (classic/modern rock) on Aug. 1, PizzaStock presents Second to Last Minute and the Glue Band on Aug. 8, Beatlejuice on Aug. 15, and Brandy on Aug. 22.

• Hampstead’s Meetinghouse Park Concert series (hampsteadconcerts.com), sponsored by Hampstead Cable Television, takes place Tuesdays at 6 p.m. behind Hampstead’s Town Hall (11 Main St.). Upcoming shows are Chickenshack Bluegrass Band (rock & country influenced) on July 25, Tru Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute) on Aug. 1, North River Music (Americana sound of rock, bluegrass and country) on Aug. 8, Mark209 (country) on Aug. 15, Martin and Kelly (country) on Aug 22, and Studio Two (Beatles tribute) on Aug. 29.

• Henniker’s Summer Concert Series (henniker.org) runs Tuesdays at the Angela Robinson Bandstand (57 Main St.) starting at 6:30 p.m. Food trucks and restaurants will attend the concerts to sell eats for the evening, according to a press release. Admission is free (donations accepted). Upcoming shows include Rebel Collective (Irish rock) on July 25, Not Fade Away (Grateful Dead tribute) on Aug. 1, Emily’s Garage Band (funky soul classics) on Aug. 8, Cold Chocolate (folk/funk/bluegrass) on Aug. 15, Kotoko Brass (party music with a global flair) Aug. 22, and Nick’s Other Band on Aug. 29.

• Nashua’s SummerFun (nashuanh.gov/546/summerfun) programming includes concerts at Greeley Park Bandshell (100 Concord St., Nashua). Shows are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The upcoming schedule includes Scenes the Band (Billy Joel tribute) on July 25, American Legion Band on Aug. 1, Tru Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute) on Aug. 8, Bel Airs (doo wop) on Aug. 15, and After Hours Big Band on Aug. 22.

• New Boston’s Concerts on the Common series (newbostonnh.gov/recreation/pages/concert-common) has three more shows on upcoming Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Chairs and blankets are welcome, and the Rail Trail Grill concession stand will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and snacks for sale, with proceeds benefiting the New Boston Rail Trail. The town’s community church will offer a dessert table. Upcoming shows include Hickory Horned Devils (old-time, bluegrass, Americana) on July 26, Tattoo (acoustic jam band) on Aug. 8 and The Island Castaways Band (Jimmy Buffett tribute) on Aug. 22.

Wednesdays

• Bedford Parks and Recreation’s Family (bedfordnh.myrec.com) Concerts in the Park run on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in Bedford Village Common Park. Upcoming shows include Roxanne and the Voodoo Rockers on July 26, Bedford Big Band on Aug. 2 (this show starts at 6:30 p.m.), and the Manchester Community Music School on Aug. 9.

• Hampstead’s remaining concert in the Ordway Park Concert series (hampsteadconcerts.com), sponsored by Hampstead Cable Television, takes place at the Main Street-located park at Route 121 and Depot Road on Wednesday, July 26, at 6 p.m. with Key Elements (classic and soft rock covers from the 1970s and 1980s).

male and female performers playing guitars at separate microphones, on stage at night
Londonderry Concerts on the Common Featuring Martin and Kelly. Courtesy photo.

• The Londonderry Arts Council’s (londonderryartscouncil.org) Concerts on the Common series takes place on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, most will take place inside the cafeteria of Londonderry High School (295 Mammoth Road). Upcoming shows include The Linda Ronstadt Experience with Tristan McIntosh on July 26, Delta Generators (blues) Aug. 2, Foreigners Journey (tribute to Foreigner and Journey) on Aug. 9, and Studio Two Beatles Tribute on Aug. 16.

• Merrimack’s Summer Concert Series (merrimackparksandrec.org) will host weekly concerts at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Upcoming shows include Marc Berger & Ride (country folk) on July 26, The Twangtown Paramours (Americana, folk and blues) on Aug. 2, The Slakas (classic/modern rock) on Aug. 9, Will Parker Children’s Concert on Aug. 16 (concert from 6 to 7 p.m.) and Crescendo’s Gate (rock) on Aug 23.

• Milford Recreation (milford.nh.gov) holds its Sounds on the Souhegan concert series on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Emerson Park. In the event of rain, concerts will be moved inside to the Town Hall auditorium. Upcoming shows include Cover Story (top 40) on July 26, Shana Stack Band (country/Southern rock) on Aug. 2, The Bel Airs (’50s and ’60s) on Aug. 9, Sheepdip Band (classic rock tribute) on Aug. 16, Bedford Big Band (this concert takes place at the Stage at Keyes Memorial Park) on Aug. 23, and Studio Two Beatles Tribute (rock ’n’ roll) at Aug. 30 (also at the Stage at Keyes Memorial Park).

• Pelham Community Spirit’s Summer Concerts (pelhamcommunityspirit.org) on the Village Green in front of the town’s public library will take place on three upcoming Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.: The Casuals on July 26, 4EverFab (Beatles tribute) on Aug. 9 (evening will also include a Cruise Night, $5 car registration), and Standard Tuning on Aug. 26.

band members with instruments in gazebo decorated with lights and red, white, and blue banners, grassy lawn and trees behind
Kotoko Brass. Courtesy photo.

Thursdays

• Auburn Parks & Recreation “Rock This Town” Summer Concert Series takes place at the Circle of Fun Playground (1 Bunker Hill Road in Auburn) on two upcoming Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.: Off Duty Angels on July 20 and Emily’s Garage Band on Aug. 17.

• Raymond’s Summer Concert Series (raymondnh.gov/programsforeveryone) runs Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Raymond Town Common. Upcoming shows include The Singing Trooper Daniel M. Clark on July 20; Keith Belanger (piano bar sing-along) on July 27; a “surprise night” on Aug. 3; Kitchen Party on Aug. 10, and EP Rock (Elvis Prestley tribute) on Aug. 17.

• Salem’s summer concert series at Field of Dreams Community Park (48 Geremonty Drive, Salem; fieldofdreamsnh.org) runs on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. except for Fridays, July 21, and July 28. Admission is free and open to the public and chairs and blankets are welcome. Upcoming shows include 4EverFab (Beatles tribute) on July 21, Salem Boyz on July 28, North River Music (Americana sound of rock, bluegrass and country) on Aug. 3, Something Else on Aug. 10, and B-Street Bombers on Aug. 17.

Friday

• Manchester (manchesternh.gov) has two upcoming concerts at Veterans Park in the city’s downtown on Elm Street on two Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available to purchase food from. Marc Berger and the band Ride will perform on July 21. Roots of Creation will perform on Aug. 11.

Daily

• Hampton Beach has a nightly Sea Shell stage series (hamptonbeach.org) with performances from 7 to 8 p.m. and 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. most nights. Performances are weather-dependent. Upcoming shows include Caroline Gray (country) on Thursday, July 20; Maddi Ryan (country pop) on Friday, July 21; The Shakerz Band (’60s through ’90s rock) on Saturday, July 22, and The Bel Airs (doo wop and vintage rock ’n’ roll) on Sunday, July 23. On Sunday, Aug. 13, catch the Polka Festival from 3 to 9 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 19, a Reggae Fest runs from 3 to 9 p.m. The shows continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, when GemsTones (’50s music) finish up the season.

News & Notes 23/07/20

Running for governor

Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig launched her campaign for governor of New Hampshire with an event at the Rex Theatre in Manchester on July 12, according to a press release. Former Gov. John Lynch, also a Democrat, expressed his support for Craig, highlighting her dedication to making a difference in the lives of Granite Staters and her commitment to supporting public education. Craig emphasized her accomplishments as Manchester’s mayor, including the revitalization of the Rex Theatre and efforts to strengthen the community. Also running for the Democratic nomination is Cinde Warmington, Executive Councilor for District 2.

In a June 6 interview with WMUR, Gov. Chris Sununu said he would decide this summer on whether or not to run for a fifth term as governor.

Micro-credentials

The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) has partnered with Credentials Unlimited, an organization that offers courses and programs aligned with specific educational standards, to offer micro-credentials focused on the Science of Reading to educators. According to a press release, the goal is to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based reading practices in their classrooms and improve student literacy outcomes. The micro-credentials, aligned with the rigorous standards set by the International Dyslexia Association, are provided at no cost to New Hampshire educators. This program is specifically designed for participants enrolled in NHED’s Leaning Into Literacy LETRS professional development program who successfully complete the Pearson Reading Exam. The initiative aims to support educators in enhancing their teaching techniques and making a positive impact on students’ literacy development.

Want to host an exhibit?

New Hampshire Humanities (NHH) has partnered with Vermont Humanities and the Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street program to bring the traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” to small towns in New Hampshire and Vermont from August 2024 to August 2025. According to a press release, NHH is currently accepting proposals from New Hampshire-based organizations interested in hosting the exhibit for a six-week period during the tour. They particularly encourage organizations in small, rural towns or the North Country to apply. Host organizations will not only display the exhibit but also develop complementary programming that engages the local community. NHH will provide grants of up to $3,000 and a subject matter expert to support hosts in creating programming related to the exhibit. The deadline for proposals is July 28, and more information can be found at nhhumanities.org/crossroads.

Trail work

Access to the Cardigan Mountain trail and summit will be periodically limited until Aug. 31 due to a fire tower replacement project, according to the NH Division of Forests and Lands. The project involves using a helicopter to transport materials for the new tower, and hikers are advised not to summit on days when the helicopter is in use for safety reasons. Updates on non-summitting days and trail closures will be posted on the websites and Twitter accounts of the Division of Forests and Lands and the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The project is expected to be completed by October, and another fire tower cab replacement project at Belknap Mountain will begin later this summer.

Funds to fight abuse

The University of New Hampshire’s Crimes against Children Research Center (CCRC) has received a $1.5 million award from the U.S. Department of Justice to study child abuse in youth-serving organizations. According to a press release, the five-year project aims to assess the feasibility of a national system for counting and tracking child abuse cases in schools, churches, sports and camps. The CCRC will collaborate with various stakeholders to determine the scope of the system, its integration with existing systems and the application of criteria from other areas of health and safety. The study will also examine existing reporting systems and legislative frameworks. Interim findings will be published, and pilot testing will be conducted in the final two years of the project.

New principal

The Manchester School District has announced Shawn Baskerville as the new principal of Weston Elementary School, according to a press release. Baskerville, who has served as an assistant principal in the district since 2011, brings extensive experience in special education and has worked at both the elementary and middle school levels. He replaces Liz MacDonald, who retired after 30 years in the district. Baskerville holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. The position of assistant principal at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School, Baskerville’s previous school, is now open. Weston Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 5 and is one of the 13 elementary schools in the Manchester School District.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord marked the completion of the first phase of its Science Playground, an outdoor area designed to provide an interactive experience for visitors, with a grand opening on Monday, July 17. According to the press release, the event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Chris Sununu, and attendees had the opportunity to test out the new playground equipment and engage in hands-on STEM-based activities.

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) has partnered with Exail, a French company specializing in maritime autonomy and robotics, to establish a new innovation hub at the Judd Gregg Marine Research Complex in New Castle. According to a press release, the hub will focus on marine autonomous operations and ocean mapping. An unveiling event on Saturday, July 15, included a demonstration of the 25-foot-long uncrewed surface vessel, DriX.

The Nashua Regional Planning Commission will host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, Aug. 5, in Nashua. According to a press release, the collection will take place at Nashua City Park & Ride at 25 Crown St. and is open to residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Pelham and Windham. A user fee of $15 per vehicle will be charged, covering up to 10 gallons or 20 pounds of hazardous waste. Latex paint, electronics and medications will not be accepted. For a complete list of accepted items, visit nashuarpc.org/hhw or call 417-6570.

On surgery & sea sprites

In dark December I found myself hobbling into an urgent care clinic for x-rays. A few clicks by the technician, a glance by an orthopedic PA, and I received my diagnosis: severe osteoarthritis. Never mind that last summer I hiked several 4,000-footers and ran a 5k. Now I am rehabbing after a total hip replacement. Apparently I’m not alone. The Boston Globe ran a piece this spring titled “How the hip replacement became the hot Gen-X surgery.”

Now that my bone-on-bone pain is gone and the incision is healing, what has this slightly older than Gen-Xer learned? First, when I was told my hip replacement was “elective,” what I heard was that it was unnecessary, indulgent even. This descendant of New England Protestants does not put excessive mayonnaise on a sandwich or make-up on her face. Only when I could barely walk did I schedule the surgery. It turns out that “elective” just means that it can be scheduled in advance. Make the appointment. Joint replacement is not a sign of moral weakness.

Second, friendships are vital. Nothing comforted me more than the meals, grocery deliveries, visits, cards, calls, texts and rides my friends provided. What surprised me, though, was the camaraderie of new acquaintances made while waiting for the operation. I joined a water exercise class to keep in shape. As New York Times contributor Bonnie Tsui has observed, “At my community pool, the locker room is a tableau on aging.” At the YMCA I found a community of folks who had already discovered the ease of slipping one’s aching body into the water, abandoning gravity and decorum. Flailing about in chlorine-faded swimsuits, the gang laughed, sang to the music, and exchanged tips such as where to thrift canes, walkers and commodes. My fellow aquacizers’ good humor got me through the hardest months. They helped me find joy and courage.

Third, although any diversion, from game apps to crochet, might keep one occupied, for me it was reading. I laughed, cried, and worked my way through everything from Bonnie Garmus’ comic novel Lessons in Chemistry to Marcus Zusak’s YA treasure The Book Thief, to Jill LePore’s These Truths: A History of the United States. I hope to get back to the mountains, but meanwhile I’m happy and grateful to be where I am.

Freshmaker

LaBelle Winery welcomes comic Juston McKinney

Ever a relatable comedian, Juston McKinney tries to find the local angle wherever he performs. His latest YouTube special, On the Bright Side, was filmed in Concord. It begins with a story about a The Price Is Right contestant from Massachusetts winning a trip to the Capitol City.

The prize came with a round-trip flight — between Los Angeles and Manchester. “She’s gotta go all the way out and come all the way back,” McKinney joked. “She didn’t win a vacation; she won the longest tax-free liquor run in history!”

For a July 13 show at Labelle Winery, some anecdotes will come from closer to home. “My grandfather ran McKinney Dairy in Derry, and that’s where he met my grandmother,” the comic said in a recent phone interview. The punch line: “So she ended up marrying the milkman!”

McKinney primarily performs in New England, which keeps him nearer to his family; he lives in Newmarket. This makes for a lot of repeat business, forcing him to keep his act fresh. “I try to tell people that if you give me a year and I come back, I’ll have an 80 percent different show.”

It can be a double-edged sword for fans with a favorite bit; the memory bank can only be so full before it overflows. Consider a recent comment on Facebook. “It said, ‘I saw you 20 years ago, and I’m still laughing at your Old Navy button fly joke.’ I have no freaking idea what the Old Navy button fly joke is,” McKinney recalled. “I gotta message the guy … because if it’s really good, I’m gonna do it again.”

Another side effect of keeping to the region is making the rest of the country feel slighted. “People are getting mad that I’m not leaving,” he said. “They’re literally like, ‘Oh, you’ve got something against South Dakota?’ So I’m trying to get out a little bit, just to give something to these fans. I just did Ohio, and now I’ll do Detroit. I usually try to do Vegas every couple of years.”

To enjoy family time with his wife and two teenage sons, McKinney maintains a light summer schedule.

“I have a house with a water view … yeah, we put an above ground pool in the backyard,” he joked. “My whole trick has been balancing being a dad with being a comedian. Not looking back when these years have passed and going, ‘Oh, my kids are going to college [and] I’ve been on the road 40 weeks a year.”

Unsurprisingly, McKinney mines his home life for laughs — to a point. “Sometimes my wife will cut it right in the bud and go, ‘You’re not doing a joke about that,’” he said. “I get in this argument about how I’m gonna frame the joke, and finally I’ll say, ‘Alright, I’ll make it about my friend.”

On the other hand, McKinney’s boys can be a bit more agreeable about inspiring his standup.

“I’ll say something funny, and they’ll say, ‘You should do a joke about that.’ As long as it’s not at their expense, and they’re not the butt of the joke. My kid the other day WTF’d me in a text because I was late. I go, ‘You don’t WTF your parents!’ He goes, ‘Dad, I didn’t spell it out, it’s just the abbreviation.’ I’m like, ‘So is FU; don’t you put it in a text to me.’ He’s like, are you going to do a joke about that?’ I go, ‘I don’t know, but you’re gonna get in trouble if you do it again.’”

He tends to avoid flashpoint topics like politics, but in McKinney’s hands, even the war in Ukraine can provide a chuckle. In On the Bright Side, he observes that their draft age tops out at 60. “That’s kind of pushing it; I mean, I go to bed at nine thirty. I got a CPAP machine; I’m gonna need an outlet,” he said. “Is that a problem?”

This idea would never work in the United States, McKinney added. “We can’t get 18- to 60-year-olds to go to work, let alone go to war,” he said. “We should draft people into jobs.”

Juston McKinney
When: Thursday, July 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where: LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry
Tickets: $40 at labellewinery.com

Featured photo: Juston McKinney. Courtesy photo.

Joy Ride (R)

Four 20-somethings road trip through China in the soft-hearted comedy Joy Ride.

Attorney Audrey (Ashley Park) and artist Lolo (Sherry Cola) have been best friends ever since Audrey’s adoptive parents (Annie Mumolo, David Denman) excitedly approached Lolo’s parents (Debbie Fan, Kenneth Liu) to ask if the girls — the only two Asian girls in their hometown of White Hills — could play together. Thus began a best friendship that lasted through elementary and high school and well after college.

Audrey is up for a big promotion at work, one that hinges on her closing a deal with a Chinese company. She speaks conversational Mandarin, she tells her boss (Timothy Simons) — but really this woman raised by American parents doesn’t speak Chinese. Though Lolo’s genitalia-based art isn’t the image Audrey wants to project professionally, she asks Lolo, a truly fluent Chinese speaker, to join her when she travels to China to act as a translator for Audrey’s meetings. Lolo’s cousin Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), an awkward K-pop megafan, unexpectedly tags along. In China, Kat (Stephanie Hsu), Audrey’s college roommate who has become a big star of Chinese TV, also joins the group.

The foursome spends a night drinking with Chao (Ronny Chieng), the man Audrey is trying to close a deal with. He wants to know more about Audrey and her ties to China. Lolo lies and says Audrey is close with her Chinese birth mom. This leads the gang on a frantic quest to find Audrey’s birth mother, which sends them to a more rural region of China and through a series of unexpected detours due in part to an American drug dealer and a Chinese basketball team stacked with hotties.

For a movie with some impressively explicit sex scenes, Joy Ride is cute and huggable in its whole friendship vibe. Lolo and Kat have a frenemy relationship as dueling best friends of Audrey, who is wound tight and feels that she doesn’t fit in anywhere (not white like “everybody else” in their American home town but not connected to her Chinese heritage like Lolo and Kat). Deadeye is eager to find friendships IRL, having previously only made good buddies via K-pop fan sites. The various discomforts of the group seem like the discomfort of their relative youth, trying to figure out who they each are and what they want. It’s all ultimately very sweet, and while I did at times feel like some of the jokes could use another pass to make their comedy and their observations sharper, I enjoyed spending time with these characters. Park may be the central character but the excellent Hsu and Cola are the standouts.

Joy Ride isn’t perfect but it is a light and fun bit of friendship, road trip comedy. B

Rated R for strong and crude (and unapologetic! and totally giddy!) sexual content, language throughout, drug content and brief graphic nudity, according to the MPA on filmratings.com (where you can see a crude-but-cute alternate title for this movie). Directed by Adele Lim with a screenplay by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao, Joy Ride is an hour and 37 minutes long and is distributed in theaters by Lionsgate.

Insidious: The Red Door

(PG-13)

The Lambert family returns in Insidious: The Red Door, the fifth Insidious movie, which picks up on events of the second movie.

The third and fourth movies were both prequels — a fact remembered thanks to Wikipedia because even though I’ve seen and liked all of these movies I forgot basically everything about them other than Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson. Quick recap: Father and son Lambert both have the ability to astral project into a demon-y realm called The Further, and sometimes demon-y beings try to follow them back.

It’s been a decade since the second movie and the Lambert family isn’t doing great. We first see Josh Lambert (Wilson) at the funeral for his mother. Renai Lambert (Byrne) and the kids — Dalton (Ty Simpkins), Foster (Andrew Astor) and Kali (Juliana Davies) — are with him but leave in a separate car because Renai and Josh have split up. Josh has a difficult relationship with the moody Dalton, who is headed to college. Renai suggests that Josh drive Dalton to school so they can spend time together.

What we know from the movie’s start that the oldest two Lambert dudes don’t is that Josh and Dalton have been hypnotized to forget the previous Insidious movies. So everything about The Further, their journeys to this place and the demons that plagued them there and followed them into the world has been sort of erased. Sort of. They’ve been left with enough shadows of what happened to feel uneasy and foggy.

Once at school, an art teacher’s assignments have Dalton starting to draw and remember the Further. Dalton makes friends with Chris (Sinclair Daniel), a girl mistakenly assigned to room with him for just long enough that she gets dragged into his whole spooky deal. Meanwhile Josh also has flashes of the Further and its denizens. The more father and son remember, the more the demon-y world starts to bleed into our own.

It takes about two-thirds of the movie for the characters to catch up to where we are at the movie’s start. Wilson is engaging as always and there’s some cute stuff between Dalton and Chris as they investigate Dalton’s growing strangeness, but the movie just takes way too long to ramp up. And then it feels a bit like we race to the finish. I wish the movie could have found some way to better balance that mix of when the characters aren’t and then are up to speed, and bring the whole family, including Byrne, who brings such a good exasperated energy, back together faster. C

Rated PG-13 for violence, terror, frightening images, strong language and suggestive references, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Patrick Wilson with a screenplay by Scott Teems, Insidious: The Red Door is an hour and 47 minutes long and is distributed in theaters by Screen Gems.

Featured photo: Joy Ride

Relax and Unwined

New wine bar to open in Milford

By Mya Blanchard

mblanchard@hippopress.com

For English sommelier Emma Round, wine is more than just a drink. It stirs up memories, adding depth to life’s moments. In 2021 she had the idea to open Unwined, a wine bar and restaurant, to bring this experience to others. In addition to wine it will also offer cocktails and a diverse range of food served small-plate and sharing style. It is projected to open its doors in late August or early September.

“I was like, ‘You know, it’s after Covid, I’m going to open a restaurant and wine bar in southern New Hampshire,” Round said. “‘I don’t even live in America, but I’m going to do it and it’s going to be great … why not?’ Yeah, I think I temporarily lost my mind.”

With a love for wine and a background in business management in the United Kingdom, Round started looking for locations. She noticed that while the wine industry was growing in America, people were moving out of cities after the pandemic.

“You shouldn’t need to travel to Portsmouth or Portland or Boston to go to a really great place,” Round said. “There are so many places in southern New Hampshire right now that are opening up and creating experiences that you would have expected in these large cities. … I’m hoping we can add a new layer to that.”

In England, Round grew up in a culture and family in which wine was a staple. Wine bars were plentiful, and the beverage was key at family dinners. On the contrary, Round felt that Americans often associated wine with older, wealthier populations. It was important to Round to eliminate this misconception, as well as to educate people in a welcoming environment.

“For us it’s really about taking away that pretentiousness [and] making an inclusive environment that is accessible to everyone,” she said. “We’re hoping to be able to educate people in a fun and approachable way.”

Prior to the establishment of Unwined, Round had never been to New Hampshire but had worked in hotels in Boston. She discovered that she loved New England, finding small-town America to be particularly charming. When looking for a location, she knew she wanted to find somewhere that was easily accessible and central to other locations. She researched areas near the border of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, eventually deciding on Milford.

“I felt there was a really nice space for us there with the wine just to kind of [add to] the Milford food and beverage scene as a whole,” she said.

According to Round, the process of opening Unwined has been intense but incredible. While she had experience in the U.K., she had to learn how to manage a business in the U.S. She feels her European background will allow her to include unique and unusual wines not stocked at other wine bars.

“We’ve managed to source lots of fantastic products locally, and the entire community has been great,” Round said. “Milford town is chomping at the bit for us to open, and everyone has been so generous and open with me. … People have been incredible and so helpful, which I really appreciate.”

Unwined
Where: 1 Nashua St. in Milford
Opening: late August or early September
More info: unwinednh.com

Featured photo: Unwined. Courtey photos.

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