Category: Music This Week

• Song man: A fixture on the New England roots scene since the mid-’90s Willy Porter has three New Hampshire shows upcoming, one at a venerable brewpub and restaurant’s weekly series. Porter’s most recent album is 2023’s The Ravine, with the sweet father and son bonding song, “Baseball on the Radio.” Singer, songwriter and painter Tom Pirozzoli opens the show. Thursday, March 27, 7:30 p.m., Flying Goose, 40 Andover Road, New London; 526-6800 for reservations.

• Big pair: The White Stripes formed a few years before Sirsy launched, and while the upstate New York duo may not be in the running for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, their raw power is undeniable. Guitarist Rich Libutti plays a weathered Rickenbacker through a multitude of pedals while Melanie Krahmer furiously pounds on the drums and sings with the energy of Janis Joplin reborn. Friday, March 28, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester. More at sirsy.com.

• Funk fun: A double bill for locals to love has UP – The Band and The Kenny Brothers sharing the stage and players for a raucous, funked up basement party. The two recently did an energetic Seacoast show. UP is led by Eric Reingold, with fellow JamAntic Freeland Hubbard and Johnny Santana on guitars, Wayne Summerford playing drums, and guests often joining in. Friday, March 28, 9 p.m., Penuche’s, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, facebook.com/penuches.concord.

• Dad jokes: The state’s longest-running comedy club hosts Mike Hanley, who in his bio sums up his riffs on parenthood thusly: “If you are married you will laugh at Mike’s hysterical stories. If you are single you will want to stay that way.” A joke about accidentally confusing a tube of Desitin with toothpaste, and how the poison control helpline responded, lands perfectly. Saturday, March 29, 8:30 p.m., Headliners at Doubletree, 700 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at headlinersnh.com.

• Irish mist: Keep basking in a green glow with Altan, considered one of Ireland’s finest musical exports, led by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Their most recent album, Donegal, celebrates the county where they formed, a bustling part of Ireland’s folk scene. The record is also the first with new fiddler and singer Claire Friel, who takes a lead vocal on “Faoiseamh a Gheobhadsa.” Sunday, March 30, 3 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $49 at ccanh.com.

• Wine and comedy: An eclectic wine bar celebrates its third year with Mona Forgione, who leans into motherhood for laughs. She got into standup late in life, initially to talk about a pair of surgeries gone wrong, and has a colorful history that includes a stint in the roller derby. Klia Ververidis opens, ahead of her slot at New York’s Laughing Buddha Comedy Festival. Thursday, March 20, 8 p.m., Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Java jam session: A monthly coffeehouse gathering features a headliner set from The Treetellers, an acoustic string trio led by Scott Heron of married bluegrass duo Green Heron, on banjo, mandolin and vocals, with guitarist Joey Clark, who also sings and plays harmonica, and upright bassist Larry Houghton. The show kicks off with an open mic; signups at 6 p.m. Friday, March 21, 8 p.m., Highland Lake Grange Hall, Route 11 and Chase Hill Road, East Andover, andovercoffeehouse.org.

• Before The Beatles: Early on, the Fab Four were a five-piece, with drummer Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe on bass. Though Ringo Starr replaced him, Best continues the raw sound The Beatles had during their days at Liverpool’s Cavern Club and in the raucous Hamburg, Germany, bar scene. An area show from Best and his band includes music and memories from the days prior to world fame. Saturday, March 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $50 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Junk rock jubilee: Thirty years after a trio of Goffstown High kids played drums in a talent show, Recycled Percussion continues its unique junk rock sound, and a local show celebrates the anniversary of the group, which went from a humble start to playing shows across the globe, including a years-long Las Vegas residency following their big run on America’s Got Talent. Saturday, March 22, 3 and 7 p.m., Dana Center, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, $50 and up at anselm.edu.

• Poetry and music: Soon after graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2010, Liz Longley was regularly selling out area venues months in advance, powered by sensitively crafted songs like “Unraveling” and the metaphor-rich “Camaro.” . Sunday, March 23, 7 p.m., Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $19 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

By Michael Witthaus

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Stories and dance: Michael Londra brings his PBS series Ireland With Michael to the stage. The show blends music, dance and stories, as the Emmy-nominated Voice of Riverdance shares his affinity with them, backed by a traditional Irish band and dancers. Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m., Stockbridge Theatre, 5 Pinkerton St., Derry, $35 and up at stockbridgetheatre.com.

• What’s up sweetcakes? Enjoy jazz inspired by a popular anime series at Cowboy Bebop Live. Japanese composer Yoko Kanno’s music helped drive the edgy Japanese series, from her earworm theme song “Ask DNA” to the jumping jazz number that opened the 2001 movie, “TANK!” An all-star 14-piece ensemble performs in support of the big-screen multimedia presentation Friday, March 14, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $39 at etix.com

• Long green weekend: Four days of St. Patrick’s fun commences with Shamrock & Roll-themed music bingo from DJ Paul Corwin on Friday night, with Celtic band Loch Mór and the Pogues-inspired Rebel Collective the next day. Sunday, it’s music from the Reel McCoys and a set from McGonagle School of Irish Dance. Dan Fallon performs on the big day. Friday, March 14, through Monday, March 17, Biergarten, 221 DW Highway, Merrimack; schedule at budweisertours.com.

• Canyon lady’s prime: Drawing primarily from her 1970s heyday, The Linda Ronstadt Experience is a stirring tribute. American Idol Season 15 contestant Tristan McIntosh is convincing on ballads like “Long Long Time” and “Blue Bayou,” the Roy Orbison song she made her own, and shines on the early hit “Different Drum.” She’s a believable doppelgänger for Ronstadt as well. Saturday, March 15, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Cross-Canadian Celtic: Hailing from Ontario, The Glengarry Bhoys occupy a unique musical intersection, blending Highland Scots, Irish and French Canadian idioms for a thrilling and energetic performance. Given the Celtic flavor of the band’s sound, they’re an especially popular item around St. Patrick’s Day, where they perform plenty of traditional songs along with their original material. Sunday, March 16, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $39 at tupelohall.com.

By Michael Witthaus

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• Arena laughs: With an act that begins with an entrance riding a Vespa, Sebastian Maniscalco is well-suited to hockey rink humor; it’s been years since the comic has appeared in a nightclub or even an opera house. His It Ain’t Right is in town with Maniscalco’s trademark physical comedy, as well as Pete & Sebastian Show podcast sidekick Pete Correale opening the show. Thursday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $39 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• SoCal sound: Some alt-rock fans bristle at their favorite bands being called classic rock, but Everclear’s Art Alexakis is honored by the moniker. Friday, March 7, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $55 at tupelohall.com.

• Electric cowboys: The twang-fueled alter ego of prog-rock band Mindset X, Horsefly Gulch performs at an adult fun house that includes axe throwing, arcade games and augmented reality darts aimed at laser targets. This critic watched them early on and called their sound “Link Wray meets Primus by way of Crazy Horse, or Rush playing incognito at a cowboy bar.” It still stands. Saturday, March 8, 8 p.m., Smitty’s GameLAB, 630 W. Main St., Tilton. Visit horseflygulch.com.

• Good guy: Performing in support of his latest album, Time is a Thief, Marc Broussard stops in Portsmouth. The record, produced by Eric Krasno and Jeremy Most, is Broussard’s first collection of originals in seven years and follows the 2023 collaboration with blues rock chart topper Joe Bonamassa, S.O.S. 4 Blues for Your Soul, part of a series of benefit releases from the vocalist. Sunday, March 9, 7 p.m., Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, $37 and up at themusichall.org.

• Blues rocking: With slide guitar augmented by Hammond organ, Barrett Anderson Band rips through standards like Bo Diddley’s “Mona” with fierce reverence, calling their sound “hypnoboogie.” The Cambridge-based trio plays a midweek set at a downtown eatery that regularly hosts live music along with tasty smashburgers and fun items like the Bad Bird and DRTY MNKY shake. Wednesday, March 12, 8 p.m., BAD BRGR, 1015 Elm St., Manchester. Visit barrettandersonband.com.

By Michael Witthaus

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•• Welcome back: The show never ends as Carl Palmer hosts An Evening With Emerson, Lake & Palmer that’s a virtual concert from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame prog rock band. Video from a 1992 Royal Albert Hall performance brings back Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, who both passed away in 2016, while Palmer plays along on drums to evoke the masterful power trio. Thursday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $55 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Hard rocking: Check out three distinct flavors of female-fronted metal with Dystopica, a Connecticut-based band led by singer Becky Brideau, who recently released the revved-up single “Freewheel Burning,” local favorites Sepsiss, hot on the heels of their latest, “Play the Game,” an indictment of industry success syndrome, and riffy duo the Saturn Cycle. Hollow Virtue opens. Friday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $10 at the door, 21+, @KineticCityEvents.

• Bag boys: Boasting they’re “the most famous bagpipe band on the planet,” the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have a pair of area appearances to kick off the Celtic-centric month. The nine-piece group is known for its rock ’n trad “bag rock,” which includes covers of everything from “Amazing Grace” to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” Saturday, March 1, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, and Sunday, March 2, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia. $29 and up at etix.com.

• Forthright folk: The rootsy trio Low Lily — married couple Liz Simmons and Flynn Cohen, and fiddler Natalie Padilla — decided to be bold on their latest, Angels in the Wreckage. The a capella anthem “What’ll You Do” is punchy, political and ready-made for a march, while “One Wild World” covers similar territory more tenderly. Sunday, March 2, 6 p.m., Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13, Brookline, $25 at andresinstitute.org.

• Neighbor loving: It’s legend that The Rough & Tumble was born when Mallory Graham met Scott Tyler on a double decker bus in 2011 while spying on his notebook. Their latest, Hymns for My Atheist Sister & Her Friends to Sing Along To, is a hopeful album focused on the nature of faith in a corrosive world. The energetic chorale piece “Love Them, Too” is a standout. Tuesday, March 4, 2 p.m., Taylor Community Center, 435 Union Ave., Wolfeboro, bandsintown.com.

By Michael Witthaus

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• Family affair: With their reputation as Canada’s first couple of music set, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy bring their children Mary Frances and Michael Leahy on stage for an evening of Cape Breton’s finest mix of Celtic and traditional sounds. The show exudes youthful energy, while highlighting MacMaster and the elder Leahy’s fiddling talent. Thursday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, $43 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Rock coda: Formed by Dokken’s principal songwriter George Lynch after the band broke up in 1989, Lynch Mob long outlasted its predecessor. Its first album went gold, and a dozen more followed in a 30-plus-year career that’s now wrapping up with a farewell tour called The Final Ride. The current lineup is Lynch on guitar, singer Gabriel Colon, with a rhythm section of Jaron Gulino and Jimmy D’Anda. Friday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $55 at tupelohall.com

• Mule man: Million Voices Whisper, the first solo effort in nine years from Warren Haynes, has the Gov’t Mule leader and former Allman Brothers guitarist in town for a show. The new disc reflects the soul music that inspired Haynes early on and includes a collaboration with fellow Brother Derek Trucks, “Real, Real Love,” that was begun by Gregg Allman before his death. Friday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $55 and up at ccanh.com.

• Ski jam: The house band for monthly jams at BNH Stage, Andrew North & the Rangers, play an apres-ski trio set. The local favorites have a new live album, Thanks for the Warning, Vol. 2, recorded at Feathered Friend Brewery in early December 2023. Their Bandcamp page has even more, like a 24-song show from early January show at Penuche’s Ale House in Concord. Saturday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m., Pats Peak, 686 Flanders Road, Henniker. Visit andrewnorthandtherangers.com.

• Twin bill: A solid rock ’n’ roll show has true believers Dr. G & Lee topping the bill. Louisiana-born Brandon Gauthier fell in love with a 100-watt Fender amp as a teenager and has kept it loud since, while managing at the same time to earn a doctorate in history. Lee Durham is a veteran guitarist. All-female trio Catwolf opens. Saturday, Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m., Milk St. Studios, 6 Milk St., Dover, $15 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.• Shake it: A group of Boston area musicians with a love for funk, Booty Vortex play an early Valentine’s Day show at a romantic spot. Break out the dancing shoes and get out to get down for an evening of throwback dance music from bands like Earth, Wind & Fire and Wild Cherry. Along with winery selections will be a full bar with themed cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic drinks. Thursday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, $40 at labellewinerey.com.

• Dy-no-mite: Before he hit it big playing J.J. on the ’70s sitcom Good Times, Jimmie Walker worked as a standup comic at Black Panther gatherings in Harlem and toured with Motown revues. Friday, Feb. 14, 6 p.m., Newfound Lake Inn, 1030 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, $25 and up at eventbrite.com.

• Song man: After his band Ghost of Paul Revere parted ways in 2022, Griffin William Sherry began a solo career; his first record, Hundred Mile Wilderness, dropped last fall. Recorded in Nashville with an engineer who’s worked with Sierra Hull and Brandi Carlile, the album’s title is a reference to the stretch of the Appalachian Trail that passes through Sherry’s home state of Maine. Saturday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $33 at palacetheatre.org.

• Light show: Beginning with the landmark album Dark Side of the Moon, Floydian Trip recreates Pink Floyd’s touring years before Roger Waters and David Gilmour began feuding. The tribute act combed through countless audio and video clips culled between 1973 and 1981 for an authentic concert experience that includes lights, projections, lasers and a very convincing psychedelic sound. Sunday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 at tupelohall.com.

• Plus one: Spontaneity defines the live experience of Session Americana, a musical collective begun over a decade ago that draws from the rich Boston Americana community. For an upcoming show, they’re joined by singer, songwriter and fiddle player Eleanor Buckland, who got her start with the trio Lula Wiles. She recently accompanied the group on a tour of Europe. Sunday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m., Word Barn Meadow, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $28 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.