Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Side to front: A rock guitarist takes a jazz direction as Scott Sharrard & Friends pay tribute to bop and soul legend Grant Green in an evening dubbed Green Is Beautiful. Beginning in 2008, Sharrard was musical director for the Gregg Allman Band. Currently he plays lead for Little Feat, stepping in after the passing of Paul Barrere in 2019. His presence gives that band new velocity. Thursday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $20 and $30 at ticketmaster.com.

• State repping: A packed lineup of hardcore talent drives 603 Strong, with Great American Ghost performing a holiday show, the original lineup of metal band Vanna rebranded as Inspirit for its first New Hampshire appearance, Kaonashi, In Remembrance doing a reunion show, Katahdin, Martial Law and Underthrow. The 18+ show has an early start to provide each act with enough time to stretch out. Friday, Dec. 10, 5 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $20 advance at eventbrite.com ($25 day of show).

• Peanuts gang: The music from a beloved 1965 Christmas special is revisited by the Heather Pierson Trio. When A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired, the network complained about inexperienced child voice actors, poor sound and choppy animation. They wanted a laugh track in and the Gospel of Luke out. The jazz soundtrack was most troubling, but it sparked an interest by a young Pierson that’s still enduring. Saturday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $25 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

• Holiday swing: Symphony NH performs its annual Holiday Pops Concert, playing favorite classic Christmas songs led by conductor Roger Kalia. This year’s program begins with “A Christmas Scherzo” followed by music from the motion picture Frozen and a reading of The Night Before Christmas. The show’s second half offers seven selections from The Nutcracker, “Deck the Halls” and, finally, an audience sing-along. Sunday, Dec. 12, 3 p.m., Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord, $35 and up at symphonyny.org.

• Dynamic duo: Touring in support of Noon, their first new album since 2005, Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon perform an evening of acoustic music. Phish drummer Jon Fishman recalled seeing virtuoso guitarist Kottke in a Vermont club in the 1980s and thinking if he ever connected with his bandmate Gordon, “that might be the end of the world.” The two joined up in the early 2000s, making a pair of albums before their hiatus. Monday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., Lebanon Opera House, 51 N. Park St., Lebanon, $38 to $58 at lebanonoperahouse.org.

Local music news & events

• Santa surfing: Sidelined by the pandemic last year, Gary Hoey is back on the road with his Ho-Ho-Hoey! Christmas tour. It stops in Derry, on the way to a California finish. The Dick Dale acolyte first donned his Kringle hat over 25 years ago; the franchise now includes Hallmark greeting cards with his holiday favorites, and Hoey was also featured in the 2006 Danny DeVito film Deck The Halls. Friday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, tickets $35 and $40 at tupelohall.com.

• Healing sounds: On her 2021 coming out song Becoming Untamed, singer-guitarist Kimayo chronicled her journey of “re-wilding … shedding expectations and old belief systems to awaken intuition, curiosity, and self-love.” The poetic songstress looks to music as her “confidante, dance partner, comforter … mood lifter.” A UNH alum, she shares a set of her originals at a Manchester brew pub. Saturday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m., Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester. See kimayomusic.com.

• Christmas croon: Great American Songbook authority Michael Feinstein brings his Home for the Holidays show to the Granite State, drawing from his enduring 2014 release A Michael Feinstein Christmas, with selections from Irving Berlin, Meredith Wilson and Sammy Cahn. Get in the spirit with “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays,” “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” “Winter Wonderland” and more Saturday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m., The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, $55 to $65 at themusichall.org.

• Getting together: An evening of traditional and contemporary acoustic music, Flynn Cohen & Guests includes the guitarist and mandolin player known for his work with wife Liz Simmons in Low Lily, and multi-instrumentalist Matt Heaton, who also performs music for families, a genre he playfully calls toddlerbilly. History suggests the show will likely include contributions from the pair’s many collaborators over the years. Sunday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m., Spotlight Room, 96 Hanover St., Manchester, $19 at palacetheatre.org.

• Strong bonds: Since forming nearly a decade ago, The Ghost of Paul Revere has grown from its Maine origins into a national act on the strength of two long players, 2014’s Believe and 2017’s Monarch, and a pair of EPs, Field Notes, Vol. 1 & 2. The trio now curates its own summer festival, Ghostland, and have appeared with luminaries like Jason Isbell and Bela Fleck, as well as performing at the venerable Newport Folk Festival. Friday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $22 and $32 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Recovery covers: Wind down from Black Friday shopping and the holiday meal with Project Mess, something of an institution in the area with its 30-year anniversary coming in 2022. Now a trio with Dave Dillavou, Greg Thomas and Phil Plant, the band’s wheelhouse is classic rock with an edge, blending favorites from Tom Petty, Pink Floyd and Santana with the likes of Godsmack, Ozzy and Seven Mary Three. Friday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m., Backstreet Bar & Grill, 76 Derry Road, Hudson. See projectmessrocks.com.

• Green eggs: It’s a busy day for Vermont troubadour Brooks Hubbard, as he performs for a brunch crowd in downtown Manchester and then heads back to Sunapee for an evening show. The singer-songwriter made the journey to Nashville a while back to build a name with songs like the bittersweet “Snow & Sunshine,” and mid-decade worked with Jackson Browne guitarist Val McCallum, appearing at a few showcase events. Saturday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester. See brookshubbardmusic.com.

• Guitar hero: Playing a free show, legendary Boston band Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters is fronted by a four-time Blues Music Award winner who’s worked next to many of the genre’s greats, from Muddy Waters to Stevie Ray Vaughan. The late B.B. King said of Earl, “I feel the respect and affection for him that a father feels for his son. He is one of the most serious blues guitarists you can find today. He makes me proud.” Saturday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 617 Main St., Laconia, tickets at coloniallaconia.com.

• Dream combo: Enjoy sweeping views of the Piscataqua River and music from The Brethren at a farm-to-table eatery situated atop a Portsmouth hotel. The supergroup plays jazz standards and covers with a twist, with setlists featuring Lady Gaga, The Beatles, old-school hip-hop and more. It includes Red Tail Hawk guitarist Eric Turner, who’s also a member of Duty Free, and the band’s rhythm section. Sunday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m., Rooftop at the Envio, 299 Vaughan St., Portsmouth. See facebook.com/thebrethrenband.

• Family tradition: Touring in support of Evergreen, its sixth Christmas album, Pentatonix is the biggest a capella group in the world. Band member Scott Hoying said the new disc is “more folky and intimate … almost singer songwriter-y.” Since winning NBC’s The Sing Off in 2011, the five “choir nerds” have sold over 10 million albums, amassed nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, and won three Grammys. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $39 and up at ticketmaster.com.

Local music news & events

• Give gratitude: Offering a bit of an early start to the holiday, the Thanksgiving Shindy features five acts, including a surprise band reuniting specifically for the event. The no-cover show — its name means a noisy disturbance or quarrel — has female foursome Girlspit, hip-hop group Zooo Crew, raucous rockers Felix Holt and Concord mainstays Rippin E Brakes celebrating the local music scene. Thursday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, facebook.com/penuches.concord.

• Mighty combo: Over more than 50 years with several lineups, Roomful of Blues continues to provide a superlative big band experience drawing from jazz and jump blues roots. The current group includes guitarist Chris Vachon, lead vocalist Phil Pemberton, bass player John Turner and drummer Chris Anzalone on rhythm, Rusty Scott on keys and a horn section of trumpeter Carl Gerhard with sax players Alek Razdan and Rich Lataille. Friday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $30 at tupelohall.com.

• Slide ruler: The accolades keep rolling in for Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers. The Somerville band, fronted by rootsy guitarist Harpe and Jim Countryman, won a second NEMA for their album Meet Me In The Middle and got a 2021 Boston Music Awards nomination. The group was born almost accidentally, when their world music band Lovewhip traveled to Austin for SXSW and got a better reception for playing the blues. Saturday, Nov. 20, 8 p.m., Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, $12 at stonechurchrocks.com.

• Eighties sound: Touring in support of their first new album in almost three decades, Psychedelic Furs are best known for hits like “Love My Way” and providing the title song for Pretty In Pink. Released last year, Made of Rain contains the signature drone pop sound that made them one of the favorite acts to come out of the British post-punk wave that launched The Cure, Tears For Fears and Human League. Sunday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $29 to $49 at ccanh.com.

• Family tradition: Singer, guitarist and Manchester native Liam Spain keeps busy doing solo sets like one upcoming at a hometown brewery, playing with rock band Scalawag and doing traditional music in fraternal duo The Spain Brothers; he and brother Mickey have made a few albums and toured a bunch, sharing stages with Tom Paxton, Noel Paul Stookey, Roger McGuinn, Bill Staines and others. Sunday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m., To Share Brewing, 720 Union St., Manchester, more at tosharebrewinge.com.

Local music news & events

• Country comfort: A benefit for a Hooksett family struggling with medical bills stars Nicole Knox Murphy, a local singer-songwriter who wears hometown pride on her (record) sleeve. The ubiquitous performer’s “My 603” is a list of reasons she loves the Granite State, from Hampton Beach to Mount Washington Observatory. Last year she released an ode to her Vermont roots, “The 802.” Thursday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m., New England’s Tap House Grille, 1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, $25, see tinyurl.com/a5r3bktu.

• Family business: In the late ’70s and early ’80s Rosanne Cash helped redefine a genre, and she continued to make great music for the next four decades, including 2006’s Black Cadillac, an ode to father Johnny Cash, her natural mother and stepmother June Carter Cash. Cash’s most recent LP, She Remembers Everything, is among her best, and the new song “Crawl Into the Promised Land” is a timely gem. Friday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., Lebanon Opera House, 51 W. Park St., Lebanon, $48 to $68 at lebanonoperahouse.org.

• Rock weekend: The two-stage bash formerly known as HillFest is now called SinFest, named after band and co-host Infinite Sin. Headlining the event is Hail The Horns, featuring members of Soulfly, Fear Factory and Static X, along with Dead By Wednesday, Marc Rizzo, Art of Aggression, and local doom rockers Dead Harrison, who recently released the rugged rager “Nameless Dream.” Eleven more acts round out the bill. Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $18 to $300 at eventbrite.com

• Kid stuff: In recent years, bayou soul stalwart Marc Broussard has moved down a different musical path, recording a series of albums geared to younger audiences. His latest, A Lullaby Collection, includes Great American Songbook tunes, James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” and two originals. Broussard also wrote a children’s book, I Love You For You, part of the effort begun in 2007 dubbed SOS, or Save Our Soul. Sunday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35 to $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Roots chanteuse: After spending the early part of her career as Nashville royalty, Kathy Mattea left the music business, returning in the late 2000s with the critically acclaimed Coal. She was prominently featured in Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary series and recently began hosting NPR’s Mountain Stage, taking over for founder Larry Groce. Mattea is also a visiting instructor at Berklee College of Music. Wednesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $45 to $65 at jimmysoncongress.com.

Local music news & events

• New room: A recently opened restaurant, bar and music venue hosts D-Comp, the ubiquitous duo of vocalist Demetri Papanicolau, winner of the Rockstar ManchVegas vocal competition, and Nate Comp, talented at looping his acoustic guitar into dense soundscapes. Like most of the room’s upcoming calendar, it’s a free show; a ticketed event starring Angry Hill and Taliente Pistoles will happen later in the month. Thursday, Nov. 4, 9 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/angelcitymusichall.

• Capitol band: Led by a Burlington expat who relocated to Concord five years ago, Andrew North & the Rangers is a multifaceted group touching on rock, soul and jazz fusion stitched together with jammy sensibility. Phosphorescent Snack, their debut album released in September, is a gem; standouts include “Down the Pipes,” with echoes of Dixieland jazz, the can-do anthem “Dig Deep” and the Phish-adjacent “Aditi.” Friday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m., Area 23, 254 N State St., Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord, thearea23.com.

• Roots crew: A favorite in their Merrimack Valley home region, McKinley’s Mood is anchored by the songwriting team of Dave Osgood and Keith Blaney. The Jerry Garcia Band feel of their namesake song provides a good clue about where they’re coming from musically, a point driven home by the Dead covers that pop up in their set. They also have a lovely, harmonies-and-all version of The Band’s “Up On Cripple Creek.” Saturday, Nov. 6, 5 p.m., Millyard Brewery, 125 E. Otterson St., Nashua, millyardbrewery.com.

• Galaxy grass: Sporting a name born from the room where they began, Kitchen Dwellers is a Montana-based quartet that credits a lot of influence on its sound to The Infamous Stringdusters’ Chris Pandolfi, producer of their recent Muir Maid LP. “Just by hanging out with a musician like Chris, you absorb what he says and how he approaches songs, and all of the sudden you’re a better musician for it,” said banjo player Torrin Daniels. Sunday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $15 and $18 at ccanh.com.

• String thing: Zach Lupetin formed Dustbowl Revival after taking a writing degree to Los Angeles to chase screenplay dreams. He also brought a guitar, and soon placed a Craigslist ad for like minds that led to a multi-instrument, multi-genre collective of musicians focused on acoustic Americana. Longtime singer Liz Beebe left last year; Lashon Halley took over for her after a few tryout shows. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $28 to $30 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Half centennial: Many fans hearing “Horse With No Name” for the first time in 1972 thought America was a secret Neil Young, but the trio soon showed prowess beyond that brown-headed cowbird move, releasing hit after hit over the rest of the decade. Fifty years on, original members Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley are still out playing “Tin Man,” “Ventura Highway” and “Sister Golden Hair” for approving crowds. Thursday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $95 and $110 at tupelohall.com.

• Soul capella: While covering everyone from Motown greats to Ed Sheeran, Boston vocal group Ball In The House has a topical side. Their new original song “Ordinary Day” was inspired by songwriter Wallace Thomas’s realization that he’d grown inured to mass shootings. They also released a moving video of “Not My Father’s Son” from the Broadway musical Kinky Boots to commemorate Pride Week. Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., Windham High School Auditorium, 64 London Bridge Road, Windham, $18 at ballinthehouse.com.

• Thriller night: There will be dancing, drinking and costume prizes at the 15^th Annual Halloween Bash in downtown Manchester, as DJ Myth spins the music in celebration of the upcoming Samhain, a month-long Gaelic festival marking harvest season’s end and the onset of the darker half of the year. Like the world needed that reminder, given these days the sun’s down before the workday ends, when it’s still daylight saving time. Saturday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/theshaskeenpub.

• Halloween king: Few bring joie de vivre to All Hallows’ Eve like Doctor Gasp & the Eeks, the seasonal band led by folk musician and artistic polymath Dan Blakeslee. A treat for young and old, the masked singer-guitarist is a one-man Alfred Hitchcock movie, channeling Bobby Boris Pickett and Disney’s Haunted Mansion narrator Paul Frees as he plays a mix of seasonal favorites and wacky original tunes. Sunday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $13 at eventbrite.com.

• Laughs return: After a lengthy hiatus, comedy is back at a favorite spot as John Perotta headlines a showcase hosted by fellow comics Greg Boggis and Alana Foden. In September, Foden rebooted standup nights at Hudson’s SoHo Asian Restaurant. Perotta, who runs the Rhode Island-based Comedy Factory, is a crowd work master, skilled at pulling together the disparate threads of an audience’s id and spinning them into funny bits. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m., Fody’s Tavern, 9 Clinton St., Nashua, $10 at the door.

Local music news & events

• Join together: After a months-long pandemic delay, an evening with Patty Griffin & Gregory Alan Isakov is finally happening. Griffin is the touchstone for many female singer-songwriters, the debut Living With Ghosts has attained near Blue renown, and her eponymous 2019 album won a Grammy for best folk album, coincidentally beating out Isakov’s Evening Machines. The two each perform solo sets. Thursday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $50 and up at ccanh.com.

• Soar again: Celebrating 50 years since the release of Blows Against the Empire, The Airplane Family will play the 1971 album in its entirety over two sets, with multimedia accompaniment. The record introduced the Starship moniker, with science fiction themed songs like “Have You Seen The Stars Tonight” and “Let’s Go Together.” It’s a satellite band; only guitarist Peter Kaukonen was an Airplane member at any point in time. Friday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Pre-fright: Both crowd and performers will masquerade at a Halloween Bash in downtown Manchester, with headliner Gaslighter & Martial Law paying tribute to Slipknot in full jumpsuit and mask regalia, after a set of Deftones music done by Girih & At The Heart of It, Bleach Temple playing Vanna, and Hawthorne Heights done by members of Robinwood and Aversed. Come in costume for a $5 day-of-show discount. Saturday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $12 in advance at eventbrite.com.

• Local troubadour: Taking cues from Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, singer-songwriter Tristan Omand spent lots of time on the road early on, venturing to Kentucky, Tennessee and other far-flung locales while making spare gems like 2011’s Toiled Stories. He’s more settled these days, though still pursuing the artist’s life with vigor. He made So Low in 2019 and released the all-instrumental treble revisions last year. Sunday, Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m., Spotlight Room at the Palace, 96 Hanover St., Manchester, $19 at palacetheatre.org.

• En Español: On a pair of upcoming dates The Mavericks will feature songs from their first all-Latin album, along with hits that helped cement the band’s country rock bona fides, like “What A Crying Shame” and “Dance The Night Away.” Lead singer Raul Malo called the recently released disc “a whole new beginning … uncharted territory.” It includes seven covers and five originals. Tuesday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, $48 and up at themusichall.org.