Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Poetry slam: The weekly spoken word gathering Slam Free or Die has two familiar names, Amber Tamblyn and Derrick Brown. Tamblyn is an actress, director and writer whole latest book is Listening in the Dark: Reclaiming the Power of Women’s Intuition. Brown is a comic who’s penned books, screenplays and librettos. Thursday, May 25, 7 p.m., Stark Brewing, 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, $3 to $5 at the door (sliding scale).

• Well-rounded: An eclectic local bill has doom rockers Dead Harrison, whose 2020 premonitory anthem “End of the Bloodline” was one good thing to come out of the pandemic, and Horsefly Gulch, the twang-fueled alter ego of prog rock trio Mindset X. Dust Prophet, a metal band that’s the latest project of guitarist and Bluntface Records founder Otto Kinzel, and Witch Trot, a Maine-based stoner grunge trio, round out the show. Friday, May 26, 8 p.m., Strand Theater, 20 Third St., Dover, $10 at eventbrite.com

• Country goth: Leading purveyors of the Underground Gothic scene The Legendary Shack Shakers do a Manchester date. Playing a bluesy mix of swamp music and rockabilly, they’re led by singer/harmonica player J.D. Wilkes, who’s done studio work with Merle Haggard, Sturgill Simpson, John Carter Cash, Mike Patton and Hank Williams III. The Kentucky band’s most recent album is Cockadoodledeux, released in 2021. Saturday, May 27, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Full throttle: With a long list of iconic songs, Collective Soul isn’t easing up. A new album, Vibrating, was released last year Sunday, May 28, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, $39 at ticketmaster.com.

• Stars turn: Named after now-sober Alice Cooper’s ’70s celebrity drinking club, Hollywood Vampires is the world’s most famous cover band. Joe Perry, Johnny Depp and Tommy Henricksen join Cooper singing songs by performers who didn’t survive that decade of excess. Their latest album is a live recording of the group’s second show in front of tens of thousands at the 2015 Rock in Rio festival. Tuesday, May 30, 8 pm., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $39 to $99.50 at ticketmaster.com.

Local music news & events

• Pop-tastic: A three-band pre-weekend show has Donaher, a Manchester power pop quartet that recently appeared at Boston’s annual Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble and will play the side stage when the Goo Goo Dolls close out the season at Bank of NH Pavilion in late September. Girlspit and Cool Parents complete the bill; the latter is a funny and punky combo with songs like “WebMD is Ruining My Life.” Thursday, May 18, 8 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord. See facebook.com/donahertheband.

• Southern man: With Gary Rossington’s death, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost its last original member, but Artimus Pyle carries the torch, touring with a tribute to lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt. Pyle joined Skynyrd on drums for Nuthin’ Fancy in 1974 and a few years later survived the plane crash that killed Van Zandt and five others. After a drawn-out legal battle, his film about the crash, Street Survivors, was released in 2020. Friday, May 19, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Off topic: After a groundbreaking seven-season run with Full Frontal, Samantha Bee shifts from politics to personal with her new show Your Favorite Woman. “I really am expressing myself as a woman … really hoping to achieve some kind of catharsis,” she told the Washington Post. “It’s a departure for me.” Bee’s first foray into touring is described as a multimedia show that’s paced differently than standup. Saturday, May 20, 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $48.25 and up at ccanh.com.

• Blues man: Beginning with the formation of his group Morblus in 1991, guitarist Roberto Morbioli has made a name for himself in the blues world, garnering comparisons to, according to one critic, “Eric Clapton and a young Stevie Ray Vaughn.” Another said his mix of “funk, soul, shuffle, swamp, second line and everything else [is a] relentless feast for the ears.” Lately he’s been joining Willie J. Laws for the Italian Texas Guitar Battle. Sunday, May 21, 5 p.m., Village Trestle, 25 Main St., Goffstown. See facebook.com/rob.morb.

• Funky guest: Singer, keyboard player and Mica’s Groove Train leader Yamica Peterson joins a weekly open session dubbed Monday Muse. Lisa Guyer, who once put the Mama in Mama Kicks, launched the open session to highlight area talent and stimulate the regional musical community. The house band includes Guyer, John Mederios, Geoff Bates, Nate Comp and Steve Baker. Monday, May 22, 7 pm., Stumble Inn Bar & Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry. See facebook.com/LisaGuyerMusic.

Local music news & events

• Rant master: “It’s difficult to satirize what’s already satiric,” Lewis Black said a couple of years ago, but the acerbic comic keeps on trying. His latest tour, Off the Rails, pokes fun inclusively, as he likens America’s political parties to ideological mystery meat, saying, “they both taste like chicken,” and ends each show with The Rant is Due, a response to a fan’s complaint, submitted online. Thursday, May 11, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $49 to $60 at etix.com. 

• Double play: Best known as a percussive acoustic guitarist, Senie Hunt has been plugging in lately, with a blues rock-based band influenced by Hendrix, Stevie Ray and others. For a homecoming show, he’ll perform two sets, the first with a fiddler, mandolin player and resonator guitarist, and the second with the electrified Senie Hunt Project. Local rocker Brooks Young will open. Friday, May 12, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $21.75 at ccanh.com. 

• Doctor folk: Celebrating 30 years of performing, Ellis Paul isn’t slowing down, with a double LP inspired by the Beatles’ White Album out soon called 55. The title is a reference to the number of years since the Fab Four’s 1968 release. The singer-songwriter has won multiple Boston Music Awards, and received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Maine in 2014. Saturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 and up at palacetheatre.org. 

• Mama mirth: A Mother’s Day brunch presented by Keg Stand Comedy includes four female comics who are also moms, with a full buffet included in the ticket cost. Laughs during the sumptuous meal will be provided by Alana Foden, the empress of her own long-running series of shows, Sara Poulin, who’s also a singer and actress, Jolanda Logan and Mona Forgione. Sunday, May 14, 11 a.m., Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 South Mammoth Road, Manchester, $75 at eventbrite.com. 

• Iconic pair: An ever-changing all-star cast drives Prince/Bowie, a fusion of legends that began as an informal extra at the Catskill Chill Music Festival a few years back, and continued by acclamation with theater and festival shows. Among the various players are members of Twiddle, Snarky Puppy, Trey Anastasio Band, Lotus, Pink Talking Fish and TAUK, with Matt Wayne providing horn arrangements. Wednesday, May 17, 8 pm., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $26 to $30 at 3sarts.org.

Local music news & events

• Taco tunes: Manchester’s largest Taco Tour ever has live music, including sets from reggae rockers Supernothing and Donaher, the latter a power pop quartet whose front man is campaigning to recognize the Queen City as the birthplace of chicken tenders. Indie singer-songwriter Colleen Green opens the early evening free concert, which offers a great way to shake off all those tasty tacos. Thursday, May 4, 4:30 p.m., M&T Bank/City Bandstage Stage, corner of Bridge and Elm streets, Manchester, see facebook.com/grtrmanchester.

• Dancing scene: When a night hosted by Abba-inspired brand ambassadors Gimme Gimme Disco succeeds, it’s due to the crowd’s energy. Revelers are resplendent in bell bottom jeans, afro hairdos, oversized sunglasses, crazy colors and other finery that works under a mirror ball, along with a yearning to groove to songs like “September,” “It’s Raining Men” and “Waterloo,” all spun by a ’70s-savvy DJ. Friday, May 5, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $19 and up at eventbrite.com.

• Father’s son: Starting in 1996 with the multi-platinum Bringing Down the Horse, The Wallflowers became a band in name only, with a singular vision guided by its front man, Jakob Dylan, who last year said, “no one lineup … ever made two records [and] one person is actually putting the ideas together … that’s always been me.” Recently, Dylan has been covering old friend Tom Petty’s “American Girl” at concerts. Saturday, May 6, 7:30 p.m., The Flying Monkey, 39 Main St., Plymouth, $69 and up at flyingmonkeynh.com.

• Fresh hell: After the headliners dropped out of a run called The Hellbender Tour, Saving Vice took charge, rebranding it The End of Winter. The new name refers to the Vermont metalcore band’s debut EP, Colder Than Dark, which is now celebrating its five-year anniversary. Sink With Me, No Eye Has Seen, Frantic Endeavor, Devitalized and Soft Touch Mechanism round out the bill at a local show. Sunday, May 7, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $15 and up at eventbrite.com.

• Country couple: The latest in an ongoing singer-songwriter series has Lance & Lea playing and chatting with fellow musician Katie Dobbins, who opens the show. Lance Kotara came up in the Texas club scene, while Coloradan LeAnna Kaufman rode horses and sang in church as a youngster; they met in Nashville and became a duo. Their first album was produced by Grammy winner Paul Worley. Wednesday, May 10, 6 pm., Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, $10 to $15 at hermitwoods.com.

Local music news & events

• Reimaginers: At a weekly residency in a Gate City speakeasy, Loce Jazz puts a unique spin on its namesake music. The trio — guitar, drums and keyboard — elevates Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” journeying from its signature opening riff to a place that McCoy Tyner might have taken the classic rock hit. They also do more traditional fare, like the John Coltrane rearrangement of “My Favorite Things” and a sweet, swinging take of Kermit’s “Rainbow Connection.” Thursday, April 27, 8 p.m., CodeX, 1 Elm St., Nashua, codexbar.com.

• Resinating: The latest in a series of concerts featuring local bands is topped by festival favorites The Trichomes, a psych-funk act noted (and named) for its sticky sound. They’re joined by Good Trees River Band, who’ve tightened up from their jammy origins, getting a bit heavier in the process. Bad Lab is a Dover hip-hop trio that formed late last year boasting “old-school beats and modern vibes,” and Peregrine Dream is an acoustic singer-songwriter effort. Friday, April 28, 7 p.m., The Strand, 20 Third St., Dover, $15 at eventbrite.com.

• Alternative: A five-comic show has Casey Crawford mining his “dumb life” for one-liners. This got him on Jimmy Kimmel Live a few years back. Born in South Dakota, he worked in the New York comedy scene before heading north to New England. He’s a rural Steven Wright, with quips like, “When I go for a walk in the woods, people stop me and ask if I work there.” Juan Cespedes, Bill Douglas, Bonnie Lee and Casey McNeal round out the bill. Saturday, April 29, 8 p.m., Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at the door, see scampscomedy.com.

• Evocative: For those who still want their MTV, an evening with Neon Wave is just the tonic. The five-piece band pays tribute to an entire decade, doing the hits of Duran Duran, The Fixx, Scandal and others, while totally dressing the part. Their synth-y redo of Berlin’s “No More Words” is a set highlight, and they also do a banging version of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” with co-lead singer Brien Sweet in eyeliner looking like The Cure’s Robert Smith. Saturday, April 29, 8:30 p.m., Pasta Loft, 241 Union Square, Milford. More at neonwaveband.com.

• Seasonal: An afternoon Swing into Spring concert from the Capitol Jazz Orchestra features singer-guitarist John Pizzarelli, who’s covered a lot of ground in a career that’s included working with Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald. The Globe praised him for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” He recently marked Nat King Cole’s centennial with the third in a series of Cole-centric albums. Sunday, April 30, 4 pm., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $33.25 and up at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• String power: With each of its three members established solo artists, a new album from Nickel Creek is a happy surprise. The catalyst for the aptly titled Celebrants came during an interview with NPR that noted it had been 20 years since their debut release. Made in the process of “spending almost every minute of every waking hour together,” according to fiddler Sara Watkins, the new disc is a solid entry into the canon of a band that helped redefine roots music. Thursday, April 20, 7:30 pm., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $53.75 and up at ccanh.com.

• Blood harmony: The first band to ever win The Voice, in 2021, A Girl Named Tom is a family affair, siblings Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty. Urged on by their mother, the three dropped plans to attend medical school to form a group. The project was planned to last a year, but the fates had other ideas. Victory on the singing competition show came via their gorgeous harmonies covering hits like Joni Mitchell’s “River” and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” Friday, April 21, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $29 and up at etix.com.

• Blues bonding: A summit gathering of blues power, Blood Brothers is the duo of Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia. The two have worked together over the years on a variety of projects — Zito produced Castiglia’s album Masterpiece and released it on his Gulf Coast Records label. Released on St. Patrick’s Day, their debut effort, wrote one critic, “spotlights everything cool about Zito and Castiglia without ever turning into a battle between two successful bandleaders.” Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $30 at tupelohall.com.

• California thing: With a lead singer drawing comparisons to Alison Krauss, AJ Lee & Blue Summit are being called the new torchbearers for bluegrass by many. In her early years, Lee worked with fellow California-based roots superstar Molly Tuttle before striking out on her own. Her first gig was at the fabled Kate Wolf Festival. The group has released two albums. The San Francisco Chronicle praised their “deft, tasteful playing; and tight, intricate arrangements.” Sunday, April 23, 7 p.m., Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $10 at Eventbrite.com.

• Fab Freddie: Last year Gary Mullen & The Works celebrated 20 years of One Night of Queen, a tribute show that does a very convincing job of recreating the classic rock act’s majestic stage show, with Mullen as front man Freddie Mercury. The effort began after Mullen won the British television talent contest Stars in Their Eyes in 2000 for his portrayal of the kinetic singer, easily doubling the runner-up, the largest number of votes in the show’s history. Wednesday, April 26, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $30 and up at etix.com.