Category: Music This Week

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• New Yorkers: Nosaj and Haight Keech’s new duo Wave Generators hit town in support of their latest LP, After the End. Released last year, the 11-track effort has elements of the rap rock that fueled New Kingdom, Nosaj’s former group, with the growling “New North” harkening back to ’90s era Iggy Pop. Also appearing are area favorites Cody Pope and Byron G., along with Nahreally. Thursday, Jan. 30, 8 p.m., Zo’s Place, 235 Main St., Nashua, wavegenerators.bandcamp.com.

• Family sound: Offering gorgeous close harmonies and delicate instrumentation, Golden Oak is fronted by the sibling duo of Zak and Lena Kendall. One writer described the mood of their unique music as “energetic intimacy.” Their most recent album, Room to Grow, explores the physical and spiritual effects of the climate crisis. Liz Simmons, known for her work with trio Low Lily, opens the show. Friday, Jan. 31, 8 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $31 at ccanh.com.

• Just ducky: After enough customers told her she was the best thing about Boston’s Duck Boat Tours, Jody Sloane went from delivering sit-down jokes while driving an amphibious vehicle to standup comedy. A regular favorite at the Doubletree Hotel showcase room, she’ll headline a weekend show. Saturday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m., Headliners Comedy Club, 700 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at eventbrite.com

• New romantic: Enjoy a Sunday afternoon sans football with highbrow melodies from Anthony Nunziata. In his Bocelli and Beyond show, the singer mixes operatic gems such as “O Sole Mio” and “Ave Maria” with pop hits like “When I Fall In Love” and originals one critic wrote have the “songwriting passion of a young Billy Joel combined with the soulfulness of Ed Sheeran.” Sunday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $39 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Helping hands: The Woodman Winter Warm-Up event has music from Gnarly Darling, a rootsy band playing originals and covers of bands like Wilco, Black Pumas and John Prine. There will be drinks, food and a raffle with custom guitars from Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan, all to benefit the Woodman Museum’s mission “to advance and develop passion for history, nature, and the arts.” Tuesday, Feb. 4, 5 p.m., Chapel + Main, 83 Main St., Dover, $75 at simpletix.com.

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• B.I.G. Dead: Preposterous though it may look on paper, the sound of Grateful for Biggie makes sense. A melding of the Dead and the late Notorious B.I.G. interjects songs like “West L.A. Fadeaway” and “Eyes of the World” with lyrical flow from the late rapper, as jam band chops meet urban poetry. Watch two very different eras join together for a singular sonic experience. Thursday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m., Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, $20 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

• Blues return: In the middle of the 2010s Delanie Pickering made a mark on the Concord music scene with incendiary guitar playing and inspired singing. Now that she’s relocated to the Cape, it’s been too long since she’s done an area show, but that changes when Johnny Hoy & the Bluefish hit town. Pickering joined the popular Martha’s Vineyard band after laying low for a bit following her arrival. Friday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $28 at ccanh.com.

• Metal ladies: Three female-fronted Granite State bands appear at an event dubbed Metal Queens & Burgers. Under the Horizon is a power trio led by singer/bassist Izzy McIntyre that opened for Great White at Tupelo last summer. The Saturn Cycle, the duo of Ariana Doccola and Jordan Leonard, use looping for a big sound and have a new album due next month. Vermilion recently appeared at Pizzastock. Saturday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m., BAD BRGR, 1015 Elm St., Manchester, $10 at the door.

• Comedy tonight: Steve Scarfo will deliver the laughs at Chunky’s this weekend. A native Mainer, Scarfo came up in the Boston club scene and once took part in a mashup of Survivor and Last Comic Standing that’s worth a look on YouTube. Saturday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m., Chunky’s, 707 Huse Road, Manchester, $20 at chunkys.com.

• Southern accent: After attending a weekly cumbia night in San Francisco, Chuck Prophet became fascinated with the rhythmic Colombia-based music. During treatments for a stage 4 lymphoma diagnosis, he marinated in it, which led to the making of Wake the Dead, a life-affirming live in the studio album made with his band and two members of cumbia combo ¿Qiensave? Wednesday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $22 and up at 3sarts.org.

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Get laughing: A solid lineup of standup talent is on hand at the monthly Comedy On Purpose showcase. Musical comedian Dave Andrews mixes self-deprecating humor with seasoned guitar skills to crowd-pleasing effect. Other comics include Ren Marquis, Jeremy Cangiano, Anthony Eugenio and host Alana Foden, who also books the show and has a fun side hustle. Thursday, Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m., Soho Asian Restaurant, 49 Lowell Road, Hudson, $18 in advance (320-5393), $20 at the door.

• Have yachts: Though Steely Dan is considered a significant yacht rocker band by Boat House Row, a subgenre tribute act making an upcoming area appearance, Donald Fagen had a curt, unprintable response to the notion when interviewed for a documentary. Whatever, it’s still entertaining, and this group’s sax player sparks a yearning for “Caribbean Queen” and “Baker Street.” Friday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $29 and up at etix.com.

• Fab three: Taking an inventive turn off the well-trod path of Beatles tributes, While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a trio, reimagining the harder-rocking side of the legendary band. Fans of Abbey Road’s second side (if you know, you know) will delight in versions of “The End,” along with Yellow Submarine’s oft-neglected gem “Hey Bulldog,” while marveling at their economy. Saturday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester; whilemyguitargentlyweeps.band.

• Well-rounded: Few New England musicians are as beloved as Dan Blakeslee, who performs an afternoon set at an area barbecue joint. The seemingly always smiling singer, songwriter and guitarist honed his craft busking in MBTA stations. His charming folk songs like “Wizard Nor a King” have led to bigger stages like the Newport Folk Festival (he also drew the event’s poster). Sunday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m., MrSippy BBQ, 184 S. Main St., Rochester. See danblakeslee.com.

• Scene support: Celebrating a year since forming, New Hampshire Underground hosts a grand re-opening party with live acoustic rock from Jesse Rutstein and Quincy Lord, along with art from cofounder Andre Dumont (Dead Harrison), fashion illustrator and painter Brenda Drew and artistic polymath MyArtbyKF, all in support of the Nashua underground scene. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 4 p.m., Terminus Underground, 134 Haines St., Nashua. See newhampshireunderground.org.

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Glowing music: Enjoy classical music in an ethereal setting as Candlelight offers Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concerto in G Minor, along with selections from a few more composers. A string quartet provides the music on a stage filled with gently glowing candles. Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m., Rex Theatre, 21 Amherst St., Manchester, $43 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• American Zep: Amongst a crowded and still growing field, Philadelphia-based tribute act Get the Led Out is praised for its rendering of classic rock’s most bombastic group. Their shows go beyond Zep’s often shambolic live performances, with the group using studio overdubs that never made it into their concerts, including an acoustic set sure to please fans of their third album. Friday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $44 and up at ccanh.com.

• Friendly gesture: A weekly afternoon gathering extends into the evening with Acoustic Dead Jam, a benefit for an area musician facing a wide range of medical challenges. According to his family, Andy Laliotis has spent the past 18 months in and out of hospital, and he continues to fight an uphill battle. The show is a way to celebrate his favorite band and help him out in a time of need. Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m., Forum Pub, 15 Village St., Penacook, more at yourforumpub.com.

• Good folk: Singer, songwriter, guitarist and painter Tom Pirozzoli celebrates the release of his latest album, 21, with a house concert of sorts in a bucolic country inn. Recorded live in the studio, the new disc features Pirozzoli fingerpicking deftly, and lyrics ranging from the playful “Jesus on the Grille” to the poignant, compassionate “What Folks Called Poor.” Brad Myrick opens. Saturday, Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m., Follansbee Inn, 2 Keyser St., North Sutton, $25 at follansbeeinn.com.

• Guitar man: With football season mercifully over for regional fans, Sundays are free again. Scott Solsky is a talented guitarist who’s long been a fixture in the Concord music scene, both as a solo artist and with bands like Trade and J3ST, a trio including Hammond organist Tom Robinson and Jared Steer on drums. Solsky’s most recent disc is 2021’s Home, an instrumental gem. Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m., Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St., Pembroke, pembrokecitylimits.com.

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Happy hour: It’s easy to imagine the Foo Fighters turning “Timeless,” a new song from Willy Chase, into a stadium anthem. A co-write with area singer-songwriter Ian Gallipeau, it could be on Chase’s debut EP, Thicker Than Water. He plays solo in a Lakes Region pub. Thursday, Jan. 2, 6 p.m., 405 Pub & Grill, 405 Union Ave., Laconia; more at willychasemusic.com.

• Can bangers: A run of shows to end one year and begin another is a Recycled Percussion tradition. The junk rockers, who rose to fame on America’s Got Talent, ruled the Las Vegas Strip for several years before returning home and building both a business and a venue. There’s one on Friday, three on Saturday and two Sunday matinees (as well as shows next weekend). Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, $39 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Class clowning: The idea of going back to the classroom takes on new meaning at High School Dropout, as a dozen Laugh Attic comics revisit great literature. The “end of semester book report” includes Derek Zeiba summarizing 1984, Owen Damon taking on Of Mice and Men, and Andrew McGuinness looking at Ginsburg’s Howl & Other Poems, which should be interesting. Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m., Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester, $15 at eventbrite.com.

• Jazz adjacent: Enjoy an eclectic night of music with headliners Mono Means One. Led by five-string bass wizard John Ferrara, the psychedelic prog rock trio what might happen if Stanley Clarke joined Emerson, Lake & Palmer and played most of the leads. Rounding out the high-energy show is local favorites Dog 8 Dog, a female-fronted band with a heavy punk-infused sound. Saturday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester; more at monomeansone.com.

• Song crafter: A rustic watering hole is the setting for late afternoon music from Temple Mountain. The well-traveled Long Island native blends deft finger picking guitar with atmospheric vocalizing that recalls moody singer-songwriter Elliot Smith, who he cites as an influence. Lyrically idiosyncratic, his songs charmingly probe the human experience. Sunday, Jan. 5, 4 p.m., Flannel Tavern, 345 Suncook Valley Road, Chichester; more at templemountainmusic.com.

Jason R. Flood Memorial Pizzastock
When: Sunday, Jan. 5, noon
Where: Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry
Tickets: $20 at pizzastock.org

Featured photo: Hand Me Downs. Courtesy photo.

By Michael Witthaus

mwitthaus@hippopress.com

• Jazzy time: Recover from the holidays with the Hall of Mirrors, an improvisational jazz quartet led by guitarist Randy Roos, who’s received Emmy nominations for his television scores. With piano player Steve Hunt, bassist Mike Rossi and Tim Gilmore on drums, their musical telepathy has been described as “spontaneous composition rather than free jazz.” Thursday, Dec. 26, 6 p.m., Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery, 72 Main St., Meredith, $15 and up at eventbrite.com.

• In harmony: Though it’s an ambitious if not impossible tribute task, Forever Simon & Garfunkel does an impressive job. Sean Altman (Rockapella) met Jack Skuller when he was a teenager; they sang “Mrs. Robinson” together and found an immediate chemistry. The show traces the history of the duo from their “Hey Schoolgirl” debut through “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Friday, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $35 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Tribute power: For a sense of how convincingly Rotten Apple: A Tribute to Alice In Chains does its job, listen to praise from people like Chad Olech, a front-of-house engineer who toured with AIC in the late 2000s. “Brings back the feeling of being at one of those amazing shows,” he said. The band performs on a double bill with Manchester rockers Chasing the Devil. Saturday, Dec. 28, 9 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Year ending: Three nights of music from Boston supergroup Neighbor includes a pair of brunches and culminates with a big New Year’s Eve bash. Sunday, Dec. 29, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m., Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, $40 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

• Impractical laughs: Fittingly, comedian Joe Gatto called his first special Messing With People, since he rose to fame with the Candid Camera stepchild Impractical Jokers. Since leaving the show a few years ago, he’s hosted the Two Cool Moms podcast with fellow comic Steve Byrne and written a children’s book, Where’s Bearry? A local show caps a three-month tour. Monday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $30.75 and up at ccanh.com.