Category: Music This Week

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.

Local music news & events

• Celebration time: Time again for the annual Buzz Ball, with the one constant being Greg & the Morning Buzz offering laughs and pickup band The Velvet Elves providing the soundtrack. From that point on anything can happen, with special guest musicians, comedians and actors teaming up for holiday-themed entertainment benefiting the Lend a Helping Can charity. Thursday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $58.75 at ccanh.com.

• Country holiday: There are many seasonal events on tap this week, including Sara Evans; her 21 Days of Christmas is in town. The show includes reverent renditions of standards like a “Silent Night” that one critic recently enthused “could rattle the stained glass in just about any church.” ” Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $59 and up at etix.com.

• Brassy bash: Continuing the holiday mood is dinner and dancing with music from the NH Jazz Orchestra. Cocktails will be served at six, with dinner starting a half hour later. Then the Skip Poole-led big band takes over for an evening of Swingin’ Yuletide sounds played by musicians who’ve worked with stars like Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney and Johnny Mathis. Saturday, Dec. 21, 6 p.m., Murphy’s Taproom & Carriage House, 393 Route 101, Bedford, $30 at eventbrite.com.

• Funny guy: Enjoy standup comedy in a venue designed for it as Kyle Crawford holds forth. A fixture on the regional scene for over 15 years, Crawford has performed with national stars Jim Florentine, Jim Norton and Gary Gulman. He was a first runner-up in New Hampshire’s Last Comic Standing, and was also twice featured on Comcast’s Comedy Spotlight. Saturday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m., Headliners at The Doubletree, 700 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at headlinersnh.com.

• So good, so good: A Neil Diamond tribute act led by singer Michael Anthony, Tru Diamond performs an afternoon holiday concert at an area winery. The show will also include hits like “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue” and the Red Sox mid-inning anthem “Sweet Caroline.” The five-piece band is considered one of New England’s best at channeling the Diamond sound. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101, Amherst, $15 and up at labellewinery.com.

Local music news & events

• Movement: When he’s not playing an eclectic mix of acoustic rock covers, Joel Begin is a physical therapist. He finds that music is a good way to help many patients, and he’s lectured on its intersectionality with movement and healing from stress and trauma. His set list draws a lot from the 1990s, . Thursday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., The Local, 15 E. Main St., Warner; more at facebook.com/joel.begin.music.

• Vocalizing: Before Straight No Chaser, Pentatonix and the Pitch Perfect movies, Rockapella were primary purveyors of a cappella music. The New York vocal group had forebears, but as the house “band” on the PBS series Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? its unique human beat box harmonizing entered the mainstream. Their annual holiday show is a Derry favorite. Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Stockbridge Theatre, 44 N. Main St., Derry, $20 and up at pinkertonacademy.org.

• Traditional: Few New England events approach the venerability of the Boston Pops Holiday Concert, led by maestro Keith Lockhart. What began in 1973 as A Pops Christmas Party evolved over the years into what Lockhart recently called “a balancing act [with] things people want to come back to [while] always adding new musical experiences from across cultures.” Saturday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $33.50 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• Rockestral: From a Trans-Siberian Orchestra covers show intended as a one-off, Wizards of Winter has grown into a phenomenon all its own. The group melds Christmas music and grandeur while leaving out the smoke bombs, lasers and other gadgetry of arena shows. The effect is equally majestic, as they let musicality move front and center. These days, they’re a top concert draw. Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Evergreen: Celebrate the holiday in an Irish way with Cherish the Ladies performing A Celtic Christmas. The show includes a six-piece band with three vocalists and four step dancers backing the influential female group — flute player Joanie Madden, guitarist Mary Coogan, accordion player Mirella Murray, pianist Kathleen Boyle, fiddle player Nollaig Casey and guitarist Kate Purcell. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., BNH Stage, 16. S. Main St., Concord, $64 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Seasonal standard: Get in the holiday spirit as the Heather Pierson Trio returns to play music from A Charlie Brown Christmas during an intimate show at a Lakes Region winery preceded by a complimentary tasting. Pierson’s performance of the holiday special includes other Vince Guaraldi songs and jazzed-up favorites. Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, $25 and up at eventbrite.com. More dates at heatherpierson.com.

• Helping paws: An annual event with live music from the Bob Pratte Band is a fundraiser for the Manchester Animal Shelter. Dance to classic rock covers and enjoy complimentary appetizers, raffles, giveaways, games and a silent auction, all for a good cause. Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Stark Brewing Co., 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, $15 at eventbrite.com.

• Holiday shredding: Make the season a surf guitar safari with Gary Hoey rocking up the Christmas spirit at his annual Ho! Ho! Hoey! show. The Dick Dale acolyte first donned his Santa hat in the ’90s, and the frenetic fret man’s franchise now includes Hallmark greeting cards playing rocked-up holiday favorites. Hoey was also featured in Danny DeVito’s 2006 movie Deck The Halls. Friday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Dark sounds: Fans of heavy music should experience Fog Wizard, a Boston band that bills itself as that city’s bloodiest and features a lead singer with an unprintable name who looks like he came out on the winning end of a tangle with Freddy Krueger. A local show celebrates their 15th anniversary and includes support from Dead Harrison, Arctic Horror and C.O.B. Saturday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m., Terminus Underground, 134 Haines St., Nashua, $15 at the door, 21+, BYOB.

• Blues power: An afternoon performance by Frankie Boy & Blues Express is a fundraiser to help send the three-time Granite State Blues Challenge winners to Memphis for next year’s World Blues Challenge. Once mentored by Chicago blues legend Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson — the band uses his amplifier on stage — the four-piece group offers a full-throated version of the genre. Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m., The Wild Rover, 21 Kosciuszko St., Manchester. Visit thebluesexpress.com.

Local music news & events

• Holiday junk: Throwing open the doors of its theater for Thanksgiving, Recycled Percussion performs its new LOVEalicious show. Band leader Justin Spencer recently completed the grueling World Marathon Challenge, seven races in seven days across seven continents. He’s thankful for that, and for the recent opening of a permanent Chaos & Kindness store in the Mall of New Hampshire. Thursday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m., CAKE Theatre, 12 Veterans Square, Laconia, $49 and up at tix.com.

• Pirate party: Fronted by a jaunty guitar player in a long jacket and trifold hat, Jonee Earthquake Band kicks off a free Black Friday show in downtown Manchester, with Lobotomobile, Dirty Walter & the Smelltones and Ragz to Stitchez. In the spirit of the day, the event includes some doorbuster deals. On Saturday the punk pirate band plays Christmas songs at the Nashua Holiday Stroll. Friday, Nov. 29, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, joneeearthquake.com.

• Psycho chickens: Led by a loquacious singer who’s also written a couple of books, The Fools have a documentary in the works. The Ipswich, Mass., rockers have been recording recent shows for a live album that’s in the works, so a return to a favorite New Hampshire haunt should be fun. Saturday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $37 at tupelohall.com.

• Irish Christmas: An eclectic Christmas concert set in Central Park; Fairytale of New York is the latest effort from the company behind Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners. The show mixes classics like “O Holy Night” and “White Christmas” with Irish sing-alongs and pop holiday tunes such as “Step Into Christmas,” along with Riverdance-style step dancing. Sunday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $39 and up at etix.com.

• Roots standards: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings are leading purveyors of Americana. The couple are currently touring their seventh studio album, Woodland, a record born from a 2020 tornado. Monday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $71.25 and up at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Denver-bound: Forget that it’s another week until Thanksgiving and just enjoy Rocky Mountain High Experience, a John Denver Christmas concert with singer/guitarist Rick Schuler serving as doppelgänger. His show intertwines hits like “Country Roads” and “Leaving On A Jet Plane” with standards including “Aspenglow,” “Joy to the World” and “Away in a Manger.” Thursday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $64 and up at etix.com.

• Funny femmes: Two comedians who took different paths to standup appear at Ladies of Laughter. Patty Rosborough is a veteran comic whose first professional credit was Jon Stewart’s pre-Daily Show effort Short Attention Span Theatre; Liz Glazer was a tenured law professor before ultra-pivoting into comedy. Glazer’s act draws on her life as a lesbian, a lawyer and a rabbi’s wife. Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $35 at palacetheatre.org.

• Turducken rock: A classic rock mashup is on the menu as Not Fade Away Band tops its usual Grateful Dead cover act with The Who and Led Zeppelin. The first run of what the group is calling Who’s Dead Zeppelin was a success in early October. Here’s a trivia question: Did all three of these tributed acts do the Buddy Holly song that gave NFA their name, or just The Dead? Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 p.m., Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, $15 at stonechurchrocks.com.

• Blues afternoon: A fixture on the regional scene for more than five decades, Alan Roux brings his blues guitar to a favorite seafood place. Enjoy some lobster paired with tasty riffs, as The Roux Duo rolls out classics like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Natural High” to provide a welcome respite from whatever the Patriots might be doing against the Dolphins. Sunday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m., Makris Lobster & Steak House, 354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord. Visit facebook.com/AlanRouxBand.

• Downtown jam: A weekly music meetup is hosted by One Dime Band, a much-lauded combo who recently released a new album, Live Hustle. Surprisingly, all but one of the LP’s 11 songs are originals; they cover Willie Dixon’s “Let Me Love You.” At this Stormy Monday jam, the band backs any instrumentalists or singers brave enough to get up and perform for the forgiving crowd. Monday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m., Keys Piano Bar, 1087 Elm St., Manchester, keysmanch.com.