Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• True calling: Though an Oscar-nominated actor is its front man, Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters isn’t a side project. Thornton played in bands as a kid, and even was a roadie for a bit with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, among others. “I’m not that big on movies,” Thornton told a writer a few years back. “I always thought I’d play music or play baseball, but I made money at acting, so I thought, ‘I guess I better do that.’” Thursday, June 29, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, $39 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Mardi gras: After a blues band included an accordion on an album, it became Catfish Howl Zydeco Band, adding crawfish boils and New Orleans parties to its calendar, with a washboard player for fuller effect. The raucous six-piece plays a bucolic evening set on a waterfront stage. Fans can bring lawn chairs and refreshments for the show. Friday, June 30, 6 p.m., The Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, belknapmill.org.

• Southern rock: A downtown restaurant and bar hosts Black Stone Cherry, a band that woodshedded its first album in the Kentucky Headhunters’ practice house; their drummer is the son of Headhunters guitarist Richard Young. The group just released a video for “Nervous,” the second single from Screamin’ at the Sky. The new album, due in September, is their first with new bass player Steve Jewell. Saturday, July 1, 9 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $29.50 at ticketmaster.com, 21+.

• Reel time: A series of concerts on the green kicks off with the Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio playing traditional Irish music and Celtic-themed compositions. The summer-long series starts a day early due to the holiday, then happens every Tuesday through mid-September. The Wholly Rollers, Liz & Dan Faiella, Hot Skillet Club and Peabody’s Coal Train are among the acts due to perform in the coming weeks. Monday, July 3, 4 p.m., Shaker Village Garden Barn Green, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, call 783-9511 for more.

• Bandstand roots: With what’s billed as “fun and funky arrangements of familiar music,” North River Music is an Americana band performing in a variety of configurations. The full five-piece will appear at a free show for listeners on lawn blankets and beach chairs, who hopefully will only require umbrellas to shield the twilight sun — yes, it’s been an unruly summer thus far. Wednesday, July 5, 6 p.m., Bedford Village Common, 15 Bell Hill Road, Bedford. More at northrivermusic.com.

Local music news & events

• Idol music: Since winning American Idol and hitting with his song “Home” 11 years ago, Phillip Phillips has risen steadily in the pop music world. He recently released Drift Back, his first new LP in five years. Thursday, June 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 to $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Rusted dude: Closing out Market Days Concord on Friday is Michael Glabicki’s band Uprooted performing songs from his old group Rusted Root. The band rose to prominence with H.O.R.D.E, a 1994 caravan with a who’s who of the jam band scene. Set highlights include “Ecstasy” and “Send Me on My Way,” a mid-’90s hit that became ubiquitous in later years, from TV ads to kids’ movies. Friday, June 23, 8 p.m., Market Days Main Stage, near 24 S. Main St., Concord, marketdaysfestival.com.

• Rolling party: Best known for hosting the inebriated pub crawl Three Sheets, Zane Lamprey brings his standup act to town. When the network it was on folded, Mark Cuban re-launched the show as Drinking Made Easy. “Comedy is just showing your vulnerability,” Lamprey said recently of how he approaches his craft. “I don’t like to make fun of other people.” Saturday, June 24, 2:30 p.m., Backyard Brewery and Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, $25 to $40 and up at eventbrite.com.

• Local loudness: An all-day celebration of heaviness is back for another year with Seacoast Metal Fest 2. Appearing are Wired for Sound, Nova Koi, 25 Cent Habit, Gods Go First, Damaged Goods, Mystik Angel, Lethal Creed, Day to Attend, Wreckless and Daisy Cutter 6. The event also includes comedy from Eric Hurst, Mike Gray and Robbie Partridge. Sunday, June 25, noon, The Governor’s Inn, 78 Wakefield St., Rochester, $10 at the door; for more, see facebook.com/sabookingne.

• Country girl: The summer-long Henniker Concert Series continues with the Shana Stack Band, selected based on a recent poll of concertgoers’ preference for country music. The group won back-to-back New England Music Awards Best Country Act followed by Band of the Year in 2014 and 2015. They’ve opened for national acts at Bank of NH Pavilion, along with regularly playing the venue’s side stage. Tuesday, June 27, 6:30 p.m., Community Park, 57 Main St., Henniker, henniker.org

Local music news & events

• L.A. rocks: During its late-’80s heyday, glam metal-punk hybrid band Faster Pussycat was an MTV fixture, touring with Guns N’ Roses and appearing in the rockumentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2 – The Metal Years. Now sober front man Taime Downe keeps the name alive these days. A new single, “Like A Ghost” backed with the Johnny Thunders’ song “Pirate Love,” came out late last year. Thursday, June 15, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 at tupelohall.com.

• Familial: Deeply rooted in New Hampshire, Bitter Pill brings its genre-bending acoustic sound over from its Seacoast home. The group is led by the father-daughter team of Billy and Emily Butler and formed originally for the soundtrack of a Players’ Ring production of Titus Andronicus. They’re on a double bill with Horsefly Gulch, the alter ego of prog rockers Mindset X, who’ve put out several new songs lately. Friday, June 16, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, more at bitterpillband.com.

• Special night: Singer, songwriter and saxophone player Grace Kelly will perform a pair of songs with Nashua High School’s 15-member North Treble Choir at her upcoming Gate City show. “She’s the First” and “We Will Rise” are called anthems about empowering women and education for girls. It’s a first for the musical prodigy, who’s played the Hollywood Bowl and appeared on The Late Show. Saturday, June 17, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $40 and up at etix.com.

• Funny brew: An area microbrewery presents a slate of standup comics including Nick Tocco, a favorite at several area showcases, along with Charlestown, Mass., native turned Granite Stater Bob Stuart, and a deep bill including Awais Hussain, Steve Blackwood, Dave Twohig and Jonah Simmons. The evening is presented by charity-minded promoter Alan Foden’s Comedy on Purpose. Wednesday, June 21, 7 pm., Long Blue Cat Brewing Co., 298 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, longbluecat.com.

Local music news & events

• Trailblazer: With now grown-up fans called Debheads, Debbie Gibson remains a model for modern performers. In the late ’80s she wrote, sang and produced hits like “Electric Youth” and “Lost in Your Eyes.” Later she moved to Broadway, starring in Grease, Les Misérables and other musicals. Following a health scare, in 2021 Gibson released her first new pop album in 20 years, The Body Remembers. Thursday, June 8, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, tickets $39 to $49 at palacetheatre.org.

• Generational: With plans to tour with a changing cast of up-and-coming musicians, Pat Metheny released Side-Eye in 2021, citing the platform he received from older musicians in his early days as inspiration. An area stop has the renowned jazz guitarist performing with Chris Fishman, a keyboard prodigy who began playing in Southern California bands at age 7, and New Orleans drummer Joe Dyson, a Berklee graduate. Friday, June 9, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $59 to $99 at etix.com.

• Representative: Rescheduled and relocated due to weather, the all-day Exeter Arts & Music Fest has a wide range of regional talent appearing on two stages. Eclectic rockers Cold Engines headline the main stage, with support from Wood, Wind & Whisky, Marcus Robb Quartet and Tim Parent & the Grim Bros. A singer-songwriter tent has Elijah Clark, Liz Ridgely, Artty Francouer and three others. Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m., Town House Common, 6 Bow St., Exeter, $10 suggested donation, see teamexeter.com.

• Café society: Brunchtime music at a downtown coffee shop is offered by Charlie Chronopoulos. Sunday, June 11, 11 a.m., Café la Reine, 915 Elm St., Manchester, see facebook.com/charliechrono.

• Partnership: Mixing blues rock and outlaw country, Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton collaborated on their new album, Death Wish Blues. No Depression called it “some of the rawest and most hard-hitting music of their careers.” The online journal Americana Highways raved over the pairing, likening it to “the charm of duets like Johnny & June Cash as well as Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood.” Wednesday, June 14, 7:30 pm., The Flying Monkey, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, $39 and up at flyingmonkeynh.com.

Local music news & events

• Music city: The final concert of the monthly Nashville Newcomers series has Hannah Ellis and Martin & Kelly. Ellis is a Kentucky native whose solo work garnered an “Artist to Watch” nod from Rolling Stone, and she’s also guested with Carly Pearce, For King + Country and other artists. Before crossing over to country with singer Jilly Martin, guitarist Ryan Brooks Kelly made a name for himself playing blues rock. Thursday, June 1, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $10 at ccanh.com.

• Southern man: With lyrics drawn from his native Georgia fused with hip-hop, vocalist Demun Jones stands at his own musical crossroads. Growing up, Jones was drawn to acts like N.W.A. even if the grittiness depicted in their songs was worlds away. Friday, June 2, 6 p.m., The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, $40 at eventbrite.com.

• Fresh grass: A listening room showcases two top purveyors of acoustic roots music. Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon, quintet that sits easily in the loosely defined Americana genre. Joining them are Boston-based Grain Thief, whose latest album, Gasoline, is quickly gaining critical acclaim. Saturday, June 3, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $20 at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

• Soul-barer: There are songwriters who live their work, and there’s Tyler Allgood. His bracing 2021 album Through the Empty was born from his experience as an addict facing spinal surgery and its aftermath. Worrying whether essential pain medication would lead to a relapse kept him “staring at the ceiling … going crazy wondering if my life was ever going to change,” the singer/guitarist said at the time. Sunday, June 4, 4 p.m., To Share Brewing, 720 Union St., Manchester, more at tosharebrewing.com.

• New beginning: With the multi-billion-streaming success of the breakout single “See You Again” and his second album, Voicenotes, Charlie Puth seemed to have it made, but a chance encounter with Elton John in an L.A. restaurant that ended with a dis caused him to scrap a completed album in 2020 and start over. The results are stellar; released last year, Charlie is a gem, and a tour supporting it has fans excited. Wednesday, June 7, 7:30 pm., Bank of NH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $25 to $99 at livenation.com.

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.