Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Sound & vision: One of New England’s great musical resources, Mark Erelli performs an intimate set. Diagnosed with a degenerative retinal disease a few years back, Erelli reflects on a new album, Lay Your Darkness Down, arriving later this year. His 2018 song “By Degrees” bemoans society’s tolerance of preventable tragedies — “I thought something had to change,” he sings, “but somehow it’s become routine.” Thursday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., Flying Goose Pub & Grille, 40 Andover Road, New London, $25 at flyinggoose.com.

• Folked up: North Carolina favorites Chatham Rabbits, the husband-and-wife duo of Sarah and Austin McCombie, are joined by Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light. The bluegrass duo got creative during the pandemic by playing more than 200 neighborhood shows in their home state, on a rolling mobile stage. Ex-Twisted Pine member Sumner has wowed crowds with her modern folk sound, releasing a debut LP last year. Friday, March 3, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $15 to $20 at portsmouthtickets.com.

• Rap reggae: A pair of great local bands support headliner Merrimack Delta Dub Set, a groove-based combo described as a mash-up of UB40 and The Roots. Led by singer-guitarist Sean Stanton, they often feature freestyle raps in their sets. Rounding out the bill are the jamtastic and energetic Humans Being, along with Faith Ann Band, one of the region’s most incendiary acts, who are currently in search of a new guitarist. Saturday, March 4, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $15 cover at the door.

• Get motivated: Best known for leading Recycled Percussion, Justin Spencer is also a philanthropist, writer and public speaker. His day-long “It’s Your Life” seminar is an effort to help energize those looking for personal growth. “I promise that when you spend the day with me, I will arm you with all the tools you need to start carving out the new version of yourself,” Spencer wrote in a press release. Sunday, March 5, noon, Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester; entry is $99 at palacetheatre.org.

• Country rock: When their 1973 single “Amie” finally hit the charts in 1975, Pure Prairie League were helping define what’s now called the Americana genre, with their Norman Rockwell album covers driving the point home. Past members have included Vince Gill, who replaced original singer Craig Fuller in the late ’70s and sang lead on the band’s biggest pop hit, “Let Me Love You Tonight.” Wednesday, March. 8, 7:30 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $53.75 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Poetry slam: The weekly poetry open mic night hosted is headlined by Ryk McIntyre, a veteran poet who’s appeared everywhere from Lollapalooza to the first Legends of the Slam showcase in 2006. McIntyre’s work has appeared in the Worcester Review and the fusion anthology Short Fuse, and he’s published two collections; his latest is 2018’s The Man at the Door. Thursday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m., Stark Brewing Co, 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, $3 to $5 cover (cash or Venmo), facebook.com/slamfreeordie.

• Mosh men: A four-band punk show is topped by Already Dead, a no-nonsense Boston trio who recently released the single “My Collar is Blue,” a Dropkick Murphys-adjacent reflection of their lead singer’s day job as a pipe fitter. Formed during a fit of creative restlessness during the pandemic, their name comes from one of their songs, “Stability.” Rounding out the bill are Graniteers, TFR and Neglected Witches. Friday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $10 at the door; alreadydeadmusic.com.

• Grooviversary: Celebrating 25 years together, Club d’Elf is a musical collective with an ever-changing lineup drawn from the jazz, world music, rock and DJ scenes of Boston, New York City and beyond. Performing on this special tour are Randy Roos on guitar, keyboard player Paul Schultheis, turntablist Mister Rourke, drummer Dean Johnston and Mike Rivard on bass and sintir (a three-stringed Moroccan lute). Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $20 to $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Laugh night: The upcoming Scamps Comedy Productions show is led by Steve Donovan, a Rhode Island standup who had a long run as morning drive host in Providence. Along with radio, Donovan earned an Emmy nomination for hosting NESN’s The Batter’s Box, appeared in several commercials and acted in a stage production of Shear Madness. Also on the bill are L.A. transplant Adam Groppman, Jennifer Howell and Ajay Thakker. Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m., Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Power trio: Psychedelic country rockers The Cadillac Three wrap up the East Coast swing of their Bandana Tour with a show in downtown Manchester. Along with Grammy, ACM and CMA nods, the genre-floating band’s front man Jaren Johnston has contributed songs to Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban, along with producing Steven Tyler’s and the Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett’s attempts at being Nashville cats. Sunday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $27 at ticketmaster.com (21+).

Local music news & events

• Border rock: One of the quirkier hits of the early 1990s was Crash Test Dummies’ “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” though it didn’t even make the top 10 in the band’s home country, Canada. Later, their cover of XTC’s “Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” was well-suited to the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack. They stopped touring near the end of the decade, returned to the road in 2018 and are releasing new music this year. Thursday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Helpful fun: The second annual Manchester Kiwanis Comedy Night is an all-local affair, with headliner Drew Dunn, Paul Landwehr and Ryan Chani providing the laughs. Dunn is returning from a month of touring, including a West Coast run with a stop in his old stomping ground, Seattle. Landwehr is a naturally funny comic who memorably proposed to his now-wife on stage, and Chani is a New Hampshire native. Friday, Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m., Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Triple treat: An evening of song provided by tribute act Shades of Bublé answers the musical question of what would happen if Michael Bublé’s style were an elephant and three blind singers touched it from different places. There’s the pop hitmaker behind gems like “Haven’t Met You Yet,” the interpreter of rock and soul smashes — a tribute within a tribute — and, finally, a modern-day Sinatra, crooning the standards. Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Horn kings: In the late 1960s a new breed of bands including Tower of Power brought brass front and center to rock music. Beginning with East Bay Grease and its single “Sparkling in the Sand,” the Northern California group was one of the genre’s defining acts, churning out hits like “You’re Still a Young Man” and “What is Hip?” Original members Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka and David Garibaldi are still touring. Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $50 to $100 at etix.com.

• Stripped tribute: Every summer, Badfish – A Tribute to Sublime returns to Casino Ballroom, and Brett Wilson opens the show with his band Roots of Creation. Wilson is keeping the warm-weather vibe alive playing acoustic versions of Sublime songs around his home state, including a free show just a stone’s throw from the currently chilly coastal waters. He’ll tour with Badfish beginning in March. Sunday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m., Wally’s Pub, 144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton Beach, 21+. See facebook.com/BrettWilsonMusic.

Local music news & events

• Music & Art: The Currier’s weekly Art After Work series continues with a Songwriter Round in the Winter Garden. Three local talents, Alli Beaudry, Paul Nelson and Kevin Horan, will be swapping songs at the free event, with a full menu including cocktails available; members receive a 10-percent discount on victuals. Take in the gallery or enjoy a half-hour guided tour of the museum, which begins in the lobby. Thursday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m., Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, currier.org/art-after-work-5.

• Brew duo: A new-ish brewery approaching its first anniversary hosts live music with Chris Peters and Mike Maurice. Peters is a local singer, songwriter and yoga instructor who’s released a few albums, while Maurice hails from Portland, Maine, and offers keyboard-based music ranging from the lively dance pop of “Like You Are” to more studied jazz and classical pieces such as “Belle Aux Chandelles.” Friday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m., Feathered Friend Brewing, 231 S. Main St., Concord, featheredfriendbrewing.com.

• Bad romance: Now at a new venue, the Sad AF Collective holds its second annual Broken Hearts Bash in a Concord basement bar. The evening will be packed with emo songs for those who prefer an anti-Valentine’s Day to the actual thing. Cry along with Birds, In Theory (comma intentional), Up Hill Tony and Turner. The latter has quirky songs with titles like ”I’m Not a Cannibal, Today’s Just My Cheat Day.” Saturday, Feb. 11, 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, $5 at the door, 21+.

• Pre-game: Steer clear of big game hype by having an early brunch with music from Marc Apostolides. There’s nothing like mimosas and eggs Benedict to squash awareness that the closest New England is getting the Super Bowl this year is news of Tom Brady’s recent retirement. Apostolides is a 30-year veteran performer who produces the Sacred Songwriter Circle livestream every month, archives available on Facebook and YouTube. Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m., Copper Door, 15 Leavy Dr., Bedford. See theapostolidesproject.com.

• Big Easy love: A Valentine’s Day dinner concert stars singer Sharon Jones performing music from New Orleans. The special single seating event, sponsored by the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, offers a four-course meal inspired by the Crescent City. A 45-minute cocktail hour kicks things off, followed by soulful singing and food. Dessert and more music follows the break. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m., Portsmouth Book & Bar, 40 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, $60 each, $120 per couple, $200 for four at portsmouthchamber.org.

Local music news & events

Gothiversary: The enduring twice-a-month dance night Resurrection celebrates its 17th year with double bill of turntablists, including resident DJ Pet and Rev Benjamin Powers, who in addition to making crowds dance hosts a Twitch channel and is, according to his Twitter bio, a “pro wrestling sage” and “walking ball of millennial angst.” That’s perfect for the goth/industrial music event, which has Swedish mysterioso band Priest and similar fare. Thursday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m., Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St., Laconia, $10 at the door.

• Beachy keen: A mainstay at this Londonderry brewery, Slack Tide plays the sixth annual All Summer Long indoor party, laughing at the subzero temperatures. The jam band stretches the genre’s definition and is led by Berklee-trained guitarist Chris Cyrus, who grew up on Jack Johnson and Sublime along with psychedelic rockers like The Doors and the Dead. On Saturday, Supernothing and DJ Connexions finish the fest. Friday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m., Pipe Dream Brewery, 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, pipedreambrewingnh.com.

• Double down: Boston soul powerhouse A Band of Killers completes a two-night run that features both versions of the group. The Friday night set has ex-Soulive leader Toussaint the Liberator; Tim Gearan is out front on night two, with the elegant duo Dwight and Nicole opening. The regional “all-star rock ’n’ roll soul circus” supergroup has been busy of late making new music, with two albums due out soon. Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4, 9 p.m., Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, $20 at stonechurchrocks.com.

• Boys to men: In 1999,Making The Band created the formula for reality TV talent contests and gave O-Town its start. They rode the boy band wave until it crashed; along the way they fell in with serial crook/manager Lou Pearlman, who fleeced them just as he’d done to N’Sync and Backstreet Boys. That spurred singer Jacob Underwood to earn an MBA and get better at the music biz. In 2015 the act reunited, and they continue to tour. Sunday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $35 at ccanh.com.

• Broadway folk: NYC-based singer-songwriter Eleri Ward blew up TikTok with her unique take on Stephen Sondheim, A Perfect Little Death, an album released in 2021. Critics hailed the effort; American Theatre called it “incandescent” and Forbes praised its “harmonious marriage of musical theater and indie folk music, with hauntingly beautiful arrangements.” Ward attended Berklee on her way to graduating with a BFA from the Boston Conservatory. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $20 at 3sarts.org.

Local music news & events

• Song truths: With his debut album, Leap of Faith, singer-songwriter Dakota Smart evinced stunning maturity for such a young artist. His performance at the regular Bell and Brick Winter Concert Series will include originals, like the climb-on-a-back-that’s-strong “Believe” and the semi-autobiographical “Sunrise In New York,” along with covers from the classic rock canon and modern popsters like Ed Sheeran, The Black Keys and The Lumineers. Thursday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m., Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St., Laconia, $10 at the door.

• Disco fever: Time travel to Studio 54 circa 1976 with Boogie Wonder Band, a 10-piece combo paying tribute to acts like Chic, Sister Sledge, the Bee Gees and their namesakes Earth, Wind & Fire. Both a musical and lifestyle phenomenon, the era still resonates, and BWB has covered it for over 25 years, with two female vocalists and singer Apollo Johnson along with keys, guitar, a pair of horns and a rock-solid rhythm section. Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 at tupelohall.com.

• Local color: A former congressman and current talk show host leads Paul Hodes & the Blue Buddha Band, which just released a debut LP, Turn This Ship Around. One song, “The Night I Met John Lennon,” is a true story that happened a few doors from the Dakota in NYC and included the ex-Beatle, Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol and a large quantity of hashish. The rest of the record is an enjoyable mix of roots and psychedelic rock. Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $21.75 at ccanh.com.

• Grunge redux: An evening of ’90s music, Seattle Night is led by Nothingsafe: An Alice In Chains Experience with Justin Ballard of tribute act Song Garden doing a set of Chris Cornell covers. According to a press release, “Nothingsafe reproduces the dark, heavy, and delightfully sludgy rhythmic backbone of AIC, while lead singer SteveO commands the stage with powerful, haunting, and intoxicating vocals.” Saturday, Jan. 28, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/Nothingsafe.AIC.Boston.

• Munch music: Enjoy an afternoon of hickory-smoked barbecue and tunes from Dan Blakeslee. The multitalented singer and guitarist is coming off a heady 2022; he served as official busker at the Newport Folk Festival, an event he designed the poster for a few years back, and joined Anais Mitchell, Natalie Merchant and other stars for a rousing singalong of an Elvis Costello song on the same stage where Joni Mitchell later performed a historic set. Sunday, Jan. 29, 3 p.m., MrSippy BBQ, 184 S. Main St., Rochester. See danblakeslee.com.