Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Hail queen: Basking in the glow of a New England Music Award for Country Act of the Year, April Cushman plays a local microbrewery. Cushman was nominated in six NEMA categories, and she performed at the ceremony with guitarist Brad Myrick, who also picked up a nod that night. Cushman’s most recent album The Long Haul represents some of the region’s best music, so her shiny disc is much deserved. Friday, Nov. 25, 6 p.m., Backyard Brewery, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester. See facebook.com/aprilcushmanmusic.

• Rap represent: A celebration of the area hip-hop scene, Hellhound for the Holidays offers a long list of artists. The show is curated by Hellhound Crew, which includes Cody Pope, Byron G, 8-BZA, Fee The Evolutionist, Deja Solo, Even Tho, Trip Seat, Neek100 and more. Friday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $10, see facebook.com/donebooking.

• Clam clowns: Due to a health issue, an evening with Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing is now switched to The Fools, Girard’s longtime group and sometimes musical comedy troupe. Born in “Home of the Fried Clam” Ipswich, Mass., the group broke through the 1970s Boston scene with its irreverent Talking Heads parody “Psycho Chicken,” later scoring a national hit with “It’s a Night for Beautiful Girls” and touring extensively. Saturday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35 at tupelohall.com.

• Nineties redux: A fantastic double bill for music mavens is led by Sophie B. Hawkins. The singer is touring to mark the 30th anniversary of her smash debut, Tongues and Tails, with its ethereal breakout single, “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover.” Since that start, she’s acted and released five more albums, scoring a big Adult Contemporary hit with “As I Lay Me Down.” Talented singer-songwriter Seth Glier opens the afternoon show. Sunday, Nov. 27, 4 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $55 and $65 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Listen & learn: Given the recent focus on her career and a summer return to performing, The History of Joni Mitchell is a timely celebration hosted by the guitar/vocal duo of Chris Albertson and Cait Murphy. They’ll discuss her growth as an artist, and the performers Mitchell influenced, while playing selections from her debut Song to a Seagull through Shine, her final record, released in 2007. Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m., Leach Library, 276 Mammoth Road, Londonderry. See facebook.com/TheChrisandCait.

• Funny Friday: A triple bill of jokesters hold forth at Tupelo Night of Comedy, led by veteran comic Kenny Rogerson, who began in Chicago before moving to Boston during the burgeoning early 1980s comedy scene. He later appeared in Fever Pitch and Something About Mary. He’s joined by Ryan Gartley, who was goaded by friends on a Portsmouth booze cruise into doing standup over two decades ago, and local favorite Dave Decker. Friday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $22 at tupelohall.com.

• Power pop: Making the case for an oft-neglected musical decade, Donaher delivers songs clearly inspired by ’90s bands like Weezer, Nirvana and Jellyfish. Their newest record, Gravity And The Stars Above, released earlier this year, is packed with gems like “Lights Out,” a hook-tastic breakup song brimming with pain, and the equally happy/sad “Sleepless in New England.” Lovewell and Cool Parents round out a rocking trifecta. Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com..

• Local lights: Though officially disbanded, JamAntics continues to perform, and the JamAnnual GetDown is becoming a regular thing. This year’s celebration welcomes another area fixture, Supernothing. Being in the band, which formed in the mid-2000s and helped jump-start the Concord music scene, is like riding a bicycle; however long its five members are apart, at the moment they plug in and play, their reliable groove reappears.. Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $15 to $25 at ccanh.com.

• Get chronic: Mississippi by way of the West Coast rapper Afroman rose to fame on his early millennium hits “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap,” earning a Grammy nomination in 2002. He’s appearing at a downtown bar/restaurant just in time to roll out a few selections from his unconventional mid-2000s holiday disc A Colt 45 Christmas, which has bangers such as “O Chronic Tree” and “Afroman Is Coming To Town.” Sunday, Nov. 20, 8 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $29.50 at ticketmaster.com.

Local music news & events

• Billy double: Piano player Ben Eramo, who fronts tribute act Cold Spring Harbor, began playing at age 4 and became enamored of Billy Joel at 11 when his teacher gave him a copy of “My Life” to learn. He did so quickly, then soaked up the rest of his songbook. He and a friend formed a duo dedicated to Joel’s music in middle school. Since then, the now four-piece band has become one of the region’s favorites. Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101, Amherst, $35 at labellewinery.com.

• Key difference: A band that regularly leads an open mic in a music-friendly restaurant, Andrew North & The Rangers kicks off the weekend there with a free show. They’re in fine form of late, evidenced by a pre-Halloween set at Feathered Friend Brewing that included covers of “Werewolves of London” and “Ghostbusters” along with sneaky nods to “Thriller” and Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein.” Check it out on archive.org. Friday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St., Concord. See andrewnorthandtherangers.com.

• Comic relief: Now that autumn leaves and campaign signs are gone, it’s a good time to laugh, and Comedy Night with three well-known standups provides such an opportunity. Paul Nardizzi is a regional favorite who appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show and Comedy Central. Jody Sloane got her start entertaining tourists while driving a Duck Boat tour bus in Boston. Dave Decker opens the bring-your-own-food affair. Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., VFW Post 1670, 143 Court St., Laconia, $20 at venue or call 524-9725.

• Sunday swing: Two local treasures join up as The Freese Brothers Big Band and Alli Beaudry perform an afternoon show. Formed in 1982 to “support and encourage the development of the musical talents of the public” and foster music appreciation, the family troupe dates back to the 1930s; their shows highlight the Golden Era of Big Band. Manchester-born Beaudry is an effervescent singer, songwriter, and booster of her home city. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 at palacetheatre.org.

• Dynamic duo: This week’s alt comedy night is a special one, with Eddie Pepitone and JT Habersaat sharing the stage. Whoever first said, “you can take the boy out of NYC, but you can’t take NYC out of the boy” most likely had Pepitone in mind. The Staten Island native moved to L.A. over two decades ago for a part in Old School and became a mainstay in clubs there. Habersaat just wrapped his annual Altercation Fest in Austin. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com.

Local music news & events

Nashville kitten: Country music rising star MaRynn Taylor is joined by local fave Dusty Gray for the first in a monthly series dubbed Nashville Newcomers. The singer-songwriter, whose first name is pronounced “Muh-rin,” moved to Music City in 2019 and serendipitously found her way at the last minute into a talent contest that led to a record deal. Her song “I Know a Girl” hit the Top 40, and a debut EP, Something I Would Do, is out now. Thursday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $28 at ccanh.com.

• Feral rock: In Bloom, the second album from the Faith Ann Band, touches down on a myriad of musical moods, from tuneful grunge to full-throttle rockers and tender ballads, but there’s a clear thread running through it: raw, naked emotion. More precisely, it’s a crackling live wire, shooting furious sparks and sparing no one. The bro target of the two-minute punk rager “Miller Time” is probably still nursing his bruises. Friday, Nov. 4, 5 p.m., Henniker Brewing, 129 Centervale Road, Henniker. See thefaithannband.com.

• High lonesome: Sarah Shook and the Disarmers released their album Nightroamer early this year, the third album from Shook with the Disarmers. The album is a tour de force that bounces across genres. Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $15 to $18 at eventbrite.com.

• Metal buzz: Nominated yet another time at the upcoming New England Music Awards, Sepsiss hosts its first-ever Swarmiefest, named for the nickname given to their rabid fans. The local rockers have won a pair of NEMA plaques, the most recent last year. If merchandise were a category, they’d be a strong contender. Also on the bill are SixteenTwenty, Trawl, Day to Attend, Dust Prophet and Trading Tombstones. Sunday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $13 and up at eventbrite.com, 21+.

• Doom sound: One of the earliest bands influenced by Black Sabbath, Maryland’s The Obsessed formed as Warhorse in 1976, changing their name four years later. Front man Scott “Wino” Weinrich is credited with being highly influential in the American doom metal scene, though more than a few consider him just plain high when it comes to his opinions on the pandemic — he told one metal ’zine it was a “government depopulation tool.” Monday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com.

Local music news & events

• Hanging out: Closing out a two-month residency in downtown Nashua, The Humans Being bring a jammy sound that’s elevated, energetic and disciplined, spreading a sunny message of planetary unity. They’re joined by the equally inventive Fiesta Melon. The venue is a music-friendly beer bar offering a relaxed vibe, with sandwiches named after a litany of Red Sox heroes, from Rico Petrocelli to Big Papi. Thursday, Oct. 27, 8:30 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $10 at the door, 21+, facebook.com/thehumansbeing.

• Gator guys: Halloween’s tribute act side happens as Being Petty – The Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Experience takes the stage in Concord. Along with doing a more than credible job of recreating the sound of the great American band, the group brings the look and feel — wigs, wardrobe, accessories like Tom’s top hat, along with the instruments, including the late rocker’s iconic Rickenbacker guitar. Friday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, passes $28 at ccanh.com.

• Party down: There will be dancing, drinking and costume prizes at the Shaskeen Halloween Bash, as DJ Myth spins the music in celebration of both the spooky holiday and the upcoming Gaelic observation of Samhain, which marks the end of harvest season and the onset of the darker half of the year. Yep, the end of daylight saving time is well-nigh around the corner, along with all the other elements that make us a hardy lot. Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com.

• Full strength: Though his return to the region finds him mostly playing solo, the Brooks Hubbard Band occasionally returns to New England from Nashville. Justin Kimball and Erin Nelson have made the trip and will perform a special one-night reunion show packed with Americana energy on the main stage of a country-themed restaurant-bar celebrating its one-year anniversary since opening in the Queen City, Sunday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, facebook.com/goatbarmanchester, 21+.

• Big night: Few bring a genuine spirit to All Hallows’ Eve like Doctor Gasp & the Eeks, the seasonal band led by folk musician and artistic polymath Dan Blakeslee. A treat for young and old, the masked singer-guitarist is a one-man Alfred Hitchcock movie, channeling his personal favorite Bobby Boris Pickett and others through favorites like “Monster Mash” and wacky original tunes. He’s joined by Cirque Desolate. Monday, Oct. 31, 9:30 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $15 and up at eventbrite.com. We talked with Blakeslee in the Oct. 13 issue of the Hippo; find the e-edition at hippopress.com (the story is on page 38).

Local music news & events

• Channeling Woody: For their first acoustic album and tour, Dropkick Murphys take on the music of Woody Guthrie. This Machine Still Kills Fascists (a nod to the slogan Guthrie wrote on his guitar) contains 10 songs that still resonate almost 80 years later. “He went against the grain, he fought the good fight,” Dropkicks founder Ken Casey said of the folk singer. “One man and a guitar — it’s powerful stuff.” Thursday, Oct. 20, 7:15 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $48.25 to $90.25 at ccanh.com.
• Fauxhemian rhapsody: The month-long Rocktober Festival continues with Kings of Queen, a SoCal-based tribute act featuring Emo Alaeddin in the role of Freddie Mercury. Along with doppelgangers — the final weekend has Kiss-alikes Rock & Roll Over — the Halloween ScrEEEmfest has the uber-bizarre Twisted Sideshow, full of stunts with chainsaws, drills, anvils and swords. Friday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 23, various times, Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem, passes $48 to $59 (online only) at canobie.com.
• Rootsy revue: Acoustic musical excellence is in the spotlight at the New Hampshire Folk & Fiddle Festival, including Manchester natives The Spain Brothers doing original, traditional and contemporary songs. Boston-based Hanneke Cassel Band draws from Scotland, Cape Breton and Americana. Rounding out the bill is Green Heron, the region’s own Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and married couple Scott and Betsy Heron. Saturday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 at palacetheatre.org.
• Women power: Founded by singer-guitarist Celia Woodsmith and fiddler Kimber Ludiker, Della Mae quickly rose to prominence for its powerful musicianship, rounded out by Avril Smith on guitar, bass player Vickie Vaughn and Maddie Witler on mandolin. In 2014 the group won a Grammy for their second album, This World Oft Can Be, and they continue to make advocacy and mentorship a focus of their work. Sunday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $24 to $35 at coloniallaconia.com.
• Rock reunion: Fitting for Halloween, horror punk stalwarts Blitzkid will finally reunite for a month-long farewell run originally slated for 2020; the Escape The Grave tour kicks off in Manchester. Led by singer Argyle Goolsby and the equally aptly named TB Monstrosity on guitar and vocals, they’re a staple of the haunted season; HuffPo’s Zachary Ehren wrote of “the continuous terror they bring to mothers.” Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $17 and up at eventbrite.com.