Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Country comfort: A benefit for a Hooksett family struggling with medical bills stars Nicole Knox Murphy, a local singer-songwriter who wears hometown pride on her (record) sleeve. The ubiquitous performer’s “My 603” is a list of reasons she loves the Granite State, from Hampton Beach to Mount Washington Observatory. Last year she released an ode to her Vermont roots, “The 802.” Thursday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m., New England’s Tap House Grille, 1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, $25, see tinyurl.com/a5r3bktu.

• Family business: In the late ’70s and early ’80s Rosanne Cash helped redefine a genre, and she continued to make great music for the next four decades, including 2006’s Black Cadillac, an ode to father Johnny Cash, her natural mother and stepmother June Carter Cash. Cash’s most recent LP, She Remembers Everything, is among her best, and the new song “Crawl Into the Promised Land” is a timely gem. Friday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., Lebanon Opera House, 51 W. Park St., Lebanon, $48 to $68 at lebanonoperahouse.org.

• Rock weekend: The two-stage bash formerly known as HillFest is now called SinFest, named after band and co-host Infinite Sin. Headlining the event is Hail The Horns, featuring members of Soulfly, Fear Factory and Static X, along with Dead By Wednesday, Marc Rizzo, Art of Aggression, and local doom rockers Dead Harrison, who recently released the rugged rager “Nameless Dream.” Eleven more acts round out the bill. Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $18 to $300 at eventbrite.com

• Kid stuff: In recent years, bayou soul stalwart Marc Broussard has moved down a different musical path, recording a series of albums geared to younger audiences. His latest, A Lullaby Collection, includes Great American Songbook tunes, James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” and two originals. Broussard also wrote a children’s book, I Love You For You, part of the effort begun in 2007 dubbed SOS, or Save Our Soul. Sunday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35 to $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Roots chanteuse: After spending the early part of her career as Nashville royalty, Kathy Mattea left the music business, returning in the late 2000s with the critically acclaimed Coal. She was prominently featured in Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary series and recently began hosting NPR’s Mountain Stage, taking over for founder Larry Groce. Mattea is also a visiting instructor at Berklee College of Music. Wednesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $45 to $65 at jimmysoncongress.com.

Local music news & events

• New room: A recently opened restaurant, bar and music venue hosts D-Comp, the ubiquitous duo of vocalist Demetri Papanicolau, winner of the Rockstar ManchVegas vocal competition, and Nate Comp, talented at looping his acoustic guitar into dense soundscapes. Like most of the room’s upcoming calendar, it’s a free show; a ticketed event starring Angry Hill and Taliente Pistoles will happen later in the month. Thursday, Nov. 4, 9 p.m., Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/angelcitymusichall.

• Capitol band: Led by a Burlington expat who relocated to Concord five years ago, Andrew North & the Rangers is a multifaceted group touching on rock, soul and jazz fusion stitched together with jammy sensibility. Phosphorescent Snack, their debut album released in September, is a gem; standouts include “Down the Pipes,” with echoes of Dixieland jazz, the can-do anthem “Dig Deep” and the Phish-adjacent “Aditi.” Friday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m., Area 23, 254 N State St., Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord, thearea23.com.

• Roots crew: A favorite in their Merrimack Valley home region, McKinley’s Mood is anchored by the songwriting team of Dave Osgood and Keith Blaney. The Jerry Garcia Band feel of their namesake song provides a good clue about where they’re coming from musically, a point driven home by the Dead covers that pop up in their set. They also have a lovely, harmonies-and-all version of The Band’s “Up On Cripple Creek.” Saturday, Nov. 6, 5 p.m., Millyard Brewery, 125 E. Otterson St., Nashua, millyardbrewery.com.

• Galaxy grass: Sporting a name born from the room where they began, Kitchen Dwellers is a Montana-based quartet that credits a lot of influence on its sound to The Infamous Stringdusters’ Chris Pandolfi, producer of their recent Muir Maid LP. “Just by hanging out with a musician like Chris, you absorb what he says and how he approaches songs, and all of the sudden you’re a better musician for it,” said banjo player Torrin Daniels. Sunday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $15 and $18 at ccanh.com.

• String thing: Zach Lupetin formed Dustbowl Revival after taking a writing degree to Los Angeles to chase screenplay dreams. He also brought a guitar, and soon placed a Craigslist ad for like minds that led to a multi-instrument, multi-genre collective of musicians focused on acoustic Americana. Longtime singer Liz Beebe left last year; Lashon Halley took over for her after a few tryout shows. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m., 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, $28 to $30 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Half centennial: Many fans hearing “Horse With No Name” for the first time in 1972 thought America was a secret Neil Young, but the trio soon showed prowess beyond that brown-headed cowbird move, releasing hit after hit over the rest of the decade. Fifty years on, original members Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley are still out playing “Tin Man,” “Ventura Highway” and “Sister Golden Hair” for approving crowds. Thursday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $95 and $110 at tupelohall.com.

• Soul capella: While covering everyone from Motown greats to Ed Sheeran, Boston vocal group Ball In The House has a topical side. Their new original song “Ordinary Day” was inspired by songwriter Wallace Thomas’s realization that he’d grown inured to mass shootings. They also released a moving video of “Not My Father’s Son” from the Broadway musical Kinky Boots to commemorate Pride Week. Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., Windham High School Auditorium, 64 London Bridge Road, Windham, $18 at ballinthehouse.com.

• Thriller night: There will be dancing, drinking and costume prizes at the 15^th Annual Halloween Bash in downtown Manchester, as DJ Myth spins the music in celebration of the upcoming Samhain, a month-long Gaelic festival marking harvest season’s end and the onset of the darker half of the year. Like the world needed that reminder, given these days the sun’s down before the workday ends, when it’s still daylight saving time. Saturday, Oct. 30, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/theshaskeenpub.

• Halloween king: Few bring joie de vivre 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 Bobby Boris Pickett and Disney’s Haunted Mansion narrator Paul Frees as he plays a mix of seasonal favorites and wacky original tunes. Sunday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $13 at eventbrite.com.

• Laughs return: After a lengthy hiatus, comedy is back at a favorite spot as John Perotta headlines a showcase hosted by fellow comics Greg Boggis and Alana Foden. In September, Foden rebooted standup nights at Hudson’s SoHo Asian Restaurant. Perotta, who runs the Rhode Island-based Comedy Factory, is a crowd work master, skilled at pulling together the disparate threads of an audience’s id and spinning them into funny bits. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m., Fody’s Tavern, 9 Clinton St., Nashua, $10 at the door.

Local music news & events

• Join together: After a months-long pandemic delay, an evening with Patty Griffin & Gregory Alan Isakov is finally happening. Griffin is the touchstone for many female singer-songwriters, the debut Living With Ghosts has attained near Blue renown, and her eponymous 2019 album won a Grammy for best folk album, coincidentally beating out Isakov’s Evening Machines. The two each perform solo sets. Thursday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $50 and up at ccanh.com.

• Soar again: Celebrating 50 years since the release of Blows Against the Empire, The Airplane Family will play the 1971 album in its entirety over two sets, with multimedia accompaniment. The record introduced the Starship moniker, with science fiction themed songs like “Have You Seen The Stars Tonight” and “Let’s Go Together.” It’s a satellite band; only guitarist Peter Kaukonen was an Airplane member at any point in time. Friday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Pre-fright: Both crowd and performers will masquerade at a Halloween Bash in downtown Manchester, with headliner Gaslighter & Martial Law paying tribute to Slipknot in full jumpsuit and mask regalia, after a set of Deftones music done by Girih & At The Heart of It, Bleach Temple playing Vanna, and Hawthorne Heights done by members of Robinwood and Aversed. Come in costume for a $5 day-of-show discount. Saturday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $12 in advance at eventbrite.com.

• Local troubadour: Taking cues from Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, singer-songwriter Tristan Omand spent lots of time on the road early on, venturing to Kentucky, Tennessee and other far-flung locales while making spare gems like 2011’s Toiled Stories. He’s more settled these days, though still pursuing the artist’s life with vigor. He made So Low in 2019 and released the all-instrumental treble revisions last year. Sunday, Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m., Spotlight Room at the Palace, 96 Hanover St., Manchester, $19 at palacetheatre.org.

• En Español: On a pair of upcoming dates The Mavericks will feature songs from their first all-Latin album, along with hits that helped cement the band’s country rock bona fides, like “What A Crying Shame” and “Dance The Night Away.” Lead singer Raul Malo called the recently released disc “a whole new beginning … uncharted territory.” It includes seven covers and five originals. Tuesday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, $48 and up at themusichall.org.

Local music news & events

• Wicked funny: Headlining a standup comedy showcase, Nick Giasullo is a Boston funny man recently re-transplanted from Arizona after moving there a few years back during the hottest time of the year. A schoolteacher by day, he practices his craft on his students, then jokes about them in his set. Giasullo is a past winner of his hometown’s quick retort Snap Battles, so his crowd work is also first-rate; Mike Koutrobis features. Thursday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m., Millyard Brewery, 25 E. Otterson St., Nashua, $15 at eventbrite.com.

• Island dude: After pivoting from baseball to reality television’s Love Island, Josh Goldstein is back home and part of a dance party at Manchester’s newest restaurant/bar. DJ Stixx provides the rhythms and beats, while Goldstein, who played second base for the team that went to the Division 2 World Series in Hawaii, whips up the house energy. It’s unclear whether his love interest from the show, Shannon St. Clair, will join him. Friday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m., Soho Bistro & Lounge, 20 Old Granite St., Manchester, sohonh.com.

• Local lights: An effort from the team that produced events at New England College, Pembroke City Limits offers two stellar area acts, NEMA-nominated Will Hatch & Co. along with rootsy Concord veterans the Dusty Gray Band; Derek Astles of Rippin’ E Brakes opens. It’s the first of many shows in the new space, an old barn with a layout that organizers insist “bleeds fun” — a bonfire is scheduled when twilight expires. Saturday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Oktoberfest, 250 Pembroke St., Pembroke, $10 donation requested.

• Celtic circle: The Capital City’s most music-centric location has acoustic Irish music to start the week, with guitars, pennywhistles and bodhrans. Other than trivia on Tuesdays, each day is tuneful, with a midweek open mic night, Thursday drum circle and Saturday afternoon jam. Weekend nights always include local performers — upcoming is blues from Road House on Friday and Mr. Nick on Saturday. Monday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St., Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord, thearea23.com.

• Guitar hero: After a stint in the band Citizen Zero, guitarist Sammy Boller went solo, releasing the all-instrumental LP Kingdom of the Sun in 2020. His playing prowess was established in 2012, when Joe Satriani named Boller the winner in Guitar Center’s Master Satriani competition. He headlines a show that includes Afterimage, Wired for Sound, The New Noise, Defined Perspective, Earthmark and Abel Blood. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St, Manchester, $12 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Northern soul: On his NEMA-nominated album Chesty Rollins’ Dead End, Charlie Chronopoulos observes everyday life in his home state of New Hampshire and its challenges among the marginalized — opioids, poverty and other hardships. “Glass Factory” distills the disc’s themes: “I can tell you all about the fragile things we make,” he sings. “They spend their lives about to break … should stay on the shelf.” Thursday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Stumble Inn Bar & Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry. See charliechronopoulos.com.

• Pop crop: On their new EP Angus Soundtrack 2, Donaher stays in a solid mid-’90s groove — the title is a nod to the 1995 teen comedy that featured Weezer, Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls. “Courtney” is a cool update of the film’s high school angst theme, with the line, “every text I get, my forehead gets a bead of sweat/wondering what comes next/an emoji you can soon forget,” clocking in at a genre-appropriate minute and 52 seconds. Friday, Oct. 8, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester. See facebook.com/donahertheband.

• Duo delight: Taking electric and concert grand harp in bold new directions, the Harp Twins are identical sisters Camille and Kennerly Kitt. Their two were featured guests on last year’s PBS special Celtic Heart, while the pair’s newest release, Harp Attack 4, is billed as “velvet harp rock and metal.” They cover everyone from Kansas to Metallica, and their spirited version of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” is a gem. Saturday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Franklin Opera House, 316 Franklin St., Franklin, tickets $14 at franklinoperahouse.org.

• Burt & Hal: Inspired by classic Hollywood, Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra is a regional ensemble bringing the music of Leonard Bernstein, Burt Bacharach & Hal David and other greats from film to stage. On Composers and Their Songs, the Doc Vose-led ensemble performs selections from soundtracks, Great American Songbook classics, and pop favorites ranging from Goffin & King to Ashford & Simpson. Sunday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, tickets $20 at palacetheatre.org.

• Pond crossers: Grounded in L.A. during the pandemic, English rockers The Struts went into the studio empty-handed to create and record the aptly titled Strange Days. They recruited an impressive supporting cast, including Phil Collen and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, guitarist Tom Morello for “Wild Child” and Albert Hammond, Jr. of The Strokes on the lead single, “Another Hit of Showmanship.” Wednesday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, tickets $26.50 at ticketmaster.com.