Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• New light: Known for playing bluegrass in Twisted Pine, Rachel Sumner is gathering new accolades as a solo artist. The singer-guitarist’s “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison)” was awarded grand prize honors in the folk category at this year’s John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Sumner performs with her wide-ranging band Traveling Light at a show presented by Symphony NH in a beloved downtown Nashua venue. Thursday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m., Riverwalk Café, 35 Railroad Square, Nashua, $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Purple one: Get down and funky with LoVeSeXy, New England’s top tribute to the music of Prince. The six-piece act covers the Prince-related Morris Day & the Time and Maceo Parker while offering classics like “Little Red Corvette” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” With guitarist and backing vocalist Jodee Frawlee doubling as Sheena Easton and Sheila E, they tackle “You Got the Look” and “Love Bizarre.” Friday, Oct. 1, 9 p.m., Stumble Inn, 28 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 21+. See facebook.com/LoVeSeXyband.

• Blues crew: Channeling the spirit of a ’50s Chicago juke joint on their latest album, GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It… You Might Like It, the Boston blues rockers cook up a raucous stew of throwback sound, driven by guitar slinger Matthew Stubbs and a rhythm section of bass player Pat Faherty and drummer Tim Carman. The three members are gear aficionados and named their band after a vintage Gibson amplifier. Friday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, JD Simo opens, $25 ($12 livestream) at ccanh.com.

• New joint: A just opened downtown Portsmouth club offers Christian McBride & Inside Straight for four shows; two early ones are sold out. The Philadelphia-born bassist has backed jazz greats from Freddie Hubbard to Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea and played on pop, hip-hop and soul songs with the likes of Paul McCartney, Celine Dion and Queen Latifah. Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2, 10 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $35 to $75 at jimmysoncongress.com.

• Old school: A mix of NYC borough attitude, leathery intellect and rumpled angst, Eddie Pepitone is a comedian beloved by his brethren. In Bitter Buddha, the 2013 documentary titled after his nickname, fellow standup Dana Gould likened him to “the guitarist that all the other guitar players go to see.” He’s now on tour with Austin comic entrepreneur JT Habersaat, who runs the Altercation Punk Comedy Festival. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at rubyroomcomedy.com, 21+.

Local music news & events

• It takes two: The romantic country pop of married couple Thompson Square has produced both CMA and ACM Vocal Duo of the Year Awards, drawing from the power of chart-toppers like “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and “If I Didn’t Have You.” Their most recent album is 2018’s independently released Masterpiece. It arrived five years after the pair’s two major-label offerings, and critics praised its genre-spanning emotional punch. Go Thursday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, tickets $35 to $50 at tupelo.hall.com.

• Indie laughs: An evening of standup presented by newcomer Grey Area Comedy Club includes headliner Josh Day, a New Hampshire native who rose in the Seacoast comedy scene and now lives in the Bay State. Also appearing is feature performer Dean Abbott, and the free show is hosted by Ken Higaonna, who helms the weekly Sunday Spins event. The effort adds another bright spot to the city’s burgeoning night life. Friday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m., Yankee Lanes, 216 Maple St., Manchester, facebook.com/YankeeLanesManch.

• Join together: Many local performers chip in at Musicians for Meals on Wheels, a benefit for the Hillsborough County chapter of the charity organization. Slated are Rico Milo, Bobby Lane, Tequila Jim, Robert Allwarden, Jess Olson Band, Long Journey, Ebenezer Stone, Acoustically Speaking, Grayleaf and Stone Hill Station. There’s a raffle for a new guitar, along with gift certificates from local merchants. Saturday, Sept. 25, 11:30 a.m., Sherman’s Pit Stop, 944 Gibbons Hwy., Wilton, facebook.com/Shermans-Pit-Stop.

• Vineyard haven: Enjoy local wine and music from Heat, a mostly instrumental jazz combo weaving elements of R&B, funk and soul into their sets. Formed during the pandemic with D. Heywood on keyboard and saxophone, lead guitarist Dan Sullivan and a rhythm section of bass player Dee Kimble and drummer-percussionist Steve Furtado, the group often adds a vocalist or another guest musician. Sunday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m., Averill House Vineyard, 21 Averill Road, Brookline, averillhousevineyard.com.

• Ubiquitous sound: A fixture on the regional music scene, NEMA nominee Justin Cohn plays familiar favorites with a growing catalog of original songs. His voice powered the Rocking Horse Music Club gospel gem “Everywhere Is Home” in 2019, and he’s readying a debut album for release. Late last year he previewed the new record with the single “On The Other Side Was You,” and this spring he followed it up with “Lie To Me.” Wednesday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m., Stumble Inn Bar & Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry. See justincohn.com.

Local music news & events

• Frenetic: Along with playing and writing with Godsmack singer Sully Erna, Chris Lester is a fixture on the regional music scene, from the beloved Mama Kicks and Monkeys With Hammers to his ubiquity as a solo performer at places like this upscale Salem restaurant and bar. He’s also an entertaining guitar geek; his Instagram offers an ongoing display of alluring and unique axes, from Les Pauls to Stratocasters to a geometric bass. Go Thursday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., Copper Door, 41 South Broadway, Salem. See chrislester.me.

• Electric: Anyone claiming that electronic music is only knob-twirling hasn’t witnessed a performance by Evanoff. The Colorado band is a music machine. Yes, there are a pair of Ableton-equipped laptops onstage, synched together like twin minds and packed with loops, effects and other studio-created sounds, but when the group’s namesake, JJ Evanoff, plays guitar, he evokes Hendrix and Zappa, not Skrillex. Friday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $15 in advance at theticketing.co/events/Evanoff.

• Celtic: Incredibly, the calendar is already halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, a mark that Steven DeLuca will celebrate with a set of Irish music at a recently opened pub with Guinness on tap and bottles of Magner, and items on the menu like boxty (two potato pancakes covered in cheese and bacon with a side of sour cream) and Irish coffee made with Slaine whiskey. Saturday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m., Casey McGee’s Irish Pub & Music Hall, 8 Temple St., Nashua, caseymcgees.com.

• Eclectic: Everything is wonderful about the union of John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas. Storied songwriter Hiatt met Dobro master Douglas in 1988 while working on the Dirt Band’s star-packed Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 2, but it took more than three decades for their first album Leftover Feelings to happen, in the same Nashville studio where the Everly Brothers recorded and Chet Atkins produced so many hits. Sunday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $49 to $69 at ccanh.com.

• Ecclesiastic: A fitting follow-up to Sunday brunch, Signed, Sealed, Delivered – The Spirituality of Soul offers vocals from Pastor Emilia Halstead and Mary Fagan, with music from the Jazz Sanctuary House Band focusing on the soul and Motown era. Fagan has been jazzing it up of late, recently performing in New York City with the JT Wildman and Hot Papa jazz bands. The worship service happens monthly. Sunday, Sept. 19, 1 p.m., First Congregational Church, 177 N. Main St., Concord, concordsfirstchurch.org.

Local music news & events

• Twofer: With their unique blend of country and Latin music, Kat & Alex impressed American Idol audiences last year and are currently on tour opening for Scotty McCreery, a singer who took top Idol honors in 2011. Last fall the pair put out the single “How Many Times” in both English and Spanish, and earlier this year they released their first all-Spanish song, “Gira De Desamor,” continuing their genre-bending rise. Thursday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m., Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, tickets $15 to $55 at tickemaster.com.

• Departure: A one-man band with loops and foot percussion, ODB Project is Michael Dion, former guitarist and lead singer of progressive bluegrass stalwarts Hot Day At The Zoo and lately the leader of roots rock band Daemon Chili. Dion builds a big sound around favorites like Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie” and turns the ’60s protest song “For What It’s Worth” into a loping blues romp, complete with lap slide. Friday, Sept. 10, 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, $5 at the door, 21+.

• Funkified: Closing in on 20 years together, Lettuce is an eminently danceable band dedicated to the notion that “funk lives, grows, breathes, and blossoms; like any living thing, it needs to be fed in order to flourish.” The Grammy-nominated group currently includes Adam Smirnoff on guitar, a rhythm section of drummer Adam Deitch and bassist Erick Coomes, horn players Ryan Zoidis and Eric Bloom and Nigel Hall on keys. Saturday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m., Marty’s Driving Range, 96 Old Turnpike Road, Mason, $40 at etix.com.

• Fusion: Enjoy an outdoor show from Cold Chocolate, a Boston trio blending elements of roots rock, funk and bluegrass into a singular sound. The band began when singer-guitarist Ethan Robbins, then studying music at Oberlin College, met upright bassist Kirsten Lamb and the two started looking for ways to stretch the boundaries of bluegrass. Ariel Bernstein joined later on percussion, and sometimes a banjo or fiddle makes it a quartet. Sunday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m., Fletcher-Murphy Park, 28 Fayette St., Concord, $12 at ccanh.com.

• Transition: Manchester’s top spot for indie comedy is in new hands, as Ruby Room Comedy presents Andy Haynes on Sept. 8, followed a week later by Tookey Kavanaugh, Kathleen DeMarle and Mike Gray. Nick Lavallee and Dave Carter grew the effort from its beginnings in 2013 as a launching pad for up and coming local talent, to a showcase for standups from across the country, and the midweek tradition promises to continue. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St, Manchester, facebook.com/RubyRoomComedy.

Local music news & events

• Songbird: With a set list of covers ranging from Lulu to Sara Bareiles, Marlena Phillips also offers original music and engaging energy. She’s spent close to three decades entertaining audiences of all types, from resorts to restaurants. Last June, she appeared at the Rex Theatre in Manchester, opening for Cars tribute act Panorama. Recently, Phillips released the sunny love song, “Meant to Love You” and the country-flavored “Running Under Water.” Thursday, Sept. 2, 6 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101, Amherst. See marlenaphillips.com.

• Jokemeister: A big finish in Season 2 of Last Comic Standing led Kerri Louise to star in a Women’s Entertainment Network reality show with her husband, comic Tom Cotter; Two Funny focused on raising their twin sons. In 2016 she published the tongue-in-cheek how-to guide Mean Mommy, offering “inspiration, encouragement and non-stop laughter that will last way longer than the warm feeling on your baby’s butt.” Friday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 4, at 8:30 p.m., Chunky’s Cinema, 707 Huse Road, Manchester, $20 at chunkys.com.

• Supergroup: A regional showcase includes Marble Eyes, which came together during the pandemic when Pink Talking Fish bassist Eric Gould and Mike Carter, guitarist for The Indobox, made good on a years-long promise to jam together. The two recruited Seacoast mainstay Max Chase to play keyboards, and Kung Fu drummer Adrian Tramontano, and their driveway sessions at Gould’s house were elating. Saturday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m., Prescott Park, 105 Mercy St., Portsmouth, $8 donation suggested, prescottpark.org.

• Rocksteady: Enjoy an extra weekend night at I Love Dancehall, Part Two, an event that dives into the dance music born at the intersection of Jamaican reggae and dub, a genre much discussed recently with the death of legendary producer Lee “Scratch” Perry. Hosted by local luminaries DJ K-Low and DJ Ace, the show includes live performances from C-Scharp, Mic Vee, Illijah, Young Chrigga, Dynamic , Xiomy and Fate-One. Sunday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m., 603 Bar & Grill, 1087 Elm St, Manchester , $10 cover; 21+.

• Crossover: With a lead vocalist, harpist, cellist and piano player, Sons of Serendip isn’t the sort of band one expects to cover Kansas, Keane or Stevie Wonder, but they do, injecting classical elements into pop songs. Formed by a group of graduate student friends at Boston University, they made it to the finals of America’s Got Talent, and later the Billboard charts, with their ethereal reimagining of current hits. Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $35 and up at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• High energy: An outdoor summer concert series continues with Cold Engines performing an early evening set for the beach chair and blanket crowd. A gathering of solid regional players, the band was founded by Dave Drouin (The Brew) and Aaron Zaroulis in 2015. They’ve made five well-received albums — the latest is Couyon, released in June —and won multiple awards, including a NEMA for Rock Band of the Year. Thursday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m., Swasey Park, Swasey Parkway, Exeter. See coldengines.com.

• Cool cat: Veteran singer-guitarist Pete Massa draws from a decades-spanning selection of covers, including classic rock, blue-eyed soul, reggae, rhythm and blues. When he’s not doing the solo acoustic thing, Massa fronts a raucous band with rockabilly inclinations that features him on a big Gretsch Electromatic guitar, with drums, an upright bass, and a pair of horn players, offering a festive throwback party vibe. Friday, Aug. 27, 5 p.m., Big Kahuna’s Smokehouse, 1158 Hooksett Road. Hooksett. See petemassa.com.

• First finale: Eight hard rock bands appear at the Last Call Till Fall Festival, an all-ages event that includes food, games and prizes, with guests 12 and younger gaining free admission. Kings Petition, a Manchester band that released a three-song EP a year ago, tops the bill, which includes Thirteen 13All, Adherence, Paul Jarvis, Drunk Off Diesel, SkunkHunt, Black Headress and Witch Trot, for a metallic afternoon. Saturday, Aug. 28, 12:30 p.m., Auburn Pitts, 167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, $20 with barbecue included.

• Laugh it up: Quintessential New England comic Juston McKinney holds forth for four shows in downtown Concord. The standup’s secret sauce is an ever-changing set of always funny material, a keen observer’s eye for regional foibles and a knack for humorous self-deprecation, along with a skill for illuminating life’s absurdities with smiling kindness. Friday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28, 5:30 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets $29.50 at ccanh.com.

• Dead in the water: Billed as a long, strange trip on the water, Grateful Dead tribute act Not Fade Away Band set sail on the vintage Winnipesaukee Belle paddleboat for a cruise that also offers craft beer from Fore River Brewing Co., including a Strata Magnolia IPA. Named after a Buddy Holly song famously covered by the Dead, the group is considered one of the area’s best at recreating their sound. Tuesday, Aug. 31, 6:30 p.m., Wolfeboro Town Dock, 84 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, $18, pay at boarding, 21+.