Category: Music This Week

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.

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.