Category: Music This Week

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+.

Local music news & events

• Active rock: Keeping the Bike Week spirit alive into fall, Puddle of Mudd is one of several shows coming to the largest-capacity nightclub in the Lakes Region. Led by singer Wes Scantlin, the band was a staple in the early 2000s with “She Hates Me,” “Control,” “Drift and Die” and other hits. Upcoming at the venue are P.O.D. (Sept. 11), Cold (Sept. 16), Trapt (Sept. 25), Buckcherry (Oct. 29) and Dokken (Nov. 13). Thursday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m., Granite State Music Hall, 546 Main St., Laconia, $20 to $75 at ticketweb.com.

• Roots blast: Perfectly paired with a craft brewed West Coast IPA, Supernothing is possibly the most SoCal band native to New Hampshire. Named after a late ’90s song by ska punkers Catch 22, the Concord group’s percolating rock reggae is perfect for board shorts and sandals. The group’s origins trace back to its lead singer receiving the first Sublime album from his sister while attending a Christian high school. Friday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m., Pipe Dream Brewing, 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, facebook.com/pipedreambrewing.

• Big feels: Get all up on the insides just as everyone puts their masks back on — Emo Night returns to ManchVegas, aptly sponsored by Unfortunate Clothing Co., whose T-shirts feature slogans like “Disassociating” and “Existential dread in a dystopian nightmare.” Equally spirited music is provided by two bands, The Early 2000s and Heely and the Moon Shoes — anyone understanding the latter references should definitely go. Friday, Aug. 20, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $5 at the door, 21+.

• Good cause: An all-day benefit in memory of a young skateboard enthusiast, Memo Arts & Music Festival has music from Up Chuck Creek, One Fine Mess, Kings of Noise, Macy Rae, Stone Hill Station, Dezent and Phileep Gerekos, family activities and a late afternoon skate jam. Money raised will be used to improve Milford’s local skate park, a favorite place for Brandon “Memo” Kluz. Saturday, Aug. 21, 11 a.m., Keyes Memorial Field, 127 Elm St., Milford, $10 each, $40/family; memofoundation.org.

• Face blowing: Carrying on the music of J. Geils Band, Danny Klein & Full House isn’t a tribute act, as its leader is an original member who played bass with the mighty Boston crew that wrecked more than a few headliners’ nights back in the early ’70s before becoming a bill topper in their own right beginning with “Give It to Me” and continuing through the MTV years with hits like “Love Stinks” and “Centerfold.” Sunday, Aug. 22, 1:30 p.m., Alpine Grove, 19 S. Depot Road, Hollis, $30 at alpinegrove.com.

Local music news & events

• Gallery get down: Although he’s performing with his band, Dan Blakeslee has a portfolio of original drawings that are also museum-worthy; the Newport Folk Festival commissioned him for its 50th anniversary poster in 2019. Part of the Art After Work series, Blakeslee and the Calabash Club have an authentic, rootsy sound carried along with the busker energy that launched him in the Boston subways. Thursday, Aug. 12, 5 p.m., Currier Museum Of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, free, but reservations recommended at currier.org.

• Al fresco farewell: The final weekend of Tupelo’s outdoor experiment starts with Greg Hawkes performing songs from his old band The Cars with Eddie Japan, fittingly on the same fateful day that live music was rocked in March 2020. When indoor concerts resume with Three Dog Night on Aug. 20, proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 PCR test done within 72 hours or less will be required for entry. Friday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m., Tupelo Drive-In, 10 A St., Derry. Tickets are $22 per individual and $75 per car at tupelohall.com.

• Let loose laughter: Around the time she got sober a few years back, Amy Tee was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The comedian chose to mine the experience for some great and enlightening material. “By diminishing the stigma of what mental health looks like, I had an opportunity to show people that it looks very different from what people think,” she said, adding that the catharsis of sharing “felt almost like amends.” Saturday, Aug. 14, 8:30 p.m., Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 151 Coliseum Ave, Nashua, tickets $20 at chunkys.com.

• Hear his heartbeat: After spending a few years as a child actor, Peter Noone switched to singing with Herman’s Hermits. “Musicians are so much more fun than actors and actresses,” he said in a 2018 interview. When he hooked up with uber producer Mickie Most, the hits happened, starting with Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s “I’m Into Something Good” and “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat.” Sunday, Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey, 39 Main St., Plymouth, tickets $69 and up at flyingmonkeynh.com.

• Local luminescence: An outdoor summer concert series continues with married duo Brad Myrick & Tanya Dutt, the latter known by her stage name Tanya the Empress and her work in synth-pop band TRLOGY. Myrick is a gifted guitarist with an international reputation, as well as one of the biggest boosters of the regional scene as admin of the New Hampshire Music Collective Facebook page, a great resource for fans. Wednesday, Aug. 18, 6 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 70 Constitution Ave., Concord, facebook.com/NHMusicCollective.

Local music news & events

• Lifted spirit: Three days of Christian music and faith workshops, Soulfest kicks off Day 1 with Lecrae, Big Daddy Weave, Unspoken and others. Friday has Reid Collective topping the bill, with support from Cory Asbury, Blanca and Stephen Christian of Anberlin. Saturday features Casting Crowns, Matt Maher, Andy Mined and the Social Club Misfits. Each day has musician workshops and a songwriters circle and ends with a candlelight service. Starts Thursday, Aug. 5, at Gunstock Ski Area, Gilford, thesoulfest.com.

• Rhythm man: Though he relocated to Nashville a while back, Senie Hunt occasionally returns to New England, where he lived from age 5 after emigrating from war-torn Sierra Leone. He’ll be here for most of the month, including several gigs in Concord. Hunt began as a drummer before taking up guitar, adopting a percussive style that gives a one-man-band effect to his performances. Friday, Aug. 6, 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, facebook.com/penuches.concord.

• Big return: Local promoter NH Booking celebrates with NHBFEST, a two-day festival with two stages, featuring dozens of bands. Day 1 has headliner Saving Vice, SleepSprit and Monument to a Memory. It closes out with Kaonashi, Downswing, Katahdin, Martial Law and more. Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8, 2 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester. Single show tickets $15 in advance, $20 day of show at eventbrite.com, with 50 $25 weekend passes available.

• Marley people: Rescheduled from the Fourth of July, Duppy Conquerors perform outdoors at a Salem foodie haven. The band pays tribute to Bob Marley’s music by respecting its sound and spirit, and has been praised by many directly connected to the Jamaican legend. The name comes from a Wailers song whose title translates to “killer of bad spirits.” Sunday, Aug. 8, noon, Smuttynose Beer Garden at Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 212-9650.

Local music news & events

• Maine man: His finger on the pulse of New England’s zeitgeist, comedian Bob Marley points out obvious truths, like that the correct name for grandparents here is Grammy and Grampy, Meme and Pepe for French Canadian families, and that children shouldn’t be allowed to choose something like “Poopy” because they can’t pronounce the correct one. Thursday, July 29, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, 6 and 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, Aug 1, 5 and 7:30 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $36.50 at coloniallaconia.com.

• Rock show: A double shot of regional talent, prog rockers Mindset X play downtown with support from Blindspot. For the latter, it’s their first time in front of an audience in over a year; they’ll also open for Alanis Morrisette and Garbage on Meadowbrook’s side stage in early September. Mindset X is working on a follow-up to their 2015 LP Oceans, and the preview tracks on the band’s Facebook page are very promising. Saturday, July 31, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, tickets $10 at the door; 21+.

• Release party: With a name reflecting a balance between hippie rock and SoCal reggae, Slack Tide is a disciplined jam band that includes three Berklee grads. They’ll celebrate their first studio effort, Sea Rat Red, at an area microbrewery that regularly welcomes them. Over the summer the Seacoast-based group has been working the new album throughout the region, with a few more shows slated. Saturday, July 31, 6:30 p.m., Pipe Dream Brewing, 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, slacktideofficial.com.

• Summer sound: With a set list drawing from a range of sources, Woodland Protocol is always a reliable party-starting band, whether it’s a singalong to “Zombie” or a call to dance on Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” Usually, they’re playing in places with age restrictions, but an upcoming Henniker appearance is family-friendly, so grab the lawn chairs and hope for dry skies. Tuesday, Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m., Community Park, 18 Depot Hill Road, Henniker, henniker.org.