Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Laugh buffet: When he’s looking to feel humbled, comedian Francis Birch watches the decade-old YouTube clip that someone recorded of his open mic debut, an effort prompted by his office mates’ encouragement that he was funny enough to try standup. Fortunately, he’s much better now, and topping the bill with Dave Twohig, Jim Laprel and Alana Foden. The latter is a longtime promoter of shows in the area. Thursday, March 23, 7:30 p.m., Soho Asian Restaurant, 49 Lowell Road, Hudson, $18 at square.site.

• Rock revival: From its beginnings as a duo of guitarists Liv Lorusso and Jordan Brilliant, Feverslip has fleshed out into a powerhouse blues rock quintet fronted by ex-Red Sky Mary vocalist Sam Vlasich, with a steady rhythm section of Brad Hartwick and Harrison Forti, both formerly in Victim of Circumstance. Their rollicking song “Tombstone” is reminiscent of Aerosmith in their prime and other classic rockers. Enjoy them playing an early acoustic set. Friday, March 24, 6 p.m., Village Trestle, 25 Main St., Goffstown, feverslip.com.

• Standard bearing: A fixture at Whippersnappers in Londonderry before it closed, Souled Out Show Band is a tonic for fans of brass rockers like Chicago. They’re performing on the big stage in Concord, doing a decades-spanning set list with everything from “Knock on Wood” to Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA,” along with dance-inspiring deep cuts like “One Fine Morning” from Lighthouse and Billy & the Beaters’ “At This Moment.” Saturday, March 25, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $24 at ccanh.com.

• Heavy handed: Touring in support of a new album due end of March, Kingsmen is a high-velocity metalcore band from Rhode Island that broke through with its 2020 release Revenge. Forgiveness. Recovery. The lead single from the upcoming disc is “Bitter Half,” a furious, percussive screamer about casting out life’s dark forces. Joining them for their downtown show is modern rock group Rise Among Rivals. Sunday, March 26, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $12 at eventbrite.com.

• Guitar prowess: Melding elements of jazz, rock and flamenco, Kaki King is a musician’s musician. Dave Grohl once brought her onstage, saying, “There are some guitar players that are good and there are some guitar players that are really f-ing good, and then there’s Kaki King.” Modern Yesterdays, her collaboration with D.J. Sparr, recently premiered at the American Composers Orchestra in New York City. Monday, March 27, 8 p.m., Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, $33 and $43 at themusichall.org.

Local music news & events

• Going places: The arc of her first three singles has Rebecca Turmel on the path of many New England musicians who gravitate to Nashville. Her latest, “Girls On Fire,” is an empowering rocker featuring session players who worked with Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves and Toby Mac. In mid-2022, Turmel released the spare breakup song “Am I Missing Something,” followed by “Wish You Well,” a lush ballad. Thursday, March 16, 7 p.m., Tortilla Flat, 595 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack. More at rebeccaturmel.com.

• Country green: For those seeking a different way to mark St. Patrick’s Day, Jodie Cunningham & Close Range blend a down home vibe with a rock edge that appeals to fans of Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson — all artists that Cunningham has shared stages with in the past. The energetic singer, who’s won both New Hampshire Idol and two NHCMA awards, offers a mix of covers and originals. Friday, March 17, 7 p.m., The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Folk legend: A master of folk guitar — he’s a member of Rolling Stone’s 20 Greatest list — Richard Thompson has won lifetime achievement awards from both the British and American standard-setters. As a member of Fairpoint Convention, he helped invent folk rock in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Thompson’s songs have been covered by Robert Plant, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello and others. His latest album is the Jeff Tweedy-produced Still. Saturday, March 18, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $55 to $65 at tupelohall.com.

• Celtic pop: Close out the long green weekend with Screaming Orphans, an all-sister band from the Irish County of Donegal. They released their debut album Listen and Learn in 2001, and their Celtic-infused pop sound is reminiscent of The Corrs, another familial Irish band. A fiddle and drum remake of the Turtles’ smash “Happy Together” from the 2019 LP Life In A Carnival is an especially frothy bit of fun. Sunday, March 19, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $23.75 at ccanh.com.

• Pub power: With its roots in Dover group The Swaggerin’ Growlers, an area appearance by Tail Light Rebellion is a homecoming of sorts. The one-man-band project, now a duo, was born in the ashes of the group, who broke up in the early 2010s. The current project remains a raucous “rolling riot folk brigade” inspired by The Pogues, and energized by multi-instrumentalist, singer and raconteur Jonny Swagger. Tuesday, March 21, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester. More at facebook.com/TailLightRebellion.

Local music news & events

• Great pipes: Though their name is often confused with another band’s, the sound of Red Hot Chilli Pipers is oceans away from the SoCal alt-rockers — the nine-piece ensemble leads with bagpipes. In 2007 they won top honors on the U.K. TV talent show When Will I Be Famous and became a worldwide attraction, blending traditional songs like “The Flowers of Scotland” with bag rock covers of Queen, Coldplay and Snow Patrol. Thursday, March 9, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $29 to $59 at etix.com.

• Southern men: A couple of years after Lynyrd Skynyrd released “Free Bird,” The Outlaws’ debut album arrived with the epic “Green Grass and High Tides,” cementing their reputation as a top Southern rock band. It didn’t hurt that Ronnie Van Zandt aided them in getting a record deal. Founding member Henry Paul continues the triple guitar sound with new members; their latest album is 2020’s Dixie Highway. Friday, March 10, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $35 to $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Bottom drop: An evening featuring the best of New England’s bass music scene has Josh Teed topping the bill with a unique hybrid of violin and subwoofer blasting sound. Among Teed’s EDM influences are Charlesthefirst, CloZee and Govinda, with his classically trained instrumentation pushing things to the next level. Also appearing are Izzi, Camnah, Shacksies, Jacek and a night closing B2B set. Saturday, March 11, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $20 in advance at theticketing.co, $30 at the door.

• Celtic crush: Now past its 25th year, Lúnasa is a supergroup whose members began in some of Ireland’s most acclaimed bands. Early on, Folk Roots magazine called them an “Irish music dream team,” and since, they’ve collaborated with Natalie Merchant, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Tim O’Brien and made high-profile appearances at Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and the Glastonbury Festival. Saturday, March 11, 7:30 p.m., Dana Center for the Arts, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, $45 at tickets.anselm.edu.

• String thing: When daylight saving time ended last fall, High Range Band took the stage for the weekly bluegrass event at Nippo Lake, and now that DST has returned, perhaps for a final time, they’re back again. The New Hampshire-based group formed in the late ’80s, doing covers and originals on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass and drums, while releasing four albums in the 2000s. Sunday, March 12, 6 p.m., Nippo Lake Restaurant, 88 Stagecoach Road, Barrington, nippolake.com.

Local music news & events

• Sound & vision: One of New England’s great musical resources, Mark Erelli performs an intimate set. Diagnosed with a degenerative retinal disease a few years back, Erelli reflects on a new album, Lay Your Darkness Down, arriving later this year. His 2018 song “By Degrees” bemoans society’s tolerance of preventable tragedies — “I thought something had to change,” he sings, “but somehow it’s become routine.” Thursday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., Flying Goose Pub & Grille, 40 Andover Road, New London, $25 at flyinggoose.com.

• Folked up: North Carolina favorites Chatham Rabbits, the husband-and-wife duo of Sarah and Austin McCombie, are joined by Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light. The bluegrass duo got creative during the pandemic by playing more than 200 neighborhood shows in their home state, on a rolling mobile stage. Ex-Twisted Pine member Sumner has wowed crowds with her modern folk sound, releasing a debut LP last year. Friday, March 3, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $15 to $20 at portsmouthtickets.com.

• Rap reggae: A pair of great local bands support headliner Merrimack Delta Dub Set, a groove-based combo described as a mash-up of UB40 and The Roots. Led by singer-guitarist Sean Stanton, they often feature freestyle raps in their sets. Rounding out the bill are the jamtastic and energetic Humans Being, along with Faith Ann Band, one of the region’s most incendiary acts, who are currently in search of a new guitarist. Saturday, March 4, 9 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $15 cover at the door.

• Get motivated: Best known for leading Recycled Percussion, Justin Spencer is also a philanthropist, writer and public speaker. His day-long “It’s Your Life” seminar is an effort to help energize those looking for personal growth. “I promise that when you spend the day with me, I will arm you with all the tools you need to start carving out the new version of yourself,” Spencer wrote in a press release. Sunday, March 5, noon, Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester; entry is $99 at palacetheatre.org.

• Country rock: When their 1973 single “Amie” finally hit the charts in 1975, Pure Prairie League were helping define what’s now called the Americana genre, with their Norman Rockwell album covers driving the point home. Past members have included Vince Gill, who replaced original singer Craig Fuller in the late ’70s and sang lead on the band’s biggest pop hit, “Let Me Love You Tonight.” Wednesday, March. 8, 7:30 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $53.75 at ccanh.com.

Local music news & events

• Poetry slam: The weekly poetry open mic night hosted is headlined by Ryk McIntyre, a veteran poet who’s appeared everywhere from Lollapalooza to the first Legends of the Slam showcase in 2006. McIntyre’s work has appeared in the Worcester Review and the fusion anthology Short Fuse, and he’s published two collections; his latest is 2018’s The Man at the Door. Thursday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m., Stark Brewing Co, 500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, $3 to $5 cover (cash or Venmo), facebook.com/slamfreeordie.

• Mosh men: A four-band punk show is topped by Already Dead, a no-nonsense Boston trio who recently released the single “My Collar is Blue,” a Dropkick Murphys-adjacent reflection of their lead singer’s day job as a pipe fitter. Formed during a fit of creative restlessness during the pandemic, their name comes from one of their songs, “Stability.” Rounding out the bill are Graniteers, TFR and Neglected Witches. Friday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, $10 at the door; alreadydeadmusic.com.

• Grooviversary: Celebrating 25 years together, Club d’Elf is a musical collective with an ever-changing lineup drawn from the jazz, world music, rock and DJ scenes of Boston, New York City and beyond. Performing on this special tour are Randy Roos on guitar, keyboard player Paul Schultheis, turntablist Mister Rourke, drummer Dean Johnston and Mike Rivard on bass and sintir (a three-stringed Moroccan lute). Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 p.m., The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, $20 to $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Laugh night: The upcoming Scamps Comedy Productions show is led by Steve Donovan, a Rhode Island standup who had a long run as morning drive host in Providence. Along with radio, Donovan earned an Emmy nomination for hosting NESN’s The Batter’s Box, appeared in several commercials and acted in a stage production of Shear Madness. Also on the bill are L.A. transplant Adam Groppman, Jennifer Howell and Ajay Thakker. Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m., Murphy’s Taproom, 494 Elm St., Manchester, $20 at eventbrite.com.

• Power trio: Psychedelic country rockers The Cadillac Three wrap up the East Coast swing of their Bandana Tour with a show in downtown Manchester. Along with Grammy, ACM and CMA nods, the genre-floating band’s front man Jaren Johnston has contributed songs to Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban, along with producing Steven Tyler’s and the Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett’s attempts at being Nashville cats. Sunday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, $27 at ticketmaster.com (21+).

Local music news & events

• Border rock: One of the quirkier hits of the early 1990s was Crash Test Dummies’ “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm,” though it didn’t even make the top 10 in the band’s home country, Canada. Later, their cover of XTC’s “Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” was well-suited to the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack. They stopped touring near the end of the decade, returned to the road in 2018 and are releasing new music this year. Thursday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $40 and $45 at tupelohall.com.

• Helpful fun: The second annual Manchester Kiwanis Comedy Night is an all-local affair, with headliner Drew Dunn, Paul Landwehr and Ryan Chani providing the laughs. Dunn is returning from a month of touring, including a West Coast run with a stop in his old stomping ground, Seattle. Landwehr is a naturally funny comic who memorably proposed to his now-wife on stage, and Chani is a New Hampshire native. Friday, Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m., Backyard Brewery & Kitchen, 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Triple treat: An evening of song provided by tribute act Shades of Bublé answers the musical question of what would happen if Michael Bublé’s style were an elephant and three blind singers touched it from different places. There’s the pop hitmaker behind gems like “Haven’t Met You Yet,” the interpreter of rock and soul smashes — a tribute within a tribute — and, finally, a modern-day Sinatra, crooning the standards. Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Horn kings: In the late 1960s a new breed of bands including Tower of Power brought brass front and center to rock music. Beginning with East Bay Grease and its single “Sparkling in the Sand,” the Northern California group was one of the genre’s defining acts, churning out hits like “You’re Still a Young Man” and “What is Hip?” Original members Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka and David Garibaldi are still touring. Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $50 to $100 at etix.com.

• Stripped tribute: Every summer, Badfish – A Tribute to Sublime returns to Casino Ballroom, and Brett Wilson opens the show with his band Roots of Creation. Wilson is keeping the warm-weather vibe alive playing acoustic versions of Sublime songs around his home state, including a free show just a stone’s throw from the currently chilly coastal waters. He’ll tour with Badfish beginning in March. Sunday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m., Wally’s Pub, 144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton Beach, 21+. See facebook.com/BrettWilsonMusic.