Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Maine man: Even with a socially distanced crowd, comedian Bob Marley can fill a room with laughter. From his Upta Camp jokes to riffs on his home life, like inventing nonexistent tools and terms to weasel his way out of home repair jobs, Marley is a top draw in the region. never doing the same show twice. He made the Guinness Book of World Records a while back for longest set — no repeats. Thursday, April 1, at 5 and 8:30 p.m., Dana Center, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, tickets $36.50 at anselm.edu.

• Sing along: When he’s not performing as one half of Acoustic BS, Shane Hooker plays solo gigs like one upcoming at a New Boston restaurant and bar. Hooker has a wide range of material to draw from; he played with the heavy rock band GFY in college, and can really liven up songs like Sister Hazel’s “All For You.” His band’s name, in case the question came up, is a combination of his and mate Bob Fillion’s first names’ initials. Friday, April 2, 5 p.m., Molly’s Tavern, 35 Mont Vernon Road, New Boston, facebook.com/shane.hooker.

• Guitar magic: Enjoy Easter brunch and tasteful music from Phil Jakes, a guitarist who lets his instrument speak instead of vocalizing. He gives expression to songs like 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love” and Tool’s “Sober” that reveal them in ways not heard in the originals. The only thing more enjoyable than listening to Jakes’ intricate arrangements is watching his fretwork, fingers fluidly moving up and down his custom guitar’s neck. Sunday, April 4, 11 a.m., Copper Door, 41 South Broadway, Salem, facebook.com/philmacrakken.

• Game playing: Those looking to flaunt their College of Musical Knowledge bona fides will enjoy Music Bingo. Patrons receive a card with 25 squares, a DJ from Florida-based Musical Bingo Nation starts playing songs, everyone listens carefully to a short snippet and crosses off matches, until someone gets five in a row and jumps up to yell (or sing) the winning phrase. Wednesday, April 7, 8 p.m., Shoppers Pub at Indian Head, 18 Lake Ave., Manchester, more at shoppersmht.com.

Local music news & events

• American stream: Talented multi-instrumentalist and singing duo Green Heron closes out a virtual concert series. The evening will be a tonic for fans who hoped to see them in person a few months back at Zinger’s. That event fell to Covid concerns. The Milford performance venue just announced its permanent closure, leaving a void in the region’s comedy music and comedy scene. Thursday, March 25, 6:30 p.m., Bell and Brick Virtual Coffeehouse, streamed on the Belknap Mill’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

• Good cause: A benefit event for a youngster battling brain cancer, Bash For Nash features music from Southern Breeze, covering the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and the Outlaws, but the big deal is a car, truck and heavy equipment show designed to delight boys of all ages; it’s specific request of Nash Rogers, the day’s beneficiary. Other fundraising includes a 50/50 raffle and auction. Saturday, March 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., New England Dragway, 280 Exeter Road, Epping, facebook.com/EpicAutoNH.

• Country rock: A downtown country-themed bar welcomes Nick Drouin playing solo. The drummer turned front man has a well-tuned instinct for crafting good songs, exemplified by “Small Town,” an autobiographical paean to growing up in Candia made in Nashville with Jason Aldean’s III Kings rhythm section. “It’s a real song,” Drouin once said, “straight from the heart every time I sing it.” Friday, March 26, 8 p.m., Bonfire Restaurant & Country Bar, 950 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/nickdrouinmusic.

• Triple laughs: One of Boston’s quintessential comics, Dave Russo headlines a strong lineup that includes Amy Tee and Jason Merrill. Russo is familiar as co-host of NESN’s Dirty Water and Denis Leary’s annual Comics Come Home benefit show. Prior to his comedy career, he attended UNH on a wrestling scholarship, winning a gold medal at the Bay State Games. Then Wayne Newton discovered him, and the rest is history. Saturday, March 27, 8 p.m., Cello’s Farm House, 143 Raymond Road, Candia, tickets $30 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Character: Rhode Island based singer-songwriter Tequila Jim has a John Mellencamp vibe going on his latest original song, “And I Still Love You,” along with a long catalog of originals amassed over decades of performing. He counts influences across a diverse spectrum of music, from Herman’s Hermits to Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Thursday, March. 18, 5 p.m., To Share Brewing Co., 720 Union St., Manchester, facebook.com/ToShareBrewing.

• Coolness: Soulful, insightful singer and keyboard player Yamica Peterson is joined by scene veteran Nate Comp on guitar and backing vocals for a post-dinner show in downtown Manchester. The NEMA-nominated performer headlined the final pre-winter intermission show with a live audience at Concord’s Bank of NH Stage a few months back, an inspirational evening that will hopefully be repeated soon, as the sun comes out and herd immunity takes hold. Friday, March 19, 7:30 p.m., XO on Elm, 827 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/XOonElm.

• Tuneful: Enjoy an eclectic selection of cover songs and quality food as Bob Pratte performs solo. A look at the singer and guitarist’s schedule for this year gives one encouragement that things will get better, as it grows longer with each passing month. Pratte plays a lot of classic rock and country songs, everything from Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” to “X’s & O’s” from Elle King. Saturday, March 20, 8 p.m., The Pasta Loft, 241 Union Square, Milford, bobpratteband.com.

• Vocalize: Lateafternoon music from Bobby Lane is on the menu at a pizza place doing a lot to support local music. With a set list that includes ’90s rockers like Matchbox 20, folk music, modern and classic country, Lane is a natural performer who recently marked two years of playing out. He’s the restaurant’s regular Wednesday night entertainer — this is a special event. Sunday, March 21, 5 p.m., Lynn’s 102 Tavern, 76 Derry Road, Hudson, facebook.com/lynns102tavern.

• Mainstay: As his band Truffle marks 35 years together, front man Dave Gerard performs solo as he waits for the regional club scene to flower again. Truffle is perhaps the longest-running band in New Hampshire, a constant presence. The secret? “We keep writing music and bring back things we haven’t done in a while,” Gerard said once. “We’re always blowing the rust off of something and changing up the set list.” Friday, March. 12, 8 p.m., Telly’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, 235 Calef Highway, Epping, 679-8225.

• Interplay: Always a fun evening of music and comedy shaped by audience participation, Dueling Pianos is served up in Celtic green with a side of shamrock for a St. Patrick’s Day themed performance. The formula is simple: Two piano players play requests dropped in a tip jar — and occasionally pre-empt a song when someone’s friend outbids, say, “She’s Got A Way” into silence (or, in this case, “Danny Boy”). Friday, March 12, 8 p.m., Chunky’s Cinema & Pub, 151 Coliseum Ave, Nashua, $20 at chunkys.com.

• Countrified: In the early days of the pandemic lockdown, Maddi Ryan hosted weekly Couch Sessions with drummer and guitarist Charles Greenwood, playing everything from Dolly Parton to Buffalo Springfield, along with many of her own twanged-up originals. She and Greenwood are playing out again, Friday, March 12, 8 p.m., Bonfire Restaurant & Country Bar, 950 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/MaddiRyanMusic.

• Reunited: Even a three-fifths JamAntics reunion is cause to celebrate, as The Special Guests — guitarist Lucas Gallo, bass player Eric Reingold and singing drummer Masceo — perform in the Capital City’s own cellarful of noise. The power trio promises a musical stew of rock, blues and funk, an extension of the genre-bending, “high energy, tasty licks” jammy, jazz-inflected sound the band established its reputation with in the late Zeroes. Saturday, March 13, 8 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, 228-9833.

• Greenery: 2020’s first Covid cultural casualty was St. Patrick’s Day. The Cam McMaster Irish Trio is one of several performers trying to keep the spirit alive this year at both branches of a pub that in past times would have a line wrapped around the building to feast on corned beef and cabbage washed down with a Guinness, but these are different days. Mark Lapointe kicks things off in Manchester at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, 4 p.m., Murphy’s Tap Room & Carriage House, 393 Route 101, Bedford, murphystaproom.com.

• Starman: Along with his occasional David Bowie tribute act, George Belli performs with The Retroactivists, a band that mines well-known British Invasion hits and nuggets. For a show at a Seacoast watering hole that recently resumed live music, he’ll be in a duo format but likely still leaning on material from The Kinks, Small Faces, the Zombies and others acts from ‘cross the pond. Thursday, March. 4, 8 p.m., Clipper Tavern, 75 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, facebook.com/clippertavern.

• Rounder: It’s a sizable lineup at the weekly Swappin’ Sets local music showcase, with Becca Myari, Craig Greenman, David Mulchaney and Colby Priest sitting in; Myari will end the night with a second set. A steady booster of original artists, the restaurant-taproom encourages others to get involved by curating a Spotify playlist of frequent performers (linked elsewhere in this issue). Friday, March 5, 6 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St. (Smokestack Center), Concord, facebook.com/area23concord.

• Tapper: Call ahead for a reservation to hoist a pint, have a snack and hear Frank Alcaraz perform on acoustic guitar. A singer, songwriter and troubadour in the mold of Billy Bragg or John Hiatt, Alcaraz can belt out a folk song with alacrity, but he also has punk rock roots. He’s lead guitarist with The Cryptics, a band that released the rollicking Continuous New Behavior early last year. Saturday, March 6. 26, 6 p.m., To Share Brewing, 720 Union St., Manchester, tosharebrewing.com.

• Rocker: Singer, guitarist and College of Musical Knowledge Professor Ted Solovicos does an afternoon set. OK, that’s not a real school, but were it so, Solovicos would definitely have tenure; he cohosts a radio show with fellow muso Rosemarie Rose — the two often perform as a duo — that regularly dives deep into rock history, featuring interviews with many greats of the classic rock era, particularly the ’60s. Sunday, March 7, 5 p.m., Lynn’s 102 Tavern, 76 Derry Road, Hudson, facebook.com/lynns102tavern

• Returning: A vital force in the region’s live music scene is back, virtually. Parsonsfield, now a duo of Antonio Alcorn and Chris Freeman, performs at the Riverwalk Cafe in an online show sponsored by Symphony NH. The two met at UConn and bonded over Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and traditional folk music from Ireland to Appalachia. The band broke through with 2014’s Poor Old Shine. Thursday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. $20 per household at eventbrite.com. More at symphonynh.org.

• Laughing: Enjoy a trio of standup comics topped by Mike Hanley. The Boston funny man went viral with a five-minute video of him dancing with his daughter. The clip garnered national television exposure along with 22 million YouTube hits. Hanley’s storytelling comedy is delivered with full-on intensity; joining him are Brian Plumb and host Rob Steen. Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road, Manchester. Tickets are $20 at chunkys.com.

• Changing: A Lakes Region watering hole renames, but a show from Jodie Cunningham at the newly opened High Octane Saloon promises a vibe similar to the former Broken Spoke. It even bills itself as “Weirs’ newest yet oldest tavern … the owners take pride in keeping this a popular biker bar.” Cunningham has lately been playing her country rock acoustically with guitarist Tim Kierstead. Friday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., High Octane Saloon, 1072 Watson Road, Laconia, 527-8116.

• Deciding: Band To Be Named Later will suffice as the moniker of a new project involving singer-guitarist Andy Laliotis, who has spent time in Lamont Smooth, Kitchen, Diamond Joe and Dead tribute act Blue Light Rain. Expect a jammy, eclectic sound from a group that includes Eric Bilodeau on guitar and a rhythm section of drummer Logan Kessler and bassist Ryan McGowan. Saturday, Feb. 27, 9 p.m., Alibi Lounge, 137 Wilson St., Manchester, facebook.com/andy.laliotis.