Category: Music This Week

Local music news & events

• Lyrical flow: In a tour that’s a throwback to his roots, Chris Webby stops in town for a show that includes Grieves, Ryan Oakes and Suave Ski. On the Connecticut-based rapper’s latest effort “FSU” — the NSFW title is abbreviated — he samples CKY’s 1999 stoner rock hit “96 Quite Bitter Beings” with Ekoh, who called it “maybe my favorite song sample flip of all time.” Thursday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $27 at aftontickets.com.

• Femme power: An evening of tribute music, Muse – A Salute to Divas of Rock showcases female singers from Janis Joplin to Paramore’s Hayley Williams. A power trio backs Jacyn Tremblay and Lauren Rhoades on classic songs like “Me and Bobby McGee” and Heart’s “Barracuda,” along with a healthy helping of icons including Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and Alanis Morrisette. Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Lilith returns: Before her song “Angel” helped launch the pet rescue industry, Sarah McLachlan broke out big with Surfacing, an album that garnered a lot of AOR mindshare in the grunge-dominated ’90s and would help the Canadian singer-songwriter launch the all-woman Lilith Fair. At an upcoming show she’ll play the record from start to finish, along with other hits. Saturday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $49 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• Vocal sorcery: In a free show made possible by the William H. Gile Trust, Kitka performs a program of traditional singing. For over 40 years the nine-woman vocal group has traveled to Eastern Europe and the Caucasus to gather songs and learn about the traditions behind the centuries-old music, which resembles a more soulful version of Gregorian chant. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord; request free tickets at ccanh.com.

• Midweek mirth: A finalist at last year’s Boston Comedy Festival, Jessica Levin headlines a weekly shindig that began in 2008, and these days is booked and hosted by comic Sam Mangano. The fortysomething Levin is a North Jersey/Philly hybrid who works regularly in New York, where she’s now based. Her comedy is brash and unfiltered; a bit about trying to get Ozempic is hilarious. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $5 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

• Real Carrie: Hear from the source of Sex and the City as Candace Bushnell brings her one-woman show to town. The multimedia production blends clips from the television series with details of Bushnell’s life to tell a complete story on an apartment-like stage adorned with Manolo Blahnik shoes. Thursday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $40 and up at ccanh.com.

• Comic redemption: Based on the idea that the day after the Almighty rested He created humor, Robert Dubac performs Stand-Up Jesus, a one-man show that skewers false prophets, religious and political. Fans of Dubac’s Book of Moron will enjoy the intelligent satire on display, “intelligently designed to redeem sinners of all faiths … so let he who is without sin cast the first heckle.” Friday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $39 at palacetheatre.org.

• Hurdy gurdy: Enjoy raucous Quebecois folk music as Le Vent Du Nord appears in the Lakes Region. The beloved band performs in French, but one doesn’t need to be fluent in the language to enjoy their mix of Celtic reels, lovely ballads and sweet close harmonies, marked by incredible musicianship, including Nicholas Boulerice’s otherworldly hurdy gurdy. Saturday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m., Brewster Academy, 80 Academy Drive, Wolfeboro, $37.50 at wolfeborofriendsofmusic.org.

• Foundational folk: Early in his career, Tom Rush was the first to record songs by Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. His own “No Regrets” became a standard, covered by Emmylou Harris and Midge Ure, among others. He’s been touring for more than 50 years and remains one of the funniest and most engaging performers around. His latest LP, Gardens Old, Flowers New, is among his best. Sunday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $50 at tupelomusichall.com.

• Guitar power: English-born guitarist and singer-songwriter John Smith has a lot of well-known fans. John Renbourn called him “the future of folk music” a while back, and he’s guested with everyone from Jackson Browne to David Gray and Joan Baez. His new album The Living Kind is acoustic with a rock spirit, a song cycle modeled after Joni Mitchell’s Hejira. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, $16 and up at portsmouthnhtickets.com.

Local music news & events

• Throwback girl: On her 1987 debut “Foolish Beat,” 16-year-old Debbie Gibson became the youngest artist to perform, produce and write a No. 1 single, a feat that likely will remain unmatched in today’s committee-run pop world. She marks the 35th anniversary of her chart-topping Electric Youth album by stripping it down for an acoustic tour stopping in Nashua. Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $39 and up at etix.com.

• Nouveau chapeau: Few New England songwriters have the clever wordplay command of Jake McKelvie. Take two lines from “Eat Around the Pudding,” where he rhymes homeowner, combover and organ donor while still delivering a jaunty tune that’s either a breakup song or musical self-therapy. McKelvie performs at a favorite area venue to celebrate his latest record, A New Kind of Hat. Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m., Union Coffee House, 42 South St., Milford. Visit jakemckelvie.com.

• Hard rocking: With a new album just released, Texas Hippie Coalition — THC to their fans — are back on the road, with an upcoming Lakes Region date. Playing a hybrid of Southern rock they call “red dirt metal,” the quintet’s latest, Gunsmoke, owes a debt of gratitude to John Wayne, the band’s lead singer Big Dad Ritch said. Its lead single “Bones Jones” is a scorcher. Saturday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m., The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Dynamic duo: A pair of formidable folksingers share the stage. Patty Larkin and Lucy Kaplansky have recently been part of the On A Winter’s Night reunion tour with John Gorka and Cliff Eberhardt. For Larkin, it was a miracle comeback; in summer 2022 she tripped and fell during a family vacation and suffered a near-paralyzing spinal cord injury that forced her to re-learn the guitar. Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $35.75 at ccanh.com.

• String power: With a mix of funk, rock and blues, Ana Popovic has a few famous fans. Bruce Springsteen called her “one helluva guitar player,” and she was the only female guitarist on the all-star Experience Hendrix tour that ran from 2014 to 2018. Popovic also has magnetic stage presence, and she can belt out a song as well. She appears with members of her Fantastafunk big band Sunday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $39 at tupelomusichall.com.

Local music news & events

• Clean comic: Along with eschewing profanity, Brian Regan assiduously avoids politics in his act. He does, however, have one woke joke. Growing up, his parents often made Regan and his siblings vote on playtime activities. With four boys and two girls in the family, it was inherently undemocratic. “I didn’t like that, so I voted for dolls,” the enlightened comedian quipped. Thursday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $55 and up at tupelomusichall.com.

• Special nights: A unique string quartet version of Five For Fighting (nom de guerre of John Ondrasik) performs two area shows. The artist behind the song “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” says the configuration, which includes many Broadway musicians, lets him go behind the music, tell stories and dive deep into his catalog. Thursday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $49 and up at etix.com (also Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Colonial Theatre, Laconia).

• Funky music: Still grooving over three decades on, Moon Boot Lover, led by guitarist-singer Peter Prince, return to a favorite area haunt for an evening of their signature Rock-ET Soul. It’s a blend of Otis Redding and Al Green’s vocal grit and honey, Jimi Hendrix’s pyrotechnics and the classic rock swagger of Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk, all served up in a soulful package. Friday, Oct. 4, 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, peterprincemusic.com.

• Granite sounds: New Hampshire native Cosy Sheridan performs with her trio. Sheridan came up in the early ’90s folk boom, winning Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Song Award and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Contest. Kate Redgate rounds out this 603 Music show. Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 at palacetheatre.org.

• Brewery bash: It’s the time of year when beers get darker, as Weare cover band Speed Trap plays an Oktoberfest party to mark the release of one seasonal offering. For those still holding onto warm weather, there will be IPAs and lagers for quaffing while listening to the lively quintet, whose set highlights include a Clapton-esque “I Shot the Sheriff” and other classic rock hits. Sunday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m., Henniker Brewing, 129 Centerville Road, Henniker, hennikerbrewing.com.

Local music news & events

• Native sons: With their doom-y anthem “Life Underground,” brother duo Hobo Wizard ushered in summer last July. Built on a thick rhythm spread under guitar riffs that equally evoke Sabbath and surf bands, it’s a smash, paying tribute to the local basement music scene. Get your taste at a show that also includes Trading Tombstones and Connecticut band VRSA. Thursday, Sept. 26, Feathered Friend Brewing, 231 S. Main St, Concord. See facebook.com/VRSAband.

• Healing music: A few years ago, Mary Gauthier published her first book, Saved by a Song. It served as both a guide for the aspiring songwriter and a personal chronicle of how the craft kept her alive after she got sober. Gauthier walks the walk as an artist; 2017’s Rifles & Rosary Beads was drawn from Songwriting With Soldiers, a project she launched to help veterans cope as civilians. Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $29 at palacetheatre.org.

• Big soul: Called “the greatest blues singer of her generation” by the Washington Post, Shemekia Copeland performs in support of her latest album, Blame It On Eve. The new release features a who’s who of the roots music scene, including backing vocals from Alejandro Escovedo, dobro master Jerry Douglas and DaShawn Hickman on sacred steel guitar. Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, $38 and $42 at rochesteroperahouse.com.

• Drifting back: Since winning American Idol and charting with the song “Home” a dozen years ago, Phillip Phillips has risen steadily in the pop music world. He considers his most recent release, Drift Back, “a love album,” while adding the qualifier, “it’s not all happy.” Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 and up at tupelomusichall.com.

• Afternoon songs: One writer enthused that Andrea Paquin’s voice “goes down like red wine over good conversation.” She once had an epiphany listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Helpless” and spent days learning it note for note. Her folky music has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Indigo Girls. The singer-songwriter performs an outdoor show at a bucolic winery. Sunday, Sept. 29, 1:30 p.m., Averill House Vineyard, 21 Averill Road, Brookline, $5 at eventbrite.com.

Local music news & events

S• Helping hands: A local woman’s battle against breast cancer is the impetus for a benefit that has Frank Viele playing solo acoustic atop the bill, with Lisa Guyer kicking things off. Viele, a past NEMA Performer of the Year, has an album in progress that he’s been slowly releasing over the year. Its latest single, “Necessary Evil,” is a solid hybrid of classic rock and modern country. Thursday, Sept. 19, 5 p.m., Auburn Pitts, 167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, $25 at eventbrite.com.

• Willie big: The upcoming Outlaw Music Festival is a solid slice of Americana, with John Mellencamp and breakout twang hero Charley Crockett each playing 90-minute sets as a prelude to national treasure Willie Nelson & Family taking the stage. Recent reviews of the tour note that Mellencamp is playing a lot of his big hits like “Jack & Diane” and “Hurts So Good.” Friday, Sept. 20, 5 p.m., BankNH Pavilion, 61 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, $89 and up at livenation.com.

• Rock revival: For those too young to remember The Who at Woodstock, there’s The Sixties Show, a multimedia tribute to music’s (arguably) greatest decade. The setlist ranges from The Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday” to selections from the rock opera Tommy, with a couple of songs from left field like “Wichita Lineman,” a classic written by Jimmy Webb for Glen Campbell. Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 22 Main St., Nashua, $39 and up at etix.com.

• L.A. farewell: The remarkable, nearly five-decade career of X ends next year with a Little Steven’s Underground Garage cruise, but not before they barnstorm the country one final time. They also made a final album, Smoke & Fiction, with the single “Big Black X” providing a look back at how the Los Angeles band’s lives have changed since they — and punk rock — broke out in 1977. Sunday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $45 and up at tupelomusichall.com.

• Horror show: The outsized sideburns sported by Cancerslug front man Alex Story are one reason he’s called Werewolf by fans, while another is the band’s Misfits-inspired horror punk, though Story cites influences going back to HP Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe. It’s provocative music — “If I’ve done my job right,” he says, at least one thing he offers “will anger, annoy or offend.” Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $15.75 at eventbrite.com.