Category: Music This Week

• Banging in: After ringing in 2026, Recycled Percussion continues its traditional New Year’s run with 11 shows over the next two weekends. The junk rockers rose to fame on America’s Got Talent, finishing second but winning enough hearts to land a Las Vegas Strip residency that ran for years. Shows start Thursday, Jan. 1, at 1 and 6 p.m., Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, $44 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Grunge memories: Billed as the ultimate Alice In Chains experience, Jar of Flies is a tribute to the Seattle ’90s standard-bearers and their troubled lead singer Layne Staley. The band appeared last fall at Flannel Fest in Eastern Washington with Sublime, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots and other tributes, going over well there. They’re a music-friendly bar-restaurant’s first ticketed show. Friday, Jan. 2, at 8 p.m., Riley’s Place, 29 Mont Vernon St., Milford, $10 at the door, rileysplacellc.com.

• Raving up: A craft cocktail bar and restaurant that opened last summer hosts Robin Gaming, a scrappy pop punk band with a rough-hewn sound that gives off a solid Replacements and Lemonheads vibe. Since 2019 the quartet has churned out several energetic EPs and albums; the latest is Caught On Tape, its title possibly a reference to the many full-length shows they’ve posted on YouTube (worth a look). Friday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m., 90 Low, 90 Low Ave., Concord., idiotcan.com.

• Double down: With a sound much bigger than its two band members, Muddy Ruckus offers everything from zoot suit swing to conjured New Orleans second line with traces of Delta blues, rustic folk and punk-infused gypsy jazz. Saturday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m., Auspicious Brew, 1 Washington St., Dover, $8 ($10 at the door), auspiciousbrew.com.

• Vintage sound: A Lakes Region winery offers regular local music, including Garrett Smith, a singer, piano player and guitarist playing a range of pop and rock covers, including a convincing version of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” and the Disturbed redo of Paul Simon’s “Sound of Silence.” Enjoy the tunes while sampling an interesting wine, like their maple-infused chardonnay. Friday, Dec. 26, at 4 p.m., Front Four Cellars, 13 Railroad Ave., Wolfeboro, frontfourcellars.com.

• Two stages: One encouraging story this year was Bungalow Bar & Grill’s return, where a Holiday Hardcore Festival is happening. Nine bands are announced for the all-day event, with 20 or more promised. They include Ratblood, with bullhorn vocals and storming intensity, and relatively new Claremont band Arms Like Teeth, with their mosh pit ready banger, “Counterparts.” Saturday, Dec. 27, noon, Bungalow Bar & Grill, 333 Valley St., Manchester, $18 at dice.fm.

• Hometown girl: New Hampshire native Natalie Coryea is now based in Nashville, completing a music business degree at Belmont University, but she’s back for the holidays and playing some area shows. Her latest song, “Meet Me At The Beach,” grooves like a good Van Morrison track, while “Male Manipulator,” released earlier this year, is a rowdy rocker that fans of Paramore will like. Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m., Hare of the Dawg, 3 E. Broadway, Derry, nataliecoryea.com.

• Fear factor: Well known for his time with the hidden camera series Impractical Jokers, Sal Vulcano goes in a different direction with his standup. Terrified, his most recent special, focused on childhood and adult fears, including his irrational reaction to Gloria Estefan’s song “The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” Vulcano’s current Everything’s Fine tour stops in Concord. Saturday, Dec. 28, 5 p.m., Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, $49.75 and up at ccanh.com.

• Heavy preview: A sampling of bands from next year’s Backwoods Metal Fest appear at a music-friendly brewery. The afternoon show includes four acts from the two-day event, happening in the spring: Hobo Wizard, a brother duo that play what they call “New Hampshire Bum Doom,” the punk-leaning Street Trash, straight up rockers Crooked Cash and Dude Hell Yeah. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m., Henniker Brewing Co., 129 Centervale Road, Henniker, hennikerbrewing.com.

• Holiday bash: Concord’s cellar full of noise celebrates early as Lucas Gallo & the Guise return for a jam-filled party that’s becoming an annual tradition. The group includes Gallo, his JamAntics mates Eric Reingold and Freeland Hubbard, and Curtis Marden. They draw from Gallo’s solo material, stuff from his old band and more, and surprise guests often stop by. Thursday, Dec. 18, at 9 p.m., Penuche’s Ale House, 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, facebook.com/lucasgallomusic.

• Holy bow: A musician born to play her instrument, Eileen Ivers recalls using a pink toy guitar as an air fiddle at age 3. She’s been called the Jimi Hendrix of the violin, winning multiple All-Ireland fiddle championships, and she has toured with Riverdance. That said, Ivers is an American, born in New York City. Her “Joyful Christmas” show mixes Wren Day faves and roots music. Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, $54 and up at etix.com.

• Charlie time: Many suburban American kids, including pianist Eric Mintel, got their first taste of jazz from A Charlie Brown Christmas and its Vince Guaraldi soundtrack. Mintel didn’t know it was jazz, but he knew he liked it. The special spawned a lifetime love of it that’s seen him play the White House twice. Mintel is back to perform the holiday favorite with his quartet. Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $34 and up at palacetheatre.org.

• Bass power: The regional EDM scene welcomes Denver-based dubstep trio Hostage Situation for a multi-act evening of floor-shaking sonic fury called Hachi Holiday. Fellow Denverite Noetika, who blends funk and hip-hop into his sound, is also on the bill, rounded out by New England DJs Wubson, who offers a punk edge, Mary AK, and the genre-shifting Hachi cofounder Kr3wl. Saturday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St., Manchester, $28 and up at posh.vip.

• Caroling trio: Winners of CW’s Christmas Caroler Challenge a few years back, The Sugarplums are a holiday favorite throughout the country. The classic modern trio offers solid choreography, humorous banter and scintillating harmonies on favorites like “White Christmas” done in the doo-wop style of The Drifters, and “Jingle Bells” given a Puppini Sisters and Michael Bublé treatment. Sunday, Dec. 21, at 12:30 p.m., LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111, Derry, $35 at labellewinery.com.

• Holiday Peanuts: Inspired to play piano by watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, David Benoit later was the composer for Peanuts specials in the 1990s and 2000s. His holiday concerts are an annual tradition, with songs like “Linus & Lucy” and “Christmastime Is Here.” He’s joined by singer Courtney Fortune, who does Barbra Streisand’s take of “Jingle Bells” and more standards. Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua, $43 and up, etix.com.

• Horn-driven: Led for decades by guitarist Chris Vachon and anchored by a potent horn section, Roomful of Blues made a big change a few years back when “powerful, soul-stirring” DD Bastos joined as the band’s first female lead vocalist. Their recently released LP Steppin’ Out is a buoyant effort, an “exhilarating mix of jump, swing, proto rock ’n’ roll and tough blues” in the words of one writer. Friday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $49 at ccanh.com.

• Blues power: Casting back across a century for inspiration, Blūz Chiīe is a local band that released their debut album, Hard Road To Sorrow, this summer. Highlights include the harmonica-driven opener, “Badlands” and the title track, a chugging ballad with nice slide guitar. The homage “Led Sled” is also tasty, a growling blues number. Friday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m., Riley’s Place, 29 Mont Vernon St., Milford, bluzchile.com.

• Big Eighties: Still rocking after 45 years, Loverboy hits town to relive the MTV era and hits like “Turn Me Loose” and “Working For the Weekend.” Apart from a switch in bass players, the band’s lineup is unchanged. Lead singer Mike Reno is in top form, even if he’s not wearing red leather pants, and guitarist Paul Dean, who came up with the band’s name in a dream, hasn’t lost a step. Saturday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $132 and up at tupelohall.com.

• Family bash: Cape Breton musical ambassadors Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy’s Celtic-themed Christmas show is back, with seven of their children also in the spotlight. The evening features updated holiday classics, and overall good vibes. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, $48 and up at rochesteroperahouse.com.

• Psycho-delic: Celebrating their debut album, Girl For Me, local blues rockers Lee & Dr. G perform a release show, with a merch table offering red vinyl copies of the disc, a true talisman of success these days. Powered by the twin guitar talents of Lee Durham and Brandon “Dr. G” Gauthier, the band was recently nominated as a Rising Star In New Hampshire at the New England Music Awards. Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, $20 at ccanh.com.

• Tinsel twang: Experience a Nashville Christmas up north as Ayla Brown and her band play a Storytellers-styled concert to mark the holiday season. Among the songs the American Idol veteran will do is “Christmas Without You,” from 2013’s A Little Bit of Christmas, an EP that also contained the standards “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Friday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Dana Center, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, $44.50 and up at tickets.anselm.edu.

• Aughts rock: Coming to prominence with “The Boxer,” an anthemic Celtic-infused rocker, Carbon Leaf offered a fresh sound in the pop-crowded early 2000s, cementing its reputation as a top touring act after being the first unsigned band to appear at the American Music Awards. The band’s latest LP, Time Is the Playground, is solid, with great tracks like the storytelling “Backmask 1983.” Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $50 at tupelomusichall.com.

• Village holiday: A midday appearance by youthful country singer Olivia Conway is part of a family-friendly Christmas in the Village event. Along with her set at a live music-forward Main Street spot, there are crafts, hayrides, magic, cookie decorating, face painting, visits with Santa, balloon art and children’s favorite Mr. Aaron, all of it sponsored by Pembroke Women’s Club. Sunday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m., Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St., Suncook, more at oliviaconwaymusic.com.

• Sister act: Ann and Nancy Wilson appear with their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart at a show augmented by an abbreviated version of Starship led by Micky Thomas, singer of hits like “We Built This City” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” After a few fractious years apart, the Wilson sisters made up and resumed doing “Barracuda,” “Crazy On You” and other faves. Wednesday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, $76 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• Leftover laughs: Now in its third year and becoming a tradition, Emily Ruskowski hosts a post-Thanksgiving comedy show with Chris D, Adam Hatch and Dan Donahue. “People are home and looking to decompress from travel or holiday stress,” Ruskowski said ahead of the first show in 2023. It’s also a good way to shake off the tryptophan and memories of any oversharing relatives. Friday, Nov. 28, 8 p.m., Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, $34 at palacetheatre.org.

• Roots champion: Nominated for multiple categories at this year’s New England Music Awards, Nate Ramos won for Americana Act of the Year. That’s fitting; the singer-songwriter’s inspirations include Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan. His band finds a solid country-rock groove on songs like “Catching Up,” which opens their fine 2024 debut album, Across The States. Friday, Nov. 28, 8:30 p.m., Derryfield Restaurant Lounge, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, nateramosmusic.com.

• Raucous rock: It’s always a hilarious good time when The Fools play a show. Next to fried clams, the irreverent band is the most famous thing to come from Ipswich, Mass. They’re known for the late ’70s hits “It’s A Night For Beautiful Girls” and “She Looks Alright In The Dark,” along with the proto parody “Psycho Chicken.” The group is fronted by the very funny singer Mike Girard. Saturday, Nov. 29, 8 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, $42 at tupelohall.com.

• Season sounds: Get in the holiday spirit as the Heather Pierson Trio is back with an evening of music from A Charlie Brown Christmas. The intimate show at a Lakes Region winery is preceded by a complimentary tasting. Pianist Pierson’s performance of the holiday special includes other Vince Guaraldi songs and jazzed-up favorites. Sunday, Nov. 30, 12:30 and 5 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, $39; more dates at heatherpierson.com

• KISS uncovered: Though they’re paying tribute to one of rock’s most visual acts, Kuarantine eschews the makeup and sticks to the music of KISS, and they’re era-specific, playing ’80s material only. Oh, and their front man is wrestler Chris Jericho, who won the WCW championship in 2001 by pinning The Rock. Accordingly, he’s considered one of the sport’s all-time greats. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 9 p.m., Rock N Roll Meatballs Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester, $44 at ticketweb.com.