Category: Nightlife

X-ponential

Prog rockers ready new album

After a long break since releasing 2015’s Oceans, Mindset X is readying Humanz— the band’s first album with guitarist Lucian Davidson. The son of bassist and keyboard player Paul Davidson, he joined in 2018, and his presence is noticeable on the new disc’s first song.

“For The Love Of War” is a hefty, toothsome number that recalls early Black Sabbath and proto Metallica; the single will drop on Feb. 22. Ahead of that, the Manchester quartet will celebrate a milestone on Jan. 29 at Angel City Music Hall.

“Eighteen years together,” singer, guitarist and primary songwriter Steve Haidaichuk said by phone recently. “It feels like we’re 22 again — just a little more achy.”

The new addition has refreshed the group.

“We fell in that prog-rock niche over maybe the past 10 years,” Haidaichuk said. “Lucian’s background is a lot more metal, so it brings our aggressiveness to the forefront. Not to say that I’m not a metal guy, but, like, I dabble. … Lucien grew up on the big metal bands.”

“We were looking to add more to the sound of Mindset X,” Paul Davidson said. “A guitar player seemed to be the natural of what we’re looking for, which actually was great — it brings Steve to the front of the stage, instead of hanging back with us. So he’s more of a front man now.”

While Oceans was a concept album featuring a primary character, Humanz has other ambitions.

“It kind of ties back to the square root of what we are as a species,” Haidaichuk said.

“It’s almost like part two, but it takes it in a little different angle,” Paul Davidson said, adding that the new effort reflects the many challenges of the recent past — lockdowns, dread and endlessness. “You’re caught in a box for so long; you just want to break out of it, just let it all go.”

“I think every soul has probably written about their time in Covid-town,” Haidaichuk said. “This really isn’t about that, but it did make me reflect on the way society handled it, from an outsider looking in perspective [of] us as a species; really seeing our good points and our bad points.”

Keeping with the math-themed title of Humanz, the release of “For The Love Of War” on 2-22-22 will be followed by a video of the song two weeks later, with a “two by two” cycle repeating every other week until the full record is out.

“When we first started doing this, we released too much music over the course of a year, then as we got farther down the line as a band we released too little,” Haidaichuk said. “I think we learned from both of those experiences what kind of works and what doesn’t. … Some people still like CDs, and some people don’t even own a CD player anymore.”

They’re excited to perform at Angel City, one of their home city’s newest venues.

“It’s a classic club and for Manchester to have one of these, I think it’s about time,” Paul Davidson said. “Especially because you’re limited when you’re playing original music as well … it’ll be nice to have almost like a welcoming show.”

They’ll play two sets, featuring new songs mixed with old favorites, occasionally reworked. Haidaichuk stressed that their aim is to shake things up and remove expectations.

“At the end of the day, we’ve always taken the music side of us extremely seriously; we like to write things that we feel mean something, and maybe make a statement or two,” he said. “But on the flip side of tha t… we want you to have fun while we get you to think; that’s pretty much what Mindset X has always been.”

Mindset X w/ The Graniteers

When: Saturday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
Where: Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester
Tickets: $10 at the door, 21+

Featured photo: Mindset X. Courtesy photo.

Rascal remembers

Ahead of biography, Felix Cavaliere performs

Felix Cavaliere’s voice powered hits like “Groovin’,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” and “It’s A Beautiful Morning” into the cultural zeitgeist, landing his band The Rascals in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He’s still on the road, satisfying fans who never stopped craving the group’s signature brand of blue-eyed soul, even though they split after less than a decade together.

At the relentless urging of E Street Band guitarist and satellite radio impresario Steven Van Zandt, The Rascals reunited in 2012 for the multimedia show Once Upon A Dream. It ran on Broadway and toured North America the following year. As the group swung through press conferences in different cities, Cavaliere decided to start work on an autobiography.

“They would ask us questions individually, and everybody had a different answer,” he said by phone recently. “I said, ‘Wow, was I there or did I dream this?’ It’s kind of like when you tell a joke and somebody repeats it, it’s never the same. … I thought, I’ve gotta make sure, for my sanity if nothing else, that I write down my story.”

Memoir Of A Rascal arrives March 22. A big part of the book covers their time with Atlantic Records. The Young Rascals were one of the first rock groups signed by the legendary R&B label. They made the deal after turning down an offer from producer Phil Spector.

Their decision to go was driven by a desire for creative control.

“I knew that if we went with Phil, we wouldn’t sound like what we sounded like,” Cavaliere said. “We would sound like Phil … that big wall of sound. But Atlantic said, ‘Yeah, you guys can produce yourselves,’ and I was adamant about that.”

The unanticipated presence of Atlantic co-producer Arif Mardin, who decades later helmed Norah Jones’s chart-topping debut album, made a big difference, Cavaliere said.

“Then good fortune comes into the picture,” he said with a laugh. “You can’t really put into words the addition that was to our music. … It’s like The Beatles with George Martin. This gentleman not only became one of my dearest friends, but like wow, man, was he talented! He was phenomenal.”

Working at the home of artists like Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin was “just a joy,” Cavaliere said. “First of all, my record collection at that time was three quarters Atlantic, and one quarter Motown. To be on that label was not only a treat, but that place was all about making good music. They made it so easy and comfortable for us, [and] for that I’ll always be grateful.”

Cavaliere spent most of the past year and half in Nashville, where he’s lived for several years, finishing his book and making an album called Then & Now, which pairs classic favorites with newly written tunes.

“Out of the two million songs that interest me, I chose five and re-recorded them. … I did Jackie Wilson’s ‘Higher and Higher’ and Ben E King’s ‘Spanish Harlem,’ and I wrote five new ones that were influenced by that,” he said.

In October he made a tentative return to the stage at a tribute concert for Lee Greenwood. Though it was an odd pairing for Cavaliere, whose liberal resume includes co-writing “People Got To Be Free” and working for Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, the two go back to their early days as musicians.

“He’s an old friend, and he’s done well for himself,” he said. “We are on opposite poles of the universe, but that’s OK, he’s a good guy.”

The two initially connected when Cavaliere and future Rascals drummer Dino Danelli first played together at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, backing Sandu Scott, a forgotten singer bankrolled by her hotelier husband. Greenwood was with a group that approached him with an offer. Scott called her band Her Scotties, and for the duration of their brief run Cavaliere and Danelli wore traditional kilts on stage.

“Hey,” said Cavaliere, “everyone’s gotta work.”

An Evening With Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals

When: Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester
Tickets: $50.50 and $60.50 at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: Felix Cavaliere. Courtesy photo.

Raised that way

Corey Rodrigues headlines Tupelo Night of Comedy

The world is full of comedians who entered the craft after being inspired by another standup, but Corey Rodrigues came to it through the crucible of a barbershop owned by his family. Making the customers laugh came naturally, and the more he did it, the clearer it became that he was destined for bigger crowds.

However, Rodrigues was the last one to know about his career in the making.

“I never thought I would be a comedian,” he said in a recent phone interview. “People used to say I should, but I was like, that’s stupid. I don’t know how to make people laugh [who] I don’t know, and I don’t want to … I’m not a clown. I didn’t even know how that could be possible.”

So Rodrigues became a comic by acclamation, as classmates, coworkers and others urged him to give it a shot.

“It’s just in me, I’ve always been this person,” he finally realized. “There’s a funny angle at which you look at things … someone else may have thought it, but they just don’t know what to do with it. That’s not their mindset. … The blessing and curse of a comedian is you’re constantly finding something funny.”

After suffering through a few tough shows early on, he did begin to study other comics.

“I was like, I could eventually get to that … it looks easy enough,” he said. He eventually became aware of another critical standup survival skill. “If you’re delusional, you’ll stay in this business. … You have to have a level of delusion.”

Rodrigues was raised in Milton, Mass., after his troubled mother sent him and his brother to live with their grandparents — he described it as an act of mercy in an Epix Unprotected Sets episode filmed last year.

Early on, he sharpened his edge at Boston’s Improv Asylum, later winning several competitions. A key break came in 2018, when his Dry Bar Comedy Club special garnered over 40 million views, leading to a Late Night With Conan O’Brien appearance the following year.

The Dry Bar special required Rodrigues adhere to PG content, which wasn’t a difficult pivot for him, as he already had a long resume working on cruise ships.

“I do churches, colleges, corporate gigs, everything,” he said. “If you have enough material, you could talk about your balls and something very vanilla at the same time and still make it funny. It was probably one of the best experiences I ever had. … I killed that set.”

He’s done some other unconventional things, like appearing on Mike Huckabee’s show in Nashville a few months back.

“I want to make it [out to] be worse than it was, but it was actually pretty cool,” he said of the experience. “I don’t agree at all with what he said after, when we talked, but he knew my jokes [and] everybody’s gotta laugh.”

Further evidence of Rodrigues’s inclusive comedy was found in Corey’s Stories, a family-friendly livestream he did with his son in the early days of the pandemic. The two read books together, told jokes and invited their audience to call in to answer trivia questions for prizes.

“I had a lot of friends complaining about being stuck at home, kids getting on their nerves and everything, so I created something to kind of give people a break,” he said.

Does Rodrigues have plans for his son to follow in his footsteps?

“I’m not really grooming him for that, but he already knows how to hold his own,” he said. “He showed me that in the show, which was pretty awesome.”

Corey Rodrigues, Kyle Crawford and Alex Giampapa

When: Friday, Jan. 14, 8 p.m.
Where: Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry
Tickets: $22 at tupelohall.com

Featured photo: Corey Rodrigues. Courtesy photo.

No stopping her

Country singer brings debut disc to Concord

Following a Covid-caused delay of more than a year, April Cushman finally released her debut album, The Long Haul, in November. The country singer celebrated in front of a hometown crowd at Milford’s Pasta House — she grew up in nearby Brookline. The event sold out weeks in advance.

The new record is one of the best of the genre to come out of the Granite State in recent years. It’s filled with great songs, from the modern country rocker “Soundtrack To My City” to the could-have-been love ballad “Once Upon A Time” and the tender ode to her father (who makes a cameo introduction) closing things out, “Take My Hand.”

Cushman purposefully selected the album’s leadoff track. She wrote “Ain’t No Stopping You” after being laid off and resolving in that moment to go all in on the music career she’d dreamed about and chased since childhood.

“Losing a job is never an emotionally easy thing to go through. … I was trying to switch the mindset of having it be a bad thing,” she said in a recent phone interview. “You have dreams — get your friends and family together [and] paint the town red. Make sure there’s no stopping you from reaching the goals that you want to reach.”

It’s a daunting road described deftly in the title cut. Penned by New Hampshire singer-songwriter turned Nashville expat Amanda McCarthy and a few other locals who moved south, “The Long Haul” describes the shock of being “a big fish in a small town” set loose in an ocean of like-minded aspirants.

Cushman jumped on the song when it was pitched to her.

“The line that really hits me the hardest is, ‘entitlement pays a price,’” she said. “A lot of people think, ‘I’m hot stuff around here.’ Then they move and realize there is so much talent…. It’s a very ignorant mind-set as an artist. I have to admit, I’ve probably been there at some point.”

Making it is often a “10-year turnaround” — or even more for established stars like Chris Stapleton, who toiled for nearly two decades before getting his big break.

“You’re basically starting from the top of where you came from, going to the absolute bottom [and] starting over…. It takes a lot of elbow grease,” Cushman said. “In such an instant gratification world, if we don’t see complete success in five years or less, a lot of people will say, ‘This isn’t for me.’”

Though Cushman will head to Music City at some point to do some songwriter showcases, she has no plans to relocate permanently, as many New England country performers have done.

“I’m focusing on the album right now, and preparing for potentially touring,” she said. “Once we’re ready, we will certainly make our way down there.”

While she continues to play mostly covers at bars and restaurants, Cushman has resolved to do at least one original gig a month. Next is a full-band performance at Bank of NH Stage in Concord.

“This is our first straight music venue, our first theater headlining show,” she said. “We’ve never done something like this before, so it’s very exciting.”

Due to the pandemic, it’s a hybrid event; fans can purchase in-person tickets or pay to stream it online. Cushman considers the latter choice a silver lining, since her song with the most Spotify streams initially took off in the U.K.

“People have the option, depending on where they are in life, what’s going on in the world and where they’re located, to be part of the show,” she said.

Cushman and drummer Adam Soucy recently began a weekly residency at the old Club ManchVegas space now occupied by The Goat. It’s an opportunity to spread the word about her music between familiar hits, and occasionally slip in one of her own tunes. “I’ll say, ‘Hey, you guys have been requesting Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBride and Carrie Underwood all night. … Now here’s my song.”

Though aware it’s a continuing journey, Cushman is grateful to be this far along.

“Going from a kid just doing something that made me feel good and was kind of my emotional outlet, to being an adult looking back at the last 25 years … holy cow,” she said. “It feels like a very full-circle moment to have this record out; I’m looking forward to the next one.”

April Cushman, Live and Livestreamed

When: Thursday, Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $34.99 in person, $17.99 livestream at liveonfestival.show

Featured photo: April Cushman. Courtesy photo.

2021 all done

Looking back, and forward

In the parlance of performance, 2020 wasn’t a hard act to follow — anything would beat a year of livestreams and solo shows. So the year began hopefully, and it got better as vaccines became available and venues were able to ease capacity restrictions.

Area supergroup Marble Eyes, for example, was Zooming from the Press Room in January; by July they were playing to a packed Prescott Park in Portsmouth.

Tupelo Music Hall returned in the spring with more drive-in shows but was able to head back indoors at summer’s end. Manchester’s Palace and Rex Theatres reopened in June, while the Capitol Center and Bank of NH Stage in Concord waited the summer out, running local-flavored shows in nearby Fletcher-Murphy Park.

On the Seacoast, Portsmouth’s Music Hall split the difference, offering outdoor shows and socially distanced events at its indoor Historic Theatre. The Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach endured several close-to-the-wire cancellations before it returned to a semblance of normal in mid-July.

Creatively, 2021 was a great year. Several area performers released albums, including Liz Bills & The Change. The band’s self-titled record was rewarded with multiple NEMA nominations, including a win for Pop Act of the Year at the awards show in October.

Andrew North & The Rangers made a highlight reel of an album, Phosphorescent Snack. Among the best tracks were the Phish-adjacent “Aditi,” the buoyant, upbeat “Dig Deep” and “Epiphone” — the latter a guitar-free romp, even if it shared its name with a famous six-string.

April Cushman’s debut album, The Long Haul, dropped in July. The title song perfectly captures the struggle for success in the music business, particularly for women. Cushman sings about the “10-year turnaround” she faces as “just another girl among a thousand crowns … in a working man’s town,” the latter a reference to Nashville, where the disc was finished.

After a March 2020 release show was cratered by Covid-19, Married Iguana waited a year to make its hometown debut in Manchester, and their debut EP includes one of the best songs to come out this year. “Go With The Flow” chugs along like a rolling party bus, punctuated by scorching guitar licks from band leader and principal songwriter Brett Higgins.

All three bands have plans to start 2022 with a bang. Cushman will perform with her band on Jan. 13 at Bank of NH Stage in Concord, a venue Andrew North & The Rangers will also appear at, on Feb. 10. Married Iguana will headline a local showcase with The Humans Being and Earthmark on Jan. 22 at Shaskeen Pub in Manchester.

Comedy provided relief to a pandemic-weary region, first with socially distanced shows at places like Chunky’s Cinema Pub, with multiple locations, as well as Newmarket’s Stone Church and Kathleen’s Cottage in Bristol. Maine funny man Bob Marley played an April Fool’s Day show at Saint Anselm College’s Dana Center, while Juston McKinney did several small-capacity socially distanced sets at area venues.

By summer Wednesday night comedy had returned to Shaskeen Pub, accompanied by word that the weekly event would be taken over by Ruby Room Comedy. Longtime promoters Nick Lavallee and Dave Carter announced plans for a handoff with an eight-weekend run of shows. Standup popped up in some new spots, like Backyard Brewery and Yankee Lanes in Manchester, Concord’s Area 23, and Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston.

Sadly, 2021 ended with a series of losses to the music community. Billy Conway, drummer for Morphine and Treat Her Right, and former Concord resident, died on Dec. 19, the same day that David Surette, who for decades was a fixture on the area scene and Concord Community Music School faculty member, also died.

Granite State native Bill Staines lost his battle to prostate cancer on Dec. 5, and singer, songwriter, activist and provocateur Chelsea Paolini died at age 32, also on Dec. 5. She was a firebrand, whether lighting up the fretboard of her Gibson SG or dressing down perceived ignorance wherever she found it.

Finally, the death of drummer and bandleader Chucky Tester shocked the rock community. A memorial dubbed Rock In Peace happens Jan. 16 at A-Brews in Dracut, Mass. On the bill are Manchester prog rockers Mindset X, Prospect Hill, blindspot and A Simple Complex. For the latter band, it’s an early comeback, their first live performance in over two years.

“We saw the grief in the music community,” A Simple Complex frontman Mark Ingoldsby said recently, “so we decided to break our silence and come off hiatus early to organize a tribute benefit show in honor of Chucky.”

2022 shows to get excited about

Rex Theatre
Morgan James, Jan. 15 (rescheduled from December)
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox, March 24

Palace Theatre
Seth Meyers, Feb. 9
Celtic Angels, March 5

Capitol Center for the Arts
Juston McKinney, March 26 (recording a comedy special)
Heart By Heart, April 2 (featuring original band members)

Bank of NH Stage
Enter the Haggis, Feb. 3
Andrew North & The Rangers, Feb. 10

Tupelo Music Hall
Corey Rodrigues, Kyle Crawford, and Alex Giampapa, Jan. 14 (Comedy)
Martin Barre, Aqualung 50th Anniversary Tour, Feb. 11

The Music Hall
Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive) and Vilray, Jan. 29
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Feb. 27

SNHU Arena
JoJo Siwa, Feb. 22
KoRn & Chevelle, March 19

Bank of NH Pavilion
Ringo Starr & Avett Brothers, June 4
Jack Johnson, June 21

Featured photo: Chelsea Paolini. Courtesy photo.

Escape to 2022

Music, comedy and more for New Year’s Eve

Send off 2021 in style with music, comedy and more on Friday, Dec. 31. Know of a party not mentioned here? Let us know at music@hippopress.com.

• 603 Bar & Lounge (368 Central Ave., Dover, 742-9283) A night of DJs offers Sex on Decks with support from DJ Deja and Pete Vitello. 9 p.m.

• 815 Cocktails & Provisions (815 Elm St., Manchester, eventbrite.com) $100. The theme at this downtown speakeasy is Red Carpet — think Music Awards, and the fun wardrobe that goes with that. Open bar, eats, dancing, unlimited photo booth, midnight Champagne toast. 9 p.m.

• Alan’s (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631) NYE with Stray Dog, $15 per person, 8 p.m.

• American Legion Post 47 (551 Foundry St., Rollinsford, 742-5833) Acoustic Radio fifth annual bash with opener Aunt Peg, $15, with prime rib dinner available. 7:30 p.m.

• American Legion Post 70 (169 Walton Road, Seabrook, 474-2430) Ghost Riderz rock in the New Year, $20 per person. Starts at 9 p.m.

• American Legion Post 98 (43 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, 429-0343) Kid N’ Play Style New Year’s Eve Bash with a mix of ’80s/’90s hip-hop and R&B music. 9 p.m.

• Angel City Music Hall (179 Elm St., Manchester, 931-3654) Rock in 2022 with Everybody Wants Some – A Tribute to Van Halen ’78-’84; The Hellion – Judas Priest Tribute; and Caliente Pistolas. $50 dinner buffet by Chef Sean, Champagne toast at midnight. Starts at 7 p.m.

• Area 23 (State Street, Concord, 881-9060) With edgy new song “Deathmask,” Faith Ann Band performs, joined by special guests Alfredo Benavides and Ben Harris. 7 p.m.

• Ashworth by the Sea (295 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-6762) Party with a live band, hors d’oeuvres and a seated surf & turf dinner, a cash bar, late-night snack, midnight Champagne toast, and fireworks on the beach. DJ dancing. 6:30 p.m.

• Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564) Stuck In Time Band performs ’60s, ’70s and ’80s covers, with free buffet and midnight Champagne toast. 8 p.m.

• Backstreet Bar & Grill (102 Plaza, 76 Derry Road, Hudson, 578-1811) DJ Bobby Lane leads a dance party. 8 p.m.

• Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, eventbrite.com) $45 to $90. Shuttavac NYE Spectacular is inspired by the bold speakeasies of the Roaring 1920s to the iconic New York nightclubs of the 1970s, where people escaped to celebrate in inclusive, bold and glamorous worlds. 8 p.m.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540) New Year’s Eve dance party with DJ Hustle Boy, $55, cash bar. 7 p.m.

• Blue Ocean Music Hall (4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury, Mass., 462-5888) The tradition continues with a New Year’s Eve bash starring The Fools & Psychedelic Relics, with optional dinner buffet. Champagne toast, party favors and midnight balloon drop. Dinner and show $92; show only $28 general admission. 7 p.m.

• Bonfire Restaurant & Country Bar (950 Elm St., Manchester, 217-5600) Martin & Kelly perform country rock. 9 p.m.

• Boston Billiard Club (55 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 943-5630) Live music from The Apathetics, $10 cover. Reserve a pool table for the night for $175. Includes an appetizer platter, bottle of Champagne and the cover is waived for up to four people in your party. 9 p.m.

• Breezeway Pub (14 Pearl St., Manchester, 621-9111) Drag Roulette Fridays. 8 p.m.

• Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) Mystical Magic performs downstairs, with DJ upstairs spinning all night long. $45 per person includes buffet (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) and party; $20 for party only. Hats & tiaras, noisemakers, beads and Champagne toast. 8 p.m.

• Buckey’s (240 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Moultonborough, 476-5485) Red Hat Band plays its traditional NYE set. 9 p.m.

• Cask & Vine (1 East Broadway, Derry, beerfests.com) Celebrate this gastropub’s 10th year with its NYE masquerade party. $25 deposit will be applied to the bill. Includes midnight Champagne toast. 6 p.m.

• Castleton Banquet and Conference Center (58 Enterprise Dr., Windham, eventbrite.com) $200. Dress to impress with three-course meal, open bar all night, 50/50 raffle, Joey Dion from Main Event Entertainment, photo booth, midnight Champagne toast. 7 p.m.

• Central Ale House (23 Central St., Manchester, 660-2241) Gatsby Gala Midnight Masquerade with 1920s style dress code, midnight Champagne toast. Starts at 6 p.m. Email info@centralalehouse.com to RSVP.

• Cercle National Club (550 Rockland Ave., Manchester, 623-8243) Drink specials, party favors and Plan B playing rock covers at this members club. 6 p.m.

• Chen Yang Li (520 South St., Bow, 228-8508) Great Gatsby party hosted by DJ Kenny P. 8 p.m.

• Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) An evening of active rock with Leaving Eden and Band, Inc., led by 18-year-old singer and bassist Giuliana Amaral. 6:30 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, headlinersnh.com) Two events: Comedy with Matt Barry, James Dorsey and Greg Boggis in one room, Dueling Pianos in another. $30 each show, 7 and 10 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, headlinersnh.com) Two events: Comedy with Joe Yannetty, Joey Carrol and Mark Scalia in one room, Dueling Pianos in another. $30 each, 7 and 10 p.m.

• Coach Stop (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022) Pete Peterson performs an early set. 7 p.m.

• Common Man (88 Range Road, Windham 898-0088) Singer-songwriter Karen Grenier performs an early set. 6 p.m.

• Concord Holiday Inn (172 Main St., Concord, 224-9534) Comedy with Mike Donovan and Amy Tee, dancing and toast — with dinner and room $276 per couple, dinner-only $188 per couple, $94 single. 8 p.m.

• Copper Door (41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-3033) Jodee Frawlee plays an early set. 3 p.m.

• Copper Door (15 Leavy Dr., Bedford, 488-2677) Jordan Quinn plays an early set. 3 p.m.

• CR’s (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972) Rico Barr Trio playing holiday hours 5 to 11 p.m.

• Crow’s Nest (181 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 974-1686) DJ Golo provides the music with prizes, giveaways and extended hours. 9 p.m.

• Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) Chad LaMarsh rocks the party. $20 a ticket includes admission to see the music, Champagne toast at midnight and party favors. 9 p.m.

• Farm Bar & Grille (1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276) The Gold Everything Party: Jam’n 94.5’s DJ Sammy Smoove and Boston’s DJ Real Ace spin top 40, hip-hop and Latin hits. Gold attire is encouraged but not mandatory for entry. $25. 8 p.m.

• Flying Monkey Movie House (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551) Comedian Bob Marley is back, performing three times, at 3, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Tickets start at $39.50. 8 p.m.

• Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015) Joe Wedge Experience performs. 9 p.m.

• Fody’s Derry (187 1/2 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946) Pop Roks plays fun covers. 9 p.m.

• Fratello’s (155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022) Clint LaPointe plays. 8 p.m.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (194 Main St., Nashua, 889-2022) Justin Jordan entertains. 9 p.m.

• Gibb’s Garage Bar (3612 Lafayette St., Portsmouth, portsmouthnh.com) Elijah Clark plays an early set at this throwback automotive-themed restaurant. 7 p.m.

• Grill 28 (200 Grafton Road, Portsmouth, 766-6466) Dave Gerard of Truffle plays an early set. 6 p.m.

• Headliners (700 Elm St., Manchester, 988-3673) Open after a long hiatus, with three comics and DJ spinning in the ballroom. Packages include food, drink and dancing, starting at $40. 8 p.m.

• High Octane (1072 Watson Road, Laconia, 527-8116) Masquerade party with EXP Band playing, best mask cash prize, Champagne toast as this Lakes Region club celebrates its first anniversary. 8 p.m.

• Hillsboro Moose Lodge (15 School St., Hillsboro, 464-6024) Cellar Dwellers, Superbug and Probable Cause perform, with a Champagne toast at midnight plus snacks, appetizers and food. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 6 p.m.

• Homestead (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022) Ralph Allen performs. 6:30 p.m.

• Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, ticketmaster.com) Grammy-winning jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta Big Band perform. $375 to $425. 7 p.m.

• Jocelyn’s (355 S. Broadway, Salem, 870-0045) Brian Walker performs an early set. 6 p.m.

• L Street Tavern (17 L St., Hampton, 967-4777) Craig LaGrassa performs. 8 p.m.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898) New Year’s Eve dinner with Freese Brothers Big Band followed by a stroll through the LaBelle Lights. $121.50. 9 p.m.

• Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832) Sindicate rocks in the new year. 9 p.m.

• Murphy’s Taproom (494 Elm St., Manchester, scampscomedy.com) Dancing Madly Backwards follows a comedy show with Dave Rattigan, Chris Cameron, E.J. Murphy and Casey Crawford. $22. 8 p.m.

• Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org) $38, Champagne Pops, Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra led by special guest conductor Dr. Dirk Hillyer and guest vocalist Jacyn Tremblay, performing selections from Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Cabaret, Chicago, The Godfather, West Side Story and a collection of Gershwin swing favorites. 8 p.m.

• Nan King Restaurant (222 Central St., Hudson, 882-1911) Patty Shock’s Energizer Karaoke provides entertainment. 8 p.m.

• Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588) Recycled Percussion is again home for the holidays — ring in 2020 with junk rock. Two shows, 4 and 7:30 p.m. $35 to $45.

• Pasta Loft (241 Union Sq., Milford, 672-2270) Fatha Groove fills the dance floor. $10 includes Champagne toast at midnight. 7 p.m.

• Pats Peak Ski Area (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 728-7732) New Year’s fireworks (slopes close at 10 p.m.) and dancing to The McMurphys in the Sled Pub. 6 p.m.

• Penuche’s Ale House (6 Pleasant St., Concord, 228-9833) NYE party with Felix Holt. 9 p.m.

• Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 436-8123) Lady Ro drag show is back after two years. 10 p.m.

• Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, 430-9122) Boston Circus Guild – Welcome to The Show. Cirque du Soleil-inspired evening with live entertainment and DJ music. VIP packages available by emailing brandonburke@portsmouthgaslight.com. 8 p.m.

• Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588) Juston McKinney’s Year In Review comes to Manchester, $35 (also New Year’s Day). 8 p.m.

• River Hill Grange (32 Horse Hill Road, Penacook, penacook.org) Midlife Crisis album release party with K Daver, Kinetik, Mass Militia, Livid Rhymer and Quincer. $20 includes free drinks. 7 p.m.

• Rochester Elks Lodge (295 Columbus Ave., Rochester, 332-9700) Bill Vendasi performs at a Mad Hatter’s party, $45 per person includes cocktail hour with appetizers, prime rib or chicken cordon bleu dinner, dessert and midnight toast. 9 p.m.

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 369-6962) Bite The Bullet Band plays fourth annual bash, $55 tickets include buffet from 7 to 9 p.m. and a late-night pizza buffet, Champagne toast and party favors. 7 p.m.

• Salt Hill Pub (2 W. Park St., Lebanon, 448-4532) 19th annual New Year’s Eve party featuring Vermont and New Hampshire’s only cowpunk-thunder boogie band, Road Trash. $10 admission, 8 p.m.

• Sawbelly Brewing (156 Epping Road, Exeter, 583-5080) Parker Richards, back for the holidays from Nashville, performs an early set. 5 p.m.

• Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) Lock The Doors Bash is reprised with limited $50 tickets covering a food buffet, midnight Champagne toast, giveaways, Chris Bennett, a.k.a. DJ Myth, spinning and open bar. The club will be closed to anyone without tickets (21+ only). 8 p.m.

• Sheraton Hotel (250 Market St., Portsmouth, eventbrite.com) Mark Riley, Ryan Gartley and host Steve Scarfo provide the laughs at the 12th annual show presented by Live Free and Die Laughing. Early show $28 (8:30 p.m.), late show $38 (10:30 p.m.).

• Soho Bistro (20 Old Granite St., Manchester, 222-1677) $20 for starters with up to $600 for VIP packages gets you into an elegant NYE party. 9 p.m.

• South Side Tavern (1279 S. Willow St., Manchester, 935-9947) Cox Karaoke hosts with dancing, party favors and Champagne toast at midnight. No cover. 9 p.m.

• Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) Club d’Elf with special guests John Medeski & David Tronzo. $75. 6 p.m.

• Stonecutters Pub (63 Union Sq., Milford, 213-5979) KJ-Dave O hosts New Year’s Eve karaoke with spot prizes for ugly sweaters and much more fun in store. 9 p.m.

• Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210) Swipe Right Band performs. 8 p.m.

• Sweeney Post #2 (251 Maple St., Manchester, 623-9145) The Lexi James Band, with lots of food, lots of great music and lots of fun. 8 p.m.

• The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 767-2226) Back in the Day plays this Weirs Beach room at 8 p.m. $10.

• The Goat Hampton (20 L St., Hampton, 601-6928) Alex Anthony performs at Hampton Beach’s only country bar at 8 p.m.

• The Goat Manchester (50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 603-4628) NYE party with Those Guys at this club family’s newest location at 8 p.m.

• The Goat Portsmouth (142 Congress St., Portsmouth, 658-4628) Chris Toler plays early. 9 p.m.

• Thirsty Moose (21 Congress St, Portsmouth, 427-8645) Connecticut pop rock band Mattson performs in the basement music space while great beer flows on both floors, 9 p.m.

• Tower Hill Tavern (264 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-9100) $10. Resident DJ Kadence hosts a karaoke NYE party, 8 p.m.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100) Adam Ezra Group and opening duo Sirsy play with a four-course dinner at 5:30 p.m. for $95; 8:30 p.m. show only is $40, and all tickets include a Champagne toast.

• Tuscan Market & Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467) The Deviant (Mindset X leader Scott Haiduchuk’s acoustic alter ego) performs. 8 p.m.

• Veteran’s Club (118 John Stark Hwy., Newport, 863-3945) $10 for Talkin’ Smack, a popular cover band playing the hits. 7 p.m.

• Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) Paul Lussier plays an early set. 5 p.m.

• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 926-6954) Boston based rock/pop cover band Down A 5th performs at this party. 9 p.m.

• Waterville Valley Ski Area (1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley, 236-8311) Gabby Martin at T-Bars and Henry LaLiberte at Freestyle, with fireworks at midnight. 3 p.m.

• XO Bistro (827 Elm St., Manchester, 560-7998) Acoustic Moxie performs an early set. 6:30 p.m.

• Yankee Lanes (216 Maple St., Manchester, 625-9656) Roll New Year’s Eve three-hour bowling party $99.95 per lane for up to six people. 9:30 p.m.

Featured photo: Courtesy image.

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