Category: Nightlife

Bluegrass duo Green Heron

Fans of old-time music have a few opportunities to partake of one of the region’s best in the next few weeks, as Green Heron has performances ahead in Boscawen, Barrington and Laconia. Betsy Green and Scott Heron’s deft, delicate instrumental interplay and inspired harmonies make the case for them as New Hampshire’s own Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

The two initially connected as musicians, then found a deeper bond. In 2015, Green’s sibling group The Green Sisters was booked on a show with The Opined Few, which included Heron. At an after-hours jam session, Heron thought, “I’d like to get one of those girls in our band.” He ended up with more than that; they’re now married.

They’ve made three albums together. 2018’s Folk Heroes and 2019’s New Pair of Shoes contained mostly original songs, bluegrass with a timeless, dipped-in-amber character. Last year’s Feet on the Floorboards had a balance of Green Heron-penned tunes and traditional classics. Recorded at home, its 15 tracks offered a better reflection of their onstage sound.

For their next project, “I’m thinking a little bigger, and at the same time a little smaller,” Heron said by phone recently. “In this day and age, how many songs do you want to record? People aren’t necessarily sitting down and listening to full albums … let’s just get five or six decent songs together.”

Some of the newer material will likely be teased at their upcoming shows. They’re at High Street Coffee House on Jan. 6, bookending the regular open mic event. “We were lucky enough to get asked to kick off that series,” Heron recalled. “We played it once live, and also a livestream … it’s a wonderful time.”

In mid-2020, they serenaded an outdoor crowd from a gazebo overlooking Laconia’s Belknap Mill during the height of the pandemic; they’ll be inside for a Jan. 12 show. The many al fresco shows necessitated by Covid-19 were an unexpected pleasure that inspired them even after masks and social distancing were in the past.

“We actually did one in our backyard at our old house at the end of the warm-weather season, with a bunch of people and a couple of bands,” he said. “I miss that.”

A recent move to Barrington has them close to Nippo Golf Club, which is home to an early autumn to late spring bluegrass series that’s a fixture in the regional roots music scene. Green Heron’s next gig there will be a rare full-band affair. They’ll be backed by bass player Jed Rosen (Rockspring, Hot Day at the Zoo), Dave “Lonesome Dave” Talmadge (New England Bluegrass Band, Bolt Hill Band) on bluegrass banjo, and dobro player Bob Kordas (Fret Benders).

“The Nippo bluegrass series has just got such a fun built-in crowd,” Heron said. “A lot of friends go there regularly, and they’re all musicians, so we kinda just grabbed a few close friends and got them together.” It’s the first of two Nippo Lake appearances for the duo in the current season. Betsy also has a pair of shows with The Hazel Project, a tribute group that celebrates the music of bluegrass heroes Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard.

Both she and Heron have other musical irons in the fire. He plays with Tim Cackett in The Wagoners and performs in a duo with Manchester musician Liam Spain occasionally. Green’s sister act continues, and she’s in the harmony country folk trio She Gone, along with fellow Hazel Project members Lindsay Lassonde and Whitney Roy.

Bluegrass music moves naturally toward such community, and recruiting like-minded acolytes is a natural outcome, Heron observed.

“The music just kind of lends itself to collaboration, mostly because it’s acoustic and it’s simple… anybody with a guitar or banjo or fiddle can play,” he said. “We all kind of know the same stuff, [so] you can instantly start jamming.”

Green Heron
When: Friday, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Where: High Street Coffee House, 12 High St., Boscawen
More: facebook.com/greenheronmusic
Also: Full band on Sunday, Jan. 8, 6 p.m., Nippo Lake Restaurant, 88 Stagecoach Road, Barrington ($8 to $10 donation) and Thursday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m., Belknap Mill Society, 25 Beacon St., Laconia ($10 at the door)

Featured photo: Green Heron. Photo by Amanda Jean Kowalski.

Music and comedy New Year’s Eve bashes

Looking to send 2022 off in style? Here are some places with plans for Saturday, Dec. 31 — New Year’s Eve.

• 3S Artspace (319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, 766-3330) Dress loud and have fun at Harsh Promadillo, a prom-themed 21+ dance party with music from Harsh Armadillo, with The Q-Tip Bandits. A prom king and queen will be crowned. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $21 and up.

• 603 Bar & Lounge (368 Central Ave., Dover, 742-9283) DJ Tuggboat back to back with DJ Donald Bump, starting at 9 p.m. and ending with a New Year’s Champagne toast.

• 815 Cocktails & Provisions (815 Elm St., Manchester, 815nh.com) This ’80s Prom Party promises to be gnarly to the max, totally, for sure. Open bar, featured menu, dancing, photo booth, Champagne toast at midnight. Starts at 9 p.m., tickets $120.

• Alan’s (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631) New Year’s Eve with Stray Dog playing covers, $15 per person, starts at 8 p.m.

• American Legion Post 21 (7 Perley St., Concord, 225-0498) Technical Difficulties — the band, not the excuse — performs at 8 p.m.

• American Legion Post 22 (189 Mechanic St., Lebanon, 448-3429) Dance with Cruisin’ after a 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour and 6:30 p.m. dinner that offers the choice of steak or chicken as a main course. $20.

• American Legion Post 47 (551 Foundry St., Rollinsford, 742-5833) Acoustic Radio is back for the sixth time in a row; the annual bash includes opener Middleman. $15 with prime rib dinner available; event starts at 7:30 p.m.

• American Legion Post 6 (96 Islington St., Portsmouth, 436-7575) Echo Brook performs rock covers at 8 p.m.

• Area 23 (254 N State St., Unit H, Concord, 881-9060) Smokestack Blues with Gardner Berry opening, 7 p.m.

• Ashworth by the Sea (295 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-6762) Party with Midtown Horns, cash bar, hotel restaurant, midnight Champagne toast, and fireworks on the beach. $20. Starts at 8 p.m.

• Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564) Stoned Wasp plays “hippie style jam music” with raffles, drink specials and more, starting at 7 p.m.

• Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) A tribute to America’s most extravagant nightclubs, inspired by the bold speakeasies of the Roaring Twenties and the iconic New York nightclubs of the 1970s, starts at 8 p.m. Tickets $45 to $90 plus fees.

• The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 767-2226) NYE bash featuring Eric Grant Band, Dylan Cooper and the Beer Belly Boys starts at 8 p.m. $20.

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

• Breezeway Pub (14 Pearl St., Manchester, 621-9111) Drag Roulette NYE hosted by Portia Chanel and Sasha Stone at 8 p.m.; DJ Topher B spins with showtime at 10 p.m. $10.

• Bridgewater Inn (367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-3518) Catfish Howl plays blues downstairs, with a DJ upstairs all night long. $50 includes buffet (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.); $20 for party only, starting at 8 p.m. Hats, tiaras, noisemakers, beads and midnight toast.

• Brook Casino (319 New Zealand Road, Seabrook, 474-3065) Aerosmith tribute band Draw The Line performs at 7:30 p.m. $35.

• Buckey’s (240 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Moultonborough, 476-5485) Red Hat Band is back, an annual tradition, at 9 p.m.

• Castleton Banquet & Conference Center (58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, eventbrite.com) Ring in the new year with East Coast Entertainment, featuring DJ music, dancing, a three-course meal and an open bar, all starting at 7 p.m. $125.

• Cercle National Club (550 Rockland Ave., Manchester, 623-8243) Potluck dinner and appetizers with Off Duty Angels playing rock covers at this members club; the fun starts at 7:30 p.m. and there’ll be Champagne at midnight.

• Chen Yang Li (520 South St., Bow, 228-8508) 1950s style dance party hosted by DJ Kenny P at 8 p.m.

• Chop Shop (920 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-7706) AD/HD – The AC/DC Experience, a tribute act from Boston, at 6:30 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 232-4794) $30 for early comedy show starring Robbie Printz, Mark Scalia and Alex Giampana (7 p.m.), followed by Dueling Pianos show (separate $40 ticket) with Champagne at midnight.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 880-8055) Comedy show starring Robbie Printz, Matt Barry and Dan Crohn at 7:30 p.m. $30.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-7499) Comedy show starring Dan Crohn, Tim McKeever and Mark Scalia at 7:30 p.m. $30.

• Coach Stop (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022) Rebecca Turmel plays an early set at 7 p.m.

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

• Concord Holiday Inn (172 Main St., Concord, 224-9534) New Year’s Eve cocktail party at 8 p.m. to benefit Project S.T.O.R.Y. and a book launch.

• Copper Door (15 Leavy Dr., Bedford, 488-2677) A local musician plays from 6 to 9 p.m., with a special NYE prix fixe menu.

• Copper Door (42 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033) A local musician plays from 6 to 9 p.m., with a special NYE prix fixe menu.

• Covered Bridge Farm Table (57 Blair Road, Campton Lower Village, farmtablenh@gmail.com) $10 Black & White Ball with Pete Downing and Mira George starting at 6 p.m., followed by Sly Richard at 9 p.m. $100 for a table for eight or $50 for four includes a complimentary bottle of Champagne and nibble board to snack on.

• CR’s (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972) Live music from 5 to 10 p.m.

• Davignon Snowshoe Club (218 Wilson St., Manchester 623-8239) Brideau, Nichols, Westover play a no-cover show at 8 p.m.

• Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) Chad LaMarsh rocks the house. $25 a ticket includes admission to see the music, Champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Starts at 9 p.m.

• DoubleTree Hotel (700 Elm St., Manchester, headlinersnh.com) Transform into a Venetian dream at the Masquerade Ball, 6 p.m. cocktail hour with cash bar, 7 p.m. dinner, 8:30 p.m. comedy show starring Joe Yannetty, Jody Sloane, Rob Steen and Eric Hurst. Also separate Dueling Pianos show. Dinner and hotel packages available. $60 and up.

• Dover Town Hall (288 Central Ave., Dover, 516-6000) Black tie optional with dancing to Black Agnes Band, fireworks at 9 p.m., Champagne toast at midnight, hors d’oeuvres by Mezzanine Catering. Event starts at 6:30 p.m. $75.

• East Side Club (786 Massabesic St., Manchester, 669-1802) Cry Uncle (or maybe Synergy) plays rock covers at 9 p.m. with a potluck at 6 p.m. for members and non-members of this private club.

• Elks Lodge No. 146 (290 Granite St., Manchester, 623-9126) A Roaring 20’s New Year’s Eve Party starts at 9 p.m. and includes finger foods, the Jennifer Mitchell Band and a Champagne toast at midnight. $20.

• Flannel Tavern (345 Suncook Road, Chichester, 406-1196) Get an early start with Country Don from noon to 2:30 p.m., Joe Pero from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and Dave Graham from 6 p.m. until close. Drink specials, food and surprises all day.

• Fleming Center (formerly New London Barn Playhouse) (84 Main St., New London, 562-6710) Curated dinner menu, Champagne and an assortment of drinks. Entertainment includes Bethany Gwen Perkins, known for her role at the Barn Playhouse as Patsy Cline in Always…Patsy Cline, and Janoah Bailin, a circus and juggler entertainer. Table seating. $150. Starts at 7 p.m.

• Flying Monkey Movie House (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551) Comedian Bob Marley is back, performing at 2, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $46.50.

• Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015) ’90s alt rock stalwarts Smashing Cranberries perform at 9 p.m.

• Fody’s Derry (187 1/2 Rockingham Road, Derry, 404-6946) Pop Roks keeps it modern at this party starting at 9 p.m.

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

• Giuseppe’s (312 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3313) Bob Kroepel plays requests at the piano starting at 9 p.m.

• The Goat (50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 603-4628) NYE party with Seven Day Weekend starts at 8 p.m. at the newest member of this club franchise.

• The Goat (142 Congress St., Portsmouth, 658-4628) Mike Forgette plays at 9 p.m.

• Governors Inn Hotel & Restaurant (76 Wakefield Road, Rochester, 332-0107) $80 admission includes dinner with appetizers and dessert, along with dancing to classic rock and pop cover band Bad Penny. Starts at 7:30 p.m.

• Granite State Music Hall (546 Main St., Laconia, granitestatemusichall.com) Hollow Virtue with special guests Wired for Sound, along with supporting local acts, at 6 p.m. $15.

• Haluwa (44 Gusabel Road, Nashua, 864-8348) Red Line helms a two-day celebration at this beloved Chinese restaurant. Starts at 8 p.m.

• Headliners Comedy Club is hosting a New Year’s Eve gala at the Hilton DoubleTree in Manchester (700 Elm St.) on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. Ticket prices must be purchased by noon on Dec. 31 and prices start at $35 per person. Visit headlinersnh.com.

• Hen House (85 S. Main St., Newton, 382-1705) New Year’s Eve Bash with Stumpy Joe Band again hosting the party, at 9 p.m.

• Hermanos (11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669) Singer and guitarist Mark Bartram plays covers and originals, 6:30 p.m.

• High Octane Saloon (1072 Watson Road, Laconia, 527-8116) Hell On Heels plays rock covers at this Lakes Region club celebrating a second anniversary, 8 p.m.

• Hillsboro Moose Lodge (15 School St., Hillsboro, 464-6024) Local Sound Development Band featuring WhoLeo and Jimmy playing classic rock, $10, event is open to the public. 8 p.m.

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

• Inn on Newfound Lake (1030 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 744-9111) Annual gala starts at 6 p.m. and includes cocktail hour with appetizers, five-course dinner, Champagne toast, fireworks at midnight, live music and dancing, Champagne, cash bar. $125.

• Jade Dragon (515 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-2280) DJ Mike Kelly entertains; tickets include dinner, dancing, party favors and a midnight toast. $20. Starts at 8 p.m.

• Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (135 Congress St., Portsmouth, jimmysoncongress.com) Gatsby-esque New Year’s party with Scott Sharrard leading an all-star orchestra through the likes of Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith and more to create an original evening of swing/jump blues music inspired by the Roaring Twenties, with buffet, passed hors d’oeuvres and midnight Champagne toast. Doors open at 7 p.m. There’s a 5 p.m. VIP reception in MONA. Tickets $375 to $425.

• L Street Tavern (17 L St., Hampton, 967-4777) Live band on the second floor with DJ Dubz playing dance and DJ Jeff doing karaoke, free appetizer buffet, no cover. 9 p.m.

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

• Luna Bistro (254 North Broadway, Salem, luna-bistro.com) Black Tie Cocktail Party starts at 6 p.m. and features The Hep Cats doing Sinatra and Rat Pack tunes. White glove passed hors d’oeuvres, dessert buffet, Champagne toast at midnight. Proper attire and advance ticket purchase required; cash bar available. $100.

• Martingale Wharf (99 Bow St., Suite W, Portsmouth, 431-0901) First Night – Fire & Ice has DJ music, eros photo booth and ice sculpture among other attractions. NYE menu with token payment system. Starts at 6 p.m.

• Masonic Temple (1505 Elm St., Manchester, 543-5072) MB Enterprises has an international cuisines cocktail party with DJ, Bollywood dancing, belly dancer show, passed appetizers, bourbon tasting from 7 to 9 p.m., and Champagne at midnight. $100. Starts at 7 p.m.

• Muddy Road Brewery (213 Middleton Road, New Durham, 767-5997) Singer-guitarist Chris Gowland entertains at 8 p.m.

• Murphy’s Carriage House (393 Route 101, Bedford, 488-5875) Comedy show with Jim Colliton, Mike McDonald and host Chris Cameron at 8 p.m. $30 or $65 (includes dinner).

• Murphy’s Taproom (494 Elm St., Manchester, scampscomedy.com) Comedy show with Jason Merrill, Dan Donahue, Francis Birch and Juan Cespedes at 8 p.m. $25 ($30 at the door).

• Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org) Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra evokes the Roaring Twenties. John Page leads the orchestra, along with old-fashioned bubble machines and a real Champagne bar. 8 p.m. $30.

• Music Hall Loft (131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 433-3100) Following outdoor First Night festivities, high-energy string band Rockspring performs at 10 p.m., with a midnight Champagne toast. $35.

• Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588) Recycled Percussion is again home for the holidays. Two shows: 4 and 7 p.m.

• Party at the Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., Nashua) with the last ever performance of Take 4 for a New Year’s Eve Bash on Saturday, Dec. 31 starting at 4 p.m. There will be a set menu and a Champagne toast at midnight. Visit thepeddlersdaughter.com.

• Pasta Loft (241 Union Sq., Milford, 672-2270) Beloved cover band The Slakas returns; $10 admission includes Champagne toast at midnight. Event starts at 7 p.m.

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

• Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 436-8123) Take in a performance of First Night, a romantic comedy by the author of Moonglow, Jack Neary, at 10 p.m. Tickets $27.

• Polish American Club (15 School St., Nashua, 889-9819) DJ music, food, cheer and a midnight Champagne toast. Starts at 8 p.m.

• Portsmouth Book & Bar (40 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, 427-9197) Taylor Swift-inspired NYE celebration with themed karaoke, cocktails, snacks and dance party, starting at 7 p.m. $5 in advance, $8 at the door.

• Portsmouth Gas Light (64 Market St., Portsmouth, 430-9122) Boston Circus Guild’s Welcome to The Show, a Cirque du Soleil-inspired evening with live entertainment and DJ music, starting at 8 p.m. VIP packages available.

• Press Room (77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 431-5186) Ski Party with DJ Chad Banks and Adrienne Mack Davis starts at 9 p.m. $40.

• Re/Mix Social Club (1 Pleasant St., Claremont, 504-4231) Alcohol-free party at a nonprofit downtown Claremont alternative to the typical club/bar atmosphere. Enjoy warm beverages from the coffee bar along with catered hors d’oeuvres as people share their experiences with overcoming addiction. (7 p.m.)

• Red’s Kitchen & Tavern (530 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 760-0030) Jordan Quinn plays at a NYE Pajama Party; wear your favorite bedtime get-up for a night of live music, drinks, dancing, food, prizes, giveaways and more starting at 8 p.m.

• Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588) Juston McKinney’s Year In Review comes to Manchester, show at 8 p.m., tickets $35 (also on Friday, Dec. 30).

• Riley’s Place (22 Mt. Vernon St., Milford, 325-2177) Old friends Aces & Eights ring in the new year. Starts at 9 p.m. $25 advance, limited number of seats for $10 at door.

• Rio Tequila Cantina (37 Bow St., Portsmouth, 433-8655) Music with Adam Forbes, performing acoustically at the newest addition to Portsmouth’s dining scene, at 6:30 p.m.

• Rockingham Ballroom (22 Ash Swamp Road, Newmarket, 448-8000) Dancing all night on the area’s largest dance floor starting at 8 p.m. with DJ host Johnny B Groovy. $30 and $40.

• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125, Kingston, 369-6962) Casual Gravity plays fifth annual bash, $60 tickets include buffet from 7 to 9 p.m. and a late-night pizza buffet, Champagne toast and party favors.

• Salt hill Pub Lebanon (2 W. Park St., Lebanon, 448-4532) Adam McMahon Trio performs with complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Starts at 9 p.m. $10.

• Salt hill Pub Newport (58 Main St., Newport, 863-7774) Tirade, featuring Toby Moore, plays the 14th annual bash at 9 p.m. $5.

• Sea Dog Brewing (9 Water St., Exeter, 793-5116) DJ Doug York plays from 9 p.m. to midnight; free appetizers at 11:30 p.m. with creative dinner selections from Chef Calvin.

• Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246) Lock The Doors Bash is reprised with limited $60 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. Event is 21+ only. 8 p.m.

• Side Bar (845 Lafayette Road, Hampton, eventbrite.com) Music from DJ CHN, a free pizza and app buffet, a free Champagne toast, drink specials all night long, starting at 9 p.m. $25.

• Sky Meadow Country Club (6 Mountain Laurels Dr., Nashua, headlinersnh.com) Comedy with Kevin Lee and Tim McKeever, along with DJ dancing, starting at 6:30 p.m. $75.

• Soho Bistro (20 Old Granite St., Manchester, 222-1677) Party Science with DJ Lefte at 9 p.m.

• Sol Southern Kitchen (111 State St., Portsmouth, 319-8175) Tim Parent & The Grim Bros Duo (with Tim and Ben Butterworth) NYE musical celebration starts at 9 p.m.

• Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700) Idlewild: A Celebration Of The Allman Brothers Band and Not Fade Away Band join forces for Peach Lightning, an evening of Allmans and Dead tunes, at 6 p.m. $20.

• Strand Ballroom (20 Third St., Dover, 343-1899) Comedy with Mike Donovan and Amy Tee, followed by musical guests The Broken Heels. Starts at 7 p.m. Tickets $50 and up.

• Stumble Inn (20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210) New Year’s Eve bash featuring Last Kid Picked starts at 8 p.m.

• Sweeney Post No. 2 (251 Maple St., Manchester, 623-9145) Stuck In Time Band, with a potluck dinner; bring an app, favorite dish, or dessert to share. 8 p.m.

• Thirsty Moose (21 Congress St., Portsmouth, 427-8645) Eric Marcs & Solid Group rock the basement music space, while great beer flows on both floors. 9 p.m.

• Tokoss (1293 Elm St., Manchester, 486-1538) Food, drinks and music starting at 8 p.m. with DJ Kamix spinning. The first 50 people will receive a New Year’s celebration package. $20 and up. VIP table reservations are available.

• Tower Hill Tavern (264 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-9100) DJ Tim hosts Karaoke NYE party starting at 8 p.m.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100) Adam Ezra Group and opening band Billy Keane & the Waking Dream play at 7 p.m., with a four-course dinner at 5:30 p.m. for $95; 8:30 p.m. show only is $45, and all tickets include a Champagne toast.

• Tuscan Market & Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467) Silver Springs Fleetwood Mac tribute with Leaving Eden at 8 p.m.

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

• Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230) The Full Bob Pratte Band performs at 5 p.m.

• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 926-6954) Popular cover band Pop Disaster performs at this party starting at 9 p.m.

• WSCA Radio (909 Islington St., Suite 1, Portsmouth, 430-9722) Exotic Family Records showcase, 21+ BYOB, starts at 7:30 p.m.

Featured photo: Karen Grenier is due to play at the Common Man in Windham.

Era-evoking New Year’s Eve gala in Concord

A retro vibe will blend with entertainment spanning decades, as the Bank of New Hampshire stage is transformed into a splendorous Roaring Twenties-themed ballroom on New Year’s Eve. Performers, ranging from chorus girls on the main stage to a jazz combo with a Sinatra-styled lead singer mining the Great American Songbook in the upstairs lounge, will ring in 2023 with a sexy verve.

Though the evening will commence with “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” much of the ensuing soundscape will be familiar to those who attended a similar bash three years ago at the Concord venue, which back then had a Studio 54 disco theme. The same Boston DJ/VJ who performed that night will return, with a broad song palette accompanied by striking big-screen visuals.

“One of the reasons I have him is because he likes to play a wide range of music,” Boston event artist Beth McGurr, who’s curating the night, said by phone recently. “Some DJs only want to play hip-hop, or Top 40, or house. He likes to have fun with it, and pull out songs that maybe you haven’t heard in a long time, or that you wouldn’t really expect. Plus, a video DJ is harder to find than a regular DJ.”

Another centerpiece of the evening will be the Honey Taps, a New York City song-and-dance troupe that began in the ’80s. It includes members who often appear in Broadway shows when they’re not tapping away in flapper garb and doing songs like “Happy Feet” and “Anything Goes” with infectious energy. Their efforts are “interactive,” McGurr said. “They get the audience to participate and dance with them … get up on stage and dance there too.”

During the evening’s earlier hours, revelers will find sanctuary in the intimate, speakeasy-bedecked lounge overlooking downtown. The Page, Shontz & Rose Jazz Trio will play, with piano, upright bass and woodwinds backing vocalist Lenny Zarcone, who channels not only Ol’ Blue Eyes but Mel Torme, Tony Bennett and other crooners. “It will be a Rat Pack vibe up there,” McGurr said. The room is appointed with comfy chairs and couches to help boost the easygoing mood.

Along with music and dance, there will be an aerialist swinging from the ceiling in the center of Bank of NH Stage’s brick-lined main room, drag performers, a photo booth to capture memories, and party favors to accompany the celebratory midnight Champagne toast — which also will have a balloon drop and confetti blast. A few surprises are promised as well. “Expect the unexpected,” McGurr said. “There’s something around every corner.”

McGurr considered doing a Roaring Twenties night for her initial endeavor in Concord, in 2019. “I didn’t do it the first time…. I was trying to be different,” she said. “It was 2020 and everybody was doing that thing, [but] now, three years later, I’m doing a speakeasy. It’s just a great New Year’s theme; I think everybody loves to dress up and have fun with it.”

This New Year’s Eve party was slated to happen last year, but everyone caught Covid, performers and staff included. The pandemic hit McGurr hard, as the events her Interactive Nightlife company specializes in can’t translate to Zoom. She was also grounded from flying, making it doubly difficult for her. “What I love most in life are traveling and throwing parties, and neither one I could do for two years,” she said. “I was at the edge of going crazy.”

She returned to the Granite State with a Halloween party in October, and hopes this event will flow into a busy 2023, with more Concord soirees planned, spanning a range of themes. “I was really excited after the first New Year’s, because that was my first event up there and I had a momentum going … but then we took a two-year pause,” she said. “I find people are much more comfortable at parties now… everything seems to be pretty busy — knock on wood.”

The event offers two entry tiers, general admission and a VIP level with a pair of drink tickets and access to balcony seats. Attendees are encouraged to come in their favorite finery, whatever decade they choose to evoke. “It’s still that Studio 54-type vibe, where anything goes,” McGurr said. “Dress up, have fun with your style.”

Featured photo: Honey Taps. Courtesy photo.

April Cushman and Brad Myrick team up

On paper, the pairing of April Cushman and Brad Myrick is unexpected. At the recent New England Music Awards, she won for Best Country Act, while he was nominated in the jazz category. Over the years, however, they’ve connected a lot, at area open mics and through bookings done by NH Music Collective, an agency co-run by Myrick.

Recently, they tried playing together informally and found a strong musical connection. So, when Cushman got an offer to open for Scotty McCreary at Keene’s Colonial Theatre, she reached out to him to see if he’d be interested in making her solo act a duo for the show.

It turned into a heady night, as the sold-out crowd responded thunderously to their first song, a rarity when most fans are typically trickling in when the opener is on stage. That gig led to a headlining date for Cushman’s band at the intimate Colonial Showroom on Dec. 9, with Myrick joining the group; it sold out. Over the past several months, they’ve played many shows together, in big and small rooms.

“Brad and I have always been booking with each other and playing a lot of the local places,” Cushman said in a recent co-interview with Myrick. “It just came about that we should collaborate and come together. I’m a rhythm guitarist and Brad is amazing at everything he does. We’re both huge advocates of original music. I regret not doing it sooner than we did.”

Though his recorded output points in one direction, “I gotta say, I’m decisively a rock and pop guy,” Myrick offered. “It’s funny, when I moved back to New Hampshire after being away for a decade, the first project that got some traction was a quintet, so everybody around here started thinking of me as a jazz guy.”

Cushman concurred. “A lot of country music stuff is really rooted in rock and bluegrass,” she said. “When you think about taking Brad and me separately and combining them together where we are both so rooted in rock … country music is very pop these days, and bluegrass … it just worked very well.”

Myrick is especially excited by working in the studio; the two connected in a big way there. Cushman’s debut, The Long Haul, was made in Nashville with session players, and Cushman was looking for a change, both in approach and venue. In November, she and Myrick recorded two of her songs at The Greenhouse Studio in Gilford, for release next year.

“Smoke” is a both aching and sweet ballad that alludes to the trap of social media. “Do you feel like you have to use that filter?” Cushman sings. “Are you stuck somewhere in between who you are and what they see?” Myrick’s fingerpicking guitar perfectly complements the all-acoustic track. The treasure-every-moment “Borrowed Time” is equally intimate and includes a Myrick harmony vocal.

“I wanted to come out of the gates with the first record … radio-ready,” Cushman said. “But at the end of the day, I never played on any of those tracks. I tracked all the vocal work myself … but any of the acoustic guitar on The Long Haul, it’s not me. Playing with Brad in the studio and keeping it local, I think is very important.”

“It was really easy for me to share music with April because she’s got songs; the lyrics are relatable,” Myrick said. “As a side man, I’m listening to the singer, I’m thinking, ‘How do I support that and give it a second voice?’”

Their next duo show is opening for Joe Nichols in Boston Dec. 15. Locally, they’ll do an apres-ski set at Sunapee Resort on Friday, Jan. 6, and share the stage with Houston Bernard Band at the Press Room in Portsmouth on Jan. 20. Both are keeping busy solo schedules. Myrick has a few holiday shows upcoming, including one at Café One East in Warner on Dec. 17 and another at Contoocook Cider Co. on Dec 21.

He spent last summer in Italy, recording a soon to be released record with longtime musical partner Nicola Cipriani. “I think it’s my masterpiece, the best thing I’ve done in 41 years of being alive; I’ve never been so excited about music,” he said, adding, “the last few months have been great playing with April; she’s on such a great trajectory right now. I’m so proud of her, she’s just killing it.”

Death, Seventh Son, Nights of the Dead and Somewhere in Time. When it sells out, there are other items that headbangers will love, like a Pantera set, along with standalones of Ronnie James Dio and Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider.

Featured photo: April Cushman and Brad Myrick performing at NEMA2022. Photo Credit: M. Allen Photography

Music fan gift guide

From modest to massive, local to legend, light fun to heavy tomes, there’s a great gift for the music fan in your life. Here are some ideas sure to bring a smile this holiday season.

Rocking Horse Music Club’s Circus of Wire Dolls (rockinghorsemusicclub.com) is one of the best records to come out of New Hampshire in years, an ambitious rock opera of memoir and anthropomorphism that could very well be on Broadway one day. Its lineup includes area talent and progressive rock legends, led by creator and producer Brian Coombes — available on vinyl and CD.

Speaking of local acts, several released great albums this year. Couple Gravity and the Stars Above, the moody pop-punk sophomore release from Donaher (facebook.com/donahertheband), with a cool T-shirt. Go country with April Cushman’s NEMA-winning The Long Haul and a bull skull hoodie (aprilcushman.com), or gift Faith Ann Band’s raging In Bloom with a piece of their leader’s handmade jewelry (thefaithannband.com).

Concert tickets are a gift that pays off now and later, when the shows actually happen. The two-day Northlands Festival (northlandslive.com) is returning next June, this time with The String Cheese Incident and Phish’s Mike Gordon topping the bill at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey. The long-awaited Nashua Center for the Arts finally opens in April, with Suzanne Vega, blues polyglot Grace Kelly and ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro all on sale, along with other shows (nashuapac.org).

For the gadget-minded, there are some great options. If you’re feeling really generous, the Beolit 20 from Bang & Olufsen is a perfect gift. It’s a portable Bluetooth speaker that runs around $500, which is entry level for the Danish sound company. Along with pristine output, the unit’s top doubles as a magnetic charge base for mobile phones.

Less lofty is JBL’s Charge 5, a (totally) tubular speaker that’s waterproof and quite powerful. Apple AirPods are always a safe pick; the third-generation ones pack a big bass wallop. For the extravagant, there’s the sleek and powerful over-ear AirPods Max. Just as beautiful is the Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame, which does not require user assembly, a rarity for that store. It works with Sonos, AirPlay and Spotify Connect.

How thoughtful is the clever offering from Vinylify, a bespoke vinyl album containing a playlist of choice and customized cover art? The site also offers gift cards, a safer choice that will allow your music lover’s imagination to run wild. You can give them some ideas with Easton Press’s voluminous Rock Covers book, which collects more than 750 sleeves from Elvis and onward, organized by artist and spanning rock’s 40-year “golden era” at a pricey $176.

More down to earth are books about classic rock favorites. Bob Spitz, whose past works include an encyclopedic look at The Beatles, has a biography of Led Zeppelin that does a great job with the band’s early days, when its four members were scrappily climbing the ladder and learning the ropes. U2 front man Bono’s Surrender looks back at his life through 40 of his band’s songs.

If fiction is more to your favorite fan’s liking, a good choice is a hardcover copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six with a “She just seemed so fearless” bookmark. The novel traces the rise and fall of a band that sounds very much like the Stevie Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac.

Given the recent passing of Christine McVie, now’s a fine time to spin “Don’t Stop” and “You Make Loving Fun” — or marinate in McVie’s own music. There’s a Glyn Johns remaster of her Songbird: A Solo Collection that’s a good choice there. Or go further back in McVie’s career: For the hardcore fan, there’s a limited white-vinyl edition of the 1970 record she made as Christine Perfect on Amazon — an import, naturally.

Everyone loves toys for Christmas, especially music fans. One of the best (and hardest to get) is Funko Pop! Rocks: Iron Maiden Glow In The Dark Box Set (popmarket.com). It includes four 4.5-inch Eddie figures of the English heavy metal band: Live After Death, Seventh Son, Nights of the Dead and Somewhere in Time. When it sells out, there are other items that headbangers will love, like a Pantera set, along with standalones of Ronnie James Dio and Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider.

Featured photo: A bespoke vinyl album containing a playlist of choice and customized cover art through Vinylify.

Amanda McCarthy duos for hometown show

On a Thursday afternoon in late October, Amanda McCarthy played a set at Bobby’s Idle Hour, a no-nonsense bar nestled at the edge of Nashville’s Music Row. The busy performer had another gig scheduled later that evening, but this one was special, marking the release of “Lifeline,” a song that takes a healthy look back at a long-gone relationship.

“When I finished that song in the writing session, I was like, ‘Well that’s all I have to say,’” McCarthy recalled in a recent phone interview. “I think there’s something really cool about that feeling.” Begun a few years ago and completed with the help of her fiancé, Tom Shubsda, and Martin Butter, its finality shares common ground with Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well.”

At her side that day was Sam Ferrara, a singer-songwriter she’d worked with a lot since leaving New Hampshire just over two years ago, lately singing backup on Ferrara’s own ex-boyfriend burn, “Get Out of My Town.” The two will be making a trip North in early December, with dates at NYC’s Cutting Room and Over The Moon Farmstead in the Granite State.

“I played in New York City before, but she’s from there, so it’ll be really cool to meet her people and be with her in her home environment,” McCarthy said. “Then I’ll get to bring her to New Hampshire.”

The bond with Ferrara is one of many McCarthy has formed since her 2020 leap of faith to Music City. She’s been a part of several songs that have been recorded, co-writing Benn Park’s “Mountain Steep” and penning “Unwrite Every Song” with Emily Myers. “That was a special one,” McCarthy said. “She’s also one of my best friends.”

Though written years ago, “The Long Haul” recently helped April Cushman win a New England Music Award for Best Country Act. McCarthy still hews to the song’s message of tenacity in the face of challenge. “I’ve kept my expectations low but my work ethic high,” she said. “I’ve always been kind of an underdog in a way, and I have no problem working harder day by day, trying to figure it out.”

Her biggest success isn’t one song or even the award she received from Young Entertainment Professionals Nashville for being its most active member. “Being able to quit my job was certainly validating because it let me say I’m stable enough, I’m getting enough work that I can do this,” she said.

She’s aware it’s a crucible that’s not for everyone. “I was always a full-time musician up north and the big question was can I do this in Nashville,” she said. “I was able to, and that really gave me a confidence boost and let me know I’m on the right path, no matter where it’s going. Every time someone records a song I’ve helped write is validating, because it shows me that other people see the value in what I write, not just me.”

The move also helped her growth as an artist. “I’ve learned so much about songwriting from being here, and it hasn’t even been from anyone telling me that I was doing anything wrong. I think just being around so much of it, you absorb a lot, you get inspired by a lot. I’ve kind of become in tune with knowing how to really pull out my inner voice. But I can also become other people’s voices, which is a very cool way to switch things up — and my voice has gotten stronger.”

McCarthy looks forward to seeing friends and family and doing some tax-free Christmas shopping during her brief visit, which also includes a solo show at The Bar in Hudson on Dec. 4. Beyond that, performing at Moonlight Meadery’s home base is about more than music for her.

“The owners, Michael and Bernice, are my best friend’s father and stepmother, and she’s my maid of honor,” McCarthy said, noting that the bridal shower for her wedding next spring happened at the facility. “So not only are they part of an amazing music venue, but I have a very personal connection with them…. I’ve known them since I was a kid, so it’s very cool to be playing there.”

Amanda McCarthy & Sam Ferrara
When: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m.
Where: Over The Moon Farmstead, 1253 Upper City Road, Pittsfield
More: amandamccarthy.com

Featured photo: Amanda McCarthy. Photo Credit Nash Bash Collective.

Step out for a musical December

From big stages to small, national touring acts and regional heroes will fill the nights with mirth and melodies throughout December.

Here’s a taste of what’s coming.

• Bookend the month, and then some, with Recycled Percussion. The junk rockers close out their latest, Redonkulous, at their personal performance venue, The CAKE, with 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows (tickets $35 to $110) on two Saturdays, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 28, they’ll invade Manchester’s Palace Theatre ($35 and up) for a 13-show run that concludes on Jan. 7.

• Over at the Palace’s sister room The Rex Theatre, get festive and international with a week of holiday-themed events. On Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Boston-based jazz singer Rich DiMare serves up A Sinatra Christmas($29 and up), followed Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. by the Celtic fiddle mastery of A Joyful Christmas with Eileen Ivers ($39). On Wednesday, Dec. 14, Italy takes a jazzy bow with Anthony Nunziata: My Italian Broadway Christmas; the next day, it’s Eric Mintel’s Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas. The Spain Brothers offer a blend of holiday-themed Irish and American folk on Saturday, Dec. 17 (all shows 7 p.m., $29).

• At the state’s largest venue,the SNHU Arena, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra returns for the 21st time since their Manchester debut in 2001, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m., as Keith Lockhart conducts the 2022 Holidays Pops Tour. Tickets are $55 and up at ticketmaster.com.

• At Concord’s Bank of NH Stage on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., Portland, Maine-based Spencer and the Walrus recreate The Beatles’ studio recordings with astounding accuracy, joined by a six-piece horn section ($38). The theme continues with well-regarded Talking Heads tribute act Start Making Sense on Saturday, Dec. 3. at 8 p.m. ($15 and $30). Tim Reynolds, who rose to fame through his collaboration with Dave Matthews, plays with his TR3 band on Friday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m. ($36).

• The Capitol Center for the Arts hosts a trio of seasonal shows starting with The Seamus Egan Project’s Celtic Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. ($32 and up). The Capital Jazz Orchestra does its Holiday Pops show on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. ($27.50 and up) and the annual Morning Buzz Christmas Ball happens Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p. m. ($45, recommended age 18+)

• Tupelo Music Hall is packed from Day 1, as bluesman Popa Chubby stops by, with local favorite Brooks Young as an opener, on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. ($30). Guitar shredder Gary Hoey, whose Ho! Ho! Hoey! holiday show is synonymous with the season, plays Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. ($35 and up). Musicians’ musician Martin Sexton hits Tupelo Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. ($40 and up), and folk chanteuse Judy Collins offers hits and holiday songs Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. ($55 and up).

• At Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, guitarist and legendary side man Larry Carlton digs into Steely Dan’s catalog — that’s him wailing on 1976’s “Kid Charlemagne” — and plays other hits Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. ($35 to $115). Singer-songwriter Dar Williams serves up erudite folk songs Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. ($10 to $60), while British Blues Hall of Fame guitarist Matt Schofield plays Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. ($15 to $55).

• At the nearby newly renovated Music Hall Lounge, the utterly charming Antje Duvekot appears Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. ($37 and up), and Thanks to Gravity, a band key to the early ’90s Seacoast scene chronicled in the 2012 documentary In Danger of Being Discovered, plays two shows, Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. ($28 and up).

• 3S Artspace has a few live music events, including free ones like Mission of Burma’s Roger Clark Miller playing from his boundary-stretching album, Eight Dream Interpretations for Solo Electric Guitar Ensemble, on Friday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Small Pond tops a Saturday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. show with Hello Shark and Sneaky Miles ($15). The headliners began in Portsmouth doing DIY shows, later opening for national acts like The Ballroom Thieves and Haley Heynderickx. Their sound is described as “swingy, laid-back indie rock with big hooks and undeniably catchy lyrics.” Boston emo stalwarts Piebald plays a 3S date on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 8 p.m. ($25).

Venues
Bank of NH Stage 16 S. Main St., Concord; ccanh.com
The CAKE Theatre 12 Veterans Square, Laconia; thecaketheatre.com
Chubb Theatre (Capitol Center for the Arts) 44 S. Main St., Concord; ccanh.com
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club 135 Congress St., Portsmouth; jimmysoncongress.com
Music Hall Lounge 131 Congress St., Portsmouth; themusichall.org
Palace Theatre 80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org
Rex Theatre 23 Amherst St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org
SNHU Arena 555 Elm St., Manchester; snhuarena.com
3S Artspace 319 Vaughan St, Portsmouth; 3sarts.org

Featured photo: Recycled Percussion. Courtesy photo.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s big show returns

Few acts usher in the holiday season quite like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, with its Christmas cocktail of classic rock, classical music and theatrical flourish topped with lasers and smoke bombs. Fans set their calendars by them, gathering families to take in a show that gets bigger and better each year.

For their stop in Manchester on the day after Thanksgiving, TSO will reprise the rock opera that put them on the map, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. Originally a 1999 television special, it offers traditional songs such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and originals including “Music Box Blues” and “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24),” the latter the template for the massive band that’s captivated audiences for over 25 years.

Recent times have been challenging. In 2017, visionary founder Paul O’Neill died, but at the behest of his widow Desi and other family members TSO carried on. Three years later, the pandemic sidelined them from playing live; instead they did a virtual pay per view show that was a far cry from their epic arena firepower.

“It was as strange for the band members as it was for the fans,” drummer Jeff Plate said of the lost year in a recent phone interview. Returning to the stage in 2021, he had “a whole new appreciation for wow, we are so lucky to do what we do. But we were also in the bubble; we were anxious, there was this anxiety … I was so relieved when we got done.”

Breathing easier this time around, the group is focused on keeping O’Neill’s vision going, a task that in the days after his death seemed overwhelming.

“When we lost Paul, I’ll be honest with you,” Plate recalled, “there was a moment when I sat down on the couch with my wife and said, ‘maybe that’s it’ … none of us were really sure what was going to happen.”

However, it soon became clear that continuing was “exactly what Paul would want us to do … he had said many times, ‘It’s going to outlive us all, we’re going to pass this on from generation to generation.’ The reality is, TSO has become a tradition. That’s a pretty heavy statement, but it’s true…. Some people can’t even function until they see TSO to get their holidays going.”

Moving forward was also helped by the fact that TSO is a well-oiled touring machine, with separate East and West Coast runs. Each has its own cast, crew and semi-truck fleet.

“We’ve been operating like that since the year 2000,” Plate said. “Losing Paul was huge, but everybody knew the job at hand and just how much more focused we needed to be…. There’s no way to make these tours as good as they are, and as successful as they are, without that kind of commitment.”

Plate first worked with O’Neill in Savatage, the band that spawned TSO, on their 1995 album Dead Winter Dead. “It was a really interesting time, because the band had changed so much and Paul’s gears were turning all the time,” Plate recalled. At first, no one knew what to make of the “Carol of the Bells” meets Emerson, Lake & Palmer track “Sarajevo,” which would reappear on the first TSO album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories.

“We were all questioning, what was Paul thinking, putting this song on this record, but there was no denying how great the final version was,” Plate said. “To see that song take off in a completely different direction and all of a sudden become this huge hit, it was like, you know, Paul could see down the road further than the rest of us.”

Once again, the upcoming show will be divided into two acts, starting with Ghosts of Christmas Eve stitched together with narration, followed by a greatest hits segment. “This is a fan favorite, and it’s a band favorite too,” Plate said, “one of my favorite shows to play. It’s high energy, with a really good vibe to the whole thing.”

As the interview ended, Plate made sure to make a note of another TSO tradition: donating a dollar from every ticket sold to a local charity. It came with another nod to their founder’s family. “Over $16 million we’ve donated across the country all these years,” he said. “It could have easily gone away when we lost Paul, but his wife and daughter really stepped up. … We can’t thank Paul enough for everything that he’s done, but his family has also been very, very critical to all that too.”

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
When: Friday, Nov. 25, 3 and 7:30 p.m.
Where: SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester
More: $52.50 to $102.50 at snhuarena.com

Featured photo: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Courtesy photo.

Eclectic band Annie In The Water hits Manchester

The music of Annie In The Water is a contagious hybrid of rock, funk and rhythm infused with a feel-good reggae groove. It’s the kind of sound that’s kept Michael Franti bouncing around the globe for decades, done with capability and verve.

For many years the band was a duo; singer-guitarists Michael Lashomb and Bradley Hester met while attending college in upstate New York in 2006. When a female friend fell into a lake trying to tie up her boat, they found a name, and gigged steadily in the region.

Ten years later, Lashomb and Hester began assembling what would grow into a six-piece band. One of their recruits was drummer Josh West, then at a crossroads when his longtime band decided to forego touring for local shows. West stuck around for a couple of years, departing to work on his own record; the collection of songs, completed during the pandemic, will drop next spring.

West returned to the group last summer. In an interesting twist, he replaced the original drummer of Lucid, the band he’d been in before joining the first time. Along with Hester, Lashomb and West, members now include bassist Chris Meier, Matt Richards on keyboards, and percussionist Brock Kuca.

It’s a big sound, West agreed in a recent phone interview.

“We’re really taking the time to explore what it means to play in a band with that many people and all these layers, and make sure that we’re not overplaying,” he said. He’s known Richards since his days in Formula Five and Meier from his earlier band Space Carnival. “We hadn’t really done much playing together; but we’re friends… we’ve respected each other’s musical abilities.”

Influences for the group come from a myriad of sources. West is a big fan of drummer Bernard Purdy, who played with Steely Dan and others, along with Carlton Barrett of the Wailers. He also names Snarky Puppy and Ghost Notes as favorite bands. Others in the group cite festival mainstays like Grateful Dead and Phish, along with ’90s alt rock.

A recent Halloween show was indicative of the group’s wide-ranging oeuvre. “We’re playing everything from Prince to Blink-182 to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Radiohead, to Daft Punk,” West said. “A big eclectic kind of influence there, but I think all these songs really speak lyrically and are kind of timeless pieces.”

When it first came together, the band was mainly a vehicle for the original duo’s material. A debut album, Time To Play, “was pretty much all songs that Brad and Mike had written 10 years ago,” West said. The second studio effort was more collaborative; though he wasn’t on the sessions for this year’s The Sun At Dawn, West called it evolutionary. “Since I’ve been back, that kind of energy has carried over.”

West recalled a recent songwriting session at a hunting camp in northern Vermont, where the band is now based. “We each brought a song to the table, and on top of that, we all have little parts,” he said. “It’s really a very democratic process, [with] open and equal energy… which is very inspiring.”

The newest lineup is already poised to follow up Sun At Dawn.

“We’ve got pretty much a new record of songs that we’ve written in the last three months,” West said. “We’re getting ready to hit the studio for this winter.”

That energy has translated to the stage. “The camaraderie in the band between members is at an all-time high; we’re firing on all cylinders right now,” West continued. “Pretty much every show we’ve been playing lately, the energy is tangible in the room; it’s just something you gotta come check out.”

Jordan Paul’s JigsMusic agency booked the band’s Veterans Day show at Shaskeen Pub in Manchester.

“I’m so excited to bring Annie in the Water back to the Granite State,” Paul said in a recent text message. “We haven’t seen them since before the pandemic. I know they’ve been picking up a lot of steam with their new lineup and I’m very excited to see this new chemistry everyone’s been talking about.”

Annie In The Water w/ DJ SP1
When: Friday, Nov. 1, 9 p.m.
Where: Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester
Tickets: $10 at the door
More: See facebook.com/annieinthewater

Featured photo: Annie In The Water. Courtesy photo.