The story of NH Music Collective
It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional musician, though having a repertoire helps. Without knowledge of business ins and outs — where to play, how to get paid, who wants to hear originals and not Tom Petty covers — even the best players can get lost.
It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional musician, though having a repertoire helps. Without knowledge of business ins and outs — where to play, how to get paid, who wants to hear originals and not Tom Petty covers — even the best players can get lost.
How it started
When Brad Myrick came back to New Hampshire in early 2011, he’d spent close to a decade chasing his dream of being a professional musician, studying in Los Angeles at USC’s Thornton School of Music, then traveling between the West Coast and Europe, playing shows, making records and learning the ropes.
Myrick was happy to be back home. He fixated on finding a way to continue as a performer in his home state.
“I like the quality of life, and I think this is probably where I want to settle down,” Myrick recalled thinking. “How can I still get that full music business experience while living in a place that is so small and doesn’t have a huge music industry?”
As he dove into getting gigs and building his name, Myrick got caught off guard.
“I was thinking, boy, there’s a lot more going on in New Hampshire than I could have ever imagined; it’s actually a great place to be a musician,” he said. “There’s a lot of live music, there’s a ton of talent … wonderful people doing really great things.”
What was missing was something resembling a centralized scene.
“There’s a cool thing happening in Portsmouth, good stuff in Manchester, and the North Country has got its thing, but people seem to be a little more regional and localized,” he said. “There were a lot of gigs, but not what I was used to seeing in Los Angeles or in some of the cities in Europe.”
“There’s a cool thing happening in Portsmouth, good stuff in Manchester, and the North Country has got its thing, but people seem to be a little more regional and localized,” he said. “There were a lot of gigs, but not what I was used to seeing in Los Angeles or in some of the cities in Europe.”
There was a little bit of self-interest in Myrick’s musical field of dreams but, to mix a metaphor, reaching his goals was going to take a village.
“If this is going to be my home and I want to be a professional musician for the rest of my life, how do we invite people in?” he was thinking. “How do we get everyone connected as much as possible, and then have resources that may exist in bigger places?”
He aimed for the yet-to-be-created indie record label, the singer-songwriter stringing together bar gigs and wondering what to do next, but he was thinking bigger than that.
“What if we had access to local health care for musicians — doctors and chiropractors and naturopaths,” he mused. “Massage therapists that understand musicians because we have different problems than other folks do; what if we had any resource that a musician might need?”
With a brand designed and a Facebook page created, Myrick began obsessively filling notebooks. “I’d be on a plane going to Italy and I’d make bullet points of my ideal scenario if I had infinite money and resources to offer to myself and to musicians in New Hampshire,” he said.
NH Music Collective’s first foray into business turned out to be more down to earth than Myrick’s lofty dreams. He booked a midweek gig at the Stark House Tavern in Weare. It was his first time there, and the managers told him they were pleased with his performance. Moreover, they wondered if he knew anyone else who might play there?
Why, yes, he did.
“Booking is essentially creating jobs for performing musicians,” he said. “I did it for myself and I realized there was an opportunity to get more people involved in that. Suddenly it went from a show for me to like eight shows a month, twice a week or whatever, and other people are getting work from that. That basically told me this thing happened that you’re thinking about, this NH Music Collective idea.”
This was in 2013, and it stayed a one-man side hustle, albeit a growing one. “I’ll make a few bucks off it, it’ll create a bunch of gigs for people,” he said. “I started just doing that casually while I was working as a full-time performer, that was the catalyst of the whole thing.”
It took finding a partner — two of them — for Myrick’s NH Music Collective vision to fully flower.
John McArthur and his wife, Reva Tankle, moved from Massachusetts in 2018 to help their son run The Greenhouse, a Gilford recording studio he’d opened a year before. McArthur quickly met Concord musician Mike Gallant, and Mikey G — everyone calls him that — put McArthur and Myrick together.
The two hung out at Strings and Things, a musical instrument store in Concord, and Myrick ended up bringing a couple of projects to the studio, including the Eric Lindberg Trio, which he played in at the time, and his duo with fellow guitarist Nicola Cipriani. They also talked a lot about Myrick’s idea for NH Music Collective.
McArthur’s path to the music business has a familiar beginning and an atypical middle.
“I dropped out of a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology to play music full-time, which I did while my wife, Reva Tankle, finished her Ph.D. and did a postdoc,” he said by phone from Portland, Maine, where they now live. McArthur gave up music when they moved to Texas. “I didn’t play country at the time, so I stopped playing.”
After that, “I kind of fell into tech for 35 years, then I dropped out of tech to go back into music full-time, thanks in part to my son and thanks in part to Brad,” he said. “I play a few times a month but not at the level that Brad does — those years are behind me.”
Myrick and McArthur’s conversations got more serious in 2020, and during the depths of the pandemic they formed a three-way partnership.
“A downturn is a great time to start, because everything looks like growth from there,” said McArthur with a chuckle. “I’m just loving spending all my time in music now, trying to help emerging artists and help venues create better experiences.
Myrick books shows, McArthur does artist development, and Rankle handles the nuts and bolts. “Contracts, finance, communication with the artists to make sure they know where they’re supposed to be, what they’re supposed to get, that they get there on time and everything’s ready for them when they get there,” McArthur said.
“We kept the brand because I’d already built it for many years and had some success,” Myrick said. “Then we have a small record label and a publishing company underneath this parent company, using them for one-off projects. We haven’t really promoted it, but the infrastructure is there and we’re working on that as a future goal.”
Home is where it’s at
One thing they’re trying to dispel is the belief that the region’s musicians are bound to leave for a bigger market.
“I encourage people from here to get out and explore, have an experience, particularly if it’s in a place that’s got some industry where you can go and, frankly, get your ass kicked.” Myrick said. “It’s good to have that experience and get pushed and learn what it’s really like in a larger scale.”
While going to a city like Nashville to work with a big-name producer can be exciting, it’s not necessary.
“We have world-class musicians, recording studios, business folks, promoters, all the things that you need to be a successful professional musician,” he said “It’s helpful to get insight and see what the big world has to offer, and I encourage everyone to do that. But you don’t have to.”
That said, there are trade-offs. NHMC has a growing roster of talent performing seven days a week all over New England. While some shows are listening-room affairs (where original music is the primary focus for the audience), more are at venues where music is one item on a big menu. Myrick, however, believes doing original songs and covering the hits both build the same muscle.
That said, there are trade-offs. NHMC has a growing roster of talent performing seven days a week all over New England. While some shows are listening-room affairs (where original music is the primary focus for the audience), more are at venues where music is one item on a big menu. Myrick, however, believes doing original songs and covering the hits both build the same muscle.
A few NHMC acts talk about their experiences.
Justin Cohn is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who was recently featured on the Rocking Horse Music Club rock opera Circus of Wire Dolls.
“As for my own music, I always have trouble describing it,” Cohn said. “I guess it’s a mix of indie folk, pop, Americana, and rock, with maybe a little bit of soul thrown in…. I like to see where the creative process leads me.”
Cohn contacted Myrick after seeing NHMC’s name at venues he played; the two met for coffee. “Brad described the philosophy and intention as much more than just another booking agency,” he recalled. “Their goal was to empower musicians who also want to make original music … cover gigs are a means to an end. The pitch hooked me immediately, because that’s the direction I wanted to go, but I didn’t really know how to get there.”
He’s been pleased with the results.
“The shows I’ve been fortunate to book through them have been some of the best I’ve ever regularly played, especially in the restaurant and bar scene,” Cohn said. “Depending on the venue, this means I’m able to play some of my original music with more frequency. This seems like a small thing, but it’s dramatically expanded my self-confidence and it’s ultimately led to more creativity.”
Rebecca Turmel put out her first single a little over a year ago. Her latest is a poignant tribute to touring life called “The Road.” She’s among several NHMC artists nominated for the upcoming New England Music Awards.
“I feel honored to be a part of their roster as they work with some of the most dedicated and talented musicians that I know,” she said. “They have connected me with high-quality venues that I thought I could only dream of performing in. For example, I just had the privilege to perform at the Bank of NH Stage … my first true listening room experience as an original artist.”
“It’s hard to put my sound into a box right now since I still have a lot of growth ahead of me as a songwriter, but what I’ve released so far seems to fall into the country genre,” Turmel said. “I am still discovering who I am, and with that comes finding my sound as an original artist as well. It’s all a learning game.”
Turmel has been working with NHMC for around a year.
“I feel honored to be a part of their roster as they work with some of the most dedicated and talented musicians that I know,” she said. “They have connected me with high-quality venues that I thought I could only dream of performing in. For example, I just had the privilege to perform at the Bank of NH Stage … my first true listening room experience as an original artist.”
Ryan Williamson is a past NEMA nominee who uses looping and multiple instruments in his shows.
“I’m a self-taught musician who writes music that covers pop, rock, and Americana,” Williamson said. “ I play a bunch of gigs around New Hampshire and love to play songs you wouldn’t expect to hear from a solo artist with a guitar.”
He knew Myrick before he established NHMC, and got involved early.
“I wanted to do anything I could to help with his efforts to create the local scene he envisioned; there is not a single musician on the planet that I respect more than Brad Myrick,” he said. “He is absurdly talented in his own right … and more committed to creating a thriving local music scene than any person I know.”
His involvement has led to many opportunities, Williamson continued.
“Aside from opening my musical reach to more accepting listening rooms, Brad has joined me on stage and made me a better musician … coordinated events with groups of local musicians, which helps engage the musical community with each other as well as showcasing the brilliant talent of these artists to the public in the spaces that crave entertainment.”
Some of the past and present listening room efforts include a monthly event at Sap House Meadery in Ossipee that mixes music, themed dining and mead tasting. “People really want unique experiences,” McArthur said. “One of the first bands we had was Brazilian, so we had Brazilian food. We had a performer from the Ukraine who sang songs in Russian … he’s a Soviet refusenik, just a beautiful concert. We had traditional Eastern European Jewish food to pair with that.”
The upstairs lounge at Bank of NH Stage hosts regular Sunday afternoon shows, while The Livery in Sunapee had a well-attended summer series with artists including April Cushman playing in a duo with Myrick, Cecil Abels and the New England Bluegrass Band, Eric Lindberg, Ari Hest, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio, Charlie Chronopoulos, Jud Caswell, Hot Skillet Club, Squeezebox Stompers and Peter Mulvey. In November, Senie Hunt will perform there.
Backyard Brewing in Manchester is a long-time customer, and venue manager Marcus Doucet couldn’t be happier.
“Having live music instantly brings a buzz to any space, it engages our customers in their surroundings and makes the experience of dining out feel more personal and inviting,” Doucet said, adding that NHMC performers “are all extremely talented and kind, they are all individuals with a passion for what they do…. We love when musicians will play cover songs that everyone knows, but also love when they perform songs they have written.”
The future
The NH Music Collective website lists a range of services available to musicians, including an artist development component that offers coaching services. “Regardless of where you are today and your ultimate music goal,” they “will be by your side providing informed, direct, and specific guidance on steps to take to reach your goals.”
It’s key to McArthur’s role. “My vision is to continue to enhance the level of the musicianship that we provide,” he said. “I want to spend more time working more closely with a handful of artists to really move the needle for people who want to make this their life career. This is a tough business … we want to help those that are serious about it.”
To make it all work — for musicians, listeners and venue owners alike — requires alchemy as much as art.
“Maybe the most important thing as we move forward is we’re really trying to create experiences, if we’re going to have an impact on the music scene and on the community at large,” Myrick said. “We have a chance to really make an experience where people show and know they’re getting live, preferably original music. It can be more than just come and go — that really becomes special.”
Find the music
See the musicians of New Hampshire Music Collective. Here are some upcoming shows, according to nhmusiccollective.com.
Thursday, Oct. 5
- Ariel Strasser at Contoocook First Thursdays (in Hopkinton), 5 to 7 p.m.
- Paul Driscoll at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Justin Cohn at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6
- Kimayo at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Paul Gormley at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- The Sweetbloods at Twin Barns Brewing Co. Meredith, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Chase Campbell at Tower Hill Tavern in Laconia, 8 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, Oct. 7
- Doug Farrell at the Contoocook Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon
- Colin Hart with The hArt of Sound at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Freddie Catalfo at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Ian Archibold at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, 3 to 6 p.m.
- Dakota Smart at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Karen Grenier at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Scott King at San Francisco Kitchen in Nashua, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Ken Budka at Chen Yang Li in Bow, 7 to 10 p.m.
- Chris Lester at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8
- Ariel Strasser at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 9
- Open Mic with John McArthur at Patrick’s Pub in Gilford, 6 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
- Brad Myrick at the Courtyard Marriott in Concord, 5 to 7 p.m.
- Chris Lester at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Concord, 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 12
- April Cushman at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Dwayne Haggins Duo at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13
- Willy Chase at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Brad Myrick at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Garrett Smith at Lochmere in Tilton, 6 to 8 p.m.
- Justin Cohen at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Kimayo at Twin Barns Brewing in Meredith, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Dakota Smart at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14
- Brad Myrick at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Garrett Smith at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Dave Clark at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, 3 to 6 p.m.
- Brad Myrick at Colby Hill Inn in Henniker, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Ryan Williamson at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Tyler Levs at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Dusty Gray at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
- Mikey G at Chen Yang Li in Bow, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15
- Ken Budka at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
- Clint Lapointe at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Concord, 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19
- Eyes of Age at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Charlie Chronopoulos at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Cover Photo: April Cushman and Brad Myrick. Courtesy photo.
