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Students helping students

It’s a tough time to be in the world of education. Local school boards spend their time addressing parental concerns on critical race theory, mask and vaccine mandates, and in-person versus remote learning. Faculty, staff and administration offer another perspective on these topics. With all the background noise, the purpose of education easily gets overlooked, and many students are struggling in the current dynamic environment. Consider what it must be like for refugee students who have landed in this new world of learning.

Recently I spoke with Riyah Patel, founder of New American Scholars, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit that provides peer-to-peer tutoring and mentorship to refugee students. Riyah started this nonprofit last summer at the age of 15 because she herself had struggled with remote learning, finding it difficult to connect with her instructors and peers. If she was struggling, how difficult must it be for kids who have been forced from their countries and homes, landing here with scant resources?

Riyah reached out to local refugee organizations and inquired about interest in a summer tutoring program for this population. The response was overwhelming. Because she had only one tutor (herself), she limited her services to 10 students. She then connected with the Concord Public Library for space. With her parents’ help on transportation, she was up and running.

The students ranged in age from fifth grade to high school. She grouped the kids based on their skill levels and worked with them Monday through Friday over the course of the summer. Due to cultural and language barriers, combined with the online learning system, the kids felt behind and abandoned by the American school system, yet they were engaged in the tutoring process and wanted to learn and fill in the knowledge gaps. By summer’s end, all students had shown immense progress. Riyah’s vision is to expand and offer services statewide, possibly partnering with schools. Her goal is for this nonprofit to become self-sustaining and carry on for many years to come. The website is up and running (newamericanscholars.org), and she is seeking additional tutors for the coming summer.

Perhaps there is a lesson in this story for the American education system. Sometimes we must cut through the noise and get down to the business of educating students, all of them, creating learning opportunities that meet individual students where they are. There are many ways to do this, and one very passionate and motivated 15-year-old student is leading the way.

Out in the snow – 01/20/22

You can still traverse your local trails in the winter, on bike and on foot, with a few upgrades in equipment and attire; just swap your road bike for a fat bike and your running shoes for snowshoes.

Also on the cover, hear what local directors, actors and other theater people have to say about their upcoming shows, p. 10. Taste the Caribbean at a new Nashua restaurant, p. 24. And Felix Cavaliere and Rascals bring their sound to the Palace Theatre, p. 34.

Masque of time

Perhaps more than any other time of year, New Year’s Day is when we are most conscious of the very ...

News & Notes 22/01/20

A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.

Covid-19 update As of Jan 10 As of Jan 14Total cases statewide 223,599 235,898Total current infections statewide 17,208 21,291Total deaths ...

Kid stuff

A look at child care accessibility in New Hampshire Amy Brooks is the executive director of the Early Care and ...

All she wrote for the Pats

So much for the 2021 Patriots season. A mostly enjoyable year, at least until it ended in disaster on Sunday ...

Quality of Life 22/01/20

Unemployment claims below pre-Covid numbers Last week’s unemployment claims in New Hampshire were 22.9 percent lower than they were during ...

This Week 22/01/20

extreme close up, orange flower petals, chrysanthemum

Big Events January 20, 2022 and beyond Thursday, Jan. 20 The Concord Garden Club and the League of NH Craftsmen ...

Ready for Curtain?

men dancing in line onstage, cast of The Full Monty

Performers, playwrights and directors discuss preparing for shows in winter 2022 From familiar classics like The Lion King Jr. to ...

The Art Roundup 22/01/20

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Prestigious exhibition at the League: The League of New Hampshire ...

Snowshoeing in a winter wonderland

2 people snowshoeing on trail through woods, sunny day

A seasonal activity that’s accessible to all Winter sports have never appealed to me. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating — I ...

Wheels on the trail

man standing with bike with fat wheels on snowy trail

Bike the Windham Rail Trail — yes, even in winter By James LeBoeuf news@hippopress.com James LeBoeuf is a local outdoor ...

Winter veggies

Plan what you’ll plant I am probably not the only person who is determined to lose a little weight after ...

Treasure Hunt 22/01/20

sheets of gold colored marking tacks, numbers on the top

Dear Donna, I came across these in my parents’ basement. Not sure what they are but they seem to be ...

Kiddie Pool 22/01/20

Family fun for the weekend At the movies Catch some family-friendly screenings at area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, ...

On The Job – Barry D’Andrea

Barry D’Andrea Shoe store owner Barry D’Andrea is the owner and operator of The Shoe Box, a family shoe store ...

The Weekly Dish 22/01/20

News from the local food scene • Wine Week called off: New Hampshire Wine Week and the Easterseals Winter Wine ...

Flavors of the islands

fish dinner in sauce, covered with onions and peppers

Caribbean Breeze now open in Nashua A new restaurant in Nashua is a one-stop culinary destination for authentic Caribbean eats, ...

Hometown comfort

Rib off the Hawg (dry-rubbed slow-roasted St. Louis-style ribs)

Hare of the Dawg Bar & Grill opens in Derry For longtime Derry couple Kevin and Lesley Decker, the restaurant ...

In the kitchen with Celine Costa

Celine Costa of Newton is the owner and head chef of Up Street Food Truck (upstreetfoodtruck.wixsite.com/upstreet, upstreetfoodtruck@gmail.com, and on Facebook ...

Banana whoopie pies

Remember all that healthy eating I wrote about a couple weeks ago? Toss it out the window! I know, healthy ...

What goes with football?

assortment of bottled wines beside plate of chicken wings

Pairing wines with NFL playoff chicken wings It is the NFL playoff season and time to have those football-centered house ...

’68 Barracuda

cocktail on countertop, surrounded by ingredients

The idea had been a solid one: walking around Boston’s North End, comparing the ricotta pie at as many Italian ...

Album Reviews 22/01/20

Album cover for Bird Friend, Dance with the Devil

Bird Friend, Carolyn Know (self-released) Fans of folk revivalists like Karen Dalton and Jackson C. Frank, Manchester local Geoff Himsel ...

Out of Office, The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home, by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen

Out of Office, The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home, by Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen ...

Scream (R)

Scream (R) Another girl, another ghostface but same old Woodsboro in Scream, the fifth movie in the Scream series, which ...

At the Sofaplex 22/01/20

The Tragedy of Macbeth (R) Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand. Joel Coen directs and adapts this Shakespeare play starring Brendan Gleeson, ...

The Music Roundup 22/01/20

Local music news & events • Local lights: A music-friendly taphouse and grill kicks off a new weekly series, NH ...

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 ...

Music this week – 22/01/20

Thursday, Jan. 20 Bedford Copper Door: Clint Lapointe, 7 p.m. Brookline Alamo: open mic, 4:30 p.m. Concord Area 23: Paul ...

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Music this week – 22/01/20

Thursday, Jan. 20

Bedford

Copper Door: Clint Lapointe, 7 p.m.

Brookline

Alamo: open mic, 4:30 p.m.

Concord

Area 23: Paul Driscoll, 7 p.m.; Ryan Williamson, 8 p.m.; April Cushman, 9 p.m.

Hermanos: Craig Fahey, 6:30 p.m.

Derry

Fody’s: music bingo, 8 p.m.

LaBelle Winery: The Joshua Tree, 6:30 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Chris Fraga, 7 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: Max Sullivan, 5 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Jennifer Mitchell, 6 p.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Ross McGinnes, 6 p.m.

L Street: live music, 6:30 p.m.; Karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 9 p.m.

Whym: music bingo, 6 p.m.

Hudson

Lynn’s 102: Karaoke w/ George Bisson, 8 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: karaoke with DJ Jason, 7 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Londonderry

Stumble Inn: Mica Peterson Duo, 7 p.m.

Manchester

Angel City: open mic with Jonny Friday, 8 p.m.

Currier: Old Tom and The Lookouts, 5 p.m.

Fratello’s: Austin McCarthy, 5:30 p.m.

KC’s: Jessica Olson, 6 p.m.

Strange Brew: Becca Myari, 8 p.m.

Meredith

Giuseppe’s: Joel Cage, 6 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Chris Powers, 5:30 p.m.

Milford

Stonecutters Pub: Blues Therapy, 8 p.m.

Nashua

Fody’s: DJ Rich Karaoke, 9:30 p.m.

Fratello’s: Johnny Angel, 5:30 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Dave Gerard & Tim Theriault, 7 p.m.

Portsmouth

The Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 9 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Chad Lamarsh, 7 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Take Two, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21

Brookline

Alamo: Robert Allwarden, 4:30 p.m.

Concord

Area 23: The Blues Express, 8 p.m.

Deerfield

Lazy Lion: NKM, 6 p.m.

Derry

Fody’s: Joe Macdonald, 8 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Johnny Angel, 8 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: Jack Shea, 5 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: BassTastic Duo, 6 p.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Don Severance, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

L Street: live music, 6:30 p.m.; karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Wally’s: KICK, 9 p.m.

Whym: Corinna Savien, 6:30 p.m.

Henniker

Pats Peak: Charlie Chronopolous, 6 p.m.

Hudson

Lynn’s 102 Tavern: karaoke with George Bisson, 8 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Tower Hill Tavern: DJ Kadence with karaoke, 8 p.m.

Londonderry

Coach Shop: Ralph Allen, 6 p.m.

Stumble Inn: Another Shot, 8 p.m.

Manchester

Angel City: musical bingo, 6:30 p.m.; Austin Worthington, 9 p.m.

Backyard Brewery: Maddi Ryan, 6 p.m.

Bonfire: live music, 9 p.m.

Derryfield: Souled Out Show Band, 9 p.m.

The Foundry: Ryan Williamson, 6 p.m.

Fratello’s: Jordan Quinn, 6 p.m.

Murphy’s: Steve Haidaichuk, 9:30 p.m.

South Side Tavern: Cox Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Strange Brew: Mica’s Groove Train, 9 p.m.

To Share Brewery: Kevin Horan, 6:30 p.m.

Meredith

Twin Barns: Justin Cohn, 5 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Marc Apostolides, 6 p.m.

Milford

Pasta Loft: Road House, 9 p.m.

Stonecutters Pub: DJ Dave O with karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nashua

Boston Billiards: Max Sullivan, 5 p.m.

Fody’s: Marlena Phillips, 7 p.m.

Fratello’s: Josh Foster, 6 p.m.

New Boston

Molly’s: live music, 7 p.m.

New Market

Stone Church: Amulus with The Chops, 9 p.m.

Northfield

Boonedoxz Pub: karaoke night, 7 p.m.

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Max Sullivan, 9:30 p.m.

Goat: Chris Toler, 9 p.m.

Thirsty Moose: Eric Marcs & Solid Ground, 9 p.m.; Dom Colizzi, 9 p.m.

Salem

Jocelyn’s: Brian Walker, 9 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Midnight Sound Society, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 22

Alton Bay

Dockside: Tim T, 8 p.m.

Auburn

Auburn Pitts: live music, 7 p.m.

Bow

Chen Yang Li: Chris Lester, 7 p.m.

Brookline

Alamo: The Incidentals, 5 p.m.

Concord

Craft Brewing: Paul Driscoll, 3 p.m.

Hermanos: Lucas Gallo, 6:30 p.m.

Penuche’s: The Special Guests, 7 p.m.

Deerfield

Lazy Lion: live music, 7 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Rob & Jody, 8 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: Chris Cyrus, 1 p.m.; Tim Parent, 5 p.m.

Shooters: Max Sullivan, 6:30 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Justin Cohn, 6 p.m.

Hampton

The Goat: MB Padfield, 9 p.m.

L Street: live music, 6:30 p.m.; karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Wally’s: Jonny Friday Band, 9 p.m.

Whym: Pete Peterson, 6:30 p.m.

Henniker

Pats Peak: Karen Grenier, 5 p.m.

Hudson

Luk’s: Ryan Williamson, 6 p.m.

Lynnn’s 102 Tavern: Off the Record, 8 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: Time Bandits, 8 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Londonderry

Coach Shop: Justin Jordan, 6 p.m.

Stumble Inn: Acoustic Tandem, 3 p.m.; Mt. Pleasant Band, 8 p.m.

Manchester

Backyard Brewery: Mikey G, 6 p.m.

Derryfield: Last Kid Picked, 8 p.m.

Elm Street House of Pizza: Brian Walker, 7 p.m.

Fratello’s: Tim Kierstead, 6 p.m.

The Foundry: Kimayo, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Paul Wolstencroft, 9 a.m.; KICK, 9 p.m.

Great North Aleworks: Kevin Horan, 3 p.m.

McIntyre: Paul Lussier, 5 p.m.

Murphy’s: Zach Newbould, 9:30 p.m.

Strange Brew: South Michigan Avenue, 9 p.m.

To Share Brewery: Drag Queen Bingo, 3 p.m.

Meredith

Twin Barns: Malcolm Salls, 5 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Marc Apostolides, 6 p.m.

Milford

Pasta Loft: The Pop Farmers, 9 p.m.

Nashua

Fratello’s: Lou Antonucci, 6 p.m.

Liquid Therapy: Brian Wall, 6 p.m.

White Birch Brewing: Chad Verbeck, 3 p.m.

New Boston

Molly’s: live music, 7 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Henley Douglas, 9 p.m.

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Jordan Quinn, 9:30 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 9 p.m.

Thirsty Moose: Ben Lyons, 9 p.m.; Redline, 9 p.m.

Rochester

Revolution Tap & Grill: Joe McDonald, 1 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Francoix Simard, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 23

Alton Bay

Dockside: Matt & Steve, Wooden Nickels, 4 p.m.

Bedford

Copper Door: Marc Apostolides, 11 a.m.

Brookline

Alamo: Chris Powers, 4:30 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: WoodWind & Whiskey, 11 a.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Steve Sibulkin, 6 p.m.

L Street: live music, 6:30 p.m.; karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Whym: Max Sullivan with Anthony LiPetri, 3 p.m.

Hudson

Lynnn’s: Vinyl Legion, 5 p.m.

Laconia

Belknap Mill: open mic, 2 p.m.

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Manchester

Strange Brew: jam, 7 p.m.

Nashua

Stella Blu: Bend and Brew, 10:30 a.m.

Northfield

Boonedoxz Pub: open mic, 4 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Nate Comp, 11 a.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Pete Massa, 8 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 24

Hudson

The Bar: karaoke with Phil

Gilford

Patrick’s Pub: open mic w/ Paul Luff, 6 p.m.

Hampton

L Street: karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Londonderry

Stumble Inn: Lisa Guyer, 7 p.m.

Manchester

Fratello’s: Phil Jacques, 5:30 p.m.

The Goat: live band karaoke, 8 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Doug Thompson, 5:30 p.m.

Nashua

Fody’s: karaoke night, 9:30 p.m.

Fratello’s: Justin Jordan, 5:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

The Goat: musical bingo, 7 p.m.; Alex Anthony, 9 p.m.

Press Room: open mic, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 25

Concord

Hermanos: Paul Bourgelais, 6:30 p.m.

Tandy’s: open mic night, 8 p.m.

Hampton

L Street: karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Shane’s: music bingo, 7 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: line dancing, 7 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Manchester

Fratello’s: Doug Mitchell, 5:30 p.m.

The Goat: Rob Pagnano, 9 p.m.

KC’s Rib Shack: Paul & Nate open mic, 7 p.m.

Strange Brew: David Rousseau, 7 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Justin Cohn, 5:30 p.m.

Nashua

Fody’s: musical bingo, 8 p.m.

Fratello’s: Clint Lapointe, 5:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

The Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 9 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Seabrook Idol, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 26

Concord

Area 23: open mic, 6 p.m.

Hermanos: Brian Booth, 6:30 p.m.

Tandy’s: karaoke, 8 p.m.

Derry

Amphora: Ted Solovicos, 6 p.m.

Hampton

Bogie’s: open mic, 7 p.m.

L Street: karaoke with DJ Jeff, 9 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 7 p.m.

Hudson

Lynn’s 102: Under Raps, 7 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: Musical Bingo Nation, 7 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Manchester

Fratello’s: Jeff Mrozek, 5:30 p.m.

The Goat: country line dancing, 7 p.m.

Stark Brewing: Cox Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Strange Brew: Howard & Mike’s Acoustic Jam, 8 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Jessica Olson, 5:30 p.m.

Milford

Stonecutters Pub: open mic, 8 p.m.

Nashua

Fratello’s: Chris Cavanaugh, 5:30 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Rhosalyn Williams, 12 p.m.

Rochester

Porter’s: karaoke night, 6:30 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Fred Elsworth, 7 p.m.

Somersworth

Speakeasy: open mic night, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan 27

Bedford

Copper Door: Jodee Frawlee, 7 p.m.

Brookline

Alamo: open mic, 4:30 p.m.

Concord

Hermanos: Brian Booth, 6:30 p.m.

Derry

Fody’s: music bingo, 8 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Justin Jordan, 7 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: Chad Verbeck, 5 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: D-Comp Duo, 6 p.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Just the Two of Us, 6 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 6 p.m.; Joe Samba, 9 p.m.

Whym: music bingo, 6 p.m.

Hudson

Lynn’s 102: karaoke w/ George Bisson, 8 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: karaoke with DJ Jason, 7 p.m.

Laconia

Belknap Mill: Palomino Motel, 7 p.m.

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Londonderry

Stumble Inn: Mugsy Duo, 7 p.m.

Manchester

Currier: Kevin Horan, 5 p.m.

Fratello’s: Clint Lapointe, 5:30 p.m.

KC’s: Joanie Cicatelli, 6 p.m.

Strange Brew: Jam Tomorrow, 8 p.m.

To Share Brewery: Ted Solovicos, 6:30 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Austin McCarthy, 5:30 p.m.

Tomahawk: Chad Lamarsh, 6:30 p.m.

Milford

Stonecutters Pub: Blues Therapy, 8 p.m.

Nashua

Fody’s: DJ Rich Karaoke, 9:30 p.m.

Fratello’s: Tom Rousseau, 5:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

Clipper Tavern: Max Sullivan, 9 p.m.

The Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 9 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Pete Peterson, 7 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Amanda Cote, 7 p.m.

Shows

• Dave Gererd and Tim Theriault Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Anthony Geraci & the Boston Blues All-Stars Thursday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Venue

• An Evening with Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m, Palace Theatre

• Red Hot Chilli Pipers Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Ambrose Akinmusire Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• The Dave Matthews Tribute Band Friday, Jan. 21, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Fred Hersch Trio Saturday, Jan. 22, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club

• Funtcase & SweetTooth Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue

• Amulus/The Chops Saturday, Jan. 21, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Who’s Bad (tribute to Michael Jackson) Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• Beechwood & Boomsoss Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• The Skunk Sessions Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Portland Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series Sunday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Citizen Cope Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

• Eddie 9V Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Nicholas Payton Thursday, Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Juggalo Jump-Off (Insane Clown Posse tribute) Thursday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m., Jewel Music Venue

• Bearly Dead Thursday, Jan. 27, 9 p.m., Stone Church

• Alicia Olatuja Quintet Friday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

• Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives Friday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Keb’Mo’ Friday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Music Hall

• Classic Stones Live Friday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Brandon “Taz” Niederauer Saturday, Jan. 29, 7:30, Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

• The Bulkheads/Adrienne Mack-Davis/Villains Row Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Superunknown: A Tribute to Chris Cornell Saturday, Jan, 29, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Rachel & Vilray Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Blitzkid The Reunion Kickoff Tour Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Jewel

• Joel Ross Quintet Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Juston Cohn & Dario Castro Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Mike Block Trio Thursday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Shemekia Copeland Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• Foreigners Journey (tribute to Foreigner and Journey) Thursday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

• King Solomon Hicks Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club

• The Soggy Po’ Boys Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Enter the Haggis Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• Phil Vassar Friday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Cowboy Junkies Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Tusk (Fleetwood Mac Tribute) Friday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• The Brother Brothers Saturday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage, Concord

• Cash Unchained — The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute Saturday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Cap Center

• Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing Saturday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

• Lucky Chops Saturday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz

• Sister Dee & Dis N’ Dat Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Stone Church

• Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre — Aqualung 50th Anniversary Tour Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Tupelo

• Mike Dawes and Yasmin Williams Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

• Pink Talking Fish (Pink Floyd/Talking Heads/Phish tribute band) Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

• Taylor O’Donnell Monday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m., Johnson Theatre, UNH Durham

• Bird Friend/Mike Cote Wednesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m., Stone Church

• Peter Parcek Band Wednesday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues

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.

The Music Roundup 22/01/20

Local music news & events

• Local lights: A music-friendly taphouse and grill kicks off a new weekly series, NH Music Collective Artist Showcase. The first show offers singer-songwriter Paul Driscoll, one-man band Ryan Williamson and country singer April Cushman, riding high on the release of her new album, The Long Haul. NHMC shines a light on the region’s original music, as well as providing booking services, artist development and production. Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St. (Smokestack Center), Concord, thearea23.com.

• Soulful time: Dance away the winter/pandemic blues with Mica’s Groove Train, a six-piece R&B band with an edge. The band is led by charismatic singer and keyboard player Yamica Peterson, a ubiquitous presence on the regional scene with solo and ensemble shows, a collaboration with guitarist Don Severance in the Mica-Sev Project and the father-daughter duo Family Affair, with fellow scene fixture Pete Peterson. Friday, Jan. 21, 8:30 p.m., Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester. See micasgroovetrain.com.

• Slight detour: While sipping the house special, mimosa-adjacent Sledgehammer, enjoy Paul Wolstencroft on keys for an early event, dubbed Slightly Stoopid Brunch after the band he joined in 2013. Their history dates back to SoCal’s early surf punk scene; late Sublime singer Bradley Nowell discovered them during a stint at a rehab clinic run by the mother of co-founder Miles Doughty. Wolstencroft also plays with Organically Good Trio. Saturday, Jan. 22, 9 a.m., The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, goatnh.com.

• Original play: For their first hometown appearance since last summer, Married Iguana is joined by regional standouts The Humans Being and Earthmark for a rollicking event presented by local promoter Jigs Music. Their debut EP includes one of the best songs to come out in 2021; “Go With The Flow” chugs along like a rolling party bus, aided by scorching guitar licks from front man and main songwriter Brett Higgins. Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, $10. See facebook.com/JigsMusic.

• The junction: Learn about the intersection between classical music and jazz at Up Close & Personal, a six-concert series featuring a sumptuous prix fixe dinner and chamber music from the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. The upcoming event’s centerpiece is Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” arranged for piano quartet, performed on the venue’s Steinway by Boston pianist Tianhong Yang. Sunday, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, $75 at ticketmaster.com.

At the Sofaplex 22/01/20

The Tragedy of Macbeth (R)

Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand.

Joel Coen directs and adapts this Shakespeare play starring Brendan Gleeson, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling and Stephen Root. Washington and McDormand are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, slowly going mad with guilt and paranoia after the murders they commit to become king and queen of Scotland. (Spoiler alert, I guess, if you “read” Macbeth in high school without actually reading it.)

The look of this eerie black and white adaption is probably its most striking feature. It is set in a kind of minimalist world that suggests a vaguely late medieval/early Renaissance Scotland, but in a very modernist clean-lines furniture sort of way. Fog regularly rolls through stark landscapes or brutalist castle ramparts to underscore the evil, corruption and uncertainty of the moment. And if all that sounds a bit much, Washington and McDormand keep the whole thing down on earth with performances that make all that 400-year-old dialogue feel natural. Even if “Shakespeare adaptation” has the ring of homeworkiness about it to it you, this briskly paced, engrossing presentation will, I think, overcome whatever reluctance you might have (yes, this is Shakespeare, but it is also a Coen movie) and is worth a watch. A Available on Apple TV+.

Spencer (R)

Kristin Stewart, Jack Farthing.

Directed by Pablo Larrain, who also directed 2016’s Jackie, which, as I think other critics have noted, feels like very much a part of the same cinematic universe. In both instances, the focus — the sole, almost claustrophobically narrow focus — is the turmoil of a woman wrestling with celebrity and the strains of a seemingly “fairy tale” marriage. In this case, Diana Spencer (Stewart), still the wife of the Prince of Wales, is white-knuckling it through a multi-day family Christmas with Queen Elizabeth (Stella Gonet) and the royal family, including Charles (Farthing), the husband she has clearly become estranged from. She is happy to see her sons (Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry) but otherwise literally sick to her stomach over the visit, frequently throwing up from the pressure. She chafes against the rules, the pre-planned wardrobe picked out and labeled for each meal and event, the many discussions about how open her bedroom curtains are or aren’t. At times, she finds comfort in Maggie (Sally Hawkins), a sympathetic staff member who helps dress her, and in chef Darren (Sean Harris). And, as she works out her feelings about being trapped in this lousy marriage with this stifling family, she occasionally talks to distant ancestor Anne Boylen (Amy Manson), who understands the hurt of your husband giving you the same necklace as he gave his mistress.

As with Jackie, Spencer is more about feeling, the emotions of Diana, the mood of the moment or the tone of different relationships she has, than it is about linear storytelling. Though the action stays in those few Christmas days, she wanders back to her childhood, back through different iconic Diana dresses, into her family’s former house. In some ways this is a movie about the performance of a performance, Stewart doing Diana doing the “Princess Diana TM” shtick with the head tilt and the soft-spokenness but maybe also trying to figure out who she would be if she didn’t do that character anymore. And it’s an interesting watch. I can understand why Stewart has been drawing much awards acclaim. Her Diana is mannered — something I also thought about Natalie Portman’s Jackie Kennedy — but she’s captivating and you feel her getting to the emotion of the character. B Available for rent or purchase.

The Tender Bar (R)

Ben Affleck, Christopher Lloyd.

JR (Daniel Ranieri as a kid, Tye Sheridan as a college student, Ron Livingston as an adult in voiceover) knows his mom (Lily Rabe) isn’t happy when they have to return to live with her parents (Lloyd, Sondra James) on Long Island, but he is delighted. The crowded house is frequently full of cousins and an aunt who, like JR’s mom, leaves and comes back when life doesn’t work out. And his Uncle Charlie (Affleck) is around — taking care of the family and tending bar at his place, The Dickens. Uncle Charlie gives impressionable JR lessons in “man sciences” (things like always have a little stash of money you hold back in your wallet and don’t spend at the bar, open doors for women, take care of your mother) and a community in the bar regulars. He also introduces JR to books — the canon of Dickins, later Orwell, and the like — and helps reinforce JR’s mother’s obsession with his going to an Ivy League college. But while she wants JR to become a lawyer — though not, as everyone jokes, to sue his father (Max Martini), a radio DJ who left them, for child support — JR’s love of Uncle Charlie’s books has him convinced he is going to be a writer.

Directed by George Clooney, The Tender Bar is a very straightforward kind of memoir telling a very straightforward kind of story about a boy growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. It feels a little too simple sometimes for the kind of golden (and awards-seeking) sheen it puts on everything. In this year of Belfast and Licorice Pizza, this take on the coming-of-age story feels a little mustier, a little like something that would feel at home in the theaters of the mid-1990s. The performances are fine — this kind of character feels like the optimistic variation of the one Affleck has played several times before. But while he doesn’t bring much new to the role, it and the movie overall are mildly, benignly interesting. B- Available on Amazon Prime.

Sing 2 (PG)

Voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon.

Also lending their voices to this animated tale are Scarlett Johansson, Tori Kelly, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, Garth Jennings, Jennifer Saunders, Chelsea Peretti, Nick Offerman, Eric André, Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Halsey, Bono and Bobby Cannavale doing the villain, a hotel-owning, gold-gilded office-having bully who pronounces “huge” as “U-ge” and maybe the one thing we, as Americans, could all agree on is that we can cool it with that kind of character for a while, huh?

The troop of performance-loving animals returns, still working for showman Buster Moon (McConaughey) in his theater, performing in a song-filled Alice in Wonderland show. When an attempt to take the show to the big city fails, Buster decides to bring the show to the talent-seeking hotel owner Mr. Crystal (Cannavale) anyway. Without intending to, the troop sells him on Gunter’s (Kroll) idea of a space-set jukebox musical, featuring the music of reclusive megastar Clay Calloway (Bono). Crystal wants something even better — Clay himself.

We get a mixed truffles chocolate box full of storylines — some characters working to convince Clay to come back to performing, some characters working out the difficult elements of their roles in the show, some characters dealing with the petulant fragile-egoed only-cares-about-his-image Crystal and his spoiled daughter.

There are a lot of characters and one of them is angry a lot — was an early complaint from one of my kids, who walked away from the movie about 20 minutes in. They seemed bored at points, but enjoyed the music and some of the sillier moments of physical comedy. And they did all wander back to the TV by the end, which features the music and production of the show-within-a-show. I mention these junior reviews in part because to watch this movie you are either going through the process of herding everybody into a movie theater or spending $24.99 for 48-hour VOD rental. Either way, for younger kids, the payout might not be worth the return in terms of kid engagement and enjoyment. My 6-year-olds might be right on the line of kids who have the patience for all of this movie’s scenes of talking and who are old enough for the threats of physical violence from the my-way-at-all-costs Crystal. Because the movie has so many storylines, we don’t get to spend as much time with any one character. As with the first Sing, the music is ultimately the movie’s most compelling star. C+ In theaters and available for rent.

Students helping students

Out in the snow – 01/20/22

Music this week – 22/01/20

Rascal remembers

The Music Roundup 22/01/20

At the Sofaplex 22/01/20

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