Music this week – 21/12/30

Thursday, Dec. 30

Bedford

Copper Door: Jordan Quinn, 7 p.m.

Brookline

Alamo: Jeff Mrozek, 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: Max Sullivan, 5 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Jennifer Mitchell, 6 p.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Don Severance, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 8 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: Rob & Jody, 7 p.m.

Manchester

Angel City: open mic, 8 p.m.

Currier: Kevin Horan, 5 p.m.

Fratello’s: Joanie Cicatelli, 5:30 p.m.

KC’s: Jessica Olson, 6 p.m.

Merrimack

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

Newmarket

Stone Church: Bearly Dead, 9 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Pete Peterson, 7 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: Pete Massa, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 31

Amherst

LaBelle: Freese Brothers Big Band, 9 p.m.

Auburn

Auburn Pitts: Stuck in Time, 7 p.m.

Bedford

Copper Door: Jordan Quinn, 6 p.m.

Boscawen

Alan’s: Stray Dog, 8 p.m.

Bow

Chen Yang Li: DJ Kenny, 8 p.m.

Brookline

Alamo: Brian Weeks, 4:30 p.m.

Chichester

Flannel Tavern: Dave Graham, 6 p.m.

Concord

Area 23: Faith Ann Band, 7 p.m.

Penuche’s: Felix Holt, 9 p.m.

Derry

Fody’s: Pop Rox, 9 p.m.

LaBelle: The Freese Brothers Big Band, 6:30 p.m.

Dover

603 Bar & Lounge: DJ Deja and Pete Vitello, 9 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: Christopher Voss, 5 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Paul Lussier, 5 p.m.

Hampton

Ashworth by the Sea: live band, DJ, 6:30 p.m.

CR’s: Rico Barr Trio, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

L Street Tavern: Craig LaGrassa, 8 p.m.

Wally’s: Down 5th, 9 p.m.

Henniker

Pats Peak: The McMurphys, 6 p.m.

Hillsborough

Hillsborough Moose Lodge: Cellar Dwellers, Superbug and Probably Cause, 6 p.m.

Hudson

Backstreet Bar & Grill: DJ Bobby Lane, 8 p.m.

Lynn’s 102: Sindicate, 8 p.m.

Nan King: Patty Shock’s Energizer Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: Bite the Bullet, 8 p.m.

Laconia

The Big House: Back in the Day, 8 p.m.

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

High Octane: EXP Band, 8 p.m.

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

Londonderry

Coach Shop: Pete Peterson, 6 p.m.

Stumble Inn: Swipe Right, 9 p.m.

Manchester

Angel City: Everybody Wants Some (Van Halen tribute), The Hellion (Judas Priest tribute) and Calienta Pistolas, 7 p.m.

Belmont: DJ Hustle Boy, 7 p.m.

Bonfire: Martin & Kelly, 9 p.m.

Breezeway: Drag Roulette, 8 p.m.

Cercle Club: Plan B, 6 p.m.

Derryfield: Chad LaMarsh Band, 9 p.m.

Farm Bar & Grille: DJ Sammy Smoove and DJ Real Ace, 8 p.m.

The Foundry: Tyler Levs, 6 p.m.

Fratello’s: Clint Lapointe & Phil Jakes, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Those Guys, 8 p.m.

Murphy’s: Dancing Madly Backwards, 9:30 p.m.

Shaskeen: DJ Myth, 8 p.m.

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

Strange Brew: One Big Soul, 8:30 p.m.

Sweeney Post: The Lexi James Band, 8 p.m.

XO Bistro: Acoustic Moxie, 6:30 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Ralph Allen, 6 p.m.

Milford

Pasta Loft: Fatha Groove, 9 p.m.

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

Moultonborough

Buckey’s: Red Hat Band, 9 p.m.

Nashua

Boston Billiard Club: The Apathetics, 9 p.m.

Fody’s: Joe Wedge, 10 p.m.

Fratello’s: Justin Jordan, 6 p.m.

Peddler’s Daughter: live DJ, 5 p.m.

Stella Blu: Austin McCarthy, 8 p.m.

New Boston

Molly’s: Joe Birch, 7 p.m.

New Market

Stone Church: John Medeski, 9 p.m.

Northfield

Boonedoxz Pub: karaoke night, 7 p.m.

Plaistow

Crow’s Nest: DJ Golo, 9 p.m.

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Sean Coleman, 9:30 p.m.

Gibb’s Garage Bar: Elijah Clark, 7 p.m.

Grill 28: Dave Gerard of Truffle, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Chris Toler, 9 p.m.

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues: Eddie Palmieri & La Perfecta Big Band, 7 p.m.

Statey: Max Sullivan, 8 p.m.

Thirsty Moose: Mattson, 9 p.m.

Rochester

Elks Lodge: Vill Vendasi, 9 p.m.

Governors Inn: Dueling Pianos Bash, 7:30 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Jodee Frawlee, 6 p.m.

Jocelyn’s: Brian Walker, 8 p.m.

Tuscan Village: The Deviant, 8 p.m.

Seabrook

Chop Shop: Band, Inc., and Leaving Eden, 7 p.m.

Red’s: Undercover, 7 p.m.

Stratham

Tailgate Tavern: Alan Roux, 7 p.m.

Windham

Castleton: Joey Dion, 7 p.m.

Common Man: Karen Grenier, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 1

Brookline

Alamo: Justin Jordan, 5 p.m.

Concord

Area 23: Blues Brothers, 8 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Brian Johnson, 8 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Acoustic Moxie, 6 p.m.

Hampton

The Goat: live music, 9 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: Ryan Palma, 8 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Londonderry

Coach Shop: Clint Lapointe, 6 p.m.

Stumble Inn: Zach Newbound Duo, 8 p.m.

Manchester

Derryfield: The Far, 8 p.m.

Fratello’s: Joanie Cicatelli, 6 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Chris Powers, 6 p.m.

Nashua

Fratello’s: Dave Zangri, 6 p.m.

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Lewis Goodwin, 9:30 p.m.

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 2

Alton Bay

Dockside: Chris O’Neill, 4 p.m.

Bedford

Copper Door: Phil Jakes, 11 a.m.

Brookline

Alamo: live music, 4:30 p.m.

Laconia

Fratello’s: live piano, 5:30 p.m.

Manchester

The Goat: Mike Forgette, 10 a.m.

Strange Brew: jam, 7 p.m.

Northfield

Boonedoxz Pub: open mic, 4 p.m.

Portsmouth

The Goat: Rob Pagnano, 9 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Jodee Frawlee, 11 a.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: live music, 8 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 3

Hudson

The Bar: karaoke with Phil

Gilford

Patrick’s Pub: open mic w/ Paul Luff, 6 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: Chris Cavanaugh, 5:30 p.m.

Nashua

Fody’s: karaoke night, 9:30 p.m.

Fratello’s: Ryan Williamson, 5:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 9 p.m.

Press Room: open mic, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

Concord

Tandy’s: open mic night, 8 p.m.

Hampton

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: Jeff Mrozek, 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: Jae Mannion, 5:30 p.m.

Nashua

Fratello’s: Josh Foster, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 5

Brookline

Alamo: live music, 4:30 p.m.

Concord

Area 23: open mic, 6 p.m.

Tandy’s: karaoke, 8 p.m.

Hampton

Bogie’s: open mic, 7 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 7 p.m.

Hudson

Lynn’s 102: Chris & Paul Belley, 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: Austin McCarthy, 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: Doug Thompson, 5:30 p.m.

Milford

Stonecutters Pub: open mic, 8 p.m.

Nashua

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

Newmarket

Stone Church: The Quahogs w/Faith Ann, 7 p.m.

Rochester

Porter’s: karaoke night, 6:30 p.m.

Somersworth

Speakeasy: open mic night, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 30

Bedford

Copper Door: Chad LaMarsh, 7 p.m.

Brookline

Alamo: live music, 4:30 p.m.

Concord

Hermanos: live music, 6:30 p.m.

Derry

Fody’s: music bingo, 8 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Pete Peterson, 7 p.m.

Exeter

Sawbelly: Chad Verbeck, 5 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Jeff Mrozek, 6 p.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Steve Sibulkin, 6 p.m.

Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

Wally’s: Chris Toler, 6 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: Charlie Chronopoulos, 7 p.m.

Manchester

Currier: Alli Beaudry, 5 p.m.

Fratello’s: Ted Solovicos, 5:30 p.m.

KC’s: Jodee Frawlee, 6 p.m.

Strange Brew: Becca Myari, 8 p.m.

Merrimack

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

Tomahawk: Joanie Cicatelli, 6:30 p.m.

Milford

Stonecutters Pub: Blues Therapy, 8 p.m.

Nashua

Fody’s: DJ Rich Karaoke, 9:30 p.m.

Fratello’s: Justin Jordan, 5:30 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Dave Zangri, 7 p.m.

Seabrook

Red’s: live music, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 7

Brookline

Alamo: live music, 4:30 p.m.

Concord

Area 23: Lucas Gallo, 8 p.m.

Derry

Fody’s: Joe Macdonald, 7 p.m.

Epping

Telly’s: Mica Peterson, 8 p.m.

Goffstown

Village Trestle: Rose Kula, 6 p.m.

Hampton

CR’s: Bob Tirelli, 6 p.m.

The Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

Shane’s Texas Pit: Brian Walker, 8 p.m.

Wally’s: 7 Day Weekend, 9 p.m.

Whym: Sean Coleman, 6:30 p.m.

Henniker

Pats Peak: Justin Cohn, 6 p.m.

Kingston

Saddle Up Saloon: Bite the Bullet, 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: Chris Powers, 6 p.m.

Stumble Inn: Jordan and Clint, 8 p.m.

Manchester

Bonfire: Isaiah Bennett, 9 p.m.

Derryfield: Almost Famous, 9 p.m.

The Foundry: live music, 6 p.m.

Fratello’s: Dave Zangri, 6 p.m.

Murphy’s: Chris Fraga, 9:30 p.m.

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

Strange Brew: Ken Clark Organ Trio, 9 p.m.

Merrimack

Homestead: Austin McCarthy, 6 p.m.

Milford

Pasta Loft: Horizon, 9 p.m.

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

Nashua

Fratello’s: Doug Thompson, 6 p.m.

New Market

Stone Church: Jamie Saft Trio, 8 p.m.

Northfield

Boonedoxz Pub: karaoke night, 7 p.m.

Portsmouth

Gas Light: Pete Peterson, 9:30 p.m.

Goat: Chris Toler, 9 p.m.

Thirsty Moose: Dave Alves, 9 p.m.

Salem

Copper Door: Dave Zangri, 6 p.m.

Seabrook

Chop Shop: White Noiz, 8 p.m.

Red’s: live music, 7 p.m.

Stratham

Tailgate Tavern: The DUO, 7 p.m.

Shows

Recycled Percussion Wednesday, Dec. 29, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 31, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

Bearly Dead Thursdays Thursday, Dec. 30, 9 p.m., Stone Church

Adam Ezra Group Friday, Dec. 31, 5:30 & 9 p.m., Tupelo

Club d’Elf Friday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m., Stone Church

New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Friday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Dueling Pianos Friday, Dec. 31, 10 p.m., Chunky’s Manchester

Purging Sin/King’s Petition Thursday, January 6, Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Brooks Young Band Friday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Jamie Saft Trio Friday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m., Stone Church

Fortune Friday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Livin’ on a Bad Name (Bon Jovi tribute), Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Recycled Percussion Saturday, Jan. 8, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

Get the Led Out Saturday, Jan. 8, 8 p.m., Cap Center

1964: The Tribute (Beatles Tribute) Sunday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m., Palace Theatre

Walter Trout Sunday, January 9, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Ronan Tynan (Irish Tenor) Friday, Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

EJ Oulette and Crazy Maggie/Carol Coronis Friday, Jan. 14, 8 p.m., Stone Church

Blood, Sweat & Tears Saturday, Jan. 15, 2 & 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

Recycled Percussion Saturday, Jan. 15, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

Dueling Pianos Saturday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., Franklin Opera House

Morgan James Saturday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Beau Sasser Trio/Slack Tide Saturday, Jan. 15, 9 p.m., Stone Church

Beatlejuice Saturday, Jan. 15, 8 p.m., Tupelo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Gilmour Project Saturday, Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Tupelo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enter the Haggis Thursday, February 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

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

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

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

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

Mike Giradis’ Big Swingin’ Thing Saturday, Feb. 5, Flying Monkey

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

Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., The Rex Theatre

The Highwayman Live — A Musical Tribute (tribute to the band featuring Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings) Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m, Palace Theatre

Croce plays Croce Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Andrew North and the Rangers Thursday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Taylor O’Donnell Friday, Feb. 11, 6 and 8 p.m., The Historic Venue/Music Hall

Bruce in the USA (Bruce Springsteen tribute band) Friday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., Dana Center

Livingston Taylor Friday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Kat Wright Saturday, Feb. 12, 6 and 8 p.m., Historic Venue/Music Hall

Ali Beaudry’s Song Fest Saturday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Big Blues Winter Warmer: Roomful of Blues & Joe Louis Walker Saturday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison Tuesday, February 15, Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Eaglemania (World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band) Friday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Dark Desert Eagles (The Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band) Saturday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m., Granite State Music Hall

Jazzical Saturday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., Franklin Opera House

Rose Tattoo with Stevie Ramone Band, Sunday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., Jewel

Sara Evans Sunday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., Tupelo

Natalie MacMaster and Donal Leahy Tuesday, Feb. 22, 4 p.m., Dana Center

Alan Doyle with Chris Trapper Thursday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Rick Springfield “Stripped Down” Thursday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Natalie MacMaster Friday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Soggy Po’ Boys Friday, Feb 25, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Big Band of Brothers (jazz tribute to the Allman Brothers) Friday, Feb 25, 8 p.m., The Historic Theatre/Music Hall

Lotus Lan Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Damn the Torpedoes (tribute to Tom Petty) Friday, February 25, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Almost Queen (tribute to the band Queen) Saturday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Another Tequila Sunrise (tribute to the Eagles), Saturday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Sunday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m., Music Hall

David Wax Museum Sunday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., Word Barn

Aoife O’Donovan/Yasmin Williams Tuesday, March 1 7:30 p.m., Music Hall

Tower of Power Thursday, March 3, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Michael Ray Friday March 4, 6 p.m., Granite State Music Hall

Talisk Friday, March 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

The Tallest Man on Earth Friday, March 4, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Talisk Friday, March 4, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Laurie Berkner Solo! “The Greatest Hits” Show Saturday, March 5, 11 a.m, Tupelo

Celtic Angels Ireland Saturday, March 5, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

Neon Wave and Lovesexy Saturday, March 5, 8 p.m.,

The Brit Pack Sunday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Arrival from Sweden (The Music of ABBA) Tuesday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 9, 8 p.m., Tupelo

The Psychedelic Furs Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Big Mountain and Mighty Mystic Thursday, March 10, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

The Outlaws Friday, March 11, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Jake Clemons Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Stephen Marley Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Ye Vagabonds and Kalos Saturday, March 12, 7:30 p.m., Dana Center

Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Sunday, March 13, 3 p.m., Music Hall

Teddy Thompson and Jenni Muldaur Sunday, March 13, 7 p.m., Music Hall

Memphis Jookin’ ft Lil’ Buck Tuesday, March 15, 7 p.m., Cap Center

Wishbone Ash Thursday, March 17, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Edwin McCain Saturday, March 19, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Ms. Vee and a Badass Band Saturday, March 19, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Postmodern Jukebox — The Grand Reopening Tour Wednesday, March 23, 8 p.m., Cap Center

Max Weinberg’s Jukebox Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Rex Theatre

Orleans Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m., Dana Center

Kesha Friday, March 25, 8 p.m., Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

The Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell Friday, March 25, 8 p.m., Tupelo

The Four Phantoms Friday, March 25, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

String Fling Saturday, March 26, 7:30 p.m., Franklin Opera House

Top of the World — A Carpenter Tribute Sunday, March 27, 7 p.m., Tupelo

Tommy Castro & the Painkillers Sunday, March 27, 7 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

One Night with Queen (Queen tribute) Wednesday, March 30, 8 p.m., Granite State Music Hall

Celtic Women Celebration Thursday, March 31, 7:30 p.m., Cap Center

River Sister Friday, April 1, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage in Concord

Al Stewart Friday, April 1, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Heart by Heart (featuring original Heart members Steve Fossen & Michael Derosier) Saturday, April 2, 8 p.m., Cap Center

Joe Nichols Saturday, April 2, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Cole Swindell/Travis Denning/Ashley Cook Sunday, April 3, 8 p.m., Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

Straight No Chaser Wednesday, April 6, 8 p.m., Music Hall

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m., Cap Center

Colin Hay Friday, April 8, 8 p.m., Cap Center

Tony Emmauel with special guest Yasmin Williams Saturday, April 9, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Adam Ezra Group Saturday, April 9, 8 p.m., Bank of NH Stage

The Queen’s Cartoonists (Gile Concert Series) Sunday, April 10, 7 p.m., Cap Center

The Bacon Brothers Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

Gary Puckett & the Union Gap Friday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., Palace Theatre

Peter Noone & Herman’s Hermits Friday, April 15 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

The Sixties Show Saturday, April 16, 8 p.m., Tupelo

Melissa Etheridge Thursday, April 21, 8 p.m., Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble Saturday, April 23, 7 p.m., Franklin Opera House

Glenn Miller Orchestra Saturday, April 23 7:30 p.m., Flying Monkey

2021 all done

Looking back, and forward

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2022 shows to get excited about

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Featured photo: Chelsea Paolini. Courtesy photo.

The Music Roundup 21/12/30

Local music news & events

Familiar tunes: Roll into the long weekend with Eddie Sands, a singer and guitarist with a lengthy list of cover songs, including “Leader of the Band” from Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” and Kenny Loggins’ ode to his brother, “Danny’s Song.” The venue is a dual market and eatery, serving lunch in the daytime while offering bar fare, burgers, entrees and adult beverages at night. Thursday, Dec. 30, 6:30 p.m., Michael’s Flatbread Bar and Grill, 8 Stiles Road, Salem.

New crew: Among the many possibilities for New Year’s Eve entertainment, the Faith Ann Band is a great choice, with a forthcoming album, In Bloom, and new guitarist Mike Stockbridge bringing a solid jazz background to the group. Check out the latest psychedelic single from the disc on their website, but those with a clown phobia may want to skip the video, which has an unmistakable It vibe. Friday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m., Area 23, 254 N. State St, Unit H (Smokestack Center), Concord, more at thefaithannband.com.

Start it up: Is timing the best thing about this new year? Continue Friday night’s fun with The Far, a festive six-piece featuring a male and female lead vocal team. Their setlist stays up to the minute; singer Neely Luna’s cover of Adele’s “Easy On Me” is excellent, as is a fun take of Tone & I’s “Dance Monkey.” They also deliver a few classics, such as Boston’s “Foreplay/Long Time” and “Separate Ways” by Journey. Saturday, Jan. 1, 8 p.m., The Derryfield, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, more at thefarband.com.

Battle on: A competition between young local bands, Pizzastock 5.5 is a benefit for the Jason R. Flood Memorial Fund, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention, access to mental health services and providing a safe space to gather for tweens, teens and young adults. This year’s acts are Rock Bottom, Second to Last Minute and Castle Island. Last year’s winner Cozy Throne will close out the show; Casey Daron of Afterimage hosts. Sunday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, tickets $15 at tupelohall.com.

Laugh in: Water cooler comics and raconteurs can try working in front of a crowd at Do You Think You’re Funny? The weekly comedy open mic is held at a unique venue specializing in vintage vinyl and microbrews. The hour-long event is happening for the first time in 2022, so anyone with a New Year’s resolution to try something new and step outside their comfort zone has just the place to test their mettle. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m., Defiant Records & Craft Beer, 609 Main St., Laconia, defiantnh.com.

The Matrix Resurrections (R)

The Matrix Resurrections (R)

Keanu Reeves is once again Neo — or is he Thomas Anderson, sometimes delusional but wildly successful video game developer? — in The Matrix Resurrections, a nearly 20-years-in-the-making sequel to the late 1990s/early 2000s Matrix trilogy.

Was Neo the hero who fought for the freedom of humans stuck in a machine-run simulacrum called the Matrix (which placated people while sucking their energy to power the machines)? Or was Neo simply the main character in a trilogy of hugely popular video games called The Matrix, designed by Thomas Anderson? Mr. Anderson doesn’t seem entirely sure of either answer but he’s willing to believe option B — that he is a wealthy video game developer who has somewhat stabilized his mental health with the help of his analyst (Neil Patrick Harris) and some blue pills. But then his boss/business partner Smith (Jonathan Groff, really doing a great job of capturing the oily evil of Hugo Weaving) tells him that Warner Bros. wants to make a new entry in the Matrix franchise and Thomas will have to lead the team, no matter how much he finds the subject of the Matrix triggering. There a lot of fun here about the nature of sequels and the commodification of art into “content” and we get a perfect Christina Ricci cameo that feels like the working out of some frustration about studio notes on the part of Lana Wachowski (this movie’s director and co-writer and half of the Wachowskis sibling duo that wrote and directed the first three movies).

As Thomas gets deeper into the in-movie Matrix 4 project, he finds himself clearly questioning reality again, in particular his relationship to Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss), the married mother of two who does not answer to the name “Trinity” but does seem to feel some kind of connection to Thomas.

All the while, as Thomas takes his blue pills and checks his mirrors for liquidity, Bugs (Jessica Henwick), who is exactly what you’d picture if I said “scrappy hacker type,” and Sequoia (Toby Onwumere), the guy whose job it is to look at the code-covered computer screens and give ominous warnings, are trying to convince Thomas that the Matrix games aren’t just valuable IP but his actual memories. They are aided in this by an agent who hunted them but then, like, awakened as Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), but a younger and hotter version (no disrespect intended, Laurence Fishburne).

The story here has a real “big bag of things” feel that includes commentary about being forced to make a sequel, some genuine fondness (and maybe just a little too much reverence) for the original Matrix movies, some self-awareness about the lasting impacts of the Matrix movies and maybe even a little bit about how insufferable parts of Matrix fandom, and everything that’s happened with the term “red pill,” have become.

The movie offers a fair amount of exposition, about the world it’s set in now and story points from the original movies, so I don’t think you’ll be lost if you’ve never seen a Matrix movie before. But you will get a lot of story, a lot of “after this thing happened, here’s a bunch of explanation about these other events which leads to this,” that drags on this two-hour-and-30-minute movie.

I would also estimate that about half the action is fun — Keanu Reeves, particularly old Keanu, doing martial arts is both a skillful display of choreography and, like, a hoot — and half feels like the part where you’d go look for drink refills. I like the young new Matrix Babies just fine but I think I most enjoyed the parts of the movie that are focused on Reeves and Moss. I was reminded that even through all of the slick Matrix costumes and slo-mo fighting, the two actors have actual chemistry (maybe not super-hot romantic chemistry, but good screen-duo chemistry).

The Matrix Resurrections has a lot of interesting ideas — more than it’s able to really examine. Nostalgia and the general quality of the storytelling here make it a fun enough watch. B-

Rated R for violence and some language, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Lana Wachowski with a screenplay by Lana Wachowski & David Mitchell & Aleksander Hemon, The Matrix Resurrections is two hours and 28 minutes long and distributed by Warner Bros. in theaters and on HBOMax.

The King’s Man (R)

The government-unaffiliated intelligence service known as the Kingsmen gets its World War I-set origin story in The King’s Man, a movie you’ve probably been watching trailers of for two and a half years.

At least two and a half years, maybe more — Wikipedia says the movie originally had a November 2019 release date before being moved into February 2020 and then later playing Covid-related hopscotch through the calendar. I know there have been at least two, maybe three, widely released versions of the trailer and I mention all of this because I don’t think that seeing this much advance footage of this movie did it any favors.

Duke Orlando Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) and his wife Lady Emily (Alexandra Maria Lara) are pacifists who work with the Red Cross. Though dedicated to non-violence, Emily is killed while in South Africa, making Oxford promise her that he will keep their son Conrad (Harris Dickinson as an adult) out of war.

Years later, as Europe is on the precipice of World War I, Conrad is eager for any kind of action in life but Orlando is still trying to shelter him. What Conrad doesn’t know is that Orlando has started a sort of proto-Kingsmen that uses a network of domestic service workers to attempt to advance the cause of peace. It is in this spirit, and at the behest of Field Marshal Kitchner (Charles Dance), that Orlando and Conrad are in Sarajevo when Franz Ferdinand is shot. Despite all attempts at smoothing over the egos of the U.K.’s King George, Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm and Russia’s Tsar Nicholas (all Tom Hollander), Europe slides into war but Orlando and his team, including Polly (Gemma Arterton) and Shola (Djimon Hounsou), continue to work for peace. Conrad, meanwhile, remains eager to serve as a soldier — even after a trip to Russia and a visit with Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) give him a taste of the spy life.

The King’s Man is festooned with real-life people and events but this has the odd effect not of rooting it in history but of making it seem even more outside it. If you remember even a little history from high school, the movie doesn’t offer much in the way of tension. The movie creates the idea of a sprawling sinister force but other than name-check historical features, its goals are not even as exciting as the villains of the modern-day Kingsman movies.

The movie does have some fun action set pieces — a mission involving a mountain-top-located, goat-filled barn is fun logistically even if I didn’t care about the story related to it, a couple of stretches set in the trenches of the battlefield were surprisingly emotionally rich and had some good edge-of-your-seat moments. But it also has some real draggy stretches — I have definitely seen the Rasputin parts in too many trailers and the whole deal with him goes on too long with ultimately little payoff.

This movie just overall has less zip than the first, silly-but-fun Kingsman movie. C

Rated R for sequences of strong/bloody violence, language and some sexual material, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by Matthew Vaughn with a screenplay by Matthew Vaughn & Karl Gajdusek, The King’s Man is two hours and 11 minutes long and is distributed in theaters by Twentieth Century Studios.

FILM

Venues

AMC Londonderry
16 Orchard View Dr., Londonderry
amctheatres.com

Bank of NH Stage in Concord
16 S. Main St., Concord
225-1111, banknhstage.com

Capitol Center for the Arts
44 S. Main St., Concord
225-1111, ccanh.com

Cinemark Rockingham Park 12
15 Mall Road, Salem

Chunky’s Cinema Pub
707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com

Dana Center
Saint Anselm College
100 Saint Anselm Dr., Manchester, anselm.edu

Fathom Events
Fathomevents.com

The Flying Monkey
39 Main St., Plymouth
536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com

LaBelle Winery
345 Route 101, Amherst
672-9898, labellewinery.com

The Music Hall
28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth
436-2400, themusichall.org

O’neil Cinemas
24 Calef Hwy., Epping
679-3529, oneilcinemas.com

Red River Theatres
11 S. Main St., Concord
224-4600, redrivertheatres.org

Regal Fox Run Stadium 15
45 Gosling Road, Newington
regmovies.com

Rex Theatre
23 Amherst St., Manchester
668-5588, palacetheatre.org

The Strand
20 Third St., Dover
343-1899, thestranddover.com

Wilton Town Hall Theatre
40 Main St., Wilton
wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456

Shows

Nightmare Alley (R, 2021) will screen at Red River Theatres Thursday, Dec. 30, through Sunday, Jan. 2, at 12:30, 4 & 7:30 p.m.

Licorice Pizza (R, 2021) will screen at Red River Theatres in Concord Thursday, Dec. 30, through Sunday, Jan. 2, at 12, 3:30 & 7 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 6, at 4 & 7:30 p.m.

The Tragedy of MacBeth (R, 2021) will screen at Red River Theatres in Concord on Friday, Dec. 31, at 4 & 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 1, and Sunday, Jan. 2, at 1, 4 & 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 6, at 4 & 7:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera — Cinderella on Saturday, Jan. 1, at 12:55 p.m. at Bank of NH Stage in Concord. Tickets cost $26.

Grandma’s Boy (1922), a silent film starring Harold Lloyd, on Sunday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation of $10.

Nanook of the North (1922), a silent documentary, on Sunday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation of $10.

For Heaven’s Sake (1926), a silent film starring Harold Lloyd, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Flying Monkey. Suggested donation of $10.

Dark Mountain (2021) on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Flying Monkey. Tickets cost $12.

Blood and Sand (1922), on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation of $10.

When Knighthood Was in Flower (1922), a silent film starring Marion Davies, on Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation of $10.

Girl Shy (1924), a silent film starring Harold Lloyd, on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex in Manchester, featuring live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission costs $10.

Smilin’ Through (1922) on Sunday, March 13, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation $10.

Robin Hood (1922) on Sunday, March 27, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation $10.

Flesh and Blood and The Man from Beyond (1922) on Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation $10.

Othello (1922) on Sunday, April 24, at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. Suggested donation $10.

Featured photo: The Matrix Resurrections.

Movies of comfort and joy

A look at the funner films of 2021

The best movie of 2021 is Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

Is it really? Who knows. But the urge to elevate the delightful over the seriously artistic is particularly strong this year. And I think backed up by experience: Several of the Serious Fil-uhm year-end movies (Being the Ricardos and Nightmare Alley or even legitimately good The Power of the Dog for example) have left me feeling sorta “shrug” while I fairly regularly rewatch the Barb and Star scene with Jamie Dornan powerballading to some seagulls because it’s never not joy-inducing.

I am as much of an awards-season completist as the next Oscar nerd, so while I haven’t seen The Card Counter, Spencer, The Green Knight, Respect, Licorice Pizza, Annette and The Lost Daughter they are definitely on my list to see soon (though I did say that last year about This Had Oscar Buzz candidate Ammonite and never got around to it). But I did see plenty to cheer about — from the high art to the “this movie will pair perfectly with popcorn, booze and a couch.” Here are some good, great and goofily entertaining movies I saw in 2021 — and where (as of late December at least) to find them. (Many will also be available for rent or purchase.)

Let’s call these the “2020” movies: Every year I spend a good part of the first quarter watching some of the better movies that technically (and for Oscar purposes) have the previous year as their release date. That phenomenon was even weirder this year since some movies that actually did get an early 2021 release were in the extended Oscar qualifying window. I talked about a lot of these during Oscar season but these are worth searching for if you haven’t seen them yet. Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime) is a really swoony love story starring Tessa Thompson. Promising Young Woman (HBOMax) is a really angry grief story with a solid performance by Carey Mulligan. One Night in Miami (Amazon Prime) is a fascinating bit of historical fiction directed by Regina King. Judas and the Black Messiah (HBOMax) won Daniel Kaluuya his Oscar. Nomadland (Hulu) won director Chloé Zhao and lead actress Frances McDormand Oscars and is truly beautiful. Minari (Showtime) features a great Steven Yuen performance and a highly relatable family story. Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime) is a real showcase for actor Riz Ahmed. I won’t pretend that The Father (Starz) is a birthday party of a movie — it’s full of sadness and loss — but it also features one of Anthony Hopkins’ best performances.

Good enough? Of course, most movies I saw this year are probably not Oscar-bound. Quite a few, however, fit the “decent entertainment from your sofa” bill. Thunder Force (Netflix) with Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as sudden, middle-aged superheros was not as good as I wanted but it had its moments. Netflix’s zombie movie and its prequel, Army of the Deadand Army of Thieves, are good lazy-day-on-the-couch fun. I probably liked the second even more than the first. The Ice Road(Netflix) contains exactly what it says on the label: Liam Neeson driving a big truck on an ice road. Red Notice (Netflix) is a very dumb movie that does not live up to the promise of Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds but I still laughed many times. VacationFriends (Hulu) is another dumb but fun outing with good comedic reluctant-buddy chemistry between Jon Cena and Lil Rel Howery. I know that Camila Cabello’s Cinderella (Amazon Prime) wasn’t, you know, “good,” but it was fun and her life’s ambition was more plucky than just “marry a prince.” Also on Amazon Prime, The Tomorrow War is a totally fine Chris Pratt-led action movie.

The winner of the “I’m not gonna say good but it’s worth a watch” prize this year might be an actual Oscar contender, House of Gucci, which is still in theaters and which the internet says will be on Paramount+ at some point in January. Come for the tacky-glam 1980s everything, stay for the “givin’ her all she’s got, Captain” Lady Gaga performance.

Supermen & wonder women: For me, Zack Snyder’s Justice League (HBOMax), the longer, slower director’s cut of the 2017 movie, is probably more accurately in the previous category — not great but worth a watch. I felt very “oh now I see what’s supposed to be happening” and while it’s still not fun, it’s sort of an interesting historical document.

Things were much better over in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eternals (in theaters and headed to Disney+ on Jan. 12, according to Wikipedia) offered an interesting new group of characters — probably too many to allow us to really focus on the characters with the most potential (Kumail Nanjiani) but I’m willing to ride this branching-out-the-MCU ride. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Disney+) has a compelling lead in Simu Liu, an even better supporting character in Awkwafina and an excellent villain (sorta) in Tony Leung. Yes, I know Black Widow’s (Disney+) whole deal is setting up other Marvel stuff, but I still enjoyed this stand-alone about Scarlett Johansson’s character (and I’m always excited to see Florence Pugh, “Russian” accent and all). The Marvel standout was probably the recently released Spider-Man: No Way Home (in theaters), which gives a nice completion to the three-movie MCU-Spider-Man arc and gave me a new appreciation for the previous Spider-Man series.

My favorite action franchise outing this year, though, might be No Time To Die(rent or purchase), the send off for Daniel Craig’s iteration of James Bond. I feel like he had more fun than he has in a while and the movie had some fun with the character.

Family movie night:There was a particularly good crop of kids movies, specifically kids animated movies, this year. Raya and the Last Dragon(Disney+) is a fun adventure tale featuring a talking dragon but also beautiful animation and a lovely score. The Mitchells Versus the Machines(Netflix) is a fun family-on-a-quest tale and it makes fun of Big Tech and it looks great. Lin-Manuel Miranda had songs in two animated movies this year: Encanto (Disney+) and Vivo (Netflix), where he also voices a kinkajou. Both were a delight. Beautiful and soulful, Luca (Disney+) centers on the friendship between two mer-boys who want to check out life on land in Italy. After you watch it, check out the excellent short Ciao, Alberto (Disney+). And while you’re watching shorts on Disney+, check out Olaf Presents…, which features Josh Gad’s snowman doing his recaps on Disney movies and cracks my kids up every time. I know people have all sorts of opinions about James Corden but I really enjoyed this year’s live-action/CG mix Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (Netflix), more even than the first movie.

Christmas movies! I support this weird Christmas movie arms race happening across TV and streaming. Sure, there’s a lot of blah, but there’s also a lot of solid seasonal fare. This year, I enjoyed Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (Netflix), another all-ages friendly, sweet-hearted entry in the Shaun the Sheep Aardman Animation canon. A Boy Called Christmas (Netflix) is darker but does some good work looking at kids and grief. 8-Bit Christmas (HBOMax) stars Neil Patrick Harris offering us the A Christmas Story-riff I didn’t know I wanted about life way back in the 1980s. Single All the Way (Netflix) is an absolute charmer of a Christmas rom-com.

How do you do, fellow kids? These teen movies were not made for me but they delighted me all the same. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (Amazon Prime) used a Groundhog Day concept to examine a teen romance and teen grief. He’s All That(Netflix) was a fun riff on the 1990s teen makeover movie. Moxie (Netflix), with its zines and its riot grrrl music, seemed at least as aimed at X-ers like me as the teenager it portrayed. Netflix also offered some solid teen horror movies — There’s Someone Inside Your House and the trilogy Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666. Everybody’s Talking about Jamie (Amazon Prime) gives you a coming of age story (a teen developing his drag persona) and a joy-filled musical.

• “Above average” is not faint praise: With Monster Hunter (Starz), you get the very Resident-Evil-style Milla Jovovich punching monsters, like what else do you need? Dream Horse (Hulu) is the big-hearted a-town-pulls-together underdog story that feels like cozy socks in movie form. Worth (Netflix) is a bummer about the aftermath of Sept. 11 but features a great performance by Michael Keaton. In my review, I described No Sudden Move as “ a very Soderberghian cool crisp cocktail of capering and doublecross with just a dash of dry humor.” Nobody (rent or purchase) from the John Wick writer is basically John Wick as a suburban dad — and is fun in the same way. I liked Idris Elba’s performance in Concrete Cowboy (Netflix).

The 2021 standouts: Comedy (or maybe dramedy?) Shiva Baby (HBO Max) is an entertainingly claustrophobic look at early adulthood. Plan B (Hulu) is another hilarious movie about teen-girl female friendship and the unnecessary difficulties of obtaining health care. Belfast (theaters and for rent or purchase) is Kenneth Branagh’s warm-hearted, semi-autobiographical look at life in Belfast in the late 1960s. That movie is in black and white and so is Passing(Amazon Prime), though it gives you race in America in the 1920s shades of gray along with a tense psychological, er, thriller? However you’d label it, it sticks with you. The Harder They Fall (Netflix) is a top-notch Western full of excellent performances (Regina King, Idris Elba, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz). If you like Wes Anderson and his little model train worlds, you’ll enjoy the short stories collected in The French Dispatch(available for rent). Madres (Amazon Prime) is a horror movie that packs a real (real world) gut punch. Pig(Hulu) is the excellent Nicolas Cage performance you didn’t know you were waiting for.

But my favorite of this group may be CODA (Apple TV+), featuring a truly great performance by Emilia Jones as the only hearing member of an otherwise deaf family. Her love of singing and her urge for independence have her parents (equally excellent Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) afraid of losing her to a world they can’t access.

Great docs: Val (Amazon Prime) is a fascinating memoir from Val Kilmer. Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It (Netflix) will remind you why the actress is so beloved. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (HBO Max) is a fun look at a revolutionary show. And speaking of revolution, Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (Hulu) is part documentary and part concert film, and according to iTunes, an accompanying album is slated for Jan. 28.

Speaking of song:We got more music-filled movies this year. As someone who does not live in New York, I support any opportunities to bring Broadway to my living room. Thusly, I was charmed with Come From Away(Apple TV+). Of course, I can’t help loving West Side Story(still in theaters) and I even like the slight tweaks. And, yes, as mentioned up top, from culottes to Andy Garcia as Tommy Bahama, I love Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar(Hulu) and all of its music (“Edgar’s Prayer” but also everything from the hotel lounge singer).

Most joyful:But OK, at the end of the day, I guess I won’t give those midwestern besties the absolute top spot. I guess that one goes to In the Heights (HBO Max), another Lin-Manuel Miranda musical, this one adapted for the big screen (versus Hamilton’s filmed stage production). This movie was bright and beautiful and absolutely joyous.

2022?

Look, who knows what the movie schedule will look like in January, much less the rest of 2022. But for now, here are a few things on the calendar that I’m excited to see:

Scream (Jan. 14 in theaters) Yes, Scream, like the original, with Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette. I guess I am a sucker for some kinds of nostalgia.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (Jan. 14 on Apple TV+) In theaters now (including Red River Theatres in Concord starting Friday, Dec. 31), this Joel Coen-directed version of Shakespeare’s play starring Denzel Washington will stream right into your home, for the convenience of current and former lit majors.

Cyrano (late January) This movie starring Peter Dinklage has appeared on some year-end lists but won’t really get a release until January.

Downton Abbey: A New Era (March 18, Peacock 45 days later, according to Wikipedia) I don’t know how I feel about this but I will still watch with some polite excitement this latest chapter.

The Batman (March 4) Robert Pattinson dons the cowl.

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 6) Our next Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.

Featured photo: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

These Precious Days, by Ann Patchett

These Precious Days, by Ann Patchett (Harper, 320 pages)

The Ann Patchett craze somehow eluded me, although I know people who wait breathlessly for her next book. She is not as famous as Stephen King nor as prolific as Jodi Picoult, having “just” eight novels and two children’s books to her name, but she enjoys those writers’ commercial success, and has developed an auxiliary fame as co-owner of a Nashville bookstore and as an advocate for independent booksellers.

As such, there’s been breathless anticipation all year for Patchett’s fourth book of nonfiction, These Precious Days, which is a pandemic book — not a book about a pandemic, but a book set in the pandemic. In fact, some of what occurs in the essays here pre-dates Covid-19 and has been published before, in The New Yorker and elsewhere. That, it turns out, matters not one whit.

The essays are finely strung, like a strand of Mikimoto pearls, and are so well-crafted as to have sprung fully formed from Zeus’s head. Patchett identifies as a novelist but says she’s always writing essays to fill in the gaps, to remind her that she’s still a writer when she’s not consumed by a work of fiction. Amusingly, she says that when working on a novel, she’s stalked by the idea of death, thinking that she could die at any time and the undertaker would bury all her beloved characters with her. The pandemic made that worse. “What was the point of starting [a novel] if I wasn’t going to be around to finish? This didn’t necessarily mean I believed I was going to die of the coronavirus, any more than I believed I was going to drown in the Atlantic or be eaten by a bear, but all those scenarios were possible. The year 2020 didn’t seem like a great time to start a family, or a business, or a novel.” And so she spent the time working on essays, which Patchett says death didn’t seem all that interested in.

The collection starts with a remembrance published in The New Yorker on Patchett’s “three fathers,” her biological dad and two stepfathers. (“Marriage has always proved irresistible to my family. We try and fail and try again, somehow maintaining our belief in an institution that has made fools of us all.”) The next essay, “The First Thanksgiving,” is a pithier reflection on Patchett’s experience as a freshman at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, when she couldn’t go home for the holiday and instead decided to cook a traditional dinner in her dorm for other stranded friends. Having never cooked a turkey or any other Thanksgiving dish before. “I made yeast rolls, for heaven’s sake! I cooked down fresh cranberries into sauce!”

Only having enough quarters to call her mother from the pay phone when she was finished (we’re talking about a woman who is now 60), she used recipes from The Joy of Cooking and writes that “even now, when someone claims they don’t know how to cook, I find myself snapping, ‘Do you know how to read?’”

Not to take away from Patchett’s talents, but part of the appeal of her essays is simply that she lives such an interesting life. Take, for example, the beginning of her essay, “Flight Plan,” in which she writes: “Three of us were in a 1947 de Havilland Beaver, floating in the middle of a crater lake in the southwest quadrant of Alaska.”

What?

It is a declarative statement, simply crafted, but dares the reader not to read on to learn more. It turns out that the essay is not about this particular excursion that Patchett took with her physician husband, Karl, but about his lifelong obsession with aviation (and by extension, every other amateur pilot), and her coming to grips with it, with reactions that range from bewilderment to fear.

We learn much from this essay about aviation culture, such as that a certain model of small plane is known as a doctor killer. (“Doctors have enough money to buy them,” Karl said, “but they aren’t good enough pilots to fly them.”) But we also go deep inside Patchett’s marriage, her terror about the possibility of Karl dying in a plane crash, her struggle to understand why dangerous pastimes were so important to him. “I understood he wasn’t interested in baking bread, that there would be no Scrabble or yoga in our future as a couple, but couldn’t there be a hobby in which death was not a likely outcome?”

But death is, of course, a likely outcome for us all, and despite Patchett’s insistence that death had no interest in essays, it enshrouds the titular essay, which is about her relationship with a woman named Sooki, who was the actor Tom Hanks’ personal assistant for nearly 20 years.

Patchett had come to know Hanks after writing a jacket blurb for his book of short stories, Uncommon Type, and came to know Sooki when Hanks later agreed to narrate the audio book of her novel The Dutch House. Through increasingly intimate emails, the women evolved from “affectionate strangers” to housemates while Sooki was in an experimental treatment for pancreatic cancer.

No spoilers here, but it is a deeply moving story about friendship, and utterly riveting. As is the collection in its entirety. A


Book Notes

As the end of 2021 mercifully approaches, here’s a look back at the books that made our A list. Some won critical acclaim nationwide; others, not much more than here, but they’re worth your attention if you haven’t read them already.

Bewilderment, by Richard Powers (W.W. Norton, 278 pages), novel: A widowed dad struggles with raising his neurologically untypical son while pondering possible other worlds beyond our universe.

The Anthropocene Reviewed, John Green(Dutton, 274 pages), nonfiction, essays: The author of The Fault in Our Stars gives 1- to 5-star reviews of everything from Canada geese to Diet Dr Pepper to the “wintry mix.”

Love Like That, by Emma Duffy-Comparone(Henry Holt and Co., 211 pages), short stories: Nine stories about love, both brittle and vibrant, all set in New England, two on the Granite State coast.

The Audacity of Sara Grayson, by Joani Elliott (Post Hill Press, 400 pages), novel: Part of the genre often dismissed as “chick lit,” this is a fun, original and New Englandish story of a daughter tasked with writing the ending to a best-selling series after the author, her mother, dies.

The Five Wounds, by Kirstin Valdez Quade (W.W. Norton, 416 pages), novel: A troubled Catholic family in New Mexico grapples with an unwed pregnancy, poverty and illness in this moving portrait of real life, the kind that doesn’t show up on Twitter.

The Blizzard Party, by Jack Livings (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 400 pages), novel: Engrossing fiction set during the very real blizzard of 1978.

Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro (Knopf, 303 pages), novel: This Booker Prize-winning story of a young girl and her “artificial friend” asks us to think seriously about the costs of companion robots, both to us and to them.

Chasing Eden, A Book of Seekersby Howard Mansfield (Bauhan Publishing, 216 pages), nonfiction: An intelligent and contemplative book by a New Hampshire author about an unusual cast of Americans who bid the founders’ call to pursue happiness in their own unique ways.


Book Events

Author events

JAMES ROLLINS Author presents The Starless Crown, in conversation with Terry Brooks. Virtual event hosted by Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. Mon., Jan. 10, 7 p.m. Via Zoom. Registration required. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

CHAD ORZEL Author presents A Brief History of Timekeeping. Virtual event hosted by Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. Thurs., Jan. 27, 7 p.m. Via Zoom. Registration required. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

ISABEL ALLENDE Author presents Violeta. Virtual event hosted by Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. Sat., Jan. 29, 7 p.m. Via Zoom. Registration and tickets required, to include the purchase of the book. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

JOHN NICHOLS Author presents Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiters. Virtual event hosted by Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. Tues., Feb. 1, 7 p.m. Via Zoom. Registration required. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

GARY SAMPSON AND INEZ MCDERMOTT Photographer Sampson and art historian McDermott discuss New Hampshire Now: A Photographic Diary of Life in the Granite State. Sat., Feb. 19, 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Peterborough Town Library, 2 Concord St., Peterborough. Visit monadnockwriters.org.

TIMOTHY BOUDREAU Author presents on the craft of writing short stories. Sat., Jan. 15, 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Peterborough Town Library, 2 Concord St., Peterborough. Visit monadnockwriters.org.

Poetry

CAROL WESTBURG AND SUE BURTON Virtual poetry reading hosted by Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. Thurs., Jan. 20, 7 p.m. Via Zoom. Registration required. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

DOWN CELLAR POETRY SALON Poetry event series presented by the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. Monthly. First Sunday. Visit poetrysocietynh.wordpress.com.

Book Clubs

BOOKERY Online. Monthly. Third Thursday, 6 p.m. Bookstore based in Manchester. Visit bookerymht.com/online-book-club or call 836-6600.

GIBSON’S BOOKSTORE Online, via Zoom. Monthly. First Monday, 5:30 p.m. Bookstore based in Concord. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com/gibsons-book-club-2020-2021 or call 224-0562.

TO SHARE BREWING CO. 720 Union St., Manchester. Monthly. Second Thursday, 6 p.m. RSVP required. Visit tosharebrewing.com or call 836-6947.

GOFFSTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY 2 High St., Goffstown. Monthly. Third Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. Call 497-2102, email elizabethw@goffstownlibrary.com or visit goffstownlibrary.com

BELKNAP MILL Online. Monthly. Last Wednesday, 6 p.m. Based in Laconia. Email bookclub@belknapmill.org.

NASHUA PUBLIC LIBRARY Online. Monthly. Second Friday, 3 p.m. Call 589-4611, email information@nashualibrary.org or visit nashualibrary.org.

Language

FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE CLASSES

Offered remotely by the Franco-American Centre. Six-week session with classes held Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $225. Visit facnh.com/education or call 623-1093.

Album Reviews 21/12/30

Reptaliens, Multiverse (self-released)

The first album from this Portland, Oregon-based husband-and-wife synthpop duo was 2017’s FM-2030, named after the famous transhumanist (a barmy, pseudoscientific discipline that focuses on artificial intelligence, longevity by becoming part-robot or whatnot, etc.). So by now, if you’re normal, you’ve got warning bells going off all over the place, as you’ve seen words like “transhumanism” and “Portland,” so you know there’s plenty of kooky nonsense going on here, and you should probably avoid it, and you’d be right, at least in my book. Anyway, that first LP was dreamy but not dream-pop, more like Au Revoir Simone-meets-Postal Service-style rubbish that didn’t make it onto an episode of Portlandia. Cut to now, when Covid has prevented Mr. and Mrs. from jamming with their wine-gulping band, so it’s just the two of them, with less synth in their synthpop, just guitars and boring drums, still sporting the New Order fetish they had before. These harmless, ’60s-radio-tinged little tunes aren’t really bad, but, as on their first two albums, the muse begins to tire of them, as does the listener, and by the time album-closer “Jump” rolls around, you’re like “Wow, that’s 40-odd minutes I’ll never get back.” Don’t get me wrong, a couple of tracks would fit well on your wombat-indie mixtape, be my guest. B

Engelbert Humperdinck, Regards (OK Good Records)

I really don’t remember if we’ve gone over this former 1960s/1970s megastar before, but this five-song EP does present an excuse to remind everyone within eye-shot that this British India-born tenor was the Pepsi to Tom Jones’ Coke during the Nixon years. He was, um, I mean is, a crooner who never had the unhinged bombast (or the hips) of Jones, but he definitely was the second banana. A bonus here is that I also get to touch on a holiday tune, a super-long-overdue version of Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” in fact, not that there’s any time left for your grandmother to enjoy it unless she’s hip to the Downloadin’ Stuff scene. It’s all covers, of course; market-made spectacles like this guy probably wouldn’t know the first thing about writing a song, but it’s all good. “What a Wonderful World” is here in all its chintzy glory, and of course a tearjerker, “Smile” this time, packing a full orchestra to deliver its hilariously maudlin message. Nothing unexpected. (What else am I supposed to say? “It’s dumb”?).

PLAYLIST

• Happy New Year, folks. My favorite “2022 is coming” internet meme so far right now is the one with a picture of two tidal waves, representing 2020 and 2021, and a Godzilla standing behind them that’s supposed to represent 2022. What sheer lunacy is left to happen in 2022? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, but we have one final week of awful albums to cover for 2021, some of which are actually being released on New Year’s Eve, which is dumb, because who buys albums when they’re drunk? But whatever, who cares, some metal band called Oathean is releasing their new album, cheerfully titled The Endless Pain and Darkness, on Dec. 30, a Thursday! Or at least that’s what the Album Of The Year webzine is saying; some other sources are saying it was released on Nov, 30, which is even stupider, since it’s a Tuesday, but at this point I need rock ’n’ roll albums to write about, because otherwise I’m going to talk about politics or something, because it’s that time of year when no band in their right mind is releasing an album, except for Oathean, whoever they are. So anyway, let’s see what this Oathean band even is, shall we? Ha ha, they use that funny font in their band logo, the type all the “extreme-metal” bands use so that their fans don’t really know which album they’re buying, they just know that the devil is involved somehow, and what else should someone care about? I’ll bet you it sounds like Deafheaven, I’ll just bet you. Huh, look at that, they’re from Korea. I thought they were from Finland or whatever, that’s weird. The whole album is up on YouTube right now. It starts out with some “symphonic metal” elements (in other words it sounds kind of snobby, like Evanescence but with no singing) and then, ah, there we are, they want to sound like Bathory/Deafheaven. That singing cracks me up so bad, like the guy sounds like a giant rat who’s demanding your cheese right this minute or he’ll — why, he’ll — he’ll screech like a giant rat at you, that’s what! Beware the wrath of the King Of The Cheese Rats, fam, that’s my only warning!

• And that brings us to the music albums that are literally being released on New Year’s Eve, the day before New Year’s Day, which is easily the worst holiday of the year. Why, you ask? Come on, you know why. All the good holidays are gone, and you know you have to go back to work or school or your court-directed community service thingie in a day or two, and from there it’s the usual wintertime activities: trying to keep from getting frostbite on your feet or going completely insane from sun deprivation while reading tweets about the Kardashians vacationing in Maui, or however you usually torture yourself. Again, there’s nothing to talk about here other than metal bands, so come on, get out the barf bags and let’s try to find something from Vanda’s new Covenant of Death album! They’re from Sweden, and they look kind of normal, like regular Judas Priest stans. Nothing on YouTube at all, but their Facebook has a snippet from some tune that’s pretty basic thrash from 1989. Yours in metal, guys!

• We’ll wrap up this rotten year with something that isn’t metal, a compilation album called Stars Rock Kill, composed of cover tunes from indie bands on the Kill Rock Stars record label, including Chateau Chateau, Amber Sweeney and Lucy Lowis, whose cover of Elliot Smith’s “Say Yes” is folk-grungy manna for ironic, badly dressed 40-somethings. Fifty-two songs here, which is pretty generous, man!

If you’re in a local band, now’s a great time to let me know about your EP, your single, whatever’s on your mind. Let me know how you’re holding yourself together without being able to play shows or jam with your homies. Send a recipe for keema matar. Message me on Twitter (@esaeger) or Facebook (eric.saeger.9).

Shaking things up

Take the beer less tasted

When someone asks me what kind of beer I like, I usually say something along the lines of, “I drink everything but I primarily gravitate to stouts and IPAs.”

That’s more or less accurate. I love stouts and IPAs and at the same time I’m happy with Pilsners and brown ales and sours and so on and so forth.

Still, it’s easy for me to get stuck on stouts and IPAs — now more than ever — as there has never been a greater variety and quantity of both styles available to us from craft brewers. Plus, they taste really, really good.

But one of my goals for the new year is to find more opportunities to step outside my comfort zone to explore not only a wider variety of styles, but beers that are especially unique.

There’s so much great beer easily accessible and I don’t want to close myself off to anything. I feel like we’re in this together.We might need to hold each other’s feet to the fire. Sure, we’re not going to like everything we try, and that’s OK, but you must be at least somewhat bored with trying yet another variation on the IPA featuring the newest, most exciting hop strain? Don’t worry, IPAs aren’t going anywhere.

Let’s keep an open mind and let’s dive in. Here are five unique New Hampshire brews I’m looking to seek out in 2022.

Razzmatazz Raspberry Wheat Ale by Throwback Brewery (North Hampton)

The description says “spicy and fruity,” and it features “aromas of raspberry sugar cookies,” and honestly, it scares me a little. But I like that it’s got a little zip with an ABV of 7.4 percent and that the brewer notes flavors of “bitter berry, currants and sweet caramel malt.” You start mulling this over, and how is this not an intriguing brew? (The brewery has a Raspberry IPA that fascinates me as well.)

Cranberry Wit by Great North Aleworks (Manchester)

The brewery says this slightly tart Belgian-style witbier is brewed with orange, coriander and cranberry. This sounds refreshing, exciting, not at all over-the-top and perfectly seasonally appropriate.

Spit Fire Joy Juice: Maple Smoked Peach Sour Collaboration by 603 Brewery (Londonderry) and Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. (Merrimack)

What a fascinating beer! This is just so interesting bringing together sweet maple smokiness and the tang of peaches. I feel like the smoke would add some balance and provide some depth to what sounds like a very sweet brew. This screams complex.

Bubblewrap by Loaded Question Brewing (Portsmouth)

This Belgian “singel” is brewed with “bitter orange peel,” Willamette hops and Belgian ale yeast. What I’m expecting is a light, refreshing Pilsner-like brew featuring some acidity and some fruitiness from the orange peel. I can’t wait to try this.

Monadbock by Granite Roots Brewing (Troy)

OK, this isn’t a brew that I would classify as especially unique or innovative. Based on the description, it sounds like this is about as traditional as it gets. Beyond looking for unique beers, I also want to revisit more traditional styles. The brewery says this amber bock “boasts rich malty caramel and fresh baked bread,” and honestly, how could that not be good? Sometimes, we get so excited about all the experimenting brewers are doing these days, that we, or at least I, forget what made us enjoy beer in the first place. I’m thinking this brew might be a good, delicious reminder.

What’s in My Fridge

On the Gogh by Breakaway Beerworks (Manchester) Yes, I’m trying to step away from IPAs, but before I do, I enjoyed this unfiltered, dry-hopped IPA that boasts big tropical fruit flavor and a little spiciness. This was quite nice and one I would recommend tracking down. Don’t let the spice scare you; it’s not overpowering and instead helps balance out the bold citrus flavors. Cheers!

Featured photo: Razzmatazz Raspberry Wheat Ale by Throwback Brewery in North Hampton. Courtesy photo.

New Year’s Eve for grown-ups

For a variety of complicated, therapy-inducing reasons, we spent Christmas in 1974 with my mother’s twin sister and her family in southern California. I was 10 years old and my cousins were all teenagers, so everything that they did filled me with wonder and awe.

Like, when my cousin’s boyfriend showed me how to use my new magenta gas-powered airplane — not a remote-controlled one, but one of the ones that was controlled by nylon strings connected to the fuselage. He got the engine started and I watched in wide-eyed amazement as he got it airborne, circled it around us twice, then plowed it, nose first, into a parking lot. Clearly, the guy knew what he was doing, so I dutifully packed up all the pieces, brought them back home with me, and checked in on them dutifully every month or so for years.

Or when another cousin elbowed me firmly in the stomach and I found that I couldn’t breathe.

“It’s OK,” he said to me, “you’ve just got the wind knocked out of you.” His use of the passive voice terrified me, because it implied that this was something that just happened randomly – that you could be walking around, living your life, and suddenly discovering that you couldn’t breathe. My uncle confirmed that yes, I had indeed just had the wind knocked out of me, and that I’d be fine. After 25 minutes or so (OK, it was probably more like 15 seconds) I discovered that I could take tiny breaths, then slightly bigger ones, and could finally look a little less like a blobfish in a Shaun Cassidy haircut, gasping on a pier.

But for me, the best memory of the holidays that year was New Year’s Eve.

The adults all dressed up and went out to some unimaginably sophisticated grown-up party, leaving me in the care of the teenagers. My youngest cousin, who must have been around 16, watched old movies on TV with me all night; then, at midnight, we went outside and honked the car horn to ring in the new year. Afterward we came in and ate buttered noodles.

It was far and away the best New Year’s Eve of my life.

Grown-up New Year’s Eves have been less magical.

Take Champagne, for example. I realize that I have the taste buds of a rhinoceros, but cheap and moderately priced Champagne can best be summed up in a quote from Fozzie Bear in 1981’s The Great Muppet Caper: “You know, if you put enough sugar in this stuff, it tastes just like ginger ale!”

So, here’s the thing: I get it. New Year’s is largely an adult holiday, where adults gather with other adults and celebrate how adult they are, talking about adult things — dental plans and conspiracy theories, mostly — and drink the most adulty drink they can think of, Champagne. But unless you are a supermodel or a guy with a yacht, most of us never really develop a taste for the stuff.

Is there an alternative?

Yes. Yes, there is.

The Manhattan

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces rye or bourbon. This week I’m using Bulleit Rye. (I’ve recently discovered that I like rye. Who knew?)
  • 1½ ounces sweet vermouth — the red kind
  • 10 drops cardamom bitters
  • 10 drops orange bitters
  • 1 cocktail cherry, the fanciest you can find. I like Luxardo.

Add all ingredients to ice in a mixing glass. Stir gently. This is one of those martini-like situations, where you probably wouldn’t like the result if you shook it in a cocktail shaker. This will have a cleaner, more vibrant flavor if it isn’t aerated.

Pour into a rocks glass. Sip gently. A Manhattan is not a drink that lends itself to drinking quickly. You’ll want to — actually, who am I to say what you want? You will probably be happier with your Manhattan experience if you drink it a little at a time, trying to identify the different elements that you can taste.

Grown-up/shmown-up; the best part is finishing this drink and eating the cherry. Don’t let anyone try to tell you different.

So, are there drinks out there that are more adult? Probably. At this moment, there’s almost certainly some guy working his way through a bottle of scotch, while the bar owner says, “Hey Mr. A-Bailey, why you so a-sad? Go a-home to you wife, huh?” Or maybe that’s It’s a Wonderful Life; at this time of year it’s hard to tell the difference between melodrama and real life.

Anyway, there are probably other drinks as adult as a properly constructed Manhattan, but very few that are as enjoyable. It is sweet, but not too sweet — that’s what the bitters are there for — and boozy enough to let you know it means business. There is a mixture of flavors that will distract from any boring adult conversation you find yourself in.

Keep your chin up; we’ve got this.

Featured photo: The Manhattan. Photo by John Fladd

Chocolate peanut butter crunchies

We are nearing the very end of the holiday season. After New Year’s Eve, there may be thoughts (and actions) of healthier eating to compensate for the seasonal indulgence. However, before we tiptoe into the land of less sugar, fat, carbs, etc., I want to share one simple and delicious treat: chocolate peanut butter crunchies.

I don’t know if there is a recipe that is more aptly named. These crunchies are made of three ingredients, two of which are announced in its name. As simple as they are, they also provide a great amount of flavor, texture and balance. They are creamy yet crunchy, as well as sweet with a hint of saltiness.

When you look at the recipe, you might note that it only makes 12 crunchies, which may seem small when you compare it to a cookie recipe. However, these crunchies are fairly dense. You won’t be eating three or four of them. Of course, you also could easily double this recipe, especially since chocolate chips usually are sold in two-cup packages.

There are two key notes for this recipe. First, on the ingredient front, you want to use regular creamy peanut butter, not the all-natural, need-to-stir-it variety. You could use crunchy peanut butter, but you may need an extra tablespoon or two to get the correct consistency. Second, these are messy treats. Be sure to keep a napkin handy while enjoying them.

Whether you use this recipe now for a New Year’s gathering or store it in a file for some time in 2022, it is the perfect last-minute dessert recipe. From gathering the ingredients to popping one into your mouth, this recipe can be ready in 20 or so minutes.

Chocolate peanut butter crunchies
Makes 12

1 cup milk chocolate chips
½ cup creamy peanut butter
2½ cups corn flakes

Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
Combine chocolate chips and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
Heat in 30-second increments, stirring after each. (It should take 2 or 3 rounds to melt completely.)
Add corn flakes to chocolate mixture; stir well.
Using a serving spoon, scoop approximately 1/4-cup portions of the mixture onto the prepared tray.
Repeat until all mixture has been scooped into individual portions.
Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes or until firm.
Store in a sealed container.

Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.

Photo: Chocolate peanut butter crunchies. Photo by Michele Pesula Kuegler

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