Regional artists shine at New England Music Awards
The New England Music Awards is now running like a well oiled machine. Held at Showcase Live at Patriot’s Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts last Saturday night, performers and presenters were on and off the stage without hardly a glitch. This gave the performers a comfortable setting to strut their stuff between speakers and presentations. Showing what the whole event was all about, the bands who performed last night gave it their all as they presented their music to a six state audience.
Backs Against The Wall Blues Jam House Band host fourth Blues For The Troops, Sunday April 19, Peabody MA
Psst. Hey, kid. Do ya wanna listen to five hours of blues for only ten bucks?
Dr. Harp’s Blues Revue to play benefit for homeless veteran this Sunday, April 19, Manchester NH
A benefit for the New Horizon Homeless Shelter will be held at the Central Ale House in Manchester, New Hampshire from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Central Ale House is located at 23 Central Avenue in the Queen City. Dr. Harp’s Blues Revue will be performing. The band consists of Dr. Harp on vocals […]
Cheryl Arena lit up Wantu Blues Jam at the Village Trestle in Goffstown, NH
Stop the presses. There’s a celebrity in the room. Regionally known musician Cheryl Arena was the featured artist at the Wantu Blues Jam last Sunday afternoon, and the harmonica lady blew several hip, soulful melody lines through her treasured instrument. Lilting, melodic harp lines, train whistle melodies, and heftier phrases were just a few of things Arena pulled out of her bag of tricks.
Boston Baked Blues delivered old fashioned charm at Manchester’s British Beer Company location
Boston Baked Blues were the featured act last Sunday at British Beer Company’s Sunday Bloody Blues Brunch. Boston Bakes Blues treated their Manchester, New Hampshire blues audience to three hours of smooth, mellow blues from the 1940s and 1950s. As ever, Vinny Serino’s variety of harmonica and his polished, shiny, soulful voice breathed new life into some blues classics that he clearly loves to sing and play. His variety of vocal approaches, rangy voice, and harmonica styles allowed him to create a wide array of sounds, making each song something likable and personable.
Big ‘Ol Dirty Bucket dominated Uncle Eddies, turned the beach bar into a huge dance party
Big ‘Ol Dirty Bucket took over Uncle Eddie’s Oceanside Tavern at Salisbury Beach last Saturday night, filling the room with their outrageously funky sound. A nine piece band with a rangy female vocalist, Bucket blew people away with numerous horn blasts, guitar eruptions, and a thick broth of bass, drums, and percussion. Playing original music, Dirty Bucket Showed They were something unusual on the music scene; a band that can keep people dancing to original music.
Nelson’s Candies doubles as blues venue; offering Mr. Nick And The Dirty Tricks April 25
Who would’ve ever guessed that a candy store in the middle of New Hampshire would be a music venue? After 12 years of offering music in his Wilton, New Hampshire candy shop, Doug Nelson began presenting blues bands just over two years ago.
Cold Engines are a fun ride on sophomore effort Take Me With You
Cold Engines’ sophomore release Take Me With You is even stronger than their recent debut Day Drinker. This band has certainly figured out how to make good hard rocking music that is catchy, infections, and fun while crafting respectably solid songs. Cold Engines can also mellow things out and create meaningful music that speaks to a listener loud and clear while the song maintains a quieter mood.
Nick Zaino reaches into folk territory with great success on Blue Skies And Broken Arrows album
Nick Zaino’s new album Blue Skies And Broken Arrows is a fine collection of witty, original folk songs. Zaino is definitely more of a folk artist than singer-songwriter, as he taps into deeply held American beliefs and cultural images, icons and ideas that assemble and resemble a national consciousness. His take on everything from bad relationships to alien invasion reveals a wit that can tie personal experiences into a journey into all of modern American life.
Fil Pacino proves a force to be reckoned with on Death By Lions album
Fil Pacino’s debut album Death By Lions is a good mix of full band rock and roll and singer-songwriter sensibility. A listener can rock out to the hefty band material on this album before mellowing out to Pacino’s gentler acoustic guitar driven folk stuff. In either approach, Pacino is at the top of his game. He has a lot to offer fans of different forms of music.
