Local Rhythms – All Hallows’ Breaks Loose

Just because adults can’t trick or treat doesn’t mean they get over Halloween.  If anything, the costumes get better – and more expensive.
So it’s not surprising that so many area clubs are holding masquerade balls this year.
For starters, the big night’s on a Friday.
Plus, with the news of the world getting worse by the minute, [...]

Rap the Vote @ Electra 24 October 2008

Despite a few organizational hiccups, Friday’s “Rap the Vote” performance at Electra Nightclub brought out area hip-hop fans in force.  The show featured local rappers Open Case/Breadtruck, along with the Keene-based groups Flatliners and M.A.R., along with two others.
The West Lebanon nightclub was festooned with political signs, though the planned voter registration table was scrapped [...]

Local Rhythms – Youth Cafe Helps WRJ Teens

As the country tacks toward November 4, certain politicians are pushing the idea of a small town “real America”.
There, they say, work is done, values upheld, and patriotism percolates like coffee – in a real pot, not one of those funny cappuccino machines.
But no one is talking about how crushingly dull life can be for [...]

Trumpet Legend Arturo Sandoval Conducts Seminar at Claremont Middle School

Arturo Sandoval’s simple advice to young musicians is this: “Play with determination; don’t be afraid to make a mistake.”
The Cuban-American trumpet player, who performs tonight at Spaulding Auditorium in Hanover, answered questions and conducted a music clinic for the Claremont Middle School band Monday.  For over an hour, he gave them tips helped them rehearse.  [...]

Elixir’s Last Night – Maybe

Elixir, an inventive dining destination in White River Junction that featured live music five nights a week, closed its doors Saturday with a final show.
Harmonica player Johnny Bishop and guitarist Ed Eastridge, working as a pared-down version of “Johnny B. and the Goodes,” played an evening of blues.   Billy Rosen joined them midway, adding some [...]

Bummer – Elixir to Close October 18

From Elixir owner Mike Davidson comes word that White River Junction’s home for music and awesome fries will be no longer as of this Saturday.  Here’s the text of an email sent to Toni Ballard, Billy Rosen, Fred Haas & Sabrina Brown, and David Westphalen, all fine musicians who played regularly at the club, which [...]

Local Rhythms – Salt hill Delivers For MDA

A few expressions come to mind when I think of Salt hill Pub. “If you’re drinking to forget, please pay first” is a favorite. “Work is the curse of the drinking class” is another.  The Oscar Wilde quote is printed on the back of the staff’s t-shirts.
“Next time, bring your wife” is written in a [...]

Lindsey Buckingham Right At Home in Lebanon

Lindsey Buckingham/Lebanon Opera House/Lebanon, New Hampshire/12 October 2008
Midway through Lindsey Buckingham’s sold-out show Sunday night, he spoke about the tension that exists in making music for a “selling machine,” and working from what he termed “the left side of the palate.”
“I think one helps the other,” he said. “The audience for the ‘other’ is – [...]

Laughing and Crying With Matt Nathanson

How to describe Matt Nathanson to the uninitiated?  Where to begin?
You know at least one of his aching, soul-stirring songs from Scrubs, One Tree Hill or Dawson’s Creek.  They’re perfect for dark moments of epiphany, when you’re reeling from happy to sad and back again.
It’s easy to hear Nathanson sing and believe the words were [...]

Local Rhythms – Internet Radio Update

Even though Congress was mostly busy saving the economy last week, they did find time to pass the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill, which grants a stay of execution to the burgeoning Internet radio business.
Readers of this column know that, a little over a year ago, the government-run [...]