In the latest example of the music scene giving back to those in need, a blues show benefiting Friends of Forgotten Children will be held on November 22 at their headquarters in Concord.  The family-friendly event begins at 3 in the afternoon, and features two of the area’s most venerable bands, Dr. Harp’s Blues Revue, along with the Brooks Young Band.

The show is free to the public, but guests are urged to bring a frozen turkey.  “It’s a first-time event,” says the organization’s director Andy Barnes.  “If we get 60 turkeys, I’ll be thrilled.” Donations of other perishable food items or cash are also welcome – the suggested amount is $10.

Friends of Forgotten Children are the Concord area’s largest private service provider.  “First and foremost, we’re a food pantry,” says Barnes. “We serve over 5,000 families a year.”  Their pantry also stocks items like soap, detergent and toothbrushes, that can’t be purchased with food stamps.

Tough economic times have caused demand for the organization’s services to grow, says Barnes.  “We’re on a pace to be up about 30 percent higher than it was last year.”

The idea for a benefit came after Dennis “Dr. Harp” Martin had a conversation with Brian Tilton, host of the weekday Bulldog Live program on Bow talk radio station WTPL-FM.

Dr. Harp asked his longtime friend for help locating a venue for a show to help feed hungry families at Thanksgiving. “Immediately, I thought of Friends of Forgotten Children,” says Tilton.

Bulldog made a quick call to Barnes, and the wheels for the benefit concert were in motion.

“Dr. Harp is giving a very special gift to the community,” says Tilton.  “I have no doubt it will respond well to enjoying a free concert in exchange for donating a turkey, cash or other food items to help the needy of our community.  It’s a perfect fit.”

Asked why it’s important to do this kind of event, Martin says simply, “I’m going to sit down with 15 people in my family [for the holidays]. I’m fortunate enough to have a home now, and I know what it’s like, because I’ve been on that other end of that – going to a soup kitchen just to have a Thanksgiving dinner.”

Martin’s four-piece band specializes in the driving boogie blues popularized by Johnny Winter, George Thorogood and the J. Geils Band; a sound that owes equal debts to Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker.  Martin took up the harmonica at age 10; over a 30-year professional career, he’s performed all over the world, including the former Soviet Union, and opened for everyone from B.B. King to Steppenwolf.

Brooks Young is a rising star in the blues world. He and Martin met at a Dr. Harp-hosted open mike night at Blues-ology in Belmont a few years back and have been friends since.  “He’s a great guitarist, very focused and he’s doing well,” says Martin.

Young has sat in on guitar with the Dr. Harp Blues Revue Band in the past. Lately, he’s been in the studio working on an upcoming album of original material, and will share the stage with James Montgomery and J. Geils in Franklin next month.

Who: Dr. Harp’s Blues Revue Band, Brooks Young Band

Where: 224 Bog Road, Concord

When: Sunday, November 22 3 – 7p.m.

Admission: Frozen turkey, perishable food items or $10

For More: www.fofc-nh.org

During the Sixties, she was present at the creation of many legendary R&B records at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, and spent most of the next decade singing in rock’s most successful touring band, the Grateful Dead.

But for Donna Jean Godchaux, there is no time better than now.

“I have a much clearer idea of who I am as a vocalist as well as a person and so I have a lot more confidence,” Godchaux said recently from her home in Florence, Alabama. “I’ve never had the liberty that I have now, both in my songwriting, in my singing, in my life and every expression of who I am and so it comes through … I’m having the time of my life.”

These days, music is a family affair – husband David Mackay plays in Godchaux’s band, and both of her children are successful musicians. Zion Rock Godchaux, her son with late Grateful Dead piano player Keith Godchaux, is one half of the dance rock duo Boombox, while Kinsman Mackay leads the hip-hop Grown Folks Band.

All three bands performed at last summer’s Grateful Fest at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Ohio. Though their musical styles don’t exactly mesh, Godchaux seized the moment.

“I got to sing with both of my children,” says Godchaux, the excitement rising in her voice. “Call it our golden years or however you want to say it – we have everything going for us as a family.”

Musically, the Donna Godchaux Band featuring Jeff Matson, opening for Dark Star Orchestra at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, November 21, is never far from the band that brought Godchaux to fame. “I’m not gonna get away from that, and neither is Jeff,” she says, “Our musical history, heritage and everything that’s valuable to us in music really comes out in the that kind of expression.”

To that end, a typical DGB set includes “St. Stephen,” “Bertha,” “Samson and Delilah” and other Dead chestnuts. But, says Godchaux, “this band has a little bit more range in what it does in that we’re really incorporating the soulful Muscle Shoals and Memphis sound, as well as reaching very deeply into our Grateful Dead roots.” The band’s original songs, many recorded for the 2008 release, Donna Jean and the Tricksters, reflect those influences.

As a teenager, Godchaux lived across the river from Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where soul greats Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Arthur Conley and others recorded. “The stars fell on Alabama, and there was a great surge of energy directly at this little Podunk west Alabama burg,” says Godchaux.

“I got studio fever at age 12, and by the time I was 15, I was singing on demos,” she says. “By high school, I was singing on hit records.” Godchaux backed Percy Sledge on “When A Man Loves A Woman,” and sang as part of the three-woman group “Southern Comfort” on records by Elvis Presley and Cher.

Duane Allman later became a member of the Muscle Shoals house band, and rockers like the Rolling Stones and Traffic began making the pilgrimage to Alabama, looking for that special sound. One of them was Boz Scaggs, who recorded his eponymous debut album there.

Godchaux, who sang backup on “Loan Me A Dime,” says Scaggs’ record was “an anomaly as far as Muscle Shoals music goes. Most everything that had been recorded there was basically R&B, and then Boz Scaggs comes in with this kind of San Francisco R&B thing, which was very different than what we were used to. Duane Allman also had that psychedelic edge, which was not your usual Muscles Shoals fare.”

She was intrigued by the new sound, and a few months later, Godchaux left Alabama for California – a move that eventually led to her joining the Grateful Dead. But she says it was wanderlust, not music, which spurred her to head west. “I think [recording with Scaggs] contributed to my curiosity about different musical expressions from what I was used to. Everything in the studio was very arranged and very perfect and produced and pristine and that may have had a little bit to do with it.”

But, she continues, “I would have to say that I knew that I knew” – she says it twice for emphasis – “that I was supposed to go out to California. I just knew it. I don’t know how else to explain it, except that I had an itch, an urge and an inspiration to go there that I could not deny. I had to go to (Atlantic Records president) Jerry Wexler and tell him I was going to quit the voice group and all of that. You know, it’s a heavy thing. I was in the middle of a very lucrative career and I just knew that I needed to be in California. I wanted an adventure and I think I not only wanted it in the physical and the geographical sense, but I wanted it in a musical sense as well.”

When she met Keith Godchaux, neither knew the other was a musician. “Keith and I fell in love before he ever heard me sing or I ever heard him play the piano,” she says. “Keith and I got married and I came home one day and said, let’s listen to some Grateful Dead. He said, I don’t want to listen to it any more – I want to play it. I said okay, let’s go get in the band.”

The couple went to see Jerry Garcia at Keystone Korner, a San Francisco nightclub. Keith was too shy to speak with the Grateful Dead guitarist, so Donna took over. “Keith is your next keyboard player,” she told him – unaware that the band’s regular keyboard player, Ron “Pigpen” McKiernan, was sick with a liver disease that would eventually kill him.

“Once again I was in the right time and place,” says Godchaux. “Within a couple weeks, he was in the band. So it worked out!”

I have the greatest job in the world.

For someone who considers “have you heard this?” the perfect conversation starter, being tasked with finding and exposing talented musicians is as good as it gets.

Radio, MTV, and cheap multiple band concerts used to guide my personal quest for great music. These days, the gurus have changed.

I have to work harder, but the reward is often greater.

This week, I’m going to share a few of my secrets.

First, how to pick a show?

MySpace, for all its busy purple unicorn screen noise, is still the best place to hear what a band sounds like, because everyone’s there. Before I recommend a local show, chances are I’ve streamed a song or two on MySpace.

Lately, though, I’ve been checking out ReverbNation, because it’s cleaner and more musician-centric, with a built in music player, and better event listings.

Facebook is getting better at music every day, but MySpace combines streaming and event listings more effectively. Eventually, however, I expect Facebook to bury MySpace in this department (as they have in every other way).

For local music, though, a stop at the Yellow House Media web site is a must. There are top-notch events listings and many full-length songs posted there.

When you don’t know what you’re looking for, things get challenging.

Rhapsody, Napster and a few other commercial sites will deliver channels of music based on your tastes. I think every serious music fan should have an account. For the cost of one CD a month, it’s a bargain.

But in this economy, you may not have an extra 13 to 15 bucks a month to spend. Free options like Last.fm, imeem or Pandora are good substitutes.

Search for music on Google and you’ll probably get a link to lala.com, a recent entrant into the digital music market. It’s a hybrid of Rhapsody and iTunes that charges ten cents a song stream.

Lala has a compelling fan playlist component, but I expect the dime-a-dance aspect will get old fast.

If you have cable or satellite television, you may have Sirius/XM and not even know it. Pick a genre, and if you can get past the often-annoying air talent, there’s a treasure or two to be had. But there’s been a steady downhill slide in quality since the merger.

Of course, satellite is still deeper than terrestrial radio. If you’re patient, it’s worth the trouble.

On to the rest of the week:

Thursday, Nov. 19: Richard Shindell, Flying Goose – Few musicians possess the literary voice of Richard Shindell. His songs read like short stories, with an eye for detail and a knack for parable that would please fans of Raymond Carver or Flannery O’Connor. That he’s not an international star in a world where Bon Jovi sells out football stadiums is, to my mind anyway, a crime against good taste. Go see him and you won’t be disappointed.

Friday, Nov. 20 Two Man Gentleman Band, Salt hill Pub – Is Dr. Demento still on the radio? He’d love this duo. Though you can’t dance to them (a liability in any other bar), they’re a lot of fun, with songs that touch on everything from bar snobbery (“Fancy Beer”) to the girth of America’s largest President, “William Howard Taft.” They can be bawdy too – one of their songs is called “When Your Lips Are Playing My Kazoo.”

Saturday, Nov. 21: Spectris, East Buffet – The progressive rockers turned power trio have a new album, Industry, with touches of metal and blues along with the spacey stuff.  Bassist Josh Mosher anchors a more aggressive, guitar-forward sound that takes its cues from power trios like Tool (and Rush, which means they haven’t completely forsaken their progressive rock roots). East Buffet is a fun music room too.

Sunday, Nov. 22: Tuck’s Rock Dojo Show, Windsor Station – Guitarist Tuck Stocking spent time with many area bands, most notably Syd and Conniption Fits, before turning his attention to teaching young musicians. Tonight Tuck showcases his students – SWAGG, No Smoking and Whether List, who cover Tom Petty, Taylor Swift, Green Day, All Time Low, Paramore, The Almost, Forever The Sickest Kids and others.

Tuesday, Nov. 24: Gillian Joy, Canoe Club – Hanover’s most musician-friendly club presents a piano player who’s been compared to George Winston – subtle but skilled, nuanced yet strong. Last year, Canoe Club impresario John Chapin called her “totally promising.” She’s been asked back several times, so things appear to be working out.

Wednesday, Nov. 25: Ted Mortimer, Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm – A true local treasure who wears many different musical hats, but is always an elegant, stylish guitarist evincing a wonderfully soft touch. Mortimer’s song selection at fine dining events like this one (prix fix, tres chic) typically draws from standards like “Misty” and “The Way You Look Tonight” – very pleasant indeed.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra comes to town this weekend, and I spoke with founding member and musical director Bob Kinkel, who told me:

“We never want to do the same thing twice, we always want to do better,” says founding member Bob Kinkel. “We keep raising the bar and then we go ‘Oh no, we gotta jump over that!’ We do it to ourselves, but it’s a labor of love. It’s so worth it for us.”

I also wrote about a good benefit for a worthy cause. Blind Lemon Aid, a charity run by blues man Brian Templeton, is doing a show for the Liberty House Veteran’s Shelter:

For bluesman Brian Templeton, the idea to do a show for Liberty House Veterans Shelter came last Memorial Day, as he watched a Londonderry honor guard lay a wreath at the grave of a fallen soldier. Afterward, a representative from Liberty House, a Manchester transitional home founded in 2004 by Vietnam veteran Don Duhamel, talked about the organization and its mission. During his remarks, the speaker mentioned problems at the shelter with a leaking roof. Said Templeton in a recent telephone interview, “I had this vision in my mind of these guys that fought for our country, and not only are they homeless, but there’s water leaking on their heads.”

Nite Roundup looks at other weekend options.

This week’s column begins a bit off-topic, but stick with me.  It gets back to music eventually.

Though I try to steer clear of politics in this space, a meme circulating after last week’s resounding win by pro-growth forces in local elections forces me to weigh in.  The results, say the losers, prove that Claremont isn’t a small town any more.  If we talked more and knew each other better, they say, things would have turned out differently,

The opposite is true. This was Claremont’s first Facebook election, and it proves we’re more connected than ever.

The pro-growth S.O.S. group used Facebook very effectively to support their positions and debunk their opposition – practically in real time.  I don’t diminish the power of a letter to the editor – heck, I write for a newspaper.  But the immediacy of information during this election cycle, coupled with an ongoing comment dialogue, was a very energizing force.

Back in the 1990s, these conversations happened slowly and selectively, at church coffee hours or during civic gatherings.  The very nature of the meetings limited participation.

Today, it’s possible to be out of the room but still in the loop.  I learned much more about this election from written exchanges than face-to-face conversations.

Here’s the important part – it brought me closer to the action.

Ubiquitous technology is a powerful and democratizing force.  The pro-growth forces understood this, and used it to carry the day.  Their constant campaign networking went beyond anything I’ve seen in the 30 or so years I’ve been in Claremont.

Without Facebook, Nick Koloski wouldn’t have stood a chance.

The new council member used it to announce and promote his candidacy.  Before the election, I was reasonably acquainted with Nick, but it was only after we connected online that I really got to know him.

One negative in all of this is the potential for too much information.  But while choosing a side in the health care debate is like drinking the ocean, picking a mayor is more akin to floating down a river.

I’ve taken this approach with music for a long time, turning a network of possibilities into a power grid of connections that cumulatively provides me with all I need, but never stops growing and giving me more.

The net effect (no pun intended) is that there has never been a better time to be a music fan than right now – except for perhaps tomorrow.

On to the rest of the week:

Thursday, Nov. 12: Loose Cannons Acoustic, Silver Fern Grille & Bar – These guys rock pretty hard for an all acoustic band, covering guys like Clapton and the Beatles, as well as grooves from Bob Marley and Stray Cats rockabilly.  Eclectic is the word that best describes them, with a musical outlook spanning decades and styles.  Silver Fern has a great beer selection, with several draft choices and a few big Vermont craft varieties.

Friday, Nov. 13 Acoustic Truffle, Salt hill Newport – Their name comes from the Beatles song, “Savoy Truffle,” and they’ve been wowing Seacoast audiences since the mid-80’s with their blues-infused, up-tempo rock. Truffle has two incarnations; the acoustic version leaves out the drums, but keeps the energy level high on stripped-down versions of songs like “Developer’s Blues,” a tune the Dead could have called their own.

Saturday, Nov. 14: Maria Muldaur, Bellows Falls Opera House – She’s best known for her early 70s hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” but Maria Muldaur has traveled the world of music, from her early Greenwich Village folk days, when Dylan was still playing pass the hat shows, to her current combo. the good time Garden of Joy Jug Band which features a banjo, a real washtub and, of course, Muldaur’s singularly soulful voice

Sunday, Nov. 15: Celia Sings Sinatra, Canoe Club – This downtown Hanover restaurant has great food, an inventive beer list and interesting drinks.  But none of that matters to me as much as Canoe Cub’s commitment to live music, 363 days a year.  Nights like this one with Celia are particularly special – he’s a dead ringer for the Chairman of the Board, and a lot of fun to boot.

Tuesday, Nov. 17: Adam McMahon, Windsor Station – Good blues from a nice guy who’s also an Iraq veteran, while enjoying tasty bar food, a party vibe on Tuesday night and the occasional drone of a train lumbering by.  How many more reasons do you need to head to the Station to see Adam McMahon play?

Wednesday, Nov. 18: Mark & Deb Bond, Ramunto’s – Now in residency at my favorite place to get a pint and a slice (or calzone) is this musical dynamic duo, who pack a big sound into the little corner fronting Puksta Bridge.  They’re best with dreamy pop rock like Peter Gabriel or the Beatles; their pirate karaoke version of Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” is audaciously good too.

This is a story about two industries, one fat and complacent, the other hungry and scrappy.

The first is record labels and the second is music.  Believe me, they’re not the same business.

Remember the fanfare last September, when the remastered Beatles catalog finally came out? Turns out EMI didn’t make enough of the most coveted item to satisfy demand.

As a result, my copy of the Beatles Stereo Box Set took nearly two months to arrive.

Big labels always blame fans for declining revenue, then sue customers and lobby Congress to do their bidding.  Yet when the most popular band in history made its biggest announcement in years, fans were made to wait in line to spend $300.  How does such a thing happen?

You’d think someone might have seen this coming.

Leave aside the fact that 10 years into the MP3 revolution, Beatles songs still aren’t sold digitally (300 USB apples don’t count as far as I’m concerned), or that the reissues contain no new material.   The suits at EMI need to spend less cash on lawyers and more on market research.

9-9-9 was the Beatles big release date.  It’s also the number that you dial in England when there’s an emergency.

I think it’s time to pick up the phone.

Contrast the behavior of annuity holders like EMI with bands that actually have to work for a living.

I’m not just talking about the musicians I write about, the ones with day jobs. Phish posts audiophile-quality soundboard mixes of every show for download. On Halloween, they played the Stones’ Exile on Main Street in its entirety.  I bought it the next day.

One of my favorite new records is Sainthood, from Canadian alterna-pop duo Tegan and Sara, not just for the bristly love songs, which are great.  I also like it for coming in enough flavors to make everyone happy.  The crazily passionate fans can buy a limited edition package with three books and a signed, one of a kind Rorschach print.  A vinyl version comes with a free CD of the pair’s last album, The Con.  Or, you can just get it on iTunes.

The other night at the Claremont Moose, a packed house watched the Agonist top the bill with Hexerei, TranScenT, Hung and three others.  The Agonist’s lead singer Alissa White-Gluz worked the merchandise table right up to the start of the band’s set.

That’s pretty impressive for a headliner.

If record labels reached out to their customers in the same way, things might be different.  But I’m not holding my breath.

On to the rest of the week:

Thursday, Nov. 5: John Gorka, Four Corners Grille – Gorka writes literate songs, rooted in place and time.  “Houses In The Field” looks at the costs of progress; on “Bottles Break” he crawls inside the mind of a denizen who wants nothing more than “to buy this town and keep it rough.”  “Mean Streak” would have been a smash hit if John Mellencamp recorded it. I could go on, but you should see him and get it for yourself.

Friday, Nov. 6 Heather Maloney, Sunapee Coffeehouse – A memorable season continues with singer-songwriter Maloney, whose balance of upbeat and plaintive will appeal to fans of Paula Cole, Joni Mitchell and Beth Orton.  The just-released Cozy Razor’s Edge is a taut, layered work with a big sound.  In a coffeehouse setting her songs will be quieter and intimate. Either way, Maloney is worth checking out.

Saturday, Nov. 7: Ansambl Mastika, Immanuel Episcopal Church – The band call its sound the New Balkan Uproar, a musical melding of wide-ranging influences: the clarinet ‘miroloi’ of northern Greece, Macedonian gypsy music, Serbian, Turkish, Middle Eastern chalgi, Klezmer, Bulgaria wedding band.  The list goes on, but like they used to say on American Bandstand when a song got 90 or better – it has a beat and you can dance to it.

Sunday, Nov. 8: Dartmouth Gospel Choir, Hopkins Center –This fall’s concert by the well regarded student ensemble explores heaven in its many forms– what is the afterlife?  Choir Director Wes Cunningham said in the program notes that he’s looking for “heaven on earth” with contemporary songs like “I’ll Take You There” and “Circle of Life” alongside more traditional fare – “Oh Happy Day,” “Amazing Grace” and “O Give Thanks”.

Tuesday, Nov. 10: Mark LeGrand, Windsor Station – Known for down-home Americana with the Lovesick Bandits and romantic country-flavored songs with his wife Sarah Munro, LeGrand is a regional treasure.  The chance to see him in an intimate setting like Windsor Station shouldn’t be missed.  The restaurant has really beefed up the musical offerings of late – it’s worth a visit.

Wednesday, Nov. 11: Tad Davis, Skunk Hollow – Tad Davis helms this weekly affair. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should take your playing to another level, this is a good starting point. Bring your axe and your songs. You have 15 minutes. The best part is that Simon Cowell is nowhere to be found, and the food’s better.

Players
Local Music Spotlight

Who: Mark & Debbie Bond
What: Easy and classic rock, in a small package
Sounds like: Peter Gabriel, Vertical Horizon, Bon Jovi

A married couple playing a tasty blend of up-tempo rock and adult contemporary, they’re summer regulars at the Anchorage in Sunapee.   Recently, they began a residency at Ramunto’s in Claremont. “We want to be different, cater to our strengths, and take advantage of the technology we have on hand,” says Deb Bond. The result is a two-person band that sounds like four or five.

Mark and Debbie met in 1991, when both were members of Wildheart; a stint with alt-rockers Acid Bran led to a record deal and two songs in the film National Lampoon’s Last Resort. Later, they were original members of Last Kid Picked, and have played with several other area cover bands.

They cover other artists well (“Late In the Evening,” complete with horn track, is a standout), and play excellent originals. Broken, released in 2006, rocks on “Hot Day,” “All Along” and “One,” then cools down with the romantic ballad “Lipstick,” which builds to a crescendo, with Mark and Deb harmonizing and trading lead vocals.

Their union has also produced three children, and Debbie Bond says she’s “truly experienced it all: true love, incredible kids, artistic fulfillment and business success. What more can anyone ask for?” That’s sweet music, indeed.

Upcoming gigs:

Wednesday, Nov 4     7:00P    Ramunto’s, Claremont
Friday, Nov 6         7:30P    Gallery Walk – Adagio Trattoria, Brattleboro
Wednesday Nov 11     7:00P    Ramunto’s, Claremont
Saturday, Nov 14        9:30P    West Dover, Vermont (check web site for details)
Saturday, Nov 28        7:00P    Rick’s Tavern, Newfane, Vermont

Website: www.markdebbond.com

Horizon
Mark your calendar

Who: Susan Tedeschi
Where: Lebanon Opera House
When: Saturday, Nov 8, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $30/$40/$50
More: www.lebanonoperhouse.org

To many cognoscenti, Tedeschi is the reigning queen of the blues, a guitarist who can play the chrome off a trailer hitch and sing like a cross between Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. This show will rattle the walls of the old opera house, so you should be prepared for an earth-shaking experience. Oh, she has three Grammy nominations and a song on the Bug soundtrack, plus Allman Brothers lineage by her marriage to Derek Trucks. How cool is that?

She’s got brass as well. Asked about meeting the Rolling Stones a few years ago, she replied, “I’m not intimidated by a bunch of British rockers. I’d be intimidated by Howlin’ Wolf if I met him, but I’m not intimidated by those guys.” How about that?

Tedeschi recently sang the National Anthem at a Red Sox playoff game. In January, she appeared on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” and performed with her husband at one of Barack Obama’s inauguration balls. You decide which is more impressive.

Beyond
Worth driving out of town

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Distance:
Saturday, Nov. 14 – XL Center Hartford, CT (2 shows) – 132 miles
Sunday, Nov. 15 – Verizon Wireless Arena Manchester, NH (2 shows) – 70 miles
Wednesday, Nov 18 – Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence, RI (2 shows) – 169 miles
Thursday, Nov. 19 – DCU Center Worcester, MA – 105 miles
Sunday, Dec. 13 – Times Union Center Albany, NY (2 shows) – 126 miles
Tickets: $22-$68
www.trans-siberian.com

For many, the holiday season begins the day after Thanksgiving; for others, it starts when Trans-Siberian Orchestra comes to town.

Some bands perform in an arena-sized venue at the expense of intimacy, but only a hockey rink can contain Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They combine Queen’s bombast with the orchestral rock of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and the pageantry of Jesus Christ Superstar for a two hour-plus show replete with lasers, fire and a lighting system that looks like an escapee from Transformers.

A TSO show is typically divided into two parts. First, there’s a Christmas program featuring several different singers, most of them operatically trained and on loan from major Broadway productions. A 14-piece orchestra and seven-member rock band provide the music, with a James Earl Jones sound-alike narrating a story that’s equal parts piety and human warmth.

The rest is free form, combining non-holiday originals with arena rock staples like “Immigrant Song” and “Layla.” Since their just-released double album Night Castle is only the second without “Christmas” in the title, it will likely feature in much of the second set.

It falls on a Saturday; at the end of daylight savings time no less. So this column is all Hallows, all the time.

In my neighborhood, I have a reputation for serenading the trick or treat crowd. Here are a few tunes you’re likely to hear – thanks to my Facebook pals for their suggestions.

Let’s start with the Top Five:

Without a doubt, number one is Bobby Boris Pickett’s “Monster Mash,” with “Werewolves of London” from Warren Zevon and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” right behind. CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising” makes the cut for all those werewolf/vampire movies. “Spooky” from Classics IV is in for being sweet and creepy.

Then there are songs that deserve the top, like the wonderfully ghoulish “Welcome to My Nightmare” by Alice Cooper, or “Dead Man’s Party” – merely the best Oingo Boingo song of many. No Halloween is complete without one hit wonder Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell on You.” For hip-hop fans, Will Smith as Fresh Prince on “Nightmare on My Street” is perfect. Bowie’s ‘Scary Monsters” always helps me feel the spirit.

Want freakishly weird? Try the cannibalism-themed “Timothy,” made by Rupert Holmes before his Piña Colada days.  A couple of my more esoteric friends chimed in with “D.O.A.,” a Bloodrock song about a car crash and its macabre aftermath. Then there’s the Ramones’ “Pet Sematary” which I heard on a recent trip to Salem, Massachusetts, or the Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck,” which would be banned if folks knew what it was really about. Oh, and “It’s Halloween” by the Shaggs. They’re from New Hampshire, and the song is so awful it’s charming.

Without Facebook or my electronic music maven Rhapsody, I might have forgotten the Squirrel Nut Zippers’ “Hell,” which urges everyone to “get ready for a suit of flame,” or Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold,” the perfect background music for doing unspeakable thing to small animals. A couple of others sure to help the mood are “Zombie” from the Cranberries and John Entwistle’s grisly baritone on the Who’s “Boris the Spider.”

For some, only Rocky Horror Picture Show will do. So here’s a tip of the witch’s hat to Tim Curry’s “Time Warp.”

Finally, the left field award goes to Richard Shindell’s “Are You Happy Now,” a song about getting dumped, followed by the ex toilet papering the house, smashing pumpkins on the lawn and stealing the trick or treat candy.

And with that, here’s my all-Hallows list of possibilities:

Newport Opera House: Last Kid Picked – This band is synonymous with Halloween in Newport since their first All Hallows gig as Werewolves of London in 1996.  There’s a full bar for this full-on masquerade ball, so pick a designated driver. 21+ $16/8pm www.newportoperahouse.com

Claremont Moose: Shredstock 2009 – The Agonist, a female-fronted metal band from Canada, top a bill that includes Hexerei, TranScenT, Hung, and Last Chance to Reason. A costume contest will undoubtedly include more than a few studs and chains. $15/5pm www.myspace.com/hexerei

Forester’s: Kelleyville Killer – Another metal show, this time in Newport, starring the Summoned, Kelleyville Killer, Wake the Sleeping, Your Chariot Awaits and We Met Aliens. There’s a 50/50 raffle, costume contests and other fun. $10/6pm 863-9824

Silver Fern: 360 – The downtown Claremont sports bar hosts its first annual costume ball with a band that plays the hits. Cash prize for best costume, food and drink specials 21+ $5/8pm 542-5747

East Buffet: Spectris – A trio with a strong repertoire of progressive rock, their recently released Industry is one of the best local CDs of the year. They also do a rave-up cover of “Ring of Fire.” 21+ No Cover/9pm 542-8880

Salt hill Pub Newport: Saylyn – Reggae music highlights the party upstairs in downtown Newport. This is the Claremont band’s first ShP appearance. Costumes strongly encouraged. 21+ No cover/9pm 863-7774

White River Junction: Gorey Daze – Pariah Beat perform amidst the Main Street Museum’s esoterica at 6pm, a DJ spins at Tip Top Café starting at 9. In between, costumed revelers march in the street, along with psychics and a monster petting zoo. Check gorydaze.blogspot.com for prices.

Westminster Meeting House: Jatoba – Barnaby’s Backwoods Jamboree with groove kings Jatoba, and Pleasant Valley Brewing volunteer taxis shuttle to the party from downtown Saxtons River. Costume contest, haunted trail. $15/6pm 802-869-4602

Everyday Inn: Ninja Monkey – Dubbed the Harvest Moon Halloween Smash, this Bellows Falls party features raucous music from a beloved local band. Costume party with cash prizes, and free taxi service provided by Pleasant Valley Brewing. 802-463-4536

Carmella’s: Hell Night – DJ dancing tonight, and if you want two days of dress-up, the downtown Claremont Italian restaurant is having a costume contest on Friday the 30^th. 542-5005

Springfield Chamber of Commerce: The Illusion – The exact location is a mystery, but this Springfield party, featuring a band that’s been around since the 1960s, is sure to be fun if you can find it. 8pm 802-885-2779

In this week’s Music Roundup, I talk about my new favorite female singer-songwriter, Amy Petty.  There’s also news about a multi-band metal show at Rocko’s, country music from Branded: No Rules at Circle 9 Ranch, and a show from Bulletproof Messenger at Milly’s

Robert Earl Keen, Todd Snider and Bruce Robison are performing at Tupelo Music Hall this Sunday. I had a great talk with REK, and my story is linked here:

The “guitar pull” — a few musicians sitting in a circle trading tunes — wasn’t invented in Texas. But guys like Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen helped make it an art form. This Sunday, Oct. 25, New Hampshire music fans will get a rare glimpse of this tradition as Keen, Todd Snider and Bruce Robison visit Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry to swap songs and stories.

It’s anybody’s guess what the balance between the two will be, but Keen expects a raconteur’s night out.

Beyond
Worth driving out of town

Rickie Lee Jones
Iron Horse Music Hall
Northampton, Mass.

Distance: 86 miles
When: Monday, October 26, 7PM
Tickets: $50/$55 door
www.iheg.com

30 years ago, Rickie Lee Jones arrived on the music scene with a flawless, eponymous debut album. She dated Tom Waits, Lowell George covered her songs, Rolling Stone put her on the cover, and a Saturday Night Live appearance in those heady pre-cable days vaulted her into public consciousness. On the strength of a Top 10 hit “Chuck E.’s In Love”), she won a Best New Artist Grammy, and Time magazine dubbed her the “Duchess of Coolsville.”

Jones’ early career happened when record labels let artists follow their muse (particularly quirky million-sellers). She touched down on many styles in the ensuing years, covering Tin Pan Alley, the Beatles and even Jimi Hendrix. She made synthesizer-driven jazz-rock; a duet with Dr. John of the ribald standard “Makin’ Whoopee” earned her another Grammy.

In short, Jones hasn’t lost her ability to surprise, so her upcoming “Balm in Gilead,” made with support from all-stars like Ben Harper, Vic Chestnutt, Bill Frisell, Victoria Williams and Alison Krauss, is one of the most anticipated albums of the year.  A chance to see her in an intimate setting like the Iron Horse, which seats just a few hundred, shouldn’t be missed.

Players
Local Music Spotlight

Who: Hexerei
What: Claremont metal stalwarts
Sounds like: Pantera, Slayer

If passion were money, Hexerei would be millionaires.  The Claremont-based band personifies the D.I.Y. ethic required for success in today’s music business.  Through sheer determination as much as talent, they’ve created a solid following throughout New England with their hard-edged music – heavy metal with a beating heart.  Their latest, “Paid in Full,” has a darker mood than Hexerei’s first two CDs (“Book of Shadows” and “27”), but no less a sense of purpose.

Much of the band’s drive comes from their lyricist and lead singer who was, as the expression goes, born for this.  By the time he was 9 years old, Travis Pfenning had seen his first metal show, played in a band and met his first groupie.  His two older brothers regaled him with tales of backing GG Allin, the notorious rock monster famous for rolling in glass and committing unspeakable acts onstage.  How could a small town boy resist?

Over the years, Hexerei has helped a lot of area bands make their way through the music jungle.  Stonewall got an early boost opening shows and winning a Hexerei-sponsored battle of the bands. A new Claremont melodic hardcore band, Rumors of Betrayal, will open an upcoming West Lebanon show.

Upcoming gigs:

Oct 23 2009      8:00P    Imperial Lounge w/ Soul Octane Burner, TranScenT
Oct 31 2009     5:00P    Claremont Moose Lodge w/ The Agonist, Last Chance to Reason, TranScenT & Hung
Nov 13 2009     8:00P    Electra Night Club w/ TranScenT and Till We Die

Horizon
Mark your calendar

Who: Spectris Halloween Bash
Where: East Buffet
When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Free (21+ only)
More: www.spectrisband.com

Claremont, Chinese food and wall-rattling rock & roll go together well it seems. East Buffet, located across from Citizens Bank on Pleasant Street, began offering live music a few months ago. By most accounts, it’s doing pretty well with it. They just dropped the cover charge in their recently renovated lounge, so this is one of the few free admission Halloween parties in the area. There will be prizes for best costumes, decorations and an appearance by the Budweiser Girls.

Spectris recently released “Industry,” a powerful record that recalls the complex instrumental interplay and tempo changes of bands like Rush and Tool. Other album high points: the psychedelic blues of “Grey Area,” and “Crossing,” a sort of Cream meets Metallica boogie. While their originals deserve a listen, it’s covers that fill a dance floor, and Spectris has plenty, from AC/DC to a roiling version of Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” They do an Aerosmith song or two, and plan to unleash a hell-bent redo of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” no doubt honoring the flaming rum center of the tasty East Buffet scorpion bowl.