On Thursday nights, the basement bar at The Grog in Newburyport, Mass., rewinds in time to transform into a late-1960s San Francisco nightclub, complete with a haze of smoke and neo-hippie dancers. But in place of The Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane, the stage is occupied by modern psychedelic bands Maganahan’s Revival and Soul Robot.

On a recent Thursday, Robot and acoustic trio Starship Destroyer prepped the crowd for a closing set from Maganahan’s. The headliners opened with “Hard to Handle,” a tune originally recorded by Otis Redding but commonly found on Dead playlists and later revived by The Black Crowes. Front man Tim Souza’s knotty dreadlocks dangled past his belt as he strummed rhythm guitar and spouted familiar lyrics into the microphone. Guitarist Andrew Edmondson shortly unleashed his electric prowess, waiting out a couple of refrains before ripping an ecstatic solo that turned all eyes to the stage.

The band followed with “Hey Pocky Way,” another live Dead favorite originally recorded by The Meters. Organist Max Chase stomped his foot as he fingered the keys and Erik Britton improvised freely on a six-string bass, keeping the instrumentals fluid with his rhythmic meanderings. Drummer Brandon Hill stayed busy on the skins and kept the jam rooted to a central beat.

The third song was an original that demonstrated the band’s own songwriting capabilities while remaining true to the classic rock vibe. Chase took over lead vocal duties for a subsequent cover of Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight.” The group closed with a 10-minute jam featuring wall-melting experimentations that induced sporadic acid flashbacks.

Formed in 2006, Maganahan’s Revival consists of members based around southern New Hampshire who share a passion for authentic psychedelic rock (the band’s name is some kind of obscure reference to The Grateful Dead). The group mainly stuck to the New England festival circuit for its first couple of years but has recently found regular gigs in Salisbury and Newburyport, as well as in Vermont. 

All the band members are skilled and capable, but Edmondson’s instrumental aptitude is the group’s biggest asset. At The Grog, he tore through extended improvisations that built to crystalline peaks. Rumor has it he was playing through a high fever, and although he looked a bit drowsy and bedraggled with his thick beard and disheveled hair, his performance was electrifying. Visit www.myspace.com/maganahans.

The night began with a mixed set of originals and classic covers from the youthful Newburyport-based quartet Soul Robot. Robot and Maganahan’s will return to The Grog for free Thursday night shows every week for the next couple of months, according to band members.

Robot guitarist Dave Hill (brother of Maganahan’s drummer Brandon) split lead vocal duties with fellow guitarist Eli Cutting. Both singers repeatedly commanded crowd members to order drinks and tip their bartenders, insisting on a full-blown party atmosphere. Bassist Eddie Hargreaves and drummer John Spurr held down the beats.

Among the band’s original tunes was a rebellious song that called on listeners to stretch their boundaries. “Don’t let these guidelines stand in your way,” Hill sang. Another original began with a lengthy and creative instrumental progression with hints of Latin salsa influence.

But Soul Robot thrives on cover songs, including a brief Dead set that consisted of “Franklin’s Tower” transitioning smoothly into “Fire on the Mountain.” Showing a bluesy edge, the band also played a couple of tunes by The Allman Brothers Band, beginning with “No Way Out.” Other covers included “Stormy Monday,” a blues standard written by T-Bone Walker and popularized by The Allman Brothers; and “Fire,” the fast-paced guitar-driven classic by Jimi Hendrix. 

The band finished with a pair of more recent songs from the ’90s, beginning with the Phish staple “Birds of a Feather.”

Cutting invoked a spot-on Eddie Vedder lilt for a hard-rocking rendition of Pearl Jam’s “Animal” to close the set.

Soul Robot is currently at work putting together tracks for its debut album. Visit www.myspace.com/soulrobotmusic or www.soulrobot.net.

Sandwiched between the two psychedelic rock acts was a quick set from Starship Destroyer, a Massachusetts-based fantasy rock band armed with a triangle of acoustic guitars. In the center stood front man Ian Kerr, flanked by Dave Drouin on the left and Tim Boothroyd on the right. The group was without its drummer, opting for strings only.

The crowd seemed especially boisterous during Starship’s set. When Kerr announced that an upcoming song would be particularly appealing to people who like beards, one audience member enthusiastically hollered “I like beards!”

Performing like battle-scarred wayfarers spinning yarns in medieval saloons, Starship demonstrated considerable vocal and instrumental skills. Kerr and Drouin engaged in stirring, often high-pitched vocal harmonies with vigor. All three members are able guitarists with surprising chemistry. Drouin, also a member of popular Amesbury-based band The Brew, was especially animated.

Starship’s debut album, tentatively titled “The Second War,” is expected soon. Visit www.myspace.com/thesecondwar.
The Grog is at 13 Middle St., Newburyport, Mass., 978-465-8008.