Larry Simon revives two popular concerts in Portsmouth

When local guitarist Larry Simon held his “Hard Times” show in January 2009, it proved remarkably successful—almost too successful. The crowd that showed up at The Press Room in Portsmouth far exceeded the room’s capacity. Dozens of guests were forced to wait outside in the cold winter night, and many were turned away.

“So many people waited in line for well over an hour in the freezing cold,” Simon said. “One lady in town told me she got frostbite that night. I felt terrible.”

That’s part of the reason Simon decided to bring the concert back this year. Larry Simon and the Seacoast All Stars will perform “Hard Times: Songs of the Great Depression” at The Press Room on Saturday, March 13. Tickets will be available in advance at the Daniel Street bar, giving fans who missed the show last year a chance to catch it this time around.

It’s the second of two consecutive shows Simon and his 14-piece band will play at The Press Room this weekend. On Friday, March 12, they’ll present “1960s Latin Boogaloo,” a show originally performed during the 2009 Jazzmouth festival.

Simon conceived the “Hard Times” concert as a way to help people cope with economic struggles through music, an age-old therapy for all kinds of troubles. The need for that therapy is just as strong today as it was a year ago.

“When times are rough, throughout history, the arts kind of kick in in response to it, whether it’s the protest songs of the folk movement in the 1960s or these songs that arose during the original Great Depression,” Simon said.

Simon plans to perform the exact same set he played last year, featuring his original arrangements. The songs include “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” "Nobody Knows You When you’re Down and Out,” “One Meatball” and others.

The Great Depression era of the 1930s was a surprisingly prolific time for music, with folk and blues musicians like Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly writing topical songs with enduring messages. Some of the songs reflect struggles and hardship, while others wishfully celebrate a brighter future.

“They were written by everyone from Tin Pan Alley songwriters to blues and folk musicians,” Simon said. “Songs that expressed what people were going through in that time period sprung out from every corner of the music world.”

Although many of those songs were written 70 to 80 years ago, their lyrical content still resonates during the current economic recession. And their melodic content still holds up, too, Simon said.

“Every singe day you hear stuff on the news or from people you know about some miserable prospect relating to our economy, so it’s 100 percent relevant,” he said.

The “Latin Boogaloo” show was another sold-out hit when it debuted last April during Jazzmouth. The boogaloo genre, which preceded salsa music, combines elements of R&B, rock and funk with traditional Latin styles, and the lyrics are often sung in English, Simon said.

Both shows will feature opening sets from Deidre Randall’s Writers in the Round. On Friday, Randall will present local singer-songwriters Guy Capecelatro III, Liz Parmalee and Zach Tremblay. On Saturday, Randall herself will perform, along with Thomas D’Amour and Nate Laban.

During the “Hard Times” show, Simon and his band will be accompanied by guest musicians Joanne Connolly, Jon Nolan and Don Davis. When they’re through with the set list, they just might treat the crowd to some improvisation.

“Time permitting, we’ll probably do some jamming at the end,” Simon said.

Both shows begin at 8:45 p.m. at The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 603-431-5186. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at The Press Room