Elektra, 1970

Remember The Stooge’s ‘Fun House’? Heart-pounding, teeth-gnashing, musical napalm.

A cappella groups around the Seacoast skip the instruments but still rock the house.

Interest in a cappella music appears to be on the rise on the Seacoast. Sounds of the Seacoast’s membership is near an all-time high, and groups like Tuckerman's at 9 are amping up expectations. “You really have to hold your own,” says Mark Miller of Tuckermans at 9. “It’s the idea of taking songs that we like from whatever era and saying, ‘OK, this song was originally with instruments, let’s see if we can do it without instruments.’”

Music Hall announces Herbie Hancock and Afro-Cuban All Stars

Herbie Hancock began playing the piano at age 7, and nearly four decades later he still shows no signs of slowing down.

Harpist James Montgomery still loves to play. He talks with The Wire about jamming with legends, hanging with Kid Rock, and bringing Boston greats with him to Rochester.

By the time he was in his 20s, James Montgomery had already set the course for the Boston rock scene of the 1970s and achieved far more as a musician than most harmonica players do in their entire careers. Since then, he's gone on to really make a name for himself.

Local musicians get together and gear up for Morrissey cover show, one in a series highlighting their favorite influences

An active musician in a variety of contexts, Tim Fife has led several tribute shows to different artists over the last year, and their upcoming Morrissey show is part of a fun trend for fans. Local rocker Tim McCoy and his various outfits have been known to play sets of The Who, The Guts and The Lanterns have performed blocks of songs by The Ramones, and The Funky Flunkies even played Michael Jackson’s entire “Thriller” album at The Barley Pub in November.

Marky Ramone discusses the origins of punk, life after The Ramones and his upcoming gig in Salisbury

When The Ramones released their self-titled debut album in 1976, no other band was playing rock songs that fast. Most bands were wearing “platform shoes and velvet pants,” playing disco or glam rock. And while some other groups had demonstrated elements of punk, “They wouldn’t stick to the formula,” Marky Ramone says in his thick New York accent.

A “who’s who” of performers in contemporary jazz will swing through Portsmouth this week in what performer Regina Carter describes as a really enjoyable, fun tour. Vocalist Kurt Elling, pianist Kenny Barron, violinist Regina Carter and guitarist Russell Malone, all ably backed by bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake, both members of Barron’s working trio, will take the stage as the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars at The Music Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

For the fifth consecutive winter, folk duo Susie Burke and David Surette are hosting their Cabin Fever collaborative concert series. Burke and Surette will split the bill on January 30 with siblings Ari and Mia Friedman, a fiddle and cello duo from Boston.

While my reaction to today’s music is not as severe as my father’s was to the Beatles, Miles Davis and Yes of my generation, I do find myself discouraged, if not completely disillusioned, with much of the work I hear from younger generations.

But in my list of the top recordings of 2009, which can be found at the end of this column, there is hope for the future of jazz in names like Etienne Charles, J.D. Allen, Gretchen Parlato, Jessica Lurie, Esperanza Spaulding, Danny Grissett and Miquel Zenon.

The 12th annual “Set the House on Fire” gospel concert will celebrate Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 18, with several spirited musical acts. The concert at Newington Town Hall will feature The Faithful Harmonize Jrs., The Funky Divas of Gospel and the Set the House on Fire Band.

And Sandpipers, the Seacoast Children’s Chorus, will present two upcoming concerts in honor of Martin Luther King Day. The shows take place on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Holy Trinity Church in Newington, and Sunday, Jan. 17, at Rye Congregational Church.

A variety of religious and philosophical doctrines tout the idea that the rewards we reap in life are proportional to the pain and hardship we endure.

Maybe that’s why so many thousands of musicians have subjected themselves to 28 days of painstaking artistic creation each year during the cold, dark month of February. The potential for hardship is considerable, but the reward of a brand spanking new CD is worth the pain.

Won't you join us? Now entering its fifth year, the RPM Challenge is open for registration

When classical violin prodigy Joshua Bell performed at The Music Hall in March 2008, tickets sold out almost immediately. Fans who missed that show will have a chance to catch the Grammy Award-winning artist when he returns to Portsmouth on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Jazz Society launches Seacoast Jazz Appreciation Project

When Terry MacDonald was growing up in a Boston suburb in the mid 1950s, the Teenage Jazz Club would meet at Storyville in Boston, one of the city’s premier jazz clubs.

On the last Friday afternoon of every month, they would take in an exclusive performance by whichever jazz musician happened to be playing at the club that week. MacDonald and his fellow young jazz fans heard legends like Max Roach, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing and others. The musicians would also interact with their teenage listeners, giving them an informal education in jazz.

Now a board member of the Seacoast Jazz Society, MacDonald hopes to replicate his experience with a new program called the Seacoast Jazz Appreciation Project.

Let’s Get Married, The Jonee Earthquake Band, Billy Raygun, The Devil and a Penny and The Zambia are part of an all-ages winter holiday rock show in Dover.

A round-up of recent releases from the Seacoast music scene 

local CD sellers look back on the highlights of 2009

The year was dominated by up-and-coming mega-celebs like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, plus renewed mania for the late Michael Jackson and remastered Beatles. But, as is often the case, many of 2009’s true recording gems soared beneath the mainstream radar. Our local professional music fans from Portsmouth’s Bull Moose Music, Odyssey & Oracle and Flea Marketing weigh in on the year’s best albums

WXGR and TVP Records share new studio and events in Portsmouth

It was squirming room only at the Dolphin Striker’s Spring Hill Tavern in Portsmouth on Dec. 3, as TVP Records and WXGR hosted the first Winter Chill.

TMH books Neko Case

Perhaps not since Bright Eyes two years ago has the local indie rock scene been so excited about a show at The Music Hall. Country rocktress Neko Case will perform at the Portsmouth theater as part of its Intimately Yours concert series on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Equally influenced by country and punk, Case is a singer and multi-instrumentalist with a uniquely tantalizing voice. Although she has now released six studio albums as a solo artist, she is still a rising star, currently touring in support of her latest CD “Middle Cyclone.” Released in March, the album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard charts—the highest an indie CD has ever reached upon its release.

Jon Papandrew, operations manager at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, has been welcoming major musicians to Hampton for more than a decade. It came as a shock to the Ballroom staff when Papandrew was diagnosed with liver cancer that has metastasized to his bones. On top of the physical and emotional toll on Papandrew and his family, the cost of medical treatment totals nearly $6,000 per month.

The Ballroom will host a benefit show featuring rock legends Little Feat on Thursday, Aug. 20. Proceeds from the $20 tickets will go directly to the Papandrew family to help pay for cancer drugs and other expenses.

Local music fans may know Bob Lord best as bassist for the heavy-hitting, prog-rock trio Dreadnaught. But Lord is also the musical mastermind behind Parma Recordings, a Hampton-based audio production company with five label imprints—Navona, Capstone, Soundbrush, Big Round and Ravello.

It may come as some surprise to Dreadnaught fans to learn that these labels are focused mainly on classical and world music. On the surface, it seems like a far cry from Dreadnaught’s guitar/bass/drums equation. But Lord, who founded Parma in 2008, says it’s a logical fit. From a structural standpoint, he says, Dreadnaught’s arrangements are rooted in classical sensibility.

“It’s always been embedded in there from the beginning,” Lord says. “It was a very natural fit for me.”
Parma has been putting out CDs at a prolific rate. Navona Records, a label dedicated to orchestral, chamber and classical music, has churned out numerous recordings over the last year, all with impressive album art and sound quality.

Paul F. Verrette, an associate professor emeritus of music at the University of New Hampshire, distinguished musician, music historian and one of the area’s kindest souls, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Aug. 5. He was vacationing with his family in Maine at the time of his death.

The Seacoast’s music scene got some sad news recently when members of The Minus Scale announced their pending disbandment. The sole consolation is that the group will play a farewell show at the Dover Brick House on Sunday, Aug. 16, and it promises to be a memorable gig for musicians and fans, alike.

Formed in 2001, The Minus Scale has been an anchor of the Seacoast’s rock scene. They have weathered several lineup changes over the years but never compromised the intensity and passion of their music, an emo-rock, pop-punk, indie brand of local rock.

Guests can put on their dancing shoes for a good cause at Odiorne Point State Park on Thursday, Aug. 6. The fifth annual Seacoast Concert for a Cure will feature two area bands at the Seacoast Science Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Bellevue Cadillac and Ben Baldwin and the Big Note will perform their blend of rock, jazz and blues for the fight against cancer.

Since launching in 2005, Concert for a Cure has raised more than $70,000 toward breast cancer research and survivor support. That money has helped several local organizations expand their services. This year’s show will benefit Betty J. Borry Breast Cancer Retreats, On-Belay, BreastCancerStories.org, Fill the Gap and the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition. There will also be a silent auction including vacation packages.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 day of show ($1 for children ages 4 to 12). The Seacoast Science Center is at 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye. Advance tickets and more information are available at www.seacoastconcertforacure.com.

In the last few weeks, several promising new recordings have come my way. From the Boston area, there’s “The Year of the Ox,” the second effort from exceptional singer-songwriter and keyboardist Jen Kearney and her band The Lost Onion. Whereas her first very strong CD was geared toward groove oriented jams, this compelling new recording places greater emphasis on shorter song forms. This isn’t a jazz recording, per se, but elements of jazz inform Kearney’s music, along with Latin, funk, soul and rock.

What’s particularly striking is the story-like quality of Kearney’s lyrics and how she wraps them in just the right musical textures. According to Kearney, this is a concept recording based on the symbol of the ox, one of the Chinese astrological signs, and the 10 ox herding pictures created in ancient Buddhism. All the songs are loosely based on the 10 pictures and what they represent.

fall will bring Rufus and Lyle to Portsmouth

The Music Hall recently added two fall concerts to its Intimately Yours series, booking Rufus Wainwright for Friday, Oct. 2, and Lyle Lovett for Tuesday, Nov. 10. Tickets to both shows are now available to Music Hall members and will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Making his first ever appearance in Portsmouth, Rufus Wainwright has perhaps become the most prominent name in a sensational musical family that also includes his father Loudon Wainwright, his mother Kate McGarrigle and his sister Martha Wainwright. With five albums of “pop opera” to his name, the singer, guitarist and pianist is also known for his work on soundtracks to films like “I Am Sam,” “Brokeback Mountain” and “Moulin Rouge.” He recently debuted his first opera, “Prima Donna,” at the Manchester International Festival in England.

a roundup of local releases

‘The Lonely Mans Waltz’
by Tim Cahill

The opening line on multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Tim Cahill’s first independent release sets the tone for this 12-track album, which eloquently documents the artist’s lifelong musical journey.

“I spend most of my time chasin’ dreams and drinkin’ wine / I’ve been stuck spinning tires in stormy weather,” he sings.

Cahill’s got his own brand of indie Americana that feeds off a diverse set of past and present inspirations. His voice sounds at times a bit like Tom Petty, at others like a not so hoarse version of John Mellencamp. Most of the songs are upbeat, though some dwell on life’s assorted sorrows.

“Alone, alone is not just a word / Alone is like being the last man on earth,” Cahill sings in the title track. But the song ends with a large chorus repeating that same line, implying that we are all united in our loneliness.

by Pink Floyd
1969, Capitol Records

at the Press Room July 1

Dave Gerard jokingly thanked folk legend Tom Rush for opening for him on July 1. Rush had played a show under the tent at the Prescott Park Arts Festival, finishing his set about an hour before Gerard kicked off his solo gig at The Press Room. Gerard regrettably confessed that he did not know any Tom Rush songs and could not pay tribute to the fellow New Hampshire resident. Instead, he dove into a fresh and energetic set of mostly original songs from his new CD, “The Zoomy Trail.”

A veteran Seacoast performer with unmitigated passion for his craft, Gerard meshes blues, rock and bluegrass into a distinctive guitar and singing style. When he’s not gigging as a solo artist, he can often be found fronting his Portsmouth-based rock band Truffle, which has been together since 1986. That experience all comes to bear on “The Zoomy Trail,” his fourth solo album.

The Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival

One of the Seacoast’s long running cultural events, the Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival will take place on Sunday, July 5, at Prescott Park. The festival runs from noon until 6 p.m. and will once again feature an array of local and regional talent performing over four 75-minute sets. Sorry, fans of vocal jazz—the emphasis of this year’s event is purely on the instrumental side. The list of performers includes Billy Novick’s Blues Syncopators, and saxophonist Fred Haas and guitarist Dave Newsam leading a segment titled the “LA4 Tribute to saxophonist Bud Shank.” Then there’s The Press Room Trio of Ryan Parker, John Lockwood and Les Harris Jr. performing with guests Trent Austin on trumpet and David Wells on saxophone, plus the Seacoast Big Band, directed by Dave Seiler.

Everything about singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves’ new album, from the title and cover art to the lyrics and melodies, gushes with pending tragedy. Released in April, “Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away” suggests the infirmity and transience of the fleeting things we take for granted. Cleaves tried to make that theme inhabit every aspect of his record.

“I just learned early on that in order to make an impression on people, in order for people to remember my songs, I had to really strike them in the heart and really move them,” he said. And striking the heart means stoking the tragic.

Upright bassist Nat Baldwin’s musical innovation has put him on a platform that continues to steadily rise. He is now an official member of New York-based experimental rock band Dirty Projectors, which is in the midst of an extensive summer tour and landed a write-up in the latest issue of Spin magazine. The article on page 44 of the July edition of Spin includes a large color photo of the six-piece band on the streets of Brooklyn, and Baldwin’s scruffy face is grinning at the far left.

This is not Baldwin’s first time in the spotlight. He performed on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” last fall as a member of Brooklyn-based band Department of Eagles. He has also garnered considerable attention as a solo artist with at least three albums under his belt. His inventive double-bass style and dynamic vocals have made him a local favorite at live shows. 

a roundup of recent local releases

‘Superliminal’
by The Screen

Portsmouth’s hard rockers The Screen had been fairly quiet on the Seacoast since releasing “Antitrust” in 2005. But they are quiet no more. With the recent unveiling of “Superliminal,” the local trio behind The Screen are just the way we like them: loud.

Guitarist and vocalist Robert Beal, bassist Erik Ralston and drummer Jarrett Osborn met while students at the University of New Hampshire and formed The Screen in 2001. Since then, the group has earned a reputation as one of the Seacoast’s most riveting rock bands, and perhaps nowhere has their power been better demonstrated than on “Superliminal.”

‘92982’
by William Basinski
label: 2062
genre: memory reels
suitable for: Sept. 29, 1982

From the composer himself: “Home at last after a day of work at the answering service. Answering phones for Calvin Klein, Bianca Jagger, Steve Rubell and all the other somebody people ... Roger is in the front, gluing old shoes on canvas and painting them orange. I’m clicking the old Norelcos back and forth between channels. All the windows are open. The sound is spreading all over downtown Brooklyn mixing with the helicopters, sirens, pot smoke and fireworks ...”

Dave Gerard books two CD release shows

Local roots rocker Dave Gerard, perhaps best known as front man of Durham-based band Truffle, will celebrate the release of his fourth solo album with a pair of upcoming shows in Durham and Londonderry.

Recorded at Thundering Sky Studio in South Berwick, Maine, “The Zoomy Trail” includes a blend of Gerard’s soulful arrangements and industrial sounds, with some tracks showcasing acoustic solo performances and others entailing full band ensembles. Gerard roped in several of his Truffle band mates and other guest musicians to round out the sound.

The first release show takes place at Three Chimneys Inn in Durham on Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m. The second occurs at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry on Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. The first 50 guests at Three Chimneys will receive a copy of the CD. Tickets to the Tupelo show are $15 and include a copy of the disc. For more information, visit www.gerardtruffle.com.

Seacoast Wind Ensemble salutes historic peace makers from around town and around the globe

President Theodore Roosevelt’s work to end the Russo-Japanese War made him the first U.S. president to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Diplomats from Russia and Japan met in Portsmouth as Roosevelt’s guests in 1905, paving the way for the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty.

With music for four historic peacemakers—Jimmy Carter, Martti Ahtisaari, Claiborne Pell and George Mitchell—the third annual Portsmouth Peace Treaty concert will pay musical homage to the ongoing peace efforts Roosevelt helped initiate in Portsmouth more than a century ago.

Kate Redgate’s long journey leads to CD release at the Firehouse

Kate Redgate spent much of her childhood horseback riding across the farm in rural Illinois where she grew up. Adopted as an infant from Scott Air Force Base in 1970, her old horse Rusty became her closest friend. She spent whole days atop Rusty’s bare back, racing carefree over the farm’s green pastures.

Redgate also started singing in a church chorus when she was about 8 years old. The organist later gave her piano lessons, and another church patron taught her how to play guitar, showing her the chords to old John Denver tunes.

Music soon became as much a passion for Redgate as horseback riding. “I used to ride my horse at the Boots and Saddle Club, and they always had country music blasting on the loud speakers,” she said.

Now just shy of 39, Redgate’s life has taken numerous turns over the last three decades. She has moved around the country, lived on the streets, worked countless jobs, gotten married and divorced, and raised two children of her own. But the Newburyport resident still vividly recalls the simplicity of her youth, when she wanted little more than to sing and ride horses.

by Frank Black and the Catholics
2002, SpinART Records

Ogunquit Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 15th year

Ogunquit Performing Arts is celebrating the crystal anniversary of its annual Chamber Music Festival with four concerts in two locations. The festival features live performances of works by Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Debussy and others, with nightly shows from Thursday to Sunday, June 11 to 14.

The first two concerts begin at 8 p.m. at the Dunaway Center on School Street. The Thursday night show features the New York-based Ambrosia Trio, with Beulah Cox on violin, Martin Fett on cello and Frank Daykin on piano. Formed in 1990, the trio has performed internationally and across the United States, recording two CDs along the way. Their performance will include works by composers Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendehlssohn and Joaquin Turina.

The folk tradition runs thick with Ruth Ungar Merenda. Her father Jay Ungar and stepmother Molly Mason have been playing music together since the late 1970s and are highly respected acoustic string musicians. Her mother Lyn Hardy is another accomplished singer-songwriter and guitarist in the folk and country vein.

Ruth has carried on the family tradition with her husband and long-time musical partner Michael Merenda, a Durham native. The couple, known jointly as Mike and Ruthy, just released their second album as a duo, “Waltz of the Chickadee,” which they’ll introduce to the Seacoast with a show on Friday, June 5.

piano phenom plays Portsmouth

Sixteen-year-old New Hampshire native Matt Savage brings his venerated piano talents to Portsmouth on Sunday, June 7. The Matt Savage Trio makes its first Port City appearance at St. John’s Episcopal Church beginning at 3 p.m.

A resident of Francestown, Savage began making waves in the jazz world when he was only 8 years old, playing for Dave Brubeck and jamming with Chick Corea. In subsequent years, he would play with a number of other living jazz legends, including McCoy Tyner, Clark Terry and Jimmy Heath, as well as soul goddess Chaka Khan. He has performed live on the “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz” on NPR.

For fans of jazz radio, pickings in the regional market recently became slimmer. Earlier this month, Boston’s WFNX cancelled Jeff Turton’s show “The Sunday Jazz Brunch” after 26 years of weekly broadcasts. The reason for the cancellation, according to an e-mail Turton sent out, was “budget cuts due to diminished revenues at both ’FNX and at the Boston Phoenix.” Turton also stated that he “wasn’t surprised,” but was “incredibly disappointed.” As I’m sure were his many loyal listeners.

Steve Earle plays solo at The Music Hall

Steve Earle first met Townes Van Zandt in 1972 during a performance at The Old Quarter in Houston, Texas. According to legend, Van Zandt heckled Earle throughout the show, repeatedly requesting the song “Wabash Cannonball.” When Earle confessed that he didn’t know how to play the tune, Van Zandt was incredulous.

“You call yourself a folksinger and you don’t know ‘Wabash Cannonball?’” the famed singer-songwriter supposedly yelled.
Earle, a relative newcomer to the scene at the time, was not rattled. He countered by playing Van Zandt’s “Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold,” a notoriously difficult song with rapid lyrics. With that, the two musicians formed a lasting bond. Earle even named his son, Justin Townes Earle, after the late folk icon.

Joseph K Murphy and DeLaine Bennett were still high school classmates in Epping when they formed Murkadee in 2003. Their previous band Pink Lemonade had dissolved, and Murphy was eager to embark on a new project. He approached Bennett with the idea of making an album, and she quickly got on board.

“We just wanted to do this artsy, weird, pop-rock, folksy thing,” Murphy said recently.

The pair promoted the resulting album in their classes, and it eventually came to the attention of Murphy’s English teacher, John Herman. Herman, a local filmmaker and improvisational actor, was impressed. He encouraged Murphy and Bennett to stick together and play shows in the area, and they have been doing so ever since.

Writers in the Round goes live at RiverRun

Songwriting is sometimes referred to as the oldest form of poetry. Writers in the Round honors that tradition with performances that mix live music and spoken word poetry. After a two-year hiatus, the event returns on Tuesday, May 26, from 7 to 9 p.m., at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth. 

The event’s featured performers include WITR founder and songwriter Deidre Randall, cellist and spoken word artist Kristen Miller, Portsmouth Poet Laureate Mark DeCarteret, and Seacoast musician Thomas D’Amour.

tasty combo at The Muddy

Area native Matt Jenson will return to the Seacoast on Saturday, May 16, to perform with his Boston-based Latin dance band Combo Sabroso at The Muddy River in Portsmouth.

Jenson began recruiting Latino musicians in 1998 and eventually fixed on the band’s name, which translates to “tasty combo.” Combo Sabroso seeks to invoke the traditional dance rhythms of Latin jazz and salsa, as popularized by legends like percussionist Tito Puente and pianist Eddie Palmieri. Jenson, who now teaches piano and a class on Bob Marley at Berklee College of Music in Boston, also incorporates blues and reggae music into the band’s eclectic sound, adding flavors of traditional American, Jamaican and Afro-Cuban styles.

by various artists
1991, Warner Bros. Records

Dan Walker and Breakfast Song book CD release shows

A couple of local acts will unveil brand new albums with CD release shows this weekend, introducing home-cooked tunes to Seacoast listeners. Rootsy Americana singer-songwriter Dan Walker will play songs from his new CD “Beautiful” at the Barley Pub in Dover on Friday, May 15.

During the band’s extended closing number, the two guitarists and bassist strolled away from the stage one at a time, leaving drummer Rodney Holmes to paralyze the audience with an absolute thunderstorm of percussion. The unaccompanied solo, a throwback to John Bonham’s lengthy percussive tantrums with Zeppelin, had the crowd slack-jawed and awed for more than five minutes… But we’ll come back to that. 

Project Percolator made the trip to York, Maine, from the band’s headquarters in New York for two shows at Inn on the Blues on April 30 and May 1. The show was slightly off season for the Inn, which reserves most of its live music for the busy summer months. But bandleader Jim Weider, who refers to York Harbor as “a second home,” rarely fails to draw a crowd in the area.

native jazz guitarist plays CD release show in Portsmouth

New Hampshire native Nick Grondin will return to the Seacoast on Sunday, May 10, to unveil his new CD with a show at The Press Room in Portsmouth.

Grondin is a jazz guitarist and composer who leads his own septet in Boston. Known as an instrumental storyteller, he incorporates rock and folk influences into his jazz style, sometimes reinterpreting songs by The Beatles and Radiohead.

‘Awake’
by Ameranouche Trio

You don’t have to wait long to get a taste of Ameranouche Trio’s acoustic string prowess on the band’s latest CD. Opening with the peppy jazz of “Ameranouche Swing,” guitarist/composer Richard Sheppard burns up the frets on his acoustic guitar, spitting out rapid-fire notes that conjure the ghost of Django Reinhardt and echo the rich traditions of European gypsy jazz.

The acoustic jazz power trio of Sheppard on lead guitar, Ryan Flaherty on rhythm guitar and Xar Adelberg on bass then strum their way into a Flamenco-style reboot of the 1957 French classic “La Foule.” It’s the only non-original composition among the album’s 11 tracks, and it demonstrates both the band’s respect for tradition and its ear for inventiveness.

couple plans to open locally focused bar and restaurant in Newmarket

Concerts by legends like Richie Havens, Johnny Winter and Loudon Wainwright still echo between The Stone Church’s walls. But aside from a CD release show in March, there has been no music performed in the Newmarket venue since it was sold at auction seven months ago.

That will soon change. Owner Adam Schroadter recently leased the first floor of the historic building to Christopher McClain and Melissa Poirier, who aim to open a new restaurant and music venue there in June. The married couple has not yet settled on a name (they are considering retaining The Stone Church title), but they have clear plans for the space.

“It’s going to be a full-service restaurant with as much live, mostly local music as possible,” McClain said. “We definitely want to concentrate on local music, because this area has a ton.”

This year’s Jazzmouth Festival provided ample evidence of Portsmouth’s strong artistic community—from the wide range of events held in various downtown locations, to the performers and fans who came together to participate in this  annual celebration of spoken word and improvised music.

In turn, Jazzmouth embraces this community. That’s part of the vision of festival founder and chief guru Larry Simon. “There is an artistic integrity that has been there from the beginning,” Simon told me after the Saturday evening performance at The Music Hall. This integrity, he continued, was essential to developing the festival’s community spirit.

One way Jazzmouth embraces comunity is by booking shows at various locales. The festival kicked off late Thursday afternoon, April 23, in the newly renovated lobby of The Music Hall. The venue’s blue, red and gold lighting enhanced the soft, swinging strains of standards and blues from guitarist Chris O’Neill and bassist Keith Foley. O’Neill and Foley, both of the Amorphous Band, displayed a sublime sense of musical empathy, the kind that comes from years of making music together in a variety of settings.

‘I Blame You’
by Obits
label: Sub Pop
genre: rock
suitable for: drinking Schlitz in a parking lot

This is the only record in the column this week with lyrics. There are many defunct bands whose members have spawned additional projects, but there are only a few whose lineages have been 100 percent awesome 100 percent of the time. Drive Like Jehu, I believe, is one of them. Formed in San Diego in 1990, the members, specifically John Reis and Rick Froberg, have since been single handedly improving the chances of rock music surviving into the next generation. Reis founded Rocket from the Crypt and is currently in Night Marchers; Froberg, the voice of Drive Like Jehu, and Reis teamed up again in 1999 as devious punks Hot Snakes. Now Froberg is in Obits, thank God.

Not a lot has changed in Froberg’s formula here. There’s a ton of energy, lyrics of little consequence, pure rock posturing and volume all coming together in brilliant songwriting. Obits, though, is a band interested in its roots. Overdriven vintage amps and accompanying spring reverb are like instruments unto themselves on this record. There is a rockabilly influence throughout, as well, and dig the garage stomp on the last track “Back And Forth,” one of the most uncharacteristic tracks I’ve heard on a Froberg-related album. “Widow of my Dreams,” the opening track, is one of my favorites in the Froberg songbook to date. Can’t wait to listen to this with the windows down.

Mose Allison, Donald Hall, David Amram, Bob Dorough and others to perform in Portsmouth

Jazzmouth, Portsmouth’s unique festival of poetry and jazz, celebrates its fifth anniversary this week. From Thursday, April 23, through Sunday, April 26, the festival will feature its most prominent lineup of performers to date, with headliners like jazz and blues legend Mose Allison, past U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall, jazz vocalist and pianist Bob Dorough and the festival’s resident guru, poet and multi-instrumentalist David Amram.

Spoken word poetry and improvised music will blossom in a variety of locations around the city, from Breaking New Grounds to RiveRun Bookstore, from The Press Room to The Music Hall. There will be a film showcase, poetry readings, jazz music and the main event at The Music Hall on Saturday, featuring Allison, Hall and Amram, as well as selected local poets performing their readings to the accompaniment of Larry Simon’s Groove Bacteria.

Unlike other jazz festivals, Jazzmouth focuses on the spontaneous nature of the music through the collaboration of music and poetry or spoken word.

“Although there was already a good jazz festival in the Tom Gallant/Seacoast Jazz Festival that was happening in the summer, I felt there was a need for a broader event that tapped into the wealth of creative musicians in the Seacoast area,” said guitarist Larry Simon, founder and artistic director of Jazzmouth. “I also felt that with the large and talented pool of creative writers in the area, that a collaborative setting would be a unique way to showcase this creativity.”

After consulting with Richard Smith and Bruce Pingree, Simon organized a committee and launched the first Jazzmouth festival in 2005. Pingree is still an active organizer for the event, lending his deep knowledge of American music and poetry to help ensure the festival’s continued growth and artistic success.

Come in costume or come as you are. The release party of the original cast recording of the musical “Gay Bride of Frankenstein” is coming up on Monday, April 20, at The Muddy River in downtown Portsmouth.

Local musicians Tim McCoy, Jamie Perkins, Jon McCormack and Billy Butler, along with the cast and crew and other guests, will play songs from the show and other originals and covers starting at 9 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m.

“Gay Bride of Frankenstein” puts a new spin on high school relationships within a classic Halloween story. A group of students are invited to a monsters’ ball, not knowing that the party game is raising the dead and that one of them would die on the way. 

The show ran around Halloween for two weeks last fall at the Players’ Ring in Portsmouth. Butler, who wrote the musical with friend Dane Leeman, said it could have run longer at the rate tickets were selling, but he’s now looking at other venues. Sales of the album will help New Theatre Works finance a New York City production of the musical that started on the Seacoast.

venue opens its doors for Krystal Polychronis CD release show

With much trepidation I made the familiar trek up Zion hill toward The Stone Church on March 21. The Newmarket venue, closed since being sold at auction in September, was open for a single night—a CD release party for Hampton-based singer-songwriter Krystal Polychronis. As the wide doors flung open, I could hear the excited chatter of concert goers embracing their beloved hall. They, like me, were anticipating a good show at their favorite venue. 

There was no cover charge, but the room was filled with children holding balloons and doing handstands while someone told a story into the microphone. My initial impression was part birthday party, part basement concert and part family reunion, but the Terrapin Station sign still hung from a reinforced wooden beam and the bar seemed to be open, so I headed that way. 

triple bill to rock the Muddy River

Boston’s Girls, Guns and Glory will headline a three-act show at The Muddy River in Portsmouth on Saturday, March 28. Named “Act of the Year” by the 2008 Boston Music Awards, the band joins area favorites The Divorced and The Molenes on Saturday night.

Formed in winter 2005, Girls, Guns and Glory began collecting accolades after the release of its 2007 sophomore album “Pretty Little Wrecking Ball.” That year, the band won two Boston Phoenix awards and took the Boston Music Award for Outstanding Americana Act of the Year—a feat the quartet repeated in 2008.

March winds down and April blows in with two notable shows over the next week and a half. On Sunday, March 22, noted trombonist and Berklee School of Music instructor Phil Wilson makes an appearance at The Press Room in Portsmouth at 6 p.m. The Exeter native will be joined by the Mark Shilansky Trio and superb vocalist and trumpet player Christine Fawson, a member of Boston-based jazz group Syncopation, for an evening of mainstream jazz. Wilson, who was a member of Woody Herman’s excellent band during the early 1960s and later contributed several arrangements to the band of Buddy Rich (including a memorable version of “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”), is often overlooked by the jazz media due to his ongoing work at Berklee. Sunday will serve as a reminder of what an accomplished and versatile musician Wilson is.

On Friday, April 3, the venerable soul band Tower of Power makes its annual appearance at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. If you like to get your groove on, there’s no better outfit than TOP to do it with. The band is now in its 41st year of stoking audiences with its musical gumbo of soul and funk with a touch of Latin and jazz spice. Plus, any chance to hear lead singer Larry Braggs is well worth the price. The show starts at 8 p.m. Visit www.casinoballroom.com for ticket info.

Pondering Judd and Scalawag rock Biddy’s

Dover-based country-rock band Pondering Judd will follow up an invigorated performance at Biddy Mulligan’s last month with another show at the Irish pub on Saturday, March 21. This time, Judd will be joined by Manchester-based Americana band Scalawag. 

Fronted by singer and guitarist Martin England, Pondering Judd has released six albums since forming in 1993 and has toured across the nation. The band won three consecutive Spotlight Awards for Best Rock Band on the Seacoast from 2004 to 2006.

Hailing from such familiar area bands as The Makem and Spain Brothers, Marty Keystone, Full Tilt Boogie and The Freeks, the four members of Scalawag have been performing in New England for about 15 years. The band solidified its sound in 2002 and released its debut album, “Wheel on Steel,” in 2006.

by Aimee Mann
SuperEgo Records, 2000

local fiddlers’ new book instructs on how to run a barn dance

Have you ever wanted to host your own barn dance? Of course you have. Maybe you haven’t pursued this ambition because you lack the necessary knowledge and resources. Maybe you’re not familiar with the music required to initiate a lively dance. Or maybe you just don’t have a barn.

That’s OK. Contrary to popular assumptions, barn dances do not actually have to take place in a barn. And a new book by long-time fiddlers and dance masters Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman supplies all the information you need to transform an empty room into a bustling community dance party.

“When most people hear the term barn dance, they envision bales of hay and folks dressed up like cowboys and cowgirls,” reads the preface to “Traditional Barn Dances with Calls & Fiddling.” “These trappings, however, are unnecessary. What really distinguishes a barn dance from, say, a square dance or contra dance are the dances done by the participants.”

Blues musician and historian Scott Ainslee will share stories and songs at the Kennebunk Coffeehouse in Kennebunk, Maine, on Saturday, March 14.

In addition to playing guitar, fiddle and banjo, Ainslee is an author, educator and historian studying the African roots of American work songs, blues, gospel and jazz. He has toured the United States and Europe and worked with avant garde and Broadway theater productions in New York. He authored the book “Robert Johnson: At the Crossroads” in 1992, and made the instructional DVD “Robert Johnson: Signature Licks” in 2005. Ainslee released his fifth solo album, “Thunder’s Mouth,” in 2008.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Kennebunk Coffeehouse in the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 114 Main St., 207-229-0212. Tickets are $12 in advance or $16 at the door. Visit www.kennebunkcoffeehouse.com.

The four members of Boston-based indie rock band Aloud seemed undeterred by the evening’s obstacles. The band was supposed to split sets with Portland, Maine’s The Cambiata, who canceled at the last minute due to illness. The room in the basement of The Muddy River was mostly empty on this winter weeknight, with a row of attentive patrons dotting the bar. But the low turnout didn’t stop Aloud from spinning the adrenaline dial all the way to max.

The band is led by dual vocalists/guitarists Henry Beguiristain and Jen de la Osa, who have been collaborating as songwriters since their early teens. Behind the two leads are bassist Ryan Majoris and drummer Jonathan Schmidt. During their hour-long set, the group performed several songs from its sophomore album, “Fan the Fury,” released early last year on the band’s own Lemon Merchant Records.

by Cecil Taylor Unit
1990, Enja Records

The evolution of video games, from “Donkey Kong” and “Pac-Man” to “Final Fantasy” and “Halo,” has involved an array of technological advances that goes far beyond computer graphics and fancy controllers. As gaming continues to grow as the nation’s most profitable entertainment industry—surpassing even films in recent years—the skill sets required to produce popular games is spreading to a wider workforce, and musicians are getting in on the action.

Local musician Duncan Watt, who runs Fastestmanintheworld Music out of his home in Exeter, has been composing scores for video games since 2005. Watt and Ed Lima co-composed the orchestral score for “Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway,” which was released for Xbox 360, Play Station 3 and PCs last fall. Instead of using virtual orchestration and synthesized instruments on computers, the pair traveled to Prague in August 2007 and recorded the score with a 60-piece orchestra and 40-piece choir.  

A flood of area RPM participants hand-delivered their completed CDs between Friday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, March 1. By noon on March 1, more than 160 glorious new albums sat stacked in RPM headquarters at The Wire office in Portsmouth. Hundreds of others arrived by the crateful over the next few days from all over the world, all postmarked no later than Monday, March 2. The final days before the end of the month found many participants scrambling to polish off their 10 songs or 35 minutes of original music. What follows is a sampling of unedited statements posted on the RPM discussion board at www.rpmchallenge.com. Local listening parties will take place on Saturday, March 28, beginning at The Music Hall in Portsmouth at 6:30 p.m. Congratulations to all those who saw the 2009 Challenge through to the end.

It’s been close to three years since Newmarket-based musician Craig Werth took an unpaid leave of absence from his teaching job at the University of New Hampshire and embarked on his first tour with Canadian folk singer David Francey. When Werth accepted the gig as Francey’s sideman, he was not sure how long the collaboration would last. But he’s still touring and recording with the three-time Juno award-winning artist, making music his full-time occupation.

Werth co-produced Francey’s last studio album, “Right of Passage,” and played several instruments on the disc, including guitars, bouzouki, mandolin and mountain dulcimer. Last year, “Right of Passage” won a Juno (the Canadian version of a Grammy) for best album in the roots and traditional solo category. “I have a Juno statue in my living room as co-producer,” he said, as if still slightly surprised to have the object in his home.

Jim Weider’s Project Percolator hits the Seacoast

Prolific blues-rock guitarist Jim Weider will bring his New York-based band Project Percolator to York, Maine, for a concert at York Harbor Inn on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.

Born and raised in Woodstock, N.Y., Weider is a veteran telecaster guitarist with a long list of accomplishments under his belt, including a Fender endorsement. From 1985 to 2000, Weider served as lead guitarist for The Band, replacing the legendary Robbie Robertson. He has performed or recorded with an impressive array of famous artists, including Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Doctor John, Taj Mahal, Bob Weir, Paul Butterfield, Hot Tuna and Los Lobos.

‘95 North to Maine’
by Curt Bessette

Singer-songwriter Curt Bessette has been a fixture of the Seacoast music scene for a solid quarter-century. The York Beach resident hosted an open mike night at Biddy Mulligan’s in Dover for well over a decade and has performed regularly throughout the region with a number of other familiar folk faces. With the release of his fourth album, “95 North to Maine,” Bessette pays tribute to the homeland that has fostered his music career. 

The CD includes 11 original songs and one Everly Brothers cover, all featuring Bessette’s soft vocals and smooth guitar playing, plus some occasional mandolin picking, accompanied by harmonies and instrumental bits from an array of area artists. The soft-rock folk tunes have a North Country flavor that often evokes images of Maine rivers and woods, like a local incarnation of James Taylor, John Denver and Willie Nelson.  

It’s the final countdown. As February nears its inevitable conclusion, musicians around the globe are scrambling to complete their albums for the 2009 RPM Challenge. What follows is a sampling of unedited statements posted on the RPM discussion board at www.rpmchallenge.com. The general tone reflects a healthy balance of panic and optimism. Good luck out there.

It’s a big weekend for jazz on the Seacoast with several performances taking place Friday, Feb. 27 through Monday, March 2, combining for one of the most active jazz oriented weekends since last April’s Jazzmouth Festival. Here’s a preview of upcoming shows.

The headline event will be a performance by the Russell Malone Quartet in the UNH Traditional Jazz Series on Monday, March 2 at 8 p.m. in Johnson Theatre at the Paul Creative Arts Center in Durham. Guitarist Malone will be joined by Martin Bejerano on piano, Tassili Bond on bass and Jonathan Blake on drums.

In a world where most contemporary jazz guitarists seek to clone artists like Pat Metheny and John Scofield, Russell Malone stands out as a purer and more singular voice on the instrument. Malone incorporates elements of guitar masters like Kenny Burrell, Grant Green and George Benson into a fluid, melodic and swinging approach that is distinctly his own. Malone’s guitar work has been heard in a variety of contexts, most notably with singer-pianist Diana Krall, pianist Benny Green and bassist Christian McBride. A Maxx Jazz recording artist, Malone has made two stellar recordings, “Live at the Jazz Standard” volumes 1 and 2, with his quartet.

Casino Ballroom announces opening weekend

Spring may still seem a long way off, but the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom is already gearing up for its 2009 season. The Ballroom recently announced three acts for its opening weekend of shows, beginning with Philadelphia-based trio G. Love & Special Sauce on Thursday, April 2. Soul legends Tower of Power will follow on Friday, April 3, and Florida-based rock band Shinedown will wrap up the weekend on Saturday, April 4. Tickets are on sale for all three concerts.  

As of Feb. 15, more than 2,300 participants had signed up for the 2009 RPM Challenge. Musicians from around the globe hvae reached the mid-month hump. Some are well on their way to completing their RPM albums, while others are experiencing the onset of panic. What follows is a sampling of unedited statements posted on the RPM discussion board at www.rpmchallenge.com.

Walter Tore’s Spontobeat takes the RPM Challenge 28 steps further

It’s not Walter Tore’s intention to belittle any other musician participating in the 2009 RPM Challenge. But for a man who says he records an average of 300 spontaneously composed CDs per year, recording one in a month just isn’t much of a challenge. That’s why Tore’s one-man band Spontobeat has set a goal of recording 28 full-length CDs during the month of February—one album per day.

As of Feb. 10, Tore said he had already completed 14 CDs and expected to easily exceed his goal for the month. But that doesn’t mean every CD will be a masterpiece. Tore’s approach of spontaneous creation leaves little time for post-production work. As soon as he finishes a disc, he looks forward to starting over again with a clean slate. He said he can’t imagine spending an entire month perfecting a single CD.

“I’d be bored to tears,” Tore said during a recent phone interview. “It often intrigues me how people can put so much effort into a song. I just, I don’t know, I couldn’t do it because there’s too much coming out.”

The 2009 RPM Challenge is underway. What follows is a sampling of unedited statements posted on the RPM discussion board at www.rpmchallenge.com on Feb. 1. Remember, it’s not too late to sign up.

Ted Sink unveils new CD in Portsmouth

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Ted Sink will celebrate the release of his third CD with a show in Portsmouth on the auspicious date of Friday, Feb. 13. The concert takes place at the new GreatWaters Bank at the corner of Fleet and Congress streets, former location of Pars Oriental Rugs, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Sink is a solo artist and long-time member of several Seacoast bands, including Baseline, Grizzly, The Benders, The Suspenders and Big Night Out. The new CD, titled “Nothing Changes,” includes nine original songs and two covers. Like his two previous efforts, the new disc showcases a jazzy blues style similar to Steely Dan or Mose Alison. But Sink also delves into slightly newer territory with a few tunes that flirt with genres like hip-hop, reggae and soul.

The release show will also feature Kent Allyn on bass and piano; Andy Happel on violin and keyboards; Carri Coltrane on vocals; Bruce Derr on pedal steel; Rob Coffin on lead guitar; Tim Sink on saxophone; and Jamie Decato on drums. The suggested donation is $10, or $15 for a copy of the disc, but no one will be turned away. For more information, visit www.tedsink.com.

There came a moment while Simone was recording a reworking of “Feeling Good,” one of her mother’s classic and memorable tunes, when her entire musical career path finally seemed to click into place.

She had been hesitant to approach the song made famous by late jazz and soul sensation Nina Simone, putting it off until she had finished all the other songs on her 2008 tribute album “Simone on Simone.” But when she began to sing the familiar lyrics, her reservations gradually melted away. By the time she sang the final lines—“Oh freedom is mine / And I know how I feel”—Simone felt liberated.

“I began to tell my story,” she said in a recent interview with The Wire. “You feel it, you hear it, and there’s no doubt that I take (the song) somewhere that’s totally mine.”

The Manhattan Transfer and ‘Three Girls’ get intimate at TMH

The Music Hall’s Intimately Yours concert series will present two star-studded shows in Portsmouth during the coming week. Trio of songstresses Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin will be in town for a sold-out show on Sunday, Feb. 8. Vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer will arrive a few days later on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Known for mixing jazz, big band, R&B and pop harmonies, The Manhattan Transfer has garnered international acclaim. Born in 1972, the quartet now consists of vocalists Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul and Cheryl Bentyne. The group built a cult following in the New York club circuit in the early ’70s and cut its debut self-titled album in 1975. Since then, Transfer has released around 25 recordings and won several Grammy awards in the pop and jazz genres.

“We’re still working out a lot of things,” Mehrmann said before the show.

Longtime Seacoast musician Don Fancy performs for the crowd at The Oar House in Portsmouth every Thursday and Friday night, and this week will be no exception, despite the fact that Friday is his birthday. And it’s a big one. 

“I’m turning 80,” the pianist readily admits.

Fancy has been tickling the ivories of The Oar House restaurant’s grand piano for the last 25 years. Planting himself on the bench from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Fancy sweeps his well-trained fingers across the keys and turns notes into melodies for the enjoyment of drinkers and diners.

pianist Jim Brickman heads to ROH

Music fans looking for some pre-Valentine’s Day romance can catch pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman at the Rochester Opera House on Wednesday, Jan. 4, beginning at 8 p.m. His appearance in Rochester comes just a couple of weeks after the release of his latest CD, “Ultimate Love Songs: The Very Best of Jim Brickman.”

by Cowboy Junkies
1996, Geffen Records

Halperin celebrates 30 years of blues

It was 30 years ago this month that blues guitarist and singer Bob Halperin played his first solo gig at The Press Room in downtown Portsmouth. He will celebrate those three decades of performance with an anniversary show on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 9 p.m.

Dead Season rises to the top of Maine’s metal scene

Last year did not start off well for Matt and Ian Truman, founding members of Maine-based metal band Dead Season. A year after losing an uncle to cancer, they watched helplessly as their mother’s five-year battle with ovarian cancer took a turn for the worse. The brothers lost their mother in February.

So when you hear Ian Truman screeching ferociously about black tumors and chemotherapy in “Cancer,” the second track on Dead Season’s 2008 album “When Everything’s Lost,” it’s not just a morbid goth-metal anthem. Nor is Matt Truman just going through the motions when he rakes a pick over his guitar strings.

Both performers unleash their emotions in an anguished but inspired display of heavy metal catharsis throughout their sophomore album, much of which was written shortly before their mother died.

guitar prodigy hits the Seacoast

Teenage guitar phenom Luke Mulholland will demonstrate his highly touted six-string skills during upcoming shows in Dover and Portsmouth. The 19-year-old Canadian native will be at the Dover Brick House on Saturday, Jan. 17 and at the Muddy River Smokehouse in Portsmouth on Friday, February 20.

Mulholland has garnered a reputation as an emerging blues guitar sensation. After taking up the instrument at age 10, he recorded his first solo album at 14 and formed his band, Mulholland Drive, at 15. While opening for Bon Jovi in 2006, he complemented his Stevie Ray Vaughan-esque voice with a screeching behind-the-head solo during a performance of Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House.”

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.

by Charles Mingus
1961, Atlantic Records

Idina Menzel and Ani DiFranco at The Music Hall

Tickets will soon go on sale for two more Intimately Yours performances at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. The Intimately Yours concert series will bring actress and musician Idina Menzel to town on Wednesday, March 18, as well as iconic singer-songwriter and guitarist Ani DiFranco on Tuesday, April 14. Tickets for both shows go on sale to Music Hall members at noon on Saturday, Jan. 10, and to the general public one week later on Saturday, Jan. 17.