Calendar
Boston native, Sonya Rae is a rising star with a blend of gifts rarely found on the blues-rock and soul scene today. Her dazzling musical ability is immediately evident through her soaring vocals, scorching guitar work and savvy song-craft. She has been likened to a “fiery female combination of Warren Haynes, Bonnie Raitt and Amy Winehouse”
City of Four performs an original brand of instrumental music, influenced by jazz, funk, fusion, pop/rock, hip hop, and other genres.
The band has received an “Outstanding Performance” recognition from DownBeat Magazine as a Blues/Pop/Rock group, and some of the band members’ original compositions and tracks have been recognized by national entities, like ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) and MIX Magazine.
The quartet performs throughout the Boston area, and is currently in residence with Classic Harbor Line aboard the Motor Yacht Northern Lights for bi-monthly funk cruises on Boston Harbor.
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
is Eric Waxwood who uses finger-picking and a slide on a National Steel Guitar and sings lead vocals;
Matt Murphy who plays an upright bass and sings background vocals; and
Scott Pittman who plays an old 1920‘s ‘traps’ drum kit and sings background vocals.
FANDANGO is as much a spiritual renewal as it is a reinterpretation of some of the best soul, blues, gospel, and Americana music ever written. With a loyal flock of followers (the flock that rock), FANDANGO fuels frontman Fred Griffeth to lead this congregation into soul and R&B righteousness! For he is like a refiner of fire and he shall purify!
The Blue Ribbons was formed by singer/songwriter/keyboardist James Rohr.
They have been building a base of devoted fans with their original and soulful music.
Described as
“Ray Charles and Tom Waits on a pirate ship with Sun Ra and Captain Beefheart,” they combine “upbeat disillusionment and celebratory fatalism with musicianship” – Charan Devereux; Boston Globe.
Is it indie? Is it jam? More indie when recording and more jam when playing live, Catch a Dinosaur uniquely blends the two genres.
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
Samantha Farrell returns to TOAD! Did you know that she made a music video in TOAD??? Check it out HERE then stop by tonight for the real deal.
A beloved fixture in the Boston music scene for more than 25 years, Tim Gearan has become a bonafide local music hero. His warm, raspy baritone, jaw-dropping guitar skills and wry, poignant songwriting have graced the bars, pubs, and music halls throughout New England, creating a loyal cult-like following.
“You guys put on a hell of a show, a lot of fun!” – Steve Morse, long time Boston Globe music critic and freelance writier on the Baker Thomas Band . . .
Heavy Necker burst onto the unsuspecting rock world in 2011 as a three-headed, rip-snorting party -beast fueled on classic rock, heavy blues, and the sweet narcotic of youth. Hailing from Peabody, MA where there are too few rockers to boot, they wave their freak flags high with sparkling bruised drums and electric guitars set to stun.
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
Otis Grove is:
Sam Gilman – Hammond Organ and vintage keys
Tyler Wayne Drabick – Guitar
Brian Sayers – Drums
There’s a new sound taking over the town known as Boston. If you’re by the banks of the Charles River as the moon glows over the muddy waters you very well may hear some thick, groovy beats banging out a trail for raw guitar licks and a soul-drenched Hammond organ. Yes indeed, ladies and gentleman who are down with the funk, it’s time to get rocked by your new favorite band: Otis Grove.
Otis Grove began as a collective experiment in crossing the traditional organ jazz sound with funk, hip-hop, and rock tones. It was the beginning of a sonic realization based in groove and free in improvisation, yet rooted in songwriting and melodic structure. In early 2004, on the heels of their self-titled debut album, the band began spreading their sound to clubs around the New England area. The music, which has since evolved into a unique blend of aggressive rock n’ roll and high-intensity organ funk (some fans have dubbed their genre ‘Runk’- a mixture of rock and funk), pays tribute to the masters while consistently pushing itself in new directions. Performer Magazine writer Sam Merrick described it as “a monstrous funk groove that probably would have sent Godzilla running had he been in the neighborhood.”
FANDANGO is as much a spiritual renewal as it is a reinterpretation of some of the best soul, blues, gospel, and Americana music ever written. With a loyal flock of followers (the flock that rock), FANDANGO fuels frontman Fred Griffeth to lead this congregation into soul and R&B righteousness! For he is like a refiner of fire and he shall purify!
“You guys put on a hell of a show, a lot of fun!” – Steve Morse, long time Boston Globe music critic and freelance writier on the Baker Thomas Band . . .
Greg Hall is a singer/songwriter based in the hills of Western Massachusetts. Born with music all around and raised by horses on a farm in another part of the Northeast, his pastoral upbringing shaped his career playing original country songs across New England, touring with his own band and as a member of Ward Hayden & the Outliers. In the tradition of his favorite songwriters, Elliot Smith and Willie Nelson, his lyrics are centered on the grounded intimacy of personal moments and universal human stories.
His new EP, Experiments in the Revival of Greg Hall, is a collection of five original songs, each one a distinct exploration of the sounds and ideas of his greatest influences. Without straying from the country stylings his fans adore, this EP branches out further incorporating more electronic instrumentation and studio experiments, equally inspired by the wonky indie of the Shins and the neon Americana of the Killers as it is by George Jones. It was created alongside, and indebted to, his close friend and most trusted collaborator, Vassilios Karsaliakos.
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
John Powhida International Airport won the Boston 2011 Rock and Roll Rumble! Hot Dog! 5 yrs after The Rudds took silver JPX takes Gold!!!
John Powhida is a singer/songwriter living in Boston. John is a multiple Boston Music Award nominee and his songs have been featured in episodes of My Name is Earl and Men in Trees. He has sung on recordings by The Click Five, Sarah Borges and The Gentlemen. You may have seen him perform with his beloved Boston rock and soul combo The Rudds or even as guitarist with rock n roll icon and author Bebe Buell.
Powhida’s main boogie from here on out will continue to be John Powhida International Airport, a potent 6 piece rock, disco, soul, pop fuzion entertainment unit of the highest original order.
At the young age of seven, Van Gordon Martin started his musical journey.
Growing up in Chicago, his first job was polishing and stringing guitars in local music shop the Musicians Network. Van was discovered early on, and mentored by legendary Parliament Funkadelic and Talking Heads keyboardist, Bernie Worrell. This set the tone for his new musical existence.
Van Gordon Martin has been a veteran of the east coast music scene for over a decade, and is a part of Boston based Reggae collective Dub Apocalypse, Moroccan/Jazz/ Electronic group Club D’elf, Hip Hop Legend Big Daddy Kane’s Live band, Paul Wolstencroft of Slightly Stoopid’s Organically Good Trio, The Naya Rockers, and many others. He is also founding member of Spiritual Rez, a project witch he toured with extensively up until 2011.
“My goal is to share my story and love for guitar with the world. It has been always been the thing that makes me feel connected to the Spirit Realm. Rasta, Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Blues, Roots Music. It speaks the truth. Every artist is part of the building blocks of our social creative consciousness. I feel honored and blessed to share my ideas with anyone that will hear me. With every note we play with honest intention, we tear down a part of the injustices in the world. Love and music are indeed one. Music, it is our highest meditation”
New Band featuring Dennis Brennan, Andrew Stern, Jim Heggarty and Chris Anzalone
https://erikwhitemusic.com/
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
is Eric Waxwood who uses finger-picking and a slide on a National Steel Guitar and sings lead vocals;
Matt Murphy who plays an upright bass and sings background vocals; and
Scott Pittman who plays an old 1920‘s ‘traps’ drum kit and sings background vocals.
FANDANGO is as much a spiritual renewal as it is a reinterpretation of some of the best soul, blues, gospel, and Americana music ever written. With a loyal flock of followers (the flock that rock), FANDANGO fuels frontman Fred Griffeth to lead this congregation into soul and R&B righteousness! For he is like a refiner of fire and he shall purify!
The Blue Ribbons was formed by singer/songwriter/keyboardist James Rohr.
They have been building a base of devoted fans with their original and soulful music.
Described as
“Ray Charles and Tom Waits on a pirate ship with Sun Ra and Captain Beefheart,” they combine “upbeat disillusionment and celebratory fatalism with musicianship” – Charan Devereux; Boston Globe.
He’s been described as “the love child of Hank Williams and Otis Redding.” “The John Legend of rockabilly.” And even, “the ‘what-took-you-so-long?’ fusion of Elvis Presley and Marvin Gaye.” At every performance, whether in a venerable metropolitan concert hall or a grimy dive in an anonymous strip mall, Dwayne Haggins is always at work. Adding new subtleties to an obvious melody line. Reinterpreting a time-worn lyrical cliché to imbue it anew with genuine feeling. Unleashing a gentle cascade of vocal acrobatics when least expected (and hence most effective) — never for show alone, but always to express a likewise unanticipated nuance of feeling: a whisper of love, a curse of anger, a groan of pain, a whoop of joy that feels, paradoxically, both surprising and inevitable at the same moment.
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
Lady Lupine is a Boston based heavy soul band that delivers high energy performances of unique original material. The band creates an engaging live experience by cultivating visceral connections through sound. Fronted by vocalist, Christina Lacoste, Lady Lupine draws inspiration from the soul of Amy Winehouse, and the sonic eclecticism of Portishead. Traces of Vulfpeck’s tight, technical funk, and Jimi Hendrix’s fuzz rock grooves can be heard in the band’s sound as well.
A beloved fixture in the Boston music scene for more than 25 years, Tim Gearan has become a bonafide local music hero. His warm, raspy baritone, jaw-dropping guitar skills and wry, poignant songwriting have graced the bars, pubs, and music halls throughout New England, creating a loyal cult-like following.
New Band featuring Dennis Brennan, Andrew Stern, Jim Heggarty and Chris Anzalone
–Radio Boston’s Anthony Brooks
David Johnston is a songwriter, bandleader, and street musician based in Cambridge, MA. As veteran Boston Globe reviewer Steve Morse has noted, Johnston’s long-running residency (2003-2007) at Union Square’s former Tir Na Nog—the current Bull McCabe’s (where Johnston also played from 2008-2012)—would draw “the best local musicians to play his gigs… luring such Boston all-stars as [Duke] Levine and bassist Marty Ballou (who are both in [J. Geils’ frontman Peter] Wolf’s touring band), guitarists Chris Rival… Tim Gearan, Steve Sadler, and Steve Mayone, drummer John Sands (who tours with Aimee Mann) and bassist Richard Gates, who has played with Suzanne Vega.” In Morse’s words, these heavy hitters “mesh with Johnston’s loose but highly unique mix of swampy delta blues, subtle jazz, Dylan-steeped folk, and far-out psychedelia.”
SATURDAY SPINS!
Come share your vinyl! Record lovers unite at Toad on Saturdays from 5:00 – 7:30 for vinyl sharing, drink sipping, and favorite music chatting. Bring your own vinyl records and sign up for a slot to play two songs at a time. Live music starts, as always, at 9pm (never a cover).
