Road tested troubadour. Relentless songwriter. Greg Klyma‘s biggest influences include Steve Earle, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Todd Snider, AC/DC, the Everly Brothers, and Hank Williams.

Be it a house concert, a festival stage, or a darkened barroom, you’ll find him playing his well-loved guitar and spinning yarns. Greg is on tour in support of Never Knew Caroline, featuring Peter Case, Gurf Morlix, and Bill Kirchen, and just might’ve written a new one this week.

Bring your vinyl as we get to take turns playing our faves…

sorta like open mic – sign up to play two songs from your vinyl – we set up a turn table center stage – . . . – once you play your songs you can sign up again –

bring new – old – anything!

Dietrich Strause’s songs are a mix of timeless melody, literate lyricism, and a “virtuosic command of imagery.” (The Artery, WBUR) Strause released his new album How Cruel That Hunger Binds on August 26th, produced by Zachariah Hickman (Ray LaMontage, Josh Ritter), the next benchmark in his steady evolution as one of the most eclectic writers and performers coming out of New England.  His newest collection of songs is found somewhere in the shadows of the likes of Randy Newman, Nick Lowe, and Paul Simon.

Peter Wolf (formerly of the J Geils Band), whose brilliant Midnight Souvenirs—released in 2010—included  David Johnston’s “I Don’t Wanna Know.” This song went on to become the second single from that album, and was performed on the David Letterman Show in June of 2010.

Just look at the band; Dennis Brennan on harmonica, guitar and vocals. Tim Gearan on guitar and vocals. Steve Sadler on lap steel.  Jim Haggerty on bass and Andy Plaisted on drums.

Check out a clip from one of their shows HERE  – After making it thru Monday, YOU deserve a night out!

“Frank Drake is one of the most unique musicians around.  He is refreshingly free of conventions and covers a wide spectrum of folk-pop-and-more styles . . . ” Steve Morse – Boston Globe

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.

“I still believe the lessons I learned when I was raised in a Roman Catholic household. Like, it’s harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.” – Michael Moore –

Celebrate Hump Day with Fandango

Tyrone Cotton’s earliest musical revelation was listening to the raspy, inspirational voice of his grandfather, the Reverend Cleveland Roosevelt Williams, at his childhood home in Louisville, KY.

At a young age, Cotton began playing guitar along to the sounds of popular rock and blues artists. Overtime, he was influenced by Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and Mississippi John Hurt, who intrigued Tyrone with his “finger pickin’ and soft, wispy voice.

Todd Thibaud is a Vermont born, Boston based Singer-Songwriter who’s songs are a slice of what life is really like…the pains and pleasures, love lost and life reborn. Using songwriters like Elvis Costello, Neil Finn, Johnny Cash and John Hiatt for inspiration, Thibaud has built a sound that is entirely his own. His music is meshed with elements of Americana, Folk, Country and Roots Pop Rock, making it seem at once familiar and new.

“We are a high energy Americana rock n alt-country boogie bluesy jam band.  Our shows are a sonic celebration that brings good people together.  Playing mostly cover songs, our style is country to blues, rock to reggae, folk to funk, and Irish to bluegrass.  You will never hear the same song played the same way twice.” – Sounds like this will be an amazing sub for the Baker Thomas Band tonight!

With a repertoire of New Orleans standards, spirituals, contemporary music, and swing tunes, the Soggy Po’ Boys offer a lively blend of fun and insanity.

Old Fox is

Alex – Guitar/Vocals
Ralph – Trumpet/Vocals/Guitar
Connor – Guitar/Vocals
Jon – Keys/Vocals
Kevin – Bass
Max – Drums

O.F. draws from influences, Frightened Rabbit, Hozier, and Bon Iver to create a rhythmically exciting, melodic, and lyric driven experience for listeners. In March 2018, Alex and Ralph decided to build the band and music around the phrase, “Honest words for honest people.” The focus is simple, vulnerable, and tangible to anyone who has the time to listen.

Many of you may be familiar with Andy Mowatt’s Steely Jam shows here at TOAD – well, get ready for his next installment tonight!

Born of the retro sounds and arrangements of Steely Dan, and matured by tour life and the excitement of our original material, the movement continues with the birth of the “Frequency Movement”

Imagine the nostalgic bands of your past making music that is fresh again. Modern songs built from your memories. This is the frequency movement. Musicians capturing the amalgamation of retro sounds in the current hip climate of today’s music; moving yesterday’s sound into “the now”.

Bring your vinyl as we get to take turns playing our faves…

sorta like open mic – sign up to play two songs from your vinyl – we set up a turn table center stage – . . . – once you play your songs you can sign up again –

bring new – old – anything!

David Johnston  – if you don’t know him, you have to stop by TOAD for Blue Monday – take a listen HERE where David talks about his influences and plays a bit of music –

Just look at the band; Dennis Brennan on harmonica, guitar and vocals. Tim Gearan on guitar and vocals. Steve Sadler on lap steel.  Jim Haggerty on bass and Andy Plaisted on drums.

Check out a clip from one of their shows HERE  – After making it thru Monday, YOU deserve a night out!

closed tonight . .  . watch out for that ice, ice baby

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) to their weekly Wednesday night residency at TOAD in Cambridge, 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!

“Ask not for whom the Fandan goes. It goes for thee. On Wednesday donchaknow.” –

Over the course of his career, Big Ben Hillman has shared the stage with a host of diverse and well known musicians including hip hop stars Method Man and Ghostface Killa from the Wu Tang Clan, De La Soul, Biz Markie, Digable Planets and Mix Master Mike of The Beasty Boys. He has also been seen performing with rock legends Les Claypool and Jimmy Buffet.

Big Ben Hillman is quite the smooth retro funkster…. The production is excellent on all levels, keeping the listener in a comfortable, easy-flowing harmonic place. Ben never falters – his compositions and production show signs of a master at work enjoying his craft. I’m just going to think of Big Ben Hillman as the new Barry White on the opposite end of the vocal spectrum. – T Max, The Noise

ET – phone home –   yeah, yeah –

but only after the Baker Thomas Band show . . .  they’re out of this world. . .“A whole bunch of musicians and a whole bunch of instruments, come together to deliver an electrifying show which promises a whole bunch of fun” -Tracey Delfino, Trespass Music

VERDEgree is a Indie-Rock band led by singer and bassist Elisabeth Hoffman. VERDEgree’s music blends beautiful melodies with intricate rhythms and crunchy time signatures. Each song reflects different experiences and stories from Hoffman’s life.

Interesting, introspective melodies that mix with a hint of dissonance and a pinch of grit. Verdegree is expanding into slightly darker, brooding, sounds with a heavier feel. Look forward to some new sounds soon!

“You gotta hear this band!” –Peter Holsapple, The dB’s

Independent Music Award winning guitarist, F. Alex Johnson’s band, Colorway is an original, indie, progressive pop rock trio from Northampton, Massachusetts. The band draws on their love of American and British rock mixed with inventive, energetic and melodic lead guitar. Colorway’s live show is always a moving experience for the listener and the musicians themselves, as the band strives to elevate the room and connect with the audience at each live performance and with every spin of any one of their albums.

“When Mike Hastings isn’t playing at local venues such as Toad, he can often be found busking around Davis and Harvard Square. Next time you’re out, keep an ear out for the sound of guitar and a tambourine, and if you see Mike, stop and listen for a while. You just might leave a little warmer.” – Sound of Boston

Give a listen HERE

Bring your vinyl as we get to take turns playing our faves…

sorta like open mic – sign up to play two songs from your vinyl – we set up a turn table center stage – . . . – once you play your songs you can sign up again –

bring new – old – anything!

Ship of the Sun celebrates the music of the Grateful Dead with a fun, free-wheeling, danceable show that pays tribute to the sounds of rock & roll’s most unique band.

Ship of the Sun came together in 2015 around each member’s love of the songs, spirit, and improvisation adventurousness of the Dead.

David Johnston  – if you don’t know him, you have to stop by TOAD for Blue Monday – take a listen HERE where David talks about his influences and plays a bit of music –

Just look at the band; Dennis Brennan on harmonica, guitar and vocals. Tim Gearan on guitar and vocals. Steve Sadler on lap steel.  Jim Haggerty on bass and Andy Plaisted on drums.

Check out a clip from one of their shows HERE  – After making it thru Monday, YOU deserve a night out!

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.

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) to their weekly Wednesday night residency at TOAD in Cambridge, 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!

“Ask not for whom the Fandan goes. It goes for thee. On Wednesday donchaknow.” –

“Danielle Miraglia is a dynamic and captivating musician; her rich soulful voice and blues guitar mastery resonate in a performance both rare and unforgettable.”
– Paul Patchel, State Street Blues Festival, Media, PA

Her project, Danielle M & The Glory Junkies features the classic rock and blues vibe of The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin delivered through original tunes both lyrical and danceable.

Born in collaboration, The Living Wage are a roots trio comprised of Frank Drake (Bag Boys, Hashtag Hoedown), Paul Dilley (Girls Guns & Glory), and road tested troubadour Greg Klyma. Strong original songs and choice cover material are delivered in 2- and 3-part harmony. The rhythmic interplay of Dilley’s doghouse bass and Klyma’s solid chop on the back beat lay the foundation for Drake’s fiery mandolin soloing. Fans of the music of John Hartford, Tom Petty, Hank Williams, and The Grateful Dead know that everybody needs a Living Wage.