Calendar
“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
Toad welcome back The Nowheremen – Boston’s feistiest Beatles Band!
Founded in a Cambridge coffee shop during a peace rally in 2007, the Nowheremen will have you dancing and singing!
Each Nowhere Man is a powerful singer capable of leading the song or blending in harmony. The quartet remains faithful to the Fab Four’s concept of three guitars up front with cuddly drummer in back.
SUGAR BLOOD JINX
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.
SPOTTED TIGER – A musical bridge from Willie Nelson to Bob Marley where JJ Cale is the toll collector. Featuring original music by songwriters Laurence Scudder & Erik White . . .
Bees Deluxe is a full-tilt,
Their unique repertoire includes originals and re-interpreted 60s, 70s, and 80s covers from Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Charles Mingus, B.B. King, Kenny Burrell, Freddie King, Herbie Hancock, Albert King, Etta James, Muddy Waters, The Meters, Little Feat, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Curtis Mayfield, The Butterfield Blues Band, Derek Trucks, Donny Hathaway, Amy Winehouse, Steely Dan, Etta James, ZZ Top, Robben Ford, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, SoulLive, Derek and the Dominoes, Robert Cray, Edgar Winter, among many others. Taking the road less traveled, they discover and share off-the-beaten songs and instrumentals and fuse them into their own original works. They dare to be risk-takers on stage, digging deep into the vaults of blues/jazz antiquity. The result is an effortless take-no-prisoners-approach that wittingly captures the audience’s hearts.
Rea (Maria White) is a Singer-songwriter, producer from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Rea’s lyrics have been described as honest and witty, her harmonies smart and natural. Her style is unique, yet shows such influences of Norah Jones vocal stylings, Priscilla Ahn’s lyrical and instrumental techniques, the soulful vibe of Emily King, and inspired by vocal and musical genre of Yuna. Rea is a skillful vocalist and guitarist.
Red Tail Hawk has opened for National acts such as G-Love, The Brew and Chris Duarte, to name a few. They’ve played major music festival in the region and sold-out shows at The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH and The Press Room in Portsmouth, NH.
John Powhida International Airport won the Boston 2011 Rock and Roll Rumble! Hot Dog! 5 yrs after The Rudds took silver JPX takes Gold!!!
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!
Telescope is one of Andrew Stern‘s projects – He came up with the name because the band is designed around the Telecaster guitar.
When the question is posed to guitarists, “If you could have just one guitar, what would it be?”, polls show that an overwhelming number of guitarists reply, “a Telecaster”. I rank as one who would answer exactly the same. The telecaster is a versatile tool which can cover a lot of ground, but more importantly, it changes the way I approach and play the instrument. Inspired by my own teles and by some telecaster playing guitar heroes of mine, I’ve designed a band around the guitar itself, appropriately titled “Telescope”. A mix of originals and covers, it’s a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll and more than a little bit undefined.
Oh – and besides, Andrew . . . the other names should also “sound” familiar:
Andrew Stern: guitar
James Rohr: keys
Greg Loughman: bass
Mike Connors: drums
A graduate of Bentley University, Greg Adams earned a degree in Management and Environmental Studies. He also pursued an extra-curricular music education outside of the classroom, training under professional artists who studied at the Berklee College of Music. His first gig was a student showcase at a local pub where he channeled stage fright into a passionate performance, and ultimately found his true calling.
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.” –
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.
With a new CD titled Drinking Songs for Lovers, one might be forgiven for believing that Jack Grace should ease up a little. Songs like “Morning Margaritas,” “Drinkin’ and Gamblin’,” and “You Drank Yourself into a Corner” are certainly convincing evidence that the singer, songwriter and guitarist who has made a career out of following no one’s rules but his own is probably going to keep doing his thing until his liver lays down the law.
“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 . . .
Nylon Otters are a comfortably chapped fabric that would go great with your shoes. An indie rock band from Buffalo who after releasing a batch of demo recordings gained some recognition playing basements, kitchens and local bars thought by the public to be “some of the most impactful and intimate performances.” (The Public is a local music blog, and ‘intimate’ meant they were only playing to their drummer’s mom.)
Furanimal is a rock duo from Somerville – They describe their music as “spooky bedroom rock” – get a sneak listen HERE
Hitting the stage tonight is Mike Gent, guitarist & vocalist of The Figgs.
The tried and true band The Figgs, has a worldwide fan base, a hearty discography, and celebrates more than 25 years together. Members (Mike Gent, Pete Donnelly and Pete Hayes) have been playing since the trio was in high school in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The Figgs tunes are stuffed with Kinks-inspired power and melodies, vibrant harmonies and sonic experimentation ala The Beatles and the The Band, the reach of NRBQ’s eclecticism, and a grit and youthfulness akin to the best rock bands from The Who to the Ramones
“Stan Martin is a keeper of the traditional country music flame. He’s a Don Rich/Danny Gatton-schooled Telecaster-loving guitar picker, a virtuoso who is not a showoff. And he’s a skilled writer and musician who is unabashedly, unapologetically country. Martin’s original songs have a moving, sometimes comic, honesty. He retains a romantic toughness, as with some of Waylon Jennings early 1970s tunes written before the outlaw stance became a circus act.” Rick Allen Vintage Guitar
“Vinyl record sales are at a 28 year high” – Fortune April 2016 – See/Hear for yourself at Sunday Spins – every Sunday – bring your records and take turns sharing your faves!
SUGAR BLOOD JINX
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.
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!
On 8/23/2016, Amber Casares lent her vocal talent to John Powhida International Airport – right here at TOAD – tonight she’s center stage . . .
take a listen HERE
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.” –
This is a band that has developed a loyal local following of humorous young people that enjoy the band for its lack of message of any kind and
one staunch goal for the Jeb Bush Orchestra: MAKE PEOPLE DANCE.
Honey Talk is a fresh, innovative, and comfortable quartet that performs classic hits and inviting originals making you feel sweeter than honey.
Honey talk is:
Cody Nilsen – Guitar/Vocals
Steve Bunce- Bass/Vocals
Ben Blanchard – Keys/Vocals
Pat “Daddy” Dalton – Drums/Vocals
check out one of their songs HERE
“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
Hope & Things brings “explosive indie rock & ethereal folk” to TOAD – get sneak listen HERE
This is original music—make no mistake—but if A Different Engine made a mix-tape for our own party, it would likely include songs by Husker Du, Big Star, the Posies, The Clash, Teenage Fanclub, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Superchunk, Dinosaur Jr, Guided By Voices, the Hold Steady, Nada Surf, Beach Slang, Built to Spill, the Lemonheads, and your own favorite band. And it would be a phenomenal party.
“Vinyl record sales are at a 28 year high” – Fortune April 2016 – See/Hear for yourself at Sunday Spins – every Sunday – bring your records and take turns sharing your faves!