Calendar

Apr
24
Wed
Abbie Barrett Band
Apr 24 @ 10:00 pm
Abbie Barrett Band

Abbie Barrett, Boston Music Award Winner for Songwriter in 2015,  fronts her band featuring Ed Valauskas (bass), Jack Hamilton (keys), Josh Kiggans (drums), and Mike Oram (guitar).

Paul Robicheau of The Improper wrote that their album, That Shame, showcases her in full rock mode, sometimes evoking the tone and phrasing of the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde…[Her] craftsmanship extends from the gorgeous vocals of “As I Wanted You” and the soaring crescendos of “Falling” to the catchy ’80s-flavored punch of “Take It in Stride.”

Apr
25
Thu
Willie J. Laws
Apr 25 @ 7:30 pm
Willie J. Laws

Texas guitar slinger, songwriter & vocalist Willie J Laws developed his “funky blues” guitar and vocal sound, influenced by Texas Blues and R&B, Tex-Mex Tejano/Conjunto, Louisiana Zydeco, and Country. Fans call him “the Real Deal” and we could not agree more.  Please join us tonight and experience an evening you are not likely to forget!

Air Congo
Apr 25 @ 10:00 pm
Air Congo

Boston-based African style band AIR CONGO play music from the 1960’s-70’s Kinshasa/Brazzaville scene–the music of Docteur Nico, Tabu LeyLes Bantous De La CapitaleFranco et l’Orch TPOK Jazz, and more!

 

Apr
26
Fri
Imam & Sawyer Band
Apr 26 @ 10:00 pm
Imam & Sawyer Band

‘The guitar work is terrific; understated but thick with feeling. Imam Hamdani’s guitar takes centre spotlight at exactly the right times, always elevating the track, never calling unnecessary attention to itself”- Mosiki

“‘His tunes are carefully composed to aim straight for the heart, and he hits his mark squarely song after song,’ says Metronome Magazine. And indeed songwriting is the heart of Sawyer Lawson’s craft.”

Apr
27
Sat
Sado-Domestics
Apr 27 @ 7:30 pm
Sado-Domestics

Sado-Domestics is the singing-songwriting partnership of Lucy Martinez (Lucy and the Dreamers) and Chris Gleason (Los Goutos).

Perhaps get a feel by checking out their list of influences:

Neko Case, Wilco, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, The Stray Birds, Winterpills, Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Jayhawks, The Pretenders, Tom Waits, The Replacements, The White Stripes, The Band, The Gourds, Jenny Lewis, Bikini Kill, The Fundies, Old Crow Medicine Show, David Lindley, Mavis Staples, Son Volt, The Pixies, The Breeders, New Multitudes…

Los Goutos
Apr 27 @ 10:00 pm

LOS GOUTOS

“A veritable Grand Ole Opry with a modern sense of humor….”   (Music Connection Magazine)

No automatic alt text available.

Featuring:

Bruce Bartone
(acoustic and electric guitars; bass guitar, keyboards; backing vocals);

Mike Eigen
(lead and backing vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar, clarinet, ukulele, songwriting);

Shamus Feeney
(bass guitar, acoustic, electric, and resophonic guitars; percussion; lead and backing vocals);

Chris Gleason
(lead and backing vocals, mandolin, tenor banjo, acoustic guitar, percussion, songwriting);

Paul Stewart
(lead and backing vocals, accordion, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, harmonica, songwriting)

…and whenever possible:

Jakub Trasak
(fiddle)

 

Apr
28
Sun
Sunday Spins
Apr 28 @ 3:00 pm
Sunday Spins

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 (music of the Grateful Dead)
Apr 28 @ 8:00 pm
Ship of the Sun (music of the Grateful Dead)

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.

 

 

Apr
29
Mon
David Johnston
Apr 29 @ 7:30 pm

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 –

Image result for david johnston music

The White Owls
Apr 29 @ 9:30 pm

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 White Owls

Apr
30
Tue
Spotted Tiger Trio w/ Sean Staples
Apr 30 @ 7:30 pm
Spotted Tiger Trio w/ Sean Staples

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 . . .

Joining them tonight is Sean Staples on mandolin & guitar!

The Blue Ribbons
Apr 30 @ 10:00 pm

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.

Image result for the blue ribbons music

May
1
Wed
Fandango
May 1 @ 7:00 pm

“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

 

le Prestige
May 1 @ 10:00 pm
le Prestige

le Prestige is an attempt by Boston bassist Chris Forkey to create an instrumental music inspired by the jazz-sample heavy sounds of 90’s hip-hop, electronica and lounge, all performed live with just horns, upright bass, and drums. “Repertoire”, finished in 2012, also features Scott Getchell on trumpet, Kit Buckley on tenor sax, John Glenshaw on drums, and Jim Hobbs on alto sax.

May
2
Thu
Melvern Taylor & His Fabulous Meltones
May 2 @ 7:30 pm
Melvern Taylor & His Fabulous Meltones

“happy songs for miserable people” – Melvern

check out a fan fave “Sleepy Eyes” – recorded right here at TOAD

Press:

“Your music makes me want to pee. In a good way….”

Melvern Taylor is the Sam Shepard of the Ukulele!

Your music isn’t bad….i’m more into rap and hip hop.
Baker Thomas Band
May 2 @ 10:00 pm

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

 

Image result for baker thomas band

May
3
Fri
Red Tail Hawk
May 3 @ 10:00 pm
Red Tail Hawk

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.

 

May
4
Sat
Zack DuPont
May 4 @ 7:30 pm
Zack DuPont

​Zack DuPont is one of The DuPont Brothers –

“The DuPont Brothers have the gift of being both poets and musicians, a rarity these days. It’s always refreshing to hear sibling duos, because you can sense the true bond felt between them. A Riddle For You has a way of really tugging on your heartstrings, having the quality of sounding familiar while at the same time offering a fresh twist on traditional folk music.
-Amy Lieberman, NYS Music

Stan Martin Band
May 4 @ 10:00 pm

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

 

May
5
Sun
Sunday Spins
May 5 @ 3:00 pm
Sunday Spins

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!

 

Sugar Blood Jinx
May 5 @ 9:00 pm
Sugar Blood Jinx

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.

May
6
Mon
David Johnston
May 6 @ 7:00 pm
David Johnston

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 –

 

The White Owls
May 6 @ 8:00 pm

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 White Owls

May
7
Tue
Miriam
May 7 @ 7:30 pm
Miriam

In 2009, when multi-award-winning singer-songwriters Amy Fairchild and Carla Ryder decided to combine their voices and join forces to start a band, Miriam was born.

Harmony singin’, lead vocal swappin’, ass-kickin’ fun.

The Blue Ribbons
May 7 @ 10:00 pm

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.

Image result for the blue ribbons music

May
8
Wed
Fandango
May 8 @ 7:00 pm
Fandango

you CAN judge Fandango by their facebook pics – just sayin’

Air Congo
May 8 @ 10:00 pm
Air Congo

Boston-based African style band AIR CONGO play music from the 1960’s-70’s Kinshasa/Brazzaville scene–the music of Docteur Nico, Tabu LeyLes Bantous De La CapitaleFranco et l’Orch TPOK Jazz, and more!

 

May
9
Thu
Nyota Road
May 9 @ 7:30 pm
Nyota Road

INSPIRED BY SOUTHERN GOTHIC IMAGERY AND EVERYDAY BEAUTY, NYOTA ROAD IS A HUSBAND AND WIFE ACOUSTIC DUO PERFORMING ORIGINAL SONGS ABOUT FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS AND HOME.

IT ALL STARTED WHEN….

Greta decided to write a song as a birthday gift for her husband, Mark.  She had always written silly tunes and even a children’s book but never a “serious” song.  From that first tune, came another and another with each song telling stories reminiscent of relationships, family and growing up her hometown of Warrior, Alabama.

We call ourselves Nyota Road named from a road in my hometown.  Growing up I used to play on the river with my friends and take walks along the train trestle.  We would spend hours floating down the river, taking in the world as we knew it at the time.  To get there, we’d go down Nyota Road.  It’s one of my happiest memories.

Baker Thomas Band
May 9 @ 10:00 pm

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

 

Image result for baker thomas band

May
10
Fri
Jack Grace Band
May 10 @ 10:00 pm
Jack Grace Band

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.

May
11
Sat
Cold Chocolate
May 11 @ 7:30 pm
Cold Chocolate

Cold Chocolate is a fresh and exciting Americana band with a unique sound that fuses bluegrass and folk with a dash of funk. With original tunes and technical prowess, this trio from Boston is mesmerizing audiences with guitar, upright bass, percussion, and three-part harmony.

David Johnston Band
May 11 @ 10:00 pm

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.

May
12
Sun
Sunday Spins
May 12 @ 3:00 pm

“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!

Image result for sunday spins toad

Emily & Jake
May 12 @ 8:00 pm
Emily & Jake

Emily and Jake

Formed between Boston and Portland ME, Emily and Jake create gracefully warm music with effortless harmonizing, easy melodicism, and raw honesty. “Beautifully simple and understated” – For the Love of Bands. Emily and Jake spin a harmonic story that nourishes the dark intimate workings of the anxious mind in their first project St. Augustine. Their songs seek sweet simplicity and candor in both melody and lyrics. Their melancholy songwriting juxtaposes the lighthearted arrangement present in their album creating the perfect balance between wistful regret and rosy promise.

AS SEEN AT TOAD...