Calendar

Nov
30
Sat
David Johnston Band
Nov 30 @ 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.

Dec
1
Sun
Sunday Spins
Dec 1 @ 3:00 pm – 8:00 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

Buckley
Dec 1 @ 9:00 pm
Buckley

Josh Buckley has a soft and soothing voice. It’s like Neil Young if he wasn’t so shakey (Neil that is). Gently spilling out his heart for you all. The kind of voice that will hush the Lizard Lounge for 60 minutes of great songs.” Brian Carroll Red Line Roots

Dec
2
Mon
The White Owls
Dec 2 @ 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!

Image result for white owls at toad

David Johnston & Friends
Dec 2 @ 10:30 pm
David Johnston & Friends

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 –

 

Dec
3
Tue
Sam Reid & The Riot Act
Dec 3 @ 7:30 pm
Sam Reid & The Riot Act
 Sam Reid & The Riot Act is an acoustic guitar-driven rock band with a true bluegrass soul . . .

  

The Blue Ribbons
Dec 3 @ 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

Dec
4
Wed
Fandango
Dec 4 @ 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

 

Dan Blakeslee
Dec 4 @ 10:00 pm
Dan Blakeslee

“There is little doubt in my mind that tonight’s profile artist Dan Blakeslee, a singer-songwriter, graphic designer, original artist and performer is probably one of the most gifted all-around artists in New England.” – Ryan’s Smashing Life Blog

 

 

Dec
5
Thu
Elisa Smith & The Tiny Little Lies
Dec 5 @ 7:30 pm
Elisa Smith & The Tiny Little Lies

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Elisa Smith & The Tiny Little Lies are steeped in the Americana roots and vintage country tradition. The inspiration for their outlaw honky-tonk sound is drawn from country greats like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tanya Tucker mixed with a dash of modern rock country. Their songs elicit feelings of nostalgia, pride, wanderlust, and good ol’ fashioned boot-stompin’ mischief. The diverse backgrounds of the band fuse together to form a truly American sound. Even though they have only been playing together for a short while, each band member’s connection to history, place, and musical tradition has instantly bound them together.

Baker Thomas Band
Dec 5 @ 10:00 pm

“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 . . .

Image result for baker thomas band

Dec
6
Fri
Frank Drake & The Bagboys
Dec 6 @ 10:00 pm

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

Dec
7
Sat
Willie J. Laws
Dec 7 @ 10:00 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!

Dec
8
Sun
Sunday Spins
Dec 8 @ 3:00 pm – 8:00 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!

 

The Gill Aharon Trio
Dec 8 @ 9:00 pm
The Gill Aharon Trio

“Thick sounding, Instrumental, groove heavy and improvisational but concise, this band plays the compositions of one mind as if they shared a mind.” – CD Baby

Check them out HERE!

Dec
9
Mon
The White Owls
Dec 9 @ 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!

Image result for white owls at toad

David Johnston & Friends
Dec 9 @ 10:30 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

Dec
10
Tue
John Powhida International Airport
Dec 10 @ 7:30 pm
John Powhida International Airport

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.

Honey Talk
Dec 10 @ 10:00 pm

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

 

Dec
11
Wed
Fandango
Dec 11 @ 7:30 pm

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.” –

Shotgun Waltz
Dec 11 @ 10:00 pm
Shotgun Waltz
Shotgun Waltz is an alternative roots rock band pushing the edges of Americana with quirky takes on love, disappointment and renewal. Gritty vocals and melodic guitar hooks drive home a unique rock sound with an echo of outlaw country standards. The fresh, energetic nature of Jim DeTore’s songs is reinforced by a highly capable veteran lineup featuring the masterful arrangements of LA session ace and international touring guitarist Bob Metzger and longtime local scene drummer Rick Weden, formerly of The Lines, on drums and Rick Siscoe on bass.
Dec
12
Thu
Melvern Taylor & His Fabulous Meltones
Dec 12 @ 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
Dec 12 @ 10:00 pm

“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 . . .

Image result for baker thomas band

Dec
13
Fri
Catch a Dinosaur
Dec 13 @ 10:00 pm
Catch a Dinosaur

Catch a Dinosaur likes to play dreamy music.

Dec
14
Sat
Nowhere Lights
Dec 14 @ 7:30 pm
Nowhere Lights

“spacey rock roll pop kick root melodic spacey folk kick boot stomp spacey mr echo rock roll pop” – Nowhere Lights

Listen for yourself HERE

Dec
15
Sun
Sunday Spins
Dec 15 @ 3:00 pm – 8:00 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!

 

Amber Casares
Dec 15 @ 9:00 pm
Amber Casares

A favorite here at TOAD – give a listen here, then mark your calendar to come here her live!

Dec
16
Mon
The White Owls
Dec 16 @ 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

David Johnston & Friends
Dec 16 @ 10:30 pm
David Johnston & Friends

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 –

 

Dec
17
Tue
Buckley & Scudder
Dec 17 @ 7:30 pm
Buckley & Scudder

“I don’t have the words to convey how deep the river runs between me and my brother Laurence Scudder. But the water is mystic, righteous, submerged in tradition; steady rollin’ and anxiously awaiting what’s behind the next bend. We got some shows coming up in the next couple of weeks together and it fills my soul with golden relief to know that no matter how crazy the world can get or as heavy as it may sometimes seem I’ve still got someone who’s never been afraid to find out just how deep it can go.” – Josh Buckley
***** from an August 2018 post before they played together right HERE at TOAD!
Dec
18
Wed
Fandango
Dec 18 @ 7:30 pm

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.” –

Maddi Ryan – Southern-Kissed Pp from Boston!
Dec 18 @ 10:00 pm
Maddi Ryan - Southern-Kissed Pp from Boston!

Maddi Ryan is a Boston-based singer-songwriter who finds her influences in both modern and classic Pop and Country music. Ryan’s passion spans back to her childhood where her first concerts took place atop her coffee table in front of anyone in her family that would listen. Her first professional debut was at BigShotz in Nashville, TN during CMAFest 2015 backed by her former band, Moonlight Valley. Since then, Ryan has been playing shows throughout her native New England as both a solo artist and front woman of her very own band.

Dec
19
Thu
Baker Thomas Band
Dec 19 @ 10:00 pm

“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 . . .

Image result for baker thomas band

Dec
20
Fri
Workman Song and Brothers McMahon
Dec 20 @ 10:00 pm
Workman Song and Brothers McMahon

Workman Song has all of the hallmarks of the well-kept secret, it’s just that the secret has been getting out. At the center of this peculiar labor of love is prodigious singer-songwriter Sean McMahon, his soul-stirring voice and his storytelling: a dialogue with friends, lovers, and God which forms a prolific body of work spanning the intimately folksy to the epically psychedelic, drawing together the threads of Bowie, Bruce, Buckley, Dylan, and the Dead.

What happens when you put a ragged Bushwick folk musician together with a Juilliard organist? Beautiful music, if they happen to be brothers Sean and Griffin McMahon. Channeling not just their Irish roots, but also North Indian, West African, and 20th century French organ music through the lens of their freak folk-rock and pop cocktail, the Brothers McMahon have been hypnotizing audiences in Brooklyn and Manhattan with their psychic chemistry and arresting storytelling in song.

AS SEEN AT TOAD...