Calendar
“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 . . .
Ryan Fitzsimmons has steadily built a reputation as one of the Northeast’s most compelling songwriters.
Over the past 10 years Ryan has woven his way throughout New England, creating a strong presence in a number of the local music scenes. While living in Providence RI, the Providence Phoenix awarded him the title of Best Male Vocalist. Ryan was also the founder of the AS220 Sunday Songwriters Series which continues to this day. Upon relocating to the Boston area Ryan has become a fixture in the Americana scene with regular appearances at venerable Cambridge venues such as Club Passim, the Lizard Lounge and Toad. This all has proved to be fertile ground for his latest release “Cold Sky”, produced by David “Goody” Goodrich (Chris Smither, Peter Mulvey). He is now poised to let the rest of the country in on a secret his loyal New England following has know for quite sometime; that Ryan Fitzsimmons shows are a powerhouse event, compelling, and genre defying as his songwriting.
Ryan and his band entered the Signature Sounds studio for a series of sessions, yielding fantastic results. With an outpouring of support from his fan base via a kickstarter campaign, “Cold Sky” has just been released. Showcasing all sides of his talent, from the catchy bluegrass tinged hook of “I Don’t Want to Wait”, to the dark electrically-bent melancholy of “Cigarettes”, this album is a journey. It takes us through dark shadows of grief and regret, to the simple resolve that there is nothing better than creating music in a room with your friends. This record is a documentation, recorded mostly live, of what Ryan’s been doing on stage for years; pouring every ounce of his being into each note. The listener can’t help but to buckle in and enjoy the ride.
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).
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.
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 . . .
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!
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 is not an actual place as of this writing, but it may be someday. They are one of the most well known and respected bands in Boston.
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!
Boston rock band with an eclectic sound. Dylanesque lyrics set to catchy rock guitar. Occasional hints of Stones and Replacements. Eric Salt & The Electric City’s live shows can approach a Springsteen explosion and captivate audiences with their raw power.
–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).
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.
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.
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.
Hypnotic Swamp Boogie
Hard shuffles and Dirty Blues.
Nominee for Boston Music Awards for Session Musician of the Year.
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).
“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
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!
New Band featuring Dennis Brennan, Andrew Stern, Jim Heggarty and Chris Anzalone
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.
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).
. . . tonight TOAD welcomes Organ in Orbit
Organ In Orbit is a jazz/funk organ trio from Boston, formed originally as a side-project of the Freelance Bishops leader/keyboardist, Jeremy Parker, back in 2004. Jeremy had a dream and a newly customized Hammond A-100, with a high-power Leslie cabinet and subwoofer he designed and built himself. With a smart selection of covers by artists ranging from the Meters to John Scofield,and styles ranging from shuffles to boogaloos to modern funk, the roots of the trio’s musical influence were growing wide and deep. And it certainly didn’t hurt to have a similarly deep bench of musical talent to contribute to this vision. On guitar, local luminaries like Justin Piper, Mike Mele, and Bruce Bartlett would be on call. And on drums, you’d likely see Benny Benson, Pete Maclean, or Steve Langone. After many years of regular gigs at their favorite local venues, the trio has developed a unique chemistry and dynamic musical interaction that truly engages the audience. Fast forward to 2017, and the band lineup has solidified and is working on brand-new original material composed by Jeremy, with a new album release eminent. Things are about to get interesting…
Come hear for yourself why this jazz-funk organ quartet from Boston is Out of THIS World!
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”
“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 . . .
The MoonRaiders are a Western Swing band that combine elements of Jazz, Rock n’ Roll, Country, and Truck Driving music.
Award winning guitarist Chris Hersch (formerly of Girls Guns & Glory) leads this quartet of accomplished musicians, improvising and singing their way through an eclectic set that will please both the dancer and music aficionado.
Drawing on a unique repertoire often overlooked in the American Songbook, The MoonRaiders pivot between Bob Wills, Chuck Berry, Dave Dudley, Commander Cody, and original music, all in one show.
This band’s style is Honky Tonk Trucker Jazz and Rock n’ Roll!!!!
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 is not an actual place as of this writing, but it may be someday. They are one of the most well known and respected bands in Boston.
A freshly minted trio with a penchant for classics and deep cuts. I hear they play a song about a reptile house
“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 . . .
At its core, the Roots Rock Rebels are Clifford Carraha on keyboard and vocals, Mark Ferranti on bass and Gregg Perry on guitar. They embody reggae music with their virtuosic play and soulful vocals! They perform some great classic tunes and have a wonderful way of reggae-izing songs from other 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).
- 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.
