Calendar
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”
New Band featuring Dennis Brennan, Andrew Stern, Jim Heggarty and Chris Anzalone
Otis Grove is:
Sam Gilman – Hammond Organ and vintage keys
Tyler Wayne Drabick – Guitar
Brian Sayers – Drums
There’s a new sound taking over the town known as Boston. If you’re by the banks of the Charles River as the moon glows over the muddy waters you very well may hear some thick, groovy beats banging out a trail for raw guitar licks and a soul-drenched Hammond organ. Yes indeed, ladies and gentleman who are down with the funk, it’s time to get rocked by your new favorite band: Otis Grove.
Otis Grove began as a collective experiment in crossing the traditional organ jazz sound with funk, hip-hop, and rock tones. It was the beginning of a sonic realization based in groove and free in improvisation, yet rooted in songwriting and melodic structure. In early 2004, on the heels of their self-titled debut album, the band began spreading their sound to clubs around the New England area. The music, which has since evolved into a unique blend of aggressive rock n’ roll and high-intensity organ funk (some fans have dubbed their genre ‘Runk’- a mixture of rock and funk), pays tribute to the masters while consistently pushing itself in new directions. Performer Magazine writer Sam Merrick described it as “a monstrous funk groove that probably would have sent Godzilla running had he been in the neighborhood.”
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).
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 . . .
Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and session musician, Cody Nilsen, is known for his work with Ward Hayden and The Outliers (formerly Girls Guns and Glory), Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One and Honey Talk, among many others. Nominated for “Session Musician of the Year” at the Boston Music Awards 2021, Cody is a sought after guitar and pedal steel guitar player, both for touring and studio work. Cody has shared stages with the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Dwight Yoakam, Peter Wolf, Los Lobos, Marty Stuart, NRBQ and many more, both nationally and internationally.
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.
“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.
“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 . . .
–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.
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
Led by the songwriting of violist Laurence Scudder and guitarist Erik White, Spotted Tiger is rounded out by a malleable all-star combination of Boston area players. Together they play an inspiring variety of originals & hand-picked covers.
Spotted Tiger – sometimes acoustic, always eclectic.
