Phil Vassar for the Cause Stack 'Em Up
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HIPPO NITE Nite Roundup Phil Vassar for the Cause Local music & nightlife news Annual fundraiser series begins with country star By Michael Witthaus [email protected] By Michael Witthaus closing credits of Touchback, due for release [email protected] later this year. The film stars Kurt Russell as a former high school jock recalling the injury • Barking man: On Monday, radio and tele- Child and Family Services of New Hamp- that ended a promising football career. vision personality Scorch moves into a dog shire’s annual Concerts for the Cause kick off Vassar wrote, recorded and mixed the song cage for the week to raise money for the Ani- with a June 3 show at Manchester’s Palace The- in one day, and delivered it to Handfield that mal Rescue League of New Hampshire. To atre followed by another at the Lebanon Opera night. “Just having the ability to do some- get things started, Craving Lucy, Soundtrack House on June 4, both starring country rock- thing like that,” he says with amazement. “At to Monday, Snake Bite and Seven States Away er Phil Vassar and Boston duo Farren-Butcher, a major label I’d have to run it up the flagpole Inc. The June 22 finale at Capitol Center for play an afternoon benefit, emceed by Chris and get 50 different people to sign off on it. the Arts in Concord is a “Blues Summit” with It would have never happened, because they Kilgore (Lords of Audio). Attend the Paws for the Robert Cray Band and opener Ronnie Earl needed it right away. It’s stuff that can get the Cause Kickoff Show on Sunday, June 5, at & the Broadcasters. done right now; I don’t’ have to ask anybody, 2:30 p.m. at Mad Bob’s Saloon, 342 Lincoln Phil Vassar is a take-charge guy. Before sell- and that’s a refreshing thing.” St. in Manchester. Tickets are $10; for more, ing his first song, he bought his own restaurant Vassar released the label’s first single on go to www.facebook.com/rock101fm. just to have a place to gig. May 23. “Let’s Get Together” is a party-ready • Gonzo squared: Protean punk twang “I was playing a bunch of clubs in Nashville record, with images of iced-down beer, rev- from The Caught Flies is paired with Yankee and developed this big following,” he said elers playing air guitar to classic rock and Phil Vassar. Courtesy photo. during a recent telephone interview. “Then Cockfight, a duo one scenester described as a driveway lined with the new country sta- I had the opportunity — this building came ple, tiki torches. “There ain’t no curfew here services for victims of abuse and neglect, trou- “punk and metal make a baby.” Given their up for sale, and one thing led to another and tonight,” Vassar sings. “We’ll worry about bled youth, children in foster care, babies at deep blues influences, the new family likely after about a year or two of negotiating, they tomorrow tomorrow.” risk and impoverished families. settled into a house near the crossroads where just about gave it to me. So I started out there He co-wrote the tune late last year with “I hope we raise a lot of money. I do a lot Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil. Two and stayed until I sold it and put out my first Tony Mullins (Rascal Flatts, Montgomery of benefits for kids,” says Vassar, who has two other bands round out the free (18+) show. See single.” Gentry and Kenny Chesney) after one too daughters aged 7 and 12. “Kids are growing up The Caught Flies, Yankee Cockfight, The Old That song, 1999’s “Carlene,” reached the many snowy days in Nashville. “It was win- faster and they’re getting into things, there’s top five, and the follow-up, “Just Another more availability of drugs, it’s very scary. So Edison and Blake Patria on Friday, June 3, at ter, cold and nasty, and we were just thinking Day in Paradise,” became Vassar’s first num- about good weather,” he says. “That’s where I’m proud to be part of it.” 9 p.m. at the Green Martini, 6 Pleasant St. Ext. ber-one record. As a songwriter, he’s also the song came from, a longing for … when it in Concord (www.greenmartini.com). penned chart-topping hits for Alan Jackson, wasn’t 20 degrees outside.” • Metal and mirth: In Manchester’s Mill Tim McGraw and Jo Dee Messina. But after As the summer approaches, Vassar is back Concerts for the Cause District, comedy stars Super Secret Project five albums in 10 years, Vassar grew weary of in his element, his schedule filled with outdoor Phil Vassar and special guests Farren- (“Granite State of Mind”) leaven a hard rock working for the music industry, and decided to shows and festivals like the recent Suwannee Butcher, Inc. with Charlie Farren & Jon start his own label, called Rodeowave. River Jam in Florida. Butcher lineup led by Age of End, an accessible Mas- Friday, June 3, at 8 p.m. at the Palace The- “A lot of people made a lot of money and “We just played at the Preakness last week- sachusetts quartet balancing aggressive metal atre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester now there’s a shell of a business,” he says. end, it was tens of thousands of people, nuts Saturday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Leb- with melodic elements. The show, a fundrais- “They didn’t change when they had the and crazy, people drinking at 10 a.m. and all,” anon Opera House, 51 North Park St., er for cancer charity Relay for Life, is an chance, and in business there’s the quick and he says. “I get to do a lot of different venues Lebanon all-day affair featuring a total of six bands. the dead.” and it makes for different kinds of shows. “ Tickets: $39.50 Attend Rock for Cancer on Saturday, June 4, Though Vassar is Rodeowave’s only artist A loose mood will likely prevail for Vassar’s at 5 p.m. at Jillian’s, 50 Phillippe Cote St. in at the moment, he has plans to recruit talent New Hampshire appearances. “It’s always fun Robert Cray Band and special guests Manchester. Tickets are $20; for more, call in the future. — we go out there without a set list and every- Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters 978-476-4205. “There are a lot of guys I know who aren’t one gets involved,” he says enthusiastically. Wednesday, June 22, at 7 p.m. at Capi- on a record label anywhere,” he says. “Which “We play songs we don’t know and anything • Heavenly Harley: A barbecue feast and a tol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., is good for them — if they’re on a major label from requests, album cuts, deep tracks.” Concord live performance by Christian rockers We Are they’re looking at three to four years before Charity events are a regular part of Vassar’s Tickets: $40 and $27. the Nine follows a morning bike rally, silent they even get a shot at a single.” work. This is his first effort for CFSNH, an auction and a raffle for a 2011 Harley Super A recent call Vassar received from movie organization that works on behalf of fami- $150/person VIP packages are available for Glide, with proceeds going to Manchester director Don Handfield helped the decision to lies, with a particular focus on at-risk children. both shows. Visit www.cfsnh.org for more Teen Challenge, a faith-based drug recovery go it alone. Handfield needed a song for the All the money raised will be spent locally on information. program. Attend the Teen Challenge Bike Ral- ly with We Are the Nine on Saturday, June 5, at Manchester Harley Davidson, 115 John E. Stack ’em up Devine Drive in Manchester. Registration at Shana Stack Band making all the pieces fit 10 a.m., ride begins at 11 a.m. For more infor- By Michael Witthaus provides the band’s songwriting power. A Nash- Cellular Pavilion show on Sept. 24. mation, call 647-7770. [email protected] ville veteran who grew up on George Jones and “Reba’s not bringing an opening act; she • Local color: The Londonderry High Merle Haggard, Leavitt knows his subjects. A has such a huge stage that it literally takes an School Jazz Ensemble performs in the first of Unlike many musical genres, a good coun- ballad, “Pleasure and Pain,” explores the for- entire day to set up,” said Leavitt recently dur- try song leads with melody and lets the beat a free concert series that over the summer will bidden affair of a “soccer mom” and her former ing a break from rehearsals in their drummer’s follow. With the Shana Stack Band, it begins college flame, while the upbeat “Perfect Pair” (a Newport garage. “So we’re playing on the side feature indie darlings Tripping Lily, folkie Liz with a crisp lead guitar, the kind perfected by co-write with frequent collaborator Pat Kelley) stage, but we’re technically the opener.” Longley, sax player David Milazzo and Jim- Vince Gill and Brad Paisley, coupled with the celebrates a quirky love that’s likened to “Bon- The group includes Stack and Leavitt (who my Buffett cover band The Coconut Monkeys. sultry sway of pedal steel. Then the rhythm nie and Clyde, Sonny and Cher.” also plays rhythm guitar) sharing lead vocals.