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Club Drifters |
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17 Factory
Street, Nashua, |
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880-0523 |
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Scene: Folk to
hardcore; no country or blues. |
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Live music: All
original bands, all the time. During the summer it’s possible to
have live music every night; Friday and Saturday nights during
the winter. |
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Cover: Usually
$10, occasionally $8. |
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Capacity: 260
people. |
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Who’s there: It
tends to be a high-school-aged crowd, mostly because this is a
booze-free club. High school bands get to play here because
there’s no liquor, but sometimes the college crowd comes in to
see a particular band. |
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Club Drifters
is a dream come true for high school bands that can’t play bars
because of the age of the band members. The club has built a
reputation as an alcohol-free, teenage-friendly venue. All music
played here is original, which club owner Christian Skinner says
is another bonus to Club Drifters. |
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“Even if [high
school bands] could play bars, they’d have to play cover songs
because that’s what people want to hear,” Skinner said. |
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But that’s not
the case with Club Drifters. The crowd that comes here each
weekend expects original music and that formula is working for
Skinner. |
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He gets about
150 press kits a month, from local acts to national acts.
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“I don’t have
to seek anybody out,” he said. “Basically there are a lot of
original bands that don’t play cover tunes, and they need an
original-music venue to play at.” |
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There are times
when a national act brings in a college crowd, but for the most
part high school kids fill the venue. Skinner said if he has
four or five indie-rock bands (some of them signed to a label)
play a show, he may get 20 or 30 people in the club. But if he
has four or five local high school bands play, he’ll fill up the
place. |
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Looks the high
school crowd gets the idea of how to support their local
musicians. To add to the uniqueness of Club Drifters, Skinner
recently opened up a skate shop (selling skateboard accessories)
within the club’s walls. The skate shop, called Xact Skates, is
open during concert hours. Parking is more than ample for
club-goers as well. There’s a good-size parking lot in the back
of the club and a five-story parking garage nearby that is free
at night. |
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Scorz |
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522 Amherst
Street, Nashua, |
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880-3436 |
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Scene: Can be
anything from one-man acoustic to metal bands, but almost always
original music. Three- to five-band lineups with the bands all
of a similar genre. |
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Live music:
Friday and Saturday nights, 9 p.m. |
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Cover: $10 for
18+, $5 for 21+. |
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Capacity: 500. |
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Who’s there:
Even though it’s 18-plus, there’s more of a 21-plus crowd that
shows up regularly. |
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Scorz is one of
those places you have to drive to, like Archie’s in the 1980s
Corey Haim movie License to Drive. It doesn’t have the luxury of
being in downtown Nashua, but Brian Miller, who books the music
for Scorz, doesn’t see that as a detriment. There’s a good
amount of free parking right in front of the club, which you
might not get with a downtown venue. Also, Scorz is right off
the highway, in the Gold’s Gym plaza, making it easy to get to. |
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Scorz supports
local music, but you’re not going to see the same bands play
here night after night. Miller tries not to book the same bands
twice a month. |
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One thing
Miller does try to do is dedicate nights to certain genres. You
most often won’t get a heavy metal band playing the same night
as a folk band. |
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Another good
thing about Scorz is the layout of the club. When you walk in,
the first thing you notice is the stage with an open area for
dancing and for watching the bands. This place is made for
watching live music, more than most other bars in the area.
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“We want people
to come in and watch the music,” Miller said.
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Scorz has theme
nights on occasion, like “Who Wants to be a Stripper Night” and
“Naughty Schoolgirl Night.” |
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Del Vaudo’s |
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112 West Pearl
Street, Nashua, |
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598-8007 |
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Scene: Jazz,
blues, funk and rock. This is a restaurant, but it’s not just
acoustic music that’s played. |
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Live music:
Thursday through Saturday, around 8 p.m. Joey Vellucci Band
plays every Thursday. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
It’s an upscale restaurant and bar, so the crowd can change from
a family atmosphere to upscale middle-aged men and women. But
the music does bring in a younger crowd (20s and 30s).
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Del Vaudo’s is
one of two downtown restaurants that boast original live music.
Del Vaudo’s does it Thursdays through Saturdays, and it helps
that a pretty successful music man (Evan Goodrow of the Evan
Goodrow Band) does the booking. This is a restaurant with a bar,
but you get more than one guy with an acoustic guitar. You will
have bands play here, like local rockers the Joey Vellucci Band.
There is smoking allowed in the bar, and a neat feature of Del
Vaudo’s is after 9:30 p.m. you’re allowed to smoke cigars. |
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And not only
can you smoke cigars, but the Del Vaudo’s staff will recommend
whiskeys and other liquors that will compliment your cigar. Now
that’s classy. |
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The music
you’ll get here is mostly jazz and blues. Even the rock is
blues- or jazz-influenced, which fits well with Del Vaudo’s
setting. |
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It’s far away
from Main Street to have its own identity, but close enough that
people can walk there from anywhere downtown.
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The folks at
Del Vaudo’s are also interested in hiring a piano player to
perform on Tuesday nights. |
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Michael
Timothy’s |
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212 Main
Street, Nashua, 595-9334. |
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Scene: A
restaurant with live jazz and blues and acoustic performers to
watch/hear while you eat. |
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Live music: 7
p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays (acoustic night), 8 p.m. to
midnight on Thursdays through Saturday (live jazz and blues).
Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (jazz) and 6 to 10 p.m. (acoustic). |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
This is an upscale restaurant, and brings in an often upscale
crowd. Often it’s people in their 30s and 40s and older, but at
any time it can be families and 20-somethings. |
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Michael
Timothy’s is the other downtown restaurant that does more than
serve food, also serving up live original music. |
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Michael
Timothy’s has been around for a while, and because of that,
musicians come to the restaurant looking for gigs. |
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“You’d be
surprised how many musicians are around here in a 25-mile
radius,” said Michael Buckley, owner of Michael Timothy’s. |
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Occasionally
bands here play traditional jazz standards; however, there are
many original jazz and blues acts that come around. |
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There’s no
smoking allowed indoors, whereas smoking is allowed at Del
Vaudo’s. Both venues, however, tend to cater to an older crowd. |
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“Not a lot of
places cater to a mature crowd,” Buckley said. “Most of my
clientele is 40 and up.” |
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Sundays are
busy at Michael Timothy’s with a jazz brunch in the morning and
acoustic music at night. |
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Tupelo Music
Hall |
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2 Young Road,
Londonderry, 437-5100. |
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Scene: Folk,
roots, alt rock. |
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Live music:
Wednesday through Saturday. |
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Capacity: 138. |
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Cover:
Admission per show. |
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Who’s there:
Depends on who’s playing that night. |
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Tupelo is one
of those places where you wouldn’t go to drink but to see the
live music. |
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It doesn’t have
a liquor license but allows people to bring their own booze. |
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Owner Scott
Hayward purchased the building, then The Muse, in July 2004. He
sank more than $100,000 into renovating the 2,400-square-foot
music hall. He ripped out the sound system and installed a
22-by-14-foot stage, painted the walls and installed a
state-of-the-art full JBL sound system with speakers. The hall
also comes complete with four monitor mixing systems that allow
four artists on stage to tailor the sound they want to make. |
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“We have a lot
of acoustic, jazz and folk bands,” Hayward said, “but we’re
working on getting some R&B and country because no one else
around here has that. I don’t want to be known as the ‘Oh, they
only have country and folk’ place. I want to be known as a
showcase that plays all kinds of music.” |
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More places
to hear tunes in Nashua
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Big Bear Lodge |
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106 Route 13,
Nashua, (603) 672-7675 |
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Scene: Rock ‘n
roll on Fridays, country music on Saturdays. |
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Live music:
Rock ‘n’ roll bands on Friday nights starting at 9 p.m. You may
see a band like The Branch Brothers at any given time. Saturday
nights are dedicated to country music starting at 8 p.m. Either
night will give you a mix of covers and originals.
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Cover: $5. |
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Who’s there:
All different ages groups come, though it tends to be the older
crowd, like mid-30s and up. The lodge is two miles from the
Massachusetts border, attracting many Baystaters here because of
New Hampshire’s friendly view on smoking indoors. |
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Boston Billiard
Club |
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55 Northern
Blvd., Nashua, (603) 595-2121 |
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Scene: Cover
bands and live D.J.’s. |
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Live music:
Once a month on Thursday’s is The Zoo which MTV once called the
“Ultimate Cover Band.” The Zoo appears at the Boston Billiard
Club on Aug. 18, Sept, 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 24 and Dec. 1. All
shows are 9:30 p.m. On Fridays, cover band Loose Grip plays on
the patio from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
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Cover: No cover
for the Friday patio shows. No cover for The Zoo shows if you
come before 7:30 p.m. After 7:30 p.m. you pay $8. |
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Who’s there:
The venue is 21+ and the crowd is usually folks in their 20s and
30s. But come well dressed, for there is a dress code. |
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Cattleman’s
Sports Bar |
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14 Railroad
Square, Nashua, (603) 880-6001 |
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Scene: Mostly
good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll, classic and 80s style. |
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Live music:
Fridays is dedicated to original live music. |
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Cover: No.
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Who’s there:
Before it was mostly a younger crowd, but lately it’s a mix of
the young and the old, but all are 21+. |
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Club Social |
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45 Pine Street,
Nashua, (603)889-9838 |
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Scene: Rock,
oldies and sometimes even country. |
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Live music:
Friday equals live music, starting at 9 p.m. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there: To
get in here, you either have to be a member or come in with a
member. The crowd varies with the band that’s playing, but
usually is a mix of some younger folks, and more middle-aged
folks. |
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Fody’s Tavern |
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9 Clinton
Street, Nashua, (603) 577-9015 |
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Scene: Rock ‘n’
roll blues and jazz. |
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Live music:
Fridays and Saturdays except when there’s a comedy show
downstairs (that’s every third Friday). They usually have
original bands like the Joey Vellucci Band. |
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Cover: No |
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Who’s there:
The crowd ranges, from 21-70. |
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Haluwa Lounge |
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Nashua Mall,
exit 6, 883-6662 |
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Scene: Top 40
covers. |
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Live music:
Fridays and Saturdays, 9 p.m. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s
there:Mid-20s to 50s. |
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Manhattan on
Pearl |
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70 E. Pearl
Street, Nashua, (603) 578-5557 |
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Scene: Live
folk, jazz and singer/songwriters perform on the nights when
there’s not a D.J. No set schedule of when live music is played |
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Live music:
.Could be Thursdays or Saturdays, 9:30 p.m. (call to confirm). |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
Can be anyone from a 20-year old to a 60-year old. |
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Martha’s
Exchange |
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185 Main
Street, Nashua, (603) 883-8781 |
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Scene: They’ll
sometimes play live music, though more often than not they have
D.J.s. |
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Live music:
Could be folk, rock, blues. |
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Cover: $5. |
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Who’s there:
Depends on the performer. |
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Nashua Garden |
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121 Main
Street, Nashua, (603) 886-7363 |
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Scene:
Honky-tonk, old-timey, bluegrass and folk upstairs. |
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Live music: The
Garden Variety String Band, with interchanging members and a
friendly, welcoming atmosphere, usually at 9:30 p.m. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
Usually a younger crowd, 20s and early 30s.
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Pine Street
Eatery |
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136 Pine
Street, Nashua, (603) 886-3501 |
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Scene: Live
music (usually covers) takes place sporadically, call ahead to
know when. When there is music, it’s usually one to two people
playing acoustic music in the corner. |
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Live music:
Saturdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
Not typically a younger crowd. Usually it’s people in their
mid-30s and older. |
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Slades Bar and
Grill |
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4 W. Hollis
Street, Nashua, (603) 886-1334: |
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Scene: Southern
blues and rock. |
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Live music:
Thursdays (9 p.m.) and Sundays, (3 p.m.) Those Three Guys
(southern blues rock) typically perform. Saturday nights (9
p.m.) is a different rock band. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
Anywhere from 21 to 45-year-olds. |
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Peddler’s
Daughter |
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48 Main Street,
Nashua. (603) 880-8686 |
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Scene: Irish
bands playing traditional Irish music as well as modern-day
tunes. People do dance. |
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Live music:
Friday and Saturday nights, around 9 p.m. |
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Cover: No. |
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Who’s there:
It’s a restaurant, so it can range and mix from young to old. |
