Lizard Lounge Club

Gram Parsons Died on My Birthday
2023-09-20 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
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David Becker celebrates his birthday with an all star tribute to Cosmic Country star Gram Parsons.

MUST BE 21+

Dave Becker celebrates his birthday 50 years after the untimely death of the Country-Rock icon. He and a band of fellow Gram fans will draw material from his work with the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, The International Submarine Band, and his final solo works.

Join us for one more night of Cosmic American music

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
2023-09-17 19:00 - 22:00
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Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam-Featured Poet Tara Skurtu

MUST BE 21+

Tara Skurtu is a poet, writing coach, speaker, and translator. A two-time U.S. Fulbright grantee and recipient of two Academy of American Poets prizes, a Marcia Keach Poetry Prize, and a Robert Pinsky Global Fellowship, she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Boston University and a Creative Writing Honors Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is the author of the chapbook Skurtu, Romania, the full poetry collection The Amoeba Game, and the upcoming collection Faith Farm.
Tara has presented at TEDx, CreativeMornings, and The Power of Storytelling. She was a member of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics team at Harvard University, a lecturer in creative writing at Boston University, and she taught composition to incarcerated students through BU’s Prison Education Program. She was also a member of the core planning and teaching team for Robert Pinsky’s inaugural MOOC, “The Art of Poetry.”
Tara is the founder of International Poetry Circle and a national steering committee member of Writers for Democratic Action. She is based in Brooklyn, where she is a writing coach for clients worldwide and is working on her collection of essays Don’t Ask Me Why I Live Here.

Jake Manzi Record Release with LuxDeluxe
2023-09-16 21:00 - 2023-09-17 00:00
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Jake Manzi celebrates his latest record release with LuxDeluxe at the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

Hang on and let go, Here She Comes is heading out. Ride with the fine melodies of this new Jake Manzi album (out Aug 1). Seek the exuberance of his pop. Float in the shuffle and caress of thirteen dreamy tracks that jangle and twang against the shores of your heartland. Let yourself go there, beyond the cool sand, where tenderness can find you where it’s fun to pretend. Lose those heavy burdens. Be a fool, move your feet. You’re welcome to all you find here, courtesy of Jake.
With a subtle touch for turning up pure song-stuff out of life, channeling the likes of Marshall Crenshaw and Tom Petty, of Lucinda Williams and Bruce Springsteen, of the Wallflowers and Keane, Manzi offers you his singular take on what contemporary pop-rock can be. Hear richly layered vocal, guitar, and keyboard harmonies impressed on thumping and elastic grooves from locked in drums and bass. Be transfixed by high-strung Gibson acoustics that weave enchanting moments with the mellotron and clavinet, with the farfisa, the organ, and twelve-string accompaniments.
Recorded live over four days at Spirithouse in Western Mass, Here She Comes sees the return of Griffin Goldsmith on drums, Jacob Rosazza on bass, and Caleb Rosazza on guitars and keys, with engineering by Danny Bernini and production by C. Rosazza and Manzi. Lush in tones of longing after all that’s left unsaid, Here She Comes with a wry smile and honest charm to bring the magic of the quiet moments we get caught up in and the hope in expectation for the joys of dreaming big.
Opening for acts like Ron Sexsmith, NRBQ, Lori McKenna, Tomberlin, and Chris Collingwood, and collaborating with artists like Don Was and Mikaela Davis, Madison Cunningham and Dawes’s Griffin & Taylor Goldsmith, Jake Manzi is a songwriter to be reckoned with and a unique talent to be enjoyed.
Jake Manzi

IT ALL STARTED WHEN THREE COUSINS AND TWO FRIENDS GOT TOGETHER TO PLAY ROCK&ROLL IN A POSTER-PLASTERED BASEMENT IN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SURROUNDED BY STACKS OF NRBQ, JJ CALE, AND TOM PETTY RECORDS. EMBEDDED IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY THAT LEGENDS INCLUDING DINOSAUR JR. AND PIXIES CALL HOME, LUXDELUXE BUILDS ON THE VALLEY’S HISTORY OF MUSICAL INNOVATION.
Churning out high-octane shows that leave audiences sweaty, LuxDeluxe delivers a serious punch of supple Rolling Stones-y grooves, persuasive danceable hooks, and rock-solid old-fashioned craft. Flaunting like Jagger, with all the sensuality of Bowie, lead singer Ned King creates a spectacle rarely seen since the heyday of rock&roll.
As the band rapidly gains recognition for their live shows, they’ve been invited to share the stage with the likes of Deer Tick, White Denim, NRBQ, Reptar, Lake Street Dive, Rubblebucket, J Mascis, and Big Al Anderson. The highlight of last year was warming up a crowd of over 10,000 for VT Senator Bernie Sanders.
The band released its second album, “It’s a Girl,” last year, with the song “So Far Away” being chosen as Song of the Year on the tastemaker radio station, 93.9 The River as well as being reviewed and labeled a band to watch for by Pitchfork Magazine. This has been an extremely prolific year. The recently released one-shot visual EP “Midnight Snack” is only the start of the flood of new music to come from LuxDeluxe in 2017.
With encyclopedic knowledge of vintage gear, from Gabe Bernini’s Clavinet to Jacob Rosazza’s “Beatle bass” to Caleb Rosazza and Jake Edwards’ collection of vintage guitars, amps, and drum kits, LuxDeluxe’s next release will be their third full-length album, “Let’s Do Lunch.” Comprised completely of songs tracked with vintage equipment on a Tascam Four Track Cassette Recorder and mixed at SpiritHouse Music Studios in Northampton, “Let’s Do Lunch” puts the listener amongst the band during late-night recording sessions, at the center of the synchronicity only family can create, and at the heart of their influences.
– ​KIMAYA DIGGS
LuxDeluxe

Band of Killers featuring Kevin Barry
2023-09-15 21:00 - 2023-09-16 00:00
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Band of Killers return to the Lizard Lounge with guest Kevin Barry on guitar!

MUST BE 21+

A little bit of soul and a whole lotta’ rock ‘n’ roll! A Band Of Killers is an all-star music group featuring some of the top players in the Boston music scene who have worked with and along side some of the best in the business. Fronting the group is the great Tim Gearan on vocals & guitar. Assembled and leading the band is the extraordinary guitarist Johnny Trama (Bettye LaVette, The Silks, Dub Apocalypse, The B3 Kings) Holding down the rhythm section on drums is the masterful Tom Arey (Peter Wolf, The J. Geils Band, G. Love) On bass is the one and only Marc Hickox (Bettye LaVette, Charlie Musselwhite) and on keyboards, the very talented Darby Wolf (Bettye LaVette, Rubblebucket) Their music and sound can only be described as “they make you feel cool” Paying homage to the roots of early soul and classic rock, their songs and vibe make you experience something new and original yet completely familiar. Do not miss A Band Of Killers coming to a town near you soon!
Band of Killers

Sound Kicks Out Presents: Llynks, VQnC and MonaVeli
2023-09-14 20:00 - 23:00
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Sound Kicks Out Presents: Llynks, VQnC and ALDRA

MUST BE 21+

Llynks (Sara Kendall) is a songwriter, producer, and singer whose haunting and introspective lyrics explore themes of empowerment and self preservation. Although taking inspiration from both fantastical and sci-fi worlds, Llynks’ lyrics are reflective of her life experience and delivered with a powerful voice that manifests as a portal to her soul. Her debut album, “Become the Root ” released in July 2020 and tackles the concept of taking ownership of one’s own perception in an emboldened tone backed by ethereal and cinematic production.
Llynks

VQnC is a singer, songwriter, photographer and vintage clothing curator. She was recently nominated for Boston Music Awards’ R&B Artist of the Year (‘18,’19) , Vocalist of the Year, and 617 session of the year. She was featured in Marie Claire Magazine, and released her genre-bending debut album “Freedom” in April.
Her love of performance took shape in the southern clime of Charleston, South Carolina, where she grew up in a musical family with strong Celtic roots. After moving to Boston in 2013, she discovered a rich musical scene where she could explore new musical genres and grow as an artist. Before long, she was turning her poetry into songs.
Using music to process her own experiences, VQnC gives emotions new life, and creates a space for listeners to find their own meaning. Her signature bass lines, catchy melodies, and meditative repetitions embrace imperfection while celebrating self-care and self-love.
With a bright, colorful aesthetic and an ever-growing sequin collection, she channels the queenliness of disco and the soulful flair of vocalists like Jessie Ware and Stevie Nicks. VQnC fronted Boston’s funk-rock band, Dr. Fidelity and toured with the improvisational electronic collective, GoldBloc. She has performed at the House Of Blues, The Sinclair, Brighton Music Hall, The Institute of Contemporary Art, The Box, and the Knitting Factory. VQnC has also shared the stage with other artists such as Busty and the Bass, Robert DeLong, WET, ExMag, Congo Sanchez, Snoh Allegra, and Quantic.
VQnC

ALDRA is a Somerville, MA-based performing and recording artist whose music draws influence from soul, R&B, and alternative pop. She captivates listeners with velvety tones, profound lyrics, and imagery to bring them on a journey through her life experiences.
Being raised in a Georgia baptist church, ALDRA had her first memorable connections to music in the church choir. After graduating high school in 2015, ALDRA moved to Boston to pursue her day time career in cosmetology. It was then she fully began to immerse herself in the music scene of New England. When not working her 9-5, she performs, writes new music, and continues to grow her network in an effort to build her community and music career from the ground up.
ALDRA has toured in Colorado (2019), Portugal (2018) and New York (2017). She is co-host and founder of a musician focused podcast, Young Council, and hosts local open mics. She released her single “Quicksilver” in February 2021 ahead of her upcoming EP recorded with Plaid Dog in Allston, MA.
ALDRA

Aaron and the Lord's Golden Jubilee Celebration
2023-09-13 20:00 - 23:00
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Aaron and the Lord’s Golden Jubilee Celebration! Aaron Perrino of the Sheila Divine celebrates his birthday with VERY special guests…

MUST BE 21+

Hailing from Boston, Aaron and the Lord is the new band from Aaron Perrino – the driving force behind The Sheila Divine – along with Multi-Instrumentalist and Record Producer Steven Lord – of the band Dirty Bangs.
The self-titled debut album was produced, recorded and mixed by Steven Lord. The 10-song indie rock joy ride features stunning vocal collaborations from Tanya Donnelly of the bands Belly, Throwing Muses and The Breeders and Mike Bethmann from the unsung Buffalo/Boston band Tugboat Annie. And if that wasn’t enough, several tracks were mixed by Paul Kolderie (Radiohead, Morphine, Hole) and mastered by the peerless mad scientist, Jeff Lipton.
Aaron & The Lord

Poetry Jam- Charles Coe
2023-09-10 19:00 - 22:00
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Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam-Charles Coe

MUST BE 21+

Charles Coe is the author of four books of poetry published by Leapfrog Press: All Sins Forgiven: Poems for my Parents, Picnic on the Moon, and Memento Mori, designated a “Must Read” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book, and “Purgatory Road.” He is also author of Spin Cycles, a novella published by Gemma Media. Charles was selected as a Boston Literary Light by the Associates of the Boston Public Library and is a former artist fellow at the St. Botolph Club in Boston.
A short film by filmmaker Roberto Mighty, “Peach Pie,” was based on his poem, “Fortress” has been shown at film festivals nationwide. Another short film, “Charles Coe: Man of Letters,” also by Roberto Mighty was named “Outstanding Documentary Short” at the 2020 Roxbury Film Festival. His poems have been set by composers Kitty Brazelton, Beth Denisch, Paul Frucht, and Robert Moran
Charles was a 2017 artist-in-residence for the city of Boston, where he created an oral history project focused on residents of Mission Hill. He is poetry editor of “Multiplicity,” an online literary journal published by Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Mass, and associate editor of “About Place,” an online literary journal published by Black Earth Institute.
Charles has served as poet-in-residence at Wheaton College, the Newton Public Schools, and at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State. He is an adjunct professor of English at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, where he teaches in the MFA programs. He serves on the Steering Committee of the Boston Chapter of The National Writers Union, which serves free-lance writers and editors. He is also on the Board of Directors of The New England Poetry Club and of Revolutionary Spaces, Inc., the organization that manages and programs activities at Boston’s Old South Meeting House and the Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre.

Sway Wild
2023-09-09 20:00 - 23:00
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Sway Wild at the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

Sway Wild was born on a small island in the Salish Sea.
Following a two-month sailing voyage through the remote anchorages of British Columbia, acclaimed indie-folk duo Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer, joined by longtime friend Thom Lord, returned to their San Juan Island, Washington home still hungry to explore. The result was nothing short of an artistic epiphany; an evolution of sound that called out loudly for a new name. Sway Wild released its self-titled debut album worldwide in 2019.
Sway Wild’s songs navigate the corners of rock, folk, pop, jazz, prog, and funk. At its nucleus, it is music saturated in gratitude for well-lived lives and sympathetic to our shared humanity. McGraw says, “We want to make music that allows people to feel what they need to feel.” Fer and McGraw’s gorgeous harmonies paired with moving lyrics serve to both process and share their jubilation, grief, and frustration with a complex and deeply imperfect society.
Perhaps most remarkable is Fer’s astonishing electric guitar work. Using her beloved Fender Stratocaster for both lead guitar pyrotechnics and chordal rhythms, often at the same time, Fer challenges the listener to comprehend how she manages to extract so much feeling from six strings and an amplifier. With this album, laden with Fer’s potent electric guitar solos, she has decisively placed herself within the vanguard of female guitarists claiming their rightful place in an artistic pantheon that has historically been dominated by men. McGraw and Lord, who met as wildlife biologists studying endangered California condors in the Grand Canyon, provide unwavering support for Fer’s formidable musicianship.
Sway Wild was recorded in Portland, Oregon at The Hallowed Halls, a historic Carnegie Library, by engineer Justin Phelps (Cake, Galactic, Bob Weir), whose expertise at the helm is tangible in the warmth and presence of the finished product. An impressive cadre of the band’s friends and heroes brings the songs to their full, frenzied potential. Birds of Chicago and Sean Hayes provide guest vocals, members of MarchFourth add the irresistible energy of a full horn section, and cellists Skip VonKuske (Portland Cello Project) and Anna Fritz, along with Anna Tivel on violin, contribute the brooding dynamism of bowed strings.
For Fer and McGraw, the sailing expedition served as a kind of sabbatical from seven years of heavy international touring, sharing stages with the likes of Iron & Wine, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Mandolin Orange. The days on the boat were filled reading books in quiet green coves, watching humpback whales and black bears for hours on end, and talking over simple dinners of freshly baked bread and fish caught from a creaky plastic rowboat. Inspired by their journey, the three former band mates returned to their pastoral island and took to playing music in Fer and McGraw’s living room, with no aspirations other than to enjoy the process of creation.
In the ensuing months, Fer and McGraw departed from their well-established acoustic approach in almost shocking fashion, each returning to the instruments on which they began their respective musical trajectories as teenagers. With Fer refocused on electric guitar, McGraw behind a drum kit for the first time in over a decade, and Lord on electric bass, the trio allowed themselves to rediscover everything they loved about making music. This soon gave birth to a creative torrent of new songs, and the trio emerged as a fully formed band, organically and unexpectedly, with a sound transformed. With a fresh sense of purpose, the new material was honed on tours across the U.S. and in Europe, performing alongside band favorites Lake Street Dive, Charlie Hunter Trio and others.
The name Sway Wild evokes a specific feeling. From the beginning, Fer, McGraw, and Lord intended this band, and this album, to reflect what the endeavor felt like to them: a pathway to the uninhibited unfiltered core that we all possess. The words themselves are an invitation, if not a command, to seek out this untainted part of ourselves. In many ways, Sway Wild’s music is the product of truly wild places, and, like ribbons of light piercing a dark green canopy overhead; it can help us find the wildness that is unquestionably still within us.
Sway Wild

Glenn Yoder and the Western States
2023-09-08 21:00 - 2023-09-09 00:00
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Glenn Yoder and the Western States celebrate their latest release with special guest Jeremy Moses Curtis!

MUST BE 21+

It’s been six years since we released the last Glenn Yoder & The Western States album. Suffice to say, much has happened.
Love, marriage, had a kid, pandemic, moved far away, settled in, had another kid, moved even farther away. Through it all, the unsettling sense that the world is on fire or on the verge of it, at least.
So I wrote about it, about this bizarre, transformative block of time — the overwhelming joy of love and children, of course, but also the anxieties and adjustments that come with those precious responsibilities, particularly in this climate. About giving up one version of ourselves in order to become another.
There were many moments when I sincerely doubted that this record would ever be completed, that I’d ever finish writing it or we’d ever get to recording it, but I also think that that additional time made this perhaps our most considered record to date. It’s a document of our conversations and hopes and concerns and feelings that I may have otherwise lost to time, so I’m glad that I have it at least. I hope you get something out of it too.
As always, my love and appreciation to my beloved band: Jeff, JMC, Chris, Brooks and our unofficial sixth member, Dave. I am so fortunate to have had them play and work on my songs for all these years. It was also important to me to have Cilla’s beautiful voice return for this album, and I am so happy we made it happen. This record really reflects my strongest musical bonds — put simply: it sounds like us.
Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy it!

Julie Rhodes/Wyn Doran
2023-09-07 20:00 - 23:00
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Julie Rhode and the Electric Company with VANDIVER (Andrew Hammond) at the Lizard Lounge

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Boston native Julie Rhodes musical career started “on a whim”. After singing along in the audience at a house show, she was given some words of encouragement to write her own songs. That night, she began writing her first song and before long she was recording her debut album with producer Jonah Tolchin. She released Bound to Meet the Devil in 2016 and it’s clear this powerhouse vocalist/songwriter is an artist on the rise.Julie Rhodes

Vandiver is the moniker of singer/songwriter Andrew Hammond. From the foothills of Hall County, GA, Hammond found his musical beginnings in Brooklyn NY, creating a soulful, immersive, lyric-driven and often Avant approach to modern American Folk music. Andrew’s powerful yet brittle vocal style has warmed and awed crowds in venues across the USA. Backed by drummer Kevin O’Connor of Portland’s Talkdemonic, “Vandiver” seeks to package and expand that intimate, raw expression into a much larger vessel. All rights reserved Hotel Cliff 2022VANDIVER

Quadrapeg and City of Four!
2023-09-06 20:00 - 23:00
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Join us for a night with Quadrapeg and City of Four!

MUST BE 21+

Three things bind this quartet together: friendship, a love of jazz and funk, and a shared sense of humor. In the 2010s, Bassist Jameson Stewart, organist Ben Blanchard, drummer Patrick Dalton, and guitarist Sam Crawford formed a close personal and musical rapport working together as sidemen in various styles. It wouldn’t be long until they tried playing their own instrumental music as a quartet. Today, QuadraPeg brings joy and vitality to their compositions and improvisations, always with a solid groove, camaraderie, and a touch of the absurd.
Quadrapeg

“When the jazz, funk and progressive styles come together it can be a beautiful thing…Boston’s City of Four have been embracing this fusion for the past few years.” -Rob Duguay, Rock n’Heavy
City of Four brings an original brand of modern groove-based jazz, funk, and fusion to music venues across Boston and New England. Featuring original melody-driven compositions by its members, Mike Caudill on saxophone, Cat Tremblay on keys, Eric Falter on bass, and Steve Wilkinson on drums, City of Four’s sets include spontaneous improvisations and group interplay that make each live performance unique.
The band has received an “Outstanding Performance” recognition from DownBeat Magazine as a Blues/Pop/Rock group. Some of the original music in its catalog has also been recognized by ASCAP and MIX Magazine.
City of Four

Poetry Jam- Kwe
2023-09-03 19:00 - 22:00
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Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam with Featured Poet Kwe

MUST BE 21+

With roots in Cameroon and Ghana, kwe is a poet, singer-songwriter, producer and musician who began writing lyrics in French at the age of 16 while in school in Paris. His lyrical skill on the mic earned him the nickname of “Bigfoot” among his friends and music associates. After paying his dues on the spoken word open mic scene in Boston, he began recording his poems and songs with various bands and music producers. kwe has played extensively in the United States performing his “Afro Roots Hop” style, an eclectic blend of dub poetry and roots man chanting. His first book of poetry Dirges of Becoming was published independently by Afro Roots Hop Press. He is currently working on his second print title -Touch of Madness – alongside a documentary film on the making of his devotional roots album “Bright Side” dropped recently on his Music Is Healing imprint.

MC Kabir Sen with Krush Factory
2023-09-02 21:00 - 2023-09-03 00:00
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MC Kabir Sen continue their monthly residency at the Lizard Lounge with the Krush Factory

Lyle Brewer Quartet
2023-09-01 21:00 - 2023-09-02 00:00
Lyle Brewer Quartet at the Lizard Lounge.

MUST BE 21+

Lyle Brewer brings his quartet to the Lizard Lounge for a night of original instrumental music. Brewer has been integral to the Boston music scene for over 15 years. He currently plays in a number of bands and teaches guitar at The Berklee College of Music. Keyboardist Amy Bellamy is a member of the original band The Abeez, as well as performing with G Love, Terri Lynn Carrington, and The Super Sonic Shorties. Jef Charland plays upright bass in the group. He is also a member of The Blue Ribbons, Clear Audience, and The Gil Ahron Trio. Drummer Dean Johnston rounds out the band; he is also a member of the Moroccan-inspired instrumental group Club D’Elf.
Lyle Brewer

Lyle Brewer Quartet
2023-09-01 21:00 - 2023-09-02 00:00
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Lyle Brewer Quartet featuring Amy Bellamy (k), Jef Charland (b) and Dean Johnston (d)

MUST BE 21+

Lyle Brewer brings his quartet to the Lizard Lounge for a night of original instrumental music. Brewer has been integral to the Boston music scene for over 15 years. He currently plays in a number of bands and teaches guitar at The Berklee College of Music. Keyboardist Amy Bellamy is a member of the original band The Abeez, as well as performing with G Love, Terri Lynn Carrington, and The Super Sonic Shorties. Jef Charland plays upright bass in the group. He is also a member of The Blue Ribbons, Clear Audience, and The Gil Ahron Trio. Drummer Dean Johnston rounds out the band; he is also a member of the Moroccan-inspired instrumental group Club D’Elf.
Lyle Brewer

Samantha Farrell with Special Guest Cilla Bonnie!
2023-08-31 20:00 - 2023-09-01 00:00
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Samantha Farrell’s monthly residency resumes with special guest Cilla Bonnie

MUST BE 21+
Samantha Farrell is a Boston-based musician and vocalist whose sound is a gorgeously moody fusion of jazz, alt R&B and pop. Once described as “the best singer-songwriter you’ve never heard of,” by NBC Los Angeles, Farrell has always been understated in her approach to her music career – but, those who are in the know, have been quietly dazzled with her unique voice, rhythmic subtleties and tonal nuance for years.
Endlessly smooth with a bittersweet edge, Farrell’s residency at the beloved Lizard Lounge in Cambridge comes a few months ahead of the completion of her fourth full length album produced by local stalwart, Will Dailey. Supported by some of the best session players in town, her repertoire will see past and future favorites discreetly spun into vibey, sonic spells once a month for the duration of this summer.

“Prodigious and undulating vocals that are delivered with rare, swinging passion.”
– Relix Magazine

“A liquor-honey voice, deft guitar work, and slightly melancholic tones that meld to form an aching and elegant aural tapestry.”
– Huffington Post
Samantha Farrell

Cilla is a working bass player, singer and songwriter. Over the past 15 years she’s played, toured and recorded in numerous projects in Maine, Boston and Los Angeles. In 2020 she released her fourth recording project, ‘August’, and is set to record her next EP this fall. Cilla Bonnie’s music is a blend of R&B-inspired groove and structure resembling Radiohead. In addition to her solo project, Cilla currently plays bass for the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner, Alisa Amador and Boston-based soul artist Ali McGuirk. Check out Cilla’s most recent recording project ‘August’ and follow her on Instagram@cillabonniemusic to keep up with her performances.
Cilla Bonnie

Zoe Lloyd/Preacher & Daisy
2023-08-30 20:00 - 23:00
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Zoe Lloyd and Preacher & Daisy team up for a night at the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

Bio: Zoe Lloyd is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Her debut album Blue Letters (January 2023) walks the line between indie rock, folk, and country. Born and raised in Massachusetts, she and her band are hitting the road in anticipation of the new EP she recorded by the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. Blending elements of modern indie folk artists like Adrianne Lenker with her old favorites such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Townes Van Zandt & others, Zoe Lloyd writes old songs with a new voice.
Zoe Lloyd

Preacher & Daisy is a solo project fronted by Somerville-based singer-songwriter, Sam Bailey. Preacher & Daisy influences are Lucinda Williams, Little Wings, and most importantly, Bruce Springsteen. Following a self-titled record out in 2017, Preacher & Daisy is releasing another solo record which will come out Winter, 2023. Songs can be found on Spotify, YouTube, and Bandcamp.
Preacher & Daisy

Poetry Jam-Tarishi "M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T.” Shuler
2023-08-27 20:00 - 23:00
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Poetry Jam-Tarishi “M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T.” Shuler

MUST BE 21+

Tarishi “M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T.” Shuler
Award winning American Artist Tarishi “M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T.” Shuler altered the status quo of the spoken word art scene by presenting an ingenious style of delivery using clever metaphors and a dance between two dimensional storylines.
Resonating with audiences nationwide, by 2011, Tarishi had begun dominating stages with his dramatic performances taking home numerous awards year after year and raising the bar for his counterparts. Often abrupt, always gracefully delivered yet playfully unfiltered, his poetry hangs in an intrinsic balance of raw truth and art imitating life.
Among his many accolades, Tarishi has opened for notable individuals such as Saul Williams, Grammy nominated Neo-Soul Artist Dwele, Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, and former US President Bill Clinton. In 2020, he shared a stage with Omari Hardwick at Da’ Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles, California. He has performed for Def Poetry Jam at various venues.
Tarishi is the current 2022 interim Artistic Director for The Word, a nonprofit organization located in New Haven, CT
A native of Connecticut, you can find Tarishi modeling, acting, bodybuilding, teaching or directing while also discovering new audiences in stages close to home, and as far as Tokyo, Japan.
Tarishi “M.I.D.N.I.G.H.T.” Shuler

Old Jack Last Saturdays w/ Senseless Optimism and Kooked Out
2023-08-26 21:00 - 2023-08-27 00:30
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Old Jack resumes their Last Saturday residency with Ruby Rose Fox and Senseless Optimism

MUST BE 21+

Since their first show way back in 2008, critics and fans knew there was something unique about OldJack. Hailed as the most underrated band in Boston, with three guitars, bass, drums, organ/keys, a female background singer, and a front man from yesterday, OldJack belts out their original material with lots of harmonies, big vocals, and guitar solos galore.
From being the underdog, wild card winning, reprieved Rock n’ Roll Rumble finalists to Boston Music Awards nominees and a staple of multiple music festivals in the northeast – OldJack has firmly planted their feet in the New England Music Scene, making music for music’s sake.
While the members have changed and the band has grown in numbers (they currently bring 7-8 people to the stage), the band is constantly developing and exploring its signature Old Soul Rock ‘n’ Roll sound.
OldJack’s catalog includes multiple EPs since its creation, Union Glory and Gone Before You Know, a Maxi-Single and the While Label Single Series. In 2014, they put out their first full-length album since the band’s debut, What Is Home To You. The collection of eight tracks pays homage to the band’s influences and styles that have had critics wondering where to classify them for years.
The band has recently returned from taking time to work on new tracks and perfect their live show with the addition of multiple new members. Be on the lookout for OldJack in concert at a show near you, and a second full-length album for release in 2016.

Boston, now Nashville-based artist Ruby Rose Fox is a cultural messenger of our turbulent modern times. Part actress, director, and writer, Fox has never shied away from inventive ways to approach her art. In 2018, Fox released her sophomore album Salt, an utterly cinematic piece of experimental pop that features dense soundscapes built to accompany Fox’s wall-shattering vocals.
The sonically-rich record is enhanced via ASMR microphones that were used during the recording, resulting in an ASMR-sensitive body of emotional, political, and personal songs—which, when listened to with headphones—produces a next-level experience for the listener. Salt is the follow-up to Ruby Rose Fox’s debut album Domestic which reached number 8 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.
Ruby Rose Fox

With her exceptional talents as a multi-instrumentalist, Brittany is leading a musical revolution through Senseless Optimism, her groundbreaking project that is redefining the role of singer-songwriters in contemporary music. Her unique perspective and evocative Ivricism have earned her a devoted fanbase.
Senseless Optimism on a trajectory towards national acclaim.
Senseless Optimism

Molly Parden
2023-08-25 21:00 - 2023-08-26 00:00
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Molly Parden at the Lizard Lounge!
For all its unapproachable beauty, the heart of Molly’s music is humble and profoundly human. They are songs that remind us that heartbreak isn’t simply another marketable human emotion, but is more like a familiar place—a sacred space within all of us. We are all born with a deep sense of loss, and great art has a way of articulating our personal tragedies—both the ones we’re born into, and the ones we write and direct ourselves. It makes listening to “Rosemary” feel like falling into a dream or a distant memory—a beautiful reminder of something we’ve known all along.
Molly Parden
Lizard Lounge is 21+
Deni is the electronic pop solo project of Deni Hlavinka (of The Western Den). Decisive, impactful, yet soft around the edges, Deni’s music blurs the line between dark synth-driven electronica and tender alternative pop – creating a sound that is emphatic yet vulnerable. Lyrically, her music explores the spaces between doubt, introspective and the roaring explosion of self-actualization. Deni is layered, immediate and visceral – the result of over a decade of experience as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, artist and producer. Deni’s music is both the tangled chaos of feeling in real-time — and the unraveling.
Deni

CLAMB w/ Clifford The Band and Kyle Harris. Visuals by Digital Awareness.
2023-08-24 20:00 - 23:00
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CLAMB at the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

Clamb draw from the traditions of American groove music from James Brown through to seventies kosmische pioneers like Cluster and Harmonia, Clamb are interested in keeping an attitude of acceptance and exploration in their largely-improvised songs.

Poetry Jam- Lynne Schmidt
2023-08-20 20:00 - 23:00
Poetry Jam-Lynne Schmidt

MUST BE 21+

Lynne Schmidt is the grandchild of a Holocaust survivor. Their work won the 2021 The Poetry Question Chapbook Contest, and 2020 New Women’s Voices Contest. Lynne is the author of the chapbooks, SexyTime, Dead Dog Poems, Gravity, and On Becoming a Role Model. In 2012 they started the project, AbortionChat, which aims to lessen the stigma around abortion. When given the choice, Lynne prefers her pack of dogs and one cat to humans.

Westbound Train “Dedication” Release Party with The Euphoralites
2023-08-19 21:00 - 2023-08-20 00:00
Westbound Train “Dedication” release party with special guests the Euphoralites!!!

MUST BE 21+

Westbound Train released their first album, Searching for A Melody, in 2002. The band self-released their second album, Five to Two, in 2005, which featured guest appearances from Alex Desert of Hepcat and King Django. The album was re-released by Stomp Records on March 14, 2006.
Westbound Train were featured on the Hellcat Records compilation Give ‘Em the Boot IV in November 2004. In January 2006, Hellcat announced that they had signed the band. A third full-length, titled Transitions, was released in September 2006.
Westbound Train played the Summer of Ska tour in the summer of 2006, along with Suburban Legends, Big D and the Kids Table, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Catch 22. Westbound Train also played the Fall of Ska tour in the fall of 2006, along with Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, and Suburban Legends.
Westbound Train

Dub Apocalypse
2023-08-18 21:00 - 2023-08-19 00:00
Dub Apocolypse returns to the Lizard Lounge!

Dub Apocalypse is an instrumental dub reggae band from Boston, MA. Band members are Tommy Benedetti-drums,Van Martin-guitar,Johnny Trama-guitar,Aaron Bellamy-bass,and Timo Shanko-sax/bass. The band came together in 2007, led by drummer Tommy Benedetti and guitarist, Johnny Trama.Tommy Benedetti is one of the founding members of American Reggae Pioneers,John Brown’s Body. He brings a wealth of experience from the reggae/dub scene to the table,having recorded albums for the legendary Shanachie Label,John Zorn’s Tzadik Label (mixed by Bill Laswell),and is currently with John Brown’s Body on Easy Star Records. This history is combined with almost 2 decades of International touring,as well as backing some of the giants of Jamaican music,including The Meditations and Justin Hinds.
Guitarist Johnny Trama adds a soulful blues touch to the Dub Apocalypse signature sound.Trama has spent time on the road with the great Ron Levy, BB King’s organ player, as well as many other regional rock and soul/r&b acts. Not long after Dub Apocalypse came together, longtime friend Timo Shanko entered the fold.A dual threat on both bass and saxophone,Shanko is a veteran of the blues and free jazz scene.He spent many years on the road with Blues legend, Eddie Kirkland, as well as with G. Love and Special Sauce. Shanko is also a prolific composer,and his improvisational stylings are an integral part of the Dub Apocalypse sound. Although DA started out as more of a collective,in the past few years the lineup has solidified with the addition of bassist Aaron Bellamy and guitarist Van Martin. Bellamy is a longtime fixture in the Boston funk scene,and in combination with Benedetti ,they form the deep,militant sound at the core of Dub Apocalypse.
Originally hailing from Chicago,Van Martin rounds out the lineup on guitar. Martin has much touring experience as well, including appearances with Bernie Worrell and Big Daddy Kane. His sonic textures,adventurous playing and songwriting have helped Dub Apocalypse take their sound to a new level. The DA sound is an evolving mix of original compositions and their own interpretations of classic Jamaican and UK songs and dub plates. Heavy hitting drum and bass grooves set the table. A twin guitar attack, with Trama’s rhythmic anchor,and Martin’s dub sonics, swirl in and out in tandem. These pieces, combined with Timo Shanko’s Coltrane inspired sax approach, give Dub Apocalypse a

Dharmasoul
2023-08-17 20:00 - 23:00
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Dharmasoul returns to the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

Although Dharmasoul is difficult to narrow down into one genre, they can best be described through their noted influences of contemporary artists such as Medeski Martin Wood & Scofield, Vulfpeck, D’Angelo, Soulive, Snarky Puppy, and Lettuce as well as throwback influences including The Meters, Staple Singers, Otis Redding, The Allman Brothers Band, and Stevie Wonder.
Jonah and Kevin have been on contrasting yet complementary musical journeys since childhood, but each time their paths converged, they discovered an inspirational energy that they now bring to the music of Dharmasoul. Although they both grew up in Princeton, NJ, they met for the first time when they were fifteen at the 2008 National Guitar Workshop in Connecticut, a multi-instrumental camp. Their cohort had only one drummer (Kevin) and many guitar players, but Jonah and Kevin found themselves playing together on the one night out in a real club—where suddenly the audience got really quiet and listened–a foreshadowing of what was to come.
Jonah is a veteran of two Yep Rec Records albums and has toured the world, collaborating and working in the studio with notable list of musicians including Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), John McCauley (Deer Tick), Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson), Scarlett Rivera (Bob Dylan), Ben Knox Miller (The Low Anthem) Anderson East, Sam Amidon, Greg Leisz, James Gadson, Eric Heywood, and many more. He has shared stages throughout the United States and Europe with artists including Greg Allman, Tony Joe White, Dave & Phil Alvin, Chris Smither, Justin Townes Earle, Rickie Lee Jones, Tom Paxton, Chuck Prophet, Mandolin Orange, to name a few.
Meanwhile, Kevin graduated from Loyola in New Orleans, where he was inspired by Brian Blade and Stanton Moore, jazz and funk drummers who had also attended the University. Experiencing music in New Orleans opened him to worlds of hip-hop, neo-soul, traditional/modern jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban styles. At 19 he performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with the Loyola Jazz Band and later with Mikayla Braun.

Quadrapeg
2023-08-16 20:00 - 23:00
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Quadrapeg at the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

Three things bind this quartet together: friendship, a love of jazz and funk, and a shared sense of humor. In the 2010s, Bassist Jameson Stewart, organist Ben Blanchard, drummer Patrick Dalton, and guitarist Sam Crawford formed a close personal and musical rapport working together as sidemen in various styles. It wouldn’t be long until they tried playing their own instrumental music as a quartet. Today, QuadraPeg brings joy and vitality to their compositions and improvisations, always with a solid groove, camaraderie, and a touch of the absurd.
Quadrapeg

Poetry Jam-Stop/Children
2023-08-13 20:00 - 23:00
Poetry Jam-The Blizzards

MUST BE 21+

Stop/Children is a 2023 Lizard Lounge Slam Team coached by Navah The Buddaphliii and composed of: Kwene, TJ Reynolds, Jules Maduro and Jeff Taylor.
Host of The Garage Poets Open Mic, and master of the Dad Joke, Jeff Taylor lives in Massachusetts, with his wife and 3 kids.
Jules is a poet, novelist, and above all – a creator. Although she has a degree in Creative Writing, it’s her mundane, everyday experiences that fuel her poetry. With a voice that’s ever-changing, she documents her perspective of life through spoken word in the messiest, truest way she can.”
TJ Reynolds is a poet, musician and visual artist originally from Indianapolis, IN. He teaches elementary art for Cambridge Public Schools. He has been featured a number of times on National Public Radio, and exhibited work in museums across the US.
Tru Kwene: “I love learning new things, meeting new people and traveling to new places. I love art. Being a Spoken Word Poet means that through doing something that I love I get to do the things that I desire most. I have met and am working with some of the most amazingly skilled writers and performers ever. With my own art I have earned the right to travel to new places and perform. I am so excited about my journey! Hang in here with me… I have so much more to experience and cannot wait to share everything with you!
Navah The Buddaphliii still strives to overcome the challenges of being a mother of five, poet, author, and currently the coach of the 2nd Lizard Lounge team The “Blizzards” She continues to find the balance between art, and raising a family with her partner, while remaining a slayer of stanzas and a master of metaphors. Check out her first book released in 2021 called Black Cocaine and Colorless Butterflies.

Wood and Bone/Cilla Bonnie w/Mike Hastings
2023-08-12 21:00 - 2023-08-13 00:00
Wood and Bone with Cilla Bonnie and Mike Hastings

MUST BE 21+

Wood & Bone is an American roots band from the north shore of Boston. The band plays an ever-changing mix of harmony-driven Folk, Americana, Soul and Blues.
Wood and Bone

Cilla is a working bass player, singer and songwriter. Over the past 15 years she’s played, toured and recorded in numerous projects in Maine, Boston and Los Angeles. In 2020 she released her fourth recording project, ‘August’ with her bandmates Emmett Harrity on keys, Chris Sweet on drums and Peter Herman on guitar. She writes all the arrangements and lyrics. Cilla Bonnie’s music is a blend of R&B-inspired groove and structure similar to Radiohead. In addition to her solo project, Cilla currently plays bass for Boston-based soul artist Ali McGuirk.
Cilla Bonnie

Boston area soul rock fave, Mike Hastings fronts the Mike Hastings Band. With all the street smarts that a truly traditional troubadour should possess, Mike proudly wears the title. A strong footing in rhythm and a willingness to give something fragile underpin Mike’s honest and transportive songwriting. When asked, Mike often says that he wants his songs to have the imaginative effect of a painting and that he often has specific visual associations within each song section.
Mike Hastings

The A-Beez
2023-08-11 21:00 - 2023-08-12 00:00
The A-Beez return to the Lizard Lounge!

The A-Beez is Boston based music collective with its roots in soul, funk, and R&B. At its core are keyboardist Amy Bellamy and bassist Aaron Bellamy. The two began their musical collaboration in the early 2000’s as members of the Sam Kininger band (BMG Japan recording artists). This relationship would blossom, as they would go on to work as sidemen and studio/session musicians, backing up numerous artists including Chaka Khan, Terri Lyne Carrington, G Love and the Juice, Res, Nth Power, Club D’elf, Martin Luther, Cody Chesnutt and more.
In addition to touring nationally and internationally, Amy and Aaron are staples of the local Boston scene, hosting a long-standing (over 16 years and still running) residency at Boston’s renowned Wally’s Café and performing in clubs and venues throughout New England and the East coast. In the years to come they would co-write and compile a catalog of original material that would eventually culminate in the release of their debut album “Never Going Back” which was released in April 2015. They released their second studio album “Say Goodbye” in March of 2018. Their 3rd studio album release “Reclamation” is set to debut in November of 2021.
Though it can be loosely classified as “soul” The A-Beez have an eclectic and original sound which draws from the traditions of funk and R&B, and is heavily influenced by jazz as well as hip hop. You may detect hints of rock, country, and even classical if you listen closely. The lyrics are deeply personal and honest, the music grooves while remaining melodically elegant and full of subtle complexity. The production is pure and simple without the gloss and fakeness all too prevalent these days.
The A-Beez

Must be 21+

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
2023-08-10 20:00 - 23:00
Jonathan Scales Orchestra at the Lizard Lounge!

MUST BE 21+

You’ve heard this before, but the whimsically named Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is really tough to describe. Veering from in-your-face, jaw dropping chops and passion, to those quiet moments when the background noise disappears and you hold your breath to take in a soundscape of solitude, the power trio of electric bass (E’Lon JD), drums (Maison Guidry), and steel pans (Jonathan Scales) combines elements of jazz, classical, and progressive rock, peppered with Latin rhythms and soulful outbursts of funk. From club and festival stages across North America and Europe, and tours of Africa, Southeast and Central Asia as a Cultural Ambassador for the US Department of State, to their NPR Tiny Desk Concert featuring Béla Fleck, the Fourchestra’s live shows make even the most jaded listeners forget where they are… even if just for a precious moment.
This may seem an odd thing to say, but on the verge of releasing their eighth studio recording, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is only now truly embracing their identity as a group. For many years, Jonathan’s live band was a fluid lineup of top-notch musicians, and even included an “all-star” version with bassist MonoNeon (Prince, Nas), drummer Sput Searight (Snarky Puppy, Snoop Dogg) and percussionist Weedie Braimah (Trombone Shorty, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah), as well as a number of other marquee players. Now, however, the Fourchestra is a decidedly indivisible band, and Jonathan is writing for the trio, not just the pans.
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
