Lizard Lounge Club

Poetry Jam Michael "Warrior" Bonds
2024-02-11 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
The Poetry Jam with Michael Warrior Bonds

Michael “Warrior” Bonds
Michael Warrior Bonds is a multiple award winning veteran performance poet, author and a Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Hall of Fame Inductee from Roxbury/Boston MA.
Mr. Bonds is the founder and creator of POEMSBoston.
POEMSBoston is a poet management, promotion and booking agency created to give poets the support, exposure and respect they deserve.
Mr. Bonds is the self published author of two books of poetry. Gunz, Poems & Rosez and The Write can be found online at Amazon Prime.
When he is not performing poetry he can be found in his community, Boston’s inner-cities, working as a proven risk youth engagement specialist, an outreach community coordinator and a non profit organization consultant.
He is also the host of “Just Spit” an open mic in Pawtucket Rhode Island.
He can be reached for booking and consultation inquiries he can be reached @poemsboston on IG.

Wolf’s Fat Ash Valentines Day Massacre: A Slightly Tardy Mardi Gras Ball
2024-02-14 19:30 - 22:30
Wolf’s Legendary Vudu Krewe returns to the Lizard Lounge!

Wolf barely survived 2023. He beat cancer, his wife left him, he moved to England, long-time drummer Ducky died.

But it’s time to bring back the fun. The Lizard Lounge for a Mardi Gras party. Feb 14. Wait, that’s Valentine’s Day. And Ash Wednesday, how wonderfully ironic. Maybe “The Big Ash Valentine Massacre”?

https://mardigrasballs.com

Eliza Edens,Louisa Stancioff and Molly Parden
2024-02-15 20:00 - 23:00
Eliza Edens, Louisa Stancioff and Molly Parden live at the Lizard Lounge!

Songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Eliza Edens, Molly Parden, and Louisa Stancioff are teaming up to bring a tour de force of alternative folk to listening rooms from Portland, ME to Philadelphia, PA this winter. Stancioff, a recent signee of North Carolina-based label YepRoc Records, will have her buoyant rock songs in tow that mythologize her rural Maine upbringing. Molly Parden, also a touring member of Darlingside, writes kaleidoscopic folk-pop songs that peruse heartache to find glimpses of hope. Brooklyn-based Eliza Edens rounds out the line-up with a glowing collection of songs that transform despair into opportunity. The trio will be accompanying each other on guitar, bass, fiddle, and backing vocals to conjure up a mesmerizing evening of masterfully-crafted art-folk.
http://www.goodgoodbookingco.com/eliza-edens
https://www.goodgoodbookingco.com/molly-parden
http://www.goodgoodbookingco.com/louisa-stancioff

Julie Rhodes, Sinnet and Jon Nolan live at the Lizard Lounge
2024-02-16 20:30 - 23:30
Sinnet and Jon Nolan live at the Lizard Lounge!

Medford residing graphic designer Aaron Spransy might just be feeling a little lucky. With a couple connections and a collection of demos, Spransy finds himself entering the music community with ease. Having formed the band Sinnet, named after his late mother’s license plate, he is now gearing up to release their debut album Island Town. A blend of easy vibes dad-rock and indie punk.
http://www.sinnetsongs.com/

Jon Nolan lives in NH, where summers are a precious reprieve from months of bitter cold and a few muddy weeks in between, but also where fall is a consolation prize to the end of summer. A longtime frontman of New England alt-country pioneers Say ZuZu, Jon explores the dreamier, pop-infused parts of his Americana sensibility in his solo material. Geoff Taylor (bass), Zach Tremblay (guitar) and RIck Habib (drums) —- longtime friends —- formed Good Co. behind a new batch of Nolan songs in a barn in the summer of 2022, focused on infusing the songs with the connection the bandmates found in each other while reconnecting as friends, and with music. Say ZuZu’s newest release ”No Time to Lose” (Strolling Bones Records) is due March 10, 2023. A third solo album backed by his band (Jon Nolan & Good Co.) is expected for release soon after.
https://jonnolan.net/home

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.
https://www.julierhodesmusic.com/

Levi, Dave and KR
2024-02-17 21:00 - 2024-02-18 00:00
Join us for a kickass night of music and pure awesomeness with Levi, Dave, and KR on Feb 17, 2024, at 9:00 pm- be there or be square.

Levi (Big Party Orchestra), Dave (The Beat Drops) and “KR” (The KR Show) have been successful in the Boston Cover Band scene for many years individually and respectfully. February 17th marks the first time all three will hit the stage together with original music at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA. Come out and support what is expected to be a pivotal moment in the careers of these artist as they introduce a new era for their artistry. This show promises to not only deliver from an entertainment perspective, as these men are seasoned in their craft as it pertains to performing in front of various audiences around the Boston area and abroad, this show will prove that they are also creatives above all else. Please come out and support what is to be beyond an amazing show and an experience to be remembered for this still young new year.

Poetry Jam- Featured Poet Omoizele"Oz" Okoawo
2024-02-18 19:00 - 22:00
Poetry Jam Anniversary—Celebrating the Life and Work of Omoizele “Oz” Okoawo

Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Anniversary—
Celebrating the Life and Work of Omoizele “Oz” Okoawo
This year marks our 27th anniversary at Lizard Lounge!! Many wonderful poets have graced our stage and become members of our “Lizard Family.” One of those poets, Omoizele “Oz” Okoawo, died suddenly in October. He, along with his sister, Iyeoka, were important early performers at Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam. He read publicly for the first time at the Lizard Lounge in the first weeks of our tenure and was a fixture for many years following. He coached the Lizard Lounge National Poetry Slam team from the slam’s inaugural year in 2001 until 2007, competing as a team member for five of those seven years. Though we hadn’t seen much of him in the past few years, he remained an enduring and legendary figure in the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam story.
Tonight, as we commemorate 27 years of spoken word and music at Lizard Lounge, we will also celebrate Oz’s life and writing with family, friends, and many of the poets he worked with, inspired, coached, and loved.

Lizard Lounge Open Mic
2024-02-21 - 2024-02-22
Host

Dan Moffat is a Cambridge based audio engineer and musician in the band The Collect Pond. You can usually find him teaching audio engineering lessons with Boston Audio School, which he teaches out of The Record Co., or writing and taking pictures for music blog Allston Pudding.
sign up sheet is now live!!!!🦎
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0E44ABAF22A6FCCE9-47065598-open

tickets $8 performers/$10 audience

Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge
2024-02-21 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-03-20 20:00 - 23:00
Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge hosted by Danny Moffat, February 21st! Two performer slots will be held at the door.

EVENT IS 21+
Lizard Lounge Monthly Open Mic returns hosted by Dan Moffat with this month’s judges Christine Varriale and Harry Gustafson!
Dan Moffat is a Cambridge based audio engineer and musician in the band The Collect Pond. You can usually find him teaching audio engineering lessons with Boston Audio School, which he teaches out of The Record Co., or writing and taking pictures for music blog Allston Pudding.
Christine Varriale
Christine is the editor-in-chief at Allston Pudding and a marketing manager at The Bowery Presents. Catch her down a deep rabbit hole of Taylor Swift conspiracy theories or lying on the couch watching The Sopranos with her dog.
Harry Gustafson
Harry is a journalist, photographer, podcaster, and electronic musician who serves as the managing editor at Allston Pudding. If you ever need him, he likes to hide in the library.
$8 performers/$10 audience
we will be holding two slots at the door
performers will be given a code for online purchase

The Blue Ribbons w/ special guests Tyler and the Names.
2024-02-22 20:00 - 23:00
The Blue Ribbons return to the Lizard Lounge with special guests Tyler and the Names

The Blue Ribbons return to the Lizard Lounge 2/22 to bring you their latest batch of recorded songs they call “Forever, But Not For Long”. There will be DL codes available attached to wonderful, and suitable for framing, artwork created by the multi talented Amber Angelina.For this special show they will have the great Rock AND Roll band and very sophisticated fellas, Tyler and The Names, setting the stage aflame to open the evening. Don’t take a chance, get your tickets in advance!
The Blue Ribbons

Tyler and the Names are a band based out of Cambridge, Mass. In recent years they have released three full length albums, the most recent being The Bullfrogs Lamentation. With a sound that can suggest The Rolling Thunder Revue hitched up with Ornette Coleman, they are not to be missed.

Express Checkout with Matt Charette and the Truer Sound
2024-02-23 21:00 - 2024-02-24 00:00
Express Checkout with special guest Matt Charette and the Truer Sound

MUST BE 21+

Express checkout is a 3 piece pub rock n roll band comprised of singer-songwriter Dave Wells, the multi-styling Dylan Sullivan on Bass, and the percussive scene veteran Dave Sardella on the kit. Expect a wave of a set which dips down to slower sentimental songs and crashes with sing-a-long sweaty rock hooks.
Express Checkout

A self-proclaimed “reformed punk,” Matt Charette is one of the most diligent and recognizable members of Boston’s music scene. With his backing band the Truer Sound, he creates hard-hitting rock songs that seamlessly blend alternative, punk, country and Americana.
This is all evident in his album, Lo-Fi High Hopes, which he and his band are releasing on March 10. It’s one of the best local releases to come so far in this young year of 2023 with tracks like “4 x 4,” “Girl From Ontario,” “Wrecking Ball,” and “Going Down Swinging” being highlights.
https://www.facebook.com/mattcharettemusic/

Kimaya Diggs/Jill McCracken
2024-02-24 21:00 - 2024-02-25 00:00
Kimaya Diggs with Jill McCracken live at the Lizard Lounge!

Musician Kimaya Diggs navigates her world with stories. Penning her first one-woman show as a little kid, she’s published fiction, earned a Callaloo fellowship for poetry, and works days as a speechwriter—not to mention the accolades her songwriting’s earned, including a New England Music Awards nod, gigs at legendary folk haunts like Club Passim, and appearances at Green River Festival, Rubblebucket’s Dream Picnic, and the Emily Dickinson festival. “I’ve always thought of my writing and music as one thing—connective storytelling,” Diggs explains. But while her mother was sick with a twelve-year illness, Diggs felt unable to share the whole truth. Her first LP, 2018’s Breastfed, was largely about her mom, but it wasn’t until her passing that Diggs was free to use songwriting to process. “Sharing my grieving experience has resonated with people; they’re excited to hear something that’s not all good,” notes Diggs. To help cope, Diggs and her husband Jacob Rosazza—also her musical collaborator—rescued an ex-racing dog, Quincy. Though they shared only two years together, caring for the traumatized animal helped Diggs find purpose. “Having him was challenging, but at the same time, he’s why we survived the first year without my mom,” offers Diggs. “It was special to get to love a creature so much—because of, in spite of, and in addition to the challenges he came with.” Losing Quincy gave her greater insight on heartache, so she named her newest album after him.
https://www.kimayadiggs.com/

AS ONE OF BOSTON’S LEADING SINGER-SONGWRITERS, jill mccracken paints with strokes of compassion and warmth, using her long-standing love of songcraft to grip listeners to the soft spots of her heart. her ears are trained to translate tenderness into works of art — and so is her eye for sentimental visuals, thanks in part to her bfa in fine art photography.
Origionally from western new york, mccracken’s obsession with strong songs began at just eight years old, long before she began tinkering on the guitar and drums as a preteen. it wasn’t until she was 19 that the world got to hear her strongest instrument – her voice – but she’s been using it to embrace crowds ever since.
https://www.jillmccracken.com/

Poetry Jam Featured Poet-Carla Schwartz
2024-02-25 19:00 - 22:00
Poetry Jam Featured Poet-Carla Schwartz

Carla SchwartzFilmmaker and photographer Carla Schwartz’s poems have been widely published, including in The Practicing Poet (Diane Lockward, Ed) and in her collections “Signs of Marriage,” “Mother, One More Thing,” and “Intimacy with the Wind.” Her CB99videos youtube channel has 2,400,000+ views. Learn more at carlapoet.com, or wakewiththesun.blogspot.com or find her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/cb99videos), Threads (https://threads.net/cb99videos), BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/cb99videos.bsky.social), YouTube (https://youtube.com/cb99videos), or Instagram (https://instagram.com/cb99videos). Recent publications and acceptances include Banyan Review, The Ear, Channel, California Quarterly, Cutthroat, Gone Lawn, The Poet’s Touchstone, Ibbetson Street, Inquisitive Eater, Paterson Literary Review, New-Verse News, Remington Review, Triggerfish Critical Review, The MacGuffin, Verse-Virtual Online, and Leon. Carla Schwartz is a 2023 recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant. Her poem, “Pat Schroeder Was Our Mother,” won the 2023 New England Poetry Club E.E. Cummings Prize.

Tom Anello/RD King
2024-02-29 20:00 - 23:00
Tom Anello and R.D. King come together for a night of instrumental music in celebration of the fingerstyle guitar tradition.

Tom Anello is a fingerstyle guitarist and composer of solo guitar music. His rhythmic, groove-oriented approach to acoustic guitar is inspired by the work of guitarists like Andy McKee, Don Ross, Antoine Dufour and the late Michael Hedges.
He is a graduate from the Berklee college of music in Boston, MA, where he resides today. During his time at Berklee, he studied the fundamentals of jazz and contemporary music and explored genres of guitar ranging from bossa to country; elements of which make their way into Tom’s playing and composition today.
https://www.tomanello.com/

R.D. King is an award-winning composer and performer of instrumental acoustic guitar music. Captivating and energetic on stage, he blends traditional fingerstyle techniques with guitar pyrotechnics to create cinematic and evocative music. King has placed in numerous competitions for songwriting and performance, including as the winner of the 2017 Canadian Guitar Festival’s International Fingerstyle Guitar Competition and as a finalist for the 2023 International Acoustic Music Awards (Instrumental Category). King draws inspiration from his educational work as a UMass Boston Associate Lecturer, JamPlay.cominstructor, and TEDx Cambridge performer. Listen to his music at rdkingmusic.com.

Britt Connors with special guest James Rohr
2024-03-01 21:00 - 2024-03-02 00:00
Lizard Lounge presents a single release party for Britt Connors with special guest James Rohr

Britt Connors grew up surrounded by music of all kinds: the folk, rock, and jazz of her parents, the classical of her grandparents, and the pop of 80’s and 90’s radio. As such, the music she writes and plays is as eclectic as her background. After graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in vocal performance, she devoted herself to learning guitar, crafting her first songs, and finding her place in the Boston music scene. Along the way, she met and married celebrated drummer Mike Connors, who has played in her band since 2008. Her three albums, The Bad Side of Good (released under her maiden name of Sawdon), Warmer Season (under Britt Connors and Bourbon Renewal), and Longitude have celebrated her wide-ranging interests and influences, slipping nimbly and authentically between soulful ballads, pop-rock, and gospel-infused Americana. She’s currently recording her fourth album (to be pressed on vinyl) and is celebrating her first pop/rock single release (“Take Your Own Ride” – out Feb 23) with her stellar band of Boston greats, including Mike Connors, Andrew Stern (guitar), Ed Lucie (bass), Bethany Weiman (cello), James Rohr (keys), and horn section led by Jerry Sabatini (trumpet). When she’s not playing and singing, she can be found teaching Pilates in the restored carriage house she shares outside Boston with Mike and Ringo the Wonder-Cat.
https://www.brittconnors.com/

MC Kabir Sen with Krush Factory Monthly Residency
2024-03-02 21:00 - 2024-03-03 00:00
MC Kabir Sen continues his monthly residency at the Lizard Lounge with the Krush Factory

Poetry Jam-Kayla Kennedy
2024-03-03 19:00 - 22:00
Poetry Jam-Kayla Kennedy

EVENT IS 21+
Kayla Kennedy is a behavior analyst, actress, poet, and author. As a BCBA, she works with families affected by autism and other social disabilities. She is the author of If This is How You Love and a member of the 2023 Mill City Speaks Slam Team. Her poetry has been featured across multiple venues in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, predominantly in Lowell as part of the Lowell Poetry Wheel. Most recently she was named the representative of Slam Free or Die in Manchester NH, for this year’s Womxn of the World Poetry Slam in Baltimore and has begun work with the youth group, The Winged Poets, as a coach.For more information on her latest ventures please visit https://bio.site/kaylakennedy

The Duppy Conquerors
2024-03-06 20:00 - 23:00
The Duppy Conquerors bring their celebration of the music of Bob Marley to the Lizard Lounge

EVENT IS 21+
$12/$15 DOOR
The quintessential Bob Marley tribute band – the Duppy Conquerors – is a rich collection of high-caliber musicians playing in tribute to the music of Bob Marley. Nominated for a Boston Music Award, this 10-piece ensemble of veteran musicians embodies a soulful authenticity that honors the artist and his timeless collection. With nearly 80% of Marley’s repertoire under their belts, the Duppy Conquerors are equipped to provide hours of entertainment and positive vibrations.
https://duppyconquerors.band/
https://www.instagram.com/duppy.conquerors/

Baker Thomas Band w/ Special Guest Caitlyn O'Brien
2024-03-07 20:00 - 2024-03-08 00:00
A longtime TOAD favorite, the Baker Thomas Band live at the Lizard Lounge!

Whether it’s the infectious grooves, hooks, horns, heartbreakers or anthemic rock finale’s, Baker Thomas Band invokes a spectrum of high spirits and feeds the soul like a night out with good friends should.

Beginning on stage at TOAD in Cambridge, MA in 2009, BTB is an eclectic collection of musicians and good friends getting together to make great music and have a blast!

“After years of being a singer/songwriter/solo bassist, the one thing I missed the most was the raw energy and power of a band. All my roots are from rock and roll…. being a soloist was a serious departure from that,” Tom says. Baker Thomas Band or “BTB” was not intended to be as big as it is now. The original line up was drums, bass, guitar, keyboard and trombone. From that humble 5 we’ve grown and now the band is rarely less than 9 or 10 artists with a full horn section and percussion section as well.” BTB has been a blast and hearing my songs interpreted through so many talented artists is a dream come true!” – Tom “The Baker” Bianchi
Baker Thomas Band

Caitlyn O’Brien, AKA Kit Orion is a Cambridge-based musical maverick who defies genre boundaries as a singer-songwriter, musician, producer, and DJ.Operating under her independent label, C8 Music, she showcases her exceptional talent through two distinct alter egos—Kit Orion, the enchanting solo project that marked her debut album, and DJ C8.Fueled by a profound sense of community, Caitlyn regularly collaborates with local musicians, gracing stages with her own compositions and captivating audiences with her electrifying DJ performances at beloved neighborhood haunts.

Rich Hinman Trio with Zachariah Hickman and Dan Drohan
2024-03-08 21:00 - 2024-03-09 00:00
Guitarist Rich Hinman debuts a new project featuring Zachariah Hickman and Dan Drohan!

Pedal Steel Guitarist Rich Hinman plays in a mind-expanding instrumental trio with Zachariah Hickman and Dan Drohan.
On his recent LP “Memorial,” on Colorfield Records, multi-instrumentalist and composer Rich Hinman creates an arresting collage containing elements of electronica, psychedelia, and searching improvisation, with Hinman’s pedal steel as the (mostly) primary voice. Here he debuts a trio of like-minded explorers. Collectively, Hinman, Hickman and Drohan have worked with kd lang, Sara Bareilles, Emily King, Maggie Rogers, Nick Hakim, Ray LaMontagne, Josh Ritter and many many others.

Pressure Cooker at the Lizard Lounge!
2024-03-09 21:00 - 2024-03-10 00:00
Pressure Cooker bring a mix of reggae and ska to the Lizard stage.

Pressure Cooker is a nine piece reggae/ska/rocksteady band from Boston. The group writes, records, and performs original songs in the styles of 1960s and 1970s Jamaican music. The group formed in 1997.

Pressure Cooker has released seven full-length CDs. Fronted by lead singer Craig Akira Fujita and backed by a core of Boston-area musicians, the band has played to audiences at clubs and festivals spanning from New England to Chicago. Over the years, Pressure Cooker has opened locally for notable artists of roots reggae music including Toots & the Maytals, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, The Wailers, Prince Buster, Derrick Morgan, The Skatalites, Culture, Laurel Aitken, Eek-A-Mouse, Julian Marley, and Sister Carol.

Poetry Jam-Tara Skurtu
2024-03-10 19:00 - 22:00
Poetry Jam-Tara Skurtu

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.

Grace Givertz/Maeve & Quinn with Naomi Westwater
2024-03-13 20:00 - 23:00
Grace Givertz, Maeve & Quinn with Naomi Westwater live at the Lizard Lounge

EVENT IS 21+
Maeve & Quinn have performed their music and poetry in concert with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Poetry Foundation; premiered their symphonic compositions with the Chicago Composers Orchestra and Anchorage Symphony Orchestra; and collaborated with dancers for film works, most recently with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.Following their 2018 release something overheard, something overhead, their EP star-crossed (August 2021) was featured on Bandcamp’s ‘New & Notable’ releases. Their first full-length LP, Another Door, released September 2023.

https://maeveandquinn.com/

Naomi Westwater is a queer, Black-multiracial singer-songwriter from Massachusetts. Their work combines folk music, poetry, and spirituality. Their hope is that through ritual and storytelling they can aid nature in the end of capitalism and the return of community, creativity, and collective joy.
Naomi holds a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance and Production from Berklee College of Music and she is a part of the Club Passim Folk Collective. She was nominated for a 2021 and 2022 Boston Music Award for best singer-songwriter, and has been featured in Under The Radar, WBUR, Vanyaland, WGBH, The Boston Globe, and The Bluegrass Situation. More info https://www.instagram.com/naomiwestwater/
and
www.naomiwestwater.com

With a large voice packed into a tiny body, Grace Givertz is a multi-instrumentalist who uses her honest lyrics to bring a refreshing sound to folk. Born and raised in Jupiter, Florida, Grace has been writing songs and performing since she was eleven years old. Performing at well loved Boston venues including Great Scott, Club Passim, ONCE Ballroom, The Red Room and The Burren, Grace Givertz has opened for favorites like Lucy Dacus, Neyla Pekarek (The Lumineers), John Paul White (The Civil Wars), and Ezra Furman.

Out November 2019, Year of the Horse is Grace Givertz’s debut studio album. Two years after her first EP The Light, Grace has turned her wit to grit to create her most vulnerable release yet. in this independent release, Grace has turned tragedy into a triumphant record. She writes openly about living with chronic illness and how it has affected every aspect of her life.

With Grace playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica in addition to vocals, Year of the Horse showcases Grace’s ability to turn lemons in to lemonade. Grace Givertz looks forward to the upcoming release of her sophomore album. “…The only real option is to smile at how much she packs into a tiny punch of a song,” Nina Corcoran writes in digboston.

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100046776337927

Miriam/Tad Overbaugh
2024-03-14 20:00 - 2024-03-15 00:00
Miriam and Tad Overbaugh live at the Lizard Lounge!

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. They recruited the coveted multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Andy Santospago, whose music traverses a long and winding road from classical, jazz, acoustic finger style, Latin, bluegrass and folk, and rock. Over the next few years, they would pluck up talented drummer about town Ian McMillan and monster bass player Jeff St. Pierre. The group garnered a loyal following by playing a monthly residency the last Tuesday of each month at Toad in Porter Square (Cambridge, MA) cultivating a sound and creating true alchemy among them. They have been described as a rollickin’ blend of Americana-infused countrified roots-rock with the focus on the tight harmonies, catchy songs and superb playing….at times playful, at times moody. Mostly it’s boot-stompin,’ lead vocal swappin’, ass-kickin’ fun. Steve Morse, former critic of 30 years at The Boston Globe says, ” Music for the sheer pleasure of it… effervescent harmonies and melodic nirvana.”
https://www.facebook.com/miriamsohappy/

ad Overbaugh & the Late Arrivals are a 4-piece, heartland inspired, rock ‘n’ roll band from Boston, MA. Driving down that highway of roots-rock, alt-country, midwestern tinged power-pop and classic country influences. Tad Overbaugh’s songs fall somewhere between the twang of Steve Earle, the gritty dive bar pop of Twin/Tone and chimey, hook-filled songwriting of Tom Petty.
The collective band members have opened up for The Drive-By Truckers, Son Volt, The Bottle Rockets, Cracker, Slobberbone, Robbie Fulks, Tim Easton, and Will Hoge.
https://www.tadoverbaugh.com/

Dwayne Haggins/Moran Tripp Band
2024-03-15 21:00 - 2024-03-16 00:00
Dwayne Haggins returns with Moran Tripp to the Lizard Lounge March 15th at 9pm!

EVENT IS 21+
$15/$18 door
He’s been described as “the love child of Otis Redding and Doc Watson.” “The John Legend of rockabilly.” And recently, “a ‘what-took-you-so-long’ fusion of Elvis and Marvin Gaye.” But he is Dwayne Haggins, and his voice is his own.
For Dwayne, every performance is a mission of discovery – of self and of song. Whether on the stage of a metropolitan concert hall or the makeshift bandstand of a neighborhood dive, you will find him exploring uncharted musical territories, listening for new ways to stir his influences into this night’s expression of his unique sound – strangely familiar, naturally mysterious, unmistakably his own.
Haggins, a Massachusetts native, cut his teeth playing locally and a chance encounter at an open mic led to an introduction that would seal his fate. Bruce Marshall, a local music legend formally of the Toy Caldwell Band, was so impressed with Haggins’ that he took the young musician under his wing, introducing him to a local promoter who in turn booked Haggins at higher profile venues.
https://verdictmusic.com/artists/dwayne-haggins/#:~:text=He’s%20been%20described%20as%20%E2%80%9Cthe,his%20voice%20is%20his%20own.

The Moran-Tripp Band blends swaggering soul songs, with intoxicating rock music, and traditional blues. Led by singer and guitarist Ryan Moran and guitarist Shane Tripp, this up and coming five piece takes their inspiration from greats like the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Little Feat and The Band. This twin guitar powerhouse is not to be missed.https://madamsorgan.com/events/moran-tripp-band/

Willie J Laws with special guest Ryan Lee Crosby
2024-03-16 21:00 - 2024-03-17 00:00
Willie J Laws, The Last Pophet of the Funky Texas Blues, returns to the Lizard Lounge with special guest Ryan Lee Crosby!

EVENT IS 21+
$18/$22 DOOR

Willie J Laws is truly the last prophet of the “Funky Texas Blues” balancing technical perfection with remaining immensely entertaining, enlightening, thought provoking and inspiring. Willie brings a rare combination of world class talent mixed with lovable down to earth personality that causes audiences to fall in love with him everywhere he plays. The Willie J Laws Band just released a new album entitled “Too Much Blues” which is receiving International attention and critical acclaim.
Along with Willie, the band is bringing Lenny Bradford on bass, Osi Brathwaite on drums, Bruce Mattson on keys.
Willie J Laws

Crosby’s earliest influences were Iggy Pop, John Lee Hooker, the Velvet Underground, and the Ramones, and he began playing guitar in bands when he was 14, after having the instrument for only a week. “The spirit of throwing yourself into whatever speaks to you has always been at the heart of how I engage in music and meaning,” he says. Crosby moved to Boston in the mid-’90s, where he founded and fronted the Joy Division-inspired rock band Cancer to the Stars. But by the early 2000s, the sound and sensibility of deep blues began to permeate his musical character, until it took over. Since then, he has released nine LPs, singles, and cassettes, and undertaken a series of European and U.S. tours.
“For me, Winter Hill Blues is the culmination of all those experiences and influences,” Crosby says. “I hear blues, Indian classical music, and Malian guitar as being interconnected through the common traits of a centered harmony, with an emphasis on melody, supported by repetition and rhythm, while singing the truth of one’s experience within a spare, beautiful framework that reflects an openness of mind and heart.”

https://ryanleecrosby.com/home

Poetry Jam-Cole Rodriguez
2024-03-17 19:00 - 22:00
Poetry Jam-Cole Rodriguez

EVENT IS 21+
Cole Rodriguez is an internationally recognized spoken word artist originating from Boston, MA. As a former participant in the National Poetry Slam, Cole has competed against the top-ranked poets in the United States. As a mother, teacher, artist, and friend, Cole has used her poetic work to create community, inspire activism, and speak truth to power.Passionate about youth development, Cole works with universities, high schools, and in therapeutic settings to facilitate spaces wherein poetry can be deconstructed, celebrated, and created. Bridging the gap between theory and practice, she has worked with institutions, including Harvard University, Berklee College of Music, Boston College, Salem State University, and Bermuda College, as well as a host of alternative and public schools, to incorporate activism and poetic voice into the classroom.As a performance poet, she has captured the audience’s attention as an acclaimed slam winner at Cambridge’s Lizard Lounge, Roxbury’s House Slam, and Manhattan’s Nuyorican Café. This lover of rhyme continues to perform throughout the US and abroad.Cole Rodriguez is an avid music appreciator, an enthusiastic Celtics fan, and a beast in the kitchen.

Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge
2024-03-20 20:00 - 23:00
Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge hosted by Danny Moffat! Two performer slots will be held at the door.

EVENT IS 21+
Lizard Lounge Monthly Open Mic returns hosted by Dan Moffat with this month’s judges JJ Gonson and Josh Friedman!
Dan Moffat is a Cambridge based audio engineer and musician in the band The Collect Pond. You can usually find him teaching audio engineering lessons with Boston Audio School, which he teaches out of The Record Co., or writing and taking pictures for music blog Allston Pudding.
JJ Gonson
JJ is the proprietrix of ONCE, an itinerant music venue. She is particularly fond of seeing amazing bands play in small rooms, and recently she’s been listening to a lot of Ezra Furman.
$8 performers/$10 audience
we will be holding two slots at the door
performers will be given a code for online purchase
sign up below!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44ABAF22A6FCCE9-48401728-wed?useFullSite=true#/

Todd Thibaud Band
2024-03-21 20:00 - 23:00
Todd Thibaud Band returns to the Lizard Lounge

EVENT IS 21+
Todd Thibaud is a Vermont born, Boston based Singer-Songwriter who’s songs are a slice of what life is really like…the pains and pleasures, love lost and life reborn. Using songwriters like Elvis Costello, Neil Finn, Johnny Cash and John Hiatt for inspiration, Thibaud has built a sound that is entirely his own. His music is meshed with elements of Americana, Folk, Country and Roots Pop Rock, making it seem at once familiar and new.
After fronting his band, “Courage Brothers” and releasing two independent records in the early ‘90’s (Something Strong & Wood), Thibaud went solo and recorded two critically lauded albums for Doolittle Records (now New West Records), 1997’s “Favorite Waste of Time” (produced by Bostonian musician Kevin Salem) and 1999’s “Little Mystery” (Co-produced with Jim Scott: Wilco, Crowded House, Kathleen Edwards). In addition to various live recordings and DVD’s he’s since released several additional studio recordings, including 2002’s “Squash”, 2005’s “Northern Skies” (Both produced by Adam Steinberg- Patty Griffin, Dixie Chicks), and 2009’s “Broken”.
https://toddthibaud.com/home

Cody Nilsen and Abbie Barrett
2024-03-22 20:00 - 23:00
Cody Nilsen and Abbie Barrett converge at the Lizard Lounge for a rockin night at the Lizard Lounge.

EVENT IS 21+
Cody Nilsen wants to tell you the truth.
Drawing on his New England upbringing as the son of a working class family, his path to sobriety, and his relentless pursuit of sincerity, his songs are true stories. Co-Produced by Tim Brennan of Dropkick Murphys, his new Album “Gasoline Suit“ is a narrative of high hopes and the life of a 30 something just trying to get by.
Twangville.com says “You’ll be singing along. Loudly.”
http://www.codynilsen.com/

Boston Music Award–winning songwriter Abbie Barrett plays regularly in the New England area with her band, opening for such acts as the B-52s, Juliana Hatfield, Will Dailey, and Rhett Miller. The band features Mike Oram (guitar), Ed Valauskas (bass, production), and Rice Edmonston (drums and vocals).
https://abbiebarrett.com/
