The Willie J Laws Band makes a triumphant return to the Fallout Shelter for the first time in over 4 years! Willie 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 the Hammond organ and piano and will feature a horns section for the first time at The Fallout Shelter with two masters, Mark Berney on trumpet and Brendan Carniaux on saxophone. Join us and celebrate the release of "Too Much Blues" with one of The Fallout Shelter's favorite humans, Willie J Laws.

The Nervous Eaters are an original rock and roll band from Boston, MA who helped define the Boston underground garage/punk rock scene of the late 70’s. Fueled by the raw sounds of Link Wray, early Chicago Blues greats and British guitar legends Beck, Clapton and Page, the Nervous Eaters created a raw edgy song style uniquely their own. The band consisted of Steve Cataldo lead vocals and lead guitar, Stanley Clarke vocals and rhythm guitar, Rob Skeen vocals and bass guitar and Jeff Wilkinson on drums. They debuted in March of 1976 under the management of Jimmy Harold, owner of the legendary nightclub “The Rat” in Boston. The band released their first of two singles for Rat Records that included the hit song “Loretta” which became one of the city’s most endearing rock and roll anthems. The second single featured the punk classic “Just Head” one of the bands most popular songs. The Nervous Eaters were one of the more popular rock & roll bands in the Northeast, eventually headlining at venues throughout the United States and Europe. The band has opened for numerous National Acts that included Iggy Pop, Squeeze, The Go Go’s, The Pretenders, The Police, The Ramones and The Split Enzs. The current band is Steve Cataldo on Lead guitar and lead vocals, Brad Hallen on Bass, back-up vocals, Adam Sherman on Rhythm guitar, back-up vocals and David McLean on Drums.

Our final Fundraiser for a Cure takes place on Friday, October 20 as we help to raise money for Team Lynn Webster. They will have already done the Jimmy Fund Walk, but we're still raising money for the event post-walk. Musical guests The Daybreakers will be returning to the stage as they did last year for the Jimmy Fund Walk to Cure Cancer. It's a great cause and there's tons of Raffles and awesome items up to bid on. There will be food available and of course the Fallout Shelter will be humming for a cause!! Please help us raise money to aid in cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Jeffrey Gaines has been heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. With only his voice and a guitar for accompaniment, Gaines has earned a reputation as a captivating performer, entertaining his audiences worldwide. Throughout his three-decade recording career, Gaines has maintained an impressive standard for soul-searching, introspective lyrics and catchy, uplifting melodies. Since bursting on the scene with his self-titled 1992 debut album, the charismatic singer-songwriter-guitarist has built a beloved body of recordings that’s won him a large and deeply devoted international fan base. He has sold out theaters and clubs throughout North America and Europe, and has earned high respect from his peers, Gaines was featured as Special Guest on tours with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tracy Chapman, Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow, among many others. We were a bit shocked when Jeffrey Gaines agreed to play the Fallout Shelter back in March of this year. But, by the time his magnificent set was over, it was pretty obvious he had fallen in love with The Fallout Shelter and during Bill's post-show conversation with him, he expressed just that. His performance was absolutely mesmerizing and as a staff we all agreed that it was the best male vocal performance the Fallout Shelter has ever seen. His music is impeccably written and his performance is so compelling and riveting that it's difficult to take your eyes off of him. We're proud to have him back and even more proud that he has taken to the Fallout Shelter as much as we have taken to him.

15 minute sets - first come first serve. $5 cover at the door for viewers, musicians get in free! Doors open at 6:30PM and the fun will start by 7PM. We start handing out numbers for performers at 6PM. We offer optional professional filming for all musicians. For $75, we will professionally film, mix and edit your 15 minute set, delivering you a high quality finished video product. Please let us know prior to taking the stage if you would like to film your set.

This promises to be a mind-bending evening of deep, often dark and always scintillating music. The combination of Troy Mercy and the legendary Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, J J Cale, Bob Dylan) is two master craftsmen at their pinnacle. An evening drenched in the murky waters of "cool." There's just so much to say about this duo! The songs are amazing, heavy, intriguing and intricate. Troy's voice is at it's peak and with a stunning delivery. Marco is a musical genius and his playing is something to behold. When these two come together, they flat out kick ass. Troy Mercy is a Massachusetts based singer, guitarist, harmonica-type-guy, songwriter, plus actor and bluesman. He has toured the world extensively as "Johnny-kick-ass-guitar-guy-for-hire" for acts such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Booker T and played on multiple Grammy nominated albums. With B.B. King himself once pulling Troy aside to say how much he admired his guitar playing, Mercy has been called "one of the most outstanding, and often misunderstood, figures on the modern blues scene".

Christian McNeill is simply one of our favorite and most beloved performers in the long, storied history of The Fallout Shelter. As an added bonus, he always brings along his friends, some of the best musicians the region has to offer. A part of the Fallout Shelter family, it feels like homecoming when CA McNeill & Friends visit. CA (AKA Christian) McNeill grew up in Northern Ireland during the most tumultuous times for the country, their neighbors to the south and the UK in the east. Those times shaped him as a songwriter and a story teller. His voice is both mesmerizing and intimidating, his lyrics are poignant snapshots of life and the common struggles, emotions and moments of beauty that make life's journey worthwhile. His band is simply one of the best around and features some of Boston's most accomplished and powerful players including Sarah Seminski on vocals, Kevin Barry on guitar, Jesse Williams on bass, Ken Clark on Hammond B3 organ and Peter MacLean on drums. A night filled with WOW moments and unforgettable music. This night will feature a plethora of new, unreleased material slated for the new McNeill album due later this year.

Singer-Songwriter Jake La Botz plays roots-drenched music that reflects his time performing in streets, bars, churches, and even tattoo parlors. You can hear the various places La Botz has lived in his music — including his time in New Orleans, the Mississippi Delta, and his native Chicago where, as a young man, he found kinship with some of the last of the pre-war era bluesmen: David “Honeyboy” Edwards, “Homesick” James, and “Maxwell Street” Jimmy Davis. In 2017 and 2019 Jake released his studio albums Sunnyside and They’re Coming for Me on Hi-Style Records to critical acclaim. Produced by Jimmy Sutton, both albums won Independent Music Awards. Jake has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe and has shared the stage with Ray Charles, Etta James, Dr. John, Mavis Staples, JD McPherson, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Tony Joe White, Low Cut Connie and a host of other greats. “From the first time I heard him playing guitar and singing his songs in a smoky bar on La Brea and Sunset, I became a devoted fan of Jake La Botz.” —Steve Buscemi ”Jake LaBotz turns paranoia into a haunting, Tom Waits-worthy piece of cabaret Americana with “They’re Coming for Me,” the title track from his newest solo effort. He delivers his lyrics like a method actor, imbuing each line with a mix of theatricality and wild, wide-eyed believability.” —Rolling Stone “…this idiosyncratic songwriter can handle types of heavy lifting that many others frankly can’t.”” —No Depression

Often referred to as a “musicians’ musician” Johnny A is an internationally recognized, Grammy Nominated guitarist, songwriter and producer. Johnny joined us for an incredible solo show in January 2023 and loved it so much, that this time he's bringing some friends! Johnny will be joined by Dean Cassell on bass and Marty Richards on drums. As a solo artist, Johnny has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia, sharing stages with artists such as BB King, Aerosmith, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, JJ Cale, John Hiatt, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Etta James, Dr. John, Leon Russell, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, and many, many more. Johnny A anchored Peter Wolf's Houseparty 5 Band for eight years acting as musical director, lead guitarist and co-producer. He was the touring lead guitarist for iconic British band The Yardbirds (2015-18) as well as musical director/lead guitarist for Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominos, George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie). He wrote and had a #1 hit on AAA radio for the song “Oh Yeah” from “Sometime Tuesday Morning”, has four solo releases, has been Grammy nominated, voted 2010 “Blues Artist of the Year” (Boston Music Awards) was inducted into the Boston Music Hall of Fame 2014. Dean Cassell (bass) is highly regarded amongst his peers and (in addition to being the current bassist for John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band) Dean has played/recorded with Susan Tedeschi, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Four Piece Suit, Bo Diddley, Johnny A., Robin Lane, The Radio Kings, Nicole Nelson, Tony Lynn Washington, Andy Pratt, Super Genius, Laurie Mckenna, Michael Tarbox, amongst others. He has toured extensively throughout the United States, every province in Canada, and 23 other countries. In addition, Dean has also written and recorded music for television and film including Sex In The City, Nurse Jackie, America’s Got Talent, America’s Next Top Model, Run’s House, Along came Polly, Our Lips Are Sealed, The Real Housewives. Dean is a Grammy Nominated Artist, has four Boston Music Awards and has been inducted into Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame. Drummer Marty Richards is nationally known as a "go-to" player for any setting. His innate sense of swing and unerring sense of time have graced hundreds of stages and one hundred fifty recordings, behind a list of artists that reads like a "who's who" of American popular music. He has performed and recorded since with many jazz, rock and blues acts including Duke Robillard, Joe Perry Project, J. Geils Band, Pete Francis, James Montgomery Band, Airborne, Peter Wolf, James Cotton, Jay McShann, Jimmy Witherspoon, The Blues Brothers, The Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones, John Hammond, Johnny A., Kim Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Makoto Ozone, and Tommy Flanagan. In 2015 Marty Richards was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, and was recently recognized by Zildjian for his thirty year association with the brand. This show WILL sell out, so grab your tickets and join us for what is sure to be a fantastic night of music!

The McDonough Brothers, Paul and Gerrard, are local legends around these parts. We've done 5 SOLD OUT shows with Acoustic X, their stripped down, acoustic version of the band. When they are out and about as The McDonough Band...well, it's a whole 'nother story!! This is pure, unbridled Rock and Roll with all the accompanying attitude and edge and great songs from one of the most gifted songwriters in this region! The McDonough's have traditionally had an event the weekend after Thanksgiving and we, on the other hand, until a couple years ago had never had an event that weekend, but we'd always been asked about it. Well, here it is!! It's become a tradition...The McDonough Band Saturday November 26th!! NO LEFTOVERS!

This band has been on our radar for the past two years and we finally got them! Acclaimed 7-piece Southern Soul, Blues, Roots Rock, Jam Band Bywater Call is a powerhouse 7-piece band out of Toronto, Canada. In 2020, Bywater Call won the Maple Blues Award (Canada) for "Best New Artist" after the release of their self-titled debut album. Their first album received critical acclaim and stellar reviews across all territories and placed #1 on the Roots Music Report. The Band's much anticipated sophomore album 'Remain' was released worldwide September 2022 to rave reviews! BYWATER CALL includes: Meghan Parnell (Lead Vocals); Dave Barnes (Guitar); Stephen Dyte (Trumpet); Bruce McCarthy (Drums); Mike Meusel (Bass); Julian Nalli (Saxophone); and Alan Zemaitis (Keyboards) - and together they produce a glorious wall of sound! "Meghan Parnell's voice might be what happens if Susan Tedeschi and Bonny Raitt had a secret Canadian love child..." raves ROCK & BLUES MUSE." “Powered by the dynamic vocals of Meghan Parnell and the blistering slide guitar work of Dave Barnes, this Toronto-based band has been generating acclaim throughout their native Canada and now the rest of the world,” states AMERICAN BLUES SCENE. “The powerhouse voice of Meghan Parnell and the slide guitar master guitarist Dave Barnes form the basis of Bywater Call…Meghan goes completely wild live vocally. What a set of lungs…” raves BLUES MAGAZINE.

Sarah Levecque has been a staple around the Boston music scene for a while, but we first discovered her at our Concert for A Cure Fundraiser in March of 2023. She is a gifted songwriter & guitarist who moves easily between the sturdy roots of American music, influenced in equal parts by early blues, country, folk, and rock music. The music reminds us of a cool blend between Carlene Carter and Lucinda Williams with a little Emmylou Harris thrown in for flavor. "Her musical style could easily be categorized as Americana or roots music. But, whatever the genre, her voice and songwriting approach will stop you in your tracks. She's got this smoky, ethereal delivery that makes you hang on to every word. Sarah Levecque is an introspective artist who writes from the heart and puts a lot of emotional weight into her songs. Perhaps her greatest gift is her ability to clearly articulate the human experience and share her passion, vulnerability, and strength with the listener." -Geoff Wilbur's Music Blog

Connacht is the very best example of a success story born out of the Fallout Shelter that you could possibly imagine. A virtually unknown band outside of their own circle, the drummer for Connacht stops by the Fallout Shelter one night before a show and asks if we would book an unknown Irish band. He hands us a CD and within 30 seconds of popping it in, we say that they're perfect for our Listen Local Series. The band shows up for Listen Local and blow the room away with absolutely mind blowing musicianship and authenticity that was incredible to witness. A few weeks later they get a bunch of video from the event and start circulating it around. The video goes viral in Ireland and low and behold, Connacht gets picked up by an agency in NYC and are playing main stage at the biggest Irish Music Festival in the US in Buffalo, NY in 2024. THAT is a success story from Hollywood, but it happened here in Norwood instead. Connacht is the REAL DEAL: brilliant players, writers, singers and people.

When Popa Chubby left The Fallout Shelter after his sold out show in April, he didn't even make it to the Mass Pike before he called his agent and asked him to book The Fallout Shelter again "as soon as possible." Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force of nature to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson," Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures. The Blues was the foundation of his playing style. He recalls, "Since I’d grown up on Hendrix, Cream and Led Zeppelin, when I started playing blues in New York clubs I understood that the blues should be dangerous, too. It wasn’t just from playing in punk bands. Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters were dangerous men. They’d cut or shoot you if they thought it was necessary, and Little Walter packed a gun and wouldn’t hesitate to use it. That danger is a real part of the Blues and I keep it alive in my music.” Popa Chubby is his own man for better or worse. He reflects, "I’m living in a wild time, and that is where the inspiration is drawn from. There are my issues, but the picture is much bigger than me and my situation. Everything is breaking down in the world. The lines are being redefined. We all need something.” To say Popa Chubby's April show was incredible would be an understatement. Full of ripping guitar solos, unique blues progressions and hilarious anecdotes, there's a reason the April Popa Chubby show sold out months in advance. This show will do the same, so grab your tickets before they're gone!

Butcher, Baglio and Estes delivered such a captivating show in January 2023, that we had to ask them if they would like to host our 9th Annual Fallout Shelter Holiday Extravaganza. The show they put on was perfect for a Holiday Party - full of great stories, incredible original music and fantastic covers of classic songs. This is going to be one for the ages and it's catered so bring your appetite! Soul-infused guitarist, songwriter, and producer, Jon Butcher (Axis, Barefoot Servants), energetic rock guitarist and songwriter Sal Baglio (The Amplifier Heads, Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes, The Stompers), and legendary singer-songwriter, Allen Estes have joined forces to form a rock, soul, acoustic and blues infused trio that highlight the strengths of each of these celebrated musicians. The eleven original songs on their upcoming album are steeped in Americana, roots rock, and tight vocal harmonies reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Traveling Wilburys. “We’re blue-collar guys from working class families, says Butcher. “We grew up on the sound of rock radio and the promise of an electric guitar. We wanted to make a record that reflected that. We tell our own stories and there’s truth in that. We did a show together at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA some years ago. It was magic, the perfect mix of electric and acoustic music. We knew then we had something special enough to take it into the studio.” “Allen brought this idea to the table,” explains Baglio. “We each have been friends for over four decades and have performed together on various live shows over the years which made it an easy sell. I'm in!"

Peter Parcek and Danielle Maraglia are both accomplished blues guitarists, writers, singers and performer, but when they combine their efforts together, it's magic - pure and simple. Danielle is no stranger to the Fallout Shelter, as we first discovered her some 10 years ago when we had her open for Chris Smither at the old Lenox Street studio, performing several times on our stage since. Her writing is magnificent, as is her skill as a guitar player. Peter Parcek will be making his Fallout Shelter debut, although we've known him for many years. Years ago, we filmed him on location at the prestigious Q-Division Studios in Somerville for The Extended Play Sessions, before we were settled into our current space. To have them both, with a full rhythm section in the beautiful and intimate confines of the Fallout Shelter will be a memorable experience that we're chomping at the bit to bring to our community.

When Brian Thomas rolled in to The Fallout Shelter last December to promote his new album "Close to the Bone" he brought an ALL-STAR ensemble with him to pull off one of the best shows of the year with Johnny Trama on guitar, Darby Wolf on Hammond Organ and keys, Tom Arey on drums and Yahuba Garcia-Torres on percussion. Add to that quartet one of the best trombone players on the East Coast, Brian Thomas and you have a band that rips from the opening note to the last standing ovation. This is funk-jazz brilliant from the get-go, like they did it old school in the 70's. Brian Thomas returns exactly one year to the day from last year's show. It was SOLD OUT last year and it'll be SOLD OUT this year, so grab your tickets in advance and we'll see you there!