Saturday, Aug. 12
Thurston Howell Band
The Charlotte, N.C.-based band, who draws their name from the nattily dressed “millionaire” on the campy ‘60s TV series “Gilligan’s Island,” specializes in off-the-record remakes of “yacht rock” songs. They perform at Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills.
For the uninitiated, the genre focuses on soft-rock, pop, jazz and rhythm-and-blues jams from roughly 1972-1982, characterized by smooth grooves, close harmonies and complex instrumentation. Most are radio hits recorded by artists like Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Pablo Cruise, Steely Dan and Hall and Oates.
In recent years, “yacht rock” has become a phenomenon, capturing the ears of both those who lived through the era and young folks looking for music that’s fun, comforting and familiar through movie and TV soundtracks. “It’s nostalgia,” says guitarist-singer Eric Lovell, the band’s spokesman. “They’re songs you didn’t realize you knew all the words to.”
Howell features three lead singers (two men and one woman), along with guitar, keyboards, drums, saxophone and bass.
The group has about 60 songs in their repertoire, including such gems as “Africa,” “Heart to Heart,” “Ride Like the Wind,” “I Keep Forgetting,” “Brandy,” “Still the One,” “Lido Shuffle,” “I Can’t Go for That,” “Moonlight Feels Right,” “Islands in the Stream” and “Peg.” Lovell says the most-requested tune is probably Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Pina Colada Song).”
“Everybody sings along,” he says, adding “There’s a real laid-back attitude at our shows, so it’s hard to start a fight.”
When: 10:30 p.m.
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
Where: Outer Banks Brewing Station, 600 S. Croatan Hwy., Kill Devil Hills
Info: obbrewing.com
___
Wednesday, Aug. 16
Laughing Gull Comedy Night: Jimmie Walker, with Andy Forrester
Actor, talk show host, morning radio DJ: Jimmie Walker has been there, done that and more.
He’s best known for the 1970s sitcom “Good Times,” playing the artistic teenager JJ Evans, whose exclamation of “Dyn-O-Mite” became a cultural reference of the decade and made him a household name.
In an email interview, Walker, who lives in Los Angeles, says he’s “still recognized sometimes” from the TV role. In the last two decades the 76-year Walker, performing at the Pioneer Theater in downtown Manteo, has focused on standup comedy.
He was succinct in the interview about his material, stating that it’s “clean and funny” with subject matter that includes “today’s news and everything in between.”
The Raleigh, N.C.-based Forrester has an easy-going style, riffing on such things as personal-injury-lawyer commercials, daytime snoring and his love for Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The local musician known as Sam on Sax will perform in the Pioneer Garden, starting at 6 p.m.
When: 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $47 to $75
Where: Pioneer Theater, 113 Budleigh St., downtown Manteo
Info: eventbrite.com
___
Wednesday, Aug. 16
Mama’s Black Sheep
The Baltimore, Maryland-based duo — Ashland Miller on guitar and vocals and Laura Cerulli on drums and vocals — plays a free show at Dowdy Park in Nags Head.
It’s part of the town’s weekly Summer Concert Series.
Longtime favorites on the Outer Banks, Miller and Cerulli are both powerful singers and inventive instrumentalists. Sheep, who formed in 2008, averages 150 shows a year.
Their repertoire include originals (the folk-rock “Ocean” and Americana “Spoonin’” are standouts) and a wide range of customized remakes, including George Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You,” Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking of You,” O.A.R.’s “Peace,” “Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock.”
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Dowdy Park, 3005 S. Croatan Hwy., Nags Head
Info: nagsheadnc.gov
Parking is available at Nags Head Elementary School, next door to the park
It’s lawn seating, so bring a chair or blanket
