January’s off to a slow beginning, with a soft first half of the month as far as live music offerings.
With that in mind, it might be a good time to dust off whatever instrument you resolved to “get back into” this year and start tuning up. I’m calling out myself on this one. I have written “start playing harp again” on my New Year’s resolutions list since I moved back to Harrisburg in 2020. Could 2026 be “the year?” Only time will tell.
WARM MELODIES
1/17, Susquehanna Folk Music Society Presents Damn Tall Buildings w/Andrew Pauls, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York
The Brooklyn-based trio Damn Tall Buildings brings an energetic beauty to the way they harmonize in their unique bluegrass, which leans pretty heavily into Americana and pop tendencies. I’m not a big bluegrass fan, but “Honey I’m Coming Home” and “Turkish Airlines” have been stuck in my head since I first heard them. Check out Damn Tall Buildings’ 2025 album, “The Universe is Hungry,” for a taste of what you’ll hear when they arrive in York later this month.
SHE-INCARNATION
1/23, Lez Zeppelin, Capital City Music Hall
Known for their powerhouse interpretation of Led Zeppelin’s prolific discography, the all-female fronted cover band Lez Zeppelin is bringing its serious skills to the stage at Capital City Music Hall this January. The group, which has been playing together since 2004, was even praised by original Led guitar legend Jimmy Page in 2013. “They played the Led Zeppelin music with an extraordinary sensuality and an energy and passion that highlighted their superb musicianship,” Page said. Expect to hear “The Song Remains the Same” played in its entirety to celebrate its 50th anniversary when Lez Zeppelin plays CCMH this month.
NEW ENDEAVORS
1/29, Tom Hamilton, XL Live
Philadelphia singer-songwriter Tom Hamilton’s been playing and producing in the industry for decades as part of other bands but waited until the pandemic to start experimenting with music under his own name. His debut album, “I’m Your Vampire,” releases Jan. 23, so the 10-song record will still be pretty fresh by the time he hits the stage at XL Live a week later. The fuzzy bedroom rock sound on track “Walking Backwards” is reminiscent of The War on Drugs with just a hint of Nathaniel Rateliff, and I’m excited to hear more from the full album. I also recommend checking out his other single, “Don’t Give Up On Me,” or enjoy his guitar skills via Grateful Dead cover band, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
1/17, Tantric, Capital City Music Hall
1/17, Rift Phish Tribute, The Abbey Bar
1/23, Forrest Brown’s Dirty Little Secret, West Shore Theatre
1/23, Cris Jacobs, The Abbey Bar
1/29, DJ Brownie (of The Disco Biscuits), The Abbey Bar
1/31, Captain Mike & The Shipwrecked, West Shore Theatre
1/31, Grateful Allman Band Experience, The Abbey Bar
1/31, Crys Matthews w/Sarah Fiore, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
If you’re a musician and/or promoter, or a fan of a local artist, and you’d like to share some upcoming shows with TheBurg, drop me a line at [email protected].
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