Not only will the great Tommy James (who sounds as good as ever) be performing those songs we all know and love but also on the bill will be the perennially entertaining Peter Noone who shed his frontman duties for ‘60s British Invasion group Herman’s Hermits years ago to blossom into an all-around Grade-A showman. Hosting the show will be legendary DJ Cousin Brucie.

With a new live album out with the late Garth Hudson of The Band (Just Stay Live), vocalist Alexis P. Suter of Woodstock NY will bring her band to Tuckerton for a show at the Lizzie Rose Music Room on May 23. Suter’s legend has grown ever since she participated in those historic 1967 Dylan sessions at Big Pink.

As Good As Dead, by Illinois band Local H, was released 30 years ago. It will be re-released from G&P Records this summer on vinyl and CD. To celebrate the occasion, On the heels of its tours with Everclear and Filter, Local H will tour with Toadies and stop down the shore at the Pony in Asbury May 23. Guitarist-Vocalist Scott Lucas explains—“I never really used to care about the past. For me, it was always about moving forward…Lately though, I’ve learned to relax…to appreciate people’s personal affection…especially younger people who have coming to the shows the last couple of years.  They’re still excited about [As Good As Dead] and their excitement is infectious.”

Bring your earplugs to North Avenue in Garwood May 22 when Virginia’s Pig Destroyer, New Jersey’s Deadguy, Arizona’s Sex Prisoner, Wisconsin’s Mellow Harsher and California’s Human Blister make for a five-band blow-out within the walls of Crossroads.

Catch Me If You Can is Ryan Hanratty. His folk-punk is filled with singer-songwriter smarts that he snarls out with proper emotion. Catch him if you can in Keyport at Sun Moon Studio, 29-B West Front Street, at 6:30 p.m., as part of a multi-artist night entitled “Collective Creativity,” where he will obviously impress with his combination of wit, anger and the rhythmic pulse of his acoustic guitar.

Cherry Street in Rahway will rock non-stop on May 16. Start your day off on Irving Street first at The Coffee Box for the Logan Soltys Quartet at 11:00 a.m. for two hours before Lydia Crown holds court at the Cherry Mural at 1:00. No need to leave when she’s done because Rock’n’Soul starts at 2:00, then Milan at 3:00 and finally The Sweater Pills at 4:00.

There are those who say Joshua Bell is America’s finest violinist. He serves as Principal Guest Conductor in our state’s symphony orchestra on this night plus again May 16 in a two-hour Euro extravaganza featuring the 1830 overture “Hebrides” and the 1833 “Italian Symphony,” both by German keyboardist Felix Mendelssohn [1809-1847], as well as the 1880 “Third Violin Concerto,” by French pianist Camille Saint-Saens [1835-1921] which he will perform solo.

For two days, May 8 and May 9, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will strut its considerable stuff onstage at NJPAC in Newark just like it did 28 years ago for the prestigious venue’s opening night. The new presentation includes “Revelations,” a joyous Black dance experience set to spirituals and blues. The New York Times once said of this troupe that watching them “can change your life.”

Alice Cooper. 78, is rockin’ better than ever and he’s got a hotshot new lead guitarist, Anna Cara, 22, from England (pictured), to take the place of Nita Strauss who’s having a baby. The last stop of “Alice’s Attic,” as he’s calling it, will on the waterfront in Camden May 9 and, as most experienced concert-goers know, the last show of any tour is always a blow-out, balls-to-the-wall affair. “This is like a dream-come-true,” gushed Cara.

For two days, May 8 and May 9, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will strut its considerable stuff onstage at NJPAC in Newark just like it did 28 years ago for the prestigious venue’s opening night. The new presentation includes “Revelations,” a joyous Black dance experience set to spirituals and blues. The New York Times once said of this troupe that watching them “can change your life.”

BoDeans is on its “40 Years of Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams…and Good Things” tour. Formed in early-’80s Wisconsin, nurtured into the epitome of Americana grandeur, founding member-vocalist-multi-instrumentalist-composer-producer Kurt Newmann says, “it’s a great feeling to play music for people who want to hear it and sing along. These days, it often brings them back to memories of their youth, and that’s what make them happy.”

Devil’s Cut has flirted with country and metal for years and it all comes to fruition on this Kentucky’s band’s Roadkill debut with the lead single “Drink With The Devil.” Jelly Roll’s drummer Cody Ash is their manager and pushed them into a metal-twang zone. They covered Dan & Shay’s “Tequila” in 2019 and by 2022 their “Insomnia” went viral. “We grew up on Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks, but we love Metallica and Pantera,” says frontman Trey Landrum. “We’re metal with hints of country, but we’re doing it differently; fucking with it and making it our own.”

Dayseeker’s “Pale Moonlight Tour,” with Northlane, sace6 and Wind Walkers, will have them performing songs off Creature In The Black Night, which hit #1 on the “Alternative Album” chart. Lead single “Pale Moonlight” made the U.S. Rock Radio Top 10.  It’s the first headlining tour for the band that started in Cali 14 years ago. Frontman Rory Rodriguez describes their sound as “sad rock” after starting out as post-hardcore. The sadness must come from their 2022 Dark Sun album, an intensely personal effort dealing with Rory’s father’s death.

Mark Whitfield, 59, is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest living guitarists of his generation. He fuses jazz, blues, gospel and rock into a seamless whole ever since he came under the sway of George Benson. Legends like Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis have enlisted his aid.  He has recorded with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Chris Botti and Christian McBride. He’ll be bringing his trio to Cedar Lane in Teaneck on May 2.

They’re opening for Streel Panther so get there early. Cody Parks and Dirty South consider themselves “country metal.” Singer-Songwriter Parks formed his Dirty South six years ago and describes them as “Def Leppard on cornbread.” Their 2023 Smothered and Covered EP raised some eyebrows in Nashville and this gig in Sayreville at Starland Ballroom is the last night of 30 nights on the road so expect fireworks.

It’s called “Havana Nights.” The Arturo O’ Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, plus the all-female Latin Percussion Ensemble known as La Manga and the Jazz Arts Academy All-Stars will perform at Triumph Restaurant in Red Bank in a showcase fundraiser for Music Education Programs for area youth. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has deemed April 29 as International Jazz Day. This event will positively percolate with percussion as well as Cuban food and even a classic car show!

Kean U’s Wind Ensemble is comprised of high school and college students up to retired educators. Formed just last year, the inter-generational chemistry between almost 50 musicians—under the direction of Patrick Burns (a conductor with 40 years of experience)—will come to fruition April 27 at 7:30 p.m. on-campus when their “Spread Your Wings” Spring Concert will also feature a band from nearby Kearny High with piano soloist Kodiak Kehoe, a Kean Freshman.

It’s called New Voices Bold Visions. The New Jersey Ballet—under the direction of Maria Kowroski—will dance at NJPAC downtown Newark on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. and again the following afternoon at 3:00. Part of the program will be “Red Angels,” the 1994 work by Ulysses Dove originally written for the New York City Ballet’s “Diamond Project” and now a key component of this troupe’s presentation.

Has it really been four decades of Los Angeles band Fishbone and its rock, ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, soul, humor, goofiness and social commentary? In 2016, the original 1979 lineup reformed. In 2017, they broke up again. Only singer Angelo Moore (sax, theremin and percussion) and guitarist Spacey T, are originals. Keyboardist Chris Dowd was there right from the jump but took a 24-year break before coming back. Drummer Hassan Hurd, trumpeter JS Williams and bassist James Jones are the new guys. 

Singer-Songwriter Dave Pirner, guitarist Jeremy Tapparo, drummer Michael Bland, keyboardist Ivan Neville, The String Genius Quartet and the Robert Robinson Gospel Singers will echo Soul Asylum’s original 1993 “MTV Unplugged” at The Vogel in Red Bank on April 16. The show will include longtime concert favorites “Farmer John” and “What Will Become Of Me,” which were never properly recorded in a studio. Consider this their “Unplugged” tour.

With their new Chain Of Command EP out on the Blue Grape label, Albany hard rockers Flatwounds will stop in New Brunswick at the Cinco de Mayo Mexican Restaurant to blast those in attendance to smithereens.  Singer Colin O’Hare, guitarist Matt Degnan, bassist David Granger and drummer Wade Coonrad sprinkle their hardcore with ‘90s alt-rock.

Florida Pop-Rock trio Arrows In Action will undoubtedly play “Stop Talking” and the three other new songs off their upcoming “deluxe version” of I Think I’ve Heard This Before album when opening for Massachusetts indie band Boys Like Girls. The band describes “Stop Talking” in a press release as “the culmination of many seemingly unrelated influences that is uniquely us. The bass riff and orchestral samples drive the almost cabaret-style verse but the chorus still launches into hooky melodies and guitars over a fat dance beat.”

Main Street in Asbury Park will be rockin’ when Fozzy plays the Wild Air Beer Works but get there early to see metal band Who On Earth whose 2022 Blame debut showed the influences of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice In Chains and Tool. They even do “Hold The Line” by Toto. Last year’s Smoke & Mirrors EP included some sharp, socially reflective lyrics. A new full-length is due later this year. 

Bassist-Composer Mark Wade will bring his trio with pianist Cecelia Coleman and drummer Scott Neumann to Main Street at 7:00 for a special CD Release show in celebration of his New Stages album on Dot Time Records (March 27 release). His sound captures the alluring spontaneity of jazz crossed with the sterling classicism of centuries past. “I try to take inspiration wherever I can find it,” he says. “Good music is good music, no matter what label you want to put on it. I’ve  played jazz and classical music professionally now for years, and some of the most inspiring sounds I’ve heard were from my experiences playing classical music in the orchestra.”

Steve Forbert was Compromised in 2015 so that album has been remixed, remastered and retitled as Things That I See. It’s been 50 years since his groundbreaking Alive On Arrival debut and he’s still the same wisecracking commenter on life’s foibles. His voice has weathered into the warm embrace of an old friend. His songs have been recorded by Rosanne Cash, Keith Urban, Marty Stuart and Webb Wilder.

The Exit 102 Band from Monmouth County will light up Tim Kerwin’s Tavern in Middlesex April 4. Their patented “Sounds Of The Jersey Shore” show is a powerhouse, high-energy, fan-interactive party with soul, blues and the kind of rock’n’roll that you can’t sit down for. They will also be performing April 17 at the Five Dimes Brewery on Red Bank.

Within Princeton University’s Alexander Hall, is the Richardson Auditorium. That’s where the “St. Matthew Passion,” written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voice, choir and orchestra, will ring out through the Hall. Gabriel Crouch and Michael McCormick will direct the University’s annual Spring Concert with the solo voice of Julian Gregory of The King’s Singers and the baroque orchestra known as The Sebastians.

New Brunswick heavy pop-punk-hardcore band Homebase marks its fourth year of existence by hitting the Meat Locker in Montclair April 3 with Jam Poetry, Losing Color and Solgrave. Matt Valentin (Guitar/Vocals), Antonio Valentino (Vocals), Chris Ochoa (Drums), Arturo Cordova (Guitar) and Dave Caruso Josh (Bass) are psyched to play live their new five-song EP—Close To Something—as well as their signature song “Bold” and the popular “Nuff Said.”

What a quartet! Keyboardist John Medeski, who rose to fame in the trio known as Medeski, Martin & Wood, bassist Jorge Roeder, drummer Kenny Wolleson and guitarist Julian Lage will perform at the South Orange Performing Arts Center on April 2.