New Hampshire night life has been humming at the resort areas this year, whether it's in Hampton Beach, the Lakes Region (led by the 6,500-seat Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion by Lake Winnipesaukee), in the charming White Mountain village of North Conway, or historic Portsmouth.
The recent Thorogood show was a manic, beer-soaked evening that he referred to as his "Friday night jamboree and hootenanny." He and other artists love playing the room not just because of its intimacy, but because its old wooden walls offer better acoustics than the sterile concrete amphitheaters into which many acts are steered. My only complaint was that the crowd was squished into rows and rows of tables and chairs -- hey, a little legroom would have been nice. Otherwise, it's an excellent setting with a new sound and lighting system this year.
Up the street is a terrific spot called the Sea Ketch, consisting of three stories of open-air decks overlooking the ocean. It's mainly a restaurant, but there's a bar on each deck and the views are breathtaking. A solo singer-guitarist named Steve Tolley played on the second floor when I arrived -- and his array of classic-rock covers, including a great version of the Beatles' "Come Together," was beamed by closed-circuit TV to the upper deck as well. A nice touch.
My night life getaway also peaked at Meadowbrook in Gilford, which is unique compared with many cookie-cutter outdoor sites. "It's rustic," said a Boston fan who had driven the two hours north to catch grass-roots sensation O.A.R., which nearly filled the place with its reggae-influenced rock.
Meadowbrook has a high, barn-like roof and a casual feel spiced by a large, attached bar where patrons rev up as though at a Cape Cod happy hour. The whole atmosphere feels like a backyard party. And from the bar you can still see the bands, unlike many sheds where you have to walk a long distance to get a drink.
