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Howie Newman and Joe Kessler, also known as Knock on Wood, have teamed up to form a lively acoustic duo that plays funny original songs (suitable for all ages) as well as well-known covers, spanning everything from the Beatles to Steely Dan to the Dropkick Murphys. Their varied repertoire features excellent musicianship, pleasing vocal harmonies and … lots of fun.
Knock on Wood will be performing at the Walpole Summer Concert Series held at the Town Common, 10 Front St., on Tuesday, Aug. 15, from 6-8 p.m. Admission is free.
In the event of rain, the show will be held on Thursday, Aug. 17. For additional information, call (508-660-6353).
Newman (guitar, harmonica, vocals) is the songwriter and his engaging manner, which includes G-rated comedy, has charmed audiences all over New England. Song topics include smartphones, not-so-graceful aging and his wife’s inability to parallel park.
A former sportswriter for the Patriot Ledger and other newspapers, he will also be performing a few of his many baseball songs, which include “It’s the End of the Curse and We Know It,” an R.E.M. parody.
Kessler, who plays fiddle and mandolin, has an energetic improvisational style that includes folk, rock, jazz and bluegrass. He has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada as well as eight other countries, performing with Morphine, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, the Boogaloo Swamis and many others.
“We’re not the traditional guitar-and-fiddle duo,” says Newman. “Joe and I like to keep things up-tempo, do some rock covers and get the audience involved. The idea is to play some great music and have fun.”
For more information about Knock on Wood, including music samples, visit www.howienewman.com/knockonwood.
