Road Songs: Spirited Readings & Live Jazz

William Mullen will be reading from his debut novel, Anywhere But Here: A 1980s Road Story. The novel, which focuses on two ordinary, disaffected, chemically-addled Gen-X hippie kids traversing an inhospitable 1989 American landscape in a ramshackle orange VW bus, represents 2024’s most anticipated new title in the Monadnock Region’s fiction community.

Readers are invited to ride along now-bygone roads from Connecticut to Oregon with the relatable (if delightfully flawed) Bill and Jack, discovering together how quickly and consistently the highways and towns and entire country prove inhospitable and hazardous for anyone who doesn’t fit in. Over the course of this epic journey, in between constant evictions and exile, we encounter hidden tribes of Decent People, experience family betrayal and indentured servitude, are tempted by sirens, beset by visions, blessed by divine interventions, and spoken to by this vast land, which only sometimes truly says “Go away.” A must-have for fans of the Beats, the Merry Pranksters, adventure, and the timeless spirit of youth, Anywhere But Here is at turns hilarious and moving, wry and circumspect, mundane and sacred.

The novel, Mullen’s first full-length published work, represents the culmination of years of dedicated work and decades as a writer of social commentary, travel, literature, and historical fiction. A longtime resident of “the high hills of Nelson,” Mullen is an avid hiker, skier, drinker, beachcomber, and all-around adventurist. He will be surfing on, joined and buoyed by, and bouncing off of the Brian Quinn Trio.

Originally hailing from New York City, Brian Quinn is a multi-genre drummer that has performed everywhere from Birdland Jazz Club to CBGBs across 20 years in the city. He studied jazz at The New School where he was taught by Billy Hart, Michael Carvin, Joe Chambers, and SNL’s Shawn Pelton. Brian managed jazz artists for over a decade, producing concerts around the globe for Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, New York Voices, Richard Bona, and Taylor Eigsti. Brian now resides in Hancock, New Hampshire with his family.

Chris Albertson has been playing with great musicians on stages and events, across New England for over three decades. He has worked with The Platters, Amy London, The Vermont Philharmonic, Mike Turk, Vito Dieterle, Straight No Chaser, Joe Frescetti to name a few. In other ventures, Chris has worked with dance companies, big bands, performance artists, and numerous guest appearances as studio guitarist and arranger. Chris grew up in the Pennsylvania steel mill country in the 60's and was exposed to a variety of musical genres at a young age. Today, Chris draws inspiration from a wide range of artists including Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny and Wayne Shorter. After moving to New Hampshire where he earned a degree in Music Education, his focus was on classical technique, jazz guitar and composition.

New Hampshire bassist and educator Steve Cady has enjoyed performances with Joan Rivers, Tony/Emmy winner Lillias White, The Scott Mullett Trio, Gray Sargent, Frank Greene, Rick Stepton, Larry Pyatt, with “The Rat Pack is Back”, “The Crooner and the Dame”, the cast of “The Sopranos”, and at Ryles Jazz Club, The Press Room, The Opera Theater of Weston, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Steve holds a MM in Jazz Studies from Rowan University, a BM, and BA from Keene State College, and is a student of Scott Mullett, Bruce Gertz, Douglass Mapp, Denis Diblasio, and Don Baldini. Steve is an arranger/composer of jazz and popular music for all levels and creates electronic music employing instruments of his own design and construction. Steve is a founding member and director of Keene Jazz Orchestra, teaches Jazz Ensembles, harmony, and improvisation at Keene State College, and chairs Performing Arts at Vermont Academy. Steve adores his remarkable and beautiful wife Deanna Zilske and holds respect for their endearing but tyrannical cat Ender.

Doors will be at 7pm and things will likely get going around 730. We are asking for a suggested donation of $15, but the tickets are set to "Pay What You Want". Seating is limited and first come first served.

Host or Publisher Nova Arts