Sammy Boller released his latest EP, “Midnight Garden,” back on Nov. 7. But some of his other musical endeavors — including the reunion of his band Citizen Zero and being part of Goo Goo Dolls since last summer — have kept him from playing the material on stage.
So the Ferndale-based guitarist is understandably “very excited” about finally being able to celebrate the release with a show this weekend at the Loving Touch in Ferndale.
“It’s going to be really fun,” Boller, 33, says. “This is definitely some of the most technically challenging stuff I’ve worked on, and I’ve been tailoring it to the live setting, which is changing the way I hear some of the melodies and the production elements.
“I’d say it’s definitely a little more aggressive than the album, even.”
The show will, in fact, be the launch for a particularly busy year ahead for Boller.
He’ll be in Los Angeles this month to work on his next solo recording, while Citizen Zero is planning to do more recording during the spring for a hoped-for album later this year. Boller also has recorded with a new instrumental trio called Evomoon, while Goo Goo Dolls have a Las Vegas residency and a summer tour planned in addition to other dates throughout 2026.
“It’s been incredible,” Boller, who’s also worked in Creed frontman Scott Stapp’s solo band, says of the latter gig, which he took as a fill-in before being added to the lineup full-time. “It came out of the blue, and it took a little bit of time to get used to it. It’s something I never imagined being able to do, but it’s just been beyond my wildest dreams.
“They’ve been together so long and had an amazing career. It’s been the most incredible blessing in my life to get to play with them.”
Boller will also be previewing some of his new material at the upcoming National Association of Music Merchants trade show in Anaheim, giving him another platform for his burgeoning career.
“It’s definitely different than what you imagine when you’re growing up and learning how to play,” he says. “There’s a quote — ‘reality is always better than you could have imagined’ and that’s definitely true. I feel like the luckiest guitar player, especially after the stuff that’s happened to me this past year.”
Sammy Boller performs Saturday, Jan. 3 at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Jackamo and the Mike Leslie Band also play. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
• They’ll be jive talkin’ at Stayin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.
• Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band alumnus Laura Creamer and Michael King join the Kris Kurzawa Band to play the music of Steely Dan at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Five bands — the Antics, Shade Zero, the Custodians, Dead Buds and Mind Riot — team up to Rock in the New Year at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 6 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Local rockers Absentees, Troy Toma and Unmarked Grave team up at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• The all-female Lez Zeppelin tribute act plays “The Song Remains the Same” soundtrack in its entirety at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Hindsight pays tribute to Pretenders at 8 p.m. at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Bound By Vendetta tops a five-band bill at 6 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Virtual: Umphrey’s McGee plays in Chicago at 8:30 p.m. and again on Saturday, Jan. 3, streaming via nugs.net.
• Virtual: Dark Star Orchestra turns on the lights at 9 p.m. in Port Chester, New York, and again on Saturday, Jan. 3, streaming via nugs.net.
SATURDAY, JAN. 3
• Detroit favorite Thornetta Davis sings the blues, and more, at 8 p.m. at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• The Michigan Hardcore 10 will rattle the walls at 5 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Michigan metal bands Splinters, Squish, Let It Rot and Forge the Sun pile on at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Superdot, the Loyal and Dads on Couches triple-bill at 8 p.m. at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Perpetual favorite the Muggs rocks at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. Catfish Mafia opens. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• The Yellow Room Gang — including veteran singer-songwriters Annie Capps, Jan Krist, Jim Bizer, Matt Watroba and more — populates the Ark for a 3 p.m. matinee. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Virtual: AJR streams the Hollywood Bowl stop of its Somewhere in the Sky Tour at 7 p.m., via veeps.com.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4
• Dan Cafferty and Bobby Pennock host an Empty Chair Night featuring audience members at 7 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The Matt Stahl Band plays a free show at 7 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Boogie woogie piano specialist Mark “Mr. B” Braun is home for a 7:30 p.m. performance at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.theoaklandpress.com ’
