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Today: Vaggie Fest

August 8, 2015

The sixth annual Vaggie Fest takes place today at the Adam Mickiewicz Library. Originally a riff on Veggie Fest, the all day festival is a celebration of women in punk from in and around the WNY  area. Groups from Pittsburgh, Montreal, Toronto, Rochester, and Buff will be on hand to shred. Canada is represented by VCR, weirdo Toronto wailers, on tour with eclectic group Tonka and Puma while Montreal offers up queercore hardcore (the best kind) band Pretty Boys. Seismic Thrust brings a different kind of Philly flavor with their jangly alt country,and PBGH neighbors Cruces dish out blues vocals with stoner doom instrumentals. Fellow Steel City act Brazilian Wax will bring some riot grrl flavor for a new generation. Chimes sounds like the NY/NJ indie scene they’re from with their psychedelic slacker jams while the familiar fuzzy garage sounds of Rochester friends Green Dreams will supplement the know em love[...]

Tonight: Mischief Brew

July 29, 2015

In 2009, I was listening to a lot of folk punk. I remember emailing Mischief Brew to see if they wanted to play a show at my college. It never came to fruition, but they still have a spot in my heart. This evening at Sugar City, the group, touring from the Philadelphia area, is back, set to pump out the kind of goofy folk punk you can sing along to. Tonight’s support begins with Pine Fever, a band of Buffalo buskers for fans of Defiance, Ohio that compliment Mischief Brew nicely. Also from Philly, Dark Thoughts offer Ramones style, snotty punk rock and roll. Rounding out the night is Aaron and the Burrs, two thirds comprised of members of the band Blobs. I love contemporary surf rock and this band puts their own spin on it, taking it back to pure instrumental. There is something for everyone tonight at Sugar City. Doors[...]

Blobs Drop Demo Via More Power Tapes

July 22, 2015

Blobs probably has the best band name in punk right now. Born out of the Buffalo scene and two fourths comprised of the now defunct hardcore outfit Bad People, Blobs makes an impressive impact with its 7-track debut demo, recently released over on local tape label, More Power Tapes. The short and sweet demo is pure punk, highlighting Amelia Martin’s vocals. With members in many other bands (Newish Star, Aaron & the Burrs) in addition to this project, the varying influences come together to reach a broader audience, kind of like hardcore punk for fans of Space Wolves. Catch Blobs at Hoyt House on August 2nd and give the EP a listen below.

Tonight: Wolf Eyes

July 21, 2015

Hardcore from all over converges tonight at Sugar City.  Wolf Eyes are from the “dead, dread-filled, haunted hills of Michigan” and have a way with electronic metal while LA’s Sissy Spacek plays noisey grindcore tracks all under one minute. Mid and West Coast meets the DMV with Pure Disgust and Barge, hailing from DC and Richmond, VA respectively. The Facebook event description for Barge says Infest for Generation Z and that’s pretty apt, for Pure Disgust as well. Representing Buffalo we have Modern Problems (members of Every Time I Die) and Black X(members of Harm’s Way and a million more bands) playing straightforward, straightedge hardcore.  Music will start at 6pm (hopefully) and be over by 10pm. All this for $10.

Tonight: Gulfer

July 18, 2015

If you have been on the internet recently you have probably read one of those “emo revival” list articles everyone’s been writing lately when in reality emo was never really over, at least not for everyone. It’s always the same list of popular contemporary emo bands and what I am saying is Gulfer, the band hitting up the Glitterbox tonight, would fit in with the listicle genre nicely. The four piece  from Montreal spits out twinkly math rock for fans of Brave Bird, or Texas is the Reason meets Algernon Cadwallader. People Like You, from Boston, will be adding some screams as well as spoken word parts. Comprised from members of I Kill Giants, People Like You continues the math music trend, mostly categorized with weird time signatures and focused more on instrumentals than vocals. Power pop punks Wild Pink from Brooklyn open while Buffalo’s prodigal sons Del Paxton are[...]

Werid Al at UB’s Center for the Arts (7/15/15)

July 15, 2015

Weird Al is typically viewed as a comedian more often than a musician. In the public’s eye, musicianship is hard for any comedian to earn, especially one that parodies. So before going to Weird Al’s sold-out show at the Center for the Arts last night, I thought of it more as a chance to see a legendary comedian than a rock star. But then again, would I be this excited to see a comedian who I could recite (sing along with?) most of their punch lines? With an extensive songbook spanning decades of musical genres and pop references, the show was not only a culmination of Weird Al’s career, but also a two and a half hour history lesson of our modern culture—from Jeopardy to Forrest Gump to eBay. And like many artists who have too many hits to play, songs would run into one another in long, tightly choreographed[...]

Tonight: Weird Al

July 15, 2015

You know that moment when you hear the first few notes of “Gangster’s Paradise” and you aren’t really sure if it’s Coolio or Weird Al’s “Amish Paradise” yet? Then subsequently start singing Weird Al anyway because those are the lyrics you know better. As a child of the 90’s, this was my experience, but I’d bet children of both the 80’s and 00’s have similar experiences with Weird Al songs, whether it’s “Eat It” (“Beat It”), “White & Nerdy” (“Ridin’ Dirty”), or one of his new hits like “Handy” (“Fancy”). After decades of his satirical wackiness, Weird Al doesn’t just parody culture, he helps shape it. Coming off the huge success of his latest album, Mandatory Fun, Weird Al will play the Mainstage Theater at UB’s Center for the Arts for a sold out show tonight. He has always had a dedicated following here, and with Weird Al’s career reaching his[...]

Tonight: Stiff Little Fingers

July 14, 2015

Grandfathers of punk Stiff Little Fingers take over Town Ballroom tonight with hometown band Governess. SLF formed in Ireland back in 1977 and these hooligans put the punk in punk rock. The band broke up in ‘83 but reformed a couple years later, and have been churning out records ever since with varying line-ups. To be honest, when I heard that Stiff Little Fingers was touring, I was surprised because I couldn’t believe they were still on the road after all of these years. the group’s current tour will bring these long time punks to the Ballroom tonight at 7pm. Tickets are $24 at the door. Their first single is still their greatest hit.

Tonight: Little Ruckus

July 6, 2015

Mohawk Place has been killing the gig game lately with a jam packed calendar and it isn’t stopping anytime soon. The extremely prolific and eclectic Little Ruckus, a sort-of collective from Iowa, is hitting Mohawk tonight on tour with Calliope Musicals. Calliope churns out classic rock and roll with twinges of folk and psychedelic landing on a happy, feel good vibe. Little Cake and Jack Toft is simple, catchy, and weird.  Self described as Kool Keith meets Crass plus a classically trained music teacher, the duo is undeniably alluring. Catch them with their experimental rap tonight at 8pm for $5. I think I just talked myself into going.

Tonight: Difficult Night

July 2, 2015

Mohawk Place will host an all-locals show tonight to enjoy this long Buffalo Fourth of July weekend with some American music. Hometown mainstays Difficult Night plays rock and roll that falls somewhere between Violent Femmes and either the White Stripes or the Goo Goo Dolls, maybe some Springsteen. Lifemusik Mit Andre is making his way downtown with his experimental home recording sound, while the gritty and spooky girls of Space is Haunted thankfully have taken a break from their summer hiatus. Finally, Peter Kirsch, kinda weird and kinda dance-y, rounds out the night. Doors are at 8pm and for $5, you can kick off, or continue, your weekend.

Best of 2015…So Far: Staff Picks

June 28, 2015

Just like that, 2015 has reached its half way point, and what a half its been. The year so far has seen releases of fantastic debuts (Jamie xx), stellar discography builders (Father John Misty, Kendrick Lamar), and welcome returns from some of music’s finest (Blur, Sleater-Kinney), and with the second half of 2015 in sight we looked back at what made the first six months great. Tim Fenster Favorite Album Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly I know I’m not being terribly unique here, but it’s practically impossible to have a meaningful conversation about the best record of 2015 without first addressing the elephant-sized butterfly-whore in the room. Kendrick Lamar’s third album is not only the (as of yet) magnum opus of the most talented rapper of the post-millennium world, it’s everything you could ask for in a hip-hop record and then some. It’s provocatively political (“The Blacker the[...]

Tonight: Kal Marks

June 27, 2015

There are so many for cool shows to attend recently and if you haven’t made up your mind about tonight, then here’s another option: some rockin bands at a house on Hoyt. Kal Marks, heavy indie from Boston, will be rolling through with IAN playing dreamy fuzz from California in the vein of contemporaries Alvvays and Slutever. Political indie punk band Red Heat will be supporting. Lushes will round out the bill. So its 7pm at Hoyt House for $7 or whatever  you have.

A Place to Bury Strangers

June 19, 2015

Quintessential Brooklyn band  A Place to Bury Strangers descends upon Mohawk Place tonight. The noise rock trio is on tour promoting its new album Transfixiation and the band is still not afraid to take any chances. The album comes off the heels of the closure of iconic Brooklyn venue Death by Audio, where APTBS was closely affiliated, and in the spirit of the scene, the band is maturing and evolving. With elements of spacey shoegaze to supplement its loud chaos, the band’s feedback laden wall of sound is an intense experience. Instrumental post-rock band Sannhet from Brooklyn and Buffalo cool crew Alpha Hopper are opening up the gig at 8pm. This show is special addition to Herd Fest and the first fifteen people to show up with Herd Fest wristbands get in for free! Otherwise its going to be $15 at the  door.

Tonight: White Lung

June 15, 2015

White Lung is a cool band from Vancouver, British Columbia which reminds me of Nardwuar and gets me wondering what he might show the four piece about its past albums and sounds. Maybe it’s that Canadian Indie Music Award nomination or all that good press from music magazines about 2012’s Sorry (because every song on that release is a jam). White Lung plays gritty punk for fans of RVIVR, The Measure [SA], and Priests. Obliterations, hardcore from Los Angeles, are on tour with White Lung, and local band Utah Jazz (with members from Mayday! and Brown Sugar) have the garage punk niche covered for tonight. Be at Mohawk Place tonight at 8pm with $12 at the door or you might be sorry.

Arkells at Canalside (6/11/15)

June 12, 2015

After leaving the Arkells show at Canalside last night, it was difficult to decide who had had more fun: the band or the audience. Like poutine, Tim Horton’s, and everything else that’s considered “good” in Canada, Arkells have established themselves in the Buffalo culture. With roots in nearby Hamilton, Ontario, the band has seen its massive success in Canada transition smoothly into the American music scene. Of course, the band (made up of front man Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Nick Dika, Tim Oxford, and Anthony Carone) is no stranger to Buffalo, or even to Canalside. Max spoke fondly of intimate shows performed in the city, like the one at Town Ballroom in April. He also reminisced about the first time they played at Canalside in 2011, when they opened for the Tragically Hip. Arkells’ ascent from opener to headliner in a four-year span mirrors their burgeoning success. Despite the Hip[...]