Latest Posts

Tonight: Shonen Knife

April 25, 2017

Tonight, legendary Japanese pop punk institution Shonen Knife return to Buffalo for  a show at The Studio at Waiting Room. Their sixth show locally in eight years, the love between this area and these mighty heroines from Osaka is real as they bring their USA Ramen Adventure 2017 to town now that we’ve properly embraced ramen thanks in no small part to the wonderful people at Sato and Sato Ramen and their currently under construction Izakaya in the old Soundlab downtown. Opening the show will be former Brimstone Blonde frontman Matthew Danger Lippman and local favorites Dreambeaches. Tickets are still available for $15 and doors open at 7pm

Record Store Day 2017 is Tomorrow

April 21, 2017

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day, the international celebration of vinyl, physical media and the indie record stores that sell returns tomorrow with celebrations happening locally at Buffalo’s surviving record shops. Whether you brave the early morning lines for the Record Store Day special goodies you’ve scouted in advance or plan on some leisurely shopping, bonhomie, and live music later in the day after the rush subsides, enjoy yourselves (“It’s a celebration!”) and be sure to spend some money to keep these treasured local resources going: Record Theatre will be having their annual Record Store Day blowout at their remaining location at Main and Lafayette from 9 AM til 9 PM with the line forming Friday night I imagine. They’ll have the RSD special releases, live music from 12pm-7pm, plus the R&R BBQ Truck for lunch, Lloyd’s for dinner, and Community Beer Works local brew throughout the[...]

Tonight: Operators

April 14, 2017

Tonight Canadian New Wavers Operators make a stop in Buffalo with blog favorites Humble Braggers for a night of synthed out electronic bliss and tasteful ass shaking. One of the many projects Dan (Wolf Parade, Divine Fits) Boeckner has going at any given moment, Operators released their terrific debut Blue Wave last year. Recorded in “a vintage barn in the middle of nowhere” of Southern Ontario, it’s a terrific slice of smart 80’s New Wave pop with an up to the minute sensibility that speaks to our immediate times with songs like “Mission Creep” and “Bring Me The Head.” Really, with the bombs falling in the Middle East and quite possibly North Korea by the time this post gets published, Operators couldn’t have come at a better time. Meanwhile, local openers Humble Braggers have had a busy few months, playing shows in Fredtown, Rochester, and the city in support of their fine debut[...]

Suburbs Drop New Jam “48 Hour Scumbags”

April 6, 2017

Enigmatic Buffalo electronica act Suburbs released a terrific single that is chilled out perfection and profoundly satisfying.  Kicked off with a burst of howling bros, “48 Hour Scumbags” immediately downshifts into a sexy groove anchored by some godless church organs and the de-tuned and fuzzed out vocals from Kevin Stuitje. Time and space dilates  in the late night/early morning haze conjured by this endearingly skeezy and subliminally agitated jam before crashing in the end, and like a 48 hour scumbag, it left me needing more. 48 Hour Scumbags by Suburbs

Tonight: Rock A Mile In Her Shoes

April 5, 2017

Tonight one of the best fundraisers in Buffalo returns as Babeville once again hosts the 3rd Annual Rock A Mile In Her Shoes show featuring The Slums, Morbs, Erica Wolfing, Del Paxton, and M.A.G.S.. The show benefits the Crisis Services Advocate Program which provides 24/7 support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse while working to reduce violence and to make our community a safer place. This year’s show brings together local heavyhitters The Slums, Del Paxton and Morbs with ethereal chanteuse Erica Wolfing and indie pop act M.A.G.S. for a night of crushing riffs, solidarity, love, respect, and fellas rocking in high heels (fellas in the audience who want to rock some heels in solidarity are encouraged to do so if the spirit moves them). Tickets are $10, doors are at 7pm with fun set for 8pm..

Feverbox Release New Single “Victoria”

April 4, 2017

Kenmore garage rockers Feverbox are getting ready to release their first EP in the coming weeks and the release’s first single, “Victoria” shines bright. The indie rockers from Buffalo’s best first ring suburb announced themselves nicely with a few well received singles last year, but “Victoria” definitely shows a band tightening it up, with those dreamy vocal harmonies, driving riffs and shimmering synths flying higher than ever. On a side note what is up with all these local bands representing with impressive vocal harmonies? Must be a lot of Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac fans around here. Anyway, Feverbox’s EP arrives April 14th with a show at Babeville with Deadwolf and Super American, and you can check out “Victoria” below:

Tonight: Acid Dad

April 2, 2017

Tonight the Waiting Room hosts a downstate vs upstate New York battle of the bands when NYC’s Acid Dad and Brooklyn post punks Honduras share a bill with local fellas Ugly Sun and Deadwolf. Actually, it’s not a battle of the bands at all; everybody’s cool and there’s no cash prizes or bragging rights on the line (or are there?), and the real winners are local fans of garage and psychedelic rock down to kick it out on a Sunday night with these fine bands. NYC power trio Acid Dad specialize in the kind of sleezy garage rock usually ideal for getaway driving in vintage cars and/or driving on dark roads with the headlights off under the influence. Brooklyn’s Honduras meanwhile have been generating buzz in all the right places thanks to a raw garage rock that mainlines that 70’s downtown punk sound to satisfying effect. Local openers are both blog[...]

Tonight: Dance Yrself Clean

March 24, 2017

Tonight the latest edition of the Dance Yrself Clean Hipster Dance Party series is back at Milkie’s, and like the very satisfying January hootenanny the proceeds are going to a worthy cause doing the right thing. Journey’s End Refugee Services, a Buffalo non-profit helping our newest Buffalonians get settled and become members of our community, which is a win-win for everybody involved, but with El Trumpito targeting refugees and immigrants from the Oval Office, they can use the help during this particularly fraught time, which is where the DYC crew and you do your parts. Starting at 9 PM the DYC crew (Ben Parsons, Nick Muldoon, Tom Burtless, Allison Lavis, Katie Gariepy) will be rocking the tightest indie dance jams from the 2000’s up through yesterday; you, dear reader just got to show up, pay $5, and dance.

KIN Release Video For “Try”

March 24, 2017

KIN, the infinitely charming side project from Eliot Douglas (M.A.G.S.) featuring himself and his lovely wife Julia Douglas, released the video for their debut single “Try,” and it is absolutely wonderful. A sweet ode to married indie rock domesticity, the joys of shopping at Home Depot, Brian Wilson’s mythic living room, and the quest for summer fun during a WNY winter, this clip is utterly irresistible. Director Corey James Harris truly makes this video seem naturally effortless, summoning a level of breezy, whimsical artifice reminiscent of The Flaming Lips, another band that does a lot of work in these here parts. Check it out, feel warm and fuzzy, and keep an eye out for more from KIN.

Tonight: Mac Sabbath

March 23, 2017

Tonight everybody’s favorite McDonaldland murdering Black Sabbath tribute band Mac Sabbath returns to Buffalo in a big way with their Mockstrocity Tour featuring Metalachi, the world’s only heavy metal mariachi band and Ned Flanders inspired metalheads Okilly Dokilly. Halloween comes a few months early this year (thank the five fingered God) because the Tralf is hosting this unholy evening of skull crushing metal, Gen-X pop cultural touchstone parodies and joyfully deranged merriment, and this could not come at a better time. Tickets are still available for $25.50, doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm.

Ugly Sun Drop Latest Single “Marble Eye”

March 23, 2017

Buffalo garage rock power trio Ugly Sun are back with their latest single “Marble Eye,” and it’s a thrilling burst of triumphant goodness. For a band keen to keep things on the rough and wild side, the deploying of both discordant and mightily sweet harmonies behind John Crook’s plaintive wail and those epic riffs takes this whole enterprise to a higher level and almost flirts with beauty. In a city with a growing list of rock bands you can believe in, you can add Ugly Sun to the list. They’ll be playing the just announced Made Violent show at the Studio At The Waiting Room with Sixties Future May 5th, with tickets going on sale this Friday.

Today: House Of Pain

March 19, 2017

House Of Pain are one of those 90’s exuberances that’s simultaneously regrettable and irresistible, especially during Buffalo’s internationally renowned extended St. Patrick’s Day bacchanal, which reaches it’s apex today with the parade down Delaware Avenue, and House Of Pain at the Waiting Room. Giddyup fam, Everlast, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal will be presiding over an epic blow out in the Waiting Room’s parking lot featuring St. Patrick’s Day mayhem, 90’s covers from blog favorite Soul Patch, Slaine from La Coka Nostra, and DJ sets from Dovey and Rick Jameson. Tickets for this once in a lifetime Buffalo rager are still available for $15 general admission and $40 for VIP tickets. Rick Jameson starts it off at 12pm and House Of Pain caps it all off after the parade conclude’s at 4:30pm.

Tonight: Humble Braggers Album Release Party

March 10, 2017

There’s really no denying that the Buffalo music scene is cranking right now. Collaborations aplenty, bands are going into the studio left and right, and the releases are coming hot and heavy, with the Del Paxton full length LP last week celebrated at the Mohawk and tonight at Nietzsche’s for brand new Humble Braggers. Tom Burtless and the fellas (Bryan Zells, Matt Chavanne) will be celebrating the release of the very first full length album I Know Better, I’m No Better with a ridiculously loaded lineup including CHAD VALLEY, dreambeaches, and Bottler. Recorded by Elliot (M.A.G.S., KIN) Douglas, there’s been a lot of buzz around this next step for Humble Braggers, so you’re definitely going to want to snap up I Know Better, I’m No Better to have it properly digested before the summer show season gets going. Getting the show started and making it international flair will be Oxford UK electro pop[...]

Tonight: The Head and the Heart

March 2, 2017

Tonight Seattle indie folk rock darlings The Head and the Heart  are back in Western New York after a six years absence to play UB’s Center For The Arts along with the always excellent Springtime Carnivore. There’s been some water under the bridge in those intervening years, with the band is foraging ahead behind their third album and first for Warner Brothers, last year’s Signs Of Life. Based on what Nathan Wilson from Wavves had to say recently about his previous dealings with Warners, good luck to them, and one hopes their pleasing California folk rock remains undimmed by the experience. Opening the show will be the ever delightful Los Angeles musical polymath Springtime Carnivore, aka Greta Morgan, returning to the area for a third time in three years having opened sensationally for Father John Misty at the Town Ballroom in 2015 and La Sera last fall at the Mohawk. Fans of[...]

Tonight: GZA

February 25, 2017

Tonight Wu-Tang original GZA aka The Genius  will be breaking it down at The Waiting Room with special guests Mayhem Lauren and Short Moscato. A true legend, GZA is the realest of real deals whether it’s with the Wu-Tang, unleashing Liquid Swords, being strong on STEM research and opportunities for students of color or using his rhymes to decode the universe on the long awaited Dark Matter, possibly out later this year. Joining him will be Queens MC, Viceland star, sensualist and bon vivant Mayhem Lauren and Buffalo’s own Short Moscato, who dropped the first single of his upcoming debut earlier this week.