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Tonight: Zammuto

November 6, 2014 Mike Torsell

The recently resurrected Mohawk Place is certainly back with a strong lineup of shows to cement its reopening. Tonight, you can catch Zammuto, the latest project from one of the founding members of The Books, Nick Zammuto. While Nick Zammuto has been busy releasing music on his own since 2001, Zammuto is his latest project and has released 2 albums since The Books split up in 2012, including the upcoming Anchor. Of no shock to fans of The Books, Zammuto’s music is equally creative and eclectic albeit in a more poppy direction than the previous group. Tonight’s show is a great opportunity to catch Zammuto on their small US Tour. Also, the band built a trebuchet for their latest music video, which is a pretty good reason to see what they are capable of live. Tonight’s show starts at 8pm. Tickets are $12 at the door.

Tonight: White Fence

October 19, 2014 Mike Torsell

There is something in San Francisco’s water supply that seems to enable a seemingly endless stream of musicians to release an equally endless stream of amazing psychedelic garage rock. Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees spring to mind first but you should not forget the output of White Fence, aka Tim Presley. You may recognize the name of the excellent collaborative record he did with Ty Segall last year. This year, Presley released the excellent Segall produced LP,To the Recently Found Innocent. White Fence’s output is, perhaps, the most accessible of the artists mentioned earlier. Pop rock inflected with just the right amount of grit and strange, To the Recently Found Innocent stands as one of this summer’s most memorable releases. Tonight, he will be brining White Fence to the Tralf to what should be a very good way to spend a Sunday night. Joined by King Gizzard & the[...]

Sugar City

June 17, 2014 Mike Torsell

Sugar City deserves a lot of credit for the ceaseless work they have done to provide an open and collaborative space for all types of art in Buffalo. Over 5 years old, the arts collective is responsible for fostering a significantly stronger community of artists, musicians, and community activists. Even after losing their original space in Allentown, the organization regrouped and continued their work, sure to go even further now that they have a new space on Niagara Street. Perhaps the key to their continued success is their commitment to being inclusive, welcoming and offering space to anyone with an idea and the wherewithal to make it a reality. They cannot be thanked enough for making a lot of wonderful things, including last year’s amazing Metro wide art and music show a reality. So, of course we tapped them to organize a showcase. Sugar City will be taking Hardware over[...]

Tonight: Vampire Weekend w/Cults

June 9, 2014 Mike Torsell

Today looks like a perfect day for an outdoor concert and what better band for this than Vampire Weekend. Still touring in support of their 3rd and strongest album to date, Modern Vampires of the City, the group seems to be on a perpetual victory lap. For after making two memorable appearances in Rochester recently, the band will be making their Buffalo debut (although I think they played with Dirty Projectors at Soundlab many many years ago before either band hit it big, which was probably amazing for a number of reasons). Tonight, they will be playing the Outer Harbor, a venue that seemingly became a summertime staple overnight. Rounding out this perfect indie summer concert is Cults, touring in support of the excellent sophomore release Static. The NYC band has quickly proven themselves to be a band on the rise and their live appearances are not to be missed. So, the[...]

Tonight: Brötzmann/Parker/Drake Trio

June 8, 2014 Mike Torsell

Tonight is a rare opportunity to catch the international free jazz icons, Brötzmann/Parker/Drake Trio, at Hallwalls. Formerly a quartet, the trio is comprised of Peter Brötzmann (saxophone), William Parker (double bass) and Hamid Blake (percussion). The performance promises to be a nearly cosmic exploration of sound at the limits of jazz and hopefully a beautiful descent in cacophony. So, if you have had your fill of bland indie and want a chance to hear some difficult and invigorating avant-garde music, head to Hallwalls. Music begins at 8pm. Brötzmann / Parker / Drake Trio Hallwalls Sunday, June 8 • 8:00 p.m. FREE ($10-20 suggested donation)

Tonight: Squeaky Wheel Presents Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

May 28, 2014 Mike Torsell

Continuing their series of excellent and innovative music documentaries that I seem to always be out of town for, Squeaky Wheel will be showing Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell tonight. The movie focuses on the life of the avant garde fixture who died of AIDs at 40. Russell’s work runs the gamut of disco and more experimental cello compositions. Tonight’s documentary is an episodic look at Russell’s life coupled with a wider look at the main cultural currents around his work. As always, the work will be followed by a performance by a local Buffalo artist. In this case it will be the very active cellist, T.J. Borden. Tonight’s screening will begin at 8pm in Hardware’s back room. Squeaky Wheel members are free, non pay $7.

Tonight: The Aquabats

May 5, 2014 Mike Torsell

Everyone has their cultural/musical touchstones and if I were to point to one of my earlier ones (we are talking late 90s’) I would have to point to the Aquabats. In Middle School, I found very little to identify with in the alternative music that circulated among 13 year olds in ’98, I was not particularly dark or edgy but I was still alienated all the same, it was just a goofier kind (see: young nerd). So when I heard the Aquabats, specifically their first two albums, something clicked. Awash in a campy California aesthetic that was equal parts 60s’ Batman as it was third wave ska, I was instantly drawn to their songs of martians, powdered milk and forlorn crushes bathed in blaring poppy horns and rapid tempos. Even if I started to lose track of them as time went on and my taste shifted, I still returned to[...]

The Tins

April 22, 2014 Mike Torsell

Hello and welcome to the first in what I hope to become an ongoing series where we check in with various local bands to ask that question that pops into our head from time to time, “what are they up to” these days. It has been a little while since we last heard from The Tins after they initially took Buffalo by storm in 2012. And, judging from this interview and their recent logo contest (submissions due April 25), they are preparing to come back with another string of solid releases. So, what are they up to? What is your band currently working on? Dave: We are currently prepping for our summer release. We are all very excited! When was the last time you released an album? Adam: Back in 2012, when we released our first full-length, Life’s A Gas What has changed since your last release? Adam: We’re pretty much[...]

Still Diggin’: Our Tribute to Record Stores and Record Collecting

April 14, 2014 Mike Torsell

By now, it is almost a cliche to point out that, with the rise of digital media consumption, there has been a parallel rise in older formats rooted in its physical existence. For every E-Book reader, you will find another person loudly decrying the value of books. So it is with music that, with the ubiquity of now streaming music delivery, many still cling to their ever expanding record collections. I don’t want to say one format is better than the other because, in the end, digital would win from a practical standpoint (ubiquity, takes up no space, infinitely portable, etc.), and I personally think that the two can exist together quite peacefully. But, I think it is also very human to want to have something tangible to tie us to the things we love, a way of connecting ourself to the world around us through the medium of records,[...]

Tonight: The War on Drugs

April 13, 2014 Mike Torsell

To get to the point, The War on Drugs’ most recent record, Lost in the Dream, is one of the most universally likeable rock records to come out in awhile. It is an early contender for album of the year and will definitely make many top 10 lists barring some sort of truly miraculous run of records (which, by all means, is welcome to happen) between now and December. If you are like me and would only love Bruce Springsteen if he were a little more influenced by Neu!, then this record is a must listen. It is as precise and charging as it is dreamy and lyrical. If you ever wondered what would play if you were ever standing atop a train driving into the American West and looking towards your future, this is it. Don’t even try to act like you haven’t pictured this before. With that introduction, it[...]

Tonight: Depeche Mode Vs. New Order Dance Party

April 4, 2014 Mike Torsell

If these dance parties are any indication, the 80’s must have been a tough time for fans of British music, you constantly had to pick a side. The Smiths vs. The Cure, Depeche Mode vs. New Order, Wham vs. Boy George. Ok, I pulled the third one out of my ass but still, tonight’s dance party is the second in a series of knock down drag out fights where the only winner is you and your need to dance. Following last months’ Smiths vs. Cure party, the team behind Transmission Dance Party and On the Wire will be hosting a Depeche Mode vs. New Order party at Hardware tonight. Legitimate heavyweights of British electronic music, tonight will be dedicated exclusively to exploring their respective catalogs. This means that, as long as they play nothing either band did in recent years (please), this dance party will feature nothing but classics. And really,[...]