Columns

Must See Shows (10/30/24-11/5/24)

Thursday, October 31st @ 7pm Dexter and the Moonrocks @ Town Ballroom Turn off the porch light and put a “Gone 2 Dexter and the Moonrocks” note up for the trick-or-treaters this Thursday. The Abilene-based quartet will be making their Buffalo debut on a very scary evening in support of their latest EP Western Space Grunge. The band is an amalgamation of indie rock, grunge, and a sprinkle of country – an homage to the band’s Texas roots. Much to our delight, Dexter and the Moonrocks’ sound is very sing-a-long friendly with numerous singles chock full of heavy hooks. Fans of FIDLAR, White Reaper, or Wavves would be into this one. Doors are $27.22 all-in. Dexter And The MoonRocks · Like You (Like You) Saturday, November 2nd @ 7pm Light Beams w/ Personal Style, Welks Mice, and echolocator @ Area 54 Dischord Records signees Light Beams returns to Buffalo after[...]

Must See Shows (10/23/24-10/30/24)

Thursday, October 24th @ 7:30pm Prairie Pavement w/ Romcom Victims, Night Owls, and Karma Queen @ Milkies Milkie’s has been on a hot streak as of late with the downscaling of local programming at other venues in town. So much so that the Elmwood Strip establishment has moved their popular karaoke night from Thursdays to Tuesdays in order to fit the demand for more local music. This Thursday, Milkie’s will host a notable local lineup featuring promising indie act, Prairie Pavement, with support from Romcom Victims, Night Owls, and Karma Queen. Ultimately, it’s a tight local bill and it’s a Thursday. $10. Friday, October 25th @ 8pm Songbirds @ Buffalo Iron Works Songbirds have quickly become a must-have at all venues around town. They’ve played at all of the midweek summer concerts in town and delighted thousands of moms in Western New York with their impressive Fleetwood Mac tribute. Soon[...]

Must See Shows (10/16/24-10/22/24)

Friday, October 18th @ 8pm Makeout Tactics EP Release Show w/ Spud and Cheap Peach  @ The Cave Friday evening might be one of the most jam-packed calendars for quality music in Buffalo in recent memory. Every neighborhood in the city has something that I would recommend, however, not every showcase is celebrating an EP release show like Elmwood Village indie pop act, Makeout Tactics. The five-piece will be unveiling their new EP titled Skunk House, which chronicles the escapades of a bunch of friends in their twenties living together in a house that’s falling apart – almost like a co-ed Frat House. Makeout Tactics’ sound is high energy, and could be compared to Surf Curse or Los Campesinos with a hint of an edgier Max Bemis (Say Anything) accenting the gang choruses. Joining the bill will be singer/songwriter SPUD and a recently re-launched Cheap Peach. Doors are $10. Friday,[...]

Must See Shows (10/9/24-10/15/24)

Wednesday, October 9th @ 7pm Robert Ellis @ 9th Ward Houston-based singer/songwriter Robert Ellis makes a stop in the Babeville basement this Wednesday for an intimate performance. Touring in support of his latest album, Yesterday’s News, showgoers will be captivated by Ellis’ phenomenal story telling and alt country twang. Fans of Nick Drake, Justin Townes Earle, Jason Isbell, or Joe Pug should be up for a midweek foray onto the Delaware Strip. Tickets are $25. Friday, October 11th @ 7pm Ashford (Album Release Show) w/ Previous Love, The Weather Might Say Otherwise, & Robbery Club @ Mohawk Place Ashford are celebrating the release of their brand new full-length album, Pictures of Places I’ve Been, at what is bound to be the talk of Mohawk Ave. on Friday. The post-pop-punk project has been around for over eight years, but has really emerged as a a scene heavy-hitter after emerging from post-COVID[...]

Must See Shows (10/2/24-10/8/24)

Thursday, October 3rd @ 7pm Coral Moons w/ Johnny & the Man Kids & tuesday nite @ Buffalo Iron Works Boston-born turned upstate New York transplants, Coral Moons, bring their indie pop goodness to Buffalo this Thursday. Fronted by lead singer and primary songwriter, Carly Kraft, Coral Moons sound is reminiscent of Alvvays, Best Coast, or Melody’s Echo Chamber. Since forming in 2018, the project has continuously toured, filled, and headlined venues and festivals throughout the continental states. Also on bill are legit local indie acts Johnny & the Man Kids and tuesday nite. Looks like there’s nothing at the Keybank Center, so parking should be a breeze. Tickets are $20 summer of u by Coral Moons Friday, October 4th @ 8pm The Curls w/ Patchwrok & The Hartwell Hospice House Band @ Milkies The Curls return to the Buffalo this Friday with some support from the locals listed above.[...]

Must See Shows (9/25/24-10/1/24)

Wednesday, 9/25 @ 7pm Great Lake Swimmers w/ Tough Old Bird & Abe Partridge @ Buffalo Iron Works Indie folk outfit Great Lake Swimmers makes a mid-week stop in Buffalo on Wednesday 9/25. Based out of Toronto, Buffalo might be the easiest gig logistically for the band to reach, so expect the Swim team to be on their A-game. Since forming in the early 2000s, Great Lake Swimmers have received high praise from critics and fans alike with their earnest and homespun Americana sound. If you’re a fan of Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, or Fleet Foxes, plan on heading down to the Cobblestone District. Opening up the night are Buffalo-based indie folk act, Tough Old Bird, and Alabama singer/songwriter Abe Partridge. Tickets are $25. Thursday, 9/26 @ 7pm The Japanese House @ Electric City English pop star The Japanese House will be in town this week at downtown Buffalo’s[...]

10 Acts to Catch Music is Art 2024

Music is Art is a dream come true for Buffalo music fans looking to Kobayashi the local scene in 12 hours. The list of local talents playing this year can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for, so we put together a compilation of ten bands to add to your must-see list this weekend. If you’re a blog-reading regular, you may notice we aren’t writing about the many established local acts that are great and we’ve covered ad hoc. There are dozens of bands playing that we won’t discuss today, as we’ve already exhausted hundreds of adverbs over the past ten-plus years via album reviews and show previews. The purpose of this article is to add some newer bands to your knowledge base and expand everyone’s horizons. Should you see bands that aren’t on this list? For sure. One of the best aspects of this[...]

Must See Shows (9/18/24-9/24/24)

Wednesday, 9/18 @ 7pm STRFKR w/ Happy Sad Face @ Electric City Ever-evolving Portland electro-pop act STRFKR returns to Buffalo mid-week to deliver ear worms from the band’s deep catalog. Since forming in 2007, the outfit has seen massive success on the indie scene with their knack for melodies that live inside your head and never seem to reach an expiration date. STRFKR is touring in support of their seventh album, Parallel Realms, released via the band’s long-term partner Polyvinyl Records. If STRFKR isn’t already a staple on your playlist, then it would be recommended for fans of Passion Pit, Toro y Moi, or the synth-heavy side of of Montreal. Also sharing the stage will be Joshua Tree-based psych-pop act, Happy Sad Face. Doors are somewhere around $29 to get in.   Friday, 9/20 @ 7pm Man on Man w/ Star Theory @ Mohawk Place Polyvinyl really makes a splash[...]

Must See Shows (9/11/24-9/17/24)

Saturday, 9/14 @ 7pm Elemantra w/ Patchwork @ Black Dots The west side is set to host a double banger with locals Elemantra and Patchwork this Saturday night at one of Buffalo’s best record stores. The lineup consists of two locals at the top of Buffalo’s indie scene. Elemantra may be up your alley if you are a fan of a shoeagaze-y Mew meets Slowdive vibes, while Patchwork will impress followers of the 90’s college radio scene. Both bands are worth the field trip and it’s just $10 to support local artists.   Photo: Adam Parshall Monday, 9/16/24 @ 7pm Pile w/ Oceanator @ Buffalo Iron Works It’ll be a Monday night ripper with the return of Boston’s Pile to the 716. The heavy hitting act will be debuting at the highest capacity venue they’ve played in the city, coming a long way from the days of playing on Niagara[...]