News

Just Announced: Lord Huron

LA based folk band Lord Huron will be back in Buffalo this summer on Tuesday, July 28th. After playing at Mohawk Place a couple years back, the quartet has now graduated to the stage of Town Ballroom. Lord Huron made its full length debut in 2012 with the ethereal collection of tunes, Lonesome Dreams, and just yesterday, dropped its sophomore LP, Strange Trails, which should see some serious road testing this summer as the band rolls through town. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 10th, at noon for $23 in advance, $26 day of. Widowspeak will join Lord Huron as support.

Just Announced: !!!

This morning, ESI announced it would be bringing one of the best live party bands, !!!, back to Buffalo after a 3+ year hiatus. On Friday, May 22nd, the dance punk act will be getting sweaty in the Ninth Ward basement. !!! (pronounced chk chk chk) have been mainstays in the indie dance sector, coming up with the likes LCD Soundsystem and remaining active long after. So pack your short shorts, hydrate up, and prepare to witness one of the best shows to come to Buffalo this summer. Tickets can be purchased on ticketweb for a cool $15.

Just Announced: Strand of Oaks

One of 2014’s best success stories came from Timothy Showalter’s Strand of Oaks project. Last summer, the Philadelphia rocker released his acclaimed new album, the emotionally raw Heal, which was anchored by the blistering lead single, “Goshen 97” and the devastatingly nostalgic nod to Song: Ohio’s Jason Molina on “JM.” In leaving some of his folk roots behind, Heal would go on to find itself on countless year end lists and put Showalter under an unexpected spotlight. To keep the momentum going, Showalter will take Strand of Oaks on a summer tour in support of Heal, which will include a stop in Buffalo on Saturday, July 25th at the Tralf Music Hall Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Apri 3rd at noon, for $10.

Just Announced: Pile

This afternoon it was announced that Boston-based heavy indie rockers / 2015 tour warriors, Pile, will be taking the stage at Mohawk Place on Sunday, May 17th. The band has literally been all over the country in 2015, playing for four months straight in support of the highly praised album You’re Better Than This. After listening to the album over and over again this afternoon, I would best describe it as meeting in the middle venn diagram between Cursive, Pissed Jeans, and Attic Abasement. The bill will definitely be the best line-up on Buffalo that night. Support for Pile comes from spooky locals, JOHNS, who are still high on their very successful release show for Grift Marks as well as buzzing heavy-hitters, the Slums. No word on doors, but I imagine it would be on the early side and well worth your money.

Just Announced: The Rolling Stones

After weeks of rumors, its turns out those Rolling Stones to the Ralph speculations are true after all. The British Rock legends will play the Orchard Park stadium on Friday, July 11th as a part of their Zip Code tour, a tour that will take the band to 15 stadiums in 15 cities. The tour will also coincide with the deluxe re-issue of the Stones’ classic Sticky Fingers album, set to drop on May 25th. Arguably the greatest band in rock n roll history, as long as you don’t get into the argument with a Beatles fan, the Stones have continued to stay relevant over the years as the members have toured their asses off while celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary back in 2013, and sadly, performing an unfortunately boring and predictable Super Bowl Half Time show in 2006. Tickets are set to go on sale on Friday, April 10th at[...]

The Wrecking Crew One Night Only at the North Park Theatre

Next Wednesday, the North Park Theatre will be hosting for one night only the documentary The Wrecking Crew, chronicling the legendary Hollywood studio musicians that played on hits by Phil Spector, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Nancy Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel, Glenn Campbell, and countless others. Their contributions to music history and global pop culture are profound, but their efforts have been largely unsung, until now thanks to this film, which lit it up on the festival circuit before arriving in Buffalo next week. The Wrecking Crew were musicians’ musicians, the ones studios called first when they needed hit music for artists recording throughout Los Angeles or for a TV show or film, and they included conductor/arranger Jack Nitzsche, Hal Blaine,  Carol Kaye, Dr. John, Leon Russell, and Niagara Falls native Tommy Tedesco, whose guitar can be heard in Bonanza, M.A.S.H., Batman, Green Acres, the[...]

Buffalo Porchfest Continues to Seek Bands, Porches

Despite this last gasp of what has been a truly horrible winter, better times are ahead. One sign that spring will at some point arrive in its true form is the announcement that the forth installment of the Buffalo Porchfest, presented by the Elmwood Village Association, will be going down on Saturday, May 9th. The concept is still as simple always: a band plays on a porch somewhere in the village and patrons can roam the neighborhood with the handy map/guide and take in a day of sun and music. Well, maybe just plan on music. After a really strong showing in last May’s installment, which saw the bi-annual festival feature performances from bands like Merchants, Radarada, Humble Braggers, and Alex Berkely & the Atlanta Falcons, the line up seemed to take a bit of a step back last fall. The on again, off again, and then straight up pouring[...]

Just Announced: UB Spring Fest

The State University of NEW YORK (see the men’s basketball jerseys) at Buffalo continues to prove it is with the times as its Student Association announced this year’s Spring Fest yesterday, set to be headlined by Young the Giant on Saturday, May 2nd. N̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶l̶t̶-̶B̶u̶f̶f̶a̶l̶o̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶w̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶b̶u̶s̶y̶ ̶l̶o̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶i̶t̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶u̶p̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶K̶e̶r̶f̶u̶f̶f̶l̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶n̶o̶u̶n̶c̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶.̶   Nevermind, they found time to sponsor this. The rest of the bill, though, is comprised of alternative radio mainstays Bear Hands, In the Valley Below, Banks, and local act, Royal Tongues, so it’s close enough. UB, who frequently seemed a tad out of touch on many of its Fall/Spring Fest acts, took a major step in the right direction with last year’s Kendrick Lamar show, although I am still waiting for them to top that Outkast Spring Fest when I was in high school. The multi-band show will once[...]

Just Announced: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

With spring in full bloom (sort of), Artpark has begun to roll out its summer concert schedule. We learned of the My Morning Jacket show a few weeks ago, along with Amos Lee just recently. The next show that should be of note is an August 4th engagement with Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. The retro soul act will be a part of the “Wheels of Soul Summer Tour 2015” along with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Doyle Bramhall III. The show will be the conclusion to the venue’s annual  “Tuesday at the Park” series. After successfully beating cancer last year, its a pleasure to see Jones and her band returning to the WNY area. Those who caught them a few years back at Town Ballroom know should expect another soul explosion from the dynamic front woman and one of music’s finest backing bands. Tickets will on sale this Friday,[...]

Just Announced: Melt-Banana

One of 2013’s more bonkers shows in Buffalo had to be Melt-Banana’s ridiculous fall show at the Tralf Music Hall. The schizophrenic, Japanese punk/pop/noise group unleashed a chaotic set full of squealing guitars, out of control percussion, and songs sung so strangely you barely recognized they were sung in English. Concert opener Lesionread, who was still establishing her live act, even brought along a 15 foot machine pinata to the show, which was quickly destroyed at her request almost as quickly as it was assembled on the venue floor. If you missed this one-of-a-kind show, fear not. Melt-Banana will be back in town on Saturday, May 16th, at the strangely early time of 6pm, this time around at Mohawk Place. Tickets will go on sale this Friday at noon for $14 in advance, $16 day of.

Celebrate the Vernal Equinox with Igloo

The Igloo Music crew is back again with another party, this time to celebrate the oncoming spring. That beautiful moment when light and day are nearly the same and around the world various cultures are celebrating the renewing symbolism of the season. Maintain your enthusiasm for spontaneity, the location of the event on Friday, March 20th will not be announced until the day of, by calling a hot-line number. “I still dig the concept of being secretive about the location of events. It’s fun and can build up great anticipation for the partygoer, especially if it’s at a spot that no one has never seen or been to ever,” said Igloo’s Rufus Gibson. “Buffalo has a very structured party scene. Same show, same venue, same time of year. We wanted to break the mold and throw a little mystery in the mix,” said the crew’s John Sullivan. “Our goal is[...]

Just Announced: Great Lake Swimmers

The next couple months should be a formidable stretch for Buffalo folk fans. Horse Feathers and Shakey Graves will run through town within a two day period at the end of this month. And now, on Saturday, May 16th, Great Lake Swimmers are set to make a stop in Buffalo at the Tralf Music Hall. The Canadian folk outfit will be on the road in support of its forthcoming album, A Forrest of Arms, due out this April. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 13th, for $14 in advance/$16 at the door.

Just Announced: AWOLNATION

Just yesterday, alternative rock giants, AWOLNATION, announced a summer return to Western New York. After a successful show at the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls in 2013, the band will be back in support of its new album, Run (3/17), on Sunday, June 28th at Town Ballroom. Hearing a packed house at the Rapids all scream along the lyrics to the hit single “Sail” was one of the crazier concert experiences I’ve had, and I definitely look forward to seeing the AWOLNATION again. Take my word for it, this band can put on an incredible show. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13th, at noon for $25 in advance and $30 day of show via Ticketfly.  A VIP meet and greet package will also be available.

Just Announced: Tyler, the Creator

Odd Future/OFWGTKA’s often controversial leader, Tyler, the Creator, will be returning to the Town Ballroom on June 14th. Known for his over the top, extremely hyped antics, Tyler will undoubtedly liven up the Main Street venue, even if it is just a Sunday. Earlier this year, Tyler reported he would be recording with Mac DeMarco, a collaboration that is intriguing to say the least. Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 13th, at noon for $30 via Ticketfly. Fuck Steve Harvey.

Update: Date Change For WBNY’s Battle of the Bands

Due to a scheduling conflict, WBNY’s highly anticipated Battle of the Bands at the Buffalo Iron Works has been moved up a night to Friday, April 24th. Submissions closed yesterday, while the finalists who will be competing at Iron Works will be announced in the next few weeks. Stay tuned…