News

R.I.P. Ted Reinhardt

March 9, 2015

There is a significant generational gap between us “millenials” and those who are most familiar with Ted Reinhardt’s extensive and brilliant music career. Before many of us were even born, Ted had already been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 1985. Though the larger demographic of buffaBLOG readers are not familiar with a significant portion of his music career, any of us that had met him will likely be able to recount the meetings with genuine enthusiasm. I had met Ted at the now extinct Club Diablo after his set with Left Hand of Darkness, where he showed me his remarkable drum set, and encouraged me to make use of the extra snare drum which he had placed vertically on an arm attached to his cymbal leg, with a kick pedal used to strike it. This was the same man that I had seen earlier in the night sitting in his car in the middle of the dark[...]

Just Announced: Father John Misty

March 3, 2015

I guess these show announcements are coming in threes today. First Modest Mouse, then My Morning Jacket, and now, we have Father John Misty, set to return to the Town Ballroom, this time in a headlining role, on Saturday, August 1st. Since leaving Fleet Foxes and his J. Tillman moniker behind, Josh Tillman’s newest project has grown into a cult like status, no thanks to his engaging and rather tongue-in-cheek stage performances. His latest album, I Love You Honeybear, has been blog approved across the board, he delivered a viral performance on Letterman earlier this year that may only rival Future Islands’ star making performance from 2014, and is set for a big 2015 with this tour. His last visit to Buffalo was in support of Youth Lagoon and Tillman proceeded to steal the show, so don’t sleep on him this time around. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March[...]

Just Announced: My Morning Jacket

March 3, 2015

I first caught My Morning Jacket live in the fall of 2002 opening for Manchester’s The Doves at the Kool Haus in Toronto. The Louisville based band was an unknown to me at the time and the members had yet to clean up their shaggy image, looking the part of what a Southern rock band should look like. Jim James’ hair was down to his knees and spun it in an almost hypnotic rhythm as the band proceeded to destroy “One Big Holiday.” I was so blown away by the band that I went to see them again the following night in Rochester at Water Street. Since then, the band has been steadily releasing albums over the years, with highlights including It Still Moves and Z, but MMJ is most definitely a live band, one whose shows have reached near legendary statuses over the years and should be seen in[...]

Just Announced: Modest Mouse

March 3, 2015

After a seven year hiatus, long time Washington indie rockers, Modest Mouse, will release its long awaited new album, Strangers to Ourselves, on March 17th. The band will be celebrating the release with a spring tour, one that includes a stop at Babeville’s Asbury Hall, on Friday, April 17th, just four days prior to the venue’s sold out Neutral Milk Hotel show. Thats a #winning week for Babeville right there. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 6th, at noon for $52 in advance, $55 day of.

Just Announced: Landlady

February 23, 2015

We are having one of those slow days in the office again, just staring out the window, watching Buffalo continue to freeze, but luckily, an under-the-radar show just got added to the Mohawk Place calendar that we think is worth your attention. Brooklyn’s off kilter Landlady, a band which combines elements of Dirty Projects, TV on the Radio, and Yellow Ostrich, will be making its return to Buffalo on Wednesday, April 22nd, at Mohawk Place. Those in attendance at the Silo Sessions launch party this past summer saw the five-piece put on a stunning performance as the sun set along side the grain elevators while on tour in support of the fantastic 2014 release, Upright Behavior. Speaking of Silo Sessions, the show is in support of a new collaborative project between the video series and the Public, so keep an eye out for further details. Tickets are available (we think), and[...]

Just Announced: The Pixies

February 23, 2015

This morning, Niagara Falls’ most prestigious venue, The Rapids Theatre (sorry Hard Rock Cafe) announced it would be hosting legendary indie rock group, The Pixies, this spring as the college rock legends will be hitting the Falls on Tuesday, May 19th. Despite making several “reunion” appearances over the years, in 2014, the band formally returned with the release of the underwhelming Indie Cindy, its first formal LP since 1991, and the first without long time founding member Kim Deal. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 27th, at 10am for $45.50-$50. This could be a sell out so don’t sit on this one.

Just Announced: Glass Animals

February 17, 2015

After what seemed like an extended lull, Asbury Hall is getting back in the game with some quality shows down the pipeline. In addition to April’s now sold out Neutral Milk Hotel engagement, the Babeville complex, along with Ithaca based promoter Dan Smalls Presents, will be hosting one of 2014’s rising acts, Glass Animals, this coming June. The Oxford bred, electro-pop four piece released the buzz worthy debut album, Zaba, led by singles “Gooey” and “Black Mambo,” this past summer, and will be playing the Delaware venue on Tuesday, June 16th. The band appears to be using the Buffalo date as a prep before hitting the festival circuit later this summer. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 20th, for $17.50 in advance, $20 day of.

Just Announced: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

February 16, 2015

Just about four years ago, we threw our first birthday party at Nietzsche’s. We only had about six regular writers at the time, and none of us knew the first thing about putting on a show. Half of the musicians we asked to play were underage (something Curt still won’t let me live down), we were clueless on what to pay the  bands (we played them A LOT that night), and really had no idea if anyone would come. We even asked Lloyd Taco, this is before Chris and Pete had a fleet of trucks and were being given $250K by CNBC to open a restaurant, to park outside for food. We practically had to beg people to go out and get tacos. This was before the food trucks really took over Buffalo mind you. That birthday party ended up being amazing, still one of my favorite shows we have[...]

Just Announced: Cloud Nothings

February 12, 2015

When you think of Fredonia’s BJ’s, you normally think of college bands, bands like Mooses and Zealot, playing to the loyal local audiences and co-eds. In fact, one of Plainsman’s many phallic objects is still probably lying around the bar from a past Well Worn Boot show. What you don’t think of when you think of BJ’s, at least not initially, is the band Cloud Nothings. This is one of the biggest acts in indie rock right now. But, just over a half an hour ago, the bar announced via FB and Twitter that the Cleveland three-piece will be playing the college town haunt on Friday, May 8th. The bar then channeled  Almost Famous with a follow up status of “ITS ALL HAPPENING.” The bar is clearly ending the semester on a high note. The now trio followed up its breakthrough album, Attack on Memory, with 2014’s equally impressive Here and Nowhere Else last[...]

Revolver Records Lauches Storefront Crowd Funding Campaign

February 9, 2015

We don’t normally get behind too many crowd funding campaigns here at the blog. I mean, do we really need to help pay for another food truck at this point? Late last week, though, Revolver Records, a garage run vinyl store, launched a GoFundMe campaign to get its own shop up and running. If you have been to the Peddler during the summer or taken a stroll by Bureau on Friday afternoons, then you have prob run into Phil Machemer and his great collection of both quality used and new records. He and his wife, Kerri, are hoping to raise enough money to open their own storefront in the near future. Despite the recent surge in vinyl sales, record shops are still a dying breed so its great to potentially have another shop open up in Buffalo down the read. The Machemers still have a ways to reach their goal, so[...]

Del Paxton to Release Split on Topshelf Records

February 4, 2015

We’ve been hearing whispers on the streets for months that one of Buffalo’s best bands will be getting picked up by a big indie. We’re excited to announce that the rumor mill is correct… Del Paxton, our resident emo-flavored math-rockers, have signed to the thriving indie label, Topshelf Records. The Paxt will release a new 7″ split on with fellow Topshelf signees Gulfer. Topshelf will be a good home for the band – Del Paxton is now labelmates with legendary veterans Braid as well as strong up-and-comers like You Blew It!, Prawn, and The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die. Del Paxton’s contributions to the split were recorded between go-to local producer Jay Zubricky of GCR and Cleveland’s Whiteout Audio. The split is set to drop on April 7th. Photo Credit – Nick Karp

WBNY’s Battle Of The Bands Accepting Submissions

January 28, 2015

Hot off a resurgent 2014, Buff State’s gift to Western New York music lovers WBNY 91.3 has announced they’re running a Battle of the Bands contest that culminates April 25th at Buffalo Iron Works . Between now and March 8th, prospective contestants can submit 3 ORIGINAL songs for consideration by a panel of august local luminaries including the News’ Jeff Meirs, the Public’s Corey Perla, and the Mohawk’s Marty Boratin, with six bands duking it out in the Cobblestone District this April for top prizes. 1st place wins 5 hours of studio time at Good Charamel Records and a gift certificate to Allentown Music, 2nd place gets $125 worth of screen printed shirts courtesy of Positive Approach and a $50 gift certificate to Spiral Scratch Records, and 3rd place receives a photo session with Photography By Nico and a $50 gift certificate to Black Dots. Original submissions will be accepted[...]

2015 Buffalo Infringement Festival Poster Design Contest Open for Submissions

January 27, 2015

It may not look it outside, but the wheels are already in motion for year 11 of the Buffalo Infringement Festival (July 23rd – August 2nd), an 11 day spectacle centered around Allentown and behind that encompasses anything and everything under the performance arts umbrella, and even a bit more. One event simply served coffee a couple years ago. Anyways, venues are being locked down, musicians are submitting proposals, but before any of that, the festival needs a damn poster. So that’s where you, artists or non, come in. The organizers have opened submissions for the 2015 Infringement Festival Post Design Contest. Designs are being accepted through Sunday, February 15th, and the winner gets a cool $100. There are more technical requirements for the design so I will let the poster below do the rest of the talking. Good Luck.

Just Announced: METZ

January 26, 2015

When Mohawk Place, or I guess Buffalo’s Mohawk Place as it’s now technically called, reopened its doors this past fall, it had some growing pains. The sound wasn’t quite right, a bit of character was lost, and there was a lot of Magic Hat, like everywhere. But once the new owners and bookers got their feet wet, the place started to recapture some of the venue’s old spirit. Recent shows like Diarrhea Planet and the Wooden Waves album release show seemed to leave people with the impression that Mohawk had gotten some of its groove back, and with the exception of the loss of some of the old venue’s more colorful and crusty characters, the Hawk was settling back in just fine. The main reason of the new Mohawk Place’s coming of age has been this recent run of great bookings, and if rumors are true, even more are to[...]

Just Announced: Big Data

January 23, 2015

One of 2014’s major breakout acts was Big Data, the project of Brooklyn electronic musician, Alan Wilkes. We like to think that JOYWAVE’s Dan Armbruster taking lead vocals on the hit song, “Dangerous,” certainly didn’t hurt either. You couldn’t go through a single commercial break without hearing the track pop up on TV. The Rochester musician was featured on Big Data’s sneaky good first single, “The Stroke of Return,” as well (listen at the bottom of post). After making its Buffalo debut this past summer at Kerfuffle, Big Data will be returning to to town on Thursday, April 7th at the Showplace Theater. Raise your hand if you thought shows were still being held there. Exactly. The show is being presented by Alt Buffalo so if you happen to follow the radio station on social media, expect A LOT of reminders about this one. You have been warned. Tickets go[...]