Photos

Tid’ The Season Night Two at Riverworks (12/11/21)

December 28, 2021 Brendan O'Connor

After taking a year off from their holiday shows, local legends Every Time I Die returned to their hometown and brought their annual Christmas shows back to Buffalo Riverworks this past weekend. Still riding high off the release of their latest critically acclaimed record released earlier this year, Radical, the Buffalo boys made for a weekend to remember for locals and out of towners alike. With pre parties and after parties on Friday and Saturday, a pre show at Rec Room on Thursday, and a massive curated list of stuff to do in the city, the boys in ETID turned Buffalo into a whirlwind for the weekend. If you were in local restaurants or small businesses, odds are you saw someone going to the shows. The energy that these shows produce not only at the venue, but in the city as well, is truly something special. Both nights, ETID played career[...]

Tid’ The Season Night One at Riverworks (10/10/21)

December 21, 2021 Brendan O'Connor

Wilco & Sleater-Kinney at Artpark (8/26/21)

August 31, 2021 Brendan O'Connor

Last Thursday, Wilco and Sleater-Kinney shared the stage for a fantastic show in Lewiston. Artpark provided the perfect scenic backdrop for a great end of summer show. Chicago based multi instrumentalist NNAMDÏ kicked the night off, performing a short but sweet sonically diverse set with a tight backing band. Following a short rain delay, Sleater-Kinney took the stage and played a high energy, slightly shortened set focusing on tracks from their new LP which dropped earlier this year, Path of Wellness, as well as a bunch of tracks from their 2005 LP, The Woods, among others. Wilco played an epic 18 song career spanning set, which was also shortened due to another rain delay a few tracks in. After a slight delay, the rain didn’t seem to bother the crowd, as the majority of the crowd stuck around for the whole show. We sent blog photographer, Brendan O’Connor (@brendanoconnor139 on[...]

‘Tid The Season Night Two at Riverworks (12/14/19)

December 18, 2019 Brendan O'Connor

It’s difficult to think of a band that puts on for their city harder than Every Time I Die. Over the years, ETID’s holiday shows have become bigger and bigger, and have evolved into a city wide phenomenon that can’t be ignored. The holiday shows have grown into a two day affair at Buffalo Riverworks, featuring 12 out of town bands of varying genres and two 25+ song headlining sets from Every Time I Die. The second day featured sets from Seeyouspacesowboy, Candy, Mongol Horde, Cave In, The Get Up Kids, Ghostface Killah, and Glassjaw. Thousands of fans from all over the world flocked to Buffalo over the weekend, saw all that our city has to offer, supported our businesses, and witnessed what is always one of the craziest shows of the year. I’m sure everyone in attendance is already counting down the days until next year. Check out our photos from the second night of the shows below,[...]

‘Tid The Season Night One at Riverworks (12/13/19)

December 17, 2019 Brendan O'Connor

It’s difficult to think of a band that puts on for their city harder than Every Time I Die. Over the years, ETID’s holiday shows have become bigger and bigger, and have evolved into a city wide phenomenon that can’t be ignored. The holiday shows have grown into a two day affair at Buffalo Riverworks, featuring 12 out of town bands of varying genres and two 25+ song headlining sets from Every Time I Die. The first day alone featured All Get Out, Harm’s Way, Terror, The Damned Things, Against Me!, and of course, ETID. Thousands of fans from all over the world flocked to Buffalo over the weekend, saw all that our city has to offer, supported our businesses, and witnessed what is always one of the craziest shows of the year. I’m sure everyone in attendance is already counting down the days until next year. Check out our photos from the first night of[...]

Third Eye Blind at Artpark (7/3/19)

July 8, 2019 Brendan O'Connor

Last Wednesday, Third Eye Blind brought their Summer Gods 2019 tour to Artpark in Lewiston. The heat did not deter the eager crowd, as the outdoor amphitheater seriously filled filled out over the course of the blistering day. Around 6pm, Ra Ra Riot set things into motion with a short, solid set which definitely got the crowd warmed up. Jimmy Eat World then took the stage, playing a career spanning set which heavily focused on their classic 2001 record, Bleed American. It’s safe to say that Jimmy Eat World’s hit filled set was definitely a highlight of the night. Third Eye Blind also took the same approach. They played tracks from all of their records, including some brand new material, but they mainly focused on their iconic 1997 Self-Titled debut LP. “Jumper,” “How’s It Gonna Be,” “Semi-Charmed Life,” they wasted no time in playing all the hits and lesser known[...]

Aqueous at Disc Jam (06/06/19)

June 17, 2019 Matt Shotwell

June 6th the 9th annual Disc Jam kicked off in the bucolic surroundings of Stephentown, NY. Thursday had a decidedly Buffalo vibe seeing how, among 30+ bands and DJs, Cypher’s electro rock stylings graced the tent stage and 716 jam stallions Aqueous headlined the night with two lengthy sets. Both sets featured a surprise cover with the Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” played for the first time in 142 shows and “The Hand That Feeds” by NIN being a debut, with plenty of jam staples in between, the second set opening “Random Company” being particularly hot, fans old and new happily made their way over to the late night stage. Grateful Dead inspired groove masters Circles Around the Sun had begun their set while the woods stage featured a silent disco into the wee hours of the morning. Aqueous Cypher Day 1 – Disc Jam 2019

Passion Pit at The Rapids Theatre (5/20/19)

May 23, 2019 Zach M Anderson

Michael Angelakos brought Passion Pit, his beloved indietronica passion project, back to Western New York to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the band’s acclaimed debut, Manners, with a stunningly euphoric show at The Rapids Theatre on May 20th. An exuberant collection of magnificent pop hooks and gossamer synthesizers, Manners unflinchingly chronicled Angelakos’ struggles with mental health, while earnestly pursuing the unabashed joy of human connection. Released the same year indie rock began its breakthrough into the mainstream, Manners still holds up as a gorgeous pop record with a very real human heart underneath the synthetic sheen. For the adoring fans in the crowd, watching Angelakos and his bandmates rekindle this magic onstage was a moment of pure joy and emotional catharsis, with every lyric recited in unison and every grand gesture met with applause. The giant halls of The Rapids Theatre weren’t big enough to contain the love and excitement[...]

Basement at Rec Room (05/17/19)

May 21, 2019 Brendan O'Connor

This past Friday, UK indie/pop punk outfit, Basement, made their return to Buffalo. Following their appearance a little over a year ago opening for The Front Bottoms at Riverworks, they now have a new album under their belt, titled Beside Myself. Though the group’s sound has slightly drifted from their original roots, it seemed to have work out for the better, as their fan base seems more passionate than ever. Buffalo showed up for the show, the crowd seemed to love every minute of their set, filling out the Rec Room. Their set list included a handful of new tracks, as well as a bunch of old ragers. Both the old and new kept the crowd moving throughout the entire set, and they treated Buffalo to a great show. The gig was kicked off with a tight set from 90’s inspired grunge/emo four piece Teenage Wrist, as well as a exceptional, immensely loud set from[...]

Wild Once at Mohawk Place (5/10/19)

May 16, 2019 Zach M Anderson

Fans of local music were treated to a superb showcase of the quality and diversity of Buffalo’s rock scene with Wild Once’s EP Release at Mohawk Place this past Friday, May 10th. Equal parts heartfelt and headstrong, Wild Once’s debut EP, Perennials (Admirable Traits Records), taps into the emotional ambivalence and messy uncertainty that define our lives and interpersonal relationships. Intertwining the dramatic thrust of midwestern emo with indie’s unvarnished charm, the band evoke heavy emotions without succumbing to melodramatics. Heavy-hitting supporting acts included Humble Braggers’ jubilant electronic-rock, Cooler’s gossamer cacophony, and Worse Things’ fuzzed-out fury. Worse Things Cooler Humble Braggers Wild Once

Ryan Luce at The Tabernacle (5/4/19)

May 7, 2019 Zach M Anderson

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Ryan Luce returned home to Buffalo to commemorate the release of his newest EP, California Gold, at the resplendent altar of The Tabernacle at Sweet_ness 7 Cafe on May 4th, with fellow Brooklynite and California native DM Salsberg as his supporting act. Drawing upon the rich musical tradition of folk, Americana, country, and Laurel Canyon rock, California Gold showcases Luce’s apt lyricism and plaintive voice, ruminating on love, loss, and the hopes and dreams of the small town everyman. With lush accompaniment by Omer Ashano on violin, Matthew Sapp on electic bass, Salsberg on keys and vocals, and Buffalo’s own musical polymath Harry Graser on drums, Luce enchanted the audience with his sweet and shimmering songs, as golden as a California sunset on the Santa Monica Pier. DM Salsberg Ryan Luce

Younger Then at Mr. Goodbar (4/27/19)

April 30, 2019 Zach M Anderson

Buffalo’s Younger Then ended a five-year hot streak with their final show at Mr. Goodbar on Friday, April 27th. Channeling their love of outsized alternative rock––U2, Arkells, Cage The Elephant, Kings of Leon, The Strokes, among others––the band combined richly-textured riffs with propulsive grooves, soaring vocals, and hooks as massive as the Grand Canyon. Playing to a packed house, the band pulled no punches, tearing through their greatest hits and fan favorites from their full-length album, “Bad Life” (Standby Records), and their self-titled debut EP. Though it was certainly bittersweet to commemorate the end of a talented group, the members of Younger Then––singer Zack Dupuis, guitarists Michael Wirth and Austin Dorr, drummer Jeremy Shields, and bassist Matt Dudek––are already planning their next moves, with a series of new projects in the works. Supporting acts included rust-belt rockers The Eaves and Rochester’s power-pop purveyors The Demos. The Eaves The Demos Younger Then

Lesionread at Mohawk Place (3/2/19)

March 5, 2019 Zach M Anderson

Audio-visual manipulator Shawn E. Lewis resurrected his Lesionread project for a night of mind-warping mayhem at Mohawk Place, having shifted his artistic focus to his on-going production/percussion duties for Space Cubs. Kicking off his set with “2019,” a frantic, stream-of-consciousness spoken word released as a video back in January, Lewis swan-dove deep into his psyche while simultaneously excoriating the corrupt institutions of the powers that be. Featuring a crazy light show, video projections, crowd participation, dancing red people, and a cameo appearance by Lesionread alumnus Reggie Clark on bass, Lewis didn’t blur the lines between performance art and live music; rather, he erased those distinctions entirely, creating a truly outrageous, interactive experience that has to be seen to be believed. Lesionread was supported that evening by Dogs in Stereo (lo-fi rock and roll), The Gennies (“Blues for recovering punks”), Reggie Clark’s VR Sunset (psychedelic yacht rock), and VHS Era (dreamy synth-pop). VHS Era[...]

M.A.G.S. at Nietzsche’s (12/22/18)

December 27, 2018 Zach M Anderson

Elliott Douglas, the multi-talented musical force behind M.A.G.S. came home for the holidays for a headlining slot at Buffalo’s Nietzsche’s on December 22nd. Having recently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his artistic muse, this rare opportunity for M.A.G.S. to play the Queen City was met with a rapturous response, as friends, peers, and fans came out of the woodwork in support of Douglas. A gifted singer-songwriter and a serious multi-instrumentalist, Douglas was joined by his brother Christian on bass and Deadwolf’s Tyler Mendola on drums for a raucous evening of impactful indie-punk classics, including a selection of brand-new songs. Supporting acts that evening included Feverbox, playing in support of their new Political Theater EP, Rochester’s The Demos, keeping the spirit of The Strokes alive and well, and powder-keg punks SMUG, setting the stage for a night of playful mayhem. SMUG The Demos Feverbox M.A.G.S.

Every Time I Die’s Annual Holiday Show at Buffalo Riverworks (12/15/18)

December 21, 2018 Brendan O'Connor

After last weekend, it’s safe to say that Buffalo is a better place with Every Time I Die. Following last year’s insane holiday show, tickets for last weekend’s festival sold out months in advance, and a crowd of 3,500 flocked to Buffalo Riverworks to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Buffalo born and raised, Every Time I Die have amassed an insane international following over their 20 year career, selling out massive shows not only all over the country, but the world. The madness that ensued at the show is something you can’t even really comprehend until you see it first hand. Fans from all over the world flew into our city for the show, supported our businesses, and celebrated the city they heard so much about from ETID. From start to finish, there was not a dull moment in the crowd, it was constant chaos. Even if you’re not a fan[...]