Photos

Public Enemy at Canalside (6/23/16)

July 12, 2016

It has been said that in this materialistic, over commercialized and warring world that we live in, that the music offered to the masses is dull, corporate and without voice or purpose. The cult of celebrity is upon us and it ceases to be about what we say & how we say it.  More often than not we are concerned with how we look and how others perceive us. We are measured by how many Twitter followers we have and by the amount of photographs we post on Instagram. Words are still powerful weapons but only when delivered by the right voice, speaking with utmost clarity & conviction. Since their formation over 30 years ago, the message from Public Enemy has been both loud & clear –  one love, nonviolence and brotherhood. These words were laid down unflinchingly Thursday night at Canalside in Buffalo as people of all colors came[...]

Charles Bradley @ Canalside (6/9/16)

June 28, 2016

The 2016 Canalside season kicked off in extraordinary style on Thursday, June 9th. One of the more interesting shows at the venue over the past couple years went down as Charles Bradley & the Extraordinaires provided a soulful experience for the enthusiastic crowd. Bradley’s set started with a sharply dressed backing band laying down a midtempo soul-funk foundation while the frontman was introduced by the bandleader and sashayed on stage. The set was littered with autobiographical tales hitting on heavy subjects: the songs played on Thursday hit on heartache, social injustice, and his lengthy, humanizing struggle to make for himself the blessed life he now leads. Bradley knows how to work an audience into a frenzy using all of the natural tools at his disposal: his serpentine arms and legs, his always-in-motion ass, and, oh yeah, a voice that could stop a bulldozer in its tracks. Let’s hope this is[...]

Frank Turner at Canalside (6/16/16)

June 17, 2016

Last night, Buffalo showed up for folk / alt rock act Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. Frank Turner’s ability to work the crowd shined through,  as by the end of the night, everyone near the stage at Canalside seemed to be having the time of their lives.   While a ton of people showed up, not TOO many people showed up (looking at you Matt & Kim), making the show a pleasant experience for all. With an opening set from alternative rock act July Talk, this was another stellar free Canalside show for the books.  Check out shots from the show below, and click HERE for a full gallery. July Talk Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls

The Soft Love EP Release Show at Mr. Goodbar (6/4/16)

June 7, 2016

This was the first Buffalo local show I’ve attended in quite some time considering I’ve been on the road so much. I’m glad I went to this because I’m truly stoked in the direction the music scene is heading in right now. I felt like I was in Brooklyn. Check out the photos below to see what I mean. Deadwolf The Naturalists The Soft Love Post and Photos by Andy DeLuca / @shmandeluca

Tiny Moving Parts at Waiting Room (05/31/16)

June 4, 2016

This past Wednesday night, the emos came out in droves to see Tiny Moving Parts at Waiting Room. The band has played Buffalo more than a few times over the past couple of years, and have built a strong local following. With relatable lyrics and a boisterous live show, the crowd was on its feet and singing along the whole show, partly due to some stellar opening sets from Buffalo’s own Alleys, as well as touring acts Free Throw and Prawn.  Check out some photos from the show below, and click HERE for a full gallery. Free Throw Prawn Tiny Moving Parts  

Protomartyr at Mohawk Place (5/10/16)

May 13, 2016

After my introduction to Protomartyr last year at Pitchfork Festival, I was immediately hooked.  The dark, churning, yet insanely catchy style of post punk that the band boasted caught my ears, and after buying their commercial debut, Under the Color of Light, I had it on repeat for months.  The band also release a new record last year, titled The Agent Intellect, which was not only just as phenomenal, but the way the songs translated live was nothing short of fantastic.  While the band kept it quite serious on stage with minimal crowd interaction,  they were able to create a live sound that was damn near perfect. Check out some photos from the show below, featuring Buffalo act Facility Men, Philly post punks Psychic Teens, and Protomartyr.  Click HERE for for a full gallery. Facility Men Psychic Teens Protomartyr  

Sunflower Bean at Mohawk Place (5/8/16)

May 11, 2016

Last Sunday, buzzing New York City three piece, Sunflower Bean,  rolled through the Mohawk Place.  With some support from locals Get Money Squad, I don’t think anyone in attendance walked away disappointed.  Check out some shots from the show below, and click here for a full gallery. Get Money Squad Sunflower Bean

Disturbed at Rapids Theater (4/5/16)

April 13, 2016

Chicago-based heavy metal band Disturbed performed at the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls last Tuesday night in support of their sixth album, Immortalized(the band’s 5th consecutive chart topping album).  An energetic, powerful and hits filled performance provided the fans with exactly what they have been waiting for during the band’s self-imposed four year hiatus. Performing a mixture of songs from their new album littered with hits from yesteryear and a few covers thrown in, Disturbed were triumphant in their return to WNY. Rapids Theatre was the perfect intimate setting for their latest cover of Simon & Garfunkles “Sound of Silence” and the venue was literally shaking as the band ended the night with “Down with Sickness.” Non Point Disturbed Setlist: Ten Thousand Fists The Game The Vengeful One Prayer Land of Confusion A Welcome Burden Stupify Darkness The Sound of Silence Inside the Fire Stricken The Light Closer / I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For /[...]

The Front Bottoms at Town Ballroom (4/6/16)

April 11, 2016

If I were to choose one word to describe The Front Bottoms’ show at Town Ballroom on April 6th, it would be fun.  Love them or hate them,  the New Jersey four piece known as The Front Bottoms have been packing venues across the world since their 2013 breakout release, Talon of the Hawk.  With the release of their 2015 record, titled Back on Top, the band has found more mainstream indie success, while their live shows still remain the same.  One big push pit, kids attempting to get as close to lead singer Brian Sella as possible, pointed fingers in the air.  All cheesiness and pop punk stereotypes aside, this band never ceases to put on some of the most fun live shows that I have ever attended, and the show at the Town Ballroom was no different.  On their first show of their tour, The Front Bottoms brought along up and coming[...]

Wolf Alice at The Tralf (4/6/16)

April 8, 2016

Coming from their European tour, Wolf Alice returned to  The Tralf on Wednesday night for the US portion of their tour for in support of their debut  album “My Love Is Cool.” The band gained a huge following in Europe after the release of their full LP, leading to the adding 2 extra nights in London. While not as big in the US, they had no trouble filling up the venue, bringing just as much energy to the crowd as they have been. Supporting them was fellow UK band, Slaves, who despite being the opening act still had quite a few fans throughout the crowd who were singing along to their set. Wolf Alice played through songs off their first album, as well as ones from earlier EPs like “Moaning Lisa Smile,” which brought the band up in the UK before America followed suit. SLAVES Alice Wolf

Sheer Mag at Mohawk Place (4/3/16)

April 6, 2016

From packing Black Dots Records a year ago to playing Coachella this spring, Sheer Mag is undoubtedly a success story.  There are VERY few “hype bands” that are actually worth hyping up, and Sheer Mag is number one on the list.   The band has managed to create a formula that not only the punks can get down with, but make a style of straight up rock music that is aware and accessible enough to break into the “normal” music scene.   Backed by Buffalo natives Uniform OPR and Radiation Risks, as well as touring act Laffing Gas, the venue had to have been near sold out. Boasting their Thin Lizzy-esqe riffs and all around commanding presence on stage, the 5 piece absolutely tore down the Mohawk Place, making this a show for the ages.  Check out some photos from the show below, and click here for a full gallery. Radiation Risks Laffing Gas Sheer Mag

Kurt Vile at Asbury Hall (3/31/16)

April 4, 2016

While it has taken Kurt Vile a while to make a stop in Buffalo for a show, all in attendance were treated to a special night at Asbury Hall that made it well worth the wait. Mike Polizze of Philly act, Purling Hiss, opened up the show, utilizing loops of acoustic, electric, and bass guitars to create soundscapes topped off with incredible sounding vocals to boot.  When Kurt Vile took the stage, the band jumped into their set with three tracks off of his stellar new record b’lieve i’m going down, and then kicked into a huge set spanning his entire discography, lasting almost 2 hours in total. Hopefully the Kurt and his band return to Buffalo sooner than later to take us another ride on their Freak Train.  Check out some photos from the show as well as the setlist below, and click here for a full gallery. Purling Hiss Kurt Vile[...]

Spring Fling Tour at First Niagara Center (03/28/16)

April 1, 2016

This past Monday, Buffalo was treated to arguably one of biggest indie tours of the year. The Spring Fling Tour packed the First Niagara Center, thanks to the four huge names on the tour.  Headlined by Cage the Elephant, the tour also brought along the up and comers, Bear Hands, alt-rock veterans Silversun Pickups, and the massive UK indie act Foals along for the ride.  All four bands were total crowd pleasers, the huge audience in attendance even brought the singers of two of the bands into the crowd for some face to face.  Check out some photos from the show below, and click here for a full gallery. Bear Hands Foals Silversun Pickups Cage The Elephant

Titus Andronicus at the Tralf Music Hall (03/21/16)

March 24, 2016

On their biannual trip to the Tralf Music Hall on Monday night,  New Jersey punks, Titus Andronicus,  were able to not only pull a surprisingly sizable crowd for a Monday night, but also create one of the best atmospheres at a show I have seen in a while.  The band brought along The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn to kick the night off, for a set in which he played mostly solo material, along with one Hold Steady tune,  “Certain Song,” and one Lifer Puller track, “Nasaau Coliseum”. As Titus Androncius took the stage, frontman Patrick Stickles took the time to warn the crowd about how slam dancing and crowd surfing makes some audience members unsafe, and kind of hinted not to do it in an effort to make everyone feel safe at the show.  This however did not stop the crowd from breaking out into a mosh pit at multiple points[...]

PUP at the Studio at Waiting Room (2/11/16)

February 15, 2016

“It’s really cool to see you all here, because the last time we played Buffalo, we played to like 17 people in a giant amphitheater,” PUP vocalist/guitarist Stefan Babcock addressed the crowd a few songs into the band’s already raucous set last night at the Studio at Waiting Room.  It is clear that Warped Tour was to blame here (as usual), as PUP’s blasting, fun, punk tunes had already had the crowd on their feet by the first songs of the band’s set.  There was no rest within the crowd for the majority of PUP’s set, kids taking to the stage to sing along and stage dive during the band’s insane live renditions of their tracks, warmed up just right by sets from Buffalo natives The Slums and Toronto act Pkew Pkew Pkew. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again,  PUP is a band that is best seen live.  There is no[...]