Preview

Tonight: Night Slaves

March 13, 2020

Inventive industrial act Night Slaves will be celebrating the release of their newest LP THREE AND A HALF with a show tonight at Revolution Gallery. Anchored by core members David Kane and John Toohil, the group has recently expanded to include Lucy Bell, Ryan McMullen, and Kelly Mourdant. Their sound is an amalgam of 60s garage rock, psychedelic Brit-pop, darkcore, and just a smattering of sardonic post-punk sensibility. While previous releases, such as 2018’s Night Slaves III, have leaned more heavily towards the darker industrial side, their new album finds the group embracing a new sound. Their new single “ABSOLUTE” is a deeply infectious dance track, much in the spirit of “HandClap” by Fitz and the Tantrums. It will be interesting to see the direction this album takes, but I for one am excited. Providing support will be psych-chamber pop group Parade Chic, and lo-fi dream pop artist Ex-Pat. Revolution[...]

Tonight: Candy Ambulance

March 10, 2020

Candy Ambulance make their return to Buffalo tonight with a sweet midweek gig at Mohawk Place. The three-piece grunge rock band hailing from Troy make are in town in support of their latest length release, Traumantic. Released last September, Traumatic showcases Candy Ambulance’s raw and powerful sound. Fans of late 90s alternative scene will surely enjoy their set. Local support comes from the unstoppable indie punk band Passed Out, whose direct raw energy will surely get people moving. Also joining the lineup are new kids on the block, Olmsted. Fronted by former Halo Nellie guitarist Nate Miller, the fairly new and fresh group will be bringing their lo-fi bedroom sounds to the main stage. Doors are at 7pm with a $5 cover. Written by Zain Shirazi

Tonight: The Get Up Kids

March 8, 2020

Kansas City emo forefathers The Get Up Kids will make their biennial stop in Buffalo tonight to play Rec Room amid a North American tour in support of their latest release, Problems (2019) – their first full-length since 2011. Though they aren’t happy to associate themselves with the genre, The Get Up Kids were major players in the midwest emo scene in the ‘90s and continue to be hugely influential to both emo and pop punk bands today. Their second album Something to Write Home About (1999) garnered wide acclaim, launched them into worldwide fame, and eventually became a second-wave emo classic. In the 20+ years since then, The Get Up Kids grew into the alternative rock scene of the 2000s and 2010s, survived a temporary breakup, and bumped their full-length release count to six. Problems, a release that fell around the 20th anniversary of that beloved sophomore release, takes a step[...]

Tonight: Summer Salt

March 5, 2020

Midway through their 2020 Tour, Summer Salt bring their warm sunny jams to Rec Room tonight. Expect breezy and chill vibes from the Austin band, who seem like they have mastered the art of writing relaxing beach tunes. They released their latest EP Favorite Holiday Vol. 1 this past Christmas Eve. If you’re looking for some say listening psych-pop on a Thursday evening, Rec Room is the place to be. Summer Salt has brought along Nashville Motown psychedelic duo Okey Dokey and Tempe alt rockers Breakup Shoes along for the ride. Tickets are $17 and doors are at 7pm. Written by Zain Shirazi

Tonight: VACATION

March 5, 2020

Head downtown to get switched on tonight by Cincinnati lo-fi garage rockers VACATION when they roll through the Mohawk with some staples from the local punk scene. Getting free via a raw sound that fuses punk, early Flaming Lips psychedelia, and crisp songwriting, VACATION are touring behind their other dimensional 2019 LP Zen Quality Seed Crystal. Opening the show will be a rare performance from Alpha Hopper and shredding punk trio Personal Style. Cover is $8 and doors are at 7:30pm. Zen Quality Seed Crystal by VACATION

Tonight: Telefon Tel Aviv

February 26, 2020

A powerhouse of the 2000s underground electronic movement makes its way into the Nickel City tonight for the first time. Telefon Tel Aviv helped drive the IDM and glitch scene for the first half of the aughts; experimenting with electronic music customs and influencing bedroom producers for years to come. Following the tragic death of Charles Cooper in 2009, Joshua Eustis abandoned the name while working on projects elsewhere, touring with likes of Nine Inch Nails and Puscifier.  Eustis recently returned to the Telefon Tel Aviv name while working on new material, bringing us 2019’s Dreams Are Not Enough. Hauschildt and Icky Reels join Eustis on the stage. The Rec Room show kicks off at 8pm – $25 cover.

Tonight: Kevin Scoma

February 22, 2020

The 9th Ward at Babeville hosts a tremendous evening of local indie singer/songwriters featuring Kevin Scoma, heave, and Koko Neetz, and the dead perfect acoustics of that intimate and lovely brick performance space in the basement. Kevin Scoma will be playing tunes from his excellent Into The Weeping Sea EP, a deeply melodic and captivating fragment of dream folk pop that translates like a charm in a live setting, or at least it did last fall in the Cantina at Duende. Opening the show will be Emily Finlan’s heave., who are currently preparing to go on tour behind the achingly sweet chamber folk of their 2019 debut full length LP Pike, and the sweet, soothing sounds of Koko Neetz, Andrew Kothen’s (guitarist for dreambeaches)  solo project. Doors are at 7pm, cover is $10, and a portion of the proceeds will be used to plant trees throughout Western New York. Into the Weeping Sea by Kevin Scoma

Tonight: PUP

February 21, 2020

Canadian punk rockers PUP will be gracing the Asbury Hall stage tonight for a sold out show. Riding the high of the release of their latest record Morbid Stuff, they will surely put on a high-energy show for Buffalo fans. PUP have become a staple in the punk community, with praise from top music magazines. Buffalo is just one stop on the band’s extensive world tour, ending in July. PUP will be joined by Toronto act Casper Skulls, known for their guitar dynamics and powerful vocals of Melanie St-Pierre’s. The Drew Thomson Foundation will start the night off with it’s power pop jams. Doors at 7pm, but only if you have a ticket.  Written by Zain Shirazi

Tonight: A Very Special Episode

February 21, 2020

NYC based post-punks A Very Special Episode headline a bill tonight at Sugar City. Since forming in 2016, the band has channeled the shoegaze energy found in their 2017 release Censored Dreams and embraced a punk aesthetic with their 2018 EP Cut for Time. 2018 also saw the band signing with upstart label Knuckle Down Records. Known for their energetic live performances, they’re a must-listen for fans of Bully, Sleater-Kinney, and Bikini Kill. They’ll be joined by upstart Buffalo indie-pop group Olmsted. Anchored by ex-Halo Nellie guitarist Nate Miller, the group has really started to make a name for themselves. Last seen at Steak and Cake’s 9 Year anniversary show, their dreamy aesthetic will certainly appeal to fans of The Beths, Snail Mail, and Soccer Mommy. Closing out the bill is buzzy indie-rockers Not For Nothing. While still relative newcomers, they hit the scene hard and have proved they’re a[...]

Tonight: Steak & Cake Records 9th Anniversary

February 15, 2020

The brainchild of local musician, producer and budding impresario Brandon Schlia, Steak & Cake Records has been a vital to the Buffalo music scene, and tonight area record label Steak & Cake Records celebrates nine years at Curly’s with a killer lineup of acts from their troupe of artists and an album release from Buffalo by way of Philadelphia grunge rockers Wylie Something. Spacey and pleasingly gnarly, Wylie Something is the latest project from Jacob Smolinski, previously of Cascos and Local Onlys, and he’s back in town to celebrate the release of his sophomore LP Welcome? which arrives today for your listening pleasure. Tonight’s lineup also features indie pop duo Olmsted, indie power pop duo Patchwork (one half of which is the boss Schlia himself), budding rock heroes Johnny & the Man Kids, garage punks Personal Style, and soulful art rocker outfit The Best Strangers will also be on hand to[...]

Tonight: Sugar City Soul Night

February 14, 2020

Sugar City Soul Night is back and this year it’s on Valentine’s Day night for all your booty shaking needs at Milkie’s on Elmwood, so don’t miss out. The primary fundraiser for the beloved and vital all ages DIY arts, performance and community space, Soul Night is all about tasty grooves guaranteed to keep you warm inside and out during a polar vortex or whatever. Soul Night 2020 will be featuring DJ sets from Handsome Dan, DJ Press, and Steve Soulson, spinning the hottest soul, r & b, funk, disco, and afrobeat from 10pm to 3am. As always, cover is $5, safe space rules will be in effect so please… no jerks, and unlike Sugar City’s other programming, Soul Night is 21 and up.

Tonight: Wild Once

February 14, 2020

Wild Once headlines a night of cathartic emo rock tonight at Mr. Goodbar. Fresh on the heels of their 2019 release Perennials, Wild Once have dropped a new track off their upcoming EP. Their new track “Trophy Girls,” the title track of their forthcoming EP, is an anthemic ode to digital addiction. As lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Mayer says: “On a broad scale… this song is sort of an acknowledgement of how often we catch each other staring at our phones these days. It’s to the point where we often don’t even feel rude whipping them out in the middle of a real life conversation. In both personal and professional situations. We use them to fill the fill the silence, that we get so bored and uncomfortable with so quickly. It makes us more lonely and yet we think it is the solution for loneliness. We weigh our options.[...]

Tonight: FOWLS

February 7, 2020

Angular indie rockers FOWLS make a return to Buffalo tonight, sharing a loaded stage with some of the area’s more notable talents. Hailing from Rochester, FOWLS have been a staple of the 585 local music scene for nearly nine years, which is is kind of like eighteen years in band years. The band’s light and dance-y sound is similar to that of FOALS, Bloc Party, and Bombay Bicycle Club. Tonight is a good chance to check this band out because they will be sandwiched with Medusa, fresh off their new single with Sons of Luther, Karrot Kake’s MIke Fridmann solo project KWKA, and of course the local staples that need little introduction, Aircraft. Doors at 9pm with a $7 cover. Wear a sweater. Palace to roam by Fowls

Tonight: Rhett Miller

February 6, 2020

Alt-country superstar Rhett Miller takes the stage tonight at the 9th Ward. Best known for his work as the frontman of the Old 97s, Miller has made quite a name for himself as a solo artist. His most recent release The Messenger from 2018, marks the eighth solo record from Miller. While decidedly more indie-pop than his work with the Old 97s, Miller sings with a convicted vulnerability that is instantly captivating. The Messenger is a deeply personal record that shows Miller at his highs as well as his lows. Miller’s sound will definitely appeal to fans of Uncle Tupelo, Jason Isbell, and Justin Townes Earle. Joining Miller on the bill is fellow Texas based songwriter Salim Nourallah. Nourallah approaches the same alt-country material as Miller with a decidedly atmospheric psych-pop approach. Local troubadour Tripi opens the show. 7pm Show. Tickets are $36. Written by John Smigielski

Tonight: Boy Jr.

February 1, 2020

Rochester based artful garage-pop act Boy Jr. headlines a deeply interesting indie bill tonight at Nietzsche’s. The brainchild of songwriter Erica Allen-Lubman treads the boundaries between angsty garage rock and full on glam pop. Lubman is also a captivating persona, and will definitely draw you into her performance. She’s really found her sound, which has definitely been refined through the years, and her last few singles “It’s Enough” and “Anyway” are definitely worth a listen. Also on the bill are indie stalwarts Hundred Plus Club. With enveloping textures reminiscent of Interpol or The Last Shadow Puppets, HPC makes instantly infectious and memorable music. Definitely bring your dancing shoes. Rounding out the bill are lo-fi rockers Dogs in Stereo and local sad boys west ferry. This looks to be another promising bill, and will definitely help you shake off the winter blues. 9pm Doors, $7 cover, 21+ unless accompanied by a[...]