Preview

Tonight: Smokin’ Black Tar

May 25, 2017

Tonight, Nietzsche’s is slated for a unique bill that boasts an impressive spectrum of genres, ranging from indie pop to rap to straight-up enthralling confusion. Arguably, the most noteworthy aspect of tonight’s showcase is the first public outing of new Buffalo-based art-rock project  Smokin’ Black Tar (featuring former members of Well Worn Boot and Mr. Boneless). The creative new project has four distinct characters – Ol’ Negro, a charismatic hobo approaching his early sixties, a raccoon aptly named Raccoon, a drummer/cottonball that loves cigars named Cotton, and lastly, a wispy unionist named Yankee Joe. We sat with Ol’ Negro to get his take on tonight’s show: “I’ve always shied away from being in a band. Something about singin’ and dancin’ for white folk just don’t sit well with me. But one day, whiles we was on the drink, Yankee Joe convinced me that we ain’t gotta do it for the folks in front[...]

Tonight: Kevin Devine

May 19, 2017

Buffalo is in store for a very special treat tonight. Kevin Devine is making his way back to our city for his first show here in a couple years, but is leaving his band behind and playing a solo set in the basement of Asbury Hall, the 9th Ward. This treat of a solo show is normally reserved for big cities and special occasions, and is something you won’t want to miss if you are at all familiar with his material. Devine has been releasing music since the early 2000’s, and he is sure to be playing songs spanning his entire discography, including tracks from his side project with Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra, Bad Books. Local songwriter Sonny Baker will be kicking the show off, and he is fresh off of the release of a new EP, titled easier. Sonny will be playing a solo set as well. The mellow night[...]

Tonight: Wavves

May 19, 2017

Beloved California surf rockers Wavves make their welcome return to Buffalo tonight at the Tralf with Chicago psych rockers Post Animal. It’s since six long years since Nathan Williams and company played the Town Ballroom and the band’s had some adventures: signing to Warner Brothers after the indie success with King Of The Beach and releasing two albums with them before totally falling out with Warners and returning to the indie world all pissed off and invigorated. Footloose and free, Wavves dropped their wonderfully wacky and adventurous sixth album You’re Welcome this very day in history, making tonight’s show even more special for local fans. Chicago buzz band Post Animal opens the show, having just dropped their latest single “Special Moment” last week. The buzz surrounding them is noteworthy for a few reasons: 1) it’s entirely justified thanks to their dense and dreamy, Tame Impalaesque sound; and 2) part of the buzz[...]

Tonight: PUP

May 18, 2017

Can we just go ahead and make PUP honorary Buffalonians already? Tonight marks PUP’s umpteenth return to the Queen City, and for good reason. Every time this quartet comes around, they bring a raucous live show brimming with unparalleled energy. They’ve brought along the perfect tourmates to boot – peppy Topshelf math/emo act Prawn is in tow tonight. PUP will be shredding at the Waiting Room this evening. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are $16 presale, $18 at the door. <iframe style=”border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;” src=”https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3847837544/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=3521443435/transparent=true/” seamless><a href=”http://puptheband.bandcamp.com/album/the-dream-is-over”>The Dream Is Over by PUP</a></iframe>

Iron Chic - Tonight, Waiting Room

Tonight: Iron Chic

May 17, 2017

Iron Chic are an indie/pop-punk band from Long Island and tonight they will be bringing the house down at the Studio at Waiting Room. Iron Chic are known for their anthem like quality full of pounding rhythm and fast paced, slicing guitars. Playing alongside Iron Chic on this stacked bill are Unwelcome Guests and Del Paxton, with their recently released LP,  All Day, Every Day, All Night. Tunes start at 7pm. $15 at the door. Ys by Iron Chic

Tonight: Taking Meds

May 13, 2017

Sewing Souls is set to be a real rager with a stacked bill this evening. Coming out from Rochester will be math-rock/pop-punk outfit, Taking Meds. The band released their full-length debut record, My Life as a Bro recently and are an intoxicating cocktail mixture of math-rock elements with just a bit of punk/pop sound to keep things groovy. Filling out the night’s roster are Alleys, a punk/emo group that showcase solid guitar compositions and a high octane energy, Passed Out, who just released their newest single, “the inverse is true,” and Slow Cooker, who always bring it with fast, solid tunes that mash up surfer rock that sounds like it’s been dragged through the mud and back. The night’s tunes start at 8pm. Cover is $3. My Life as a Bro by Taking Meds

Tonight: SMUG

May 12, 2017

Buffalo’s music scene is definitely fluid, with bands coming and going, frequent collaboration, and sometimes bands up and change names. Case in point: the reborn punk rock band Naturalists, now known as SMUG, who took a break, changed their sound, recorded a forthcoming debut album, and rebranded themselves with a nifty all caps name that’s got fans of Naturalists eager to see what’s next. What do these guys sound like now? Nobody knows but them, but the impenetrable mystery becomes clearer tonight at their debut show tonight the Mohawk with tuneful surf rock darlings Dreambeaches, punk rock machine The Slums, and space rock explorer Moody Cosmos. Doors at 8pm and cover is $5. Wicked Dreams/ Grown Up by The Naturalists

Tonight: Full Body

May 12, 2017

Rochester’s Full Body will be cruising down the 90 to Dreamland tonight.  After playing multiple shows in Rochester which hosted some Buffalo favorites, the indie fuzz rock four piece finally returns to Buffalo.  Local talent includes the raucous pop tinged garage rock ac, MORBS, NYC turned Buffalo solo act, Jack, and the show will be closed out by the fuzzed out emo four piece, Cooler. Music is set to kick off at 8pm, and the cover charge is only $5.  Dreamland once again provides you with a very solid option to make your Friday night a good one. Smart Martian by Full Body

Tonight: Made Violent

May 5, 2017

Buffalo’s own garage rock masters Made Violent don’t get to play the Queen City very often, but when they do it is a big deal, both for fans and the band themselves. Tonight the trio will be headlining the Studio at Waiting Room. The show  comes just days after the release of the video for their new single “Basement Ghost” which will be released on a 7″ vinyl with the B-side being “More Ways Than One”.  Also on the bill tonight will be Ugly Sun and Sixties Future. Doors open at 7pm, tickets are $13 at the door.

Tonight: Wildhoney

May 4, 2017

After multiple nights of awesome shows over the past week or so, Mohawk Place continues it’s streak with a show from Baltimore’s Wildhoney.  The dream pop tinged shoegaze act has not put out any new music for quite some time, but what they have in their catalog so far is stellar.  Their last LP, Your Face Sideways, came out on Topshelf records in 2015, and is filled with catchy hooks and dreamy undertones from front to back.  As heard in their Audiotree session, I’m sure the band’s massive sound will translate fantastic in a live setting. Buffalo’s own honey and the Good Neighbors will open the show, alongside Albany’s Cannon the Brave.  Tickets are available at the door for $10, and doors are set to open at 8.

Tonight: Francie Moon

May 3, 2017

Fans of garage indie-rock will be treated to a solid bill tonight. Two local groups will be joining New Jersey singer-songwriter Francie Moon at Mohawk Place. The three acts offer an array of DIY sounds sure to get you grooving. Francie Moon blends elements of rock, surf and punk for an effervescent basement sound. She’ll be hitting the stage with her full band, fresh off the release of her moody, ambient, and fuzz dripped record So This Is Life. Buffalo’s Bold Folly are a cavernous psych rock group who put out two new singles this year, highlighting their marriage of lo-fi and gritty music. Rounding out the evening will be rockers The Sofa Kingz. Show starts at 8, with tickets for $5.

Tonight: Contemporary Color at the North Park Theatre

May 2, 2017

Tonight, the North Park Theatre will be hosting a special screening of the Ross Brothers’ documentary Contemporary Color in collaboration with Cultivate Cinema Circle. The 2016 film documents the 2015 concerts organized by David Byrne to celebrate the highly “sophisticated folk art form” known as color guard, the athletic dance routines featured during high school and college game halftimes that accompany marching bands, in this context substituting indie bands for the marching bands. Featuring performances by 2017 Record Store Day Ambassador St. Vincent, Nelly Furtado, tune-yards, Dev Hynes, How To Dress Well, Lucious, Zola Jesus, Beastie Boy Ad Rock, and color guards from across the country, Contemporary Color looks looks musically, visually, and emotionally intense, and worth checking out on the book screen with the sound turned up like they do it at the North Park. Tickets are $10.50 and show starts at 7pm.

Tonight: The Life and Times

May 2, 2017

The Life and Times are a prolific trio from Chicago who have been releasing sprawling LPs for the past 12 years. Some of the tags on their Bandcamp page aptly describe them as “spacecrunk” or “thinkrock.” Their music is moody, spacey, sonically overwhelming, symphonic and always grandiose, but they also haven’t lost the romanticism of being a good ol’ fashioned rock band. They return to Buffalo tonight to celebrate the release of their fifth, self-titled LP. Support tonight comes from Buffalo’s own Chevron Bloom. Doors are at 8:00pm. Tickets are $8 advance, $10 at the door.

Tonight: Kopps

April 29, 2017

Rochester electro-pop outfit Kopps return to Buffalo after a near yearlong absence from playing New York’s Queen City. The band has remained very active over the past year, playing a slew of dates with Joywave and pumping out four new singles (one of which we will be featuring later in the week). As usual, expect Kopps’ live performance to be tight, complete with synched dance moves and smooth transitions, making the band ‘s vibe come across extremely professional. Kopps’ slot should be the icing on the cake for a stacked bill. Also set to perform are synth act fresh off the release of their new album, Humble Braggers, recently-out-of-hibernation indie rockers M.A.G.S., and cloud pop outfit Mutual Friends. Doors are at 9pm with a $6 cover.

Tonight: Cloud Nothings

April 28, 2017

Tonight Cleveland post punk garage rockers Cloud Nothings make a welcome return to Buffalo at the Tralf for their first local show in three years. These spirit brothers of the Rust Belt and their mighty, primal rock are back in support of their excellent fourth album Life Without Sound, a melodically complex turn that still retains the angst fueled howl that makes them on of the most captivating bands going right now. Your guess is as good as mine about who’s opening the show, but tickets are still available for $18, and doors open at 8pm. UPDATED: According to Cloud Nothings Twitter feed the openers will be “some weird Cleveland ____” in the form of a band called Brainwashed California and “this guy” Adam Miller.