Preview

Tonight: Mallwalkers Farewell Show

December 6, 2019

They did what they set out to do, and now local DIY punk heroes Mallwalkers are saying goodbye tonight after nine years with a full scale blow out at the Mohawk with Providence disco punk La Neve and DJ Reazon. This last waltz will feature two epic sets from the band, the first spotlighting the core (Jaz Frazier, Dan Carosa, Stephen Schmidt, Stephen Floyd, Bob Fullex, Norelle Merlo, Tony Flaminio, Chelsea Merlo, Mario Fanone), with an expanded Stop Making Sense lineup featuring Bryan Johnson, Ethan Hayden, former MW drummer Jason Bauers, and Jenny Kubicki bringing it all home to end this Mallwalkers decade in art punk funk style. But fear not, Mallwalkers do have a posthumous final album due out next spring, so they’ll never be far from our hearts or record collections. Opening the show will be La Neve, the avant-garde disco punk solo project of Downtown Boys songwriter and guitarist[...]

Tonight: GRLwood

December 4, 2019

Punk rockers GRLWood are at the 9th Ward tonight to deliver their thoughtful, high energy flavor The duo visits fresh off of their sophomore album release I Sold My Soul To The Devil When I Was 12, a thematic project that touches traditional punk themes while also diving into identity and queerness. Songs build from subdued into scream pop, and GRLwood are known for their live spectacles. Buffalocals Tina Panic Noise join GRLwood on the card, piecing together a night of defiant, queer punk rock jammers. Influenced by the likes of Sleater-Kinney and Mannequin Pussy, Tina speaks, and screams, for the marginalized to be heard. Tickets go for $10 with doors at 7pm, and the show kicks off at 8pm. Preview the sound below:

Tonight: Hundred Plus Club

November 27, 2019

You know the deal. Wednesday before Thanksgiving = the #1 going-out night of the year. Nietzsche’s is properly prepared with a loaded card of homegrown indie rock talent to float you through to the holidays. Three-piece Cooler takes the stage fresh off of the release of their sharp-tongued, driving new single “Gentleman.” Hundred Plus Club is bringing their ear-worm catalog for some spins that’ll get your head bobbing and your body weaving.  Crisp outfit Urban Planning  and the snarky pop-punkers  SMUG round out a card that’ll leave the stage in flames. Plenty of chances to find your anthem for the night with the songwriting talent that’ll be in the room. We’ll see you there. $5 gets you in the doors after 8pm. What are you thankful for?

Tonight: Beach Slang

November 26, 2019

Philadelphia punk rock faith healers Beach Slang make a welcome return to Buffalo tonight at the Mohawk with local support from Mom Said No and The Eaves. Masterminded by punk auteur and frontman James Alex, Beach Slang keeps the punk flame alive with purposeful yet romantic lyrics, instantly classic riffs, and a healthy dose of Springsteenesque rock evangelism that warms and fulfills the soul. With a new album and rallying cry The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City due early next year, Beach Slang is back after a rousing headlining performance at last year’s Music Is Art Festival that still banged hard in spite of a dull sound mix that still offends me over a year later, so tonight’s show at the Mohawk, the ideal location to see this band, should be hot. Opening the show will be fellow rock evangelists The Eaves and young pop outfit Mom Said No, who turned some heads[...]

Tonight: Canetis EP Release

November 22, 2019

Tonight, make your way on down to the Rec Room to catch one of Buffalo’s newest up-and-coming acts as they celebrate the release of some new music. Canetis, a group of young heavy-hitters, just released their first EP entitled Putting Time Together, a five-song collection that perfectly blends alt and indie-rock goodness. Canetis has been making a name for themselves lately, so make sure to catch them as they surely won’t disappoint. Joining them on stage this evening is Buffalo heavy hitters Post Prom, and if you haven’t heard of these guys by now, tonight is the perfect opportunity to see what everyone’s been talking about. Also joining the stage is Grace Greenan as well as Elemantra. Doors are at 6pm, tickets are $10. Putting Time Together by CanetisWritten by Mike Rakiecki

Preview: Koko Neetz EP Release

November 22, 2019

Head on out to Nietzsche’s tonight for a night to get lost in your thoughts. Buffalo’s residential existential pop star Koko Neetz is bringing the party favors and atmospheric scenery out to play in celebration of his EP release  i.t.t.i.p.  Neetz, the moniker for Buffalo-based musician Andrew Kothen, has been a staple of the local music scene these past couple years, mostly known for his efforts in dreambeaches. Sound wise, Neetz’ aura is reflective, perceptive, present. Guitar is light and complimentary, leaving you plenty of room for Neetz’ sweet, if not Socratic, lyrics. Joinng Neetz’ latest journey into the void will be heave, VR Sunset, and Humble Braggers doing a stripped down minimalist set. Doors start at 9pm. $10 gets you in along with a copy of the i.t.t.i.p. EP. Take a sneak peak below:

Tonight: Goon

November 18, 2019

LA-based touring act, Goon is making a stop tonight at 9th Ward. The quartet has been making a name for themselves in the blogosphere after releasing their new album Heaven is Humming via Partisan Records (Cigarettes After Sex, Craig Finn) this past summer. The band’s sound is reminiscent of Ovlov or B Boys. with a driving and experimental indie sound with a 90s slacker vibe. Joining the quartet will be locals Cooler, who word on the street is have a new single popping up soon. Get out of the house while you still can. Doors are at 7pm with a $10 cover.

Tonight: gus dapperton

November 9, 2019

Tonight futuristic dream pop star gus dapperton will be manifesting at the venerable Town Ballroom with up-and-coming soul man Spencer. gus is a definitely whole thing: highly self curated, vaguely alien and mysterious with an soulful chillwave sound that’s utterly compelling and ideal for stimulating all of those feelings. Spenser. meanwhile has the voice of a stoned John Legend, an ear for spacey melodies and tight hip hop beats; and a handful of singles on 4AD that definitely suggest he might be around for a while. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are $20.

Tonight: Hollerado

November 7, 2019

It’s hard to say goodbye. Especially when it comes to leaving behind someone or something that’s been a part of us for years. It is with great sadness that Canadian indie rock act Hollerado announced earlier this year that they are hanging up their axes and calling it quits (hopefully only for a little while). Forming in 2007, the band first pulled at our heartstrings with the driving riffs of “Americanarama” and the soaring chorus of “Juliette” and has been steadily been churning out hits ever since. But with this bad news comes some good: they announced they would release a new album and embark on a “one-last-hoorah” tour, and they have been coming through with their promises. Hollerado released Retaliation Vacation in June this year to great reception, and have already embarked on their tour. The band will be in Buffalo tonight at Town Ballroom for what will be[...]

Tonight: Justin Roeland & Lady D

November 6, 2019

Indie-folk bard Justin Roeland joins a stacked bill of local songwriters tonight at Nietzsche’s. Currently based in Ithaca, Roeland along with his band Nightswimmers has been a fairly regular sight in lineups recently. With deeply poetic, quasi lethargic lyricism, and captivating melodies, Roeland has proven himself to be a standout member of a sometimes crowded field of songwriters. Joining Roeland tonight are Sonny Baker, known for both his solo work and his work with Lazlo Hollyfeld,  Oats Holy Roller, the moniker of Joe Myers most recently known for his project The Shallows, and Andy Pothier, lead singer of Passed Out. Tonight is a night for deeply cathartic, moderately melancholy music presented by four of the most talented songwriters this city has seen in years. This event will sure to be a hit for fans of Jeff Tweedy, Andy Shauf, Big Thief, and Slaughter Beach, Dog. 8:30pm doors, $5, 21+ Doomed To Bloom[...]

Tonight: Mal Blum

November 1, 2019

Downstate singer-songwriter Mal Blum is coming to the 9th Ward at Babeville tonight for the first of two headlining dates after their fall tour with Titus Andronicus. The New York-based artist is touring in support of the energetically confessional Pity Boy, which came out earlier this year. Mal Blum creates pop punk with an anti-folk backstory. The SUNY Purchase graduate began their career writing, releasing, and performing stripped-down, acoustic folk. After five self-released albums, Blum signed to Don Giovanni records in 2014, beginning a gradual transition from folk to folk punk, and eventually losing the folk sound altogether with their most recent release. The folk spirit of their earlier work never left despite this change, each lyrically honest, slice-of-life song telling a tale of personal growth. According to Blum, Pity Boy is mainly about the patterns of life and our attempts to break away from them. These mini-stories meld together[...]

Tonight: Bold Folly

November 1, 2019

Always turned up to 11 psych punks Bold Folly are back and they mean business tonight at Nietzsche’s with a skull crushing lineup featuring Aircraft, The Molice, and Zurich Cloud Motors. Everything about this show will make your ESP tingle because every band on this bill values melting your mind: the rededicated but no less bonkers Bold Folly are a force of nature, heady and nihilistic in equal measure and back with a surf punky new single; Aircraft’s melodic psych rock is shinier and heavier than ever before; while Tokyo punk heroes and honorary Buffalonians The Molice bring pure joy and tight riffs wherever they play. Zurich Cloud Motors, hailing from Indianapolis, Providence, and Buffalo, specialize in unhinged garage rock transmitted from a parallel universe. Get ready because it’s going to be way too much in the best ways possible. Doors are at 9pm and cover is $7. War games by Bold[...]

Tonight: Benny The Butcher

October 26, 2019

Already legendary Buffalo MC Benny The Butcher plays a long awaited and very highly anticipated and sold out hometown show tonight at the resurrected Showplace Theater. It’s been a crazy few years for Benny, as he and his Grizelda Records label mates Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine can’t seem to stop levelling up of late, signing up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation management outfit and Eminem’s Shady Records while representing for Buffalo on tracks with Anderson Paak, Pusha T and working with East Coast luminaries like Alchemist to keep the flame of 90’s hardcore hip hop alive. With big moves and two album out this year, his solo EP The Plugs I Met and the just released Statue Of Limitations with Pete Rock protege Smoke DZA, 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for Benny, and his hometown has been clamoring hard to celebrate his success so tonight’s going to[...]

Tonight: Darryl Rahn

October 24, 2019

Utica-bred, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Dylan Rahn will be returning to Buffalo this evening, performing at Nietzsche’s for the very first time. We’ve been on the Rahn train for close to two years, after discovering his heartfelt song “Still in Luv.” In his 2017 single, Rahn sings about his struggles after an encounter with a new flame who has yet to let go of their old flame. Since then we have written about two more of his singles, and Rahn continues to deliver heartfelt emotional lyrics which will be sure to be conveyed in the intimate front room setting. In addition, promising singer/songwriter Michael Heubusch will be joining him, as well as Head North front man Brent Martone. Doors are 8:30pm with a $5 cover

Tonight: The Leones 5th Annual Halloween Bash

October 19, 2019

Batavia psych rock gurus The Leones are back with their beloved Halloween show at the Mohawk with a psycho killer lineup featuring Aircraft, The Tins and Moody Cosmos. The spooky Samhein vibes will be in full effect, featuring intensely trippy jams all night long, tasteful Halloween holiday kitsch curated by Justin Bachulak, the choicest VHS horror in all their grainy, gory analog glory; and costumes are strongly encouraged. Doors are at 8pm and cover is $5 unless you bring a new Halloween costume (in the package) to donate to a worthy kid who deserves to enjoy the holiday too. Songs From The Canyon by The Leones