Preview

Tonight: Acid Dad

April 2, 2017

Tonight the Waiting Room hosts a downstate vs upstate New York battle of the bands when NYC’s Acid Dad and Brooklyn post punks Honduras share a bill with local fellas Ugly Sun and Deadwolf. Actually, it’s not a battle of the bands at all; everybody’s cool and there’s no cash prizes or bragging rights on the line (or are there?), and the real winners are local fans of garage and psychedelic rock down to kick it out on a Sunday night with these fine bands. NYC power trio Acid Dad specialize in the kind of sleezy garage rock usually ideal for getaway driving in vintage cars and/or driving on dark roads with the headlights off under the influence. Brooklyn’s Honduras meanwhile have been generating buzz in all the right places thanks to a raw garage rock that mainlines that 70’s downtown punk sound to satisfying effect. Local openers are both blog[...]

Tonight: Lucy Dacus

April 1, 2017

Lucy Dacus is on the rise. Her trending debut LP No Burden makes indie rock seem effortless, and garnered the interest of multiple record labels before its eventual release on Matador. Dacus’ delivery is exceptionally mature for a 21-year-old; the Richmond-based songstress weaves a warm alto through her hyperaware observations and swirling guitar leads. Fans of Wye Oak, Angel Olsen, or pseudo-locals Bethlehem Steel would dig Dacus. She is an artist worth checking out in a live setting this early in her young career, and tonight is your chance. She makes a pit stop at the Tralf later tonight to showcase her craft. Tourmates Spooky Cool, also from Richmond, will provide opening support with Buffalo dream-pop pals Mutual Friends rounding out the indie-rock gem of a bill. Doors open at 6pm, tickets can be had here for ten bucks apiece.

Tonight: Orations Release Party

April 1, 2017

College Rock isn’t just for the kids anymore. If you’re feeling nostalgic and are “jonesin” for some  80’s post-punk  jams then the Tralf may just be your pusher man. The Main Street venue will be hosting three Buffalo bands tonight that will most definitely fill your pre-alternative void. Slotted to play will be Orations, who will be celebrating the release of their new record Wych Elm. The album is Orations’ fourth release and first on US label Custom Made Music. Also on the bill will experimental noise punk outfit Alpha Hopper and late 90s emo revivalists Honey Coma. Punk time is null and void. It’s $7 at the door which opens at 9:15pm, music at 9:45 and a strict end by midnight. Wych Elm will be available for purchase on Cassette, CD and LP, as well as super sweet new T-shirts, because after all who doesn’t need another t-Shirt?

Tonight: Minus the Bear

March 30, 2017

Three fantastic acts will be swinging through the Town Ballroom tonight.  The first act to take the stage will be ambient / electronica / indie fusion act, Bayonne.  The solo act creates totally ethereal soundscapes in a live setting, using a super minimal setup.  Following Bayonne will be boisterous rock act, Beach Slang.  The notorious nostalgia fueled four piece played Buffalo once before, and their return will surely be nothing short off fantastic.  Even with some recent lineup changes, from what I’ve seen, the band still kills it live. Closing it all out will be the legendary indie / math rock act Minus the Bear.  Following some anniversary tours, the band finally got back together to record new material after five years, and it payed off.  They’re sure to be playing through multiple new songs off VOIDS, as well as material off of their older records. Tickets are still available for the[...]

Tonight: The Lopez

March 28, 2017

Dreamland will be hosting a night of high energy noise pop/post-punk full of thrills and chills (vibes that is), tonight. Coming over from Pittsburgh, The Lopez mash together noise pop and distorted synths to create a raucous, yet dream like sound. Think if Beat Happening and the electropunk style of Nervous Gender were thrown into a music blender. Also on the bill will be Philly’s Femsplainer along with local Buffalo act, Tina Panic Noise. It should end up being a full on party, perfect for a late Tuesday night. Doors open at 7pm, bands to start going up around 8. There will be meat and vegan tacos available for a dollar so get there early, and bring $5 for the door just in case.

Tonight: Dance Yrself Clean

March 24, 2017

Tonight the latest edition of the Dance Yrself Clean Hipster Dance Party series is back at Milkie’s, and like the very satisfying January hootenanny the proceeds are going to a worthy cause doing the right thing. Journey’s End Refugee Services, a Buffalo non-profit helping our newest Buffalonians get settled and become members of our community, which is a win-win for everybody involved, but with El Trumpito targeting refugees and immigrants from the Oval Office, they can use the help during this particularly fraught time, which is where the DYC crew and you do your parts. Starting at 9 PM the DYC crew (Ben Parsons, Nick Muldoon, Tom Burtless, Allison Lavis, Katie Gariepy) will be rocking the tightest indie dance jams from the 2000’s up through yesterday; you, dear reader just got to show up, pay $5, and dance.

Tonight: Wild Pink

March 23, 2017

Wild Pink’s recent self-titled full length (out via Tiny Engines) is a slow burner. Though the instrumentation is warm, sincere and steady, It’s the poignant details in the lyrics that catch you by the collar and force you to press your ear into singer John Ross’ earnest murmur a bit more. For as sleepy as the record sounds, it includes incredibly romantic and energized images of mundanity, loneliness, freedoms of  youth versus the constraint and perplexity faced as an adult. It is a sprawling soundscape that seeps in like watercolor. Catch Wild Pink along with Candy Ambulance, Award Show and Space Is Haunted at Sewing Soul Studios. Show at 8pm. $5 for the touring bands.

Tonight: Mac Sabbath

March 23, 2017

Tonight everybody’s favorite McDonaldland murdering Black Sabbath tribute band Mac Sabbath returns to Buffalo in a big way with their Mockstrocity Tour featuring Metalachi, the world’s only heavy metal mariachi band and Ned Flanders inspired metalheads Okilly Dokilly. Halloween comes a few months early this year (thank the five fingered God) because the Tralf is hosting this unholy evening of skull crushing metal, Gen-X pop cultural touchstone parodies and joyfully deranged merriment, and this could not come at a better time. Tickets are still available for $25.50, doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm.

Tonight: Matt Pryor & Dan Andriano

March 22, 2017

Tonight, two legendary musicians are swinging through Buffalo on their acoustic, co-headlining tour. You may recognize Matt Pryor for his role as front man for Kansas emo pioneers The Get Up Kids. Co-headliner Dan Andriano is the bassist for the equally-influential punk rock outfit Alkaline Trio. Together, they’re touring the country playing acoustic sets that are sure to span both musicians’ impressive catalogs. They’re also offering a tour-exclusive 7″ that they’ve put out together (featuring a collaborative cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecelia” – check it out below). Stress Dolls‘ Chelsea O’Donnell will be kicking off the evening tonight. Tonight’s show is at 8:00pm at the 9th Ward at Babeville. Tickets are $15 pre-show and $18 at the door.

Today: House Of Pain

March 19, 2017

House Of Pain are one of those 90’s exuberances that’s simultaneously regrettable and irresistible, especially during Buffalo’s internationally renowned extended St. Patrick’s Day bacchanal, which reaches it’s apex today with the parade down Delaware Avenue, and House Of Pain at the Waiting Room. Giddyup fam, Everlast, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal will be presiding over an epic blow out in the Waiting Room’s parking lot featuring St. Patrick’s Day mayhem, 90’s covers from blog favorite Soul Patch, Slaine from La Coka Nostra, and DJ sets from Dovey and Rick Jameson. Tickets for this once in a lifetime Buffalo rager are still available for $15 general admission and $40 for VIP tickets. Rick Jameson starts it off at 12pm and House Of Pain caps it all off after the parade conclude’s at 4:30pm.

Tonight: Local Natives

March 17, 2017

With the Spring season fast approaching, Buffalo’s concert season begins to ramp up right alongside the nice weather. And what better way to help melt the remnants of Stella than a performance by SoCal indie heroes Local Natives? The band has made more than a name for themselves over the past seven years, having chiseled their own eclectic sound into the all-encompassing megalith that is ‘indie rock’. And to help celebrate the evolution of that sound and the release of their newest album–2016’s Sunlit Youth–the quintet will perform tonight at Town Ballroom. Now with three albums under their belt, it should be safe to say that the band is here to stay for a while. From the angular guitarwork of their debut Gorilla Manor to the cathartic transformation into their soulful, electronic-tinged new album, Local Natives have covered a lot of ground, sonically. The show tonight should display some of[...]

Tonight: Humble Braggers Album Release Party

March 10, 2017

There’s really no denying that the Buffalo music scene is cranking right now. Collaborations aplenty, bands are going into the studio left and right, and the releases are coming hot and heavy, with the Del Paxton full length LP last week celebrated at the Mohawk and tonight at Nietzsche’s for brand new Humble Braggers. Tom Burtless and the fellas (Bryan Zells, Matt Chavanne) will be celebrating the release of the very first full length album I Know Better, I’m No Better with a ridiculously loaded lineup including CHAD VALLEY, dreambeaches, and Bottler. Recorded by Elliot (M.A.G.S., KIN) Douglas, there’s been a lot of buzz around this next step for Humble Braggers, so you’re definitely going to want to snap up I Know Better, I’m No Better to have it properly digested before the summer show season gets going. Getting the show started and making it international flair will be Oxford UK electro pop[...]

Tonight: No Parents

March 6, 2017

Dreamland is set to play host for touring punkrockers No Parents for an undoubtably raucous Monday night. The Los Angeles-based act is touring in support of their new 7″ Chix in LA. You might have caught their set when they rode into town last fall sharing a bill with White Fang at Mohawk Place, or last spring when they opened for Bleached also at Mohawk Place.  Also on the bill are two fresh punk bands to the local scene MORBS and The Gennies. It’s an early one with doors at 7pm. There’s no advertised cover, but pack some extra Lincolns for the touring band and merch.

Tonight: Del Paxton

March 3, 2017

If I’m being frank, it’s somewhat difficult to write a Buffalo show preview from a new angle for a band like Del Paxton, a band that has been at it for 4 years, covered lovingly on buffaBLOG countless times, and premiered on a national level by outlets like Impose Magazine, KEXP and The A.V. Club. What I can say is that Del Paxton is a pretty honest representation of what it means to be deeply immersed in this city’s DIY community.  They play music for the sake of playing music, all while continually supporting other local artists and sporting a humble attitude despite their laudable success. Whether or not its members agree, this band means a great deal to a lot of people, especially fellow Buffalo musicians. The band’s new record, All Day, Every Day, All Night (out today via Topshelf Records) is a completely cathartic experience. Though it might not[...]

Tonight: The Head and the Heart

March 2, 2017

Tonight Seattle indie folk rock darlings The Head and the Heart  are back in Western New York after a six years absence to play UB’s Center For The Arts along with the always excellent Springtime Carnivore. There’s been some water under the bridge in those intervening years, with the band is foraging ahead behind their third album and first for Warner Brothers, last year’s Signs Of Life. Based on what Nathan Wilson from Wavves had to say recently about his previous dealings with Warners, good luck to them, and one hopes their pleasing California folk rock remains undimmed by the experience. Opening the show will be the ever delightful Los Angeles musical polymath Springtime Carnivore, aka Greta Morgan, returning to the area for a third time in three years having opened sensationally for Father John Misty at the Town Ballroom in 2015 and La Sera last fall at the Mohawk. Fans of[...]