Preview

Tonight: Cooler EP Release

November 19, 2016

Phantom Phuzz, the newest six song release from Cooler, comes as a follow up to their hard-hitting EP 1993 released last September. From beginning to end, it’s easy to hear growth in musicality from the local four-piece. The EP opens with a haunting post-rock influenced jam that does its job setting the tone for what follows. Dynamics and harmony between male and female vocals is this EP’s strong suit. The conscious approach to bringing out each lead vocalist’s natural abilities  is evident. I’m a huge fan of Run For Cover Records’ shoegaze all-stars, Pity Sex, who Cooler reminds me a lot of. But in contrast to them, it’s really nice to hear deliberately crisp vocals paired with all the fuzz. It amplifies the melodic hooks and adds a whole new element of charm to each tune. “Days”, the second track on the EP and also my favorite, is the best illustration of this. In celebration[...]

Tonight: Sloan

November 19, 2016

Canadian heroes and local favorites Sloan return to Western New York as part of their One Chord To Another 20th anniversary tour. The timeless Nova Scotian (sic) power pop rockers are themselves enjoying a major anniversary, having formed 25 years ago at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (yet another legendary band formed at an art school), and while they’ve never achieved widespread success in the US, they’ve cultivated a fanbase in border cities and towns over the decades like Buffalo that welcomes them whenever they play here. On this tour fans will be getting two sets of Sloan: One Chord To Another in it’s entirety and a whole set of Sloan classics, so don’t mess around. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm, and tickets are $27.50.

Tonight: Yellow House Tape Release

November 16, 2016

Scumbag Booking presents Yellow House (members consist of those from Skateboard, Love Canal, and Tomoreaux) at Dreamland this evening. Yellow House fronts shoegaze rock that will keep you bouncing off each others’ shoulders. The group is releasing their first album, Songs from Limbo, via cassette tape. The trio is backed by The Slums, Hypoluxo, and the Sonny Baker Band. As expected, The Slums will pound the hell out of your ears and brain. Hypoluxo is a dreamy post-punk group from Brooklyn. Though they keep it lighter than the others on the roster, they float unsteadily enough to stir you up and mesh with the lineup. Sonny Baker is a local favorite who reinvents the work of those like J Mascis. The fuzziness of Flesh It Out will be sure to stoke the fire. The show is at Dreamland and is at 7pm. Your night inside the building will end at 11pm. If you’re a kind soul,[...]

Tonight: The Good Life

November 14, 2016

Grizzled Omaha indie vets, The Good Life, will be making a stop tonight at Mohawk Place in support of their latest album, Everybody’s Coming Down. The Good Life formed in the year 2000 as a solo project for Cursive front-man, Tim Kasher, eventually evolving into a full band while writing 2004’s critically acclaimed album, Album of the Year. If you are a fan of Cursive’s earnest storytelling stripped back another layer, then you won’t want to miss The Good Life’s set. Also on deck for this evening are fellow Saddle Creek Records signee, Jake Bellows, and Philadelphia/Brooklyn mish-mash, Field Mouse. Doors at 7pm with a $14 cover.

Tonight: Harmonica Lewinski

November 11, 2016

Rochester retro rockers Harmonica Lewinski make a trip west on the 90 to stir up some trouble and some lewd and lascivious thoughts at Milkie’s on Elmwood. True Rochester and local favorites, you know you’re in for rowdiness at a HL show, especially with local ne’er-do-wells Deadwolf and the newly rechristened Johnny & The Man Kids (aka Pepperoni Boys, aka Spaghetti Boys) opening the show. Come hear songs from Harmonica Lewinksi’s full length debut Head Honcho and cope with… things through some dangerous and properly delinquent rock and roll. It will make you feel good. Or less bad. Cover is $5 and doors open at 9pm. Head Honcho by Harmonica Lewinski

Tonight: Berwanger

November 3, 2016

Kansas City rock ‘n rollers Berwanger are playing Mohawk Place tonight, celebrating their latest release, Exorcism Rock. You might recognize Josh Berwanger from emo stalwarts The Anniversary, who just completed a reunion tour (the band also features members of Limbeck and The Promise Ring). Urban Reverie and Elemantra are also in tow tonight. Doors are at 8pm and the cost to get in is $8. While you wait for this evening, check out the new video for “Exorcism Rock” below.

Tonight: Danny Brown

November 3, 2016

Raucous Detroit rapper Danny Brown has consistently pushed genre boundaries with the release of his last three albums, balancing experimental, club-ready tracks with more introspective lyrical cuts. His latest record, Atrocity Exhibition, was released via influential electronic label Warp Records and features the artist’s typically boisterous drums paired with cold, industrial instrumentals. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt, Kelela, and Petite Noir make appearances making for yet another imaginative work from the rapper who has carved out one of hip-hop’s most distinct sounds. Catch the rapper perform tonight at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom along with fellow Brusier Brigade artist Zeelooperz and Maxo Kream. Tickets are $27. Doors open at 7pm.

Tonight: SURVIVE

November 3, 2016

Halloween’s not quite over yet for Buffalo this year. In a pretty damn good year of shows one of the most surprising and pleasing gets of 2016 is After Dark Entertainment’s bringing Austin TX electronic band SURVIVE to the Waiting Room tonight. SURVIVE has had an interesting and probably thrilling 5 months due in no small part to their participation in creating the tremendously effective soundtrack to Netflix’s summer blockbuster hit Stranger Things, a ridiculously dense and pleasing homage to Spielberg, Stephen King, and the early 80’s that virally conquered the pop culture zeitgeist upon it’s release in mid July. The band has enjoyed the increased exposure, releasing Stranger Things soundtrack albums along with a new album in September, RR7349 embarking on a national tour that brought them to our fair city. This show is a must for WNY Stranger Things obsessives and fans of 80’s flavored electronic minimalism, and a real coup for After[...]

Tonight: Mallwalkers

October 29, 2016

The expression “family friendly” and punk rock don’t generally go together but they might tonight when Mallwalkers celebrate the release of Dial ‘M’ For at Sugar City with special guests for an all ages show that also happens to be free. With doors opening at 6pm and music at 7pm (sharp) you can pack up the whole crew and see what’s going on at Sugar City while thrilling to the punk shenanigans of the 9 member local gang known as Mallwalkers; who will be joined by sharp indie rocker M.A.G.S., punk rock warriors Gun Candy and Trinkit, twee pop minimalists Welk’s Mice, and Pat Kewley, who will be doing stuff. Because it’s an all ages space Sugar City is a drug and alcohol free space, so please, do all that at home. There might be some punk rock loving families present!

Tonight: Lazlo Hollyfeld & Friends Play LCD Soundsystem

October 28, 2016

Tonight as everyone gets all spooked up and dressed for Halloween. Some notable Buffalo bands will be doing the same. Starting the night, emo singalong all-star group, Girl Jeans to the stage. Complete with guyliner and lip rings, they’ll bring all your favorite My Chemical Romance and Brand New songs back to life and make them sound way better than they have any right to. Following that, brace yourself, as Lazlo Hollyfeld tackle not one, but two full sets of one of the greatest artists of the 21st century, LCD Soundsystem. With many of us missing the actual band on their recent (and far too short) reunion tour, this is the perfect chance to catch all your favorite modern classics; from “All My Friends” to “Daft Punk is Playing At My House.” If there’s one shindig to get properly spooked to this Halloween, this is the one. Doors open at[...]

Tonight: La Sera w/ Springtime Carnivore

October 26, 2016

Earlier this year, Katy Goodman and Greta Morgan teamed up to release the whimsical covers album Take It, It’s Yours. The record is a breezy collection of reimagined punk tracks by the likes of the Replacements, Bad Brains, the Misfits, the Stooges, and more. Tonight, the pair of LA musicians will bring its respective bands – La Sera and Springtime Carnivores – to town for a performance at Mohawk Place. Formally of the Vivian Girls, Goodman has spent the last five years evolving her La Sera sound from lo-fi garage pop to twangy country. Her most recent album Music For Listening Music To was released this past March and was recorded by alt-country heart breaker Ryan Adams. As for Morgan, Springtime Carnivore returned this fall with the well-received sophomore album The Midnight Room. The front woman and crew nearly stole the show when opening for Father John Misty at Town Ballroom last summer[...]

Tonight: Garrett Klahn

October 24, 2016

Do you know who Garrett Klahn is? Klahn is known best for his seminal work as the frontman of emo figureheads Texas is the Reason. Klahn has had a long and storied career since (Solea, Atlantic/Pacific, and now his solo venture), and has sharpened his skills from a cathartic 18-year-old punk to a now-nuanced musician. Tonight he’s here as Garret Klahn & The Surrounding Areas with Buffalo emo kingpins Del Paxton and The Good in tow. Tonight’s show is at Mohawk Place. Bring $10 and show up at 8.

Tonight: No Parents

October 20, 2016

Tonight Mohawk Place promises one of the season’s funnest shows as Buffalo hosts a visit from West Coast punks, No Parents and White Fang. While both bands have their own unique charms, there is a certain like-mindedness in their manic energy and their bizarre and sly tongue-in-cheek lyrics. White Fang is a band that should remind you of a lot of other recent wonderful lo-fi west coast punk bands (Wavves, Fidlar) but still an entirely winning and infectious. No Parents maybe the slightly more bold of the two, at times almost reminding me of a youthful American answer to Mclusky. Whichever band you love though, if they can transfer their energy to the live stage, should be an absolute barn-burner of a show. Also on the bill are local garage rock act, The Pepperoni Boys. Doors at Mohawk Place start at 8pm with a $10 cover.

Tonight: Touche Amore

October 17, 2016

Tonight, Californian post hardcore act Touce Amore will be rolling through Buffalo for the first time in a minute.  Fresh off of the release of their newest album on Epitaph records, title Stage Four, the scene veterans are sure to give you a taste of the new LP, along with some rippers off of their extensive back catalog. They will be bringing along a stacked lineup as usual, featuring Culture Abuse, as well as Tiny Moving Parts. Both acts have made stops in Buffalo recently, and are definitely not to be missed. Doors open at 7pm with a showtime of 7:30pm, so make sure you get there early to catch the opening acts.  Tickets are available at the door for 17 bucks. Get ready for a pile on.

Tonight: The Leones

October 15, 2016

Tonight Buffalo’s Leones celebrate the release of their Halloween album Ghost In The City at the Mohawk with Twin Speak, Orations, and Award Show. Bold and ambitious, Ghost In The City features excellent atmosphere, vocals reminiscent of Richard Ashcroft, and some serious class. Utica psychedelic doom rockers Twin Speak will opening the show with Buffalo goth romantics Orations, Award Show, a lo-fi acoustic bedroom folk project from Jesse Kaufman and Nate Ward, and 80’s horror movies on VHS in between sets. The bands request donations of Halloween masks and child friendly costumes to benefit underprivileged children through the NPO Gateway Longview, which serves 3600 children throughout Western New York. Doors are 7:30pm, show starts at 8pm, and cover is $5. Fire Walk With Me by The Leonesr