Preview

Tonight: Drug Party Tapes 5 Year Anniversary Show

May 27, 2016

Over the course of the past five years, local DIY cassette label, Drug Party Tapes, has put out some absolutely essential releases from some incredible Buffalo bands.  In celebration of the first five, an all local show for the ages will be happening at Mohawk Place tonight, exclusively featuring bands somehow affiliated with the label.   All in attendance will be treated to sets from Scajaquada Creeps, Space is Haunted, Hot Tip, Mallwalkers, Big Suze, and the Utah Jazz.  This gig is stacked from start to end, so you’ll want to be on time for this one. Doors are set to open at 8pm, and music will probably kick off shortly after.  For only five bucks, this is a dream gig. As an added bonus, if you’re under 18, you get in for free if you bring along a legal guardian.

Tonight: La Luna

May 23, 2016

Tonight, Sugar City welcomes a lineup of punk and alternative garage rock acts to their back stage. Headlining the evening of noisy rock are Toronto natives La Luna. The group, who specializes in angvlar pvnk, is coming off the release of their second record, entitled Always Already. The band’s loud brand of DIY punk will be the showcase of the evening. La Luna will be supported by locals from Buffalo’s punk scene. Joining them will be stoop rockers Slow Cooker, who’s 3-song EP Rough Stough was released in December. They will be preceded by The Patterns, an indie post-punk group who are also fresh off an EP release. DUDES will open up the evening, having just released their debut album, Stay Home Pt 2. Doors are at 7pm, with a hard end time of 10pm. Cover is $6-$8 for the touring band, and free/pay what you can for under 18.

Tonight: A Giant Dog

May 22, 2016

Following the release of their newest album, Pile, Austin, TX based rock band, A Giant Dog will be making a stop at the Mohawk Place tonight.  On their major label debut on Merge Records, A Giant Dog finds the perfect balance of good old loud, aggressive, hard rock, but with stellar, meaningful lyrics to boot. After spinning the record a handful of times, there’s no doubt in my mind that they are going to put on a straight up boisterous live set. Kicking things off on the local side of things will be Uniform OPR and JOHNS.  Doors are set to open at 7pm with a showtime of 8pm, and it’s only five bucks.

Tonight: Lazlo Hollyfeld Performs Radiohead’s In Rainbows

May 20, 2016

It’s been good times/bad times lately for local Radiohead fans: good times because the legendary UK art rockers just released their 9th studio album A Moon Shaped Pool, bad times because as of right now the band hasn’t scheduled a show for Toronto, depriving us for now of our customary pilgrimage up the QEW to see them. Hopefully that will change; hopefully Radiohead isn’t put off from playing Toronto after that regrettable stage collapse five years ago. In any case the new album is great (and their darkest record to date), and Lazlo Hollyfeld and friends from Applennium will be all we need, with a special performance of the band’s 2007 classic In Rainbows tonight at Buffalo Iron Works. Unlike the album, the performance will not be  “pay what you will” (a strategy that only works for Radiohead… the brilliant buggers) and will instead feature an entirely reasonable $7 cover. Chameleon Project opens[...]

Tonight: The So So Glos

May 19, 2016

Brooklyn-based indie rock act  The So So Glos are making their first stop on their tour  at Studio at Waiting Room. The band has been neckdeep in Brooklyn’s DIY aesthetic for close to a decade playing all-ages venues at non-traditional venues. The band is actually responsible for setting up two of Brooklyn’s most-famed DIY spots, Market Hotel  and Shea Stadium. The So So Glos’ energy is intense, mixing gritty pop-punk sound that sounds equally as Ramones as The Libertines Libertines. The band is touring in support of their newest release Kamikaze out at the end of the month. Opening for them is Toronto heavindie trio The Dirty Nil along with locals Hundred Plus Club and 3 Hour Power Shower. Doors are at 7pm, and tickets are $13 at the door.

Tonight: Old 97’s

May 15, 2016

Tonight Buffalo gets a visit from original 90’s alt rock stalwarts Old 97’s when they play the Tralf with Heartless Bastards and BJ Barham. Gritty yet lyrical country rockers Old 97’s hail from Dallas and are essentially the last men standing of that still vital musical movement, still going strong and touring behind their most recent album Most Messed Up.Opening will be Austin-based garage rockers Heartless Bastards, promoting their fifth album, last year’s Restless Ones, along with American Aquarium frontman BJ Barham. Tickets are $24 with doors opening at 7pm.

Tonight: Born Ruffians

May 14, 2016

Tonight Buffalo’s Mohawk Place gets a rare visit from one of our next-door neighbors via Toronto’s Born Ruffians. The indie rockers originally made a name for themselves in the late 00s indie scene with their energetic jerky post-punk inspired debut, Red Yellow Blue. The album ended up on many critics Best of the Year lists and spawned a fairly popular single with “Hummingbird”. Since then, the Canadian quartet has continued to expand and explore this sound, with their fourth and latest album, “RUFF” showing the most-finessed version of the band yet. The album is rife with geniously-constructed pop hooks and a new-found playfulness to their sound. Born Ruffians arrive with a host of indie staples and exciting new work to jam out live.  This is definitely an early one, with doors at 6pm and a $15 cover.

Tonight: Small Houses

May 12, 2016

Small Houses’ sound is about as humble as the moniker would suggest. I found it difficult to not be receptive of the warm, smoky folk song stylings of the Austin-based solo project birthed by Jeremy Quentin. With each tune, he figuratively sits you down in a porch chair across from him to tell swelling tales of heartache and summers past. Even from a few seconds worth of listening, it’s undeniable that Quentin projects a voice well seasoned beyond his years — it’s almost like a beautifully fine sandpaper, gruff yet gentle enough to maintain some finesse among the lyrics. Obvious or not, Bob Dylan comes to mind as an influencer, or perhaps at least someone who had similar musings and expression. Seeing Small Houses perform in one of Buffalo’s most intimate venues is going to be a real treat, especially with the folk leanings of the rest of the lineup.[...]

Tonight: Rogue Wave

May 11, 2016

Tonight Oakland-based indie rock duo, Rogue Wave, are headlining at the Tralf. Fronted by Zach Rogue and Pat Spurgeon ,the band is touring in support of their recently released album, Delusions of Grand Fur. The band is sure to draw a crowd with some atmospheric indie-pop. They have something for everyone from their pop-influenced lyrics and their modern electronic influence which can be heard in the futuristic synths and clean drum machine. Everything is complimented nicely with moody guitar and dreamy electronic instrumentation tying everything together tightly for a nice minimalist act. Opening for them is Hey Marseilles who play indie-folk mixed with chamber pop as they include everything from guitar, mandolin, accordion, piano, cello, bass, to viola. This is going to be a show you don’t want miss. Tickets $18 with doors opening at 7pm.

Protomaryr at Pitchfork Festival 2015 shot by Brendan O'Connor

Tonight: Protomartyr

May 10, 2016

Following Sunday’s stellar Sunflower Bean show, the Mohawk Place is once again the place to be tonight.  Detroit post punk act Protomartyr will be headlining a stacked bill, still on tour in support of their well received 2015 album, The Agent Intellect.   Also on the bill is be another dark post punk act, Psychic Teens, from Philidelphia, who have a brand new record, NERVE, to be released in three days. The local situation is no joke either,  with both Gun Candy and Facility Men will be playing opening sets.  Doors are set to open at 7pm, with a showtime of 8pm.  Tickets are only 12 bucks at the door.

Tonight: Sunflower Bean

May 8, 2016

If you can clear out some free time on your mother’s day, head down to Mohawk Place tonight for a short but sweet show.  New York City’s buzziest act, Sunflower Bean, will be in town in support of their debut record, Human Ceremony.   Coming from someone who has seen the band once before,  this is a live set you won’t want to miss.  The songs really manage to come alive in a way that the recordings just don’t do justice.  We had a chance to chat with with Nick Kivlen of the band about their new record, their tour, and much more, and you can click here to check that out as well. Kicking things off will be Buffalo’s own Get Money Squad, and doors are set to open at 6:30pm, with a show time of 7pm.  Tickets are available at the door for only 12 bucks.

Tonight: Chain & the Gang

May 8, 2016

Some might call them the last great rock and roll band. Some might call them gritty punx. Either way, Dischord record’s band Chain & the Gang are here to bring some tongue-in-cheek (or is it?) punk rock to Buffalo tonight. This particular show has an incredible staff of backing bands. Enjoy some punk-funk from Mallwalkers, some very dark indie rock from JOHNS, improv madness from Much Band, and some surf punk from Nicky Reynolds & His Pushers. Doors are at 6:00, bring $7 to get in.

Tonight: Horse Lords

May 7, 2016

Baltimore band Horse Lords will be make a stop in Buffalo tonight at Sugar City to wield their challenging yet hypnotic brand of modern prog rock for local adventurous souls. Trippy instrumentals that combine dub elements with drone and post Kid A beeps and blurbs will be on the avant-garde menu along with forward thinking local bands UVB-76 and Welks Mice. Cover is $8 and doors open at 8pm.

Tonight: Jeff the Brotherhood

May 7, 2016

Tonight, one of indie rock’s most celebrated “it” bands will be gracing the stage at the Waiting Room (Studio). Jeff the Brotherhood has been a consistent highlight of the scene for the past few years. Their assorted mix of sounds, ranging from punk to garage rock to psychedelic heavy-fuzz crunch, has made them a constant talked about band, especially since they’ve split releases with other great bands such as Best Coast and Ty Segall. The duo will be sharing the stage tonight with another celebrated “live act” (one of many bloggers favorites for best live shows), Diarrhea Planet. Don’t let the name dissuade you. Diarrhea Planet write some of the catchiest songs in the pop/punk/garage realm and kill audiences consistently with their all-out assault. Openers tonight include Buffalo’s own MAGS and Deadwolf. Get there at 7 to check out all the bands ($17).

Tonight: Holy White Hounds

May 6, 2016

It’s not rare that Buffalo hosts an album release party for our city’s finest, but marking the release of their debut here tonight is the sons of Des Moines, Iowa – Holy White Hounds. The band is one of the fastest rising bands in the alt-rock scene and just dropped their album, Sparkle Sparkle this morning. The band will be sure to play plenty of new material to mark the occasion, with their signature blues-y anthemic rock sounds. They’re not alone though, as they’re joined by local slacker rock greats, The Naturalists, and pop-punks, Debt to Nature. Will Buffalo mark a pivitol moment in Holy White Hounds young career? Tune in tonight to find out. Doors are at 6:30 at The Waiting Room and tickets are $10 at the door.