Preview

Tonight: Ceremony

July 5, 2015

Ceremony is a beautiful oddity. Throughout its career as a band , the group has shape-shifted and morphed, broadening its sound, and, most importantly, took risks. This is especially impressive considering the fact that Ceremony started as a nondescript power violence group. Early works gave no indication of things to come. Then, in 2008, out of nowhere, we were blessed with the gift of Rohnert Park; a focused, angry blast of aggression, strong songwriting, and lyrical poignancy that stood out amongst a sea of pretend hardcore bands and breakdown-obsessed nonsense. Rohnert immediately put Ceremony on the map and the best was yet to come. Defying convention again, the band signed to Matador and put out a more post-punk influenced collection of songs in Zoo. Last month, the group stretched a bit farther with the Joy Division and Interpol obsessed, The L-Shaped Man, undergoing another dramatic transition. The L-Shaped Man is[...]

Tonight: Homeboy Sandman

July 3, 2015

I first became aware of Homeboy Sandman when he appeared on an episode of the MTV’ Made in 2010. On the show, he taught a awkward teenager how to become a rapper. I hadn’t heard of him at the time, but around then he started making huge strides in his career. Soon after his MTV appearance, he signed with Stones Throw Records, a haven for rappers with serious lyrical and rhyming skill, and the perfect place for Sandman. His songs and flows evoke poetic vibes, and the complexity of the subjects he takes on in his songs (the American dream, Illuminati conspiracies) leave no word wasted. Homeboy’s latest album Hallways was released in the fall of last year to critical acclaim.  Homeboy Sandman will be back in town tonight, in a last minute, holiday edition of the Public Presents. The show starts at 11pm at Hardware, and for just $5 bucks, it’s[...]

Tonight: Dreambeaches

July 3, 2015

The surf rock genre is one that has erupted in recent years, to the point where you can almost find a little bit of surf in a significant portion of indie music. With bands like Best Coast, Wavves, Surfer Blood, Beach Fossils, and Real Estate in heavy rotation, it’s a sub-genre that has cemented itself into the larger indie rock scene pretty darn well. Dreambeaches unites foamy instrumentals with a bubbly, melody-driven overlay, both of which mimic the swell and wane of an easygoing tide. With only a single song released, Corey Bzibziak (bassist of Humblebraggers) has left a lot of people’s ears perked for what’s to come. Tonight is the group’s full band debut at Nietzsche’s, alongside Fredonia based Buxom, as an opener. Scope & Figure, an alt-punk outfit from Rochester, NY, will be headlining the show in support of recent release, Exemplary Sports Magic. The group’s music is[...]

Tonight: Difficult Night

July 2, 2015

Mohawk Place will host an all-locals show tonight to enjoy this long Buffalo Fourth of July weekend with some American music. Hometown mainstays Difficult Night plays rock and roll that falls somewhere between Violent Femmes and either the White Stripes or the Goo Goo Dolls, maybe some Springsteen. Lifemusik Mit Andre is making his way downtown with his experimental home recording sound, while the gritty and spooky girls of Space is Haunted thankfully have taken a break from their summer hiatus. Finally, Peter Kirsch, kinda weird and kinda dance-y, rounds out the night. Doors are at 8pm and for $5, you can kick off, or continue, your weekend.

Tonight: Anti-Venue Tour Kick Off

July 2, 2015

Haute La Vie, a new-to-the-scene Buffalo entertainment company, will launch its Anti-Venue Tour later this evening at the 464 Gallery on Amherst Street. Aimed at bringing musical and artistic performances to non traditional spaces, the series is spread-headed Shawn Patterson, a Buffalo born, Southern raised entrepreneur who recently returned home to find himself part of the city’s growth and development. Musical support for the Anti-Venue kick off showcase will be provided by EKL roster members Truey V and Radarada, plus Saint Opal from the Black Sol crew. Keep up on the future installments of the Anti Venue Tour, which runs weekly throughout the month in Buffalo before moving on to cities like Rochester, NYC, and more, by following the series’ hashtag. The event begins this evening at 7pm and runs til 10pm. Entry is free of charge.

Tonight: Strange Acres & Orations

July 2, 2015

Anyone looking to get a head start on their holiday weekend should find themselves at Allen St. Hardware Café tonight. In Queen City Cartel’s third installment of their bi-weekly Thursday series, Orations and Strange Acres will be taking over the intimate confines of Hardware’s back room. Orations’ brooding post-punk has a pumping heart similar to that of Joy Division or Siouxsie and the Banshees, while the chilling arrangements and emotional outpourings of Strange Acres will have you laying horizontal on the floor in a contemplative tizzy. For those of you who haven’t seen one (or both) of these dark local heavyweights, tonight is your night. The best part about this show? Well, the bands (along with Dante Velour spinning tracks in the gaps). But the second best thing? It won’t cost you a thing. Unless you plan on getting sauced, in which case you should bring some cash. Just tell[...]

Tonight: Steve Miller Band

June 30, 2015

“Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah / some call me the gangster of love.” Chances are, even if you’ve never heard of the Steve Miller Band, you are at least familiar with the above lines, which are the iconic opening to the San Fran outfit’s most familiar song, “The Joker.” But the Steve Miller Band had an impressive and successful run of hits, mostly in the 1970s, including “Fly Like an Eagle” and “Jungle Love.” Clearly, the band has not been relegated to dinosaur or one-hit wonder status: the group’s set at Artpark tonight sold out days in advance. Opening the show, fittingly enough, is the local R&B/soul group Miller and Other Sinners. The show begins at 6:30pm, with doors opening at 4:45pm. Artwork is located in Lewiston, just off Route 104.

Tonight: Anklepants

June 28, 2015

Yes Virginia… that dude has a cock for a nose. Now that that’s out of way… tonight Sugar City will be the scene of an art and dance happening to end all happenings when it hosts controversial EDM artist Anklepants (known aliases: Dr. Reecard Farche, Josh Head). The Australian EDM wunderkind will be joined by local electro experimenters Ay Fast and Logan Locking, and word on the street has it that costumes and other manner of freakishness are HIGHLY encouraged at this Squeaky Wheel sponsored event. They want the wonkiest sesh ever, so if you’re going you’ve got to be ready to go all out. $10 gets you in and doors are at 7pm.

Tonight: Kal Marks

June 27, 2015

There are so many for cool shows to attend recently and if you haven’t made up your mind about tonight, then here’s another option: some rockin bands at a house on Hoyt. Kal Marks, heavy indie from Boston, will be rolling through with IAN playing dreamy fuzz from California in the vein of contemporaries Alvvays and Slutever. Political indie punk band Red Heat will be supporting. Lushes will round out the bill. So its 7pm at Hoyt House for $7 or whatever  you have.

Tonight: Roz and the Rice Cakes

June 27, 2015

No, we’re not talking about the delicious and health-conscious snack – in fact, one of Rhode Island’s best is gracing Buffalo tonight (need proof? click here). Roz and the Rice Cakes is a tight three-piece that sound like the brainchild of Warpaint and Phantogram. The trio has been on tour supporting its latest release, a double A-side out now on Team Love Records. What a perfect dreary Saturday for show-going! Support tonight comes from garage-poppers M.A.G.S., Thee Oh Seas meets Primus-fuzz Kharlos, and the mysterious Alien Three. Ask a punk where the Glitterbox is and make sure you bring a donation for the touring band. Doors open at 6pm and doors close at 10pm sharp.

Tonight: Queen Majesty

June 26, 2015

Known for her extensive knowledge of Jamaican music, Brooklyn-based (and Buffalo native) DJ Queen Majesty has been collecting reggae vinyl for over twenty years and selecting tunes at venues around the world, showcasing the island nation’s rich musical culture. Having hosted the “Deadly Dragon Sounds” show on East Village Radio in New York for six years, she has an ear for both classic tunes and rising talent in dancehall, reggae, and dub. Tonight, Queen Majesty will headline Heat Wave at Allen Street Hardware. Setting up shop in the back room, Queen Majesty will team up with DJ Universal for a 3 + hour block of reggae. Teenwolf will take things over with classic jams til close while Hardware regulars Sike and Dovey will man the front room until last call. Music begins at 8:30pm with a cover of $5. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/113655965″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Soul Night

June 26, 2015

Word on the street is that there is a storm brewing this weekend. Meteorologists are yet unsure if it will be a real SOUL storm, but if you come down to Milkie’s tonight, you are sure to feel the thunder in your soles. By now, Soul Night is a Buffalo institution, a seasonal night of some of the best pop music ever recorded and one of the city’s sweatiest dance floors all organized to benefit the tireless work of Sugar City. This is fever pitch level stuff folks. Have you ever seen what this music does to people? Have you ever, say, listened to Sam Cooke by yourself? You know its power, you know what it can do. Now imagine it louder, in a bar full of some the city’s hippest kids. Yes, you see why you cannot miss this event right? The rain forecast tomorrow was ordained by the[...]

Tonight: Spoon

June 25, 2015

Indie rock legends Spoon stop by Canalside tonight for the fourth week of free music down at the waterfront. In what is bound to be one of the highlights of the series, Britt Daniels and Jim Eno bring their nearly two-decade old band around for the first time in a long time. Spoon will no doubt be playing songs off of their most recent LP, 2014’s fantastic They Want My Soul. Also worth checking out before you head down to the harbor is the band’s cover of The Cramps’ “TV Set” that they recently performed on Conan (see below). July Talk will precede Spoon with Battle of the Jam Bands winner Tomorreaux kicking things off at 6PM. VIP passes are $40 as is the usual for these shows. For the rest of us, it’s free.

Tonight: Schwervon!

June 25, 2015

So what’s in a duo, anyway? Schwervon! has an answer for that question. Armed with a guitar, a drumkit, and personality for days, Nan Turner and Matthew Roth craft deceptively simple yet deeply magnetic indie rock and makes it look as effortless as ever. And yet, somehow totally inimitable. With five albums and countless tours under their belts (some of which in support of some heavy-hitting names such as The Vaselines, Belle and Sebastian, Vampire Weekend), the NYC-bred, Kansas City-based art-rock power duo aren’t messing around. Schwervon!’s (yes Microsoft Word, the exclamation point is actually a part of their name) current tour makes a pit stop at Sugar City tonight on an expertly-arranged bill featuring blog-favorite slack rockers Difficult Night and rhyme-spitting funnyguy Jack Topht. Bring five bucks. While the show starts at 8pm, prime yourselves up beforehand with a Schwervon! music video produced by Difficult Night’s own Damian Weber,[...]

Tonight: Against Me!

June 24, 2015

Gainesville powerhouse punk quartet, Against Me!, will be back at the Town Ballroom tonight for another highly anticipated show. The band will be performing hits as well as selections from its most recent album Transgender Dysphoria Blues. Laura Jane Grace has had one of the most iconic voices in punk rock for over a decade and a half, and the band backing her, despite a few changes over that time, has remained as strong as ever. If you haven’t dabbled in Against Me!, tonight would be a great way to get a first taste. The show starts at 7 pm and Against Me! will be joined by Frank Iero and the Cellebration.  Tickets are $23 at the door and with only two acts, the night shouldn’t go too late for any punk rock parents out there.  Expect tonight to be a good one.