Preview

Tonight: The Blind Boys of Alabama

June 24, 2015

The Tralf will be a house of praise when it hosts the sublime sounds of The Blind Boys of Alabama this evening. Formed nearly 75 years ago, The Blind Boys of Alabama are true men of God. Their otherworldly vocal harmonies and graceful, gospel infused blues are a musical journey into the very heart of American music, and a balm for the soul for believers and non-believers alike. And in light of recent, nation shaking events last week, this could be just what you need. Tickets are $29, doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm.

Tonight: The Kooks w/ Joywave

June 23, 2015

Brighton, UK indie-pop band, The Kooks, is known for its consistent output of straightforward, hook-heavy rock songs since the release of debut album, Inside in/Inside Out, back in 2006. With a jangly, retro-inspired sound, the band has cited The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie among its influences that contribute to infectious songwriting style. Most recently, 2014 album Listen borrowed stylistically from jazz, gospel, and R&B, successfully broadening the group’s sound. Tonight, the band will headline at Niagara Falls’ Rapids Theater with Joywave and Young Rising Sons opening the show. Joywave, the Rochester-based band, is touring in support of the five piece’s debut studio album, How Do You Feel Now?, featuring the breakout singles “Tounges” and “Somebody New,” both of which have received significant alt-rock radio airplay and interestingly blend indie rock and electronic production to achieve a refreshing sound that balances gritty elements with melodic hooks. Also opening tonight’s show are New Jersey alt-rock band[...]

Tonight: New Orleans Swamp Donkeys

June 23, 2015

Already a summer favorite, the Live at Larkin concert series offers Buffalonians a place to gather for drinks, food, and fantastic music for some mid-week relaxation and fun.  Tonight, attendees will be transported to the streets of Louisiana’s most beloved city by the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys. Kicking off a US and European summer tour, this vibrant sextet will deliver a mixture of traditional and modern jazz, blues, and New Orleans brass, reflecting the group members’ diverse backgrounds and musical experiences. The Swamp Donkeys’ audiences are raving this tour in cities like St. Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit, and now they’re in Buffalo tonight only at Live at Larkin Square. (They’re having an open afterparty at Allen St Hardware too.) The music kicks off at 5 with opening Buffalo’s Black Rock Zydeco.  Don’t miss it. New Orleans Swamp Donkeys from NeueHouse on Vimeo.

Tonight: Zach Deputy

June 23, 2015

Performing while under prepared should be a musician’s worst fear…right? Apparently not! When it comes to Zach Deputy, imprecise planning is what makes his act so unpredictable. After realizing his bassist couldn’t make show a while back, Deputy went right on without him and began looping instrumentals and vocals: a real DIY. Performing as a one-man band with the energy of five, he characterizes his music as, “island-infused drum n’ bass gospel ninja soul.” What’s that mean? I’m not quite sure. I characterize his music as funky and bluesy experimental rock. Regardless, he’s bound to leave your jaw hanging to the floor, with the question in your mind: “How the hell did he do that?” Deputy will perform tonight at Buffalo Iron Works at 9pm. Tickets cost $15 at the door.

Tonight: Real Estate

June 20, 2015

You know what’s boring? Talking to Real Estate agents. You know what’s not boring? Going to see the band Real Estate at the Tralf tonight!  The New Jersey band’s easy going guitar driven music is the perfect vibey accompaniment to the eve of the summer solstice. Opening for the band is the excellent guitarist, William Tyler, whose instrumental pieces are reason enough to show up for the show early. But, if you have a Herd Fest bracelet, you should already being showing up early because the first 30 bracelets get in for free. Local sunny songwriter Bryan Johnson has just been added for local support, so celebrate the summer and head to the Tralf tonight. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $23.

Tonight: Marion Walker

June 17, 2015

Dreamland is the best. In a city with plenty of great rooms to take in live music, the front room (parlour?) at the Franklin St. space has emerged as the front runner, with it’s intimate setting, color absorbing white walls, art on display, and a glorious chandelier presiding over all of it. It’s hosted some fascinating shows since opening, and that continues tonight with Seattle’s Marion Walker, with support from Buffalo’s own Saint Opal, Bobby Swayze, and Milsep featuring In and Out Music Group. Presented by the D.O.P.E. (Dismantling Oppresive Patterns for Empowerment) Collective, this show will be all about breaking down barriers and bringing peoples together. From the hip-hop beats from Bobby Swayze and Milsep and crew to the dreammy R&B of Saint Opal, and the towering psychedelic rock of Marion Walker, diversity will be key. Meanness, negativity, and your racial or gender baggage, on the other hand, will[...]

Tonight: Zak Ward

June 17, 2015

One of Buffalo’s newer summer music traditions, Larkinville’s Live at Larkin series, kicks off this evening down at the revitalized business neighborhood. Niagara Falls singer/songwriter and former Son of the Sun front man, Zak Ward, will be opening the night for long time Buffalo folk outfit, John & Mary & the Valkyries. John Lombardo, the “John” of John & Mary, is a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs, by the way, while “Mary,” that is Mary Ramsey, replaced Maniacs’ singer Natalie Merchant two decades ago. The more you know… Ward will be joined by fellow SOTS band mate and current Soft Love member, Jeremy Franklin, plus a backing band, and (hopefully) will be tackling tunes from his most recent release, the stellar, 2014 EP, That’s What You Get. Make sure to head right down to the Square as soon as you punch out this afternoon. Ward and Franklin kick the evening off[...]

Tonight: Blonde Redhead

June 16, 2015

Since the release of its self-titled debut in 1995, New York based trio Blonde Redhead has explored the melodic side of noise rock, emerging from the avant-garde scene that saw artists like Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine flourish with a textured, experimental pop sound. Comprised of twin brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace along with singer Kazu Makino, the band’s ability to stretch conventional song structure and use stark atmospherics has defined its understated, groove-based style. With notably immersive live performances, Blonde Redhead is capable of combining vicious percussion and noisy guitars with celestial vocals making for a blissful, yet chaotic sonic attack. Last year, the band released its ninth studio album, Barragán, on Kobalt Music Group, marking yet another shift in aesthetic direction for the ever-evolving trio. Incorporating minimalist and electronic elements into their distilled songwriting, BR’s often poetic soundscapes have continued to make for some of the most consistently[...]

Tonight: Mike Gordon

June 16, 2015

Those who are looking to see something similar to a Phish show tonight, you might be in for a surprise if you’re heading to the Town Ballroom for Mike Gordon, although anyone who knows Phish already knows this. On the other hand, if you are part of the overwhelming majority of those who would rather live in a world without Phish or even jam music in general, you might still qualify as someone who would enjoy tonight’s show. A true master on bass, Gordon has been developing his own style since the early 80’s and over the last decade has spent more time working on his solo career, developing a unique style of folk fused with more contemporary styles to create a very appealing, fun, yet intricate sound that requires the audience to spend equal parts time listening as moving and shaking. His most recent album Overstep features favorites like[...]

Tonight: Glass Animals

June 16, 2015

I still remember the first time I heard Glass Animals. It was about this time last year on a long road trip down to Bonnaroo. The band’s lead single “Gooey” seemed to an in an endless radio rotation, sandwitched between other recent buzz bands like Joywave and Walk the Moon. It was the type of song initially that seemed fun as a catchy pop song on a road trip, but not as much more than that. However, as the month passed, I still found myself coming back to it, something was sharper and stranger about it than the pop songs that surrounded it. Finally taking the plunge into the debut album, ZABA, I found myself richly rewarded. This was certainly an album that had all the hooks of a big indie pop record, but the more I listened, I found something more sexy and sinister about it. Having more in[...]

Tonight: Benjamin Booker

June 16, 2015

Benjamin Booker is certainly far from the first to mix the power and passion of blues with the vigorous energy and attitude of rock ’n’roll. But few in modern music seem as committed to the rawness and simplicity of their respective influences – which, in this Virginia Beach singer-songwriter’s case, is mostly DIY punk and bluesy garage-rock revival, with a dash of gritty, Joe Cocker-esque soul. And what better place to catch Booker’s intense, lo-fi rock approach than at Buffalo’s Tralf Music Hall tonight? From here he’ll be heading home, south to Virginia and then to Dover, Del. for the Firefly Music Festival. There he’ll be right at home with the likes of Hozier and Gary Clark, Jr., and hopefully find new fans amongst the 80,000 in attendance. For the blues-buff who finds someone like the aforementioned Hozier or the the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach too slick, too pop-oriented, Benjamin[...]

Tonight: The Smashing Pumpkins

June 15, 2015

If there is an artist that could sell out a show at the Riviera Theatre in less than three minutes, it’s Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. The fact that he could have done the same at Shea’s, which is three times the capacity of the Riviera, is what will make this show special. The just over 1,000 people in attendance tonight will be taken on a musical journey throughout Corgan career, most notably his monumental catalog with the legendary Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan and friends will be treating the audience to an “acoustic-electro” evening, playing reworked, minimalistic versions of solo Corgan and Pumpkins tracks. This is the kickoff for the tour and is set to be a truly special night for all in attendance. There is no listed openers, but then again, they don’t really need any. Doors for the sold-out show are set to open at 8pm.

Tonight: White Lung

June 15, 2015

White Lung is a cool band from Vancouver, British Columbia which reminds me of Nardwuar and gets me wondering what he might show the four piece about its past albums and sounds. Maybe it’s that Canadian Indie Music Award nomination or all that good press from music magazines about 2012’s Sorry (because every song on that release is a jam). White Lung plays gritty punk for fans of RVIVR, The Measure [SA], and Priests. Obliterations, hardcore from Los Angeles, are on tour with White Lung, and local band Utah Jazz (with members from Mayday! and Brown Sugar) have the garage punk niche covered for tonight. Be at Mohawk Place tonight at 8pm with $12 at the door or you might be sorry.

Tonight: Pattern is Movement

June 14, 2015

Philadelphia indie duo, Pattern is Movement, is going on one last run before throwing in the towel this summer. After nearly fifteen years and five studio albums, the band will come to an end this coming Saturday in the pair’s Phily hometown, but not before making a stop in Buffalo this evening at Mohawk Place. The genre shifting duo, which over the years has incorporated elements of math rock, r&b, hip hop, neo-soul, and gospel into its cerebral catalog over the years, dropped its ultimately final album, Pattern is Movement, last year. The self titled swan song should appeal to fans of Dirty Projectors, Gayngs, Volcano Choir, and TV on the Radio. Opening for Pattern is Movement is Buffalo’s experimental drum duo, CCDS (Death Squad). Music kicks off this evening at 8pm with a cover of $10.

Tonight: Tyler, The Creator

June 14, 2015

Back in 2010, Tyler, The Creator debuted his first studio album, Goblin. With lyrics that bring new meaning to the word “offensive,” he not so quietly gained some notorious attention. Name dropping everyone from Bruno Mars to Miley Cyrus (in not so pleasant terms) his music, despite being vehemently off-putting to some critics, was the subject of conversation. Not so shockingly, Tyler has admitted to being a fan of Eminems. What the two have in common, perhaps, is their ability to offend basically everyone with homophobic and otherwise demeaning slurs. However, his vulgarity was not his only gimmick: in his music video for his single, “Yonkers,” a song proclaiming itself a paradox, Tyler again received attention, going so far as to eat — and regurgitate — a live cockroach for the sake of authenticity. As an early listener of Tyler’s music, I admittedly hated everything about him. I first heard[...]