Preview

Tonight: The Gooch Palms

May 21, 2015

After putting on a head turning performance at this spring’s SXSW, the bare bones punk duo of the Gooch Palms will pay Mohawk Place a visit tonight. The self proclaimed “shit-pop” pairing from via Los Angeles via Newcastle, Australia recalls the Ramones, Stooges, and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Gooch Palms singer/guitarist Leroy Macqueen seems to take a clothing optional approach when performing live, frequently letting his manhood swing freely while on stage. Just an FYI. Cover for tonight’s show is $10 at the door. Music begins around 8pm with support from fellow LA act, Death Valley Girls.

Tonight: Atsuko Chiba

May 20, 2015

I usually give every band on a bill coming through Buffalo the ol’ college try to see if the gauge my interest. More often than not, a band I’m not familiar with doesn’t do it for me. With this, I was planning on taking today off, but I just couldn’t pass up gushing about Atusko Chiba. Atusko Chiba is a Montreal-based quintet on the tail-end of a tour all over the United States. The group’s sound is 80% dreamy instrumental, with short bursts of chants. The best way to describe AC would be experimental post-rock (fans of Explosions in the Sky or Mono would dig) with heavy In Casino Out-era At The Drive-In patches. Mohawk Place is set to host Atsuko Chiba tonight with locals Shadow Swine and JeffRepeater. It’ll probably be an early one, so I would get there by 8pm with $5 in hand.

Tonight: Mastodon

May 19, 2015

Mastodon has been a monolith of rock for over a decade. Hailing from Atlanta, but with members from Western New York, they are pioneers of heavy metal with strong influences of hardcore, groove, progressive rock, and stoner metal (Think early 2000’s radio hard rock). Obviously psychedelic with inspired lyrics and known to have elaborate live presentations, this should be a stellar show.  Fans of Mastodon are probably fans of Clutch which makes this line up a heavy metal nightmare made in hell. Mastadon will bring its “Missing Link Tour” to the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls tonight. Tickets are still available to purchase for $36 at the door at 6pm. Clutch and Swedish opener Graveyard will start the night off.

Tonight: Joshua Abrams and Natural Information Society

May 19, 2015

If you are looking for a night out and are sick of the usual fare then you should probably head down to the Ninth Ward at Babeville’s Delaware Ave complex tonight. Chicago’s Joshua Abrams will be performing, guimbri in hand, and backed by his band, Natural Information Society. Impossible and unjust to lump into one genre or category, let’s just say that Abrams and crew play with an incredibly appealing, smooth, psychedelic vibe that few could object to. Although admission is free, a $10-$20 donation is recommended. This may sound ludicrous, but this is a not for profit venue, so do the right thing. Music begins at 9pm.

Tonight: The Pixies

May 19, 2015

The Pixies are an important band. Let’s just start there. In the 80’s, when alternative acts were rejecting all forms of “mainstream” music, pop or otherwise, the Pixies opened their arms and embraced it, fusing the more melodic aspects of sound with an experimental (yet no less aurally pleasing) style, along with some good natured, pre-irony, ironic humor. In the process, they saved the all-too-serious indie rock scene from itself, stoked Kurt Cobain, influenced a who’s who of musicians and artists, put out some great records, imploded, Breeders, Frank Black, reunited, Indie Cindy (minus Kim)…wow. Their’s is a documentary waiting to happen… Word on the street is that the Pixies are killing it live these days. And that is important for two reasons. First, it is a testament to the fact that the greats, if they’re truly great, never lose it, whatever it is. And second, they’re playing tonight, so[...]

Krill

Tonight: Krill

May 18, 2015

Krill is a band with all the right buzz in all the right places. Hailing from Boston, they’ve garnered a super concrete East Coast fan base with their unique brand of what they simply deem “guitar rock.” They’ve settled into this mold of acceptance among avid followers of their label, Exploding In Sound, but they are totally okay with playing for the sake of playing to a crowd that will listen. Their latest release, A Distant Fist Unclenching, is a testament to their ability to create artful music that is balanced in both musicality and lyrical content. It’s grungy and dark, but equally playful when it comes to thematic elements and overall sound. I was lucky enough to catch the band on an all-star bill in Allston, Massachusetts this past September. Their set left me numb, but in the greatest way possible. Lucky for you, you can catch them in a[...]

Tonight: Max Garcia Conover

May 17, 2015

After ending his Bon Iver-like exhile and hitting the road for a few weeks with fellow Maine folkies, the Ghost of Paul Revere, the Portland based Max Garcia Conover will bring his tour to WNY tonight with a weekend ending set at the Sportsmen’s Tavern in Black Rock. Tonight will be a homecoming gig of sorts for the Jamestown born musician, and despite spending the last month on the road, Conover has still been keeping up with this (near) weekly release of new songs/videos as part of his unique crowd funding project through Patreon. Further info can be found here. Conover and the Ghost of Paul Revere, will hit the stage at the Sportsmen’s later on this evening, beginning at 8:30pm. Cover is $10 at the door.

Tonight: Pile

May 17, 2015

Man, am I upset I have to miss this show. Tonight, the Boston four piece, Pile, will be bringing its live show to the Mohawk Place. The band is fresh off of its new album, You’re Better Than This, and with an extreme amount of buzz surrounding the group these days, is set to take off in popularity. With an absolutely mind numbing combination of post-hardcore sounding vocals, infectious riffs, and pummeling drums, Pile’s live show will have ears buzzing and your feet moving. Pile is not the only reason to check this show out though, as the locals on this bill are not to be missed. Opening the show will be newly formed act, Rosy, featuring members of Newish Star.  Following Rosy will be local post-harcore infused indie act, The Slums, and finally, taking the stage right before Pile will be one of my personal favorite local acts, JOHNS: a[...]

Tonight: Melt-Banana

May 16, 2015

Japan, it would appear, went off the deep end into wackiness sometime in the 80s; since the 90s, its capitalism-meets-schizophrenia, rampant-consumerist culture has had a disaffected release in Melt-Banana. The Tokyo-based four-piece mixes punk and pop and noise into an wall of WTF cerebral madness, both chaotic and precise, with energetic, melodically barked vocals that sounds like the soundtrack to an epilepsy inducing Japanese commercial for fish lightbulbs or something. Backed by a prominent, grindcore-leaning rhythm section, and guitar that often slips into circuit-bent, sound-effect territory, Yasuko Onuki’s lyrics are a hyperactive word salad, delivered with undeniable fervor. I was a fan for years before I even realized they were in English; even though it was catchy enough to sing along with, I’d just be shouting stuff like “punch kick punch!” like I had too much candy while playing Street Fighter Turbo at the neon game works. The band is crazy[...]

Tonight: Great Lake Swimmers

May 16, 2015

Toronto-based indie folk sweethearts Great Lake Swimmers will make their return to Buffalo tonight in support of A Forest of Arms, their first album since 2012’s New Wild Everywhere. Taking cues from influences ranging Sufjan to Neil Young, Hank Williams and beyond, the rootsy charm of their craft has been beloved by many since their debut in 2003. Those attending will enjoy the comforts and high-end acoustics of The Tralf, as well as mystery opener “special guests” whom even I don’t know the identity of. Tickets for tonight’s show are now $15 at the door, and it serves to mention that the event is 21+. Sorry, kiddos. Doors at 7pm.

Tonight: Hey Rosetta!

May 16, 2015

Tonight, the Studio at the Waiting Room is set to host Newfoundland’s Hey Rosetta!, a lively orchestral pop seven-piece paired with bravado leads that fans of Ra Ra Riot, Landlady, or even Coldplay would enjoy.  Since forming in 2005, the septet have toured all over the world,  gaining a wide array of fans and press from notable outlets like NPR and the CBC.  Tonight’s show is presented by Funtime with doors at 6:30pm and $16 cover. No word on if there are any openers. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/161105988″ 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: Lazlo Hollyfeld

May 15, 2015

Every once in a while Buffalonians get together for a true Harvestsum banger. Tonight is that night. Resident xylophone-toting instrumental rockers, Lazlo Hollyfeld, are going to be bringing it home tonight. Don’t forget the quiet crush of Applennium, the fuzzy garage pop of Johnny Nobody, or the intelligent musings of Alex Berkley & co. Mohawk Place is the place to be. 8:00pm is the magical hour – make sure you bring $5 for admission. Also, bring your friends. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175635118″ 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: What the Beck

May 15, 2015

After exploring nearly every seminal act of the 90’s, finally tonight at Nietzsche’s, 10 talented artists will form a tribute supergroup to take on one of the most diverse artists in modern pop music, Beck. From the stream-of-consciousness slacker rock of Mellow Gold to the funky grooves of Midnight Vultures and the melancholy introspective ballads of Sea Change, Buffalo’s megatribute band What the Beck will have quite the feat ahead of them. The show should be nothing if not tremendous fun, dancing in mass to songs like “Sexx Laws” and “Girl.” If that’s not enough 90’s goodness for you, the band will be partnering with Big Bottle Rocket, who will be opening proceedings with an hour long tribute to grunge gods Nirvana. If you grew up in the 90’s or just appreciate one of pop music’s most creative artists, then you know “Where It’s At,” Neitzche’s tonight. Cover is $10, music[...]

Tonight: Full of Hell, The Body, Red Death, and more

May 14, 2015

Tonight at Sugar City, six bands – Full of Hell, the Body, Buffalo based Gas Chamber/Cages, UK bad boys The Flex, Red Death, and Black Houses – will be bringing a pulverizing bill of sludgy hardcore to the venue’s newly built stage. Red Death, members of DC’s finest, churns out brutal tracks of hardcore thrash metal along the lines of what has been coming out of the capital recently. And in personal experience, no Red Death set would be complete without frontman Chad Troncale‘s commentary about smoking weed and jerking off. Full of Hell (from everywhere–MD, PA, and currently, temporarily Buffalo) puts on a sick show. Their relentless grind and noise is cathartic and the Body is just as chaotic. Doors open at 5pm for this stacked line-up. Black Houses is scheduled to go on at 6:15. Cost is $10 to lose your hearing for the forceable future.

Tonight: ZSD

May 14, 2015

Among the many things I’ve been digging about this “New Buffalo” has been the synergy generated when organizations and interests come together in an effort to bring people together and do good work. Case in point: tonight’s latest installment of the ongoing collaboration of The Public Presents and The Good Neighborhood at Nietzsche’s featuring the debut of ZSD, the latest project from the always magnificent Zuri Appleby, working with Deshawn “D Ray” Jackson and Sike. $5 or the donation of a gently used musical instrument to Music Is Art and later a deserving Buffalo Public School music student, gets you in the door at 8pm to see what Zuri’s been up to, plus Radarada and the Vitamin D Duo while hanging out with folks from insurgent weekly newspaper The Public and community organization The Good Neighborhood. You just might catch a glimpse of what our “New Buffalo” looks and sounds[...]