Preview

Tonight: Jeffrey Lewis & the Jrams

April 7, 2015

Tonight, Mohawk Place will host singer-songwriter Jeffrey Lewis with local support from Jack Topht and Max Weiss. Even if you don’t know Jeffrey Lewis, he is still probably like a guy that you know. With some hope, I might say their ranks are growing: the witty, thoughtful, sensitive types given both to melancholy and optimism, sometimes both at the same time. Lewis’s music is often humorous and easy to listen to, but it can still affect the listener deeply, sometimes unexpectedly. It kind of reminds me of watching home movies from your childhood: you’re laughing, you’re smiling, it all seems light, and then feel like crying all of a sudden. Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. Facebook event here.

Tonight: Tigers Jaw

April 6, 2015

If you love punk or emo music and you haven’t indulged in the Tigers Jaw discography yet, shame on you. Their latest album, the very intimate sounding Charmer, made a slew of best-of-2014 lists (including my own).T he Scranton-based band self-describes as what would happen if Fleetwood Mac and Brand New had an angsty little child (with great pop sensibility). If you’d like to know more, fellow buffaBLOGGER Ronald Walczyk conducted an excellent interview with frontman Ben Walsh that you can access here. Tonight’s openers include the buzzing melodipunks in Somos and Buffalo indie-rock royalty, Lemuria. Doors are at 7pm, $15 at the door.

Tonight: Bleachers

April 5, 2015

It’s too facile to call Bleachers merely a side project of fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff (or, if you’re a Girls fan, the lover of Lena Dunham). With over-the-top production and unabashedly catchy alt-rock vibes – what he describes as a merging of Arcade Fire and Discourse, and music that isn’t ashamed to be mainstream – Antonoff has developed a band just as fun and commercially viable as his breakthrough group, if not more. The young band (conceived and developed during his touring with fun.) was launched into fame largely on the heels of lead single “I Wanna Get Better” – a jubilant and irresistibly catchy piece of audio-therapy, with its sunny sound suggesting Antonoff will be just fine. Their debut album, Strange Desire, came out July of last year, with the New Wave-y third single “Rollercoaster” also helping to cement the group’s place in the lighter halls of alt- and[...]

Tonight: Richard Album

April 5, 2015

Last time Richard Album came through town, a bunch of people crowded into the living room of the Jungle Gym. I think he was wearing black lipstick, and maybe a tie. There were candles and the lights were low, but Richard was up and down the aisle of people acting charming and sincere like a vulnerable lounge singer. Maybe my memory is filling in some blanks, but that’s the impression I got. Now he’s coming back for a repeat performance and I hope it’s just like that. His music is a bit punky, a bit surfy, occasionally a bit Ariel Pinky in its aesthetic and its earnestness, but more likable. He’ll be joined by surf-rockers Space Wolves, new two-piece Getting Dressed and established two-piece Space is Haunted, who will also be releasing a tape at the show. Doors at 6pm, show at 7pm, $5 for the touring band. Facebook event[...]

Tonight: Advance Base

April 3, 2015

Tonight, Sugar City is presenting an evening for introverts. Headlined by always-in-his-head, Advance Base, along with support from Rochester’s ice bar, experimental Jax and blog favorite Damian, this  for those who want a calm and cool night with artists who will talk to your heart. I’ve heard the name Advance Base around the internet for a bit, but never stopped to give it a listen. #bloglife. I played a few songs last night and was instantly like “Oh wow, this sounds like Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.” Guess what? Advance Base is Owen Ashworth, the voice and mind behind Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, an act known for its incredibly descriptive lyrics teeter tottering in between sad and self aware, and sometimes both. Another layer which makes this cake super sweet is the debut Buffalo performance by Ice Bar, who’s very impressive 2014 ante meridium came out of nowhere and[...]

Tonight: Divers

April 2, 2015

With temperatures reaching the mid-60s, today offers Buffalo’s first real taste of spring this year. And I couldn’t think of a more perfect bill to celebrate the dawn of the new season than that at Curly’s (note: not the Lackawanna restaurant) tonight. The bill is headlined by Portland-natives, Divers. The band has made a huge impact in its home city, know for raucous live shows and is fresh off the release of the impressive new album, Hello Hello. Divers has an Americana punk sound that reflects artists like the Gaslight Anthem, Ted Leo, and Okkervil River, perfect anthemic rock for such a summery day. Divers will also be joined by a trio of local acts. First off, the melodic retro-punkers, Unwelcome Guests, who are playing their last show before embarking on a West Coast tour. Also make sure to get there early for the lo-fi slacker rock sounds of Difficult Night,[...]

The Queers

April 1, 2015

Mohawk Place is the site for the night’s best punk bill. Long time, Portsmouth punkers, the Queers (an act that’s reminiscent of high school, Screeching Weasel, and juvenile boys who picked on you when they actually liked you), will be rolling through town. The band will be turning out its brand of bratty punk alongside Richie Ramone. Ramone, perhaps unsurprisingly, sounds like the Ramones if they had a different singer, and with one listen to the Atom Age, its pretty clear they belong on this bill. Buffalo buds Newish Star are opening. Tonight’s doors open at 7pm, show at 8pm, and tickets are $15.

Tonight: Boyharsher

April 1, 2015

Wednesday seems like a good night for music on the darker side, which is good as Dreamland will be host to 3 excellent acts. Tonight’s Boyharsher show is a great fit for those looking brooding, moody music that is at times danceable. Boyharsher fills out the danceable card, performing minimal wave songs with an industrial edge. Combining sparse synths with droning vocals, the Georgia based duo is sure to put on an excellent show. Local post-punks, Orations, offer a guitar driven counterpoint playing music reminiscent of Bauhaus and early Cure. Heart Brains are billed as “thoughtful’ noise-drones. Oddly enough, they are the harshest sounding band in a show featuring another band with ‘harsh’ in their name. For only a $5 donation to the awesome space at Dreamland, this is a great way to spend a Wednesday or any day really. Show begins at 8pm.

Tonight: The Decemberists

April 1, 2015

Portland’s hyper-literate, indie-folk rock act, the Decembrists, have amassed many accolades, from Grammy nominations to well-documented participatory live shows. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the group however is its consistency of strong material. Since the band’s inception in the early 2000s, the Decembrists have released one phenomenal album after another, leading to many debates (as is oft the case among great bands) about which album is the creme de la creme, the focal center. My personal favorite remains the Hazards of Love, for many reasons. It caught me at the right time, and I could heavily relate to the character arcs and the bold, exploratory nature of the music. Thematically, it was a powerhouse, tempered by a vibe both subdued yet somehow startlingly open. (Feel free to debate this is the comments section. Everyone’s a winner in these kind of arguments.) Tonight, the Decembrists will be regaling us with[...]

Tonight: Start Making Sense

March 31, 2015

Buffalo Iron Works will be the place tonight when Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense “burn down the house” with the music and spirit of that elusive and seminal new wave powerhouse. Endorsed by Bernie Worrell, the godlike genius and legendary keyboardist for Parliament/Funkadelic as well as the Talking Heads in the early 80’s, Start Making Sense gets Talking Heads right without the karaoke, while frontman Jon Braun tastefully handles the difficult chore of channeling David Byrne with a less is more approach that works. Get ready to dance with your neck, elbows, and knees… but please be careful with the sudden hand gestures as you might poke somebody’s eye out of spill his or her beer. Getting things going will be Hall & Oates tribute band HMFO. $12 is day of ticket price and doors are at 8pm.

Tonight: Shakey Graves

March 31, 2015

Get your folk pants on, buffaBLOG readers, for Shakey Graves takes the stage at Town Ballroom tonight. Shakey Graves (neé Alejandro Rose-Garcia) is known for his guitar picking, and man can that boy pluck. True to the Americana form, his relatable lyrics and emotional performances remind us that while folk music has the power to carry us back to another time, its transcendent qualities are decidedly contemporary. Doors open at 7pm, and show starts at 8pm. Tickets are still available for $18 at the door.

Tonight: Diarrhea Planet

March 30, 2015

If we move past the obvious party metal comparison and the unpleasant imagery of the name (sorry if you’re not already picturing an entire planet of diarrhea), Diarrhea Planet is a hardworking band with a more-than-devoted fan base that has successfully transitioned themselves from a “buzz band” to a mainstay in the rock scene. The sextet from Nashville, TN consistently owns and stays true to their image and sound, one that is eccentric, a little droll, but never hackneyed. They are a well-oiled arena punk machine with classic riffage and the energy of a loaded bottle rocket. Think Andrew W.K. meets The Afghan Whigs meets Heavy Cream. Buffalo’s own psychedelic blues rockers Sleepy Hahas will also be gracing the stage, along with punk rock outfit Left & Right from Charlottesville, VA. Last time Diarrhea Planet was in town, the guys played Mohawk on a Monday, and it looks like they’re[...]

Tonight: Horse Feathers

March 29, 2015

Portland-based folksters Horse Feathers returns to Buffalo tonight in support of its fifth album, So It Is With Us. With several accomplished multi-instrumentalists on stage at The Tralf, the band promises to deliver the ethereal blend of indie and folk for which it’s known. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show slated to begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Tonight: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

March 28, 2015

Later tonight at Nietzsche’s, we return to the seen of the crime: our first birthday party. Looking back at the bill from that night, a lot has changed since then. Love Scenes and Arctic Death are no longer active. The birD day moved out to Portland, and the Tins just returned from SXSW. All week long, we have been spotlighting all of our birthday acts, a mix of both seasoned acts and fresh to the scene bands. In case you missed any, now is the time to catch up: Zak Ward M.A.G.S. Difficult Night Comfy Applennium Wooden Waves Music kicks off at 10pm sharp with a cover of $7. Thanks in advance for all of the support over years. We hope to see you all tonight.

Tonight: Bring Back The 90’s Skate Party

March 27, 2015

I still have very vivid memories of going to the Eastern Hills Mall roller rink during my elementary/middle school years of the 90’s, awkwardly skating around the rink, just waiting for the DJ to yell “REVERSE” and completely turning the rink into a cluster of falling kids trying to change directions. If you are another child of the 90’s and are in the mood to lace up the old skates and relive those times, then head down to Skateland this evening on East Ferry for a Bring Back the 90’s Skate Party. Entry is free, but make sure to bring a buck to rent some skates. DJ Remmez will be providing the nostalgic tunes all night long. Puka shell necklaces and JNCO jeans are optional.