Preview

Tonight: 12th Annual Cure vs Smiths Dance Party

February 7, 2015

Tonight is the latest in an ongoing battle, a war stretching back to 80’s Britannia before finding a contemporary home in Buffalo. This is The Cure vs The Smiths Dance Party. Originally stemming out of the indie/new wave-centric Transmission Dance parties, the Cure/Smiths’ night, which began at Mohawk Place over a decade ago, has become an annual Buffalo tradition. With the temporary closing of Mohawk and the event’s growing popularity, the clash has found many different homes in recent years, the latest at Buffalo Iron Works. Tonight, as he has for years, DJs Bill Page and Jason Draper will spin nothing, but the biggest hits to the most obscure deep cuts from the two iconic 80s bands. And while to some an entire night of wall to wall Smiths and Cure may sound like a cause for “Panic,” I can assure you, it’s “Just Like Heaven.” The undercard begins at 9:30pm[...]

Tonight: Soul Patch

February 6, 2015

Tonight! Enjoy Buffalo’s premiere 90’s cover band – Soul Patch. Behind the Cobain glasses and fantastic hair pieces are Keith and Steve from an equally legendary Buffalo band, Every Time I Die… But don’t expect headbanging and sweaty dudes hanging from the ceiling tonight. You should just expect covers of The Cardigans and Harvey Danger, among many others. The kicker – there’s no cover! Unless you’re under 21, in which case, it is $10. Although you might not be able to maneuver your car down those cobblestone streets, Iron Works will open doors at 8 and get the music started at 9. *Insert Nirvana reference here*

Tonight: Johnny Cash Birthday Bash

February 6, 2015

There is no ambiguity that exists in your cranial cavity when you hear the words “The Man in Black.” Without question, you know who that is: Johnny Cash. The late country music great is an anomaly, managing to bridge generations as well as integrate them, even though he has been gone from this world for over a decade now. Tonight, the Good Neighborhood will be hosting its annual Johnny Cash tribute show, celebrating his birthday at the Allen Street staple, Nietzsche’s. Everything gets kicked off promptly at 6pm, with Cash tribute band Boy Named Sue playing its monthly happy hour, only to be followed by a lineup of both annual favorites and new comers. On the bill are The CPX, Ten Cent Howl, Stoneflower, David Michael Miller of House Union, and Jim Candytree & Megan Brown of Whiskey Reverb. Everyone has shared their song selections, promising no repeats. The happy[...]

Tonight: King Buffalo

February 6, 2015

Rock’n’roll is alive and well in the Rust Belt, and in spite of the shit weather, is making a home at Mohawk Place tonight. Rochester’s King Buffalo makes its return to our fair city with a sinewy brand of stoner hymns (Think Quest for Fire), along with Buffalo hings of heavy, Malarchuk, rock’n’roll throwback machines, the Evil Things, and Merchants/Space Wolves-by-way-of-new-name, Kharlos. This show is quintessential Buffalo winter. Drink Pabsts, get loose, shake hips, fun, smile, party. Action Jackson at 8pm.

Tonight: CHERUB

February 4, 2015

Nashville-based electro-pop duo, CHERUB, is set to bring their party jams to Delaware Ave this evening,  playing the bottom floor of The Waiting Room (aka not the Studio). Formed in 2010, CHERUB gained national recognition via their Hype Machine-approved smash-hit, “Doses and Mimosas.”  Also on the bill is Mystery Skulls (for fans of Simian Mobile Disco, Boys Noize) and ForteBowie (instagram R&B). Tickets are $20 today and get there around 7pm.

Tonight: Ani DiFranco

February 4, 2015

Everybody has their opinion about the Lil’ Folksinger, the Buffalo-native Righteous Babe, Ani DiFranco. She has a loyal pack of followers who catch every local show they can, and also follow her to other cities. Many wake up the night of a show with a wishlist of songs they hope to hear. The number of her album releases has grown exponentially over the years, whether they be studio albums or a part of her live series. Her merch, bearing the iconic flexing pixie-cut chick, continues to sell. Through activism and a fight for preservation, DiFranco helped save the old church on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, which is now coined Babeville. It is home to the headquarters for Righteous Babe Records, her self-established label, as well as Asbury Hall, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, and the Ninth Ward bar. It would be an understatement to say that Ani DiFranco has been busy[...]

Tonight: Scajaquada Creeps

January 31, 2015

Don’t let the name unnerve you. The Scajaquada Creeps are as far from dark or unsettling as could be. The quartet’s eclectic take on electronica – fusing elements of funk, free jazz, and neb-psychedelia along the way – is both spacey and dancey; music that equally moves brain and body. Frequently donning costumes when they take the stage, the band follows in the vein previously explored by Primus, showing off a funky, quirky irreverence in their performances. Meanwhile, their wide range of conflicting bleeps and bloops suggests influence from modern electronic groups, like Animal Collective and early-Aughts Radiohead. In other words, expect fun and expect weird. See the Scajaquada Creeps perform tonight starting at 9pm at The Jungle Gym. Admission is $5.

Tonight: Parade Chic

January 31, 2015

Tonight, the night before America’s unofficial/official faux national holiday, the Studio at the Waiting Room will be hosting a hot lineup featuring some of Western New York’s most compelling bands: futuristic lo-fi rockers Parade Chic, dream pop New Wavers Smarthouse, SHEDS, the pride of Lancaster, and the Buffalo via Rochester weirdness of Unisex. $8 gets you into this all ages show, which starts early by Buffalo standards with doors at 6:30pm, making this ideal for getting Super Bowl LXVVI Eve (it’s official) started right.

Tonight: Beatmakers Showcase

January 30, 2015

As music production software has become so easily accessible, artists have accordingly taken advantage of the opportunity to create texturally complex sounds and percussion-based tracks known loosely as “beats.” Taking an atmospheric approach, the often instrumental music is hard to define, but borrows much from jazz with its’ varied instrumentation and idiosyncratic structure. Events such as Los Angeles’ Low End Theory club night have helped break through many artists like Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer, Daedelus, and Nosaj Thing and bring the genre to a wider audience. Tonight, Buffalo’s Dreamland multi-purpose gallery will host a showcase of local beatmaking talent including sets from Chauncey Tails, whose fresh tracks feature pitch-shifted vocals and a warped hip hop feel, and Melissa Hasagun, with her ethereal, reflective style that blends low-key rhythms with textured soundscapes. Other producers performing include Denzel and Brother Bless. The event starts at 7:30 and donations will be accepted at[...]

Tonight: Alpha Hopper, Orations, & Soul Butchers

January 30, 2015

As we all know, January is seemingly endless string of cold, dark days, the never melting coating of snow a reminder of our own growing despondency and claustrophobia. Shame it only comes but once a year. To help celebrate the coming end of this month, Mohawk Place has a pretty solid bill of local bands beginning at 8pm for only $5 later on tonight. Starting things off will be Alpha Hopper, a band quickly building momentum for their debut LP, set to be released this Summer. Abrasive garage rock anchored by amazing vocals, this is definitely a band to watch. From there we move on to the brooding post punk of Orations. Whose ep from last year was a definite highlight. Fans of Joy Division, Bauhaus, and early Cure do not want to miss this performance. Finally, rounding things out is the frantic and wholly entertaining punk of Soul Butchers. So really,[...]

Tonight: Public School Presents Ladies Night

January 30, 2015

The next installment of Public School, the Public‘s monthly dance showcase, goes down tonight at Hardware, and this one is run by ladies only. Featuring an all-female cast of DJs, included the fresh faced duo, GLDN GIRLS, and DJ Yama, the latter whom was given a nice spotlight a couple weeks back in the weekly publication, will be holding the front and back rooms down all evening. The night kicks off at 11pm with a $5 cover. All ladies who arrive prior to midnight, though, can walk right in for free. Sadly, neither act tonight has any audio clips that I can find, so lets just hope tonight turns out better than this.

Tonight: Datsik

January 28, 2015

British Columbia-born producer, Datsik, has been creating crass, bass-oriented dubstep and trap music for nearly a decade, first breaking through in 2009 when ten of the artist’s releases reached number one on Beatport. In addition to original productions, Datsik has been consistently putting out an eclectic range of remixes throughout his career, reworking tracks by artists like Wu-Tang Clan, Diplo, Coldplay, Lana Del Rey, and MGMT. The producer also started his own label, Firepower Records, back in 2012 and has since signed various bass and dubstep artists in addition to releasing an EP and full length of his own music. Tonight, Datsik will bring his Ninja Nation tour to the Town Ballroom with support from Southern California trap producer Kennedy Jones and UK dubstep artist Trolley Snatcha. Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $30 and can be purchased here or at the door (although word is the show is just about sold out).[...]

Tonight: Teenager

January 24, 2015

“Going back to school, or already went to school” blues got you down? Why not blow off some last minute steam tonight at Hoyt House? The young bucks who run the joint have a very relaxed attitude on life, where punk time is still alive and well. Tonight on the line up with be Toronto’s Teenager. Teenager is a garage blues punk outfit who could even foil Lester Bangs into thinking that they are the love child of The Sonics, Iggy Pop, and the Washouts, because in the music world it takes three to make a baby. Also on the bill tonight are Buffalo weirdos Alpha Hopper and fairly new lo-fi guys on the block Softlines. Show time says 7pm, but who knows. If you don’t know where Hoyt House is, you already know the drill: ask a punk.

Tonight: The Traditional CD Release

January 24, 2015

In case you missed our Album of the Week nod, tonight is your best chance to figure out what The Traditional is all about. On second thought, The Traditional actually is that hard to figure out – it’s passionate, simple emo music in the same vein as Bayside or Taking Back Sunday. Tonight’s show celebrates the release of the foursome’s debut full length, How To Live Without Blood. It also celebrates years of self-booked tours, relentless promotion, and a record deal. Supporting The Tradish tonight are Tresspassers, Alleys, The Slums, and Younger Then (whose name was inspired from an older Traditional song). Tickets are $10, we’ll see you at the Studio at the Waiting Room at 6:00.

Tonight: Day Camp

January 24, 2015

Cincinnati-based indie rock quartet, Day Camp, will be making a stop in Buffalo tonight with support from local trio, Boy Scouts. With a tape release right around the corner (February 13th to be exact) via Rochester-based tape label, Dadstache Records, Day Camp has been making the rounds throughout upstate NY. Obvious comparisons for the band are The Get Up Kids, Tugboat Annie, and Mineral. Comfy was supposed to be on this gig but have since been removed. Don’t worry, I have a feeling we will be hearing from them fairly soon. Tonight’s show is at Northrup. That’s probably all you need to know.