Preview

Tonight: Cheap Girls

October 13, 2014

Mohawk Place is a venue with more than a lot of history for Buffalonians and since it reopen last month, many bands will add to the esteemed venue’s history. That said, few bands better reflect both where the venue has been and where it is going than the showcase of bands gracing it’s stage tonight. That starts with Cheap Girls, a trio hailing from Lansing, Michigan with a sound that reflects everyone from The Replacements to Gin Blossoms to the Gaslight Anthem. They’ll be hitting our fair city in support of their latest album, Famous Graves.  The band has been quietly been making a name for themselves among retro-rock enthusiasts for awhile and with their realist blue-collar lyrics, catchy pop hooks, and classic guitar riffs, should put on quite the show. And speaking of bands of the future working off the past, Beach Slang will bring their brand of 90s-inspired[...]

Tonight: Merchandise

October 13, 2014

Big night of indie rock tonight at the Buffalo Iron Works  when Tampa post punkers, Merchandise, and Copenhagen’s Lower play that excellent Cobblestone district stage. 4AD Records buzz band are on tour in support of the well received After The End, an ambitious arena rocker, released this past August, that ought to translate well in Iron Works’ excellent brick performance space, while Danish noise rockers Lower will continue to make inroads with American audiences in support of their current Matador Records release, Seek Warmer Climes. Tickets are still available at the door for $14 and doors open at 7:00 PM.

Tonight: Pile

October 12, 2014

You know your band has to be good when a band as great as Krill writes their best album about how terrible they feel about how good you are. That’s Pile, talented enough to make Jonah Furman feel bad and bastard enough to come to Buffalo while I’m out of town. So please, enjoy this for me. Check out Dripping to get a taste of where Pile has been. It’s the most fun you’ll have while fighting off the creeping suspicion that your heart has been replaced with dust and spiderwebs. Then, check out “Special Snowflakes” to get a taste of where Pile is going. It’s more expansive, more ambitious and still gets stuck in your head. Hot Tip, Del Paxton and Softlines are all playing. Hot Tip and Del Paxton I’ve seen a few times each and can vouch for the fact that they rule. Softlines I only know[...]

Tonight: Hardware Pop-Up Party

October 11, 2014

Tryna dance and get weird? Get to the back room of Allen Street Hardware tonight for a pop-up party featuring sets from Buffalo’s finest and mind-fucking visuals from Malt Disney. SwaggleRock [Buzz Trillington & Shooter McNappin] [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/170067844″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Eyes Everywhere [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/167019028″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Medison [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/150176216″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Miosi Tonight, Friday, Oct. 10 Allen St. Hardware (245 Allen St.) 21+

Tonight: Overhand Sam

October 11, 2014

Tonight Allentown will be treated to a pretty eclectic mix at Dreamland (387 Franklin St. Set to perform is Rochester-based OHS (Overhand Sam), aka Sam Snyder who might look familiar from his other gig in Maybird. OHS’sound is full-bodied, sounding like a mix between a Jack White project and college radio hit. Also on the bill is fairly new to our radar, Different Planets, which sounds like if Casiotone for the Painfully Alone took hallucinogens accidentally after his wife left him and subbed in  an industrial band.  Certainly not to be left out is Iowa’s best atmospheric rock troubadour, Bob Bucko Jr. and sludgy weirdo outfit, Pappy Stardust and & the Eclectic Moon Sandwich. Doors are at 7pm with kickoff at 8pm. $5 donation goes to Bob Bucko Jr., because he traveled 13 hours to get to Buffalo. Trust me, that drive sucks. I’ve done it way too many times.

Tonight: Pump It Up

October 10, 2014

Transmission Dance Party is returning to the back room of Hardware tonight for its latest event, Pump It Up. Unlike some other Transmission parties, Pump It Up doesn’t have a specific theme (see Cure vs. Smiths Dance party), but rather the broad scope of indie and electronic dance music so most jams will be in play. If you want to get down anything in particular this evening, post your requests over on the event’s facebook page. Pump It Up begins tonight at 11pm, with a $5 cover.

Tonight: Brief Candles

October 10, 2014

Hold your PBRs to the sky—Milwaukee shoegaze indie-rockers Brief Candles will be taking over Buffalo’s Mohawk Place later this evening for a night of droning and blissful dreamrock. Their music—thick, sludgy, and actually very pretty—does not easily draw comparisons, so you’ll have to head on over to the ‘hawk and check them out for yourself. The 90’s-tinged indie jams of Buffalo-based Supergoner will be flavoring the bill in the opening slot, making the legendary Mohawk Place exactly where you want to be tonight. Doors at 8pm, $5 cover.

Tonight: Bayside

October 8, 2014

Tonight, Bayside is playing at the Waiting Room… But fans of Bayside probably already know that – they refer to themselves as a cult. For those Buffalonians who haven’t been indoctrinated yet, think passionate pop-punk/emo with a monster discography a la Saves the Day or Alkaline Trio. Just make sure you keep an eye out for rabid fans. The ex-The Movielife stalwarts in I Am The Avalanche and Seaway will be opening up the show tonight. $19 gets you in at 6:30. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/7040414″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: II Sogno Del Marinaio with Mike Watt

October 8, 2014

The Sportsmen’s Tavern is like the forgotten step child on Christmas, somehow ending up overlooked while everyone else got presents. In all fairness, the Sportsmen is really easy to skip over, especially if you don’t live in Black Rock. For the Allentown and West Side kids, it’s really convenient to locked into our little commune between the Glitterbox, Hoyt House, the Jungle Gym, and Black Dots Records, not to mention the Allen Street staples like Nietzsche’s, Duke’s, and Hardware. Sportsmen’s manages to fly underneath the radar, even though the joint continues to book some amazing acts. Tonight is one of those nights, as II Sogno Del Marianio with Mike Watt will be gracing the stage. Watt is just that guy, still flying high on his glory days with The Minutemen. In recent years, he has found himself in projects with musicians half his age as well as taking over bass responsibilities[...]

Tonight: TOKiMONSTA

October 6, 2014

TOKiMONSTA will be returning to Buffalo tonight to shower an ecstatic crowd with eclectic sample constructions that translate into dreamy beat-scapes. A conjurer of  syncopated enchantment, her samples are results of devout vinyl rummaging and by combining these clips with choppy rhythms and melodic synth backdrops. Over the years, the Brainfeeder member has become known for producing spacey down-tempo tracks with a soulful, old school flair. What you hear tonight will be no exception. In fact, she’ll be delivering tracks from her latest album, Desidirium, which was only released two weeks ago and aside from her newfound leanings towards elements of trap music, let’s just her bass game has never been so on point. Silky moog phatty notes and low-end dance stabs color her tracks with depth and a new dimension of danceability. Furthermore, various r&b vocalists are featured, transforming some of her hip-hop instrumentals into full fledged songs.  Calling all[...]

Tonight: We/Ours

October 6, 2014

Minnapolis noise quartet, We/Ours, will be making a West Side stop this evening as part of a solid showcase down at the Glitter Box. Featuring members of Casual Users, Frozen Teens and the Sundowners, We/Ours are a fuzz-noise band with the ability create hooks that sound like the Besnard Lakes if they never left the basement. Take a few minutes to listen their demo to get a better idea. Glitter Box regulars Aaron & the Burrs and Mink help round out the bill along with a fresh local act, SHEDS, making its debut live appearance. $5 will get you into the basement tonight. Doors at 6pm, music at 7pm, leave at 10pm. Very economical.

Today: Buffalo Porchfest

October 4, 2014

Well, its pretty awful out. After almost two straight weeks of nearly perfect weather, its currently pouring. But, the Elmwood Village’s third installment of the Buffalo Porchfest will continue on. Many of the porches that volunteer do have some sort of covering. Mine, unfortunately, does not, so I may have to get a little creative. Bands will be scattered all over the Elmwood Village this afternoon, stretching from Allentown to almost Buff State. You can reference the map and full band schedule, which includes sets from blog favorites like Difficult Night and Pine Fever’s Andy Pothier, here to start planning your soggy afternoon. Music begins at noon and runs staggered until 4pm.

Tonight: Code Orange Kids

October 3, 2014

Code Orange Kids live up to their name in age only. Though they are young, they have an extremely mature grip on their hardcore, punk sound. Signed to Deathwish, they have already toured, recorded with, and garnered praise from genre greats such as members of Converge. Catch them on their return to Buffalo at the Waiting Room tonight with Twitching Tongues, Discourse, Malfunction, and Modern Problems: doors are at 6pm, all ages allowed. $12 to get in. (Bring earplugs, it’ll be heavy!)

Tonight: A Hotel Nourishing EP Release Show

October 3, 2014

After a dark, seven-year hiatus, A Hotel Nourishing (Sonny Baker and Cam Rogers) returns tonight to release some new music, the deeply textured and haunting Empty Gesture EP. The band will be taking the stage at the recently re-opened Mohawk Place, so get ready for a healthy dose of 2007-esque nostalgia. Joining AHN are Aircraft, Mr. Boneless, and Red Heat (their first show!). Doors open this evening at 8pm while music kicks off around 9pm. $5 cover.

Tonight: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

October 2, 2014

Catch three of Rochester’s best acts on one bill tonight at the Tralf to support Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. The boundary-bending reggae act is known for their live shows, and they truly put the jam in jam band. Their latest album, Steady dropped September 30th on NYC-based indie label Easy Star Records. The release party also features 585 favorites Maybird, a five-piece compilation of BK and Rochester artists, including Overhand Sam Snyder, and Josh and Adam Netsky. Special guests Occupanther round out the bill. Tickets for the event are available for $15 online, at the Tralf Box Office (716-852-2860), Terrapin Station, and Walmart. Doors for this 21+ show are at 8pm, and music starts at 9pm.