Preview

Tonight: Ab-Soul

October 2, 2014

After Dark presents hip hop artist Ab-Soul at Waiting Room tonight. Hailing from California, the rapper, born Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, has had a long winding road that has led him to where he is now.  He has had three albums released and has been featured and collaborated with plenty of climbing and established hip hop artists, like Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Danny Brown, Jhene Aiko and more. Also performing tonight will be BAS, EARTHGANG, BILL $ABER, and DJ JETT. Tonight, Thursday, October 2 After Dark Presents Ab-Soul Waiting Room (334 Delaware Ave.) Doors at 7 p.m., $27 See the Facebook event page.

Tonight: Electric Six

October 2, 2014

There’s a fine line to walk when making music as to whether or not you are going to be a parody band or to be taken serious. Electric Six is one of the few anomalies that are a legit rock’n roll band and are also fun, sarcastic, and legitimate. Tonight, one of our favorite goofball conglomerates will bring their cultural satire to newly minted Studio at the Waiting Room for undoubtedly one hell of a show.  If you don’t think you know who Electric Six is, you are wrong. You know the hits. Does “Danger! Danger! High Voltage!” ring a bell? Or perhaps you’ve seen that pre-viral Abraham Lincoln-fronted video for “Gay Bar?” See, you know them. Doors are at 7pm with a $15 cover. You should get there early because Aircraft are opening along with the Soft White Sixties, ya dig?

Tonight: Tweedy

October 1, 2014

Father and son make their way through town tonight in the newest creation by Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy. With Jeff taking his usual spot at guitar and lead singer, you can find his oldest son, Spencer, behind him on drums. Listening to their music, you get the sense that it’s more than just a hash mark off Jeff’s list of “things to do as an accomplished musician.” Beyond the blood they share, the lyrics are personal—in many places you can see themes of the most intense thing the two now face on this earth: a mom and wife fighting with cancer. The duo’s first album, Sukierae, is indeed named after Jeff’s wife, Sue Miller. It features 20 songs soaked with a Jeff Tweedy at his most raw. But then again, I suppose his lyrics are always served best with a high dose of emotional turbulence. While in many cases[...]

Tonight: Michael Parallax

September 30, 2014

Feeling Wreckless? Catch one of the scene’s favorite superhuman spellbinding pizza pal weirdos, the haplessly hopeful and spiritually (for)giving artist Michael Parallax ( frequent tour mate of Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt) tonight in support of his latest album, Wilderness Year. Released on on Spirit Cat Tapes, the ten track album is exactly what you would want/expect to hear at a space like Dreamland. He is supported by local honeys Jack Topht and Little Cake, as well as Strawberry Boys. Doors are at 8? There is no set ticket price;  a suggested donation of $5 (or whatever you can swing) is accepted. Michael Parallax – TRSH MTN from Michael Parallax on Vimeo.

Tonight: Brillz and SNAILS Twonkaholics Tour

September 30, 2014

If you happened to catch Brillz the last time he was in Buffalo, then you know that he knows how to throw down, and he throws down hard. Brillz and SNAILS are kicking off their Twonkaholics Tour tonight in Buffalo. Brillz, a moniker based on an abbreviation for “brilliant.” He has had releases on major labels like OWSLA, Mad Decent and Slow Roast Records, toured major cities and has played big name festival crowds. What started as a title for his album, “twonk” has clearly become it’s own defintion. What does TWONK mean? In an interview he did with Bass Collective, he said the word is all about it’s openness to interpretation. Twonk is whatever you want it to mean. “It’s about being weird, having fun and being creative,” he has said. Here’s a visual representation for you to form your own definition: Check out Brillz’s Instagram: @brillzbrillz [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/153059351″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false”[...]

Tonight: Giant Peach

September 30, 2014

You guys like fuzz, right? Giant Peach is playing at the Glitterbox tonight, and I think you’d like them, too. Poppy, high energy stuff from Brooklyn. Check ’em out. They’ll be supported by locals Del Paxton, Space is Haunted and Grout. Good jams all around. Doors at 6:00, definitely be there by 7:00. $5 at the door. Facebook event here.

Tonight: The Elmwood Village 20 Block Bash

September 27, 2014

Tonight, celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Elmwood Village Association at a big street party between West Utica and Hodge where it all began tastefully called The 20 Block Bash and featuring a raft of blog favorites handling the music for the festivities. It’s hard to believe that the Elmwood Village is only 20 years old because it feels like the EV’s been the EV forever, a testament to the concept’s durability and success as an organizing principle for the Elmwood Strip (that’s what we used to call it, back when it was overrun by delinquents and blue neon). That’s why tonight’s shindig is so worthy of note and a good time waiting to happen: it’s a celebration of Elmwood’s history and it’s future and a great opportunity to hang out with your fellow Buffalonians and enjoy the bounty of the city and the West Side in particular, namely local[...]

Tonight: Hank & Cupcakes

September 25, 2014

There’s a difference between going to a concert and seeing a live show, and as fans of Brooklyn-based electropop duo Hank & Cupcakes know, their shows are LIVE. Whether they’re covering the crowd and themselves in DayGlo paint, stripping down as the show heats up, or assailing your ears with their “this can’t possibly be music created by just two people” wall of sound, the couple (they’re together, and they’re perfect) literally bring the noise to every show they have. Buffalo is the second stop on their Ca$h 4 Gold tour, and the album is available on iTunes. Like their previous releases, it’s full of synthy pop beats, heavy drums, lots of bass, and just a touch of disco. Check them out at The Gypsy Parlor tonight, supported by Carina & the Six String Preacher. Tickets are just $5 and doors are at 9.

Tonight: Cliffs

September 25, 2014

Buffalo Iron Works is sporting a formative bill of indie rock later on tonight, highlighted by Columbus duo, Cliffs. The pair is on night two of its first tour and Iron Works is as good of a place to keep the good times rolling. Cliff’s crunchy brand of garage pop and shouting vocals evoke bands like Jeff the Brotherhood, Free Energy and a touch of Japandroids. The local support is all over the place in terms of sounds. You have the manic, steamfolk Mr. Boneless, some looping singer/songwriter material from Matt Script, and the always pleasing peppy surf-rock from Bryan Johnson & Family, who just yesterday finally announced their long awaited, new EP. Music begins this evening at 8pm. Cover is probably $5.

Tonight: Ark Life

September 24, 2014

Buffalo will get a dose of Colorado tonight as Ark Life makes it’s way through town, breathing magic into the newly reopened Mohawk Place with their soul-steeped take on folk-rock. This is a band that hit the ground running—they’ve been together little over year, with one record under their belts and nearly 200 shows in their pockets. They’ve shared bills with the likes of Shakey Graves, of Montreal, Barcelona and Warpaint, and have a string of shows with Dispatch and State Radio guitarist Chadwick Stokes coming up in early November. Their summer tour dates now blending into fall, this quintet will bring their stories with them, soaked in the harmonies and passion that have led them down such a thunderous road of early success. Joining them will be Buffalo romantic-folkies Tiny Rhymes. 8pm start. $5 gets you a couple ears full of beautiful tunes.

Tonight: André Obin

September 24, 2014

Massachusetts based electronic musician, André Obin, will be playing Buffalo Iron Works this evening. Hailing from Cambridge and stopping in Buffalo as part of a tour which includes San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Boston, Obin‘s musical weapon of choice is the synthesizer. And he’s not your ordinary synth-smith. The melodies he creates paired with the sounds he chooses give way to dense, evolving, and lustrous song-scapes. It’s exceedingly catchy synth pop on the distant end of the spectrum: bright chord progressions shrouded in a metallic glaze like some sort of contemporary artifact from the 80s. Obin’s brand of synth pop calls to mind the decade when the genre sounded ostensibly more sinister and the lyrical delivery, more confessionary. Furthermore, his live career has brought him to play alongside synth pop heavy weights like Matthew Dear, Washed Out, and M83. Consider him an up and coming counterpart, tonight at Buffalo Iron Works[...]

Tonight: Matisyahu

September 22, 2014

Buffalo welcomes Matisyahu back to Town Ballroom as he takes his “Built to Survive” tour across North America to promote his latest album, the critically acclaimed Akeda. Streaming online now, the album is his most self-searching and raw release to date. Akeda is the Hebrew word for binding, and that’s exactly what this album does. It clings to you, and the reggae-tinged beats, at times triumphant, hopeful, scattered, and soulful, stick in your brain. However, the album is also about change and letting go, with Matisyahu acknowledging that “I think this period of my life has really been about letting go of everything, all the things I had set up form my image to certain relationships to making the kind of music that’s expected of you.” He does just this with his latest effort, and this is a tour that shouldn’t be missed, as those who were at the Town[...]

Tonight: Emmylou Harris

September 20, 2014

There isn’t much we can say about Emmylou Harris that hasn’t already been said. In her 40-year career as a singer/songwriter, Harris has been called everything from a legend to an angel, and has earned countless well-deserved awards along the way. Tonight is your chance to catch a living legend live at Kleinhans Music Hall, where Harris takes the stage at 8 p.m. A handful of tickets are still available for sale and start at $47.00.

Tonight: Julien Lamb Benefit Concert

September 20, 2014

Julien Lamb is your typical Allentown kid, except that his battles aren’t with action figures, but with an aggressive type of cancer that, after chemotherapy, numerous spinal taps, and a bone marrow transplant, is still present in his young body. Tonight, Buffalo bands together to support this brave boy by throwing a benefit concert in his honor. According to the event’s Facebook page, you should “come out to Buffalo Iron Works where a night of magic, blissful folk music, and solidarity for this young warrior is in store.” There aren’t many ways to spend a better Saturday night in the city than this. Acts include Buffalo native Julie Byrne, Fredonia trio Dirt Commission, Oats Holy Roller, as well as an appearance from Red Man (not the one from Brick City) and some close magic with Justin Braddock. This all ages event begins at 7. Tickets are still available at Ticketfly[...]

Tonight: Ava Luna

September 18, 2014

As you should know by now, Mohawk Place officially reopened its doors last week with a three night, grand reopening weekend that saw bands from the venue’s past and, until it closed up shop in early 2013, present return to start a new era of live music at the downtown stomping ground. While I haven’t been back since they reopened, I heard that the woman’s bathroom already successfully flooded, so some things never change… Anyways, tonight is as good of a night as any to make a return stop as Brooklyn’s Ava Luna will be hitting the stage. The band is new-era hipster soul, combining elements of doo-wop and the DIY spirit. Fans of the Talking Heads, Dirty Projectors, and Mayer Hawthorne would gladly get down to Ava Luna. Supporting Ava Luna this evening is the shimmering pysch pop of Celestial Shore and local indie act Mink, which features past members of[...]