Preview

Tonight: Instead of Sleeping, Humble Braggers, and more

August 29, 2014

Pittsburgh, PA’s Instead of Sleeping has been through Buffalo three times already – and they always leave the stage having expelled more energy than one thought humanly possible. If that wasn’t enough convincing, there is also a stacked local lineup featuring Fredonia-fuzzmongers Zealot, the smooth piano pop of Darling Harbor, and the swimmy reverb of Humble Braggers. Tonight’s show is at the Ninth Ward. Tickets are $5 presale and $10 at the door. Be there for doors at 7:00pm. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/30317224″ 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: araabMUZIK

August 29, 2014

Hailing from Providence, R.I., Abraham Orellana goes by araabMUZIK, and he is master of the MPC. A revolutionary talent, by tapping the pads of the piece of equipment and making loops, he paints an electronic and hip-hop inspired masterpiece of sound with his fingers. The vibes of his productions are sultry, sexy, and ghetto, interspersed with the signature female vocal letting you know, “You are now listening to araabMUZIK.” He has toured with Sleigh Bells, Baauer and Zeds Dead in addition to a multitude of collaborative work with highly influential artists such as Cam’ron, Styles P, Swizz Beatz, A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown. He pulls samples from a diverse range of artists from Oceanlab, Kaskade, The Who, Jay Z, The Supremes, Lana Del Rey, and so much more. By basically, in essence, performing a remix live, araabMUZIK has mastered one of the most creative ways to perform electronic music, entitling[...]

Tonight: You Me & Apollo

August 28, 2014

After Dark Entertainment is serving up a solid variety of musical talent at The Waiting Room tonight. Fresh off the May release of their debut full-length Sweet Honey, Colorado-based headliners You Me & Apollo (think Alabama Shakes) will bring their soulful brand of blues rock to the Buffalo venue, joined by newish lo-fi locals Parade Chic and folksy fusioneers Hokan & Friends of the Sun, also from Buffalo. With such a diverse (and notably ampersand-heavy) lineup, there should be a little something for everyone tonight.  Look alive! Doors are at 7pm with a $12 cover $10 presale (*cough* ask one of the local bands *cough*)

Tonight: Punk N’ Tots

August 28, 2014

What’s new pussy cat? Not much, just Punk N’ Tots at Broadway Joe’s. Well it’s not really new, however, what is new is the Alpha Hopper/Hot Tip tour which kicks off tonight, as if you needed another reason go see some west side punk and munch on tater tots. The mini four day jaunt will take Alpha Hopper and Hot Tip to Brooklyn, Providence, and Ithaca, but not before kicking things off tonight in Buffalo. Also on the bill tonight will be BLOBS, which will be bringing the out-there shit for all you freakazoids out there. What else would you expect from a band who is compiled of members from Bad People and Fleshy Mounds? Additionally there will be the new outfit, Space is Haunted, as well as False Paul’s final show. Doors at 9pm, 18+, so make sure you bring your ID, even if you do look like a drunken[...]

Tonight: Wooden Cities Perform Sigur Ros’ ( )

August 28, 2014

Released in 2002, ( ), the third album from Sigur Ros, was a game changer for both the band, their fans, and music lovers all over the world.  Ethereal and haunting from start to finish and sung by frontman Jonsi Birgisson in a made up language  akin to angelic mumblings, ( ) is a profound album that’s as visceral and challenging today as it was then. Enter composer and UB PhD student Ethan Hayden and his new book for Bloomsbury Press about ( ), which has it’s local launch tonight at Talking Leaves on Main Street and features a performance of songs from ( ) from local favorites Wooden Cities. Part of Bloomsbury’s rather acclaimed 33 1/3 series of books about popular music albums ranging from Dusty Springfield to Pink Floyd to The Beastie Boys, Hayden’s book about ( ) is actually a fairly big deal, and not just for local[...]

Tonight: Shilpa Ray

August 23, 2014

Shilpa Ray has a long and passionate history with the city of Buffalo. The NYC resident has played our little nook for years, both as a solo act and as the front woman for Her Happy Hookers. Since her visits began nearly a decade ago, Buffalo has embraced her with open arms, perhaps because, as the old saying goes, real recognizes real. Shilpa is an artist’s artist; a commanding lyricist, powerful stage presence, and a unique entity in todays mish-mash world of categorized phonies. An infusion of blues, punk, rock’n’roll, and soul is perhaps the only good way to describe her sound. Look to 2011’s Teenage and Torture for assurance and to have your mind absolutely blown. Girls got pipes. Tonight, Shilpa will be playing Nietzsches, her main stomping grounds since Mohawk closed, along with the fast-rising duo, She Keeps Bees. As both are known for their eclectic and moving live shows,[...]

Tonight: Artvoice Presents Night Shift with Cool Dad Records

August 22, 2014

For those who haven’t yet taken a night shift with Artvoice, it has been a series of Friday evenings showcasing Buffalo’s best DJ talent in the back room of Allen Street Hardware. This week, the Cool Dad Records crew takes over with sets from Eyes Everywhere, Nick Fowler, Mascone Lee and Alex Morrison in the back room. Also, find Rick Jameson (aka Spooky Sean of Spooky Business) in the front room. Earlier this year, Kyle Tatum and Brian Doyle of Eyes Everywhere had their Buffalo-inspired track “Off Bailey” released under Fool’s Gold Records Clubhouse series. Also, this week, the duo’s Privilege Thing EP  was released under San Francisco-based Anabatic Records and is currently climbing the Beatport charts. Squad up and catch the crew’s vibe tonight. It’s Friday. Let’s dance. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/47030225″ 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, Friday, Aug. 22 Artvoice presents Night Shift with Cool Dad Records 11[...]

Tonight: Mr. Boneless

August 22, 2014

When I first checked out Mr. Boneless’ latest album, Cutting Teeth, I was at a loss for what to make of the guys on the other side of my headphones. You begin with a pedestrian, almost mechanic rhythm of some rockabillies getting ready to roll through tales of train hopping or sipping on moonshine or some shit like Oklahoma, and just when you think you’ve got them pegged, they turn the on the distortion and kick it up to 90. With instrumental foundations in the blues and a tendency towards punk rock screaming, it’s pretty clear this band has no qualms with busting down the walls of genre, or even of finding a placement in one, for that matter. They’ve got a guitar that shreds and a one-of-a-kind singer who doesn’t hesitate to shift his constitution. They’re mad and they’re explorative and they straddle the line of in your face[...]

Tonight: Brimstone Blondes AGE OF CONSENT Release Party

August 21, 2014

Buffalo Iron Works is where you want to be tonight. Lively garage-rockers Brimstone Blondes will be releasing their debut album, AGE OF CONSENT, tomorrow via Admirable Traits Records, and tonight they will be ripping a righteous release party in celebration of the new record. The Buffalo 4-piece has already dropped the first (chronologically, not sequentially) of the album’s seven tracks, “Social Smokers”—a spastic punch-in-the-gut of a song inspired by “the Coalition of a Smoke-Free City” according to their Facebook page. Tonight’s release show should be pretty wild if the riotous vitality of “Social Smokers” is of any foreshadowing. But wait, there’s more! Joining the Blondes tonight will be local indie monarchs Wooden Waves and Rochester garage punks Harmonica Lewinski, both bands also having teased fresh new material this year. Poised with one of the summer’s best lineups, tonight’s showcase will not disappoint. 18+, doors at 7pm, $10. As an added[...]

Tonight: Hooray For Earth

August 20, 2014

Originating as an alias for the home recordings of multi-instrumental Noel Heroux, New York-based experimental rock band Hooray For Earth have released five studio albums since 2008. Their most recent LP, Racy, was released back in July on Dovecote Records and includes the blissfully experimental single, “Keys,” and features an atmospheric pop-rock sound. The latest single from the album, “Say Enough,” had its’ video premiere on Stereogum earlier today. The clip follows the band’s tradition of pairing their work with equally experimental visuals. Tonight, the band plays Buffalo all-ages venue Sugar City in support of Racy. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm.

Tonight: J.J. Wright

August 18, 2014

For those looking for something different, Buffalo native and jazz marvel J.J. Wright will be performing at the Iris at the Maple Entertainment Complex. I won’t pretend to know the first thing about Jazz music. I couldn’t explain to you the finer points of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. But I know what I like, and Wright gets my foot tappin’. It would be easy to toss around some familiar buzz words like “smooth” and “improvised,” but J.J.’s sound is much more than that. Sure it’s pleasing to the ear, but it feels written with distinct purpose and engaging enough to keep the modern mind from wandering. This isn’t your grandpa’s olde tyme floor-flusher. Plus, the performance might not be entirely new music for uninitiated hipster. JJ has been know to perform covers by Sufjan Stevens and Phil Collins during his live shows. Check out the album of version of[...]

Tonight: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

August 18, 2014

For anyone attending high school in the 2000s, Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin were staples on any mix tape. Even just the nine-minute epic “Konstantine” was enough to knock any teenager into a lovesick coma. The man behind the piano is Andrew McMahon, touring to Buffalo tonight under his new moniker, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Opening tonight is Badboxes. Doors are at 7:00pm at the Waiting Room. Tickets are $25 at the door.

Today: Newbury Life Food and Music Festival

August 17, 2014

Need a palate cleanser from the five too many beers and late night fried food fest you inevitably went on last night? Stop by the Newbury Life Food and Music Festival, the first of it’s kind in WNY. The block is hot on Hodge, and from 12-6pm the space between Elmwood and Ashland will be filled with local vendors, restaurants, businesses and retailers who will be on site promoting a healthier, cleaner lifestyle. Organic food and fresh ways to prepare it, as well as a focus on non GMO products are just two of the highlights of the event. Pick up a tee from Pasteurized, chat with Oliver’s executive chef about the benefits of organic tofu, or grab a smoothie from the the juice bar tent. Bring your appetite, because Newbury Street will have rice and salad bowls inside their cafe, a recent addition to the Elmwood Strip that offers[...]

Tonight: Queen City Cartel’s Summer Melt

August 16, 2014

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Buffalo DJ enclave, Queen City Cartel. The group used to control the coolest dance parties and DJ most events throughout the majority of the scene. There was a time that if there was a legit DJ spinning at a Buffalo party, there was a 96% chance that DJ was a QCC member. With that being said, Queen City Cartel ventured beyond it’s DJing safety zone to throw a pretty notable party at DBGB’s tonight complete with live music acts. Featured on the bill are three bands that if you read the blog regularly, you know we are fans of. First on the bill is SMART HOUSE, a band that seldom plays, but every time they do, the crowd digs them. Like REALLY digs them. Fronted by Alek Ogadzhanov, the band is the perfect mix between JOYWAVE and Metronomy. Following SMART HOUSE is Humble Braggers, a[...]

Tonight: Sugar City’s Two Part Opening Party

August 15, 2014

After many months of hard work, delays, and headaches, Sugar City is ready to open the doors of their new home to the public.  It’s been over two years since the DIY collective has had a venue to call their own.  Located at 1239 Niagara St, directly across from the recently opened Resurgence Brewing Company, Sugar City can be seen as the next step in a sort of revival of Niagara St. The venue is far from finished, but is at a point where events that have been scheduled are able to take place. Members will continue to work over the next several weeks/months in order to get the space into full working order. Tonight’s events begin with open gallery hours from 6pm-8pm. The gallery walls will be adorned with Illustrations and prints by Screaming Females singer/guitarist Marissa Paternoster. There is no charge from 6pm-8pm. From 8pm-11pm, live music will[...]