Preview

Tonight: Transmission Dance Party

May 3, 2014

Buffalo’s best alt music dance party, Transmission Dance, is back for another round at the Tudor Lounge tonight. Since Mohawk Place shut down, the long running series has bounced around a bit from venues like Buffalo Iron Works, the Waiting Room, and most recently, in Hardware’s back room last month for a Depeche Mode and New Order focused evening, but it seems like Tudor is slowly becoming its new home base. Those familiar with Transmission know what to expect: choice cuts of indie and alternative dance music from the 80s/90s/aughts all night long. Hit up the event page to make a request or two with Bill and Jason before heading over. Music kicks off at 11pm tonight. Make sure to have $5 ready at the door.

Tonight: Hot Date

May 3, 2014

If getting your brain guts all twisted up is something you’re into tonight, we’d like to suggest checking out Hot Date at Dreamland. Seeking to free the upright bass from the strict role of accompaniment, this NYC duo uses the instrument as a centerpiece to weave convoluted sonic textures. Sometimes minimal and straight-forward, then at turns glitchy and dark, Hot Date delve into some seriously thought-provoking, and often startling, sonic terrain. Performances by Wild Gone Girls, Kyle Butler, and Buffalo’s under-recognized anti-classical cellist T.J. Borden (with Ravi Padmanahba) round out a night of audio/visual noise and exploration. Bring a hot date, but bring one of those orange ladies that don’t seem to have many brain guts; see how well THAT goes.

Tonight: Jack Topht and JeffRepeater

May 2, 2014

Sometimes at the end of the day, when all is said and done, nothing makes more sense than to grovel down a slice of pizza with a bottle of beer. If you agree with this sentiment, consider tonight a little holiday. Two of Buffalo’s prime musical entertainers, Jack Topht and JeffRepeater, will be performing at the joint tailored to this golden pairing, Crust Pizzeria on Allen Street.  Repeater has been showering crowds with the city’s finest electronic music for some time while Jack Topht has established himself as Allentown’s veteran rap-star, coining prophetic mantras that have spread far and wide (“Doin’ Beers”). Beats, pizza, beer, and rhymes. Napkin dispenser nearby. Doin’ toppings and fluorescent lights. But seriously, you can bet the formula is bound to transform Crust Pizzeria into the Headquarters of Vibe. So head down this evening, choose your own toppings, and soak in some music conjured by two[...]

Tonight: Ani DiFranco

May 2, 2014

Ani DiFranco has built up quite the history in my heart, and I’m sure many others. One of my first CDs was a mix made by my cousin. Although I have this underlying feeling that listening to Ani’s music at the youthful age of 11 years old may have prematurely added to both my romantic vulnerability and jadedness, she played a significant part in the development of my poetic state of mind, my endless search for meaning and truth and the drive to become who I want to be. Perhaps many people can agree with that statement, or maybe they have reasons otherwise. Regardless, Ani DiFranco lovers from the Queen City share her Buffalonian heritage. Seeing a concert of hers in Buffalo, particularly Babeville – a 19th century Gothic-revival church she saved, rehabed, and turned into a venue hall – is a special moment, in and of itself. The “little[...]

Tonight: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

May 1, 2014

Since Mohawk Place closed its doors, there has been a void left in the local Buffalo music scene. Where do we Buffalonians get our itchy fix for live music? There are been a few new places that have popped up. After Dark Entertainment has fulfilled a certain void, with its venture The Waiting Room. Buffalo Iron Works has put together some great shows as well, however the one spot that gets over looked again and again is Nietzsche’s. Even though it has has been at it for over three decades, supplying live music nightly, the venue still seems to be a bit of an afterthought here and there. In just the last few weeks, Nietzsche’s has been putting together fantastic weeknight shows with out-of-towners, and tonight is no different. Tonight, the Allen Street staple with be bringing Baltimore’s funkadelic Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. PPPP is a quartet that will bring[...]

Tonight: David Wax Museum

May 1, 2014

It’s finally May! I mean technically. I know it’s doesn’t actually feel like May as I saw a guy wearing ear muffs this morning. Ear muffs! However, it is May 1st. How are you going to celebrate the flowerious month? How about a show at the 9th Ward in Babeville? David Wax Museum will be taking the stage tonight at the 9th Ward. If you’re not familiar with the duo, think Gaslight Anthem with a dash of Americana and Los Lobos. David Wax and Suz Slezak are the creative and aesthetic core of David Wax Museum. They fuse folk, Americana, and South-Western effortlessly to create a sound that is timeless. Also playing with David Wax Museum this evening will be alt-country’s rising star, Rusty Belle. Doors open at 8pm, $12 at the door.

Tonight: We’re Talkin’ Plowed

April 30, 2014

In the words of M-E-T-H-O-D Man: “it ain’t nothing like hip-hop music/you like it ’cause you choose it/most dj’s won’t refuse it/a lot of sucka MC’s misuse it.” One of those DJs is Buffalo’s own LoPro, who plays classic hip hop on a classic format: records. Every Wednesday night at Duke’s, he spins old school hip hop while the bartenders serve up $1 beer and $2.50 shot specials. Bonus points for having late-night kitchen hours and the best eggplant wings in town since Off the Wall (RIP). This weekly event starts at 10 and goes til 4, and there’s no cover. If you’re looking for a place to talk proud and get plowed, this is it.

Tonight: Sonny Baker

April 29, 2014

Speaking of Sonny Baker, the singer/songwriter will be playing an electric set over at Buffalo Iron Works this evening for the happy hour crowd. A member of Lazlo Hollyfeld, Wooden Waves, A Hotel Nourishing, and Alex Berkeley & the Atlanta Falcons, the long time Buffalo stalwart has been a staple in the local scene for what seems to be much longer than his age would allow. Expect some cuts from his various solo EPs, including his most recent, Mangled in the Front, while you down some Iron Works poutine. Baker hits the stage tonight at 6pm. No cover. Photo Credit – Jeannette Chin

Tonight: Local H

April 28, 2014

Local H, the Zion, Illinois native grunge act, is celebrating twenty four years as a band this year. If you are like me, you have not seen the alternative rock veterans with their new drummer, Ryan Harding. Harding marks the third to sit behind the drum kit. As a 90’s kid, I grew up with Joe Daniels, who appeared on the albums Ham Fisted, As Good As Dead, and Pack Up the Cats. Those albums produced such favorites as “Bound for the Floor,” “High Fiving Motherfucker” and “All the Kids Were Right”. I am also vaguely familiar with Brian St. Clair, but Daniels will always be my favorite “Darren.” After over two decades worth of work, Local H still manages to pique the interest of old fans and new fans a like. If you haven’t heard their cover of Australian sensation Lorde’s “Team,” you’re missing out. Local H has managed to[...]

Tonight: Keir Neuringer

April 28, 2014

Keir Neuringer is what you could call a jack-of-all-trades. He doesn’t limit his mind to one form of artistic expression. Instead, it blends together and crosses over into one experimental golden nugget. Initially Neuringer focused on developing a idiosyncratic relationship with the saxophone that can be heard in his latest LP, Ceremonies Out Of The Air. Neuringer also champions the organ and other electronics, mixing these elements into sonic reflections about our world’s history (see clip below) that demand the listener let go of their preconceived notions about what music is and how it should work. His background in merging visual art with sound brings another dimension of the creative spirit to the table. Don’t go into the performance expecting anything but hearing a new way of approaching music itself. Tonight Neuringer will be playing at Hallwall’s Contemporary Art Center at 8:00 p.m. $10 does the trick.

Banned Books, from their Facebook

Tonight: Banned Books & Dead Words

April 28, 2014

Tonight we’ve got Philly’s Banned Books and Texas’s Dead Words joining forces at 100 Plymouth, supported by local winners Hot Tip and All of Them Witches. One of the joys about writing for this blog is that I get clued in to great things that otherwise I would miss completely. This show’s one of them. Wasn’t cool enough to catch a regular Facebook invite, but someone was kind enough to send it my way, and I’m totally into the lineup. If I wanted to be cute, I would say that Banned Books bridge the gap between All  of Them Witches math-rock weirdness and Hot Tip’s jagged post-punk angles. But, in truth, something much stranger is going on. These guys play indie-rock music, but they also like to take a whole lot of left turns and make a whole lot of noise. Check out their Bandcamp and you, like me, will[...]

Richard Album being kind.

Tonight: Richard Album

April 26, 2014

Here’s one for all you folks who don’t feel like elbowing/getting elbowed at your weekend house shows: some folkier, more intimate fare at the Jungle Gym. Chicago’s Richard Album will be coming through tonight, supported by Buffalo’s own Difficult Night and Nick Gordon. Judging from the photo I snagged for this post, Richard had a pretty good time last time he was here. Check out his recordings on Bandcamp, or hell, just look at the album covers. I wasn’t familiar with him before this, but he’s definitely one of the more instantly likable artists I’ve encountered in quite a while. And musically, he’s definitely a great fit with those troubadours in Difficult Night that you’ve heard so much about. Facebook event here. $5 cover to support the touring artists. If you don’t know where the Jungle Gym is, ask someone who does. Check out Richard Album and the Singles singing[...]

Tonight: Culture Clash Soundsystem

April 26, 2014

Reggae and Soul lovers of Buffalo unite! Another installment of the ever-popular Culture Clash Soundsystem DJ night takes place tonight at Blue Monk. All vinyl, all night with DJ’s Ruben and Universal behind the tables. If you’ve been to these events before, you know what to expect; All the classics played alongside your favorite b-side treasures and rarities, from crooning Temptations-sway to the upbeat (and very danceable) “Pressure Drop” of Toots & the Maytals. Something for everyone. Needle drops at 10pm so get there early, have a fine craft beer, and enjoy the night.

Tonight: Kal Marks

April 25, 2014

A sneaky good show is going down at the Jungle Gym this evening. Boston based trio, Kal Marks, will be rolling through town with its early Modest Mouse meets sunny-laden acts like SW/MM/NG jams. Slouchcore if you will. Joining the bill this evening is Buffalo’s sludge rockers Sun Black Smoke, the space grunge of ronaldraygun, and some drunk group named Dudes. Entry is $5 bucks. Ask your one friend who washes his jeans once every other week for the address.

Tonight: Claude VonStroke

April 24, 2014

In 2005, Barclay Crenshaw took on the moniker Claude VonStroke and helped create what is now known today as the “dirtybird.” Dirtybird is a record label, a player among a crew of like-minded folks, a sound that is in and of it’s own. Dirtybird, I daresay, is a way of life, at least in regard to music. The sound vibe is bass influenced house. Signature sounds of dirtybird music include pitched down vocal samples, low-toned “uhs” and staccato beats. A dirtybird song may be easily spotted as a piece of the genre, but is undeniably in a league of its own. VonStroke, along with fellow DJs Justin and Christian Martin and Justin’s roommate Worthy, gathered together with a sound system and began playing shows at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Dirtybird players are a group of friends. At a dirtybird show, you feel like you are their friend too.[...]