Preview

Tonight: Leon Russell

April 24, 2014

Tonight, Leon Russell, singer/songwriter, piano legend, and one of the original indie rockers, returns to Buffalo for a special show at the Buffalo Iron Works in the Cobblestone District.  Arriving on the LA scene in the 60’s to become a crack studio musician, Leon hit his stride in the 70’s, collaborating with the likes of Clapton, George Harrison, and BB King, and releasing a string of modest hits on his own Shelter Records label before fading into relative obscurity due in no small part to the perils of being an indie rocker before college rock and the Internet. He was entirely forgotten, mainly because Leon never stopped touring and performing his art for his devoted cult of fans. Things changed though in 2010 with the release of The Union, a two disc collaboration with his greatest disciple, Elton John, that gave Leon his due, raised his profile, and paved the[...]

Tonight: Start Making Sense with HMFO

April 24, 2014

David Byrne has said time and time again that he has no desire to re-unite the Talking Heads, the band he lead for 15 years, and made some of the best music of the last century. This is a huge shame because the Talking Heads’ music has influenced and inspired millions of people, and there are plenty of younger fans (like me) who will never know the immense pleasure of seeing the Heads in concert. Thankfully,  we do have an excellent Talking Heads tribute band in Start Making Sense, who will be taking this stage tonight at Nietzsche’s. The band perform tunes from every stage of Talking Heads existence, – the heady Brian Eno-influenced years, as well as the poppier later stuff. If you dig the Heads even a little bit, this would be a fine show to attend. The gig will also feature HTMO, a Hall & Oates tribute[...]

The Orwells

Tonight: The Orwells

April 23, 2014

The reason, I think, for people obsessing about The Orwells’ age is resentment. I’m only 23, and I resent anyone a day under 23 who is an iota more successful than me (which is a ton of people). This kind of feeling is especially common with people who write about music. You might be a musician yourself, and here you are, constantly writing about people who are out there actually making it. It can feel like you’re a Salieri in a room full of Mozarts. So most of the press about The Orwells makes mention of the fact that they are young kids, that they formed in high school, stuff like that. There’s even a cool/creepy moment from their set on Letterman where David calls for an encore from The Orwells and get one from the house band, with Paul Shaffer so jazzed about the kids in front of him[...]

Tonight: Master

April 20, 2014

One of the most underrated bands to come out of the early death metal scene, Master was instrumental in bringing the classic death sound to the forefront of metal culture. The group found some success in the late 80’s and early nineties, releasing excellent albums like its self-titled release (the early version) and Collection of Souls, signing to Nuclear Blast and  building a reputation as one of the fiercest bands in the scene.  To this day, Paul Speckmann’s vocals represent a great stride in death metal as they are both crushingly brutal yet intelligible at the same time. Despite some breakups (and subsequent reformations) and waning popularity in the late nineties, the band appears indestructible and  have been gaining quite a bit of momentum as of late. In the last few years, Master has released some excellent albums including the oft-thrashy The New Elite and The Human Machine. The Forvm in Amherst has become quite the haven for metal lately,[...]

Today: Record Store Day

April 19, 2014

As you prepare to roam Buffalo in pursuit of a tangible music medium to take home and cherish forever, you may first want to plan out your optimal Record Store Day experience, which should obviously involve live music. Both Spiral Scratch and Black Dots Records will be hosting such entertainment, and they are well within walking distance of each other. Spiral Scratch has been an important stop during Record Store Day for years. They’re offering great deals to music lovers, and have put together quite a solid line-up of bands which can be seen here. Customers who spend over 50 bucks are being offered a limited edition Spiral Scratch tote bag. The music starts at 12PM and the show is free, but it is recommendable to tip the acts. Black Dots is new on the scene, but has already kicked up quite a buzz. Black Dots also offers a tote[...]

Tonight: Soul Patch/Spooky Business 90’s Birthday Bash

April 19, 2014

Soul patches are gross. Unlike the moustache, which looks great on the right guy (I’m looking at you Tom Selleck), or the ever-popular beard, these scrag-strips have no redeeming value. They are simply filthy tufts of hair that pool up under the lower lip and make whoevers wearing them look like an asshole. Soul patches no bueno. Now if we’re talking about Buffalo band, Soul Patch, well then, that’s a whole different story. The 90’s loving local cover band, featuring Keith and Steve from ETID, have become quite a hot entity in our little town, perhaps because they embody the spirit of the 90’s more than your traditional 90’s cover band. In addition to excellent renditions of “Breed” and “Say it Ain’t So” you have your choice cuts of memorable b-sides and hit songs that you used to love and sing in the shower but have forgotten about almost completely.[...]

Today & Tonight: Well Worn Boot Comic/EP Release Party

April 19, 2014

If you need a little excitement to liven up your Easter weekend, you’d be wise to catch Well Worn Boot – possibly the most shocking band in town – at Nietzche’s tonight, for the release of their new EP and corresponding comic, Boot In Space. If you’ve never heard the band, you’re in for a completely unique experience. Imagine if Primus, The Cramps, Motorhead, and Jethro Tull were all put it a blender, and you’d have a reasonable idea of what their sound is like, but really, they’re unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Their music prominently features the flute alongside driving baselines, and old-school psychobilly guitar riffs, and they seem to take equal inspiration from punk, prog, and shock rock. The result is something wholly unique, and quite unsettling for those who aren’t prepared for it. The new EP figures to be yet another head rush of innovative, genre-bending music, and[...]

Tonight: Turkuaz with Alan Evans’ Playonbrother

April 18, 2014

Nietzsche’s is going to be the scene of a soul funk dance party tonight when Brooklyn funk powerhouse Turkuaz bring it back to Buffalo along with local hero Alan Evans’ latest project Playonbrother.  In town promoting their latest album Future 86, it’s always something when the soul funk army of Turkuaz takes over that tight stage and unleashes their focused yet rampaging brand of old school funk. Soulive’s (and City Honors alum) Alan Evans will be setting things off with his ultra soulful and jazzy Playonbrother, formerly known as the Alan Evans Trio. Prepare yourselves for righteous fun when Brooklyn, Buffalo, and the funk collide tonight. Tickets are $12 and the show starts at 10.

Tonight: Rustic Radio, The Nigh, Cosmic Shakedown

April 18, 2014

Musical diversity is the name of the game at Gypsy Parlor tonight. You wouldn’t want to eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner (unless that thing was pizza) and you wouldn’t want to see the same band with different faces playing three sets in a row. Tonight, each band will bring their own unique style to the stage and do whatever they can to rock your bones. Rustic Radio takes the stripped down feel of rocking around a campfire and mates it with deep, soulful lead vocals that pierce into your being. Dipping their brush in the blues and spraying it over a canvas of rock, they flay audiences blazing originals, and supplement them with unique takes on cover songs. You will be drawn to the stage, and if anything, the vocals will never let go of your ear. You can call it shoegaze, but you’ll be doing[...]

Tonight: Honey Spine

April 18, 2014

Local backwoods folk sensations, Honey Spine, will be bringing their intimately gritty bluegrass sound to shallow Black Rock’s Sportsmen’s Tavern tonight. The banjo-led trio could best be described as a Tom Waitsy- stripped down bluegrass stylings of William Elliott Whitmore. Lead singers Tim Martin and Brian Chieco grainy dual vocals emphasizes the group’s by-the-campfire-story-telling vibe.  A $10 cover for a show with one local band advertised on the bill may be a little steep, but #yolo. Doors at 9:30pm. Photo Credit – Rik Napoli

Tonight: Artvoice Presents Night Shift

April 18, 2014

Artvoice is presenting the second installment of its monthly showcase series tonight at what appears to be the event’s home base of Hardware. The bill is made up of some of Buffalo’s best DJs, including a handful of buffaBLOG part vets like Brooklyn via Buffalo via Rochester producer DJ Mario Bee, Medison, and Spooky Business. Despite sticking with a collection of DJs again, Artvoice has hinted that Night Shift will evolve from showcase to showcase, so keep an eye on future installments to see what the weekly publication has up its sleeve. Night Shift kicks off this evening at 11pm with a cover of $5.

Tonight: Hollerado with Wildlife

April 18, 2014

Easter is still a few days away but talk about a basket of goodies: Hollerado and Wildlife will be at Town Ballroom this evening. We have a long way to go, but this lineup is a dark-horse contender for show of the year. I mean to take nothing away from Hollerado because I enjoy each and every 90’s flashback they intentionally and unintentionally provide, but this is one of those rare shows where I’m just as excited to see the opening act. I love Hollerado’s unabashed party-rock spirit, and Record in a Bag has taken up multiple, lengthy residencies in my car stereo, but Wildlife’s On The Heart was one of my favorite albums of 2013. It made me miss the 80’s even though I am pretty sure I was still in diapers. In my fawning review of it last March, I suggested, rather cringe-worthily, that “Bad Dream” might have been how the universe[...]

Tonight: Shilpa Ray

April 17, 2014

If you’re like me, you have a faux real job, such as a server, bartender or a barista. Not to say those aren’t real jobs, but let’s face it, monkeys could do our jobs, and probably with less attitude too. In our ‘desired’ vocations, we don’t get out to see shows all that often, considering a lot of shows fall of Fridays, Saturdays or the random weekdays we happen to work. However, tonight is a different case, Nietzsche’s has put together a show just for us (not really, but it’s nice to think so). Nietzsche’s will be hosting a plethora of talent this evening, most notably harmonium toating Brooklynite, Shilpa Ray, who, sans her Happy Hookers, will be bringing her own brand screaming indie roots rock to Allentown. Also on the bill will the Buffalo’s indie slacker rockers, Difficult Nights, The Coy Wolves and Nietzsche’s regular Pam Swarts. 7 bucks at[...]

Tonight: Danny Brown

April 16, 2014

Danny Brown is said to be one of the most unique voices in the rap game, he stays representing Detroit and is known for his engraving in Fool’s Gold Records. Rapping since he was a child, Danny Brown (full name: Daniel Dewan Sewell) went from the streets to the studio, after being arrested when he was 19 years old for drug distribution and manufacturing charges and possession with intent to distribute. His 2010 self-released album The Hybrid became a launching pad toward signing with acclaimed record label, Fool’s Gold. The following year he released his XXX free internet mixtape. “I’m just getting started,” he said. Now, the 33-year-old rapper is on The Old Danny Brown Tour, for Old, his October album release. It has been said that good hip-hop sheds light on personal experience. Danny Brown’s rhyme and content has always been inspired from his struggling youth and the city[...]

Tonight: Man Forever

April 16, 2014

Man Forever is the alias of John Colpitts who the New York Times has called “a kabuki demon by night,” describing his project as a “tidal wave of percussion.” Colpitts usually performs under Kid Millions as the drummer of the Brooklyn based group Oneida but his outlet to experiment with uninhibited rhythmic feedback remains Man Forever.  He’s playing at Dreamland tonight and joining him will be Brian Chase (drummer of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s). The lineup further includes Clarinet Panic, an up and coming Toronto based outfit featuring cello, drums, guitar and saxophone, alongside Richard Fills who plays “drums and guitar at the same time as if he were two separate people.” Admission of $8 will go to the artists.  See ya there.