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Tonight: Cheap Pop

Deep Space 8 is set to host Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s most popular professional wrestling themed band, Cheap Pop, this evening. As an outspoken indie rock fan and a semi-closeted wrestling lover, it’s rare these two worlds collide on my interests Venn Diagram, but Cheap Pop manages to tick both boxes. For those of you that aren’t giant wrestling nerds, the term Cheap Pop is a wrestling term for when a good guy wrestler says/expresses something that is meant to get the crowd to cheer ie) talking about how great the Sabres are, or being happy to be back in BUFFALO, NY. Cheap Pop are no fair weather fans either. Their 2016 release In Gorilla (a production position at a wrestling event behind the curtain) is chock full of accessible punk rock tracks with insider references that will most likely go above the non-fan’s head, but will without a doubt be quirky and[...]

Aaron & the Burrs – A Burr for All Seasons (and Other Tunes)

Named after one of the most controversial historical Americans (the Vice President under Thomas Jefferson who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel and allegedly sided with the Confederates after allegedly evading the law in the unexplored Western Frontier), Aaron & the Burrs stage a coup aimed at reclaiming Buffalo a stake in surf rock for listeners to enjoy  when visiting Lake Erie. Released June 23, A Burr for All Seasons (and Other Tunes) marks Aaron & the Burrs’ third LP. At under sixteen minutes, this vocal-less quickie keeps you entertained with its repetitious beach-y vibes. “Reprise,” the starting track, is a sixteen-second saga with a delightful guitar lick. The song explodes into existence with a fast snare drum roll, and before you know it, reverb from various instruments sees you out. “The Winter Solstice” blazes a trail like Dick Dale and the Deltones’ “Miserlou.” There is a mysterious shade accompanying the song.[...]

Tonight: (New England) Patriots

Spiral Scratch’s basement may feature the tonight’s best bill with Boston’s (New England) Patriots performing. The four piece plays an eclectic form of punk,  with songs that range from raucous 3 minute put-up or shut-ups to avant garde experimental noise. Along for the ride with the Pats will be PA power pop group, Glamour Girls. Local support comes from basements regulars, punk super-group Hot Tip, West Side surf kings Aaron & the Burrs, and the unknown Worse. Doors are at 5pm. Bring $5 for the touring bands and a little extra to grab a record or two. P.S. While this bill is great, this did seem like a missed opportunity to pair the Pats with Utah Jazz and Alex Berkley & the Atlanta Falcons. P.S.S. This show is also a celebration of Spiral Scratch’s 5 year anniversary. In a time where record stores have become a dying breed, the shop[...]

Tonight: Ghost Dads

Get your dancing shoes ready for some weirdly awesome punk rock. Tonight at 6pm, a smattering of bands will take the stage at Spiral Scratch Records, ranging from surf-jam to hardcore, in support of Pennsylvania’s Ghost Dads. Hailing from Kutztown, Ghost Dads bring the funk to punk music, most recently in their newest EP, Next to the Water Heater. Dream Journal plays out exactly as their name suggests, with stream-of-consciousness lyrical imagery alongside a backdrop of punk-infused power chords. Taking a bit of a sidestep from the rest, Aaron & the Burrs are an instrumental surf rock revival band with a jazzy flair. These guys groove hard, so expect plenty of dance-friendly extended guitar jams. Kharlos (feat. members of Merchants and Space Wolves) will also be playing their first show tonight, so be sure to give them plenty of love as well. $5 at the door, beer and vegan cookies included.

Tonight: Night Birds

Before heading to Canada for a couple gigs, New Jersey’s Night Birds will make a quick stop at Nietzsche’s this evening, not Broadway Joe’s as originally planned. The band plays a brand of fast-paced raucous surf-punk that is pretty well-received in our city. They also wouldn’t sound out of place on an early Tony Hawk Pro Skater game. Providing local support tonight will be instrumental surf trio Aaron & the Burrs as well as the crispy new post-punk act Orations. Show kicks off at 8:45 sharp. $6 will get you through the door.

Grabbed from Facebook: Pleasure Leftists. Their faces look like that all the time.

Tonight: Pleasure Leftists

If you caught last Friday’s Cloud Nothings show, then you also had the pleasure of catching opener Pleasure Leftists. If you didn’t, don’t sweat: they’re coming back. After a few dates supporting Cloud Nothings, they’ll be swinging back through Buffalo to grace the stage/basement of the Glitterbox. Pleasure Leftists, to my ears, sound a whole lot like Joy Division, even more live than on the record. But it’s hard not to sound unique with a vocalist like Halley Morris. Her voice is an enormous, powerful thing and she herself is a presence: up on stage opening up for Cloud Nothings, she sometimes seemed like she was 20 feet tall. I’m excited to catch the band up close and personal. The rest of the bill, all Buffalo locals, is just as exciting. You’ve got Aaron & the Burrs delivering some excellent instrumental surf-rock. You’ve got Hot Tip serving up some hard-hitting[...]

Tonight: Mid-Winter Beach Party

Buffalo is notorious for its confusing weather, and weather confused citizens.  While visiting Californians may still be shivering in their long underwear tonight, Broadway Joe’s will be soaking in the glorious 46 degree weather with a beach party, complete with punk n’ tots. Mayday! will be performing, and their heavy hitting B-52’s esque track “Blood Bath” could be this event’s party anthem. With such delicious song titles as “Shark Sandwich” and “Illegal Alien vs. Child Predator,” they’re sure to give an electrifying performance, so you best wear a swimsuit made of rubber. The reverb drenched tones of Aaron and the Burrs will propel attendees they ride the waves and surf the crowd. Embrace the ocean of thrashing instrumental surf rock. The Televisionaries out of Rochester will round off the set with dirty, gritty surf punk. Start the weekend tonight with music to break down sandcastles to.  Admission is a cheap[...]