Latest Posts

Just Announced: The Mountain Goats

December 8, 2015

At this point last week, we were a little worried about our event calendar going into 2016. It was looking pretty sparse heading into the new year with less than ten events  on our radar. This is rapidly changing this week with the announcements of some real heavy hitters – Mac Sabbath, Bruce Springsteen, Deer Tick, and now hyper-literate indie folk veterans, The Mountain Goats. On Wednesday, April 6th, the trio is set to perform at Asbury Hall with 7pm doors. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am on TicketWeb.

Tonight: Dave Rawlings Machine

November 5, 2015

Dave Rawlings Machine takes over Babeville’s Asbury Hall tonight to support the band’s new release, Nashville Obsolete. The album is the latest entry in the impressive repertoire of Rawlings and his longtime collaborator and partner, Gillian Welch. Their seventh album in nearly 20 years of collaboration, Nashville Obsolete highlights the duo’s highly acclaimed and decorated musicianship, with contributions from other great names in Americana music, including Willie Watson and the Punch Brothers’ Paul Kowert. Tonight, expect to be floored by Rawlings’ preternatural guitar playing and Welch’s lovely vocals. This is a show not to be missed. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Tickets are still available for $35 at the door.

Just Announced: Joanna Newsom

October 6, 2015

As she preps the release of the much awaited follow up to her critically praised album Have One on Me, beguiling folk singer Joanna Newsom has announced a fall tour that will include a stop at Babeville’s Asbury Hall on Sunday, December 13th. The harp player is set to drop her latest album Divers on October 23rd, so expect some road testing of the record when the storyteller takes the stage. And with Sleater-Kinney and Waxahatchee also set to play Babeville this December, the Delaware venue appears set to end 2015 on a major high note. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 9th at 10am for $30 in advance, $35 day of. Alela Diane and Newsome collaborator Ryan Francesconi will provide support.

of Montreal at Asbury Hall (9/14/15)

September 16, 2015

The always ambitious of Montreal avant-garde freakshow rolled through Buffalo for it’s annual visit, this time in the post religious sanctuary space that is Asbury Hall at Babeville, and for the brave music fans who left the safety of their homes on a Monday night, it was a glorious night to thoroughly get their ya-ya’s out- physically and otherwise. I really wanted to like of Montreal’s opener, especially because I usually dig their openers (Janelle Monae, Dream Tiger, Kishi Bashi), but Surface to Air Missive failed to excite When they veered into early R.E.M. territory, things looked up, but their predilection for 60’s jam band guitar noodling and staring earnestly at each other while they played became turnoffs. Their vocalist/rhythm guitar player did sing his heart out, putting the hammer down mightily on his throat muscles to hit some impressive falsetto notes, and I had to appreciate the effort, because[...]

Tonight: of Montreal

September 14, 2015

of Montreal is coming back to Buffalo tonight (this time to Babeville’s Asbury Hall), along with their infamous choreographed circus brigade, as a part of their current tour supporting their most recent release, Aureate Gloom. Okay let’s be honest: you already know about of Montreal. Your friends have told you about the strange costumes and the small army of performers and dancers that will take the stage. You’ve probably even taken a liking to a couple of their songs; you’re just afraid of having to “make the commitment” and listen to a whole of Montreal LP (or all thirteen). I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to do this– just go to the show tonight and enjoy the strage combination of a live show, visuals, and performance art. Yes, sure, I didn’t know most of the songs after my first time seeing the band two years ago. But[...]

The Tallest Man on Earth at Asbury Hall (7/22/15)

July 23, 2015

Having apologized for not being back to Buffalo for five years, Kristian Matsson recalled his last visit at Babeville: “Last time I was here I played in the basement. I haven’t improved as a person,” he paused. “…but I have friends now.” The Swedish songwriter flashed a proud smirk as he caught the members of his backing band in an over-the-shoulder periphery. In addition to his new backing band, Matsson—or The Tallest Man On Earth—brought a particular liveliness to the stage of Asbury Hall this past Wednesday night. With a fresh album on his fingertips, the NC folk outfit Hiss Golden Messenger in support, and the beautiful Asbury Hall packed with adoring fans, Matsson had a few things to be excited about. Opener Hiss Golden Messenger got the night rolling with an impressive set of their folky alt-country mash. I’ll admit to not knowing much about HGM before just a[...]

Tonight: The Tallest Man on Earth

July 22, 2015

Critically-acclaimed folk artist Kristian Matsson returns to Buffalo tonight as The Tallest Man on Earth. The Swedish musician is fresh off the release of his latest record, Dark Bird is Home, so fans can expect a lot of new material and a heaping helping of old favorites while he is on tour for the first time with a full band. The artist has won many comparisons to Bob Dylan, thanks to his uniquely beautiful songwriting style and vocal delivery. For melodic indie folk stylings, there’s no better place to be than Babeville’s Asbury Hall tonight. Tickets are $26 and doors are at 7pm. Hiss Golden Messenger kicks the show off at 8pm. Learn more about the North Carolina country-folk act here.

Hiss Golden Messenger

July 22, 2015

Rare is the bill on which the opening band draws as much (or more, in even rarer cases) anticipation as the main act. Last year’s Band of Horses / Midlake show comes to mind (still sore for missing that), or perhaps the stacked My Morning Jacket / Wilco / Bob Dylan roster at Darien Lake a few years back, if that even counts. Well that aforementioned phenomenon repeats itself tonight at Asbury Hall (for myself, anyway), where Swedish folk top-dog The Tallest Man on Earth will have his stage warmed up (or set ablaze) by the excellent Hiss Golden Messenger, a folk duo out of North Carolina. I use the term ‘folk’ as loosely as I can in this case; HGM—consisting of primary songwriter M.C. Taylor, recording partner Scott Hirsch, and a rotating cast of touring musicians—evades traditional “call ‘em as I hear ‘em” classifications with their soul-warming blend of[...]

Glass Animals at Asbury Hall (6/16/15)

June 18, 2015

The great hall at Babeville was less a house of God and more a temple for trippy beats, jazz cigarette smoke, and sweat Tuesday night when Oxford quartet Glass Animals made its local debut. Layered, brain melting textures, hypnotic beats, and the sensually soulful vocals of Dave Bayely  got the sold out crowd moving and got us at peak rapture, before the house lights came back on and we were turned loose on society, overstimulated and wired for sound. The chaps seemed almost embarrassed by our exuberance, bless them.

Just Announced: Sleater-Kinney

June 16, 2015

As we marvel at the ridiculous amount of fantastic acts visiting the Buffalo area this summer and early fall, winter has just called its shot with the first must see show of the season as Sleater-Kinney will help end Babeville’s year on a high note with a performance at Asbury Hall on Thursday, December 10th. After parting ways nearly 10 years ago, the Olympia, WA trio returned earlier this year with well received No Cities To Love and will take the album on a short December tour that will hit a handful of East-Coast and Mid-West cities. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 19th, at 10am for $28 each.

Tonight: Glass Animals

June 16, 2015

I still remember the first time I heard Glass Animals. It was about this time last year on a long road trip down to Bonnaroo. The band’s lead single “Gooey” seemed to an in an endless radio rotation, sandwitched between other recent buzz bands like Joywave and Walk the Moon. It was the type of song initially that seemed fun as a catchy pop song on a road trip, but not as much more than that. However, as the month passed, I still found myself coming back to it, something was sharper and stranger about it than the pop songs that surrounded it. Finally taking the plunge into the debut album, ZABA, I found myself richly rewarded. This was certainly an album that had all the hooks of a big indie pop record, but the more I listened, I found something more sexy and sinister about it. Having more in[...]

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Tonight: Hurray for the Riff Raff

June 3, 2015

It may be a chillier-than-usual start to the summer, but that doesn’t mean the essence of down home dog days can’t be celebrated. Hurray for the Riff Raff, a New Orleans based outfit, will help you do just that. Hurray for the Riff Raff is American folk that is dressed plainly — as in it doesn’t rely on contrived exaggerations of the genre to convey anything. It’s upfront, honest, and backed by authentic born-with-it type talent. Somewhere at the rootsy core of HFTRR’s music, the band offers a very real, palpable feeling delivered through Alynda Lee Segarra’s smoky, subtle vocals, the rawness of the instrumentals, and the slow unfolding of a beautiful story. Mechanical River, hailing from Charleston, SC, is set to kick off the show at Asbury Hall at Babeville. Doors are at 7pm with music starting at 8pm. Tickets are only $15. More information can be found here.

Just Announced: of Montreal

May 27, 2015

of Montreal’s annual visit to Buffalo will continue this year, moving from the band’s normal stopping grounds of Town Ballroom to acoustically rich confines to Babeville’s suddenly busy Asbury Hall. Kevin Barnes and crew will hit town on Monday, September 14th, in what is becoming a fantastic month for live music in Buffalo to support the band’s 13th(!) studio album, Aureate Gloom. Tickets for the Dan Smalls presented show will go on sale this Friday, May 27th, at noon for $17.50 in advance, $20 day of via Ticketweb. Surface to Air Missive is set to open.

Staff Picks: Most Anticipated Shows of the Summer

May 22, 2015

The Public kind of beat us to the punch with its whole “Best Summer Ever” proclamation in this week’s issue, but we have to agree with the paper on this one, at least in a live music sense. Every year, the city’s summer music schedule seems to get better and busier, with bands coming to town they may have passed us for Toronto or Cleveland in the past. Between the revitalized Canalside schedule to the endless club shows that get announced on a seemingly daily basis,  this very well may be the best (music) summer ever. Below are a list of staff picks, selecting our most anticipated Buffalo shows of the season (Spoiler: a bunch of us are pretty hyped for Spoon). For more summer options, make sure to check out our events calendar here. Jon Krol Ceremony w/ Pity Sex at Mohawk Place (7/5/15) Anyone who’s ever seen Ceremony[...]

Just Announced: The Tallest Man on Earth

May 12, 2015

Only because ESI seems to be bringing every other musician to town this summer, this morning’s announcement that The Tallest Man on Earth will be returning to Buffalo later this season was not much of a surprise at all. Kristian Matsson will be touring in support of his lush new album, Dark Bird Is Home, and will include Buffalo on his tour itinerary on Wednesday, July 22nd, graduating from Babeville’s Ninth Ward basement to its upstairs confines in Asbury Hall. I missed Matsson’s first visit to Buffalo, choosing my slow pitch softball team over the show, so I am already calling in this game (I play every Wednesday in case you were curious). In support of The Tallest Man on Earth will be the equally excellent country-folk act, Hiss Golden Messenger. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 15th, for $26.