Latest Posts

Neutral Milk Hotel at Asbury Hall (04/21/15)

April 22, 2015

Neutral Milk Hotel is a band that needs no introduction; if you’re reading this, you probably know exactly what you clicked on and why you clicked on it. Either you were there, basking in the intimate glow of Asbury Hall, or, regretfully, you missed out on the sold out show and read now to salt your wounds. For the very few of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, allow me to fill in the blanks. Neutral Milk Hotel, a band whose eclectic freak-folk stylings has amassed a mammoth indie-cred and a highly dedicated cult following—almost autonomously, I might add, as the group disbanded in 1999 and didn’t retake the stage until 2013—rolled through Babeville last night on what frontman Jeff Mangum is calling the band’s “last tour of the foreseeable future.” Undoubtedly some heartrending news (as farewell tours tend to be) for fans of the underground neo-folk[...]

Tonight: Neutral Milk Hotel

April 21, 2015

At a certain point, the idea of seeing Neutral Milk Hotel in concert was akin to a talking dog, fantastic if it happened, but totally impossible. Tonight, Neutral Milk Hotel, reunited and touring, will be performing at a sold out Asbury Hall at Babeville tonight at 8pm. The band really needs no introduction, but for those unaware, Neutral Milk Hotel are best known for their 1998 album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. The record, a masterpiece of surreal and sometimes violent beauty, is a touchstone for many. The band’s legend only grew when, following the album, band leader Jeff Mangum disappeared from the public eye altogether, surfacing to release field recordings from Eastern Europe at some point in the 00’s. Finally returning, first on a solo tour and now with the full band, Jeff has returned. Tonight’s opener is Circulatory System, a psychedelic band commonly associated with Neutral Milk Hotel along[...]

Modest Mouse at Asbury Hall (4/17/15)

April 19, 2015

If I’m being honest, there’s no way for me to approach this review without a little bit of bias. There’s a lot of bands that hold a special place in my heart, but Modest Mouse was my gateway into the world of indie rock. I still remember hearing “Polar Opposites” on a Music Choice channel when I was 12 years old and spent the next 3 months playing almost nothing, but The Moon & Antarctica and Lonesome Crowded West on repeat. While I haven’t been as hot on some of their latest work, to say that finally seeing Modest Mouse on Friday was a sentimental moment is an understatement. The sold out show at Asbury Hall was undoubtedly the hottest ticket in Buffalo this year, initially selling out in all of five minutes and scalper tickets were going for almost $150 online. After 20 years into their storied career, Modest Mouse[...]

Tonight: Modest Mouse

April 17, 2015

I was originally going to write a long piece on Modest Mouse in honor of the band’s sold out appearance tonight at Asbury Hall, but what’s the point. You know who Modest Mouse is. The show wouldn’t have sold out in 10 mins if you hadn’t, so I will save both parties the trouble and just bring us to up the present. The Portland-based rock outfit released its sixth studio album and first in eight years, Strangers to Ourselves, exactly one month ago to the date. I met the album with a pretty tepid response, thinking “it took eight years to release that?,” but after a few more listens, Strangers really grew on me, and I am really looking forward to Isaac Brock and crew tackling the new album and the band’s deep catalog later this evening. As I mentioned before, this show has been sold out since Day 1,[...]

Just Announced: Modest Mouse

March 3, 2015

After a seven year hiatus, long time Washington indie rockers, Modest Mouse, will release its long awaited new album, Strangers to Ourselves, on March 17th. The band will be celebrating the release with a spring tour, one that includes a stop at Babeville’s Asbury Hall, on Friday, April 17th, just four days prior to the venue’s sold out Neutral Milk Hotel show. Thats a #winning week for Babeville right there. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 6th, at noon for $52 in advance, $55 day of.

Just Announced: Glass Animals

February 17, 2015

After what seemed like an extended lull, Asbury Hall is getting back in the game with some quality shows down the pipeline. In addition to April’s now sold out Neutral Milk Hotel engagement, the Babeville complex, along with Ithaca based promoter Dan Smalls Presents, will be hosting one of 2014’s rising acts, Glass Animals, this coming June. The Oxford bred, electro-pop four piece released the buzz worthy debut album, Zaba, led by singles “Gooey” and “Black Mambo,” this past summer, and will be playing the Delaware venue on Tuesday, June 16th. The band appears to be using the Buffalo date as a prep before hitting the festival circuit later this summer. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 20th, for $17.50 in advance, $20 day of.

Tonight: Jeremy Jermaine Jerome

January 18, 2015

The theme of tonight’s show is expect the unexpected, and with Buffalo’s favorite avant-garde artist, Jeremy Jermaine Jerome (performing as just ending now), you should expect more than just name confusion. The show, held at Babeville’s Asbury Hall, will be known, for this one magical night, as the lyrics labyrinth. No word on whether there will be an actual labyrinth, or if David Bowie and/or Jennifer Connelly and her majestic eyebrows are dropping by, but according to the event page, there will be surprise appearances. For just $10, you get an intimate evening with just ending now as he adapt his upcoming album, self (destructive), into a theater-worthy display known as the missing link. Conducted by the multi-talented Art Lakewood, who will be blurring the lines of fantasy in ways Robin Thicke can only dream about, the show is truly art coming to life in provocative and evocative ways. Have[...]

Just Announced: Neutral Milk Hotel

December 10, 2014

Much celebrated indie-cult band, Neutral Milk Hotel, will be gracing the stage at Delaware Ave’s famed venue Asbury Hall this upcoming spring on Tuesday, April 21st. After staying out of the spotlight for years, front man Jeff Mangum recently began playing live again, including a Babeville date a couple years back. This past summer, the full band hit up the festival circuit to the pleasure of many. I caught them at the final night of TURF this past July. The set was as bizarre as it was nostalgic and magical, as many in the audience were treated to a set from a band that may never dreamed of seeing live until recently. The band has stated that this will be its last tour for the forceable future, which, if you know this band, could very well translate to BUY A TICKET OR ELSE YOU ARE SCREWED. Tickets will go on[...]

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: St. Vincent

April 12, 2014

There’s nothing quite like seeing an artist’s bold vision come to fruition as they carve out a space for themselves that feels comfortably unfamiliar, defying traditional genre classification, and most importantly, forcing us to think about music in a novel way. Through four albums as St. Vincent, singer/multi-instrumentalist  Annie Clark has consistently kept listeners guessing, crafting a vividly experimental sound that often juxtaposes celestial arrangements with jarring, manic guitar solos. A supremely talented  musician and visionary, Annie Clark has always had a “future is now” vibe about her, and on St. Vincent’s eponymous current album, she’s never been more daring. St. Vincent returns to Buffalo 2 years after her magnificent show at the Town Ballroom for a hotly anticipated and totally sold out show tonight at Babeville’s Asbury Hall. Doors are at 7 PM, with a mystery opener starting proceedings. See you there.