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Tonight: Joshua Abrams and Natural Information Society

May 19, 2015

If you are looking for a night out and are sick of the usual fare then you should probably head down to the Ninth Ward at Babeville’s Delaware Ave complex tonight. Chicago’s Joshua Abrams will be performing, guimbri in hand, and backed by his band, Natural Information Society. Impossible and unjust to lump into one genre or category, let’s just say that Abrams and crew play with an incredibly appealing, smooth, psychedelic vibe that few could object to. Although admission is free, a $10-$20 donation is recommended. This may sound ludicrous, but this is a not for profit venue, so do the right thing. Music begins at 9pm.

Tonight: Joe Pug

May 7, 2015

The weary, Austin via Maryland singer/songwriter, Joe Pug, makes his return to Buffalo tonight with an intimate evening set for Babeville’s Ninth Ward. The Americana artist has been making regular appearances in town on a near yearly basis, and is returning tonight to support his latest album, Windfall, which dropped earlier this spring. The gifted story teller recalls fellow folk acts like Bob Dylan, M Ward, and Tallest Man on Earth. Tickets are still available for purchase at the door for $14. Andrew Combs will be opening the show. Music begins at 8pm.

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.

Tonight: Ani DiFranco

February 4, 2015

Everybody has their opinion about the Lil’ Folksinger, the Buffalo-native Righteous Babe, Ani DiFranco. She has a loyal pack of followers who catch every local show they can, and also follow her to other cities. Many wake up the night of a show with a wishlist of songs they hope to hear. The number of her album releases has grown exponentially over the years, whether they be studio albums or a part of her live series. Her merch, bearing the iconic flexing pixie-cut chick, continues to sell. Through activism and a fight for preservation, DiFranco helped save the old church on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, which is now coined Babeville. It is home to the headquarters for Righteous Babe Records, her self-established label, as well as Asbury Hall, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, and the Ninth Ward bar. It would be an understatement to say that Ani DiFranco has been busy[...]

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[...]

Tonight: Jolie Holland

July 18, 2014

Jolie Holland‘s take on Americana is hardened and harrowing, a bracing brand of homegrown darkness. Injecting elements of jazz, soul, and rock n’roll into her country-noir folk songs, the Houston singer-songwriter embodies the sum total of our American music traditions. Tonight, Holland’s intimate performance at Babeville‘s Ninth Ward will demonstrate her range, precision, and passion. She will be accompanied by the similarly formidable Shy Hunters from Brooklyn. Tickets to this evening’s event are only $12. Doors open at 7pm.

Tonight: The 2nd Annual B-Lo Invasion Homecoming Show

June 8, 2014

Has it really been a year already? Tonight is the 2nd Annual B-Lo Invasion Homecoming Show featuring the same star-studded lineup as last year. Jacob Smolinski will be taking a break from his tenure in his new band, Local Onlys, to reprise his role with The Cascos, and there is bound to be excitement from the Matt Danger Lippman-fronted Brimstone Blondes. Last but not least is Victory For Poland, who have been crashing our top 20 lists since we discovered them. In case you weren’t already sold, here is a quote from Smolinski himself: “Last summer, it was wild. This summer? Wilder. Be there or be square.” The show is $10 at the door and starts at 7:00pm at Babeville. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/62242753″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

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: 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.

St. Vincent at Asbury Hall (4/12/14)

April 13, 2014

Saturday night, the packed house at Babeville was privileged to experience a magical night of music and art when indie wunderkind St. Vincent returned to Buffalo with Brooklyn ambient guitarist Noveller. Folks from far and wide (a few blokes were up from Dallas specifically for the show) and local devotees converged on the re-purposed old church on Delaware and Tupper for worship of a different kind and were given ample reason to from start to finish. Brooklyn based guitarist Sarah Lipstate, aka Noveller, took us to church early with an enchanting set of ambient guitar rock, building a sea of sound with her lone guitar with loops, effects, drone, and reverb that took full advantage the acoustically vibrant space. The emotion drenched and deeply melodic compositions swirled and mesmerized while building to an impressive climax reminiscent of Sigur Ros at their most dramatic, with Lipstate deploying a bow to get[...]

Just Announced: Mount Eerie

March 24, 2014

Phil Elverum will bring his Mount Eerie project, formally known as Microphones, back to Buffalo this spring on Thursday, April 17th with a performance at Babeville’s Ninth Ward. Mount Eerie most recently played the Buffalo venue back in September of 2012. The prolific musician was quite busy in 2013, releasing a string of albums, including November’s Pre-Human Ideas. Tickets for the show will go on sale this Friday, March 28th, for $13 in advance/$15 day of. – Mac McGuire