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Tonight: Bryan Johnson and Family

July 24, 2014

Thank goodness for Infringement today/tonight because without the festival, tonight’s best bet for music would be heading down to Canalside to catch Extreme. Yes, Extreme. If you do find yourself downtown near the water, and if you are, God bless you soul, then stick around after Extreme closes up shop with whatever power ballad they sing and head over to Buffalo Iron Works for a post-Canalside show featuring Bryan Johnson and Family. One of our original blog favs from way back in our early days, the surf pop trio turned quartet has cranked up the volume over the last year or so, and are finally getting ready to release their long awaited EP later this year. BJ and Fam are set to kick off just after 9pm, or whenever people stumble out of Canalside. Whatever comes first I suppose. Entry for tonight’s show is free.

Tonight: Teamwork 2014 The BBQ

July 20, 2014

Dinner and a show for $10? And some of the proceeds go to a local youth organization? Sign me up. For the third year, Team Radio hosts this event, aimed at bringing the community together one artist and innovator at a time. Chae Hawk is one of Buffalo’s best backpack rappers, and his music with a message mission is clear in everything the multi-talented artist does. There are many facets to the music industry, and Chae and his team are educating local students on what it truly means to be an artist in varying capacities. From web design to press to designing and printing posters, there are a myriad of ways to express yourself without a mic in your hand, and this event brings them all together. This 16+ event, hosted by Billy Drease is being held at Buffalo Iron Works, and tickets are still available. BBQ begins at 7/music[...]

The Tins Album Release Show at Buffalo Iron Works (7/11/14)

July 12, 2014

The beer, poutine, and local bands were on point at Buffalo Iron Works this past Friday night. A ticket got you a free copy of the Tins’ new EP, Young Blame, in addition to a view of the baseball game’s fireworks from the back patio. Energetic frontman Matthew Lippman of Brimstone Blondes revealed upcoming LP release plans as the four-piece kicked the evening off. Guitar pedal eccentric duo Eric Kendall and Nick Gordon of the Actors played two sets in between openers, while Airctaft lead singer Justin John Smithhad not one, but three mics attached to his stand to optimize sound quality. As for the Tins’ performance, their hyper fans bopped along to the new songs all night long. Check out our gallery below of the entire evening. Written and Shot by Taryn Alper.

Tonight: The Tins Album Release Show

July 11, 2014

It wasn’t too long ago that The Tins had been so quiet for so long that they merited a “What Are They Up To?” post just a few months ago that ended with a strangely in-depth description of ice cream. In the last month, they’ve been all over the place: a new music video, a tour announcement, some decent press and now this album release show. Tonight at Iron Works, they’ll be teaming up with Aircraft, Brimstone Blondes and the quote-unquote “mysterious” duo that is The Actors. The Tins, if you believe fellow buffaBLOGGER Mike Torsell (and I have to, because I moved here at the end of last year) took the city by storm in 2012, and this album release show may be their first step toward taking over the country. They’ll be on the road for just under a month, starting in Buffalo and making their way all[...]

Tonight: Mutual Benefit

June 19, 2014

When I first heard Mutual Benefit, I was sitting in my room in China alone, drinking Tiger beer, eating the best fried rice I will ever eat, and feeling a little too far away.  Let me tell you, Jordan Lee’s debut LP was a welcome visitor. Listening to the self-released, Love’s Crushing Diamond, you feel like you’re having a conversation with Lee. You are not alone, never isolated or marginalized.  You can sense the collective memory of our generation in his post freak-folk ambient sound. It’s a relatively new genre, sort of orchestral-folk meets Elliot Smith. Everything about the album screams hope and community, from the way the wind chimes balance out the electric drum which in turn is balancing out the banjo, to how they all sort of walk then run together to drive the song safely in the exact direction it always needed to go. The album is kind[...]

Just Announced: Pinback

June 16, 2014

Earlier today, long time San Diego indie act, Pinback, announced a tour to commemorate 10th anniversary of the release of their Summer in Abandon album, and luckily for us, the tour is set to include a stop at Buffalo Iron Works on Tuesday, September 16th. Led by Rob Crow, Pinback’s bass-heavy groove has been soothing their listeners for over 15 years. Their arrival in Buffalo should put a nice cap on an already packed WNY summer season. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 20th, at noon for $16. Tera Melos will be providing support.

Tonight: William Fitzsimmons w/Leif Vollebekk

June 9, 2014

William Fitzsimmons will hit Buffalo Iron Works tonight with his contemplative crooning and the sophisticatedly subdued finger picking of his acoustic guitar. He’s a man who’s known conflict and sings to tell the tale, touring on the fruits of his latest studio effort, Lions (2014). Helping him out is Montreal-based singer-songwriter Leif Vollebekk, touring on his own latest release, North Americana (2014). Featuring the likes of Arcade Fire’s Sara Neufeld on violin, and Vollebekk himself on guitar, piano, harmonica, fiddle, and of course, the vocals that drive it all, the album culminates in the finessed production of a man on an international ramble for the perfect take. Together, the two should put on an indie-folk show filled with a sentiment to withstand the ages. Doors at 8pm, tickets for a $20 spot.

Tonight: Pearson Sound

May 17, 2014

Part two of Club Phenomenology will stir up Buffalo tonight. It’s subtitle? “The Grid.” Put on by Sean Feiner and Nick States of Infinite Zone Productions, in addition to their other crew Cool Dad Records, which additionally comprises Kyle Tatum and Brian Doyle of Eyes Everywhere and Alex Morrison, the tight-knit group is out to bring an aspect of music that is not new to the dance scene. Rather, they’re out to enhance it further, and explore the opportunities. Headliner Pearson Sound, a UK producer and DJ, will take the stage at Buffalo Iron Works. Originally, this event was planned to be at The Wastelands (located at 700 Main St.) but due to unfortunate – and uncertain – circumstances, that venue closed. Execution of the event was shaky, but only momentarily. In the same day that it was “cancelled,” it was announced to be back on and taking place at Iron Works,[...]

Tonight: Sleepy Hahas Album Release Show

May 16, 2014

After some minor lineup tweaking, the Buffalo psych garage four-piece, Sleepy Hahas, is set to celebrate the release of its debut LP, the heavy and driving Dull Days, tonight at Buffalo Iron Works. The coming together of the album has been a bit of a communal effort, with the Victory Gardens handling some impressive album art work and Lesionread jumping behind the camera for a couple videos (see the lyric video below) to a couple of Dull Days‘ tracks. As for our thoughts on the album, check back with us next week for a proper write up. Joining the fun tonight will be Fredonia fuzz rock threesome Zealot, the darker pop sounds of Strange Acres, and crunchy college rocking Bearhunter. Tonight’s show kicks off at 8pm with a $5 cover.

Just Announced: Mutual Benefit

May 8, 2014

One of the more sneaky good, under the radar albums of 2013 was Mutual Benefit’s Love’s Crushing Diamond. A revolving project led by Jordan Lee, the act sounds like Daniel Rosen or maybe the Antler’s Peter Silberman crossed with Broken Social Scene at their most tender. Lee will bring his project to Buffalo Iron Works next month on Thursday, June 19th. While you may not be familiar with the act, you will most likely be down town at Canalside anyways, so take the quick stroll over to the Cobblestone District after and you may leave with a new favorite act. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 9th, at 10am for $10 in advance, $13 day of

Tonight: Sonny Baker

April 29, 2014

Speaking of Sonny Baker, the singer/songwriter will be playing an electric set over at Buffalo Iron Works this evening for the happy hour crowd. A member of Lazlo Hollyfeld, Wooden Waves, A Hotel Nourishing, and Alex Berkeley & the Atlanta Falcons, the long time Buffalo stalwart has been a staple in the local scene for what seems to be much longer than his age would allow. Expect some cuts from his various solo EPs, including his most recent, Mangled in the Front, while you down some Iron Works poutine. Baker hits the stage tonight at 6pm. No cover. Photo Credit – Jeannette Chin

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: PigPen Theatre Co.

April 10, 2014

The unfortunately named PigPen Theatre Co. is rolling through town tonight. After reading up on them through the group’s bandcamp page, it appears the band employs shadow puppets into its routine, which is, well, different. I suppose that is where the Theatre Co. part of the band name comes from. The music, though, reminds me more of acts like the Swell Season (good), despite the unavoidable comparisons to other acts like Mumford & Sons (bad). PigPen Theatre Co. will be playing tonight at Buffalo Iron Works, which is suddenly becoming quite diverse after hosting considerably non folk shows like the Misfits, Screaming Females, and Cloud Nothings over the last couple weeks. The show kicks off tonight at 8pm with a cover of $15.

Tonight: Screaming Females

April 6, 2014

There’s something ironic about having a band like New Jersey’s Screaming Females playing at Buffalo Iron Works. Something just doesn’t sit right with me. A band who has worked with the likes of Steve Albini playing at a venue that sells four dollar Pabst Blue Ribbons. Not that they have any say in a venue’s drink prices. It just doesn’t seem right is all. The Screaming Females scream Old Milwaukee and rot gut whiskey. They scream dirt, grime, and hepatitis. When you hear vocalist/ guitarist Marissa Paternoster belt out verses lines like, “I’m on a mission to smash the mirror/ Get myself off the scale,” you imagine it being in a dive bar in the deep swallows of the city. A place where you’d imagine to find an overdosed Iggy Pop, circa 1972, not in a bar in the cobblestone district with six dollar draft beers. I hope you made[...]

Cloud Nothings at Buffalo Iron Works. Photo credit: Erica Morano of Buffalo.com.

Cloud Nothings at Buffalo Iron Works (4/4/14)

April 5, 2014

Last night’s Cloud Nothings show at the Buffalo Iron Works was a great experience. The bands played well, the crowd was into it, but it was the synergy between the two that pushed things over the top. I admit I was worried at the beginning. Openers Pleasure Leftists, who will be joining Cloud Nothings for a few dates before coming back through Buffalo next week for your listening pleasure, were awesome, but the crowd barely seemed to move. They clapped hard, but they seemed a little sleepy. Even when the headliners came on, I was concerned. The crowd only started to pick up a few songs into the set, when singer Dylan Baldi started strumming out the first few chords of “Stay Useless.” Lyrically, “Stay Useless” is all aching ennui, wishing for “Something to do/somewhere to go.” The crowd, at least the first few rows of it, seemed to know[...]