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Tonight: Wavves

Beloved California surf rockers Wavves make their welcome return to Buffalo tonight at the Tralf with Chicago psych rockers Post Animal. It’s since six long years since Nathan Williams and company played the Town Ballroom and the band’s had some adventures: signing to Warner Brothers after the indie success with King Of The Beach and releasing two albums with them before totally falling out with Warners and returning to the indie world all pissed off and invigorated. Footloose and free, Wavves dropped their wonderfully wacky and adventurous sixth album You’re Welcome this very day in history, making tonight’s show even more special for local fans. Chicago buzz band Post Animal opens the show, having just dropped their latest single “Special Moment” last week. The buzz surrounding them is noteworthy for a few reasons: 1) it’s entirely justified thanks to their dense and dreamy, Tame Impalaesque sound; and 2) part of the buzz[...]

Tonight: SMUG

Buffalo’s music scene is definitely fluid, with bands coming and going, frequent collaboration, and sometimes bands up and change names. Case in point: the reborn punk rock band Naturalists, now known as SMUG, who took a break, changed their sound, recorded a forthcoming debut album, and rebranded themselves with a nifty all caps name that’s got fans of Naturalists eager to see what’s next. What do these guys sound like now? Nobody knows but them, but the impenetrable mystery becomes clearer tonight at their debut show tonight the Mohawk with tuneful surf rock darlings Dreambeaches, punk rock machine The Slums, and space rock explorer Moody Cosmos. Doors at 8pm and cover is $5. Wicked Dreams/ Grown Up by The Naturalists

KOPPS Drop “Baby I’m Dead Inside”

Rochester electro darlings KOPPS are back with a new single that accurately/regrettably/inevitably captures the zeitgeist, the sweet electronic poison that is “Baby I’m Dead Inside.” Trading their trademark trashed glitz for simmering, low key electronic funk punctuated by crunchy, fuzzed out guitar riffs, KOPPS find a new brand new slowed down groove for Patricia Patrón’s sultry disco diva vocal stylings to bewitch the faithful into helpless submission. Check out “Baby I’m Dead Inside” below and keep an eye on KOPPS- they could be busy this year.

Tonight: Cloud Nothings

Tonight Cleveland post punk garage rockers Cloud Nothings make a welcome return to Buffalo at the Tralf for their first local show in three years. These spirit brothers of the Rust Belt and their mighty, primal rock are back in support of their excellent fourth album Life Without Sound, a melodically complex turn that still retains the angst fueled howl that makes them on of the most captivating bands going right now. Your guess is as good as mine about who’s opening the show, but tickets are still available for $18, and doors open at 8pm. UPDATED: According to Cloud Nothings Twitter feed the openers will be “some weird Cleveland ____” in the form of a band called Brainwashed California and “this guy” Adam Miller.

Record Store Day 2017 is Tomorrow

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day, the international celebration of vinyl, physical media and the indie record stores that sell returns tomorrow with celebrations happening locally at Buffalo’s surviving record shops. Whether you brave the early morning lines for the Record Store Day special goodies you’ve scouted in advance or plan on some leisurely shopping, bonhomie, and live music later in the day after the rush subsides, enjoy yourselves (“It’s a celebration!”) and be sure to spend some money to keep these treasured local resources going: Record Theatre will be having their annual Record Store Day blowout at their remaining location at Main and Lafayette from 9 AM til 9 PM with the line forming Friday night I imagine. They’ll have the RSD special releases, live music from 12pm-7pm, plus the R&R BBQ Truck for lunch, Lloyd’s for dinner, and Community Beer Works local brew throughout the[...]

Tonight: Operators

Tonight Canadian New Wavers Operators make a stop in Buffalo with blog favorites Humble Braggers for a night of synthed out electronic bliss and tasteful ass shaking. One of the many projects Dan (Wolf Parade, Divine Fits) Boeckner has going at any given moment, Operators released their terrific debut Blue Wave last year. Recorded in “a vintage barn in the middle of nowhere” of Southern Ontario, it’s a terrific slice of smart 80’s New Wave pop with an up to the minute sensibility that speaks to our immediate times with songs like “Mission Creep” and “Bring Me The Head.” Really, with the bombs falling in the Middle East and quite possibly North Korea by the time this post gets published, Operators couldn’t have come at a better time. Meanwhile, local openers Humble Braggers have had a busy few months, playing shows in Fredtown, Rochester, and the city in support of their fine debut[...]

Suburbs Drop New Jam “48 Hour Scumbags”

Enigmatic Buffalo electronica act Suburbs released a terrific single that is chilled out perfection and profoundly satisfying.  Kicked off with a burst of howling bros, “48 Hour Scumbags” immediately downshifts into a sexy groove anchored by some godless church organs and the de-tuned and fuzzed out vocals from Kevin Stuitje. Time and space dilates  in the late night/early morning haze conjured by this endearingly skeezy and subliminally agitated jam before crashing in the end, and like a 48 hour scumbag, it left me needing more. 48 Hour Scumbags by Suburbs

Tonight: Rock A Mile In Her Shoes

Tonight one of the best fundraisers in Buffalo returns as Babeville once again hosts the 3rd Annual Rock A Mile In Her Shoes show featuring The Slums, Morbs, Erica Wolfing, Del Paxton, and M.A.G.S.. The show benefits the Crisis Services Advocate Program which provides 24/7 support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse while working to reduce violence and to make our community a safer place. This year’s show brings together local heavyhitters The Slums, Del Paxton and Morbs with ethereal chanteuse Erica Wolfing and indie pop act M.A.G.S. for a night of crushing riffs, solidarity, love, respect, and fellas rocking in high heels (fellas in the audience who want to rock some heels in solidarity are encouraged to do so if the spirit moves them). Tickets are $10, doors are at 7pm with fun set for 8pm..

Feverbox Release New Single “Victoria”

Kenmore garage rockers Feverbox are getting ready to release their first EP in the coming weeks and the release’s first single, “Victoria” shines bright. The indie rockers from Buffalo’s best first ring suburb announced themselves nicely with a few well received singles last year, but “Victoria” definitely shows a band tightening it up, with those dreamy vocal harmonies, driving riffs and shimmering synths flying higher than ever. On a side note what is up with all these local bands representing with impressive vocal harmonies? Must be a lot of Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac fans around here. Anyway, Feverbox’s EP arrives April 14th with a show at Babeville with Deadwolf and Super American, and you can check out “Victoria” below:

Tonight: Acid Dad

Tonight the Waiting Room hosts a downstate vs upstate New York battle of the bands when NYC’s Acid Dad and Brooklyn post punks Honduras share a bill with local fellas Ugly Sun and Deadwolf. Actually, it’s not a battle of the bands at all; everybody’s cool and there’s no cash prizes or bragging rights on the line (or are there?), and the real winners are local fans of garage and psychedelic rock down to kick it out on a Sunday night with these fine bands. NYC power trio Acid Dad specialize in the kind of sleezy garage rock usually ideal for getaway driving in vintage cars and/or driving on dark roads with the headlights off under the influence. Brooklyn’s Honduras meanwhile have been generating buzz in all the right places thanks to a raw garage rock that mainlines that 70’s downtown punk sound to satisfying effect. Local openers are both blog[...]

Tonight: Dance Yrself Clean

Tonight the latest edition of the Dance Yrself Clean Hipster Dance Party series is back at Milkie’s, and like the very satisfying January hootenanny the proceeds are going to a worthy cause doing the right thing. Journey’s End Refugee Services, a Buffalo non-profit helping our newest Buffalonians get settled and become members of our community, which is a win-win for everybody involved, but with El Trumpito targeting refugees and immigrants from the Oval Office, they can use the help during this particularly fraught time, which is where the DYC crew and you do your parts. Starting at 9 PM the DYC crew (Ben Parsons, Nick Muldoon, Tom Burtless, Allison Lavis, Katie Gariepy) will be rocking the tightest indie dance jams from the 2000’s up through yesterday; you, dear reader just got to show up, pay $5, and dance.

KIN Release Video For “Try”

KIN, the infinitely charming side project from Eliot Douglas (M.A.G.S.) featuring himself and his lovely wife Julia Douglas, released the video for their debut single “Try,” and it is absolutely wonderful. A sweet ode to married indie rock domesticity, the joys of shopping at Home Depot, Brian Wilson’s mythic living room, and the quest for summer fun during a WNY winter, this clip is utterly irresistible. Director Corey James Harris truly makes this video seem naturally effortless, summoning a level of breezy, whimsical artifice reminiscent of The Flaming Lips, another band that does a lot of work in these here parts. Check it out, feel warm and fuzzy, and keep an eye out for more from KIN.

Tonight: Mac Sabbath

Tonight everybody’s favorite McDonaldland murdering Black Sabbath tribute band Mac Sabbath returns to Buffalo in a big way with their Mockstrocity Tour featuring Metalachi, the world’s only heavy metal mariachi band and Ned Flanders inspired metalheads Okilly Dokilly. Halloween comes a few months early this year (thank the five fingered God) because the Tralf is hosting this unholy evening of skull crushing metal, Gen-X pop cultural touchstone parodies and joyfully deranged merriment, and this could not come at a better time. Tickets are still available for $25.50, doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm.

Ugly Sun Drop Latest Single “Marble Eye”

Buffalo garage rock power trio Ugly Sun are back with their latest single “Marble Eye,” and it’s a thrilling burst of triumphant goodness. For a band keen to keep things on the rough and wild side, the deploying of both discordant and mightily sweet harmonies behind John Crook’s plaintive wail and those epic riffs takes this whole enterprise to a higher level and almost flirts with beauty. In a city with a growing list of rock bands you can believe in, you can add Ugly Sun to the list. They’ll be playing the just announced Made Violent show at the Studio At The Waiting Room with Sixties Future May 5th, with tickets going on sale this Friday.

Today: House Of Pain

House Of Pain are one of those 90’s exuberances that’s simultaneously regrettable and irresistible, especially during Buffalo’s internationally renowned extended St. Patrick’s Day bacchanal, which reaches it’s apex today with the parade down Delaware Avenue, and House Of Pain at the Waiting Room. Giddyup fam, Everlast, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal will be presiding over an epic blow out in the Waiting Room’s parking lot featuring St. Patrick’s Day mayhem, 90’s covers from blog favorite Soul Patch, Slaine from La Coka Nostra, and DJ sets from Dovey and Rick Jameson. Tickets for this once in a lifetime Buffalo rager are still available for $15 general admission and $40 for VIP tickets. Rick Jameson starts it off at 12pm and House Of Pain caps it all off after the parade conclude’s at 4:30pm.