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Arkells at Canalside (6/11/15)

June 12, 2015

After leaving the Arkells show at Canalside last night, it was difficult to decide who had had more fun: the band or the audience. Like poutine, Tim Horton’s, and everything else that’s considered “good” in Canada, Arkells have established themselves in the Buffalo culture. With roots in nearby Hamilton, Ontario, the band has seen its massive success in Canada transition smoothly into the American music scene. Of course, the band (made up of front man Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Nick Dika, Tim Oxford, and Anthony Carone) is no stranger to Buffalo, or even to Canalside. Max spoke fondly of intimate shows performed in the city, like the one at Town Ballroom in April. He also reminisced about the first time they played at Canalside in 2011, when they opened for the Tragically Hip. Arkells’ ascent from opener to headliner in a four-year span mirrors their burgeoning success. Despite the Hip[...]

Matt & Kim w/Made Violent at Canalside (6/4/15)

June 5, 2015

Well folks, congratulations. We did it. It’s been building for years, and it’s certainly been talked about a whole lot, but Thursday night it sure felt like the much ballyhooed “new Buffalo” was real, and it was awesome. The first Thursday at Canalside of 2015, which featured Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim, new local heroes Made Violent. and Boston’s Bearstronaut, was something brand new for Buffalo, an immediate victory for the youth experiment with this year’s edition of Canalside, and something close to a dream come true. The Millennials and 20 somethings were truly in the ascendency Thursday night, with many attending their first Thursday at Canalside judging by the rampant confusion about the cash for tickets currency exchange concept that has been in place for the last few years. Drawn by a bill featuring decidedly younger artists, they were there to kick it out, and all three bands held[...]

Big Gigantic at Rapids Theatre (5/14/15)

May 18, 2015

When I say “jump,” you yell “how high?” As I walk past the Niagara Falls Police Department and Courthouse, I look to my friend, Mikhael, a Swedish expatriate, and retired First Sergeant of the Swedish Armed Forces. “Jesus of course there are cops everywhere,” I say as a squad car drives by slowly. He insures me that this is how all EDM shows are, and that it would be ok. Paranoia ensues. With every step we take toward the venue, the bass gets a bit heavier. We get our passes and head through security. I have a photo pass and I don’t even know how to use the camera I borrowed from a friend. As we walk through the doors, the bass reveals a full and complete sound.  We are in the thick of it. Arriving during Snails, everyone was still shuffling around. About half of the crowd was up[...]

The Lone Bellow at The First Niagara Center (5/1/15)

May 3, 2015

Best. Opener. Ever. If you don’t want just one opinion, let’s take a look at the audience from Friday night’s show at The First Niagara Center. When The Lone Bellow first took the stage, the crowd was distracted. Most seats were empty. The filled ones held texters and selfie-takers. Nobody planned on paying attention to the opening act. Then the music started. By the end of the first song, the audience was hooked. Slowly, everyone sat down or moved a few steps closer to the stage. When “Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold” concluded, the selfies had stopped and texting had ground to a halt. Why? Maybe the audience was shocked by the cohesive sound. Maybe the energy of Zach Williams and Brian Elmquist had captivated them. Maybe it was the fact that a 5-piece folk band had a sound big enough to fill the entire arena. Or maybe[...]

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[...]

The Decemberists w/ Alvvays @ UB’s Center for the Arts (4/1/15)

April 2, 2015

I had seen The Decemberists once before. The Portland, OR natives played an outdoor, midday set on a sweltering day at Bonnaroo 2011, and I was excited to be able to cross one of the “bucket list bands” off of my list, despite the heat. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t show up hours early for a good spot in front of the stage, and the sun was entirely unforgiving—curse my fair skin—making the experience distant, hot, and less than magical. Luckily for me, the indie-folk storytellers made their most welcome return (and second sell out) to UB’s Center for the Arts this past Wednesday evening, and this time the magic prevailed. Toronto-based girl-pop group Alvvays opened the show promptly at 8pm (the CFA doesn’t mess around when it comes to start times), kicking things off with “Adult Diversion,” the opening track off of the group’s excellent 2014 self-titled debut. For[...]

The Get Up Kids @ Waiting Room (3/25/15)

March 26, 2015

With a belly full of Joe’s Deli and two very heavy eyelids, I made my way to Waiting Room last night to see The Get Up Kids (TGUK). Approaching the door, I couldn’t help but calculate the median age of the crowd, which was probably somewhere around 27… Let’s just say that in lieu of x-ed out hands, I saw parents checking nanny cams on smart phones. Pixie cuts and shaved heads were a plenty. Ironically, TGUK were out on the “Spring Break” tour – I’d bet only 15% of the crowd was actually on spring break. I walked in on song two or three of Restorations’ set. The band’s vocalist reminded me pretty strongly of The Gaslight Anthem. They had a “vibey” feel. I enjoyed their set, but I spent most of it trying to find a comfortable place to lean my ragged 25 year old body. PUP took[...]

Dr. Dog at Town Ballroom (1/21/15)

January 23, 2015

Wednesday night, Dr. Dog returned to Buffalo for their latest in a long list of memorable area performances. For a band that almost seemed to make Mohawk Place a temporary home on their stops through town, there’s been something inspiring in the sight of the crowds growing with each successive show at Town Ballroom. And with the Philly-based band touring in support of their new live album, Live at the Flamingo Hotel, it gave the band the perfect chance to put on a “greatest hits” show of sorts. With an arsenal of eight albums worth of gems behind them, the band came prepped with a set designed to please fans of every era of the band. Dr. Dog has always walked a fine line between indie rock and the Beatles inspiration they wear on their sleeves, and that was a line they felt safe crossing back and forth throughout the[...]

Stars at the Tralf Music Hall (11/23/14)

November 24, 2014

After half of Buffalo spent the past week left stranded by a relentless snowstorm, it’s safe to say that we all probably needed a pick-me-up. With a host of shows already laid to waste by blizzard conditions, Sunday night’s Stars show definitely risked becoming the latest casualty of #snowvember. Thankfully though, the stars (pun half-intended) aligned and the city’s excellent clean-up crews were able to clear streets in time to make last night’s show a reality. Suffice it to say, Stars’ show helped provide the pick-me-up this city desperately needed. The Canadian indie-pop band made its way to Buffalo in support of latest record, No One is Lost, an album that finds the band leaning harder on a synth-pop sound and playing to its dancier sensibilities. This might seem like a minor shift, but it was one that was soundly felt throughout the show, as the band’s performance was less the theatrical pop musical[...]

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist at Town Ballroom (11/11/14)

November 12, 2014

On Tuesday night, those in attendance at the Town Ballroom were taken on a journey through nearly 40 years of the rich musical history that laid the groundwork for hip hop culture. DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist surgically moved through their set comprised of six turntables, a vintage drum machine, and a collection of records taken from Cornell University’s library, originally belonging to Afrika Bambaataa. The two performers genuinely expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to play the original copies of tracks that help build the culture that they love and champion. Despite the exclusive circumstances of this unique performance, both Shadow and Cut Chemist played with a casual, personal demeanor, occasionally explaining the historical significance of tracks or pointing out various breaks and samples that have been countlessly built upon over the years. Every musical moment was deliberate and contributed meaningfully to the eclectic soundscape that included everything from[...]

Pinback at Buffalo Iron Works (9/16/14)

September 17, 2014

With this odd polar vortex framing our upcoming winter, my sense of nostalgia has been going crazy. I have always felt like Buffalonians are allowed only a few short weeks of crisp sweater weather before we get annihilated with snow… So on went my flannel and my dollar store beanie – as I headed out my door to go see Pinback last night, I had a feeling it was going to be a night worth remembering. Luckily for me, Pinback was coming to Buffalo. I have resigned myself to the fact that I have to occasionally drive to Pittsburgh or Cleveland to catch my favorite bands. It’s just a fact of life… And when a soul-crushing shift at my job cost me a chance to see Cloud Nothings earlier this year,  I had been determined to get to Iron Works ever since. The cobblestone streets are a nice touch (maybe not[...]

Hooray For Earth at Sugar City (8/20/14)

August 22, 2014

Wednesday night, New York City’s Hooray For Earth returned to Buffalo after a four year absence for a special yet sparsely attended show at the newly reopened Sugar City art space on Niagara Street. I don’t know exactly what happened that contributed to a show for an up and coming band being attended by 15 people, but that’s basically what ended up happening. That those 15 people were treated to a magnificently loud and blisteringly gorgeous performance is almost beside the point; Hooray For Earth made good on their promise to get here after cancelling in January of 2013, and I want to thank Hooray For Earth and opener Grooms for making the trip. It was one of those shows where the bands start early so they can get on their way to the next stop, hopefully with a bigger crowd. Grooms, a power trio from Brooklyn, started before the[...]

Edgefest at the Outer Harbor (8/10/14)

August 11, 2014

Whoever is setting up the dates for the Outer Harbor concerts deserves a round of applause, or at the very least a well-excecuted high five. We really couldn’t have asked for a better day/night combo for Sunday’s Edgefest 2014, presented by 103.3 The Edge.  Well, it probably could have been a bit cooler during the day, but temperatures dropped as the night’s “supermoon” replaced the unforgiving sun, serving as a perfect backdrop to Sunday’s festivities. (Anyone remember last month’s City and Colour show? Think “Supermoon Strikes Back.”) The lineup could easily be considered one of the year’s best, featuring headliners Weezer and Brand New with support from The Sheila Divine, Pentimento, and Dirty Smile. Edgefest was undeniably the best deal of the summer, especially for those of you lucky enough to snag the $25 early bird tickets before they sold out. I’m just going to go ahead and say it—Weezer’s[...]

Mikaela Davis at Buffalo Iron Works (7/25/14)

July 28, 2014

This was a show that our fair city had waited six months for. Mikaela Davis was scheduled to come to the Tralf on January 3rd, but the show was canceled due to a pipe bursting at the venue. The weeks and months continued to build up, and we were left to wonder if the brilliant harpist from Rochester would be headed back any time soon. Thankfully, our prayers were answered, as Davis and her band played a fantastic show at Buffalo Iron Works on Friday. Davis’ band, consisting of drummer Alex Cote and guitarist Cian McCarthy (who played several other instruments during the evening), was extremely tight throughout the evening, providing the perfect compliment to Davis’ harp. Early this year, Davis released the EP Fortune Teller, and the tracks from it were featured prominently in the set list. “When The White Worse Takes Me Away” and “Feels Like Forever” in[...]

Jenny Lewis at Toronto Urban Roots Festival (7/6/14)

July 7, 2014

You may have seen some photos of Jenny Lewis mugging in a rainbow-cream pantsuit airbrushed with clouds and stars lately. Now that I’ve seen her showboat in it on stage in some cerulean sci-fi shades, I’m pretty much convinced that she is ready to bust out of her mortal corporeal form and just become the total goddess she knows she is, space-Barbie style. Furthermore, I’m even more excited for her new record to come out on July 29th, titled The Voyager. Jenny is an indie star and it’s fabulous to see her embrace all of the selves she has ever been for us on stage: her setlist for TURF (Toronto Urban Roots Fest) yesterday even included two anthems from Rilo Kiley’s More Adventurous and The Execution of All Things. She also revisited quite a few Under the Blacklight classics, such as “Close Call” and “Silver Lining.” Under the Blacklight, the[...]