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Tonight: Red Francis

April 21, 2016

The Chicago natives in Red Francis will be gracing Buffalo with their presence this evening. Red Francis simply describe themselves as “rock-n-roll” but there’s a more subtle nuance to their jams… Think Kurt Vile with a little retro flavor. Tonight’s show also has a strong opening crew. Slacker rockers Difficult Night are sure to add to the vibes, and newcomers Coral Collapse have been sitting on a bit of buzz lately. Either way, tonight’s show is a solid three-band line up. Doors open at 8:00pm tonight – bring $5 for admission and a few bucks for beer.

Difficult Night – In a Blackhole at the Listening of Distant Harpers in the Dim Gloam of Evening

February 29, 2016

Difficult Night is somewhat of an anomaly.  An anomaly in the fact that the unique Buffalo quartet is fundamentally unclassifiable. The oft-coined “slacker rock” designation only goes so far, “indie rock” is an even broader cop out. Classifications (or lack thereof) aside, I can concretely say that the band does what they want, a project unburdened by the shackles of expectation. Their latest album, In a Blackhole at the Listening of Distant Harpers in the Dim Gloam of Evening (inhales), lays foundation on that sentiment, making the collection of songs deliciously raw and unapologetically soaked in truth. Blackhole seems to shine brightest in its elements of observation and introspection. “I used to believe in signs / before I knew how to read ‘em,” sings Shane Meyer on midtempo number “Turn My Back,” track two of the 9-track album. Many of the songs feel like face-to-face conversations with Meyer, an unfiltered[...]

Tonight: Difficult Night

December 11, 2015

If you read this blog with any frequency, by now you probably know Difficult Night. The outfit’s brand of twinkly slackrock, when met with the open-book rhetorical accuracy of songwriter Shane Meyer, makes for a unique musical product about as unassuming as it comes. A balance is met, and it is met well. Difficult Night will be bringing their tunes to the stage of Nietzsche’s tonight after somewhat of a quiet year for the quartet. Buffalo roots rock vets Roger Bryan and the Orphans, post-punk locals The Patterns, and the vibraphone uniqueness of duo Welks Mice are all gracing the stacked Friday bill as well. Doors open at 9pm with a $5 cover.

Tonight: Aircraft

October 16, 2015

Buffalo’s heady psych pop outfit Aircraft will return to Mohawk Place’s stage tonight as the group continues to tour in support of its latest record, the Admirable Traits released 7 Gems From the Sparkling Void. With a healthy dose of surf and space rock, the album continues to raise the ceiling of one of the city’s most cherished and promising acts. Those who have yet to catch the band live will be #blessed tonight with some fantastic harmonies and exhilarating musicianship. Joining Aircraft tonight will be rising Rust Belt post-rockers Tomoreaux and sardonic slackers Difficult Night, both of which are set to release a new album over the next couple months. Rounding out the bill will be the debut local performance from Albany’s dark shoegazers, Slowshine. Doors open at Mohawk Place this evening at 8pm with a cover of $5.

Tonight: Project Grant Fundraiser

July 24, 2015

Rock on for a good cause tonight at Buffalo Iron Works as a cast of locals and non take the stage in support of the Project Grant Fundraiser. The West Side launched program is aimed to work with artists and communities who may be lacking in the proper resources for a given artistic medium and project. Further info on Project Grant and the program’s founder, Tina Dillman, can be found here. On hand for musical support this evening are Utica desert rockers Twin Speak (in town for an Infringement date), retro punk rockers Soul Butchers, lyrically sound slackers Difficult Night, audio/visual master Projex, and many more. The fundraiser’s full lineup can be found at here. Speaking of Difficult Night, the quartet just dropped its latest new track “Calamity” this morning. The track will be included on DN’s forthcoming LP. Stream it below so you know all of the words to sing along[...]

Tonight: Difficult Night

July 2, 2015

Mohawk Place will host an all-locals show tonight to enjoy this long Buffalo Fourth of July weekend with some American music. Hometown mainstays Difficult Night plays rock and roll that falls somewhere between Violent Femmes and either the White Stripes or the Goo Goo Dolls, maybe some Springsteen. Lifemusik Mit Andre is making his way downtown with his experimental home recording sound, while the gritty and spooky girls of Space is Haunted thankfully have taken a break from their summer hiatus. Finally, Peter Kirsch, kinda weird and kinda dance-y, rounds out the night. Doors are at 8pm and for $5, you can kick off, or continue, your weekend.

Tonight: Schwervon!

June 25, 2015

So what’s in a duo, anyway? Schwervon! has an answer for that question. Armed with a guitar, a drumkit, and personality for days, Nan Turner and Matthew Roth craft deceptively simple yet deeply magnetic indie rock and makes it look as effortless as ever. And yet, somehow totally inimitable. With five albums and countless tours under their belts (some of which in support of some heavy-hitting names such as The Vaselines, Belle and Sebastian, Vampire Weekend), the NYC-bred, Kansas City-based art-rock power duo aren’t messing around. Schwervon!’s (yes Microsoft Word, the exclamation point is actually a part of their name) current tour makes a pit stop at Sugar City tonight on an expertly-arranged bill featuring blog-favorite slack rockers Difficult Night and rhyme-spitting funnyguy Jack Topht. Bring five bucks. While the show starts at 8pm, prime yourselves up beforehand with a Schwervon! music video produced by Difficult Night’s own Damian Weber,[...]

Tonight: Difficult Night

April 30, 2015

Difficult Night will headline Sugar City tonight with special guests Newish Star and Facility Men.  If you haven’t heard the slacker vibes of Difficult Night, tonight is probably the night to see them. The line up is tight, and Difficult Night is easy on the ear to most listeners.  To that effect, the night is an all ages event, so bring the kid’s and give them exposure to some of the music Buffalo has to offer. The members of Sugar City would like all guests to know that their venue is both drug and alcohol free.  Anyone feeling a little parched is more than welcome to wet their whistle at Resurgence Brewery across the street.  The night will kick off at 7pm, and with only 3 bands shouldn’t go too late into the night.  There is no mention of a charge, but bring a few bucks just to be on[...]

Tonight: Divers

April 2, 2015

With temperatures reaching the mid-60s, today offers Buffalo’s first real taste of spring this year. And I couldn’t think of a more perfect bill to celebrate the dawn of the new season than that at Curly’s (note: not the Lackawanna restaurant) tonight. The bill is headlined by Portland-natives, Divers. The band has made a huge impact in its home city, know for raucous live shows and is fresh off the release of the impressive new album, Hello Hello. Divers has an Americana punk sound that reflects artists like the Gaslight Anthem, Ted Leo, and Okkervil River, perfect anthemic rock for such a summery day. Divers will also be joined by a trio of local acts. First off, the melodic retro-punkers, Unwelcome Guests, who are playing their last show before embarking on a West Coast tour. Also make sure to get there early for the lo-fi slacker rock sounds of Difficult Night,[...]

Tonight: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

March 28, 2015

Later tonight at Nietzsche’s, we return to the seen of the crime: our first birthday party. Looking back at the bill from that night, a lot has changed since then. Love Scenes and Arctic Death are no longer active. The birD day moved out to Portland, and the Tins just returned from SXSW. All week long, we have been spotlighting all of our birthday acts, a mix of both seasoned acts and fresh to the scene bands. In case you missed any, now is the time to catch up: Zak Ward M.A.G.S. Difficult Night Comfy Applennium Wooden Waves Music kicks off at 10pm sharp with a cover of $7. Thanks in advance for all of the support over years. We hope to see you all tonight.

Difficult Night

March 26, 2015

Difficult Night sits at the intersection of a handful of disparate influences. There’s the Malkmus vibe in the lyrics, the vocals and the music, but not quite so wacky. It’s a bit more conversational, if you you imagine you’re having a conversation with a hyperliterate neurotic. It noodles, it jams, it bobs your head. Sometimes it may even rock a bit. But guitarist/vocalist Shane Meyer is so out front the entire time crooning that he kinda reminds me of Van Morrison. Instead of singing about caravans and eyeballs and whatnot, though, he’s making puns, telling stories and twisting his words around. The music itself is understated and effective, complementing the vocals and building a space for Meyers to talk. In that sense, it certainly feels like an intimate singer-songwriter project, but without all the overwrought emotions and emotional whispers that label often implies. Check out Difficult Night and a few[...]

Just Announced: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

February 16, 2015

Just about four years ago, we threw our first birthday party at Nietzsche’s. We only had about six regular writers at the time, and none of us knew the first thing about putting on a show. Half of the musicians we asked to play were underage (something Curt still won’t let me live down), we were clueless on what to pay the  bands (we played them A LOT that night), and really had no idea if anyone would come. We even asked Lloyd Taco, this is before Chris and Pete had a fleet of trucks and were being given $250K by CNBC to open a restaurant, to park outside for food. We practically had to beg people to go out and get tacos. This was before the food trucks really took over Buffalo mind you. That birthday party ended up being amazing, still one of my favorite shows we have[...]

Today : Bill & Jamie’s House, Difficult Night

February 8, 2015

Are you ready for some deathfolk?  Head down to the Nothrup House today for an early matinee show stacked with some awesome local talent. The show begins at 2pm and will feature Bill & Jamie’s House, Difficult Night, Velvet Alphabet, and Jacob Brockway, all from Buffalo.  Bill & Jamie’s House will bring some beautiful,  stripped down acoustic tracks while Difficult Night takes it a more electric route, and should result in a great show. There is no cost listed in the event page, but I would bring a few dollars for the bands just in case. If you’re into folk music, this gig is definitely for you.

Listen to New Tracks from Difficult Night, Fashion Expo 1990, and Damian

November 24, 2014

Last we saw Difficult Night, the slacker quartet was making the most of a soggy Porch Fest afternoon by delivering a set from a crowded Richmond Ave apt. One unknown song from that day, “Ex-Lover” premiered last night on the band’s soundcloud page. The song is led vocalist Shane Meyer’s typically desperate pleads. No word on whether the band is set on releasing stand alone singles or if an album is in the works, so keep an eye out. In Difficult Night related news, keyboardist Miles Kirsch continues to stay busy with his once dormant dance project, Fashion Expo 1990. Since resurfacing earlier this year, Kirsch has dropped a couple collections of 90’s acid/house inspired tracks n bandcamp, and late last week, released a couple tracks from Fashion Expo’s forthcoming album, Club Bleek. The first of the two tracks, “Thunder Coast,” features Fashion Expo’s trademark infectious keyboards and pumping beats.[...]

Difficult Night

October 9, 2014

The Elmwood Village sure tried this past Saturday, but the weather was not on its side during the third installment of the Buffalo Porchfest. The skies started to clear up around 11am, and hope was in the air, but just as quickly, the clouds and rain returned and the day was a bit of a wash. We had plans to do our latest installment of buffaBLOG Video with local slacker rockers, Difficult Night, on a Richmond Ave balcony, but the weather forced us to change plans, clear out a kitchen, and put the show on in there. Our frequent blog collaborator, Lesionread, who you may have remembered did another Porchfest video for us last year, was on hand to record the set. Check out the clip below.