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Tonight: Handsome Jack

Happy Birthday America, land of the free home of the blues. Keep the celebration going with Buffalo’s own Handsome Jack, as they are poised to set off an explosion of their own this this even at Buffalo Iron Works. If you haven’t felt the ground rumble from Handsome Jack’s brand of boogie-woogie and blues then this is your last chance, at least for a short while. The love child of John Fogherty, Muddy Waters, and The Band head across the pond for a European to support their latest record Everything’s gonna Be Alright. Bring your sparklers, dancing shoes, and good vibes to Iron Works to properly bid this rock trio ‘adieu’. Doors at 8pm with a $12 cover. Get there early to check out First Ward. Written by Kevin Prentice

Handsome Jack Go Inside The Making Of Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Gritty Lockport rock revivalists and intrepid world travelers Handsome Jack have given their fans an intimate glimpse into their creative process and the making of their last album Everything’s Gonna Be Alright in a new documentary by Christian Gentry. Calling their sound “timeless” is a huge understatement, and Gentry digs in to show how the boys along with producer Ben McLeod and Nashville engineer Grant Husselman crafted an album with such deep analog vibes for a modern audience and listening experience. There’s also sharp cinematography reminiscent of Anton Corbijn, heavy jams, rock & roll shenanigans, and blood, sweat and tears to round it all off for you, so you should check it out immediately, below.

Tonight: Handsome Jack Album Release Party

Tonight is a shockingly busy night for Buffalo music fans, with shows going off all over downtown, and Buffalo Iron Works has a killer show lined up with soulful Lockport rock revivalists Handsome Jack celebrating the release of their third album Everything’s Gonna Be Alright at Buffalo Iron Works with heavy duty psych rockers Deadwolf and garage rock outfit Johnny Nobody. If you know anybody who says “rock is dead” you can tell them to get out of the house more and  send them down to the Cobblestone District to hear up to the minute new tunes from Handsome Jack, and possibly catch a taste of the new stuff on the horizon from the ever ambitious Deadwolf, who’ve been hard at work on a follow up to Heavy Heart. It’s all going down tonight, and doors are at 8pm and cover is $12.

Handsome Jack Bust Out New Video For “Keep On”

Soulful Lockport rockers Handsome Jack got the van ready for a national tour, but before they go they’ve dropped a clip for “Keep On” that’s a tribute to white vans, dreaming about breaking out of the hoosegow, and the beloved Mohawk. Directed by Nate Chateaux, “Keep On” is some glorious old school rock’n’roll tomfoolery, with a little cheap Elvis, zonked out Monkees, and Dukes Of Hazzard disregard for the law DNA genespliced onto the jam’s seriously dank guitar riffs, bluesy swagger, sweet southern harmonies, and Jamison Passuite’s hard living and gritty lead vocals. Like being in the Pink during daylight hours (people do conduct business there, you know), it’s more than a little weird seeing the Mohawk Place load in/load out alley lit by actual sunlight, to such an extent that I didn’t even recognize it until the video cuts inside to the Mohawk Place stage we all know for some live band footage and a[...]

Tonight: Deadwolf Album Release Party

Local psych rock classicists Deadwolf have finally released their epic full length debut LP Heavy Heart and they are celebrating this long awaited event tonight at the Mohawk. The band and their fans have been waiting a while for this album to be out there, an expansive exploration of sixties psychedelia featuring serious ear candy jams, loads of shimmering guitars, subtle menace, and excellent harmonies, which translate very well live, and with their penchant for audio and visual satisfaction,  you can expect something a little extra from Deadwolf in the headlining spot this evening. Lockport rockers Handsome Jack, who recently crushed it opening for Timber Timbre on this very stage will be back to spread their early 70’s rock gospel with Witty Tarbox opening the show with their funky and nihilistic surf rock. Cover is $5, doors open at 8pm and the first 25 people through the door get a physical copy of[...]

Tonight: Timber Timbre

Canadian gothic folk rock trio Timber Timbre make their welcome return to the Queen City tonight at Mohawk Place  with Lockport retro rockers Handsome Jack. Known for their dark atmospheres and nimble musicianship, Timber Timbre are back after more than five years  in support of their latest, the heavy duty Sincerely, Future Pollution, while soulful locals Handsome Jack will be kicking their earnest jams from their two hard charging releases. Please note this show was originally scheduled for the Waiting Room and is no longer there. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $20 at the door.

Tonight: Shilpa Ray

Bluesy Brooklyn  soul punk  heroine Shilpa Ray makes her welcome return to Buffalo tonight at Nietzsche’s. A shining beacon of integrity, genuine emotion and timelessness, Shilpa is back in town in support of her sophomore solo album Door Girl. Opening the show will be lovable retro rockers Handsome Jack and local dive bar rockers The Gennies. Doors open at 9pm and cover is $8.

Tonight: The Naturalists

The Naturalists have one of the most distinct sounds out there. In the ten or so months since their 6-song EP release, Home Honey, I’m Hi, the band hasn’t slept on expanding and improving that sound, especially with the addition of a second guitarist (Jimmy Dimartino) and two shiny new singles released earlier today. “Wicked Dreams” and “Grown Up” are undoubtedly branded with The Naturalists’ familiar throwback-grunge  sound. Both tracks are as rambunctious as ever, yet totally refined in tone and melody. Not to mention, the new material is just downright fun to listen to. It’s hard to argue with something so amiable. On “Grown Up” vocalist Craig Perno sings about subject matter most of us can relate to — the innate fears and confusions of growing older (grow up and hold back / no sleep ’til we’re dead / making sense of dreaming dementia / make me a witness,[...]

Tonight: Nik Turner’s Hawkwind

Tonight, legendary flutist and vocalist Nik Turner will be bringing his edition of the legendary UK space rock band Hawkwind to Buffalo’s own Mohawk Place for a special show featuring San Francisco kraut rock outfit Hedersleben. Nik Turner’s Hawkwind will without a doubt melt some brains at the Mohawk with their heavy sound, science fiction and metaphysical explorations, avant-garde use of strings and wood instruments, and otherworldly vocalizations of the guru-like visionary Turner. Don’t plan on operating heavy machinery for a while after this show. Fusing Tuetonic Krautrock stridency and their own sci-fi apocalyptic space rock musings, the Bay area’s Hedersleben will get the mood set right, along with local favorites Handsome Jack and Hawkwind fans Malarchuk. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that Hawkwind featured a young Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, so nostalgic Motorhead fans won’t want to miss this. Tickets are $10, with doors at 7pm and show at 8pm.

Tonight: The Soft White Sixties

Buffalo Iron Works will be representing for the people tonight when the Cobblestone venue hosts San Francisco’s The Soft White Sixties along local favorites Handsome Jack. Earnestly rocking what’s been dubbed “working class soul,” this maximum R&B quartet are touring behind its just released debut album, Get Right, and for a city nostalgically holding onto it’s once proud working class ethos, this could be a pretty good show. Opening the evening’s entertainments at 9pm will be Buffalo by way of Lockport powerhouse, Handsome Jack, fresh off a Record Store Day 2015 set at Record Theatre last Saturday. Tickets are available at the door for $12.

Tonight: The Silks

Here’s the key to being a cool rock’n’roll band: Authenticity. Real deal, tried and true grit, spunk and ‘tude. You can have the riffs, the looks…even the swagger can be faked. But Authenticity is something that can only be felt. The Silks are as true as it gets. Heavy, soulful, boogie-in-the-heels rock that harkens back to the days when rock’n’roll was the coolest thing on the planet. A true mish-mash of Mountain thunder, ZZ sleaze, and Hooker-blues, the Silks feel right…and that’s a cool thing. Along for the ride tonight our Silky Rhode Islanders are accompanied by Buffalo’s own kings of groove, Second Trip and Lockport Boogie-merchants, Handsome Jack. $5 to swing at where else? The ‘Hawk.

Handsome Jack – Do What Comes Naturally

There is always a lot of talk about the hardcore and punk scene in Buffalo, but what about the blues? Bands like Johnny Nobody, Mr. Boneless, and in particular, Handsome Jack? As for the latter, the Lockport four-some hasn’t released a proper full length since 2011’s Super Moon, but in Do What Come Naturally, which Handsome Jack celebrated the release of this past Friday at Mohawk Place, the wait was certainly worth it. Once again, my brothers from another mother  prove that Buffalo’s got soul. Do What Comes Naturally is a red-eye flight and a universe away from Super Moon. I guess you could say the boys did some growing up. Where as Super Moon sounded like an overly extended ballad, Do What Comes Naturally is rough and hard around the edges. The band, now cocksure and headstrong, lays it all out on the table, letting the listener know exactly what they are working with.” From the[...]

Tonight: Handsome Jack Album Release Show

With their Southern blues-rock sound, some might mistake Handsome Jack for one of the host of bands from the Nashville rock scene, but rather this talented four-piece hail from our very own Lockport, NY. The local retro-rockers will take the stage tonight at Mohawk Place to celebrate the release of their new album, Do What Comes Naturally. The album is already receiving early acclaim and even landed them a shout from Rolling Stone. Tonight offers a rare chance to hear the self-described “boogie-soul” band debut their latest record in an intimate venue while you still can. The band will also be joined by a local acts Bearhunter, JOHNS, and Pine Fever. Doors opens at Mohawk Place at 8pm and tickets are $7.

Handsome Jack Releases Music Video For “Right On”

Following the release of their new single “Echoes,” Buffalo retro rockers, Handsome Jack, have continued to tease their forthcoming record, Do What Comes Naturally, with a new music video for the song “Right On.” The Go Pro (?) filmed clip for the soulful, slow burner finds the band performing the single while making some late night stops around the city. If you like what you hear, make sure to join Handsome Jack at Mohawk Place on October 24th to celebrate the release of Do What Comes Naturally, or if you are impatient like me, head down to Nietzsche’s this Saturday to catch the boys open for Buffalo Killers. New songs will sure to be tackled. Watch the video for “Right On” below.

Handsome Jack Premieres First Single from Do What Comes Naturally

A slow week here in Buffalo finally got better today as some new music came to our attention. Long time Buffalo blues rockers, Handsome Jack, have released the first single off of their forthcoming album, Do What Comes Naturally. Titled “Echoes,” the track is a heavy, road house slow burner, touching on influences from the Rolling Stones to the Black Keys, and is best served in a dark bar with a shot of whiskey or two. Do What Comes Naturally is currently available for pre-sale on iTunes and will be officially released on October 7th via Alive Naturalsound Records. In the mean time, listen to “Echoes” below.