Latest Posts

Must See Shows (1/15/24-1/21/24)

January 14, 2025

Friday, January 17th @ 8pm Captain Tom & the Hooligans @ Molly Maguires   Buffalo’s #1 polka band under sixty years old will play a fun one at one of South Buffalo’s finest dive bars on Friday. If you aren’t familiar, Captain Tom & the Hooligans exploded onto the scene post-Covid, sharing the stage with both punk rock bands and old time Polish journeymen, gaining fans along the way with their re-imaginative spin on polka classics. They’ve hit the local market pretty heavily over the past couple of years and you may have encountered the band inadvertently on their circuit of community festivals, breweries and one-offs. If you’ve ever heard a band playing polka with some stank on it, it was likely Captain Tom & the Hooligans. No cover, just buy 5 White Claws.     (Photo by shervinfoto) Saturday, January 18th @ 7pm Rubblebucket @ Electric City   Rubblebucket[...]

Hundred Plus Club – “Get Away From Me Jack”

November 25, 2024

The Hundred Plus Boys are at it again. Fresh off a sweet streaming success in their previous single “Gobsmacked,” Buffalo’s post-punk outfit drops their follow-up “Get Away from Me Jack.” HPC’s has featured bright guitars and earworm hooks taking influence from the great acts of 2000s indie rock, but lately things have gotten darker. “Gobsmacked” started down a gothy-er path that’s continued with the rollout of “Get Away from Me Jack.”   On this single, frontman Zain Shirazi’s baritone vocals hide within a heavy bottom half featuring some pounding bass guitar and a drum section that flips between understated live playing and New Order in-your-face “Blue Monday”-styled drum machine, continuing the band’s experimentation with percussive elements. Shirazi’s brooding vocals menacing backing voices compound the feeling of being under a sinister spell, as Zain tries to resist:   “You want people to come to your show … / But I don’t[...]

Hundred Plus Club – “4/19 (Demo)”

September 9, 2024

Hundred Plus Club recently released a freshened version of their first song ever (!), affectionately titled “4/19 (Demo).” Ostensibly a working title or the file’s original name, the group used a ten-year-old idea of the first music they ever wrote that could be considered a fully fleshed-out tune. The trio kept the original recording of the drum track, a tight, jazzy snare-forward beat from drummer Burak Spoth, while adding mysterious lyrics and spindly guitar from singer/guitarist Zain Shirazi. There’s something special about demos recorded in a “tin can basement,” and it’s a fun little development that HPC had the wherewithal to polish this into a proper release. We’ve embedded a Spotify player below for convenience, but be sure to check out all the different ways to support HPC via this helpful Linktree link.

Hundred Plus Club – “Gobsmacked”

April 10, 2024

Hundred Plus Club combines intense, often dark, emotions with an upbeat indie rock style that perfectly mixes the negative and positive. It’s an easy-to-get-into sound applicable to life’s many uncertainties and in-betweens. In their earlier discography, the group often drew inspiration from early 2000’s post-punk revival and indie rock groups such as The Strokes, Interpol, or MGMT. Check out our previous posts on the band to learn more. Yet their most recent release, “Gobsmacked,” finds a bit more in common with 80’s alternative and post-punk groups like The Cure or Echo & the Bunnymen. Sticking to the shadows with an edgier sound, Hundred Plus Club evolves their style substantially on “Gobsmacked,” delving deep into a modern and groovy goth rock sound. An 80’s drum machine loop acts as the rhythmic foundation, while lead singer Zain Shirazi’s open-ended lyrics jump off the page: “I see those menacing eyes / I wanna[...]

Rain Gregorio – “Foggy Stepper”

April 1, 2024

Los Angeles based Rain Gregorio brings us his latest single with “Foggy Stepper,” off of the pleasantly-named Anxiety Blanket Records. An indie rocker’s indie rocker, RG brings an intriguing deeply layered track with a healthy dose of bass and colorful synth shining through. It almost veers into a gothy post-punk feel with the downbeats and somber refrain “You’re better off” (plus the aforementioned layering). This sort of discordant sound is a progression from his last big release, the “Myrtle on Holiday” single, which gave similar vibes. Oddly enough (and this is not a plug, but sort of is) this kind of reminded me of one of my favorite local bands, Hundred Plus Club, and the sound they’ve been embracing as of late (check them out too!) Be sure to check out “Foggy Stepper” on Spotify, Apple Music, or the video down below pulled from YouTube. tl;dr = Indie rock with a[...]

Hundred Plus Club – Doom and Bloom

June 12, 2023

Buffalo-based band Hundred Plus Club (HPC) stays on par with their poppy, story-driven music in their latest three-song EP, Doom and Bloom. The band teamed up with Admirable Traits Records yet again to record this project which joins the ranks alongside a number of excellent singles, EPs like 2016’s For You and 2017’s Everybody’s Friend, and a split with their fellow Buffalonians in Cooler.  The opening track and lead single “Garden Cruise” dives into the problems of love (in whatever form it may take) – within the first few lines lead singer Zain Shirazi exclaims, “Love makes, Love makes us cry.” He sings with such a cold and calculated pain that if you close your eyes and imagine yourself alone at night, you’d feel like you can run through a brick wall head on. Essentially, that is the picture that the band tends to draw for their fans; being able[...]

Hundred Plus Club Release Music Video for “Extraterrestrial Dread”

January 25, 2022

Buffalo indie-alternative act Hundred Plus Club have teamed up with local label Admirable Traits Records again for a new(ish) music video/single. Beyond their catchy indie rock approach, the trio exude charisma and eloquence on camera quite effortlessly. In their latest music video for single, “Extraterrestrial Dread,” Hundred Plus Club take us on a journey with a galactic blue friend who presumably represents dread. Ironically enough, this goofy blue being is the only thing that brings a smile to the band’s faces throughout the entirety of the video. The overall tone of the song provides a calming essence that could be enjoyed in just about any mood, full of chiming guitars, subtle keys, and metronome rhythms. Stream: “Extraterrestrial Dread” here. You can also watch their music video below.

Tonight: Boy Jr.

February 1, 2020

Rochester based artful garage-pop act Boy Jr. headlines a deeply interesting indie bill tonight at Nietzsche’s. The brainchild of songwriter Erica Allen-Lubman treads the boundaries between angsty garage rock and full on glam pop. Lubman is also a captivating persona, and will definitely draw you into her performance. She’s really found her sound, which has definitely been refined through the years, and her last few singles “It’s Enough” and “Anyway” are definitely worth a listen. Also on the bill are indie stalwarts Hundred Plus Club. With enveloping textures reminiscent of Interpol or The Last Shadow Puppets, HPC makes instantly infectious and memorable music. Definitely bring your dancing shoes. Rounding out the bill are lo-fi rockers Dogs in Stereo and local sad boys west ferry. This looks to be another promising bill, and will definitely help you shake off the winter blues. 9pm Doors, $7 cover, 21+ unless accompanied by a[...]

Tonight: Hundred Plus Club

November 27, 2019

You know the deal. Wednesday before Thanksgiving = the #1 going-out night of the year. Nietzsche’s is properly prepared with a loaded card of homegrown indie rock talent to float you through to the holidays. Three-piece Cooler takes the stage fresh off of the release of their sharp-tongued, driving new single “Gentleman.” Hundred Plus Club is bringing their ear-worm catalog for some spins that’ll get your head bobbing and your body weaving.  Crisp outfit Urban Planning  and the snarky pop-punkers  SMUG round out a card that’ll leave the stage in flames. Plenty of chances to find your anthem for the night with the songwriting talent that’ll be in the room. We’ll see you there. $5 gets you in the doors after 8pm. What are you thankful for?

Japanincolor Releases Debut EP, ‘Daydreams’

July 23, 2019

Japanincolor is the solo project from Hundred Plus Club bassist Rafi Bloomberg. Daydreams is a simple, four-song EP that finds the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Bloomberg flexing his songwriter muscles via interesting collaborations with other Buffalo-based musicians. Intro track “The Theme” is a piano composition by Zekeriya Spoth. Bloomberg seems to revel in collaborations with other artists, using his own knowledge of music theory and musicianship to bolster their contributions. “The Theme” is short but sweet, a beautiful way to start this EP. Song two is “High Shelf,” which features vocals from Carmen & Lizzy’s Carmen O’Keefe. This might be the stand out track on the EP – O’Keefe’s vocals ride perfectly atop Bloomberg’s instrumentals, fleshed out tastefully with lush harmonies, jangly guitars, and a simple guitar solo. If you’ve ever seen Bloomberg perform live, you know how insanely talented he is… The simplicity of Daydreams points to how reserved he can be, resisting the temptation to fill these songs[...]

Tonight: SMUG

July 19, 2019

Dust off those earplugs. Nietzsche’s will be hosting an alt-rock blowout tonight as pop punk trio SMUG headlines its first show of the season, with support from Canetis and Hundred Plus Club. SMUG left its past life behind with the release of 2018’s Gorgeous, a high-energy album that takes the late ‘00s pop punk we all loved (come on, you know you did) and brings it to the present, blasting listeners with a fresh, memorable blend of bubbly punk rock. If that’s not reason enough to get yourself down to Allentown, this will be Buffalo alt babies Canetis’ first-ever show, fresh off the back of the release of their impressive first single “Warning Call.” Round that out with Hundred Plus Club’s powerful indie rock, and you’ve got yourselves a certifiable banger. Doors for this 21+ show open at 9pm. $5 cover. Gorgeous by SMUGWritten by Grace Trimper

Tonight: VR Sunset

May 24, 2019

Local synth-pop group VR Sunset will be headlining a stacked local bill tonight at Nietzsche’s. VR Sunset is the brainchild of Reggie Clark, known for his past contributions  with Lesionread and Planet Three. In January they released their debut album Artifact which drips with new-wave psychedelia. Standout tracks include “Tame The Beast,” “Clear Views,” and “Tidal Wave.” With plenty of fuzz and de-tuned synths it’s surely a must listen for fans of Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, and Neon Indian. Also on the bill tonight are alt-rockers Nylon Otters, indie stalwarts Hundred Plus Club, shoegaze outfit Chevron Bloom, and bummer punks Talking In My Sleep. With such a diverse lineup, there’s surely something for everyone. $7, Doors at 9pm. Artifact by VR Sunset Photo by Zach Anderson Written by John Smigielski

Tonight: Party’s Over

January 11, 2019

Yace Booking continues their streak of incredible line ups with a stacked bill tonight at Mohawk Place. Talented Buffalo groups Hundred Plus Club, The Burkharts, and Award Show round out the lineup, featuring a special set from lo-fi Brooklyn bedroom-poppers Dogs in Stereo. Queen City Music Lottery-born Party’s Over will be bringing the show home with their fun, post-party rock. Tonight’s doors open at 8pm. Mohawk Place is the place to be – bring $7.

Tonight: Hundred Plus Club

September 13, 2018

Mr. Goodbar is hosting a quality local bill tonight, featuring notably Hundred Plus Club.  The four-piece last released an EP titled Everybody’s Friend . Notably last March, the EP reached #30 for “Most Added Album” on the North American College and Community (NACC) Chart.  Listening to the EP, it’s easy to hear why they made the list with their approachable indie rock leanings reminiscent of Bloc Party, Interpol, and Tokyo Police Club. Since releasing the album, Hundred Plus Club has been playing a number of local and in-state shows with bands like The Rifts, Humble Braggers, and Younger Then. Also on the billt tonight are rock bands The Brownstones  (formerly Nothing Casual) and Venus Vacation (formerly Major Arcana). The show will be held in the upstairs portion of the venue for a 21+ audience.  Doors are at 8pm with a $5 cover. Everybody’s Friend by Hundred Plus ClubWritten by Samantha Schweitzer

Tonight: Algiers

June 20, 2018

Big time indie soul band Algiers rolls through DIY art/performance space Sugar City tonight with support from Velvet Bethany and Hundred Plus Club and the timing could not be better. Known for their righteous and progressive approach to glorious American soul music, the Atlanta by way of UK outfit were excellent when they last played these parts, opening for !!! for their on/off/surprise show at the Mohawk last September, and with America staring into the abyss this sure to be incendiary show might be exactly what you and I need. Local surf punk shredders Velvet Bethany and indie post punkers Hundred Plus Club open the show, which starts at 7pm with $5-$10 suggested donation. Remember, Sugar City is all ages and a drug and alcohol free space, so be cool.