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Bill & Jamie’s House

October 7, 2014

The words Bill & Jamie’s House may give you thoughts of stuffy, pompous dinners and cocktail parties, events where you find yourself surrounded by professors and PhD students who manage to speak a lot of words without saying anything. Needless to say, Bill & Jamie’s House never sounds like too much fun, but oh contrary my pessimistic butterfly, the band has more meaning and substance than your graduate school mind can fathom. The new acoustic duo has yet to play a proper show or release any recorded material, and yet they still seem to be creating a buzz for themselves already. What would you expect from Mohawk Place legend Bill Nehill and former Mallwalkers and Sexist member, Jamie Rowitsch? “Although we are very new, it has already exceeded my expectations tenfold,” Nehill says. “Also, I love the fact that we rehearse at Jamie’s kitchen table.” If you have followed the[...]

She Keeps Bees – Eight Houses

October 1, 2014

She Keeps Bees is a homemade band. Essentially an alias for minivan loving front woman Jessica Larrabee, the act has been self-releasing EP’s and LP’s alike on their own since 2008. Eight Houses, the third LP release from the Brooklynite ex-pats, marks only the second LP released on a proper label. In the past, Bees have glided between folk and blues garnering comparisons to Patti Smith and Cat Power. As flattering as that may be, it is a bit of a lackadaisical nod. A more accurate comparison would be The Heartless Bastards and even Bad Company. What works on this record is its simplicity, with the main focus being Larrabee’s booming and penetrating vocals. Her gentle, supple guitar riffs, and the drumming of Andy LaPlant take side stage to the golden goose that are Larrabee’s vocal chords. She manages to deliver strong mono harmonies, which is a feat on its[...]

The Architects – Border Wars Episode II

September 30, 2014

The Architects, the four piece who hail from Kanas City, MO, jog back and forth between classic rock and melt-your-faces-off dirty, grimy punk rock on Border Wars Episode II, the latest installment of their elaborate concept album endeavor which comes equipped with a coinciding comic book with art by Mallory Dorn. Its predecessor, Episode I, was more straight forward rock n roll with a few grimy tracks thrown in there. Episode II, though, is the Architects album that you may think twice about taking home to your parents. With songs like the sappy “Killer Crush,” “In the Snow,” and “Criminal,” Episode II really lets the Architects talent shine through, stating “hey, we can write super catchy pop rock songs with depth and substance, but why do that all the time?” The central force behind this record is the vocals of Brandon Phillips, driving song after song up the city on the hill. This album[...]

Cal Dripken

September 30, 2014

The issue with a lot of doom, hardcore, and even punk is that the genres so conforming and formative, that it becomes drone-esque, taking you on a flight plan without showing you any new views of Lake Tahoe. Once you have been to LA, you have been to LA, but how about we go to Narnia instead? That is exactly where the Buffalo sludgy, metal quintet, Cal Dripken, plan on taking you. Then again, what else would you expect from a band that features current members of Fleshy Mounds, Blobs, Aircraft, and Scajaquada Creeps? “You can have a heavy riff and still have a melody that doesn’t have to be a boneheaded melody,” guitarist James Warren explains. “It can have something to it, besides just being loud and heavy. We try to combine both of those things a lot.” What really makes Cal Dripken stand out among the multitude of[...]

Aaron & the Burrs Drop New Single, “Release the Bats”

September 16, 2014

It appears that the September Polar Vortex is upon us, slowly surrounding us like Union Soldiers at Wounded Knee, minus an aristocratic narcissist with a wicked mustache. As the weather gets colder and greyer, it’s hard not to focus on the inevitable coming winter. However, it’s not all bad. Maybe the news of new music from the instrumental surfer post-punk outfit, Aaron & the Burrs, will raise your spirits or at least your body temperature. The trio is comprised of Nicholas Reynolds (guitar), Eric Bifaro (bass), and Carson Cain (drums) and have been playing together for close to two years in various West Side basements “Release the Bats” takes you to a place where terms like Polar Vortex only exist in dystopian novels penned by Eastern European writers with names you always mispronounce. When I listen to Aaron & the Burrs, I imagine I am on a tropical beach sipping finely aged rum[...]

Tonight: Francie Moon

September 9, 2014

You’re an idiot! Well, maybe not. Well you are if you don’t make it to the Hoyt House tonight. What’s the Hoyt House? Oh I don’t know, just one of the best destinations for house shows in the Queen City. The West Side is doing it right between Black Dots Record Boutique, the Glitterbox and the Hoyt House, so why should you ever leave? Tonight, the Hoyt will not disappoint as the main attraction, Francie Moon, will be bringing her New Jersey distorted blues along with her. Her raspy, sultry voice will seduce you and convince you to do things, things that you may not want to remember tomorrow. Also on the bill will be Mink, the surfer punk rock outfit from former members of Inquiring Mind and Tony Rocky Horror. Rounding out the bill will be Crusasis from Brooklyn and one of Buffalo’s favorites, John Toohill, performing a solo[...]

Tonight: Punk N’ Tots

August 28, 2014

What’s new pussy cat? Not much, just Punk N’ Tots at Broadway Joe’s. Well it’s not really new, however, what is new is the Alpha Hopper/Hot Tip tour which kicks off tonight, as if you needed another reason go see some west side punk and munch on tater tots. The mini four day jaunt will take Alpha Hopper and Hot Tip to Brooklyn, Providence, and Ithaca, but not before kicking things off tonight in Buffalo. Also on the bill tonight will be BLOBS, which will be bringing the out-there shit for all you freakazoids out there. What else would you expect from a band who is compiled of members from Bad People and Fleshy Mounds? Additionally there will be the new outfit, Space is Haunted, as well as False Paul’s final show. Doors at 9pm, 18+, so make sure you bring your ID, even if you do look like a drunken[...]

HUNS

August 20, 2014

Editor’s Note: Fresh Meat will be a periodical, in-depth look at some of the area’s freshest bands. For the first installment of the series, we focus on the instrumental trio, HUNS. For HUNS, it’s all about the improv, and no, I’m not talking about the comedy club. Improvisational music is usually something that you correlate to jazz, even though there have been a few bands who have thrived on it, such as Fugazi, Mogwai, Kyuss, and Clutch. “We record everything we do right here,” drummer John Neiss says, pointing to a shelf of stacked recording equipment. The shelf is nestled into the corner of Huns’ tiny rehearsal space in downtown Buffalo. “We go back and listen to it,” adds guitarist Brandon Schmidt. According to Schmidt, the biggest obstacle is keeping Neiss engaged. “He is very punctual when it comes to time.” “I can’t stand 4/4,” Neiss chiming in. An interjecting Schmidt[...]

Tonight: Lydia Loveless

August 15, 2014

The name Lydia Loveless may not ring a bell, even though it should. The alt-country goddess hailing from Columbus, Ohio has been churning out recordings like it’s her job since she was fifteen. Loveless (who is no relation to Nashville great Patty Loveless) was born with the music business pumping through her veins. Herfather owned and operated a country music venue in her hometown, which Loveless remembers fondly. “There were always musicians around from a very early age for me, and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s ingrained,” she says. Loveless has also built a reputation for herself, due to the subject manner of her material Song subjects have ranged from a stalker who resembles Steve Earle to one about Jeffrey Dahmer. “Sometimes I try to re-examine certain situations I’ve experienced or read about, not necessarily for a song, but just to think about it from a[...]

Johnny Nobody

August 12, 2014

By all accounts, Johnny Nobody is a forgotten band. The trio of Lockport natives—Andrew Vaeth (guitar/vocals), Colin Roberts (bass) and Jay White (drums)—haven’t released an album or been out on tour in over three years. According to the now-thirty-something Vaeth, he may be old to even be in a band. “I’m getting too old for this shit,” he coyly said with his signature crooked smile, eyes hiding behind his Ray Ban sunglasses. “Oh, what are you doing tonight?” he said, mimicking what may have been an actual conversation. “Oh, my band is playing at this shitty bar, and you should definitely not come.” Roberts smiled and shook his head from the backseat of the moving van. Vaeth jumps onto the 190 North to make the thirty minute trek to Lockport, New York, where Nobody now rehearses. “You ever been to Lockport?” he asked. I shake my head no. “That’s probably a good thing,” he said with another smile.[...]

Tonight: Rough Francis

August 7, 2014

Burlington, Vermont isn’t a place that makes you think of punk rock. Visions of Canadian borders, beautiful open skies, hiking, babbling brooks that just won’t shut up, and green pastures, maybe. But punk rock? No. Never. However, if your father and uncles made up the legendary proto-punk band, Death, you’d probably start a punk band in a Florida retirement community if you really had to. Burlington’s the Hackney brothers, who together make up more than half of Rough Francis, weren’t even aware of their father and uncles’ exploits when they first formed. After a few tribute shows, Rough Francis began writing their own music, and the rest was history. As the saying goes, “before there was punk, there was a band called Death. And before we knew of the band called Death, there was Rough Francis.” Tonight, Rough Francis descends on Buffalo, taking the stage at Nietzsche’s with Bloody Hollies,[...]

Tonight: Vaggie Fest – Day 1

August 7, 2014

So in case you have been living underneath a rock, or in a sinkhole, you probably already know that there is a ‘lady band’ fest going on this weekend, under the very fitting title of Vaggie Fest. Instead of a single day festival, which for the past three years has been happening at the Polish Library on the East Side of Buffalo, year five of Vaggie Fest will be expanded to three days. Day one starts this evening at Broadway Joe’s as part of their Punk N Tots series, returning to Joe’s again tomorrow night, followed by the festival concluding at Ocean Garden Oriental Foods on Saturday afternoon over on Niagara Street. Tonight at Broadway Joe’s, three day passes will be available for $20 (or $7 if you can only make tonight), which will get you a cool handmade ticket and a shiny bracelet if you so choose to indulge[...]

Buffalo Vaggie Fest

July 28, 2014

I’m sure you have seen the flyer. I’ve seen it everywhere, from Black Dots Record Boutique to the Elmwood Market, from Spot Coffee to Amy’s Place. The flyer depicts any man’s worst fear, especially if they’ve seen the campy B-­horror film Teeth. Needless to say, it’s definitely eye-catching. The flyer that I am speaking of is for the Buffalo Vaggie Fest, which will be celebrating its fifth year next weekend. The event is the brainchild of Britt Wagner, and even though it is a “lady band” fest, Wagner has a hard time identifying herself as a feminist. Well, maybe she is a feminist by its technical definition, but she prefers the term “equalist.” “I don’t like to say that I am a feminist, but I’m an equalist. Equal shit for everyone,” she says as she takes a sip from her bottle of Magic Hat. “I’ve been places where people have been[...]

Mr. Boneless Releases Debut LP, Cutting Teeth

July 23, 2014

The great Howlin’ Wolf once sang the words, “…if you want me baby, you got take your time, because I’m built for comfort, not for speed.” Now, truer words couldn’t have been graveled out into raspy excellence, however, why do we have to choose? Can’t we be fast and comfortable? Why yes, yes we can, and the proof is in the puddin’ pop. The figurative pudding pop I am referring to is the first full length release by Queen City juke joint marvels, Mr. Boneless. Cutting Teeth, the debut from the Buffalo steam folk quartet, is the follow up to their 2012 EP, Shame, all hopped up on dirty coke and Tullamore Dew. The ten tracks take you for a ride on their zooped up 1932 Ford as it hugs the midnight curves of a bootlegging road. Mr. Boneless doesn’t only take us for a joyride. They also manage to transport us to[...]

Tonight: Mike Dillon Band

July 9, 2014

Iconoclast percussionists are, by definition, unhinged creatures, and Mike Dillon is no exception. Praised as a “punk provocateur,” a “jazz vibraphone visionary,” and a “percussion visionary,” this New Orleans-based multi-percussionist will make a stop Nietzsche’s this evening in support of his latest release, Band of Outsiders. Mike Dillon and his merry mix of outsiders (The Mike Dillon Band) is comprised of Patrick McDevitt (bass), Adam Gertner (drums), and Carly Meyers (trombone), who Dillon has described as “a high priestess of trombone who channels the energy of Iggy Pop through the chops of JJ Johnson in second line parade.” Doors are at 8pm, $12 will get you in. Photo Credit: Zack Smith