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Passion Pit at The Rapids Theatre (5/20/19)

May 23, 2019

Michael Angelakos brought Passion Pit, his beloved indietronica passion project, back to Western New York to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the band’s acclaimed debut, Manners, with a stunningly euphoric show at The Rapids Theatre on May 20th. An exuberant collection of magnificent pop hooks and gossamer synthesizers, Manners unflinchingly chronicled Angelakos’ struggles with mental health, while earnestly pursuing the unabashed joy of human connection. Released the same year indie rock began its breakthrough into the mainstream, Manners still holds up as a gorgeous pop record with a very real human heart underneath the synthetic sheen. For the adoring fans in the crowd, watching Angelakos and his bandmates rekindle this magic onstage was a moment of pure joy and emotional catharsis, with every lyric recited in unison and every grand gesture met with applause. The giant halls of The Rapids Theatre weren’t big enough to contain the love and excitement[...]

Ryan Luce at The Tabernacle (5/4/19)

May 7, 2019

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Ryan Luce returned home to Buffalo to commemorate the release of his newest EP, California Gold, at the resplendent altar of The Tabernacle at Sweet_ness 7 Cafe on May 4th, with fellow Brooklynite and California native DM Salsberg as his supporting act. Drawing upon the rich musical tradition of folk, Americana, country, and Laurel Canyon rock, California Gold showcases Luce’s apt lyricism and plaintive voice, ruminating on love, loss, and the hopes and dreams of the small town everyman. With lush accompaniment by Omer Ashano on violin, Matthew Sapp on electic bass, Salsberg on keys and vocals, and Buffalo’s own musical polymath Harry Graser on drums, Luce enchanted the audience with his sweet and shimmering songs, as golden as a California sunset on the Santa Monica Pier. DM Salsberg Ryan Luce

Younger Then at Mr. Goodbar (4/27/19)

April 30, 2019

Buffalo’s Younger Then ended a five-year hot streak with their final show at Mr. Goodbar on Friday, April 27th. Channeling their love of outsized alternative rock––U2, Arkells, Cage The Elephant, Kings of Leon, The Strokes, among others––the band combined richly-textured riffs with propulsive grooves, soaring vocals, and hooks as massive as the Grand Canyon. Playing to a packed house, the band pulled no punches, tearing through their greatest hits and fan favorites from their full-length album, “Bad Life” (Standby Records), and their self-titled debut EP. Though it was certainly bittersweet to commemorate the end of a talented group, the members of Younger Then––singer Zack Dupuis, guitarists Michael Wirth and Austin Dorr, drummer Jeremy Shields, and bassist Matt Dudek––are already planning their next moves, with a series of new projects in the works. Supporting acts included rust-belt rockers The Eaves and Rochester’s power-pop purveyors The Demos. The Eaves The Demos Younger Then

Lesionread at Mohawk Place (3/2/19)

March 5, 2019

Audio-visual manipulator Shawn E. Lewis resurrected his Lesionread project for a night of mind-warping mayhem at Mohawk Place, having shifted his artistic focus to his on-going production/percussion duties for Space Cubs. Kicking off his set with “2019,” a frantic, stream-of-consciousness spoken word released as a video back in January, Lewis swan-dove deep into his psyche while simultaneously excoriating the corrupt institutions of the powers that be. Featuring a crazy light show, video projections, crowd participation, dancing red people, and a cameo appearance by Lesionread alumnus Reggie Clark on bass, Lewis didn’t blur the lines between performance art and live music; rather, he erased those distinctions entirely, creating a truly outrageous, interactive experience that has to be seen to be believed. Lesionread was supported that evening by Dogs in Stereo (lo-fi rock and roll), The Gennies (“Blues for recovering punks”), Reggie Clark’s VR Sunset (psychedelic yacht rock), and VHS Era (dreamy synth-pop). VHS Era[...]

M.A.G.S. at Nietzsche’s (12/22/18)

December 27, 2018

Elliott Douglas, the multi-talented musical force behind M.A.G.S. came home for the holidays for a headlining slot at Buffalo’s Nietzsche’s on December 22nd. Having recently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his artistic muse, this rare opportunity for M.A.G.S. to play the Queen City was met with a rapturous response, as friends, peers, and fans came out of the woodwork in support of Douglas. A gifted singer-songwriter and a serious multi-instrumentalist, Douglas was joined by his brother Christian on bass and Deadwolf’s Tyler Mendola on drums for a raucous evening of impactful indie-punk classics, including a selection of brand-new songs. Supporting acts that evening included Feverbox, playing in support of their new Political Theater EP, Rochester’s The Demos, keeping the spirit of The Strokes alive and well, and powder-keg punks SMUG, setting the stage for a night of playful mayhem. SMUG The Demos Feverbox M.A.G.S.

Johnny Marr at Town Ballroom (10/20/18)

October 23, 2018

Legendary Smiths guitarist and songwriter Johnny Marr made a much-anticipated appearance in Buffalo with a sold-out show at Town Ballroom on October 20, 2018. A dynamic and lively performer, the Britpop icon treated the rapturous crowd with a indelible setlist of masterful jangle-pop, swaggering indie-rock, and choice covers of classic Smiths cuts (“Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” among others). One of the most inventive and influential guitarists today, Johnny Marr and his band demonstrated the enduring power and emotional resonance of rock and roll. Marr was supported by Vancouver, British Columbia’s Belle Game, whose ethereal crush-pop anthems set the stage for a night of euphoric bliss. Belle Game Johnny Marr

Bully at Mohawk Place (9/21/18)

September 25, 2018

Nashville’s Bully brought down the house at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place on September 21st, touring in support of their ferocious sophomore LP, Losing (Sub Pop). Bully reignited the raw intensity of 90s grunge and indie-alternative with confessional, intimate lyrics indebted to classic emo, with Alicia Bognanno’s sandpaper rasp spitting caustic kiss-offs to anyone with the gall to stand in her way. Along for the ride that evening were fellow Nashvillains JEFF the Brotherhood, whose latest record, Magick Sounds (Dine Alone), deepens and expands upon the band’s downtuned garage-rock sound with elements of drone, psychedelic, and even krautrock. Originally a two-piece, brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall were joined onstage by an expanded lineup featuring members of Daddy Issues, The Dead Weather, and Raconteurs, whose masterful playing created an atmosphere of hypnotic, surreal intensity. Opening the show that night were Buffalo’s own Made Violent, proving that the Queen City is no slouch when it comes to raucous rock[...]

Japanese Breakfast at The Bug Jar (7/16/18)

July 19, 2018

Japanese Breakfast returned to Rochester, NY for a sold-out show at The Bug Jar on July 16th in the midst of their 2018 USA tour. Packing the tiny club to its full capacity, Michelle Zauner and her bandmates played an electrifying set of emotionally-charged, shimmering indie-pop, culling key tracks from 2016’s Psychopomp (Yellow K Records) and last year’s Soft Sounds from Another Planet (Dead Oceans). Radiating pure joy, Zauner’s sprightly voice and animated stage presence elevated her songs to higher plane of expression. Japanese Breakfast were supported that night by Philadelphia’s Mothers and Rochester’s own Calicoco. Check out the photos below. Calicoco Mothers Japanese Breakfast

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Tonight: Chevron Bloom

June 9, 2017

Chevron Bloom are a three piece band that’s been blazing through the scene recently. Tonight they are bringing their wide open sound to Milkie’s on Elmwood. Their sound puts together the more ethereal elements of psych and shoegaze with a harder alt/indie rock edge. Playing alongside Chevron Bloom on this stacked bill are the emotive slowcore band, Honey COMA, who always bring it with their strong songwriting and lastly a debut from Little Summer, a new act featuring members of the Mallwalkers, Unwelcome Guests, and Slow Mutants. Doors are at 8pm, $5 at the door. EP by Chevron Bloom

Tonight: Taking Meds

May 13, 2017

Sewing Souls is set to be a real rager with a stacked bill this evening. Coming out from Rochester will be math-rock/pop-punk outfit, Taking Meds. The band released their full-length debut record, My Life as a Bro recently and are an intoxicating cocktail mixture of math-rock elements with just a bit of punk/pop sound to keep things groovy. Filling out the night’s roster are Alleys, a punk/emo group that showcase solid guitar compositions and a high octane energy, Passed Out, who just released their newest single, “the inverse is true,” and Slow Cooker, who always bring it with fast, solid tunes that mash up surfer rock that sounds like it’s been dragged through the mud and back. The night’s tunes start at 8pm. Cover is $3. My Life as a Bro by Taking Meds

Magnaball at Watkins Glen International (8/21/15 – 8/23/15)

August 31, 2015

This past weekend 30,000+ hippies, every day folks, yuppies, bros, spunions, and festival junkies alike descended upon Watkins Glen International, a road course in Watkins Glen NY, for Phish’s 10th festival “Magnaball.” To call the weekend a success would suggest that everything went according to plan, and it certainly did; the weather was beautiful, everyone that I interacted with seemed to be having the time of their life, and most importantly, the band played seven nearly flawless sets, busting out songs from their catalog that no one would have expected, and even putting on an improvisational psychedelic “secret” set staged as a drive in movie on Saturday night. Unlike most festivals, the 10 Phish fests have only featured one band, that being Phish, and have had no other performances with the exception of an orchestra at a few. Watkins Glen International has been the site of only three festivals since[...]

Tonight: Against Me!

June 24, 2015

Gainesville powerhouse punk quartet, Against Me!, will be back at the Town Ballroom tonight for another highly anticipated show. The band will be performing hits as well as selections from its most recent album Transgender Dysphoria Blues. Laura Jane Grace has had one of the most iconic voices in punk rock for over a decade and a half, and the band backing her, despite a few changes over that time, has remained as strong as ever. If you haven’t dabbled in Against Me!, tonight would be a great way to get a first taste. The show starts at 7 pm and Against Me! will be joined by Frank Iero and the Cellebration.  Tickets are $23 at the door and with only two acts, the night shouldn’t go too late for any punk rock parents out there.  Expect tonight to be a good one.