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Tonight: Twin Speak

August 17, 2018 Mike Powell

Groovy with a fresh coat of grime thrown on top comes close to approximating Utica act, Twin Speak, who will be stopping by the Mohawk Place tonight. Twin Speak’s singular blend of psych rock, stoner, and post-rock makes an almost transcendental experience. Their latest record, SOULSS puts you through a kaleidoscope of twists, turns, riffs, and beats. Think Explosions in the Sky with exceptionally more teeth, that are sharper and dripping with something’s blood. Joining them are psych-rock garage rockers, Bold Folly and lyrically driven indie group, Leyda. This won’t be a show you will want to miss. Doors are at 8pm, music at 9pm. $6 for the door.

Tonight: Accidental Fest

August 8, 2018 Mike Powell

The day is finally here. It’s a punk Christmas in Buffalo tonight as the Accidental Fest goes down at The Mickiewicz Polish Library, the same spot where Torn Space Theatre puts on their performances. The venue is the perfect spot to house the absolute chaos that erupts when 10 different bands, 6 out of town touring bands and 4 local acts, all gather together under one roof. Coming from St. Louis are weirdo pop stars BB Eye; Janitor Scum from Calgary, Alberta; Big Ups and Meneka from NYC; Pandemix from Boston, and Spell Runner out of Albany. Local powerhouses Radiation Risks will be representing Buffalo alongside Tines, and Becca Ryskalczyk. This won’t be a show you will want to miss. Doors are at 5:30pm and it’s $10 at the door.

Tonight: Jeff Rosenstock

July 30, 2018 Mike Powell

Do you like punk? Do you like throwing your body into any and everything? Then you won’t want to miss Jeff Rosenstock as he stops by Buffalo’s Mohawk Place. Some may know Rosenstock as the lead songwriter for Bomb the Music Industry!. He is currently on tour with a collection of blazing tracks. Of note is his latest release, Post-,a driving power-pop anthem rock journey into the mind of one of our great songwriters and performers. Sharing the night with Jeff will be Sean Bonnette from AJJ and Worries from Brooklyn. This is going to be a packed show. Doors at 7pm and it’s sold out.

Saturn V – s/t

May 21, 2018 Mike Powell

Buffalo three-piece, Saturn V have been making all the right moves following their EP, two songs, released last November. Since then the band has been blowing away crowds as they make a name for themselves in the local punk circuit. Saturn V dropped their first self-titled LP earlier this month that’s full of brash energy and a killer tempo from start to finish. The record opens up with the song, “weight,” which begins deceptively tame before Saturn V presses on the gas midway through and launches into a breakneck punk flourish. There’s a small moment right before the band really speeds things up. It isn’t a revolutionary musical breakthrough and only involves a quick 4 count on the sticks, but it just sets the tone for “weight” and Saturn V’s self-titled as a whole. The record is stripped of any unnecessary chaff and instead, gets right down to it. Over the course of[...]

Tonight: Teenanger

May 5, 2018 Mike Powell

Tonight Mohawk Place is hosting a night of punk throwdowns. Stopping in from Toronto are punk heavyweights Teenanger. Teenanger are a four-piece whose music ranges from Toronto hardcore punk to a more plaintive and toned down post-punk. Their last LP, Teenager echoes the post-punk vibes of Joy Division while still staying true to the stripped down and energetic chaos of Teenanger’s previous outings. They’re fun, there are synths, and you don’t want to miss them. Joining Teenanger tonight will be Hot Tip, who always bring it when they’re on stage. Hot Tip have a new demo tape out that’s a small sneak peek at what they’ve got coming for their 2nd LP. Also performing will be Saturn V, who are past members of Mapmaker, Cross Stitch, and Basement Rat. Show at 8pm and bring $5 for the door.

Tonight: Ricky Hamilton

January 17, 2018 Mike Powell

Deep Space 8 are the hosts for tonight’s rager when Cleveland’s own Ricky Hamilton, of Ricky Hell & The Voidboys stops by our fair city. Playing a cut up of garage punk and synth with a tad of pop thrown in for good measure. Hamilton weaves together a tidal wave of melodies and dissonance to create what is both complimentary and discordant. Which is to say, it’s fun. Sharing tonight’s bill are Dildon’t, Tap Water, Vapor Trash, and The Pushers. It’s Deep Space 8 so bring along $5 for the door and a little more for fun. Life By The Thorns by Ricky Hamilton

The Midnight Vein – s/t

January 15, 2018 Mike Powell

The Midnight Vein, the first solo record from Buffalo punk rocker, John Toohill recently was self released. You may be familiar with Toohill from one of his many bands like, JOHNS, Radiation Risks, Night Slaves, or Alpha Hopper. The Midnight Vein is a slight departure from his other works, focusing more on the acoustic side of things. The album opener, “When Palm Readers Lie to Fools” is a an eerie start down the winding path that makes up this first solo outing work. The Midnight Vein has a bit of something for everyone. The opener rolls in, like a morning fog with a strong allusion towards 70s pysch folk with its modulated vocals. The Midnight Vein flows on effortlessly into the second track, “The Awaited”. It’s the kind of acoustic track that only Toohill could put out. The first moments are a slicing electric guitar riff that sets up the skeleton of[...]

Tonight: War War War

December 22, 2017 Mike Powell

Electric Avenue is the spot to be tonight as War War War takes the stage. On tour from Flint, Michigan, War War War plays with a delicate loudness. Their sweeping melodies and touch of Americana make them the perfect soundtrack to a cold Friday night. Also playing on the bill are late 90s emo raconteurs, Honey COMA, Velvet Bethany, and indie rockers, Passed Out. Music at 8pm. $5 for the door. I Saw An Angel, I Buried Its Body by War War War

Tonight: Sonny Baker

December 15, 2017 Mike Powell

Mohawk Place is host for tonight’s jam fest where Sonny Baker will be playing another of their exciting live shows in anticipation of their new EP, Steady Hands Dead Tired. From the single,”Reluctant Thief” the EP is looking to be a solid release to close out 2017. It’s going to be a packed night of jams, as sharing the stage will be hip-hop/jazz outfit, RADARADA who are going to keep everyone warm everyone up with their funk grooves. Also on the bill are indie rockers, Passed Out and Hundred Plus Club, who are just coming off their recent release, Everybody’s Friend. Show at 8pm. $10 for the door and that gets you a copy of Sonny Baker’s EP. steady hands, dead tired by Sonny Baker

Tonight: Shagg

December 1, 2017 Mike Powell

Deep Space 8 will be playing host tonight to touring powerhouses Shagg. The Cleveland, OH punk outfit play with a ferocious energy, with a healthy amount guitar fuzz thrown in for good measure. Playing on tonight’s bill are fellow punks, Alpha Hopper, Nicky Reynolds and His Pushers, and Tap Water. This venue is quickly shooting up the list as the place to find your punk fix, and for a Friday night, you can’t do better. Doors at 7:30pm. Bring along $5 for the door and a bit more for fun and records. Shagg by Shagg

Malarchuk – s/t

November 17, 2017 Mike Powell

Emerging from a dark cavern somewhere beneath the earth, one of the top groups in Buffalo’s metal scene, Malarchuk have unleashed their new self titled EP. It’s a winding journey that carries you through heavy riffs, some 70s prog rock goodness, and doom rock passages that are held together strong by engaging melodic progressions. Making up Malarchuk are guitarist, Tim Domes, Patrick Johnson on bass and vocals, and drummer, Adam Hinckley. An important thing to note is that although this is coming out as Malarchuk’s EP, as a kind of throwback to prog rock of years gone by, this album is the length of some band’s LPs. Coming in at over 35 minutes of rock, but with only four tracks on the record, prog fans will know what that means. The track, “Night Tear’r (Longjammer)” comes in at over 15 minutes for instance. In that span of time, Malarchuk really show off[...]

Tonight: Slowdive

November 9, 2017 Mike Powell

Shoegaze magnates, Slowdive will be making a stop at the Town Ballroom tonight in support of their brand new record, Slowdive. Released in May, this is the English pioneers’ first full length release after their last LP from 1995, Pygmalion. The self titled record is everything a Slowdive fan could want after a reunion. Delivering on what made the band originally so captivating way back on their first LP, Just For A Day, while also stepping forward into a sound that’s very much an evolution. After the breakup in ’95, the Slowdive stopped producing music entirely, with some members going on to create music together. It wasn’t until 2014 that Slowdive reformed, releasing a new single, and re-imagining shoegazing. Slowdive’s impact on pop music, especially shoegaze, can’t be understated. Their sound, along with others, was the driving force behind the genre’s growth in the 80-90s. If the rough, textured production and airy,[...]

Huns – Vom Fruhling

November 3, 2017 Mike Powell

The Buffalo trio Huns give you what you need and none of the filler with their eclectic brand of instrumental rock/metal. Finding your fix for instrumental music that strikes a balance between interesting and listenable can be a challenge. Sometimes, that sonic pendulum can swing. A song may simply be a repetition of the same riff or beat or it’ll be an instrumental that’s so far out there, it turns into being different for difference sake. Which is why what Huns are able to do on their album, Vom Fruhling is such a riveting journey. Made up of members, Brandon Schmitt on guitar, Jake Whitefield on bass, and Frank DiMaria on drums, Huns make a huge, interesting sound with a few moving parts. It’s tough to know exactly what their pedal boards might look like, but chances are it’s varied enough to attain the breadth of sounds they’re able to[...]

Dirt War – Loss

October 26, 2017 Mike Powell

Cascading down from some place on high comes falling to earth, hardcore doom rockers Dirt War with their newly released EP, Loss. Formed from the missing and severed limbs of various Buffalo groups, it’s possible you haven’t heard Dirt War yet. Their last recording was a Demo from 2015. But after giving Loss a listen, it won’t be easy to forget them. In the realm of doom, stoner, metal/rock, things can get both stale and confusing. With multiple different classifications and genres floating around, and a tendency for some bands to simply sit back and hash out a groove for 20 minutes, the realm has its fair share of bands that, well, tend to sound the same. Either by accident or design. But, on Loss, Dirt War go left instead of right. The band uses a dual bass setup and forgets about guitars all together. This isn’t a gimmick, it’s a[...]

Passed Out Release New Single “Bukouski & Brautigan”

October 11, 2017 Mike Powell

Local darlings, Passed Out are gearing up to shake things up with their new single, “Bukouski & Brautigan”. The new single comes off their upcoming EP, The Aforementioned and How it Pertains to Absolutely Nothing. The song is a strong showing for the band. Their sound continues to solidify form into a cohesive ball of punk rock force. “Bukouski & Brautigan” is full to the brim with wailing guitars over a twitching, fast paced set of drums. Acting as the cohesive glue, the vocals are in your face while staying poignant. Take a listen to the single below, and check out more of Passed Out over on their Bandcamp.