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Must See Shows (12/17/25-12/23/15)

December 18, 2025

Saturday, December 20th @ 7pm buffaBLOG Holiday Show @ Milkies   Since the blog has re-emerged in fall 2024, we have re-worked many of our operations to better fit the music landscape in 2025. One tradition we needed to continue was our annual holiday party, where we feature some of our favorite local/regional bands emerging from the scene and showcase them on one bill. We like to market this as a catch-all for all for some of the best bands in the scene currently and local scene supports to attend and semi-curious home-for-the-holidays Buffalonians to get a sense of what the Western NY indie scene is all about.   The holiday party’s past lineups had always tried to feature one out-of-town regional band, and this year’s performer comes by way of Rochester slacker-rock outfit kitchen. The band emerged into the blogosphere in 2025 with their highly acclaimed album Blue Heeler[...]

Must See Shows (12/3/25-12/9/25)

December 3, 2025

Thursday, December 4th @ 7pm Prairie Pavement * @ Milkies   Elmwood Avenue’s best weirdo bar has night of infectious indie rock and jangle-pop as Buffalo’s own Prairie Pavement * headlines a local bill with some up-and-coming acts. Known for their commanding and energetic live performances, Prairie Pavement features multiple talented songwriters who each take turns on leading their songs, creating a diverse and dynamic sound. If you’re a fan of Surf Curse, Dr. Dog, or Car Seat Headrest, then you’ll dig this one.   Prairie Pavement * will be joined by SUNY Fredonia alt-rock newcomers New Venice and raw indie rock act Power Creep *. Doors are $10.   All-Star Special by Prairie Pavement Saturday, December 6th @ 4pm Triple Hammer Records Showcase @ Mohawk Place   Saturday Night is set to feature a showcase from Buffalo hardcore punk label, Triple Hammer Records, with their holiday expo: Scrooge’s Big[...]

Must See Shows (11/26/25-12/2/25)

November 26, 2025

Friday, November 28th @ 8pm bar italia @ Nietzsche’s   London’s buzzy indie rock band Bar Italia will take the stage in the heart of Allentown on Friday evening. Known for their lo-fi sound that blends post-punk and shoegaze, the trio has been generating significant global attention as of late, with Rolling Stone recently dubbing them “one of the most dynamic and thrilling U.K. rock bands in years.”   Friday’s  performance is expected to feature tracks from their acclaimed album, Some Like It Hot, a collection of songs praised for turning their quirks into huge choruses and finding elevation in tension. Attendees can anticipate a dynamic live show as the band brings its unique sound across the pond. If you’re a fan of TAGABOW, Geese, or Wednesday, then this one is for you. Tickets are $34.80.   Some Like It Hot by bar italia Saturday, November 29th @ 8pm Thee[...]

Must See Shows (11/12/25-11/18/25)

November 12, 2025

Thursday, November 13th @ 8pm The Arcadian Wild @ 9th Ward   Nashville indie folk act The Arcadian Wild makes a mid-week stop on their national tour at our favorite basement venue, the 9th Ward. Known for their immersions of indie, chamber pop, and bluegrass, the band is still buzzing from their critically acclaimed 2023 album, Welcome. If you are a fan of Chris Thile / Nickel Creek, The Crane Wives or Tophouse (both bands coming soon to Buffalo), then you will be pleased as punch for this one. $25 cover.   Happy Golden Days by The Arcadian Wild Saturday, November 15th @ 8pm Lower Pony (Release Show) @ Milkies   Lower Pony has been grinding through Buffalo’s underground slacker scene for a bit now – with some very familiar faces, especially if you’ve has a grasp of the local scene over the past fifteen+ years. The project formed in 2019[...]

Must See Shows (11/5/25-11/11/25)

November 4, 2025

Thursday, November 6th @ 7pm On the Cinder @ Mohawk Place   Buffalo-based punk rock trio On the Cinder joins the re-opening month of programming at beloved, recently re-launched live music staple Mohawk Place. The venue is running on all cylinders after a successful back-to-back Halloween weekend so expect much more programming notes from our side.   On the Cinder has been a project since 2013, formed by three college roommates who have remained friends and collaborators for over twelve years. They operated out of a cherished local DIY spot called The Flower House and hosted/shared the stage with countless touring punk acts throughout the 2010s. Thursday night’s show is no different with the band sharing the stage with Sacramento pop-punkers Addalemon who are in the midst of an east coast tour.   Local support is coming via local indiemos West Ferry and Niagara Falls skate-punks Working Class Stiffs. 7pm[...]

Must See Shows (10/29/25-11/4/25)

October 28, 2025

Thursday, October 30th @ 8pm Fruit Bats (solo) @ Asbury Hall   Eric D. Johnson, lead mind behind indie-folk act Fruit Bats, makes a stop at our favorite Delaware Ave church to play some songs in support of the project’s latest album, Baby Man.  The band has been cranking out quality work since its inception in the late 90s, with temporary retirements and various breaks to work on other projects, including label stints at Sub Pop and Merge. Fans of Vetiver, M. Ward, or The Shins would be into Fruit Bats’ gentle, warm, and genre-bending delivery. Tickets are $35.   Baby Man by Fruit Bats Saturday, November 1st @ 7pm Hot Mulligan @ Buffalo Riverworks   Sometimes we make a goof and schedule writing about a show that’s already sold out. So, apologies about this. Pop punk hotshots, Hot Mulligan is coming to Buffalo Riverworks on Saturday and unless you have[...]

Must See Shows (10/15/25-10/21/25)

October 15, 2025

Friday, October 17th @ 7pm The Sword @ Town Ballroom   Austin, Texas heavy metal act The Sword returns to Buffalo Friday evening for a night of loud smells and gentle head banging. The band has made a name for themselves over the past twenty plus years within the stoner rock scene, a genre that is characterized by a combination of doom metal and psych-rock that is both slow moving and heavily distorted. Fans of Sleep, Weedeater, or The Melvins would be into this one. Opening the night will be doom-woppers Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol and sludgy post-punk outfit Moon Destroys. $36.40 to get in.   Warp Riders (15th Anniversary Edition) by The Sword Tuesday, October 21st @ 7pm Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons @ Shea’s   Stardew Valley is one of the most popular indie games of the 2010s, garnering a cult following of comfy gamers who dove headfirst[...]

Must See Shows (8/27/25-9/2/25)

August 26, 2025

Thursday, August 28th @ 8pm Darksoft @ Nietzsche’s   Multi-instrumental dream-pop act Darksoft brings life to Allen St.’s west end for a much needed adrenaline shot. Hailing from East Coast Portland, the band has a moody shoegaze vibe that is brooding and dreary in all the right ways. The band is touring in support of their 2025 release, Rationalism. Fans of Hibou, Beach Fossils, or Wild Nothing would be into this. Joining this Thursday ripper will be local dreamgaze acts Elemantra * and Previous Love. $10 cover.   Rationalism by Darksoft Friday, August 29th @ 8pm Metalachi @ Buffalo Iron Works   Sometimes a band gimmick just works. Mac Sabbath have their McDonalds horror cosplay; Here Comes the Mummies have the full body wraps; and locally, Well Worn Boot have their “wrong turn in Oklahoma” vibe. Metalachi has been riding similar waves, breaking out in the 2000s with their live[...]

Must See Shows (5/7/25-5/13/25)

May 6, 2025

Wednesday, May 7th @ 7pm M.A.G.S. @ Rec Room   Arguably one of the biggest Buffalo musical exports in the past decade, M.A.G.S., returns to his home turf on Wednesday for mid week rager on Chippewa. M.A.G.S. is the moniker for multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Elliott Douglas, who has nurturing the project since 2014 and has achieved numerous accolades under the flag. Pre-pandemic, Douglas relocated to the West Coast, where M.A.G.S. really took off, sparking numerous sold out shows, multiple national tours, and even catching the attention of Polyvinyl Records, who invited Douglas to cover one of American Football’s classics on their 25th anniversary tribute album.   If you’re a longtime reader of the blog, we’ve been covering Douglas’ evolution as an artist, going back to the days of DIY shows with the Malones or even short-lived projects like Marie Antionette. Regardless of the banner, Douglas has consistently pumped out high quality, heart-on-your-sleeve[...]

Must See Shows (3/26/25-4/1/25)

March 25, 2025

Saturday, March 29th @ 7:30pm buffaBLOG’s 15th Birthday Party @ Milkies   We are turning 15! It seems like yesterday we were logging into blogger after a 27 minute crash course in HTML at Spot Coffee on Elmwood. The blog has shared the sounds of hundreds of local bands over the past decade and a half and we are excited to continue for the foreseeable future. After a very successful holiday party, we are happy to put quality music on your radar and share our passion for live music and the local community again.   With that, we are excited have our first birthday celebrattion since 2016. On Saturday,  Milkies on Elmwood is set to host new-coming indie rock act Fear of Sleep, which features some former members of Feverbox. Also on the bill will be powerpop veterans Matt Smith’s Nervous System *, Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater ska band Skamagotchi *,[...]

Must See Shows (2/26/25-3/4/25)

February 25, 2025

Thursday, February 27th @ 7pm Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @ Rec Room   Time flies in the indie rock universe. Just 20 years ago, Ted Leo released his highly acclaimed album Shake the Sheets, which tore up the early blogosphere and nestled nicely into the airwaves of many college radio stations. This Thursday, Leo and his gang of Pharmacists celebrate the anniversary at the Rec Room.   Formed in Washington, D.C. in 1999, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists is head songwriter Ted Leo’s most recognizable outfit. Although the singer/songwriter has been a constant creative for over 35 years dabbling in more than a dozen projects, the Pharmacists is the longest spanning project and may be Leo’s north star, with over eleven years worth of material in the project.   Go for the nostalgia and expect to see many of Buffalo’s music scene of yesteryear in attendance. $38.51 SHAKE THE[...]

Must See Shows (1/22/25-1/28/25)

January 21, 2025

Thursday, January 23rd @ 8pm Adelaide @ Milkies Adelaide has been playing the Buffalo scene for the past few years as mostly a solo artist, however, this Thursday will be a special one as the project expands into a full band. With backing musicians, expect Adelaide’s powerful vocals to be complimented by a lusher sound. Fans of Diet Cig, The Beths, or Snail Mail would be into the expansion of the Adelaide team.   Also on the bill is introspective singer/songwriter Ian McCuen who will be playing in support of their latest album As the Oceans Rise and the Empire Falls, which came out at the tail end of November. Orange Dog Club, the original act announced on the lineup, had to sit this one out. Taking their place will be mystic solo outfit Amanda Bridges. $10 gets you VIP seating.   Fire by adelaide Friday, January 24th @ 9pm Looms[...]

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[...]

Must See Shows (12.4.24-12.10.24)

December 3, 2024

Thursday, December 5th @ 8pm Bad Bloom @ Mohawk Place Rochester shoegaze band Bad Bloom return to Buffalo on Thursday in support of the project’s latest two singles “subatomic” and “onion.” Fronted by bassist/vocalist, Kate Rogerswith guitarist Jay Trovato co-writing the tracks, Bad Bloom have become a staple of the Rochester indie scene in short time period. Rogers and Trovato relocated from Brooklyn to Rochester as COVID-19 settlers, leaving the hectic and unpredictable NYC landscape during the very uncertain times in the early 2020s. Fans of From Indian Lakes, Gleemer, or Alvvways would be into this. Joining the night will be local dreamo act Cooler, as well as prog-rock newcomers Sailing Stones.  $10 cover. Bad Bloom · subatomic   Friday, December 6th @ 8pm The Baker’s Basement @ Milkies Cleveland-based alt-folk duo The Baker’s Basement (tBB) makes their Buffalo debut this Thursday with an eclectic line-up showcasing some of Buffalo’s[...]

Must See Shows (10/30/24-11/5/24)

October 29, 2024

Thursday, October 31st @ 7pm Dexter and the Moonrocks @ Town Ballroom Turn off the porch light and put a “Gone 2 Dexter and the Moonrocks” note up for the trick-or-treaters this Thursday. The Abilene-based quartet will be making their Buffalo debut on a very scary evening in support of their latest EP Western Space Grunge. The band is an amalgamation of indie rock, grunge, and a sprinkle of country – an homage to the band’s Texas roots. Much to our delight, Dexter and the Moonrocks’ sound is very sing-a-long friendly with numerous singles chock full of heavy hooks. Fans of FIDLAR, White Reaper, or Wavves would be into this one. Doors are $27.22 all-in. Dexter And The MoonRocks · Like You (Like You) Saturday, November 2nd @ 7pm Light Beams w/ Personal Style, Welks Mice, and echolocator @ Area 54 Dischord Records signees Light Beams returns to Buffalo after[...]