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Tonight: The Early November

These damn bands from 2004-06 keep going on such great tours… Tonight you can catch a few forerunners of 2000s emo at Waiting Room. The Early November will be here slinging its older, Drive Thru-brand of passionate pop-punk (“Ever So Sweet” and “I Want to Hear You Sad” immediately come to mind), as well as some newer, polished pop-rock tunes. Joining them this evening are the ever-ethereal Lydia (“This is Twice Now” comes to mind) and Restorations’ Gaslight Anthem-y jams. The show is $17 bucks and doors are at 7pm. All ages too, in case any underage readers are scoping out the blog.

THICK WINTER BLUD Releases Music Video for “Garden Face”

Wondering what to do with all of those leftover Memorial Day condiments? Take a page out of THICK WINTER BLUD‘s book – they made the best of their surplus in the music video for the new song, “Garden Face.” TWB excels at keeping things simple; think the best parts of I Can See Mountains mixed with ear-candy pop rock along the lines of Third Eye Blind or Guilt Show-era The Get Up Kids. There’s also a subtle “Banana Phone” reference… For all you Ebaumsworld alumni.

The Slums Debut New Song “Craw”

Something about the word “craw” reminds me of The Slums – it’s almost as if I can envision them using the word regularly in conversation. Regardless, I think we’ll all be seeing the word “craw” around more often now. Fresh off their show with PILE this Sunday, The Slums have pumped out another half-hardcore, half-garage rock anthem. These dudes have been buzzin’ around town for just about a year now – articles and blogs are mentioning The Slums at every turn. If you’re late to hop on the bandwagon, imagine the dirtiest, sludgiest rock song from the 1950s with a whirling dervish for a front man… I hope that’s an apt enough description. “Craw,” the lead single off the band’s upcoming summer album, is available for your streaming pleasure below. Enjoy.

Tonight: Lazlo Hollyfeld

Every once in a while Buffalonians get together for a true Harvestsum banger. Tonight is that night. Resident xylophone-toting instrumental rockers, Lazlo Hollyfeld, are going to be bringing it home tonight. Don’t forget the quiet crush of Applennium, the fuzzy garage pop of Johnny Nobody, or the intelligent musings of Alex Berkley & co. Mohawk Place is the place to be. 8:00pm is the magical hour – make sure you bring $5 for admission. Also, bring your friends. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175635118″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The Maine w/ Knuckle Puck

One might start to wonder if the Maine are still “fresh to death” having been around for close to 10 years now. Once emo-laced pop punkers, they’ve come to embrace a more straightforward rock sound in the 2010s. That hasn’t stopped them from touring with a cavalcade of buzzing pop punkers including Knuckle Puck, Real Friends, and The Technicolors. The show tonight is at the Waiting Room, but you might be out of luck because the tickets are reportedly sold out. Here is some information anyways: Doors are at 6pm, and the show is 16+.

Well Kept Things Sign to Antique Records, Release First Single

The Buffalo pop-punk/emo scene is still smarting from the loss of bands like I Can See Mountains and All Blondes Go To Heaven. If you’ve been unsure of where to get your next fix, Well Kept Things is where you should look next. The quartet specializes in passionate pop-punk, with lyrics falling somewhere between neurosis and a heart-on-your-sleeve confessional. The Buffalo-based four piece has recently inked a deal with Antique Records, and will be releasing its debut EP, Homegrown, in both digital and in 7″ formats on June 16th. Listen to the first single, “Great White North,” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/184229875″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Just Announced: Pity Sex

I’ve been yearning for this one for a while. The fuzzrocious emogazers in Pity Sex will be joining us on Sunday, July 5th, for a night of noise at Mohawk Place. Pity Sex is a great example of what the recent emo revival has to offer. Between gigantic guitars and lilting male/female vocals, PS sounds like what would happen if the Pixies discovered a big muff. Joining the bill are fellow shoegazers (albeit of the hardcore variety) Ceremony and solo act Tony Molina. Mohawk is the place to be. Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon.

Del Paxton Releases Split on Topshelf Records

At long last, Del Paxton‘s split with Gulfer is out on Topshelf Records. Anyone who follows buffaBLOG has surely seen our coverage of Del Paxton (starting when the group clinched the award for #1 local song of 2013 with “Motion Sick”). With only an EP to its name thus far, we’ve been eager to get our hands on some new stuff from the mathy/emo three piece. “Paline” showcases the spiraling guitar that we’ve come to love/expect from Del Paxton. Having been to half a dozen (+) Del Paxton shows, it is a pleasure to finally hear a studio version. In fact, if Death Cab for Cutie had any angst left in them, “Paline” might be the result… I’d like to find the musician who can deny the true joy of bassist Zach Schoedel’s funky riff at the one minute mark. “Bad Batch” starts with one of those impossibly noodly riffs[...]

Tonight: Tigers Jaw

If you love punk or emo music and you haven’t indulged in the Tigers Jaw discography yet, shame on you. Their latest album, the very intimate sounding Charmer, made a slew of best-of-2014 lists (including my own).T he Scranton-based band self-describes as what would happen if Fleetwood Mac and Brand New had an angsty little child (with great pop sensibility). If you’d like to know more, fellow buffaBLOGGER Ronald Walczyk conducted an excellent interview with frontman Ben Walsh that you can access here. Tonight’s openers include the buzzing melodipunks in Somos and Buffalo indie-rock royalty, Lemuria. Doors are at 7pm, $15 at the door.

Alvvays

The Decemberists are in town tonight, making a triumphant third return to UB’s Center for the Arts. Guests will be treated to the Mainstage Theater’s wonderful acoustics (not to mention the comfortable chairs), but one of the biggest treats of the night will come from opening band, Alvvays. Alvvays excels at swimmy, reverb-laden tracks that have more in common with the beach than their snowy hometown of Toronto. Nevertheless, the group’s self-titled debut was highly praised, having made many best-of 2014 lists. Singer Molly Rankin is a true delight – her voice a combination of innocence (a la fellow v-ers CHVRCHES) and mature, glassy-eyed indifference. Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard called lead single, “Archie, Marry Me,” his favorite song of the year (but the verdict is still out on whether Ben and Decemberists singer Colin Meloy are actually doppelgangers). Unfortunately for those of you who don’t have tickets, tonight’s performance[...]

Applennium

You might have noticed that we’re throwing a 5th birthday party for ourselves tomorrow evening at Nietzsche’s. You might also have noticed that Applennium is one of the bands playing. The oft-revered but rarely-spotted band only plays one or two shows a year; we consider ourselves very lucky to have secured them for our big day. Applennium specializes in simmering jams with perfect male/female harmonies. One might say they excel at creating moods instead of just plain old songs. We say it every time we cover them, but Applennium is one of Buffalo’s hidden gems. True talent shrouded in mystique. We’ll see you tomorrow at 10pm sharp. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175635118″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The Get Up Kids @ Waiting Room (3/25/15)

With a belly full of Joe’s Deli and two very heavy eyelids, I made my way to Waiting Room last night to see The Get Up Kids (TGUK). Approaching the door, I couldn’t help but calculate the median age of the crowd, which was probably somewhere around 27… Let’s just say that in lieu of x-ed out hands, I saw parents checking nanny cams on smart phones. Pixie cuts and shaved heads were a plenty. Ironically, TGUK were out on the “Spring Break” tour – I’d bet only 15% of the crowd was actually on spring break. I walked in on song two or three of Restorations’ set. The band’s vocalist reminded me pretty strongly of The Gaslight Anthem. They had a “vibey” feel. I enjoyed their set, but I spent most of it trying to find a comfortable place to lean my ragged 25 year old body. PUP took[...]

Five Year Rewind: Staff Picks – Part 2

Since the blog debuted on March 28th, 2010, with a truly horrible post about a Passion Pit show (sorry Bill), our ever revolving staff of writers and contributors have spun hundreds of albums and songs, and attended more shows in and out of Buffalo than I dare to count. To commemorate our upcoming five year anniversary this Saturday night. we have assembled a cast blog writers from past and present, each discussing their favorite albums, songs, shows, and even some memories since the blog’s inception. Today is Part 2. – Mac McGuire Matt Moretti (Staff Writer) Favorite Album: Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) A masterpiece of a hip hop record, and probably my favorite of all time. The buildup included weeks of some of the best free music we’ve heard, in Kanye’s GOOD Friday series. It featured some of Kanye’s best songs of his career: his best rapping on “Gorgeous,” perhaps his[...]

Tonight: Taking Back Sunday

103.3 The Edge has been the talk of the town lately, having hosted a local-themed barnstormer a few weeks ago headlined by Made Violent. Tonight, the station presents Long Island’s Taking Back Sunday, a band that, at this point in its career, probably doesn’t need introducing. The emo titans have been slugging it out for the past 15 years or so – and after six full lengths, two top ten Billboard debuts, and more member changes than you can count, it’s no wonder tonight’s show is sold out. Support tonight comes from The Menzingers and LetLive. Unfortunately, traditional ticket purchasing methods are out of the question because they are all sold out. Doors are at 6pm which gives you plenty of time to improvise. Happy ticket hunting! [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/56446421″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Filmstrip

Filmstrip will be bringing their wholly pleasant brand of alt-Americana to Mohawk Place tonight. The Cleveland-based band evokes a laid-back vibe reminiscent of The Life and Times, Pedro the Lion, and just the slightest touch of Father John Misty. My personal recommendation is the upbeat, guitar driven “Dollar Store.” Support tonight comes from the ever-fuzzy Fredonians in Zealot and Buffalo’s answer to alt-Americana, American Stores. The show starts at 8pm for $5.