Latest Posts

Tonight: Kill The Noise

Tonight After Dark & Factory NightLife present Jake Stanczak, more formally known as Ewun or Kill The Noise. He returns to his hometown Rochester, N.Y. to rock the stage at Anthology. Kill The Noise kicked off his album tour Thursday night in Atlanta, making his hometown show the third stop. The release of his first album Occult Classic is set for Oct. 9 on OWLSA, the record label founded by Skrillex. The ten track album features artists like Dillon Francis, Tommy Trash and rock favorite, Awolnation. His innovation and unique sounds come from inspiration all over the musical charts. In a recent article published by Rolling Stone, Kill the Noise explains how Nine Inch Nails, a favorite of his, gave him the inspiration behind his album. Stanczak has won two MTV Music Video Awards, one in 2012 for his “Kill The Noise Part 1” video and the second in 2013 for his[...]

Tonight: MAKJ

As the fall slowly approaches, Buffalo nightlife says goodbye to Sky Bar and welcomes back LiFT Nightclub. The fall opening kicks off tonight with MAKJ, presented by Factory Nightlife. Located in downtown Buffalo, LiFT is known for its dynamic lighting, ultramodern sound system and of course, the artists that make the club come alive. LiFT has featured artists like Cosmic Gate, Audien and Tritonal, making it one of Buffalo’s most popular venues for electronic music. Otherwise known as Mackenzie Johnson, MAKJ is now thriving as a producer, mostly known for his electro-house remixes and collabs with artists like Hardwell and Bingo Players,. With three Beatport Top 10 hits, including his work with Hardwell on “Countdown,” and his 2014 smash “Let’s Get F*cked Up” with Lil Jon, he continues to shake the airwaves with his weekly radio show and tracks released on his SoundCloud. Local support will come from Jesse Aaron and Eyes Everywhere. [soundcloud[...]

Arkells at Canalside (6/11/15)

After leaving the Arkells show at Canalside last night, it was difficult to decide who had had more fun: the band or the audience. Like poutine, Tim Horton’s, and everything else that’s considered “good” in Canada, Arkells have established themselves in the Buffalo culture. With roots in nearby Hamilton, Ontario, the band has seen its massive success in Canada transition smoothly into the American music scene. Of course, the band (made up of front man Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Nick Dika, Tim Oxford, and Anthony Carone) is no stranger to Buffalo, or even to Canalside. Max spoke fondly of intimate shows performed in the city, like the one at Town Ballroom in April. He also reminisced about the first time they played at Canalside in 2011, when they opened for the Tragically Hip. Arkells’ ascent from opener to headliner in a four-year span mirrors their burgeoning success. Despite the Hip[...]

The Lone Bellow at The First Niagara Center (5/1/15)

Best. Opener. Ever. If you don’t want just one opinion, let’s take a look at the audience from Friday night’s show at The First Niagara Center. When The Lone Bellow first took the stage, the crowd was distracted. Most seats were empty. The filled ones held texters and selfie-takers. Nobody planned on paying attention to the opening act. Then the music started. By the end of the first song, the audience was hooked. Slowly, everyone sat down or moved a few steps closer to the stage. When “Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold” concluded, the selfies had stopped and texting had ground to a halt. Why? Maybe the audience was shocked by the cohesive sound. Maybe the energy of Zach Williams and Brian Elmquist had captivated them. Maybe it was the fact that a 5-piece folk band had a sound big enough to fill the entire arena. Or maybe[...]