Latest Posts

Tonight: Vundabar (RESCHEDULED)

February 25, 2019

Let’s try this again. Tonight Boston indie art rockers Vundabar will land in Buffalo weather providing to play the much loved sonic temple that is the 9th Ward at Babeville with Nylon Otters and Velvet Bethany after their January 30th show got scotched by our somewhat erratic Buffalo winter. Combining pure garage rawness with ambitious, intricate instrumental prowess, and soaring and evocative vocals, the three dudes of Vundabar are also known to put on an energetic and tight live show worth venturing outside into the winter for. Opening the show will  be post punk garage rockers Nylon Otters with that frontman who effortlessly sounds like a young Kurt Cobain, and the dreamy garage punk of Velvet Bethany. Tickets are $15, previously purchased tickets for the original January 30, 2019 date will be honored, and doors are at 8pm. Smell Smoke by Vundabar

Tonight: The Leones

February 9, 2019

9th Ward at Babeville has a heavy duty lineup of local rock talent all about laying down serious vibes, featuring The Leones, The Shallows and First Ward. No strangers to that space, Justin Bachulak’s widescreen psych rock  project The Leones will be playing new material from their upcoming summer release that leans into dream pop territor. Expect some serious feels when Dustin Lau’s expansive guitar and the otherworldly rhythm section of Will Webb and Kevin Carney  interweaves with Bachaluk’s evocative synths and vocals, and the acoustic wonder of the room itself to possibly overwhelm the senses. Meanwhile, if you haven’t caught buzz band The Shallows yet you better rectify that before they take a bit of a break because the folk rock of Joe Myers with Emily Finlan and Andrew Kothen is intense, warm, and worth checking out now so you’ll be ready when they return. Opening the show will be epic and deeply[...]

Tonight: Gladshot

April 27, 2018

Tonight NYC indie rock folk band Gladshot pass through the sonic temple that is the 9th Ward at Babeville.  With the rock musical Barcode already in the rear view mirror and a sophomore album due this October with producer John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Waxahatchee), Gladshot has expanded beyond the core of Debb Andrews and Max Blaxill to include a full band, changing everything for this up and coming act. Opening the show will be a rare performance by the always enjoyable ambient electronica salwarts  Dotsun Moon and neo soul grooves of B.A.N.K. Noise. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $10.

Tonight: Casey Abrams

March 17, 2018

Double bass wunderkind, vocalist and pride of Idyllwood, California’s Casey Abrams rolls through the Ninth Ward tonight to lay down some non St. Patrick’s Day grooves with local soul man Vin DeRosa. The 2012 American Idol contestant is on tour behind his recently released sophomore full length Put A Spell, recorded Arcade Fire style in an old abandoned church in Brooklyn for holy vibes to go with Abrams’ well crafted and very earnest roots rock. Buffalo soul classicist Vin DeRosa gets the show going at 8pm, and tickets are $17 at the door, which opens at 7pm.

Tonight: Feverbox

January 22, 2018

Mondays are terrible, it’s a scientific fact that’s generally agreed upon by all, and for good reason. The weekend is over and the next seems far away because the work week is long, plus there’s usually not much happening on Mondays, and when there is sometimes it feels a little like an imposition because after all, it’s Monday. But the good people at Asbury Hall and The Ninth Ward just might have what we need with their new Weekend Mondays: no cover, drink specials, good bands with good sound, with an inaugural edition tonight featuring local indie rockers Feverbox, psych rock behemoth in the making Deadwolf, Get Money $quad’s Quinton Brock, and DJ Miosi spinning tunes. Weekend Monday starts at 7pm. See you there.

Tonight: The Leones

June 2, 2017

Tonight Batavia based psych rockers The Leones celebrate the release of their latest release, Songs From The Canyon at the Ninth Ward at Babeville with the busy as hell Humble Braggers and art rock outfit Parade Chic. Fans of vintage synths, spacious jams, and songs that conjure sensations of a beating sun over the low desert and yearning freedom won’t want to miss this one. Doors are at 8pm and cover is $5. Songs From The Canyon by The Leones

Tonight: The Leones

February 18, 2017

Tonight Buffalo ghost rockers The Leones will be headlining a tight lineup of local bands at the 9th Ward at Babeville including Sonny Baker and Chevron Bloom that looks like a can’t miss show in the making. Fresh off their excellent album Ghost In The City, Leones fans can expect more synth heavy explorations into ghostly horror, along with new music from their upcoming album of a more psychedelic and spaced out variety, which is always good when heard in an acoustically perfect room such as the always exquisite 9th Ward . Joining them will be Sonny Baker and a special solo acoustic set and the very vibe heavy garage rockers Chevron Bloom. Cover is $7 and doors open at 7pm. See you there.

Tonight: Marian McLaughlin

March 3, 2016

Equal parts chamber-folk songstress and classically-charged eccentric, DC musician Marian McLaughlin will make her way to Buffalo’s Ninth Ward at Babeville tonight for the first stop on her string of East Coast tour dates. The thing about Marian is—unless you’re already familiar with her unique musicianship—chances are slim that I’ll be able to accurately describe her craft with words alone. Think… Joanna Newsom-esque vocal explorations over a backdrop of intricate classical guitar pickings and orchestra-tinged string arrangements (by collaborator and double bassist Ethan Foote). Her cathedral folk offerings are already entrancing to begin with, but in the intimate confines of the Ninth Ward? A rare treat. A wildly suitable match is found in Buffalo’s buzzing indie folk quintet Tiny Rhymes (whose Katie Weissman doubles as McLaughlin’s touring cellist) to open tonight’s show. Doors open at 7pm with a $10 admission, storytelling vibes in full force.

Tonight: And The Kids

December 3, 2015

The 9th Ward at Babeville will be hosting yet another under the radar show, this time featuring Western Mass’ And the Kids and Upstate New York’s PWR BTTM. And The Kids released a new record this year, titled Turn to Each Other, and with grand instrumentals and unique vocals, the group has created something insanely catchy and special. PWR BTTM is a whole other game, though. The garage punk / indie duo weaves their queer identifying problems and issues into their music, creating not only something that is unlike I have ever heard before lyrically, but something that is just straight up FUN. Every video I’ve seen of this band live seems like an absolute party. Doors open for the show tonight at 7pm, with music starting at 8pm.  The show is sure to end on the earlier side, as there are no locals on the bill.  Tickets are available at[...]

Tonight: Saintseneca

October 14, 2015

Stellar indie folk crew, Saintseneca, will be rolling through Buffalo for an incredibly intimate performance at Babeville’s Ninth Ward tonight. The Columbus, OH outfit’s new album, titled Such Things, just dropped on Anti Records and while most critics have yet to weigh in, it is just as special and unique as their previous releases, still managing to avoid the label of just another bland indie folk band. Doors are set to open at 6pm with music starting at 8pm. Tickets will be available at the door for $15, and touring acts the Sidekicks and Yowler are set to open the show at the intimate venue. This is one you won’t want to miss.

Tonight: Jooklo Duo

June 9, 2015

Saxophonist Virginia Genta and drummer David Vanzan have been collaborating musically as Jooklo Duo since 2003. Since then, the pair have forged a visceral, impassioned sound that blends elements of free jazz and noise rock, making for chaotic spontaneous performances that continue the tradition of artists like Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane. Their avant-garde inclinations have also led them to collaborations with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Sonic Youth, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and Andrew Barker. Tonight, Jooklo Duo will perform at Buffalo’s 9th Ward at Babeville along with local jazz artists Bacz/Sack Duo, who have been creating improvised music for several years and have recently been collaborating live with drummer Jim Abrason. Music starts at 8pm, admission price has been listed as pay what you can, suggesting $6-10. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/181667019″ 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: Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

May 27, 2015

After the absolute blast that was last Friday’s sold out !!! show, Babeville’s basement venue, the Ninth Ward, looks to keep things rolling tonight as it welcomes the buzzing act, Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas. The Detroit born Hernandez, a sultry, rock and roll version of Amy Winehouse, will be in town to support the group’s debut album, Secret Evil. Tickets are still available to grab at the door for $10. The Albrights will open the show beginning at 8pm.

Tonight: !!! (Chk Chk Chk)

May 22, 2015

The beautiful old bricks that bless the Ninth Ward at Babeville with sublime acoustics will be vibrating with all sorts of sexy funky future sounds when !!!, blog favorites KOPPS, and Groove Cereal take it over tonight. Sacramento, California’s dance-punk outfit, !!! (or, Chk Chk Chk, a reference to the 80’s classic The Gods Must Be Crazy), is in town promoting 2013’s Thr!!!er, with a follow up in the wings, while this show will also be KOPPS second show in Buffalo this week, having played Waiting Room Monday night opening for Priory at one of the Alt Buffalo’s $1.07 shows. Even though their set was plagued with sound problems, the unstoppable Rochester darlings overcame the static and utterly owned the audience, and the show. I’ve never been to a show at the Ninth Ward that didn’t sound absolutely wonderful, so tonight ought to be a genuine treat. Plus, dancing. Buffalo trip-hop[...]

Tonight: Joe Pug

May 7, 2015

The weary, Austin via Maryland singer/songwriter, Joe Pug, makes his return to Buffalo tonight with an intimate evening set for Babeville’s Ninth Ward. The Americana artist has been making regular appearances in town on a near yearly basis, and is returning tonight to support his latest album, Windfall, which dropped earlier this spring. The gifted story teller recalls fellow folk acts like Bob Dylan, M Ward, and Tallest Man on Earth. Tickets are still available for purchase at the door for $14. Andrew Combs will be opening the show. Music begins at 8pm.

Just Announced: !!!

April 7, 2015

This morning, ESI announced it would be bringing one of the best live party bands, !!!, back to Buffalo after a 3+ year hiatus. On Friday, May 22nd, the dance punk act will be getting sweaty in the Ninth Ward basement. !!! (pronounced chk chk chk) have been mainstays in the indie dance sector, coming up with the likes LCD Soundsystem and remaining active long after. So pack your short shorts, hydrate up, and prepare to witness one of the best shows to come to Buffalo this summer. Tickets can be purchased on ticketweb for a cool $15.