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Tonight: Project Grant Fundraiser

July 24, 2015

Rock on for a good cause tonight at Buffalo Iron Works as a cast of locals and non take the stage in support of the Project Grant Fundraiser. The West Side launched program is aimed to work with artists and communities who may be lacking in the proper resources for a given artistic medium and project. Further info on Project Grant and the program’s founder, Tina Dillman, can be found here. On hand for musical support this evening are Utica desert rockers Twin Speak (in town for an Infringement date), retro punk rockers Soul Butchers, lyrically sound slackers Difficult Night, audio/visual master Projex, and many more. The fundraiser’s full lineup can be found at here. Speaking of Difficult Night, the quartet just dropped its latest new track “Calamity” this morning. The track will be included on DN’s forthcoming LP. Stream it below so you know all of the words to sing along[...]

Tonight: Old Crow Medicine Show

July 24, 2015

Old Crow Medicine Show got its start in the early 2000s, busking on Southern street corners until a lucky encounter with Doc Watson’s daughter put them on the path to stardom. And stardom it is; the band busked itself all the way to the Grand Ole Opry, commercial radio, and more-than-sold-out shows. You have a chance to be a part of the ride tonight, when the band fills the Town Ballroom with its famous tunes and diehard fans. While the band used to focus on bluegrass, its taken a fratboy-country turn as of late, so expect some Tom Petty covers during the show. Doors open at 7:00pm and tickets are $38.

Tonight: METZ w/ Viet Cong

July 23, 2015

Mohawk Place hosts a seriously stacked lineup tonight with bands touring in support of some the year’s best releases. METZ, after opening for Lightning Bolt and releasing their stellar second albums return to Mohawk Place, joined by Viet Cong and Crosss. METZ have released two albums to date, both equally unrelenting and visceral. Their performances are ferocious and gloriously loud. Viet Cong are touring in support of their full length debut LP, Viet Cong, released earlier this year to wide acclaim. Their songs are delightfully bleak, jittery and dense, each track shifting and pulling the floor from under you at every point. Rounding out the bill is Crosss, a sludgey and heavy counterpoint to the comparatively quick moving Viet Cong and METZ. To sum up, tonight wil be a heavy and amazing lineup of bands at Mohawk Place and we will need a written excuse, signed by a parent or guardian as[...]

Tonight: My Morning Jacket

July 22, 2015

Known for their triumphant live performances, Louisville, Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket have been honing their style of psychedelic, soulful southern rock since their debut in 1998. Now seven studio albums into their career, the band’s expansive sound has at times included electronic instrumentation as well as reggae and dub influences. Their 2008 release Evil Urges was nominated for the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album and was praised for its’ groove-based songwriting and lush arrangements. During the same year, the band gave a legendary four hour performance at Bonnaroo that included guest appearances from Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and comedian Zach Galifianakis. Back in May, My Morning Jacket released their latest album The Waterfall to favorable reviews, a record that saw a return to the alt-country sound that characterized their first few releases. In addition, the band has performed at and hosted One Big Holiday festival in Riviera Maya, Mexico which has featured artists[...]

Tonight: The Tallest Man on Earth

July 22, 2015

Critically-acclaimed folk artist Kristian Matsson returns to Buffalo tonight as The Tallest Man on Earth. The Swedish musician is fresh off the release of his latest record, Dark Bird is Home, so fans can expect a lot of new material and a heaping helping of old favorites while he is on tour for the first time with a full band. The artist has won many comparisons to Bob Dylan, thanks to his uniquely beautiful songwriting style and vocal delivery. For melodic indie folk stylings, there’s no better place to be than Babeville’s Asbury Hall tonight. Tickets are $26 and doors are at 7pm. Hiss Golden Messenger kicks the show off at 8pm. Learn more about the North Carolina country-folk act here.

Tonight: Wolf Eyes

July 21, 2015

Hardcore from all over converges tonight at Sugar City.  Wolf Eyes are from the “dead, dread-filled, haunted hills of Michigan” and have a way with electronic metal while LA’s Sissy Spacek plays noisey grindcore tracks all under one minute. Mid and West Coast meets the DMV with Pure Disgust and Barge, hailing from DC and Richmond, VA respectively. The Facebook event description for Barge says Infest for Generation Z and that’s pretty apt, for Pure Disgust as well. Representing Buffalo we have Modern Problems (members of Every Time I Die) and Black X(members of Harm’s Way and a million more bands) playing straightforward, straightedge hardcore.  Music will start at 6pm (hopefully) and be over by 10pm. All this for $10.

Tonight: Mr Twin Sister w/Moon King

July 21, 2015

Mohawk Place will host the hard to pin down Mr Twin Sister tonight. The genre hopping band has released a handful of EPs and a short album over the years, with music running the gamut of indie pop to disco. Consistent throughout is a playfulness and an apparent refusal to be boring. Joining them is the Toronto based duo, Moon King, touring in support of their debut LP, Secret Life, which was released back in April. The pair’s music is dreamy and perfect for an easy going summer night like tonight. The show features two great bands for a very nice price of $14. Those heading to Mohawk surely won’t regret it. Doors open at 8pm.

Tonight: Liturgy

July 20, 2015

The barrage of shows at Mohawk Place this year just keep on coming, and this week is no exception. This evening, the venue will host black metal (??) outfit Liturgy as the four piece continues to tour in support of its 2015 release, The Ark Work. Following a fairly substantial sonic departure from transcendental black metal sound on previous releases, the band took a more gothic, brooding electronic based approach on the newest record, which actually makes for an incredibly interesting listen. I have a feeling that these varied styles will make for a very off the wall and strange live performance. Performing on tour with Liturgy tonight is experimental / industrial duo, Yvette. Opening up the show will be the stellar local garage / noise rock act, JOHNS.  The show is set to take off tonight at 8pm, with tickets available at the door for $14.

Tonight: City of Night

July 18, 2015

The Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo hosts it’s fourth annual City of Night, the multi-disciplinary arts and culture happening/shindig that’s frankly emerged as one of the absolute best nights in Buffalo, this evening. This year’s installment is shifting from Silo City to Buffalo’s Old First Ward along Republic Street between Louisiana and Sidway streets as part of a three year commitment to that venerable yet evolving community, and while there’s been some murmurings against this change of venue, assurances have been given that this year’s installment will be as grand and magnificent as in year’s previous, including more art and music, and an Art Train consisting of a series of art installations housed in shipping containers (something for fans of Lethal Weapon 2, myself included). The DJ tent located at Kenturcky Street will be featuring sets from 6:00pm to midnight from Soma, Pinja, Cove, and PROJEX while the amphitheater[...]

Tonight: Gulfer

July 18, 2015

If you have been on the internet recently you have probably read one of those “emo revival” list articles everyone’s been writing lately when in reality emo was never really over, at least not for everyone. It’s always the same list of popular contemporary emo bands and what I am saying is Gulfer, the band hitting up the Glitterbox tonight, would fit in with the listicle genre nicely. The four piece  from Montreal spits out twinkly math rock for fans of Brave Bird, or Texas is the Reason meets Algernon Cadwallader. People Like You, from Boston, will be adding some screams as well as spoken word parts. Comprised from members of I Kill Giants, People Like You continues the math music trend, mostly categorized with weird time signatures and focused more on instrumentals than vocals. Power pop punks Wild Pink from Brooklyn open while Buffalo’s prodigal sons Del Paxton are[...]

Tonight: Tiny Rhymes

July 18, 2015

Upon investigating the musical genre “chamber folk” that Buffalo-based quartet Tiny Rhymes goes by, I discovered a historical fact: that it is also called the “music of friends.” Indeed, each instrument whispers to each other, creating a delicate hush of fae compositions, led by strong lyrical prowess. A distinct sophistication presents itself in the group’s debut EP, A Kinder History, which recently came out on Forest Park Recordings. The EP is crisp, methodical, and on point; not the raggedy sing-song vibe you’d think of from singer/songwriter acoustic-folk. Besides coming off as a pleasantly acoustical number, the group’s formal choral and musical training shines through. Sharon Mok & Katie Weissman, both core members of the group, have played in a variety of musical outfits from an early age, both professionally and personally. “Arrows,” the first song off the EP, leads in with a crooning, enchanting melody. Throughout the song, Mok’s vocals are spotlighted[...]

Tonight: Jaill

July 17, 2015

Unite The Beatles, Ty Segall, The Beets, Beach Fossils, The Spinto Band and Surfer Blood in a harmonious marriage, and Jaill is the ultra cool offspring of all six individually brilliant parents. It’d be too much of a cop out to describe ‘em as just plain surf rock, because it’s a little more varied and textured. They have a distinctive psych-pop sound with a dark tinge in terms of lyrics, all wrapped up in a bubblegum-like exterior. Jaill, a member of the extensive Burger Records family (and formerly a member of Subpop Records), recently released their full length album Brain Cream in June of this year. In celebration of the release, they’re bringing their divey jangle pop to Mohawk Place tonight. The album is a great continuous listen and successfully dangles the listener at the threshold of low-key pleasantry and fetching, upbeat energy. The rest of the lineup includes The[...]

Tonight: Proxemia

July 16, 2015

Sound is as malleable as silly putty. Bend it, twist it, or hit it, audio frequencies have the superpower to make you shake that ass or run screaming for your hanky. The setting is Dreamland. The theme evokes the kind of ambient, experimental content that the venue has become so beloved for amongst those that appreciate the avant-garde. This particular exposition takes full advantage of the spatial environment, and how sound reacts within it. Bouncing and reverberating off walls, straight into your inner ear. Proxemia is the brainchild of multimedia artist Jose Rivera. Taking full advantage of his background in architecture and music, he composes layered soundscapes by way of samples and field recordings. Be transported away to places not of this earthly realm, but inherently grounded within it. The environments that only exist in the concentrated thought patterns of Rivera and his utilities. Rivera also recorded a song with[...]

Tonight: Turkuaz

July 16, 2015

Turkuaz, the nine-piece, power funk group from Brooklyn, in back in Buffalo and tonight’s show at Buffalo Iron Works is not one to miss. These guys throw it down with guitars, wind instruments, bass, percussion, keys, and backup vocals. This is funk turned up to 11. In addition to the power funk structure, a healthy mixture of both blues and more up beat pop makes for a complete and fulfilling sound. Not only will Turkuaz satisfy the funk fans out there, but there is no doubt that anyone into a more noodling jam will be just as impressed. If you are heading to the Harbor tonight, then Iron Works should be your next stop. Tickets are $15, doors at 9pm, show around 10pm. This is an 18+ show, so remember your ID. See you on the floor.

Tonight: Weird Al

July 15, 2015

You know that moment when you hear the first few notes of “Gangster’s Paradise” and you aren’t really sure if it’s Coolio or Weird Al’s “Amish Paradise” yet? Then subsequently start singing Weird Al anyway because those are the lyrics you know better. As a child of the 90’s, this was my experience, but I’d bet children of both the 80’s and 00’s have similar experiences with Weird Al songs, whether it’s “Eat It” (“Beat It”), “White & Nerdy” (“Ridin’ Dirty”), or one of his new hits like “Handy” (“Fancy”). After decades of his satirical wackiness, Weird Al doesn’t just parody culture, he helps shape it. Coming off the huge success of his latest album, Mandatory Fun, Weird Al will play the Mainstage Theater at UB’s Center for the Arts for a sold out show tonight. He has always had a dedicated following here, and with Weird Al’s career reaching his[...]