Latest Posts

Wildhoney Band, Baltimore

Tonight: Wildhoney

June 2, 2015

Baltimore-based Wildhoney has been pegged as the latest ‘shoegaze’ band, which is a box they quite dislike. While they do incorporate elements of gazing into their tunes, Wildhoney’s melodic trajectories are quite clear, whereas groups like My Bloody Valentine & Slowdive integrate deeper walls of sound and repetitive, other-wordly chords. Wildhoney strays away from drowned out sensations, and creates an upbeat, pop-tinged array. Think 60’s chick bands vibin’ with 80’s bands like The Cure or The Sundays. The elements of shoegaze, therefore, are a stylistic approach to the indie-pop music they classify themselves as. This year, the group put out their first full length LP, called Sleep Through It. The album includes early song releases, personal favorites such as “Seventeen Forever” and “Get Out Of My Dreams.” Lauren Shusterich’s lush chords sing catchy lyrics that we can all relate to on a personal level, touching on the nostalgic and depressive[...]

Tonight: Shonen Knife

June 1, 2015

Legendary Osaka, Japan garage rockers, Shonen Knife, return to the Queen City to kick off their North American tour at a special benefit show tonight at Waiting Room for beloved community enterprise Music Is Art. Local punkers and post-punkers Healer, Lost Elysium, and Orations will open the show with Tokyo’s DJ Sashimi spinning records throughout the evening. With the Music Is Art Festival only a few months away on September 12th, this is a mightily good cause to get behind, in addition to a terrific bill featuring a band with a long history playing our city. Tickets are $15 at the doors and show will kick off at 7pm.

Tonight: Matt “MV” Valentine

June 1, 2015

Today is Monday. If you’re one of those people who just can’t seem to say goodbye to that sweet, sweet weekend (acute weekend separation anxiety syndrome, or AWSAS), then take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. Tonight, underground-ish experimental psyche superstar Matt “MV” Valentine makes a return to the Queen City in support of his sprawling new double LP Midden Mound, an album that will probably make you forget what day of the week it is, anyway. Valentine, one half of folk duo MV & EE, is known for his mind-bending neo-psychedelia; his new album conjures up a good Dark Side of the Moon feel, albeit seared with his signature style of experimentation that will melt your weekday blues away. Opening talent for Valentine’s stop at Mohawk place includes indie folk singer/songwriter Chase Huglin (Fort Wayne, IN), Scott Valkwitch / Bill Nehill duo (of Mohawk Place royalty), Steve Baczkowski /[...]

Tonight: Take One Car

May 30, 2015

Sugar City is set to welcome Connecticut post-hardcore outfit, Take One Car, to the venue’s newly built stage early this evening. The band’s latest album, Everyone You Know is Here Right Now, was released early this spring through Broken World Media, and should appeal to fans of mewithoutYou or even The Slums if you want a local spin. Rounding out tonight’s bill are Steel City screamo act, Skull Kid, local emo group, Alleys, (set to take off on a new tour right around the corner), and the fresh Buffalo pop/punk trio, THICK WINTER BLUD. The all ages, substance free show will kick off around 7pm with a cover of $6 at the door.

Tonight: Buffalo Afrobeat Orchestra

May 30, 2015

A special convocation of musicians featuring members of One World Tribe, Rockaz, and 12/8 Path, plus DJ Milk will be assembling at Nietzsche’s tonight as the Buffalo Afrobeat Orchestra to celebrate Afrobeat music and that genre’s totemic hero, Fela Kuti. The Nigerian bandleader, philosopher, and political rabble rouser has become legendary not only for contribution to world music, but for off stage activities that bordered on revolutionary, and his inspiration will no doubt propel Buffalo’s Afrobeat community to new heights of excellence tonight. DJ Milk will also be spinning choice cuts into the night, so if you’re looking to get down to Fela, Femi Kuti, Africa 70, Manu Dibango, and Antibalas, Nietzsche’s is the place to be. Tickets are $10 and the show starts at 10 PM.

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: Aaron Dilloway

May 27, 2015

Michigan-born experimental artist Aaron Dilloway is best known as a former core member of Detroit industrial noise band Wolf Eyes, whose prolific, DIY-style stream of releases has amassed over one hundred recordings since 1996. Band members John Olson, Nate Young, and Dilloway each have been responsible for a handful of side-projects and recording aliases which have acted as a natural sonic extension of their ambitious, murky aesthetic. On his acclaimed 2012 LP Modern Jester, Dilloway presented a comprehensive look at the artist’s avant-garde explorations that helped define the American noise scene. Despite the challenging nature of this abrasive style, the resulting effect of the artist’s chaotic soundscapes comes off as atmospheric and at times manages to achieve a serene quality amidst this highly-textured sound. Tonight, Aaron Dilloway will be performing at Buffalo’s Squeaky Wheel Film and Media Arts Center along with an opening set from Mistake by the Lake Tapes[...]

Tonight: Face to Face

May 26, 2015

Full disclosure: I’m not a Face to Face fanboy. I’m actually only familiar with one album by the Victorville, California foursome. I don’t even think I have an original copy of that album either, just a burned one. And I can’t tell you where or when I heard it for the first time. I can tell you one thing though, I listened to the fuck out of it. The album I’m speaking of is, of course, the band’s self-titled masterpiece. It’s just so good. It really is. A fun, straight up punk rock album start to finish. No shit ballads. No filler interludes. Just moderately fast punk music. It’s one of those albums that you eventually know all the words to and end up singing random songs from it at work. You end up listening to it five times in a row and don’t notice, and don’t even care because[...]

Tonight: Every Time I Die

April 22, 2015

Every Time I Die (ETID for you ETIDIOTS out there) are clear frontrunners in the “Hometown Heroes” category. They’ve toured the world, sold a ton of records, and amassed a legion of fans during their 17-year tenure. What impresses most, however, is their unabashed loyalty to and love of Western New York in spite of all this. They usually play here 3x a year, whether it be as part of a summer festival (singlin’ you out Warped Tour) or for one of their famed Christmas shows. I’ve seen them a great many times here in countless venues over the years, probably more than any other touring band. The other day, I was trying to think of all the places ETID has played in the area, and that is a history lesson on its own. Here’s my count; the Atomic, the Basement Bar, Cruise Inn, 33 Tyler St, the Funeral Home,[...]

Tonight: The Battery Electric

April 18, 2015

Saturday nights are for rock’n’roll takeovers, and what better way to celebrate than to spend it at the Polish Library; the East Side’s coolest haunt (612 Fillmore Ave). New Jersey outcasts, the Battery Electric and Hot Blood, deemed fit to grace our little town with the sweatiest, nastiest, r’n’r their bodies could muster. Full-scale heathen-on-fire, Turbo-worshipping, punk rock. Wondering why the highly hyped Jersey-boys have developed such a serious rep? Gotta get to the east side to find out. The bill also features a tour-de-force of Buffalo’s best. Johnny Thunders-rip off duo, Raunchy Sex, will be making their semi-annual reunion. Bobo, the Jimmer-led beautiful disaster, as well as garage bangers, Fatal Figures and Gay Boy Berserkers, Governess grace the stage, as do speed-chargers, One Way Terror. In between sets, Buffalo’s go-to punk rock DJ, Malik Saint, will be hypnotizing us with sleazy wax singles. And what rock’n’roll show would be[...]

Tonight: BRC and RRC Present UNITY!

April 11, 2015

The Buffalo Rage Community and the Rochester Rave Community have joined forces to present a quarterly event of music and local talent that will encapsulate the title itself: Unity. Talent from the two cities will share stages at Waiting Room, with each community drawing a crowd of loyal followers. The last BRC event held at the venue was so full to capacity and was energetic beyond belief, there was a line winding out the door which is hard to come by for Buffalo events these days. The lineup for tonight is stacked and there will be a taste of any genre. For those that hoop, poi, glove, and any other visually stimulating trip trick toy, the BRC and RRC encourage you to bring them. Note: Just please be mindful and respectful of those around you. Sneak a peak at the time slots below. 8-9pm: MatKa B2B Chucks 9-10pm: Miosi B2B[...]

Tonight: Smart House

April 11, 2015

Tonight Buffalo’s hottest free weekly newspaper, The Public, and The Good Neighborhood will be presenting a show at Nietzsche’s featuring two of Buffalo’s most ambitious and exciting bands: Smart House and Strange Acres, in addition to Brooklyn’s The Vine Brothers. Working backwards, the eclectic lineup actually traces a fascinating history of popular music, from the gritty yet delicate Americana infused folk rock of The Vine Brothers to the aching, David Lynch inspired retro chill-rock of Strange Acres to the less is more future pop of Smart House (including blog alumni Brian Gorman). $5 or the donation of a used musical instrument gets you in.

Tonight: The Decemberists

April 1, 2015

Portland’s hyper-literate, indie-folk rock act, the Decembrists, have amassed many accolades, from Grammy nominations to well-documented participatory live shows. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the group however is its consistency of strong material. Since the band’s inception in the early 2000s, the Decembrists have released one phenomenal album after another, leading to many debates (as is oft the case among great bands) about which album is the creme de la creme, the focal center. My personal favorite remains the Hazards of Love, for many reasons. It caught me at the right time, and I could heavily relate to the character arcs and the bold, exploratory nature of the music. Thematically, it was a powerhouse, tempered by a vibe both subdued yet somehow startlingly open. (Feel free to debate this is the comments section. Everyone’s a winner in these kind of arguments.) Tonight, the Decembrists will be regaling us with[...]

Celebrate the Vernal Equinox with Igloo

March 18, 2015

The Igloo Music crew is back again with another party, this time to celebrate the oncoming spring. That beautiful moment when light and day are nearly the same and around the world various cultures are celebrating the renewing symbolism of the season. Maintain your enthusiasm for spontaneity, the location of the event on Friday, March 20th will not be announced until the day of, by calling a hot-line number. “I still dig the concept of being secretive about the location of events. It’s fun and can build up great anticipation for the partygoer, especially if it’s at a spot that no one has never seen or been to ever,” said Igloo’s Rufus Gibson. “Buffalo has a very structured party scene. Same show, same venue, same time of year. We wanted to break the mold and throw a little mystery in the mix,” said the crew’s John Sullivan. “Our goal is[...]

Tonight: Pink Elephant

March 6, 2015

Tonight, one of our favorite regional hard-hitting rock bands, Pink Elephant, will make its triumphant return to Buffalo. Quickly becoming a regular embedded in the Buffalo music scene, Rochester’s Pink Elephant has been buddying up with local bands Soul Butchers, Handsome Jack, and Governess. The group’s raw indie rock sound is something that Buffalo could always use a bit more of. Fans of Les Savy Fav, Heavy Hands, or Call Me Lightning should make their way out to Mohawk Place with doors at 8pm and a $5 cover. Also on the bill is Governess, Fatal Figures, and Tugboat, so you’re $5 goes a long way on Mohawk Avenue tonight.