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Tonight: The Moth & The Flame

March 5, 2016

After a little over four months, Provo-based buzz band The Moth & The Flame makes their return to the queen city, with a headlining gig at The Tralf.  Since their last visit in October, the trio have released their first full-length album in five years, titled Young & Unafraid. If their name rings a bell you’ve probably caught wind of their public outcry when a certain Facebook profile ripped their video for “Young & Unafraid,” making the video viral while stealing a bunch of ad money. While this unfortunate event seemed like a curse, it ended up being a blessing in disguise, leading to a press blast, putting The Moth & The Flame on the forefront of the Facebook content stealing debate and the internet rallied behind them. This lead to alternative radio picking up on the song and they are headlining a national tour. Also on the bill are Buffalo-based[...]

Tonight: Snapcase 25th Anniversary Show

February 26, 2016

Buffalo has a long, rich history of solid hardcore bands from Zero Tolerance, Slugfest and Envy to Every Time I Die, and Buried Alive. There’s countless more I could name, but it would be a lesson in futility. There must be something in the water here. One of the best of these best has been around for 25 years and have released so many legendary albums, it would be pointless to try and pick out the high marks. Snapcase are, in many ways, Buffalo’s pride and joy. Throughout their history they’ve set the benchmark for great songs…. style for days. In the last few years they’ve been largely inactive, playing sporadic reunion shows, but the kids still get excited whenever they hear Snapcase will be lacing up again. Tonight the band celebrate their 25th anniversary at Town Ballroom ($28) with Grade (late 90’s fellow Victory alum and pretty f’n excellent[...]

Tonight: Judge

February 18, 2016

Several names pop up when you hear the term “straight edge” and have been involved in the hardcore scene for some years. The go-to’s are, of course, Minor Threat, who infamously coined the term, as well as Earth Crisis, the band that popularized the movement in the mid-90’s. Both excellent bands, synonymous with the label and the lifestyle it brings. There are of course many, many others though, few of which hold as heavy of a rep as Judge. In the late eighties, Judge represented a militant version of the movement. For the NYC hardcore band, featuring members of the famed Youth of Today, straight-edge was all encompassing. No compromise, no exceptions. This garnered the band many fans…and just as many critics. When the group called it a day in ’91, their reputation was sound. They were heavy (often bordering on metal, but not quite) and they didn’t fuck around.[...]

Tonight: Every Time I Die’s 11th Annual Xmas Show

December 20, 2015

2015 was something of a banner year for Every Time I Die, Buffalo’s favorite sons. In addition to the usual, relentless pace of touring, and international travels (this band really, REALLY loves being on the road), band members found time to expand on their personal interests. Keith wrote a novel and released an EP with his synthwave side project, Tape, Andy dedicated himself to the pumpatorium and positioned the strategic rise of Pythons, Daniel Davison joined the band as the new drummer and Jordan continued to expand on the JBWW brand. Despite all of the new ventures, it always, seemingly, comes back to tradition. And nothing say’s tradition like an Every Time I Die, Christmas party. Now in its 11th year, ETID’s Christmas bashes have become legendary for their chaos, and fun surprises. Whether at Mohawk Place, Waiting Room, Town Ballroom or elsewhere, it’s guaranteed to be a great time,[...]

Tonight: Comfy

December 18, 2015

Comfy visits Buffalo tonight for the third and final time this year, and if either of the Utica garage pop outfit’s other Buffalo shows are any testament to their ability to get the dance floor churning, it will be a banger once more. Gritty folk act Mr. Boneless and Mothers will also be gracing the stage of Dreamland tonight, where the show is set to take place. The show begins at 8pm (21 and up only please), and while the Facebook event lists no cover charge, it’d be a good idea to bring some cash for either a surprise cover (worth it), or some bomb merch. Pillowhugger by Comfy

Tonight: Cheap Girls

December 18, 2015

Michigan three-piece Cheap Girls have mastered the “throwback” feel. Their quintessential nostalgia-pop-punk sound is completely accessible but manages to maintain a characteristic garage-esque untidiness. There is a palpable earnestness in everything from the vocals to the slushy guitar parts that makes each and every song so inviting. In it’s most simple form, it’s feel good music for those that feel bad and the perfect band to keep in your pocket when you’re feeling a little wistful. If you’re at all a fan of The Menzingers or The Smith Street Band, I highly recommend seeing Cheap Girls tonight at The Studio at Waiting Room. Some of our favorite local bands including Mallwalkers, Cooler and Apathetic are slated to open. Doors are at 6:30pm and tickets are $12. Be there or be not there, but you should probably be there, as this show will pack a punch. Check the Facebook event for[...]

Tonight: Darwin Deez

December 11, 2015

During their Buffalo debut at Soundlab a few years back, NYC indie pop outfit Darwin Deez must have taken a liking to Buffalo.  The band will once again return to the Waiting Room tonight, this time upstairs, in support of their newest release, Double Down.  Released this September on Lucky Stars records, Darwin and crew continue with their trend of technical yet incredibly fun sounding tunes, and will no doubt inspire the crowd to slip on their dancing shoes over the course of the night.  This band is nothing but fun live, even utilizing full ban choreographed dance moves as interludes into tracks.  On tour with Darwin Deez  is Charlie Bliss, and locals Our Modern Moloch are also on the bill. Doors and show both begin at 6:30pm, so get there on time.  For only 14 bucks at the door, you can’t go wrong. Also, check out free Live Band Karaoke[...]

Tonight: All Them Witches

December 10, 2015

Psychedelic rockers All Them Witches are passing through Buffalo today. The Nashville quartet are quickly becoming front-runners in the underground heavy rock scene, seeing as how they masterfully blend blues, sludge, and stoner rock into long, droning songs. RIYL The Black Angels, Kyuss, or Pink Floyd. Support tonight comes from New Madrid and Rochester stoner rock group (and perfect fit for this particular bill), King Buffalo. Tickets are $12, doors are at 7:00pm, and music starts at 8:15. Clarification: you should not confuse All Them Witches with Buffalo-based mathy duo All of Them Witches, although that would have made for a pretty awesome lineup.

Tonight: Indie Rock Office Holiday Party

December 10, 2015

Tonight at Mohawk Place hosts a local bill that’s as local and awesome as you can get– Sleepy Hahas, The Naturalists, Aircraft, and Humble Braggers. It’s like Christmas is here early! Or something like that. While these bands really don’t need much of an introduction, we’ll do it anyway. Sleepy Hahas have undergone a couple of lineup changes in the past year, and are poised for the release of a new album on the heels of the “Deep River” single, which has a very cool video to go along with it. The Naturalists are riding high right now on the local attention that they’ve been getting from their latest EP, Home Honey, I’m Hi. If you like grunge, or pizza, give them a listen. (They really like pizza.) Psych garage rock group Aircraft is up next. Their most recent release being an EP, 7 Gems From The Sparkling Void. And[...]

Tonight: Sleater-Kinney

December 10, 2015

Asbury Hall at Babeville plays host to one of the biggest shows of the year when the Sleater-Kinney reunion tour swings through Buffalo tonight with indie folk darling Waxahatchee. Hard charging from Olympia, Washington, Sleater-Kinney – Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein, and Janet Weiss – became  one of the most vital and important bands of the late 90’s and early aughts (2000’s), and with their excellent 2015 release No Cities To Love, they’ve returned in a big way. Katie Crutchfield’s Waxahatchee, from Birmingham, Alabama, will be opening  the show in support of her third LP Ivy Tripp. Tickets are $31 at the door, which opens at 7pm.

Tonight: Andrew W.K.

December 7, 2015

Motivational speaker, weatherman, political commentator, advice columnist, and of course, noted party animal, Andrew W.K., will bring his annual holiday show to Broadway Joe’s this evening. The songwriter has been one of rock music’s most engaging forces since the early 2000’s, constantly clad in his signature white shirt/pant combo (and maybe a touch of blood), and finely riding the line of seriousness and stupidity. His arena rock meets nu-metal style has gone on to soundtrack a variety of films, cartoons, and video games, all while maintaining a feel good, carefree and endless party lifestyle. W.K. will once again be traveling solo for his show in the Heights, normally armed with only a microphone, keyboard, and backing tracks, just as he did at Waiting Room in 2013. While nostalgia heavy, that show left audience members confused, angry, and wanting more, but with the holidays around the corner, perhaps the rocker will[...]

Tonight: Painted Zeros

December 3, 2015

Hot off the release of their debut full length Floriography (Don Giovanni Records), Brooklyn-based dream fuzz trio Painted Zeros is set to hit Mohawk Place tonight on one of the coolest bills of the dwindling year. Floriography, written and recorded by Zeros frontwoman Katie Lau, is a beautifully textured record with a wide dynamic range–sometimes sweet and delicate, other times in-your-face gritty and explosive. Think Mazzy Star meets Smashing Pumpkins. The onstage iteration of the project is rounded out by drummer Jared Kaner and bassist Jim Hill, the latter formerly of Cottage Jefferson (Rochester!) fame. To make the show particularly homecoming-y, we have the Buffalo-bred, now Brooklyn-based Bethlehem Steel back in town, also hot off a fresh effort that snagged a slot as our Album of the Week last month. Can tonight’s show get any better? Yep. To top it all off, we have three of the best locals Buffalo’s punk scene[...]

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: Dreamers

December 2, 2015

Tonight, The Studio at Waiting Room plays host to touring Brooklyn-based band, Dreamers, as part of their nationwide tour in support of their forthcoming album set to be released in 2016. The band’s name might ring a bell as they were in town last September in support of Atlas Genius. If you weren’t at the show (or late), then expect Dreamers’ sound to be a mix between poppy garage-rock, surfy hooks, and gritty 70’s retro vibes. Fans of The 1975, Broncho, or even Muse would be into Dreamers. Also on the bill are locals Darling Harbor, Daniel Robinson, and No Vacancy. Doors open at 6pm with a $10 cover. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/233365889″ 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: Lazlo Hollyfeld & Friends do Talking Heads

November 25, 2015

After dropping a crowd stirring performance at the Night Lights Festival this past September, long time experimental rockers Lazlo Hollyfeld (& Friends) will once again tackle their reoccurring tribute series to the Talking Heads this evening at McGarret’s. Since its debut at Pearl Street’s New Years Eve covers party in 2009, the tribute show has seen many different variations at venues and events all over town. Playing the part of the always revolving “Friends” role this evening will be Dave Calos (Bearhunter, Applennium), Chris Groves (Fourem, Applennium), both of whom joined Lazlo at Night Lights for the performance, and Ryan Campbell, currently drumming in Lazlo lead guitarist’s Sonny Baker’s fleshed out solo project. Music kicks off at 10pm and will go long into the night as the band plans two long sets. Cover will be $5 at the door.