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Tonight: Shonen Knife

Tonight, legendary Japanese pop punk institution Shonen Knife return to Buffalo for  a show at The Studio at Waiting Room. Their sixth show locally in eight years, the love between this area and these mighty heroines from Osaka is real as they bring their USA Ramen Adventure 2017 to town now that we’ve properly embraced ramen thanks in no small part to the wonderful people at Sato and Sato Ramen and their currently under construction Izakaya in the old Soundlab downtown. Opening the show will be former Brimstone Blonde frontman Matthew Danger Lippman and local favorites Dreambeaches. Tickets are still available for $15 and doors open at 7pm

Tonight: Operators

Tonight Canadian New Wavers Operators make a stop in Buffalo with blog favorites Humble Braggers for a night of synthed out electronic bliss and tasteful ass shaking. One of the many projects Dan (Wolf Parade, Divine Fits) Boeckner has going at any given moment, Operators released their terrific debut Blue Wave last year. Recorded in “a vintage barn in the middle of nowhere” of Southern Ontario, it’s a terrific slice of smart 80’s New Wave pop with an up to the minute sensibility that speaks to our immediate times with songs like “Mission Creep” and “Bring Me The Head.” Really, with the bombs falling in the Middle East and quite possibly North Korea by the time this post gets published, Operators couldn’t have come at a better time. Meanwhile, local openers Humble Braggers have had a busy few months, playing shows in Fredtown, Rochester, and the city in support of their fine debut[...]

Tonight: Rubblebucket

Of the handful of bands that I consistently recommend seeing live, Rubblebucket has held a spot on my list since I first saw them in 2014. I’m convinced that most upbeat, dance groove-driven bands translate well to a crowd of people in terms of energy, but man oh man, does this one take energetic to a whole new level. Granted, there are always 5+ members in the Brooklyn-based outfit, a beefed up horn section, and sometimes an eccentric full-bodied, faceless flower mascot comes out and stage to boogie. Sounds wild, right? Even still, the band is incredibly tight and will absolutely captivate you musically, if not visually. Since re-branding themselves under the name Rubblebucket in 2008, the band has put out 7 official releases (with a brand new one on the way!). They haven’t quite reached household name status, but it’s clear that wildly huge success is not the end-all[...]

Tonight: SURVIVE

Halloween’s not quite over yet for Buffalo this year. In a pretty damn good year of shows one of the most surprising and pleasing gets of 2016 is After Dark Entertainment’s bringing Austin TX electronic band SURVIVE to the Waiting Room tonight. SURVIVE has had an interesting and probably thrilling 5 months due in no small part to their participation in creating the tremendously effective soundtrack to Netflix’s summer blockbuster hit Stranger Things, a ridiculously dense and pleasing homage to Spielberg, Stephen King, and the early 80’s that virally conquered the pop culture zeitgeist upon it’s release in mid July. The band has enjoyed the increased exposure, releasing Stranger Things soundtrack albums along with a new album in September, RR7349 embarking on a national tour that brought them to our fair city. This show is a must for WNY Stranger Things obsessives and fans of 80’s flavored electronic minimalism, and a real coup for After[...]

PUP at the Studio at Waiting Room (2/11/16)

“It’s really cool to see you all here, because the last time we played Buffalo, we played to like 17 people in a giant amphitheater,” PUP vocalist/guitarist Stefan Babcock addressed the crowd a few songs into the band’s already raucous set last night at the Studio at Waiting Room.  It is clear that Warped Tour was to blame here (as usual), as PUP’s blasting, fun, punk tunes had already had the crowd on their feet by the first songs of the band’s set.  There was no rest within the crowd for the majority of PUP’s set, kids taking to the stage to sing along and stage dive during the band’s insane live renditions of their tracks, warmed up just right by sets from Buffalo natives The Slums and Toronto act Pkew Pkew Pkew. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again,  PUP is a band that is best seen live.  There is no[...]

Tonight: Cheap Girls

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[...]

Darwin Deez at the Studio at Waiting Room (12/11/15)

Fresh off their new release Double Down, NYC pop artist Darwin Deez rolled through Buffalo on his latest tour through the US. With a set consisting of both new and old material, Darwin Deez managed to keep the crowd dancing throughout their whole set. Check out some pictures from their set below, and click here for a full gallery. Darwin Deez

Tonight: H20

H20 has got that P.M.A. The legendary NYC hardcore punk band, known for their high energy anthems, pile-on singalongs, and absolutely bananas live shows, have been kicking around for over 20 years, spreading the gospel of “positive mental attitude” wherever they go. Led by outspoken vocalist Toby Morse, it’s no wonder H20 are celebrated in the scene. They’re a true hardcore band in every sense of the word, fueled by strong messages and strong songwriting. That they connect with kids and adults alike is a testament to their fortitude and belief in the power of hardcore music. Tonight, along with Angel Dust, featuring Justice of Trapped Under Ice fame, H20 will be playing at the Studio in the upstairs of Waiting Room (6:30pm, $17). Also on the bill is Give and Buffalo’s own, the Barksdales, who recently released the excellent In Our Hands EP (check it out on bandcamp or[...]

Tonight: Unearth

I’m going out on a limb and putting my metal credibility on the line here with this next statement. Unearth is the single greatest metalcore band that has ever existed. Follow me on this one. Devastating breakdowns. Check. Dual guitar attacks that will haunt your thoughts for days. Check. Blistering leads. Oh yea, they’re there. Pantera-Groove. Yup, those too. Metal tunes that STAND OUT that you actually REMEMBER. Well, yea. That perfect mix of hardcore attitude and raw thrash metal breakneck speed. You get the point. Now, some may hesitate to call Unearth “metalcore” and while that label seems to not be so popular these days, I think that’s a perfect summation of what Unearth does. These guys came from the hardcore scene, but loved metal when that was not so cool. They essentially forged a new sound and style in the late 90’s and did so whilst sounding fresh and[...]

Tonight: Chon

Guitar lovers rejoice as instrumental math rock quartet Chon is set to take the stage at the Studio at Waiting Room later on tonight. Known for incredible, flashy guitar work and a groove heavy style of math rock inspired instrumentals, the San Diego bred group is sure to have the audience in awe as the members flawlessly rip through tracks off of their latest full length album, Grow. Opening the show will be locals Dininex and Amputecht, and doors open at 6:30pm tonight. Plenty of tickets are still available at the door for $14, and all ages are admitted, 16 and under with an adult.

River City Extension

Tonight: River City Extension

River City Extension’s sound is anything but stale. With the addition of melodic guitar, strings, keys, and refreshing structural changes, this New Jersey based group offers an invigorating approach to rootsy blended indie rock. Though unique in their own respect, they share the same propulsive, positive feel that a band like The Mowglis possesses, and have similar rhythmic variance of 2011 era Bombay Bicycle Club on their newest release, Deliverance. There is this overall pleasant assuredness that shines through their tightly wound sound that is quite contagious for a listener. Naturally, if I were to make one suggestion for what you should do on this lovely Tuesday, it would be to stop by the Studio at Waiting Room for this show. Philly natives, Cold Fronts, will be opening with their bedroomy riff rock, along with locals, Our Modern Moloch. Doors are at 7pm, and you can still get a ticket[...]