Latest Posts

Tonight: Andy Shauf

February 16, 2019

Canadian singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and immaculate guitarist Andy Shauf makes his long awaited Buffalo debut tonight at The Tralf with rising indie folk star Haley Heynderickx. Hailing from the great Canadian prairie and Regina, Saskatchewan specifically, Andy Shauf is a self taught musical wunderkind and songwriter in the tradition of Harry Nilsson and fellow Canadians Neil Young and Robbie Robertson, with a gobsmackingly perfect guitar tone that translates flawlessly from the studio to the stage, and the earnest voice of and angel. Shauf’s most recent solo album was 2016’s superb The Party, an achingly gorgeous collection of delicate folk rock jams about adult angst and awkwardness, and the eponymous album he released last November with Foxwarren, childhood and college buddies from across the prairie towns of Saskatchewan, was a heady dose of folk rock classicism and instantly vintage songcraft that was a late entry for one of the best album’s of[...]

Tonight: Bayside

November 29, 2018

Legendary punk act Bayside is making a special acoustic appearance tonight at The Tralf. After the success of their first acoustic EP (released over 10 years ago now!), Bayside has returned with a fresh new batch of acoustic takes on both fan-favorite songs and a few deep cuts. Rather than a simple acoustic take, fans should expect a complete re-imagining of these songs. Joining them tonight are special guests, GOLDS. Tonight’s show is $25 at the door. Doors open at 8pm, music starts at 9pm. This particular show is 21+, but 16+ can get in with a parent.

Tonight: Foxygen

July 24, 2017

At long last, glam psych rockers Foxygen will be making their Buffalo debut tonight at the Tralf..  The pointedly Los Angeles based duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado have spent the last decade taking a nihilistic sledgehammer to 70’s psychedelic rock and AM Gold radio on albums like We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic, … And Star Power, and most recently on Hang, a theatrical and phantasmagoric orchestral rock opus that’s pushes everything to the edge of sanity and frankly, beyond. Getting it going and transitioning your headspace will be Brooklyn lo-fi rock act Cut Worms and local provocateur/shaman, and Brimstone Blondes frontman Matthew Danger Lippman. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm, and tickets are still available at the door for $20.

Tonight: Wavves

May 19, 2017

Beloved California surf rockers Wavves make their welcome return to Buffalo tonight at the Tralf with Chicago psych rockers Post Animal. It’s since six long years since Nathan Williams and company played the Town Ballroom and the band’s had some adventures: signing to Warner Brothers after the indie success with King Of The Beach and releasing two albums with them before totally falling out with Warners and returning to the indie world all pissed off and invigorated. Footloose and free, Wavves dropped their wonderfully wacky and adventurous sixth album You’re Welcome this very day in history, making tonight’s show even more special for local fans. Chicago buzz band Post Animal opens the show, having just dropped their latest single “Special Moment” last week. The buzz surrounding them is noteworthy for a few reasons: 1) it’s entirely justified thanks to their dense and dreamy, Tame Impalaesque sound; and 2) part of the buzz[...]

Tonight: Cloud Nothings

April 28, 2017

Tonight Cleveland post punk garage rockers Cloud Nothings make a welcome return to Buffalo at the Tralf for their first local show in three years. These spirit brothers of the Rust Belt and their mighty, primal rock are back in support of their excellent fourth album Life Without Sound, a melodically complex turn that still retains the angst fueled howl that makes them on of the most captivating bands going right now. Your guess is as good as mine about who’s opening the show, but tickets are still available for $18, and doors open at 8pm. UPDATED: According to Cloud Nothings Twitter feed the openers will be “some weird Cleveland ____” in the form of a band called Brainwashed California and “this guy” Adam Miller.

Tonight: Lucy Dacus

April 1, 2017

Lucy Dacus is on the rise. Her trending debut LP No Burden makes indie rock seem effortless, and garnered the interest of multiple record labels before its eventual release on Matador. Dacus’ delivery is exceptionally mature for a 21-year-old; the Richmond-based songstress weaves a warm alto through her hyperaware observations and swirling guitar leads. Fans of Wye Oak, Angel Olsen, or pseudo-locals Bethlehem Steel would dig Dacus. She is an artist worth checking out in a live setting this early in her young career, and tonight is your chance. She makes a pit stop at the Tralf later tonight to showcase her craft. Tourmates Spooky Cool, also from Richmond, will provide opening support with Buffalo dream-pop pals Mutual Friends rounding out the indie-rock gem of a bill. Doors open at 6pm, tickets can be had here for ten bucks apiece.

Tonight: Mac Sabbath

March 23, 2017

Tonight everybody’s favorite McDonaldland murdering Black Sabbath tribute band Mac Sabbath returns to Buffalo in a big way with their Mockstrocity Tour featuring Metalachi, the world’s only heavy metal mariachi band and Ned Flanders inspired metalheads Okilly Dokilly. Halloween comes a few months early this year (thank the five fingered God) because the Tralf is hosting this unholy evening of skull crushing metal, Gen-X pop cultural touchstone parodies and joyfully deranged merriment, and this could not come at a better time. Tickets are still available for $25.50, doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm.

Tonight: The Growlers

September 24, 2016

California surf rockers The Growlers make their way to the Tralf tonight. Labeled by some as “beach goth,” the group offers an eclectic mix of garage, surf, psychedelic, pop and punk elements with disco beat undertones. Following their fun, guitar-centric 2014 release Chinese Fountain, they are gearing up for a new record, and their first for Cult Records. Titled City Club, it is available for pre-order now and due out September 30th. Doors are at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. $20 at the door. 

Tonight: Rogue Wave

May 11, 2016

Tonight Oakland-based indie rock duo, Rogue Wave, are headlining at the Tralf. Fronted by Zach Rogue and Pat Spurgeon ,the band is touring in support of their recently released album, Delusions of Grand Fur. The band is sure to draw a crowd with some atmospheric indie-pop. They have something for everyone from their pop-influenced lyrics and their modern electronic influence which can be heard in the futuristic synths and clean drum machine. Everything is complimented nicely with moody guitar and dreamy electronic instrumentation tying everything together tightly for a nice minimalist act. Opening for them is Hey Marseilles who play indie-folk mixed with chamber pop as they include everything from guitar, mandolin, accordion, piano, cello, bass, to viola. This is going to be a show you don’t want miss. Tickets $18 with doors opening at 7pm.

Tonight: The Besnard Lakes

April 28, 2016

Montreal psych/prog rockers The Besnard Lakes make a long awaited return to Buffalo tonight at the Tralf Music Hall with Detroit’s Turn To Crime. In town for the first time in 6 years, this time in support of their most recent opus, 2016’s  A Coliseum Complex Museum, The Besnard Lakes will be unleashing their Beach Boys by way of David Lynch infused indie take on the ambitious prog rock of the 70’s, all haunting yet gorgeous vocal harmonies, otherworldly, spaced out melodies, and epic jams. Meanwhile, opening the show will be Turn To Crime, the latest project of Awesome Color’s Derek Stanton is an intriguing fusion of classic Detroit rock and modern post punk. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $14.

Wolf Alice at The Tralf (4/6/16)

April 8, 2016

Coming from their European tour, Wolf Alice returned to  The Tralf on Wednesday night for the US portion of their tour for in support of their debut  album “My Love Is Cool.” The band gained a huge following in Europe after the release of their full LP, leading to the adding 2 extra nights in London. While not as big in the US, they had no trouble filling up the venue, bringing just as much energy to the crowd as they have been. Supporting them was fellow UK band, Slaves, who despite being the opening act still had quite a few fans throughout the crowd who were singing along to their set. Wolf Alice played through songs off their first album, as well as ones from earlier EPs like “Moaning Lisa Smile,” which brought the band up in the UK before America followed suit. SLAVES Alice Wolf

Just Announced: Titus Andronicus w/ Craig Finn

December 15, 2015

New Jersey raucous punk act, Titus Andronicus, will be headlining at the Tralf with direct support from Hold Steady frontman, Craig Finn, on Monday, March 21st. Titus Andronicus will be touring in support of their fourth and most recent album/rock opera, The Most Lamentable Tragedy. Led by one of the genre’s more intriguing front men in Pat Stickles, Titus Andronicus is returning to the Queen City after an almost year and a half absence. Let’s not let that happen again. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, December 18th, for $16. 

Just Announced: Deer Tick

December 7, 2015

Minutes ago, The Tralf announced that on Saturday, March 19th, Providence-based rollicking alt-country act, Deer Tick, will be headlining a stripped down show in continued support of their latest album, Negativity. This will be more of a minimalist show (acoustic) so keep that in mind. We suggest grabbing a table quick. Tickets go on sale Friday via TicketMaster and are $20 presale.

Tonight: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

October 29, 2015

Fresh off the May release of their fifth studio album Bright Days, Rochester’s favorite live reggae jam band, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be returning to Buffalo’s The Tralf tonight. While Bright Days was mostly an exercise in finely crafted, laid-back roots-rock, the band’s usual live sound is a funky, low-end heavy mix of jam-band rock and dub reggae. It’ll be anybody’s guess which style they decide to bring to tonight’s show. My hope is a little of both. Bright Days is an amazingly natural-sounding, with the Eagles-esque soft rock of tunes like “Trust In Time” and the country ballad “Humboldt County Gold.” You’d think they took more influence from the Band than the Wailers. Still, it’s things like the electronic-tinged reggae rhythms of “Missing You More,” the funky wah wah bass of “Love You More” and the 420-friendly lyrics of “Mr. Cop” that the band is best known for. Opening[...]

Neon Indian at the Tralf (10/23/15)

October 25, 2015

In a year of live music treats, Friday night has to stand out thanks to the much anticipated return of Denton, Texas electronic funk outfit Neon Indian to Buffalo after a five and a half year absence, along with truly excellent opening support from Explorer Tapes and Lesionread. Any hard feelings (there really weren’t any) would be completely forgotten, wiped away by an electro-funk heavy set that took the crowd to Night School and turned the Tralf into an 80’s dance party. Explorer Tapes got everything going right with a gorgeous and aching set of Brian Wilson meets Lindsey Buckingham influenced 80’s yacht rock. The duo of Max Townsley and Drew Erickson, also from Denton, impressed the seated Tralf audience with plaintive and sweetly expressive harmonies, Buckinghamesque guitars and dreamy sythns, making the place feel like a nightclub on a cruise ship, which was perfectly simpatico with the headliner who’d composed[...]