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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: Shonen Knife

April 25, 2017

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

April 14, 2017

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: Rock A Mile In Her Shoes

April 5, 2017

Tonight one of the best fundraisers in Buffalo returns as Babeville once again hosts the 3rd Annual Rock A Mile In Her Shoes show featuring The Slums, Morbs, Erica Wolfing, Del Paxton, and M.A.G.S.. The show benefits the Crisis Services Advocate Program which provides 24/7 support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse while working to reduce violence and to make our community a safer place. This year’s show brings together local heavyhitters The Slums, Del Paxton and Morbs with ethereal chanteuse Erica Wolfing and indie pop act M.A.G.S. for a night of crushing riffs, solidarity, love, respect, and fellas rocking in high heels (fellas in the audience who want to rock some heels in solidarity are encouraged to do so if the spirit moves them). Tickets are $10, doors are at 7pm with fun set for 8pm..

Tonight: Acid Dad

April 2, 2017

Tonight the Waiting Room hosts a downstate vs upstate New York battle of the bands when NYC’s Acid Dad and Brooklyn post punks Honduras share a bill with local fellas Ugly Sun and Deadwolf. Actually, it’s not a battle of the bands at all; everybody’s cool and there’s no cash prizes or bragging rights on the line (or are there?), and the real winners are local fans of garage and psychedelic rock down to kick it out on a Sunday night with these fine bands. NYC power trio Acid Dad specialize in the kind of sleezy garage rock usually ideal for getaway driving in vintage cars and/or driving on dark roads with the headlights off under the influence. Brooklyn’s Honduras meanwhile have been generating buzz in all the right places thanks to a raw garage rock that mainlines that 70’s downtown punk sound to satisfying effect. Local openers are both blog[...]

Tonight: Dance Yrself Clean

March 24, 2017

Tonight the latest edition of the Dance Yrself Clean Hipster Dance Party series is back at Milkie’s, and like the very satisfying January hootenanny the proceeds are going to a worthy cause doing the right thing. Journey’s End Refugee Services, a Buffalo non-profit helping our newest Buffalonians get settled and become members of our community, which is a win-win for everybody involved, but with El Trumpito targeting refugees and immigrants from the Oval Office, they can use the help during this particularly fraught time, which is where the DYC crew and you do your parts. Starting at 9 PM the DYC crew (Ben Parsons, Nick Muldoon, Tom Burtless, Allison Lavis, Katie Gariepy) will be rocking the tightest indie dance jams from the 2000’s up through yesterday; you, dear reader just got to show up, pay $5, and dance.

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: Matt Pryor & Dan Andriano

March 22, 2017

Tonight, two legendary musicians are swinging through Buffalo on their acoustic, co-headlining tour. You may recognize Matt Pryor for his role as front man for Kansas emo pioneers The Get Up Kids. Co-headliner Dan Andriano is the bassist for the equally-influential punk rock outfit Alkaline Trio. Together, they’re touring the country playing acoustic sets that are sure to span both musicians’ impressive catalogs. They’re also offering a tour-exclusive 7″ that they’ve put out together (featuring a collaborative cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecelia” – check it out below). Stress Dolls‘ Chelsea O’Donnell will be kicking off the evening tonight. Tonight’s show is at 8:00pm at the 9th Ward at Babeville. Tickets are $15 pre-show and $18 at the door.

Tonight: Humble Braggers Album Release Party

March 10, 2017

There’s really no denying that the Buffalo music scene is cranking right now. Collaborations aplenty, bands are going into the studio left and right, and the releases are coming hot and heavy, with the Del Paxton full length LP last week celebrated at the Mohawk and tonight at Nietzsche’s for brand new Humble Braggers. Tom Burtless and the fellas (Bryan Zells, Matt Chavanne) will be celebrating the release of the very first full length album I Know Better, I’m No Better with a ridiculously loaded lineup including CHAD VALLEY, dreambeaches, and Bottler. Recorded by Elliot (M.A.G.S., KIN) Douglas, there’s been a lot of buzz around this next step for Humble Braggers, so you’re definitely going to want to snap up I Know Better, I’m No Better to have it properly digested before the summer show season gets going. Getting the show started and making it international flair will be Oxford UK electro pop[...]

Tonight: The Head and the Heart

March 2, 2017

Tonight Seattle indie folk rock darlings The Head and the Heart  are back in Western New York after a six years absence to play UB’s Center For The Arts along with the always excellent Springtime Carnivore. There’s been some water under the bridge in those intervening years, with the band is foraging ahead behind their third album and first for Warner Brothers, last year’s Signs Of Life. Based on what Nathan Wilson from Wavves had to say recently about his previous dealings with Warners, good luck to them, and one hopes their pleasing California folk rock remains undimmed by the experience. Opening the show will be the ever delightful Los Angeles musical polymath Springtime Carnivore, aka Greta Morgan, returning to the area for a third time in three years having opened sensationally for Father John Misty at the Town Ballroom in 2015 and La Sera last fall at the Mohawk. Fans of[...]

Tonight: GZA

February 25, 2017

Tonight Wu-Tang original GZA aka The Genius  will be breaking it down at The Waiting Room with special guests Mayhem Lauren and Short Moscato. A true legend, GZA is the realest of real deals whether it’s with the Wu-Tang, unleashing Liquid Swords, being strong on STEM research and opportunities for students of color or using his rhymes to decode the universe on the long awaited Dark Matter, possibly out later this year. Joining him will be Queens MC, Viceland star, sensualist and bon vivant Mayhem Lauren and Buffalo’s own Short Moscato, who dropped the first single of his upcoming debut earlier this week.

Tonight: The Leones

February 18, 2017

Tonight Buffalo ghost rockers The Leones will be headlining a tight lineup of local bands at the 9th Ward at Babeville including Sonny Baker and Chevron Bloom that looks like a can’t miss show in the making. Fresh off their excellent album Ghost In The City, Leones fans can expect more synth heavy explorations into ghostly horror, along with new music from their upcoming album of a more psychedelic and spaced out variety, which is always good when heard in an acoustically perfect room such as the always exquisite 9th Ward . Joining them will be Sonny Baker and a special solo acoustic set and the very vibe heavy garage rockers Chevron Bloom. Cover is $7 and doors open at 7pm. See you there.

Tonight: STRFKR

February 11, 2017

Get your dancing shoes cleaned and ready because dancing is mandatory when STRFKR comes to town, and they’re landing tonight here at The Waiting Room with Psychic Twin. The Portland, Oregon psychedelic dance funk outfit are known for irresistible grooves and their hyperactive, apocalyptic dance party live shows, are right on time and in town promoting their fifth album since 2008, last fall’s excellent Being No One, Going Nowhere. There will be dancing, confetti, rubber inflatables, and the kind of liberating freedom the human soul needs happening tonight at the Waiting Room. Opening the show will be emotionally charged but ethereal Brooklyn electronica duo Psychic Twin. Tickets are $20 and doors are at 7pm.

Tonight: The Slums

January 20, 2017

Put out a single, play a show… That’s exactly what Buffalo’s dirtiest, grimiest, and all-around badass-iest band The Slums are doing tonight. In an effort to flip our new president a gigantic bird, they’ve decided to donate all the money raised by tonight’s gig to Planned Parenthood. Joining The Slums in their middle-finger salute are the raucous indie surf punx in Slowcooker and the emotionally heavy male/female dynamics of honey COMA. ICYMI, check out “KREB” below so you can sing along. Later on, come hang out and let your middle fingers fly at the Modeling Factory at 7pm… Ask a friend for the address.

Tonight: Sammus

November 27, 2016

Thanksgiving holiday weekends in Buffalo really are a war of attrition beginning Wednesday and running through Saturday and into Sunday. Dreamland isn’t done yet however, hosting an evening of experimental/underground hip hop from Upstate New York featuring Ithaca’s Sammus along with Buffalo’s Hop Hop and We Stole The Show. Sammus (aka Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo) is a virtuoso behind and in front of the boards and an intellectual heavyweight, so be prepared to dance and ponder many, many things while enjoying material from her debut album Pieces In Space. Doors open at 6pm, music begins at 7pm, and admission is $6 or whatever you can pay (but don’t be stingy). Pieces in Space by Sammus