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Tyler, The Creator at Town Ballroom (6/14/15)

June 15, 2015

With the Odd Future collective in flux, the group’s clown prince ringleader, Tyler, The Creator, returned to Buffalo Sunday night for a sold-out performance that saw the rapper dig deep into his latest record, Cherry Bomb. Contributing blog photographer, Candace Camuglia, was on hand to snap some pics of Tyler, opener and fellow/former Odd Future member Taco, and a somewhat subdued (for an OF show at least) crowd. For a full recap of the show, check out our review here.

Tyler, The Creator at Town Ballroom (6/14/15)

June 15, 2015

Sunday night, Tyler, The Creator, the controversial former/current ringleader of the rap group Odd Future, made his return to Buffalo at an interesting point in his career. The young cult rap superstar had just in recent weeks continually announced then denied the end of Odd Future, and was fresh off the release of his new album which continued to move further away from his debut effort Goblin. So needless to say, it was interesting to see how this show was gonna pan out and how the hardcore Odd Future fans that made up the audience would response to it. While the show opened with some of Tyler’s earliest work from Goblin, including perhaps Tyler’s strongest (and most demented track), “Tron Cat,” the show was mostly dominated by songs from his new record, Cherry Bomb. I’ll admit to not being the biggest fan of the new album, as I feel like[...]

Tonight: Tyler, The Creator

June 14, 2015

Back in 2010, Tyler, The Creator debuted his first studio album, Goblin. With lyrics that bring new meaning to the word “offensive,” he not so quietly gained some notorious attention. Name dropping everyone from Bruno Mars to Miley Cyrus (in not so pleasant terms) his music, despite being vehemently off-putting to some critics, was the subject of conversation. Not so shockingly, Tyler has admitted to being a fan of Eminems. What the two have in common, perhaps, is their ability to offend basically everyone with homophobic and otherwise demeaning slurs. However, his vulgarity was not his only gimmick: in his music video for his single, “Yonkers,” a song proclaiming itself a paradox, Tyler again received attention, going so far as to eat — and regurgitate — a live cockroach for the sake of authenticity. As an early listener of Tyler’s music, I admittedly hated everything about him. I first heard[...]

Just Announced: Beach House

May 26, 2015

All has been a bit quiet on the Beach House front lately as the duo has been prepping the follow up album to 2012’s Bloom. Since its debut back in 2006, the Baltimore group has released a string of stellar, and at most times, flat out gorgeous albums, establishing itself one of the best acts of the dream pop genre. And with said new album, titled Depression Cherry, dropping on August 28th, Beach House has just announced a massive world tour, one whose itinerary includes a date at Town Ballroom on Friday, August 21st, the band’s first Buffalo date since June of 2010. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 29th, at noon for $26 in advance, $29 at the door.

Just Announced: The Psychedelic Furs

May 18, 2015

This August will see the joint-pairing of two icons of 80’s post-punk as The Psychedelic Furs and The Church kick off a North American, co-headling tour at Town Ballroom on Saturday, August 8th. The tour has been a long effort and dream of The Church’s lead singer Steve Kilney ever since the two band’s hayday, and will finally become a reality this summer. The groups will trade the stage and hits from “Under the Milkyway” to “Heaven,” “The Unguarded Moment” to “Pretty in Pink.” It should serve as both a wonderful night for retro-nostalgia and a night to witness two prime bands of a key chapter in post-punk history. Tickets for the show at Town Ballroom engagement go on sale for $29 in advance starting tomorrow.

Bill Nehill Releases From Wilderness to Where? Live EP

May 15, 2015

Long time Mohawk Place staple and TMMC front man, Bill Nehill, released a live recording earlier this week, capturing he and TMMC keyboardist, Ed Hallborg, opening for Bert Jansch at Town Ballroom in 2010. From Wilderness to Where? is the four track recording of the pair’s set, featuring Nehill’s wonderfully weary and heartbreaking vocals and Hallborg’s understated keys. Nehill has long been one of Buffalo’s musical gems and if you have yet to catch him live solo or with any of his ongoing projects, From Wilderness to Where? is a nice place to start. The full live EP can be listened to at Nehill’s bandcamp page. In the mean time, listen to the set opener, “Don’t Worry Darling,” below.

Tonight: Atmosphere

April 29, 2015

Though its often thrown under subgenres like conscious, emo, or backpack rap, Minneapolis’ Atmosphere is a pair of luminaries of hip hop as a whole, and the group will be at Town Ballroom tonight. The duo of rapper Slug and producer Ant have made waves with their allegorical, thematic music for 20+ years. Atmosphere is also two of the founders of the powerhouse independent hip hop label Rhymesayers, which they started in 1995. A live band supports the group on tour, bringing a jazzy, improvisational feel to one of the more composed hip hop artists out there. Expect songs from 2014’s Southsiders as well as some classic stuff from albums like God Loves Ugly and Seven’s Travels. Supporting the group is noted slam poetry artist, rapper and political activist B. Dolan, as well as fellow Rhymesayers MC deM atlaS.Tickets for the show at the Town Ballroom are available for $25 at the door, which open up at[...]

Just Announced: Lord Huron

April 7, 2015

LA based folk band Lord Huron will be back in Buffalo this summer on Tuesday, July 28th. After playing at Mohawk Place a couple years back, the quartet has now graduated to the stage of Town Ballroom. Lord Huron made its full length debut in 2012 with the ethereal collection of tunes, Lonesome Dreams, and just yesterday, dropped its sophomore LP, Strange Trails, which should see some serious road testing this summer as the band rolls through town. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 10th, at noon for $23 in advance, $26 day of. Widowspeak will join Lord Huron as support.

Tonight: Bleachers

April 5, 2015

It’s too facile to call Bleachers merely a side project of fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff (or, if you’re a Girls fan, the lover of Lena Dunham). With over-the-top production and unabashedly catchy alt-rock vibes – what he describes as a merging of Arcade Fire and Discourse, and music that isn’t ashamed to be mainstream – Antonoff has developed a band just as fun and commercially viable as his breakthrough group, if not more. The young band (conceived and developed during his touring with fun.) was launched into fame largely on the heels of lead single “I Wanna Get Better” – a jubilant and irresistibly catchy piece of audio-therapy, with its sunny sound suggesting Antonoff will be just fine. Their debut album, Strange Desire, came out July of last year, with the New Wave-y third single “Rollercoaster” also helping to cement the group’s place in the lighter halls of alt- and[...]

Tonight: Shakey Graves

March 31, 2015

Get your folk pants on, buffaBLOG readers, for Shakey Graves takes the stage at Town Ballroom tonight. Shakey Graves (neé Alejandro Rose-Garcia) is known for his guitar picking, and man can that boy pluck. True to the Americana form, his relatable lyrics and emotional performances remind us that while folk music has the power to carry us back to another time, its transcendent qualities are decidedly contemporary. Doors open at 7pm, and show starts at 8pm. Tickets are still available for $18 at the door.

Lotus: Pioneers in a Gilded Age

March 31, 2015

After finishing up a seven week tour, Lotus is back on the road to celebrate over a decade of music, what they have dubbed The Gilded Age Tour. Jesse Miller gave us some insight on the band’s evolution, process, and latest material. The group has grown not only as musicians, but also as an impetus in the culture of ‘mindful’ music. A culture that encourages and believes in music itself, as a powerful, motivating force that keeps us going day in and day out. The feeling and belief, that, yes, if you see a Lotus show, your life more than likely will change. That is the vibe Lotus creates–they unconsciously shift your aura, uplifting it into a blissful experience. Lotus has solidified as a band, taking great dedication to keep making music. Each album seems to analyze the prior, taking and pulling it apart, reorganizing the sound into more electronic, or[...]

Tonight: Taking Back Sunday

March 16, 2015

103.3 The Edge has been the talk of the town lately, having hosted a local-themed barnstormer a few weeks ago headlined by Made Violent. Tonight, the station presents Long Island’s Taking Back Sunday, a band that, at this point in its career, probably doesn’t need introducing. The emo titans have been slugging it out for the past 15 years or so – and after six full lengths, two top ten Billboard debuts, and more member changes than you can count, it’s no wonder tonight’s show is sold out. Support tonight comes from The Menzingers and LetLive. Unfortunately, traditional ticket purchasing methods are out of the question because they are all sold out. Doors are at 6pm which gives you plenty of time to improvise. Happy ticket hunting! [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/56446421″ 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: EOTO

March 14, 2015

With EOTO, String Cheese Incident percussionists Jason Hann and Michael Travis explore some extremely far-out places, using live instrumentation and then looping it to improvise intensely psychedelic grooves right on the spot. Their songs weave seamlessly through Drum and Bass, Electro, Dubstep, House, Glitch Hop, and Eastern Music, forging its own brand of heady, abrasive livetronica. Backed by a truly astounding light show that’s dead-focused on bending minds, EOTO is an absolute trip. Hann once describes their performances as an “all improvised alien disco party.” Indeed, it’s music that sounds like it shouldn’t come from planet Earth. Catch it tonight at the Town Ballroom. General admission tickets are $25, and the doors open at 8pm. Opening the show is Toronto DJ ill Gates and Baltimore live act ELM.  

Tonight: Young Thug

March 11, 2015

Southern drawlin’ straight from the ATL, Young Thug kickstarted his career when he signed over to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Brick Squad Records. The Rich Gang track “Lifestyle” is what really spiked Young Thug’s career, as well as becoming one of the most viral references on Vine. 1017 Thug, his fourth mixtape, was the first release of his on the label. His single, “Stoner,” became widely-known, additionally winning Best Club Banger for the BET Hip Hop Awards last year. Young Thug has become known for his eccentricity and style. Slurring words, his tracks sometimes become mysterious puzzles in and of themselves. It’s definitely safe to say that there aren’t many rappers out there like Young Thug. On his Rodeo Tour, Young Thug will be performing tonight in Buffalo along with Houston-native Travi$ Scott. After Dark Entertainment present the Rodeo Tour: Young Thug and Travi$ Scott Town Ballroom (681 Main St.) $35 day[...]

Just Announced: AWOLNATION

March 10, 2015

Just yesterday, alternative rock giants, AWOLNATION, announced a summer return to Western New York. After a successful show at the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls in 2013, the band will be back in support of its new album, Run (3/17), on Sunday, June 28th at Town Ballroom. Hearing a packed house at the Rapids all scream along the lyrics to the hit single “Sail” was one of the crazier concert experiences I’ve had, and I definitely look forward to seeing the AWOLNATION again. Take my word for it, this band can put on an incredible show. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13th, at noon for $25 in advance and $30 day of show via Ticketfly.  A VIP meet and greet package will also be available.