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Tonight: Papadosio

October 22, 2014

Asheville, North Carolina-based band Papadosio bring a unique, improvisational approach to electronic music, creating organic grooves with eclectic instrumentation. As a mainstay on the summer festival circuit in addition to heavy touring over the past few years, the band has gained a substantial following from both the jam-band and electronic music communities. With three studio albums to their name, the latest of which, T.E.T.I.O.S., was released last year, Papadosio have strived to progressively bring together both traditional and electronic sounds, keeping in mind their roots while looking forward to new sonic possibilities. Tonight, the band will appear at the Town Ballroom with support from Vermont jam-funk band Twiddle. Tickets for the all ages show are $20 and will be available at the 7pm door.  [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/172629311″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Just Announced: Dr. Dog

October 21, 2014

Dr. Dog never really did much for me. All of the elements were there: rollicking indie-folk rock, dual harmonies, just the right combination of psych, pop, and twang. But for some reason, I couldn’t get into them. Then a few friends dragged me to their early 2014 show, and I have to say I left a fan. The show was a blast and I was eagerly looking forward to catching them again. Luckily for me, and the rest of the bursting Town Ballroom crowd, the Philly band will return to Town Ballroom on Wednesday, January 21st as part of its Flamingo Hotel Tour. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 24th, at noon for $20 in advance, $23 day of.

Tonight: New Found Glory

October 21, 2014

New Found Glory is approaching 20 years as a band and still going strong. Often credited alongside Blink-182 and Green Day as the godfathers of the genre, the pop-punk heroes will be hitting the Town Ballroom tonight in support of their freshly-released eighth album, Resurrection. Pogo, mosh, or whatever, tonight’s gonna be a lot of fun. Supporting NFG tonight are We Are The In Crowd, Candy Hearts, and Fireworks. Tickets are $24 at the door. Get there at 6:30. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9960957″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Gwar

October 19, 2014

For many, Gwar is that band. That band that “I must see before I die.” Earlier this year, though, many believed that if you hadn’t seen Gwar already, then you were doomed after front man and founding member, Dave Brockie, was tragically found dead due to a heroin overdose. However, Gwar is bigger than one man. Even with Brockie and his alter ego, Orderus Urungus, sadly gone, the show must go on. New front woman, Vulvatron, is the first female member of the shock-metal act since the departure of Slymenstra Hymen in 2000. Vulvatron is played by designer Kim Dylla, who allegedly shoots blood from her nipples (see below), so that’s something for the kiddies. The Gwar traveling circus will be making a stop in Buffalo tonight at the Town Ballroom. Also on the bill are Decapitated and American Sharks. Tickets are $24 at the door. This show is a[...]

Tweedy w/Hospitality @ Town Ballroom (10/1/14)

October 3, 2014

Jeff Tweedy was met with an uproar of approval after telling the packed Town Ballroom “You guys are the best audience we’ve had, hands down.” No doubt his claim was validated—the Wilco frontman played over a two hour set for the adoring crowd. His new solo outfit, Tweedy, featuring his 18-year-old son on drums, played the intimate Buffalo venue Wednesday night in support of the band’s 20-track beauty debut Sukierae, and stole the night with that powerful, entrancing magic that Jeff Tweedy is known for. Brooklyn avant-pop three-piece Hospitality started the show, launching right into a fresh adaptation of “Inauguration,” a whimsical slow-burner off the band’s latest full-length, Trouble. This particular version presented a much more organic take on the song, highlighted by a slick little solo played by singer/guitarist Amber Papini towards the latter half. Other highlights of their set included the smooth and cool “Going Out,” rhythmic new[...]

Tonight: Tweedy

October 1, 2014

Father and son make their way through town tonight in the newest creation by Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy. With Jeff taking his usual spot at guitar and lead singer, you can find his oldest son, Spencer, behind him on drums. Listening to their music, you get the sense that it’s more than just a hash mark off Jeff’s list of “things to do as an accomplished musician.” Beyond the blood they share, the lyrics are personal—in many places you can see themes of the most intense thing the two now face on this earth: a mom and wife fighting with cancer. The duo’s first album, Sukierae, is indeed named after Jeff’s wife, Sue Miller. It features 20 songs soaked with a Jeff Tweedy at his most raw. But then again, I suppose his lyrics are always served best with a high dose of emotional turbulence. While in many cases[...]

Tonight: Matisyahu

September 22, 2014

Buffalo welcomes Matisyahu back to Town Ballroom as he takes his “Built to Survive” tour across North America to promote his latest album, the critically acclaimed Akeda. Streaming online now, the album is his most self-searching and raw release to date. Akeda is the Hebrew word for binding, and that’s exactly what this album does. It clings to you, and the reggae-tinged beats, at times triumphant, hopeful, scattered, and soulful, stick in your brain. However, the album is also about change and letting go, with Matisyahu acknowledging that “I think this period of my life has really been about letting go of everything, all the things I had set up form my image to certain relationships to making the kind of music that’s expected of you.” He does just this with his latest effort, and this is a tour that shouldn’t be missed, as those who were at the Town[...]

Just Announced: DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist

September 17, 2014

After a few weeks of rumors, local promoter, Mike T. Marshall, just confirmed on his facebook page that influential DJ/producer, DJ Shadow, will be playing the Town Ballroom on Tuesday, November 11th along with Cut Chemist. Born as Joshua Davis and referred to as the “Jimi Hendrix of sampling,” Shadow is best known for his genre defining, debut release Endtroducing…, and for the development of the experimental instrumental hip hop scene. The two DJs will be in town for the vinyl-only, Renegades of Rhythm tour, honoring Afrika Bambaataa. I am not much of a DJ guy, but even I know this is a big one. Tickets are on sale right now for $27.50 in advance, $30 day of. I am guessing this show never reaches that day of price so buy your tickets now.

Tonight: The Gaslight Anthem

September 17, 2014

Next to the Boss, no artist embodies the spirit of New Jersey quite like the Gaslight Anthem. With their tales of lost romance and city streets, poetic bent for gritty storytelling, focally set on urban imagery, the Anthem fit comfortably in the nestled nook of traditional rock’n’roll, all whilst traversing a somewhat punk rock spirit. Call them saviors, call them whatever you want. This is REAL rock’n’roll anyway you slice the dice. Along with Against Me!, another band that has carved out a unique niche in the ofter-than-not constricting medium that is punk, The Gaslight Anthem will be performing a special show tonight at the Town Ballroom ($29, 7pm). As legend of their live performances continues to grow, so does their popularity, and you’d be foolish to miss them. This band is just going to keep on getting bigger, mark my words. Get there early to catch opener, Twopointeight.

Tonight: Greensky Bluegrass

September 10, 2014

It takes a relentless disregard for boundary to push the music like Greensky does. They have this uncanny aversion to falling in line with what so many might think of as bluegrass in the conventional sense. Where the skill of songwriting is mixed with the finesse of an all string quartet, this progressive ensemble takes root in an old genre, turning it on its head to make it new. Hell, if nothing else, the proclamation lies in the name, as if trying to say, “it’s opposite day, and we’re here to fuck with all of your preconceptions.” You see a lot of jam bands make that push—one could argue it’s stylistically inherent to the approach—and in many cases it’s easy to see where the bluegrass roots have taken hold. Phish, String Cheese Incident, or moe., just to name a few. And while I hesitate to stick Greensky with the jam[...]

Just Announced: Arkells

September 3, 2014

Hamilton, Ontario’s Arkells will be making a welcome return to the Queen City when they hit up the Town Ballroom on Saturday, October 4th. The lads will be in town to promote their latest release, the excellent High Noon, which finds the sturdy and reliable Arkells taking their always pleasing power pop into Bruce Springsteen and Paul Weller territory with rather interesting results that reveal previously unknown depths to these almost local favorites. TIckets are $18, can be purchased at the Town Ballroom box office or online at Ticketfly, and are onsale right bloody now. Here’s the video for “Come To Light,” the lead single off High Noon and a taste of this new phase for Arkells.

Just Announced: Jeff Tweedy

August 18, 2014

The Buffalo and Rochester areas are normally blessed with a Wilco show nearly every year, usually taking turns between the two cities. And while it doesn’t look like Wilco is doing much touring this fall, fans of the long time act will have the opportunity to catch front man Jeff Tweedy as he rolls through town later this fall with a date set at the Town Ballroom on Wednesday, October 1st. Tweedy will be touring in support of his new project, simply titled Tweedy, and its debut record, Sukierae. Set to drop on Tuesday, September 23rd, Sukierae finds Tweedy riding solo for the first time in his career, along with his teenage son Spencer on drums, and a cast of Chicago based musicians rounding out the group. I wasn’t sure what solo Tweedy material would sound like as it’s hard to hear his voice and not think Wilco, but after[...]

Just Announced: The Gaslight Anthem

August 11, 2014

New Jersey’s rousing, heartland rockers, the Gaslight Anthem, are set to to play Town Ballroom later next month on Wednesday, September 17th. Frequently drawing some Springsteen comparisons no thanks to lead singer Brain Fallon’s decidedly Boss-like vocals, and because New Jersey, the band’s latest record, Get Hurt, drops tomorrow. Providing support for the Gaslight Anthem will be Against Me!. The Gainesville act, led by Laura Jane Grace, has been making Buffalo a frequent stop as of late. Co-Presented by Funtime and After Dark Entertainment, tickets go on sale Friday, August 15th, at noon. Ticket prices are $26 in advance, $29 day of. Photo Credit – Ashley Maile

Just Announced: New Found Glory

August 5, 2014

On Tuesday, October 21st, many Buffalonians in their mid-20s will have a flashback to spiked bangs, Billabong shirts, and Dickies shorts as 90s punk-pop heavyweights, New Found Glory, will be bringing their “The Glamour Kills Tour” to the Town Ballroom. Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 8th, at noon for $22.50 advance, $26 day of.

Know Your Opener: Midlake

July 22, 2014

With free music offered on nearly every night of the week throughout the summer, it’s hard to justify dropping $35 on a show when I can practically hear live music from my balcony on many nights. Having a worthy opener, one that could easily be headlining on another night, certainly helps cushion the cost. That’s what we have facing us tonight as Band of Horses rolls through town with Midlake playing the role of table setter for an eager group of Buffalonians who want more out of their ticket price than simply getting out of the sweaty night and into some AC a few minutes early. I first heard about the Texas group after stumbling across their haunting, Fleetwood Mac-esque single, “Roscoe,” a few years back. Then front man Tim Smith’s tender vocals gave what could have been a cold number a beating heart, becoming one of the best singles[...]