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Tonight: Band of Horses

July 22, 2014

“I’m coming up only to hold you under And coming up only to show you’re wrong And to know you is hard; we wonder… To know you all wrong; we warn. Really too late to call, So we wait for morning To wake you is all we got To know me as hardly golden Is to know me all wrong, they warn. At every occasion I’ll be ready for the funeral At every occasion, once more, it’s called the funeral At every occasion, oh, I’m ready for the funeral At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral” These iconic lyrics from Band of Horses track “The Funeral” are some of the most recognizable and cherished words ever sung in indie rock, and for good reason. They come from a place we have all, at one time in our lives, visited; a dark, inward vestige, the hole that we had to[...]

Tonight: A Celebration of Pete Perrone

June 28, 2014

For the Buffalo music scene he was a key player; a fatherly figure who helped support a generation of bands simply by opening his doors and giving us weirdos an opportunity to be weird. In doing so he transformed an aging, somewhat dilapitated building into a musical mecca. Who would have thought that an aging Italian opening a small bar on the outskirts of downtown would play such a huge role in all of our lives? But that’s who Pete Perrone was, and for those who remember him those memories are only of the fond variety. I could launch into a huge diatribe about how Pete affected me personally and musically, but I’ll save that for another time (perhaps tonight?). In celebration of the man we all came to love, Town Ballroom will be hosting a remembrance tonight ($5 advance, 7pm) with music, words, and images. Many of the local[...]

Tonight: The Bloody Beetroots

June 5, 2014

When I think of The Bloody Beetroots, I hear “1, 2, WOOP, WOOP,” a humming scratching, a ticking clock and the guttural screams of “Warp.” [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18855122″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] From Italy, Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo is known for his punk influence on the electronic world. He adorns a mask during performance and is known to many as The Bloody Beetroots. Whether it be a DJ set or a live performance, it is more than just dance music. The art of the Beetroots spans time and history, and incorporates cultural influences that set the sound apart from the rest. Last year, The Bloody Beetroots did a collaboration with Paul McCartney. The music video for that song, “Out of Sight,” truly captures the poetic essence of who Rifo is. “Electronic dance music is the bridge that spans my musical influences. My intention was to use the energy of punk[...]

Tonight: Chris Robinson Brotherhood

June 3, 2014

Chris Robinson was always one of the biggest hippies in music, but he didn’t really start letting his freak flag fly until he left the Black Crowes, and formed the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, who take the stage at the Town Ballroom tonight (8pm, $24). The name is somewhat ironic, considering in the Crowes, Chris actually played with his brother, Rich Robinson, with whom he had a notably rocky relationship. The Brotherhood established themselves in 2012 with the release of two critically acclaimed albums, Big Moon Ritual and The Magic Door. Both albums embraced Robinson’s enthusiasm for extended jams, with several tracks that went on for 10 minutes or more in lengths. The band’s third album, Phosphorent Harvest, just game out, and while the song lengths are trimmed down just a bit, there are still plenty of extended jams. This music lends itself well to the live setting, where little improvisations can be added[...]

Animals As Leaders & Conquering Dystopia at the Town Ballroom (5/21/14)

May 22, 2014

It’s probably easier to describe the music of Animals As Leaders by citing the myriad of influences that they bring to their sound. That of course is the easy way , which I will absolutely avoid. Led by guitarist Tosin Abasi, this Washington D.C. based trio “noodle like no one has noodled before” (quoted from a guy I met at the show). Backed by Javier Reyes on guitar and drummer Matt Garstka, their all-instrumental set focused mainly on their latest album, Joy of Motion, on Sumerian Records. Animals As Leaders’ jazz influenced metal can veer from completely bombastic to nearly ambient in a split second. Far from contrived, each song flows rather seamlessly from start to finish. Also on the bill were another all instrumental band, the distinctively more metal Conquering Dystopia, a project that features Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) and Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse). Loomis and partner-in-crime Keith Merrow are[...]

Tonight: Manchester Orchestra

May 20, 2014

Town Ballroom has been positively on fire this year, and the momentum will continue tonight at the Manchester Orchestra show. Skip ahead real quick and watch the clip below: they’re playing one of their new songs, “Cope,” on Letterman, and they just go after it. They’re playing loud as hell in front of a dead studio audience; yes, they are still on national TV, but after watching this, you can’t help but get excited about tonight’s show. It’s just not possible. I first heard Manchester Orchestra’s “I’ve Got Friends” back in 2009 and it quickly became one of my favorite songs. I don’t normally “do” angst, but there was an underlying substance and grittiness about the band that I loved. Unfortunately, having just graduated from college and still carrying around a good bit of residual laziness, I didn’t bother following them any further. Then they released Simple Math in 2011 and[...]

Tonight: Killswitch Engage

May 18, 2014

After years of touring and a steady stream of innovative and punishing releases, Killswitch Engage has finally found their way into the mainstream. Perhaps the most popular “metalcore” band of our time, Killswitch’s combination of soaring melodies and crushing breakdowns, coupled with the return of original singer, Jesse Leach, has proven itself to be a successful formula, credibility still intact no less. A KE show is high-energy; windmill kicks, pit bashing, and fist-pumping chants galore. I’d suggest checking them out tonight at Town Ballroom (7pm, $28) to see what I mean. It’s hard not to get charged during their sets. Opening are Battlecross and Nothing More.

Tonight: of Montreal

May 13, 2014

“Let’s pretend we don’t exist, let’s pretend we’re in Antarctica.” I’m sure you are familiar with these two lyrical lines, sung by Kevin Barnes in a droll tone supported by a roaring, peppy synth. If you haven’t, they belong to the ever-popular of Montreal, who will be taking the Town Ballroom tonight. Since then, they have moved on to an inclusive, eclectic sound, riding hard on guitar and experimenting with strong diction in their vocals. Atlanta’s of Montreal was formed a while back in ’96, and since then, has grown a long repertoire of albums. They are contemporaries of The Elephant 6 Collective including bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Apples In Stereo. Most recently, their latest album lousy with sylvianbriar, featured a strong rock and roll edge mixed with an upbeat pop twang. WNYBAC designed the poster for tonight that you can have a chance to purchase for $20[...]

WNYBAC Designs Latest of Montreal Gig Poster

May 12, 2014

With the exception of the stellar design work over at Your Cinema and the now west-coast based Hero and Sound, the Western New York Book Arts Center has been producing some of my favorite gig posters in Buffalo over the last few years. Better known as WNYBAC on the streets, the Washington St. printing center has been producing prints for the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor!, the New Pornographers, First Aid Kit, tUnE-yArDs and my personal fav, the Broken Social Scene poster for their last gig in Buffalo on their “final” 2010 tour. I have a pair of these hanging in my apt. WNYBAC’s most recent commission is for tomorrow night’s of Montreal show at the Town Ballroom. Samantha Epps, WNYBAC’s retail manager, filled us in on the design process: “This is a 5 color letterpress print produced using metal and wood type exclusively from the collection at the[...]

Tonight: Mastodon

May 12, 2014

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and we were talking about what makes a metal band great. In this day and age, metal bands are a dime a dozen, and with so many heavy bands out there, it’s sometimes difficult for the uninitiated to discern the trash from the true. True fans of the genre ( like my friend, who’s absolutely obsessed) seem to have an innate understanding and opinion of what makes a band great, good, or simply average, so I was curious to pick his brain a little bit and see what we could come up with. Here’s the gist of our convo. The band should be overwhelmingly fast (DRI), or overwhelmingly slow (Crowbar), overwhelmingly crushing (Behemoth), absurdly technical (Unearth), or just flat out produce memorable riffage (Pantera). Points for creativeness (Spiral Architect) and the ability to integrate other musical genres[...]

Tonight: Rubblebucket

May 9, 2014

Rubblebucket. Rubblebucket. Rubblebucket. Say the word three times and all your wishes will be granted! Not really, but the Brooklyn-based band’s name is a catchy one. It brings to mind a magical spell that can be cast anywhere, from the dirty city streets to the cool air of a mountaintop. A charismatic, playful lead female vocalist and saxophonist carries the spotlight among her fellow band members. Together, they form a dynamic septet that produces a riveting big-band sound, flowing between softer pop sets and extended grooves. 2011 album Omega La La fastened their music as a facet to the larger festival scene–playing at larger line-ups such as Bonnaroo and Camp Bisco. Rubblebucket moves in catchy, dance-heavy spurts, proven to get you hooked. Opening for Rubblebucket tomorrow will be Rhubarb, a staple in the WNY groove-rock community. Preach Freedom from Rusted Root (I’m sure you’ve heard “Send Me On My Way,”[...]

Just Announced: Band of Horses

May 5, 2014

Fresh to our inbox this afternoon is the news that Band of Horses will be making a Buffalo stop this summer on Tuesday, July 22nd at the Town Ballroom. Truth be told, I fell off the Band of Horses bandwagon a few years back, but did manage to catch the group open for Pearl Jam at the First Niagara Center when it rolled through town during the spring of 2010, and the live show was pretty tight. BoH’s first two albums, Everything All The Time and Cease to Begin, are still holding up nicely. Think Built to Spill and My Morning Jacket teaming up and you have a good place to start. Joining Band of Horses will be Texas’ Midlake, a band who successfully survived the replacement of its lead singer and may have come out all the better after the release of 2013’s moody Antiphon. Tickets will go on sale[...]

Tonight: The Aquabats

May 5, 2014

Everyone has their cultural/musical touchstones and if I were to point to one of my earlier ones (we are talking late 90s’) I would have to point to the Aquabats. In Middle School, I found very little to identify with in the alternative music that circulated among 13 year olds in ’98, I was not particularly dark or edgy but I was still alienated all the same, it was just a goofier kind (see: young nerd). So when I heard the Aquabats, specifically their first two albums, something clicked. Awash in a campy California aesthetic that was equal parts 60s’ Batman as it was third wave ska, I was instantly drawn to their songs of martians, powdered milk and forlorn crushes bathed in blaring poppy horns and rapid tempos. Even if I started to lose track of them as time went on and my taste shifted, I still returned to[...]

Tonight: Hollerado with Wildlife

April 18, 2014

Easter is still a few days away but talk about a basket of goodies: Hollerado and Wildlife will be at Town Ballroom this evening. We have a long way to go, but this lineup is a dark-horse contender for show of the year. I mean to take nothing away from Hollerado because I enjoy each and every 90’s flashback they intentionally and unintentionally provide, but this is one of those rare shows where I’m just as excited to see the opening act. I love Hollerado’s unabashed party-rock spirit, and Record in a Bag has taken up multiple, lengthy residencies in my car stereo, but Wildlife’s On The Heart was one of my favorite albums of 2013. It made me miss the 80’s even though I am pretty sure I was still in diapers. In my fawning review of it last March, I suggested, rather cringe-worthily, that “Bad Dream” might have been how the universe[...]

The War On Drugs at the Town Ballroom (4/13/14)

April 14, 2014

Last night, the Town Ballroom hosted one of Buffalo’s more anticipated live shows at the quarter mark of 2014 in Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs. Riding high off of the band’s acclaimed album, Lost in the Dream, front man Adam Granduciel and crew delivered a triumphant set of hazy heartland rock that is as much Springsteen and Henley as it is J. Spaceman. Wasting no time, the band dove right in Lost in the Dream opener “Under Pressure.” Since first listen, the meticulous kraut rock stylings of the song reminded me of Wilco’s “Spiders (Kidsmoke),” but where Wilco lets “Spiders” absolutely rip live, The War on Drugs keeps “Under Pressure” under control, albeit a driving control. Buffalo concert crowds are funny in that you never really know what kind of turnout you will get at certain shows. Here we have one of 2014’s breakthrough acts coming through town, something that[...]