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Must See Shows (12/3/25-12/9/25)

December 3, 2025

Thursday, December 4th @ 7pm Prairie Pavement * @ Milkies   Elmwood Avenue’s best weirdo bar has night of infectious indie rock and jangle-pop as Buffalo’s own Prairie Pavement * headlines a local bill with some up-and-coming acts. Known for their commanding and energetic live performances, Prairie Pavement features multiple talented songwriters who each take turns on leading their songs, creating a diverse and dynamic sound. If you’re a fan of Surf Curse, Dr. Dog, or Car Seat Headrest, then you’ll dig this one.   Prairie Pavement * will be joined by SUNY Fredonia alt-rock newcomers New Venice and raw indie rock act Power Creep *. Doors are $10.   All-Star Special by Prairie Pavement Saturday, December 6th @ 4pm Triple Hammer Records Showcase @ Mohawk Place   Saturday Night is set to feature a showcase from Buffalo hardcore punk label, Triple Hammer Records, with their holiday expo: Scrooge’s Big[...]

Must See Shows (2/26/25-3/4/25)

February 25, 2025

Thursday, February 27th @ 7pm Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @ Rec Room   Time flies in the indie rock universe. Just 20 years ago, Ted Leo released his highly acclaimed album Shake the Sheets, which tore up the early blogosphere and nestled nicely into the airwaves of many college radio stations. This Thursday, Leo and his gang of Pharmacists celebrate the anniversary at the Rec Room.   Formed in Washington, D.C. in 1999, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists is head songwriter Ted Leo’s most recognizable outfit. Although the singer/songwriter has been a constant creative for over 35 years dabbling in more than a dozen projects, the Pharmacists is the longest spanning project and may be Leo’s north star, with over eleven years worth of material in the project.   Go for the nostalgia and expect to see many of Buffalo’s music scene of yesteryear in attendance. $38.51 SHAKE THE[...]

Velvet Bethany – “Forbidden Fruit”

February 10, 2025

Buffalo-based punk project Velvet Bethany is back with a new music video for their single, “Forbidden Fruit.” Velvet Bethany is the band moniker for singer/songwriter Allison Mitchell, who has been on the scene for close to a decade, playing many  noteworthy indie bills and underground gigs throughout their tenure. The current line-up includes Romcom Victims members Kam Plotner and Nate Miller, who are both featured in the video.   “Forbidden Fruit” begins with a semi-monotonous conversation about different types of fruits then spins into an 8-bit intro where the track finally launches into the punk-y body of the single. The driving sound of “Forbidden Fruit” is coupled with playful vocals, reminiscent of surf-y Le Tigre with a B-52’s staccato delivery. Lyrics-wise, the song is about being excited about a new love, being head-over-heels in the honeymoon stage of a relationship/situationship.   The video was edited and directed by Jacob Smolinksi[...]

Velvet Bethany – “Teamwork”

February 10, 2022

Movement of the hips guaranteed or your money back! Buffalo based singer-songwriter/producer Allison Mitchell (aka Velvet Bethany) created a peppy tune titled “Teamwork” that will surely jumpstart your heart. Lines like “I feel like I have superpowers” are truly contagious to the soul and inspire a better day. “Teamwork” reached streaming services at the turn of this past new year; and with it’s upbeat pop rock energy, will hopefully usher 2022 in as a new era of hope.  You can find “Teamwork” on both Bandcamp and Spotify. Teamwork by Velvet Bethany

Velvet Bethany Shares New Video for “She’s So Mean”

August 28, 2020

Local garage punk quartet Velvet Bethany is busy prepping for the unveiling of its latest album Abuse Paradigm. While no release date has been given, the record’s first single “She’s So Mean” dropped earlier this month and has already been given the music video treatment. The clip for the peppy surf rockin’ tune finds front person Alison Mitchell performing the song on one of Buffalo’s beautiful beaches. The video’s lo-fi quality reminds me of an old family outing to Crystal Beach my dad captured on VHS. Anyway, the track, recorded at Lockport’s Watchmen Studios, is currently available for purchase via Bandcamp while the full length should assumingly surface sometime this fall/winter. Watch the video for “She’s So Mean” below.

Tonight: Televisionaries

December 19, 2019

Vintage Rochester surf rockers Televisonaries roll through town tonight at the Mohawk for a solid show featuring darktronica mastermind Medusa, garage punks Regular Sex, and Velvet Bethany. Bringing together rockabilly grit and California surf rock, Televisionaries rock hard with some clean lines and some off the rails guitar riffs. Buffalo darktronica mastermind Medusa has a new album in the works for early 2020, and everything they’re doing is always worth checking out, while Regular Sex and Velvet Bethany round out the evening with some fine punk rock for your kicking out the jams needs. Doors are at 7pm and cover is $7. Live From Three Sheets by Televisionaries

Tonight: Leggy

August 23, 2019

Get your kicks tonight at the 9th Ward in Buffalo who host buzzworthy Cincinnati garage rockers, Leggy. If you’re not in the know, Leggy released their new album, Let Me Know Your Moon, which features fantastically ragtag, punk-flavored garage rock. Dual vocalists, Veronique Allaer and Kirsten Bladh, who also double-up on guitar and bass, sing their hearts out over relationship woes while weaving no-nonsense riffs that will give you an adrenaline rush. Tying everything together with calamitous drumbeats is Chris Campbell behind the kit. With a song for every flavor of punk, don’t miss this irresistible trio who are sure to put on a great performance. Sharing the stage are hometown favorites, Velvet Bethany. A band that needs no introduction, this four-piece is still riding high off their latest album, Rock & Roll Vacation!, which saw them put out their best material to date. Prepare for an electrifying performance filled with[...]

Tonight: The Vaughns

July 18, 2019

There’s a growing consensus that the future of rock music is female, and that future happens tonight at the Mohawk when New Jersey garage indie rockers The Vaughns roll through town with a stop at The Mohawk with Clever Girls plus Velvet Bethany and Halo Nellie. Hailing from Springfield, NJ, The Vaughns bring together grunge, blues, surf punk, and stadium rock with an insurgent folk energy from lead vocalist and guitarist Anna Lies that’s both timeless and intrinsically now as showcased on their intimate yet epic recent debut LP F.O.M.O. , an album that makes a case for the continued relevance of rock music in 2019 that the new Black Keys album couldn’t even begin to. Joining them will be reverb drenched, shoegazey Burlington Vermont indie rockers  Clever Girls, with local support from Buffalo punks Velvet Bethany and up and coming future post punks Halo Nellie. Cover is $7, doors are at 7pm and[...]

Tonight: Buffalo Sex Change

June 30, 2019

Tonight, catch two bands from the far-off city of Rochester, NY; Buffalo Sex Change, and honeymoonphase. While they may share a home base, they certainly each have a unique sound. Buffalo Sex Change is an energetic post-punk, garage rock duo, with a sound reminiscent of Buddy Holly fronting a shoegaze band. Their most recent release was 2018’s Searching Hands, which was released on Admirable Traits Records. Right out of the gate, the title track grabs you with a noisy riff, and really sets the tone for the album. While the tone may shift from track to track, there is an intensity and energy that is effortlessly carried through the album. With dirty, danceable hook, this will most certainly appeal to fans of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground. Alternately, honeymoonphase brings a slightly darker, brooding sound to the table. They recently released two tracks in anticipation of their full album,[...]

Tonight: Remember Sports

April 4, 2019

Remember Sports is the modus operandi for the band formerly known as Sports and they are making a stop tonight at the 9th Ward. Originating from a small college town in Gambier, Ohio, Remember Sports started to pick up steam after their relocation to Philadelphia. The band signed to Father/Daughter Records and indie buzz quickly followed thereafter. The band is touring in support of their latest album Slow Buzz. Fans of Speedy Ortiz, Diet Cig, or The Beths should plan on taking a trip down to Delaware Ave this evening. Supporting the band will be tour mate Joey Nebulous and locals Velvet Bethany. Doors are at 8pm with a $12 cover.

Velvet Bethany – Rock & Roll Vacation!

March 4, 2019

Feminism is punk rock. If you don’t think so, you don’t know punk. Punk rebels against the status quo and focuses angst and anger to inspire change for the better. And in 2019, women have plenty to be pissed off about. Enter Velvet Bethany and their brand new full-length, Rock & Roll Vacation!. The latest is the band’s fifth release and stuffed with ten catchy tracks of garage punk rock that’s an absolute blast from start to finish. What started as singer and guitarist Allison Mitchell’s solo project evolved over the past five years into a four-piece powerhouse with the additions of Vivian on lead guitar, Lux Arnold on bass and Mike D behind the kit. These four bring out the best in each other to create candy-coated, sweet ‘n’ sour punk rock with badass and irreverent feminist attitude. After a brief 8-bit musical masterpiece, the album opens with the[...]

Tonight: Vundabar (RESCHEDULED)

February 25, 2019

Let’s try this again. Tonight Boston indie art rockers Vundabar will land in Buffalo weather providing to play the much loved sonic temple that is the 9th Ward at Babeville with Nylon Otters and Velvet Bethany after their January 30th show got scotched by our somewhat erratic Buffalo winter. Combining pure garage rawness with ambitious, intricate instrumental prowess, and soaring and evocative vocals, the three dudes of Vundabar are also known to put on an energetic and tight live show worth venturing outside into the winter for. Opening the show will  be post punk garage rockers Nylon Otters with that frontman who effortlessly sounds like a young Kurt Cobain, and the dreamy garage punk of Velvet Bethany. Tickets are $15, previously purchased tickets for the original January 30, 2019 date will be honored, and doors are at 8pm. Smell Smoke by Vundabar

Tonight: Vundabar

January 30, 2019

Tonight Boston indie art rockers Vundabar land in Buffalo to play the much loved sonic temple that is the 9th Ward at Babeville with Nylon Otters and Velvet Bethany. Combining pure garage rawness with ambitious, intricate instrumental prowess, and soaring and evocative vocals, the three dudes of Vundabar are also known to put on an energetic and tight live show worth venturing outside into the winter for. Opening the show will  be post punk garage rockers Nylon Otters with that frontman who effortlessly sounds like a young Kurt Cobain (sorry guy), and the dreamy garage punk of Velvet Bethany. Tickets are $15 and doors are at 8pm. Smell Smoke by Vundabar

Tonight: Space Cubs

December 31, 2018

Tonight Nietzsche’s on Allen is closing out 2018 and getting 2019 started right with a proper banger featuring some of the area’s finest bands, headlined by super hot electro-futurists Space Cubs. Tirelessly adventurousand always up for blowing minds in whatever live setting they’re operating in, the Suzanne Bonifacio led Space Cubs will be leading the charge into next year with a midnight set capping a kick ass night of tunes from powerhouse psych rock revivalists Deadwolf,  sweet as hell surf punks SMUG and their strangely perfect harmonies, dreamy shoegazers Coral Collapse, and future punks Velvet Bethany. Doors are at 8pm and cover is $5.

Tonight: Cougar Sweat

November 9, 2018

Nietzsche’s is hosting a rock show featuring Cougar Sweat tonight! Originating in Atlanta, Georgia in 2016, Cougar Sweat prides itself on being an energetic, joy-embracing group. With Caleb Chauncey on guitar and vocals and Nate Cook on drums, the band released a self-titled EP in February 2017 and a single called “Peace” this past May. The tracks deliver a full sound despite having only two members, calling references to modern influences like Royal Blood, Dead Sara and Ok Go. Cougar Sweat indeed lives up to the “people-to-people style, stuffing a venue with solid sounds and brotherly love” description on the group’s Facebook page. Tonight’s lineup includes fellow Georgia rock band McLeod, as well as Buffalo natives Velvet Bethany and Venus Vacation. The show begins at 10 pm with a $5 cover charge. Age restrictions are 21+ unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Written by Samantha Schweitzer