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Tonight: Baio

April 8, 2016

While we wait patiently for the next offering from Vampire Weekend, their bass player Chris Baio (performing under the stage name Baio) is testing the waters of a solo career. For fans of the indie-rock group, his stop at the Waiting Room tonight is not to be missed. 2015 saw the release of Baio’s solid debut solo record The Names, featuring the catchy and danceable lead single “Sister of Pearl.” The album sees him stepping away from the familiarity of Vampire Weekend, finding his own unique voice and a sound that is all his own. Joining the lineup will be a pair of local Buffalo bands. Energetic indie-rockers M.A.G.S. and  kicking off the night is indie-pop act Parade Chic. For those hoping to score a last minute ticket, the show unfortunately is sold out. For everyone lucky enough to grab one, doors are at 7pm at the Waiting Room.

Tonight: Carcass

March 7, 2016

Carcass is a name that bears a lot of weight in the metal community. One of the pioneers of technical melodic death metal and grind, the band hit their stride most infamously with their seminal album, Heartwork; a daring display of brutality and harmonized chaos. After breaking up in the mid-90’s the band reformed roughly ten years later, and have since released Surgical Steel, a worthy album to add to their worshipped catalog. Tonight see’s Carcass on a rare Buffalo visit as they visit the Waiting Room, along with highly touted locals Gas Chamber and Rochester’s Blurring. This is one of those rare “I can’t believe they’re here,” show-of-the-year candidates. Certainly one of the most talked about metal shows in recent years. My advice: Get there early; tickets could sell out, and you don’t want to hear your friends talk about what a memorable time you missed out on either.

Tonight: Judge

February 18, 2016

Several names pop up when you hear the term “straight edge” and have been involved in the hardcore scene for some years. The go-to’s are, of course, Minor Threat, who infamously coined the term, as well as Earth Crisis, the band that popularized the movement in the mid-90’s. Both excellent bands, synonymous with the label and the lifestyle it brings. There are of course many, many others though, few of which hold as heavy of a rep as Judge. In the late eighties, Judge represented a militant version of the movement. For the NYC hardcore band, featuring members of the famed Youth of Today, straight-edge was all encompassing. No compromise, no exceptions. This garnered the band many fans…and just as many critics. When the group called it a day in ’91, their reputation was sound. They were heavy (often bordering on metal, but not quite) and they didn’t fuck around.[...]

Tonight: All Them Witches

December 10, 2015

Psychedelic rockers All Them Witches are passing through Buffalo today. The Nashville quartet are quickly becoming front-runners in the underground heavy rock scene, seeing as how they masterfully blend blues, sludge, and stoner rock into long, droning songs. RIYL The Black Angels, Kyuss, or Pink Floyd. Support tonight comes from New Madrid and Rochester stoner rock group (and perfect fit for this particular bill), King Buffalo. Tickets are $12, doors are at 7:00pm, and music starts at 8:15. Clarification: you should not confuse All Them Witches with Buffalo-based mathy duo All of Them Witches, although that would have made for a pretty awesome lineup.

The Wombats

November 25, 2015

It was eight years ago the Wombats burst onto the scene, just fresh-faced youngsters at the time armed with roaring guitars, hooks galore, and a cheeky sense of humor to them. Since then, the band’s sound and popularity have only grown, with the group experimenting with electronics, approaching darker subject matter, and thrilling crowds at some of the world’s biggest music festivals from Glastonbury to Coachella. Earlier this year, the band released their latest album Glitterbug, which saw the Wombats’ new electro-pop sound flourish. The band has become famous for it’s raucous live show (a sweaty dance party of back to back singalongs), and tonight, brings that show to Buffalo. Prior to their set tonight at Waiting Room, I had the chance to chat with drummer Dan Haggis about the band’s changing sound and upcoming show. buffaBLOG: So the band’s sound seems to have change over the years, with your first record, A[...]

Tonight: The Leones with Applennium

November 20, 2015

Headlining their first show in Buffalo, local shoegaze/dream-pop band The Leones are a newly formed duo comprised of singer/songwriter Justin Bachulak and guitarist Dustin Lau, who met at show at Babeville’s 9th Ward while Bachulak was playing with Americana act Crows and Jays. Combining ethereal, contemplative guitar tones with jazzy keys and dark atmospherics, the pair plan to release their debut LP, Ghost In The City early next year after a string of regional tour dates to promote the new material. Tonight, the band will perform at the Studio at Waiting Room along with local indie rock acts Applennium and Hundred Plus Club. Tickets for the all ages show are $8 and can be purchased here. Music starts at 7pm.   [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/183040349″ 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: Knuckle Puck

November 19, 2015

Get ready to pogo and mosh and potentially even feel a little sad tonight! If you like pop punk, the Waiting Room is the place to be tonight. The premiere, pizza-guzzling pop punkers in Knuckle Puck are headed to Buffalo tonight, along with a strong bill of supporters. Fellow bands include the fellow pop-punkers in Seaway, the omnipresent Sorority Noise, and Buffalo’s very own Head North. Doors are at 6pm tonight and tickets are $16. Russ would be proud, fellas (other Mighty Ducks references are encouraged).

Tonight: Young Empires

October 24, 2015

Buffalo plays host to our Canadian neighbors with the synth-pop jams of Toronto’s Young Empires this evening. The trio has made waves in Canada in recent years with its unique blend of indie rock, synthpop, and Latin American percussion. The band found further success when lead single, “Rain of Gold,” was included in FIFA 13 leading to a UK chart run. Nw fresh off the release of the eagerly-awaited debut album, The Gates, the three piece has arrived in Buffalo with a fresh batch of funky jams. Young Empires have earned much acclaim for their sensational live shows and should provide tonight’s Waiting Room crowd with nothing short of one hell of a dance party. And Joining Young Empires will be  Wild Things, American Low, and Humble Braggers so be sure to get down there early. Tickets are $12 and doors to Waiting Room’s Studio open at 6pm.

Tonight: Title Fight

October 23, 2015

For the second stop on their Fall 2015 headlining tour, Wilkes-Barre emo stalwarts Title Fight will be slinging their melodic post-hardcore bliss from the stage of the Studio at Waiting Room tonight. The band’s latest release, February’s Hyperview, takes on a guitar-driven, shoegaze-ish approach—something of a departure from the quartet’s hard-hitting pop-punk of yesteryear. Call it what you will (indie crossover, anyone?), Hyperview hits home in all the right places; expect to hear these tracks tonight. Joining Title Fight on their autumnal adventure is the infinitely eclectic songwriter Alex G, his latest effort Beach Music spanning genres like it’s nobody’s business. Much of it falls into an inimitably glassy vein of indie rock, like a transfixed Elliott Smith with cool kid riffs and spellbound vibes. Check out the new video for “Kicker” below and get there on time to catch this uniquely satiating act. Hometown heroes The Traditional will be[...]

Tonight: Sage Francis

October 17, 2015

Known for his confessional, wordy lyrics, rapper and spoken word poet Sage Francis has nearly twenty releases to his name since dropping his 2002 debut Personal Journals. As president and founder of Strange Famous Records, he’s put out a series of his own mixtapes along with maintaining a roster of underground hip hop talent. Having performed with similar artists like Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and Aesop Rock, Francis possesses an esoteric style that blends infectious production with thoughtful lyricism. Tonight, the MC will perform at the Studio at Waiting Room along with Buffalo rappers Frigid Giant, SonScotty, Tr38cho. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door or can be purchased here.

Tonight: Meat Wave

October 14, 2015

Tonight might turn out to be quite a raucous Wednesday… Actually, I take that back. Tonight’s officially gonna get pretty rowdy. The Dirty Nil and Meat Wave will be stopping through the Waiting Room tonight; both bands will be slinging their brand of loud, aggressive, indie-punk. If you would like a comparison, both bands are contemporaries of METZ, Pissed Jeans, Single Mothers, or even Cloud Nothings. Opening the show are the Rochester-based post-hardcore/screamo dudes in DRUSE and the Fredonia-based alt-rockers in Ellsworth. Tickets are $12 and doors open at 6pm.

Joywave at Waiting Room (10/9/15)

October 12, 2015

A sweltering Waiting Room paid host to the local homecoming of hot as fire electro pop outfit Joywave, making the first of its back-to-back WNY appearances before heading home to Rochester the night after for a rapturous home town gig. Joining the five piece was pop siren Grace Mitchell and rising Roch besties KOPPS. Check out select shots from Friday’s show below, and for a full gallery, click here. KOPPS Grace Mitchell Joywave

Tonight: Joywave

October 9, 2015

The series of great shows making their way to Buffalo this fall continues tonight as local heroes return for another glorious homecoming. It was just a little over a year ago that Rochester’s Joywave were just starting to make small waves outside of the Western New York music scene but little beyond that. Then came their breakthrough single, “Tongues.” The song almost immediately begun rotation on alternative radio around the country, and the band’s sudden popularity even scored their debut album a spot on the Top 40 charts and catapulted them to appearances on late night shows such as Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers. Joywave now returns to the music scene that birthed them with their collection of infectious synthpop jams. If the band’s live show is nearly as high-energy and fun as their record, then tonight’s show show should be nothing short of an absolute blast. But while Joywave might be riding the[...]

Tonight: Lydia

October 6, 2015

Yet again, another stacked indie/emo lineup will be hitting Waiting Room tonight. Indie veterans Lydia will be bringing their “Run Wild” tour to Buffalo in support of their new album of the same name. Support for the show includes Seahaven and Turnover, as well as the Technicolors. Both Seahaven and Turnover have recently changed their sounds from a more pop/punk related one to a far more distant and dreamy variety, and far more indie in nature. Tickets will be available at the door for $17, and doors are set to open at 7pm, with music starting at 7:20pm.  All ages are admitted, but under 16 need a guardian, as usual.

Toro Y Moi at Waiting Room (9/29/15)

October 1, 2015

After five long years, chillwave pioneer Toro Y Moi made his much awaited first stop in Buffalo at Waiting Room. Check out our shots of the show below. Click here for our review of the show, and click here for full photo galleries of both acts. Astronauts Etc. Toro Y Moi Setlist “Hald Dome” “Buffalo” “Talamak” “Grown Up Calls” “Campo” “The Flight” “Lilly” “Rose Quartz” “So Many Details” “High Living” “Cola” “Ratcliff” “Run Baby Run” “What You Want” “Say That” “New Beat” “Empty Nesters” Encore “Multi Love” (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Cover) “Yeah Right”