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Tonight: Halloween Tribute Party

October 31, 2015

Cover shows are hands down my favorite Halloween tradition. When else can you see all your favorite classic punk bands on the same stage? One year, I got to see Slayer, SSD, the Misfits, and the Ramones together on the same stage and Lifetime, the Lawrence Arms, NOFX, and Descendents in the same weekend. This Halloween at Mohawk Place, you can see the Naturalists as Pavement, Wolf as the Replacements, members of Orations, A House Safe for Tigers and TMMC as Joy Division, and a Governess’ rendition of Turbonegro. The Halloween tribute is $5 if you wear a costume because why wouldn’t you. The punk imposters go on at 8pm. CC Death Squad will play creepily in between sets. Don’t miss your probably only chance to see Pavement and the Replacements.

Tonight: The Moth & The Flame

October 15, 2015

The Tralf seems to be the place to be right now, at least in terms of October gigs. Tonight, the venue plays host to alt-rock rising stars The Moth & The Flame. TMTF are currently out on tour in support of their recently released EP, Young & Unafraid, whose title track has seen a ton of success as the band’s first release with Elektra Records. Tonight’s performance is a last minute addition to the group’s tour, and will be  a part of Alt Buffalo’s ongoing “You Saw Them First” series. Local acts The Get Money Squad and Wolf are set to open. Doors open at 7pm with a $10 cover.

Tonight: Pleistocene

July 31, 2015

Infringement is one hell of a festival, isn’t it? In case you haven’t had your fill, we’d like to bring attention to the showcase at Sugar City tonight, also known as the Sugar City Masquerade Ball. Costumes are encouraged! Obviously we’re a music blog, so we’re here to tell you one of our Rochester faves, the jangle-poppers in Pleistocene, will be kicking off the night right. They’re followed up by Baltimore, MD’s Joseph and the Beasts (who sound like Father John Misty meets Of Montreal), as well as Buffalo stalwarts Like a Panther and Wolf. Pleistocene plays at 7:00 so make sure you get there early! $5 entry, $3 if you have a costume on. Let’s get festive.  

Tonight: Northern Spies

June 11, 2015

Lately it seems like some of Rochester’s best and up-and-coming acts have been making frequent stops to Buffalo and the trend continues tonight as ROCH foursome, Northern Spies, will take the stage at Sugar City. The power pop group, which features members of KOPPS and Quarries, recalls acts like Elvis Costello, the Byrds, REM, and Stephen Malkmus. While the band only has a short EP to its name, the late 2014 released Nothing But Static, its spring released Genesee Live session should give a nice indication of what to expect later on from NS. Music begins this 8pm with a cover of $5. Indie rock trio turned quartet, Wolf, and Steak & Cake’s politically minded act, RED HEAT, will round out the bill. And please remember to leave the booze and drugs at home as Sugar City is a substance free space.

The Demos

Preview: The Demos

May 11, 2015

If you’re feelin’ dog-tired from Porchfest this past weekend (or maybe you had a really rowdy Mother’s Day?), keep that show-going momentum up! Our Rochester neighbors from The Demos are bringing their tuneful indie pop to Mohawk Place tonight. Their harmony-laden tunes are sweet and sunny but offer enough kick to really dig into you and get you moving. It’s a cohesive mix between Kevin Devine and The Strokes with a hint of The Beach Boys. Definitely worth checking out if you haven’t heard! Dead Flowers from Dallas are slated to headline (picture The Black Keys with a little more twangy Southern blues influence) along with Old Best Friend out of Brooklyn, whose tender indie rock sound is fairly similar to Wild Sweet Orange. Buffalo’s own 90’s influenced alt-punk act Wolf are kicking the whole show off, so get there early to check them out. It’s bound to be the[...]

Tonight: Divers

April 2, 2015

With temperatures reaching the mid-60s, today offers Buffalo’s first real taste of spring this year. And I couldn’t think of a more perfect bill to celebrate the dawn of the new season than that at Curly’s (note: not the Lackawanna restaurant) tonight. The bill is headlined by Portland-natives, Divers. The band has made a huge impact in its home city, know for raucous live shows and is fresh off the release of the impressive new album, Hello Hello. Divers has an Americana punk sound that reflects artists like the Gaslight Anthem, Ted Leo, and Okkervil River, perfect anthemic rock for such a summery day. Divers will also be joined by a trio of local acts. First off, the melodic retro-punkers, Unwelcome Guests, who are playing their last show before embarking on a West Coast tour. Also make sure to get there early for the lo-fi slacker rock sounds of Difficult Night,[...]

Wolf Drops First Full-Band Single, “Infectious”

January 16, 2015

2015 is going to be a good year for Buffalo music. And I don’t need to be Don Paul to make a claim like that—between all the incredible shows coming up and forthcoming local releases, what other proof is needed? Just yesterday, local indie rock outfit Wolf dropped a fresh single off of their upcoming EP, It’s Electric, due March 21st via Steak and Cake Records. The song is called “Infectious,” and it’s, well, exactly that. The song’s 90’s-tinged summer-rock sensibilities channel a K’s Choice / Wheatus vibe, perfect for those who yearn for those sweet, sweet days of 3D Doritos and JNCO jeans. Singer / guitarist Chelsea O’Donnell sings flavorfully over the song’s bouncy progression and catchy choruses, and the result will have your toes tapping. Steak and Cake renaissance man Brandon Schlia, who recorded and produced the track, brings an understated charm to the jam in the form of subtle[...]

Tonight: Rachel Ries

January 6, 2015

Tonight, take refuge from this frigid January at Mohawk Place (8pm, $5) for a night of warm melodies performed Rachel Ries with local openers Tiny Rhymes and Wolf. Ries’ music mixes folk with something more expansive, reflective of her rural background (Ries is the daughter of Mennonite missionaries and grew up in South Dakota) and current urban home base (Brooklyn). Her songs are earnest and searching. On the Buffalo end of things, we have Tiny Rhymes and Wolf both playing  stripped down versions of their work. All in all this is a great opportunity to catch some great music and emerge from your usual January hibernation before it even starts. The best way to forget how cold it is it is to ignore it completely right? And if that isn’t enough, there will be jam for sale at Ries’ merch table. So, you can do some grocery shopping while you[...]