Local alt-rockers Son of the Sun will be livening up happy hour tonight at the Burchfield-Penney art gallery in an event billed as "Happy Hour with Music." Named a "band to watch for" by The Buffalo News, the group have opened for
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Tea Party, Blue Oyster Cult, and Our Lady Peace. Entrance to the art gallery is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for Burchfield Penney members. The special event runs from 5:30-7:00pm in conjunction with screenings, lectures, and workshops as part of the gallery's "Second Friday" series.

Tonight, the folks in charge of the Larkin Square concert series will be harnessing the power of alternative indie rock through champion title holders Son of the Sun, The Tins, and Poindexter. This combination promises cause 'good feels,' and possibly inspire attendees to get sloshed and dance like no one is looking.

Son of the Sun is just as likely to fit in here as they are at a Blue Oyster Cult concert. Which has happened. The band crafts detailed walls of sound with many layers, but keeps a simple 3 chord writing style which allows them elements of both punk, and psychedelia. The sounds they produce are all too fitting for the end of a summer concert series, and I'm not just saying that because of their name.

It's not easy to completely categorize The Tins' music, but you can be sure they know how to write a damn good song. Their range flies from the anxiety ridden yet danceable "Please Be Kind" to the almost tropical party-ballad "Vicki," to the nostalgia soaked "Midnight Crowd." These guys have new songs floating about in the ether too, so be sure to catch their set and preview what is to come.

Representing the heavier, punk end of the music spectrum is Poindexter. Warm melodies soar over punchy guitars in Poindexter's alternative punk sounds. With a fast tempo and heavy sound, be sure to hold on tight to your drink during this performance.

The show starts at 5 in Larkin Square, and it's FREE!

Tonight might as well be a showcase for two of western NY's best rock bands. Son of the Sun, from Buffalo, deliver indie flavored rock'n'roll in heavy doses. Some of their songs remind me of the Church, and that is always a good thing.

Representing Rochester is Sports, a joyous, pre-punk band with melodies for days. My immediate impression is Elvis Costello goes surfing or maybe the Beach Boys...not necessarily in sound but in vibe. They're good.

Anyways, they're playing tonight at DBGB's at 9pm for only $5. You should go.

After a few secluded months spent recording a new album, Son of the Sun has decided to emerge and play some of their new songs.  Sometimes, the best thing you can do to dust off the cobwebs is just get up, grab your gear, and go play a show.  Their 60's-inspired psychedelic surf rock is a stark contrast to the snow we finally got here in Buffalo, but nonetheless, they'll be at Nietzsche's tonight.

Joining them will be buffaBLOG favorites Andrew J. Reimers Country-Punk Extravaganza and Aircraft (who recently made it onto our list of top 10 Buffalo tracks of the year).  The show starts at 10 and the cover for the show is only $5.  Son of the Sun also want you to know that holiday sweaters are optional.

Last year Alix Rice, a Williamsville teenager, tragically lost her life in a hit and run accident. The community hasn't forgotten the incident and are now taking proactive measures to celebrate a life lost far too early. Tonight, New Era hosts a benefit show for Alix, with proceeds going towards the Alix Rice Peace Park Fund.

On the bill are some of the best Buffalo has to offer; Chosen Ones, Son of the Sun, Wolf Tickets, Red Delicious, Come Honor and Shout it Out. Tickets are $20 and include raffles in addition to great live performances. Town Ballroom is the place and 6:30 is the time. Come out, hear some good music and help commemorate Alix by contributing to a great cause.

I have never been to Larkin Square. In fact, I just found out that Larkin had a concert series every Wednesday from 5-8pm. Judging by all the activity over there though it's looking like Larkinville is shaping up to be a pretty cool area, especially for great live music. Tonight one of my favorite locals, Son of the Sun, is playing along with Stacy Clark. Best of all it's FREE. Check out other acts here and see what this Larkin thing is all about! P.S. Buffablog's having a shindig here September 12 ;)

Those looking to purchase music (on the cheap mind you) while helping a cause take note!  Through August 18th, PATH:one, part of Heyday Media Group, is offering the sale of a few dozen tracks from artists across the country with 30% of all sales going to various charities including the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Humane Society. Each song on the album, including local act Son of the Sun's "My Best Mistake", is available for individual purchase at only $.75, or if you wish to purchase the complete 35 track release, it will cost $20.  After a couple members of Son of the Sun played a night full of 90's tunes to a packed house this past Friday at DBGB's under the name of Kurt & the Loders, the group will be back together tomorrow at the offical NXNE Day Party Showcase at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto with fellow Buffalo act the Tins and many more.  The party is free and begins at 12:30.
 

Hamilton, Ontario’s Allosaurus will be featured on buffaBLOG’s co-presented Official NXNE Day Party Music Showcase at the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen Street, along with Buffalo’s Son of the Sun and The Tins, and many others on June 14. This Canadian synth-pop duo is known for their high-energy, attention grabbing performances. Fans of DVAS, Shout Out Out Out Out, or Hot Chip would definitely dig this. More information about the party along with the full line-up can be found on the event's Facebook page.  In the meantime, check out Allosaurus in their incredibly goofy music video for their single “Emma-Jane."

Those traveling from Buffalo up to the 2012 NXNE Music. Film. Interactive. Conference can check out some familiar bands on Thursday July 14th. Music news website and exploratory record label I BLAME YOKO, in association with Toronto music blog KATUWAPITIYA, is holding an Unofficial NXNE Day Party Showcase of Seven independent musical acts at the famous Horseshoe Tavern. The lineup includes Buffalo bands THE TINS and SON OF THE SUN, along with SERENA PRYNE AND THE MANDEVILLES, THE WAXBILLS, ALLOSAURUS, ELK, and CAI.RO. If you’re heading up for the weekend, this will be a great way to kick off the time spent in Toronto for the conference without cutting into the scheduled night events. The Showcase is FREE and does not require a NXNE wristband/badge as it is an unofficial event. Show begins at 12:30 and is located at the Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON. For the schedule of the lineup check out the Facebook event page HERE. Listen below to the I Blame Yoko/Katuwapitiya UnOfficial NXNE Day Party Showcase mix. Check back on buffaBLOG for further coverage of NXNE 2012 in Toronto, as we will have more previews and day-to-day coverage of the international conference.

Tonight's edition of Free Music Fridays at the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls  features two of Buffalo's hottest bands (and buffaBLOG favorites) Son of the Sun and the Tins. I almost wanted to call this a "no brainer" but that's not cool and that's  certainly not how we roll here. Instead, I'll just call this "a damn good time" and a fine alternative (for those not inclined) to tonight's Sabres game. As the name of the concert series suggests, the show is free, and it starts at 8 PM.

The South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas seems to get bigger with each new edition - evidenced by the plan to have Bruce Springsteen give this year's keynote address and NPR broadcast it - and Buffalo is lucky enough to be sending three bands to this year's hullabaloo. The Albrights, Son of the Sun, and The Tins are three determined and up-and-coming indie outfits from our fair City of Light, and tonight, The Good Neighborhood is helping finance their trek to SXSW in Austin with a sendoff show at Nietzsche's. Each band will play a set, starting at 10 p.m., and the $5 cover you'll pay will help make their trip a little easier.

"80s Nights" have been a big deal ever since (I'm guessing here) January 1st, 1990. But since the early 00s, I've often found myself wondering aloud when "90s Nights" would begin to take hold. If you, too, grew up in that golden, end-of-the-century era in which Rock redefined itself, and Rap was officially co-opted by white kids, then you, too, might've been wondering that same thing. Fortunately, a handful of local musicians will be making the dream a reality tonight at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar (DBGB's, 253 Allen St., 10pm). According to the FB invite, Kurt & The Loders (featuring members of Son of the Sun, Here Come The Comets, Ramforinkus, and Sleepy Hahas) will be playing mostly heavier selections from the decade that "made them the self-loathing, obsessive, manic freakshow people they are today" - Local H, Alice in Chains, NIN - though they assure us there will be some "guilty pleasure" songs in there for good measure. 90s DJ sets and "era-priced" drink specials sweeten the deal. And speaking of guilty pleasures, I'm hoping it goes down like this:

Local rockers Son of the Sun will be at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar tonight for a super-special show. What's so special about it? The band will pay homage to David Bowie by playing some of his greatest tunes. Son of the Sun also has a new EP, Almost Not There, out. The show starts at 10 and cover is only $5. Be sure to get there early to catch opener The Fairweathers.

"My Best Mistake" by SON of the SUN - Music Video from Endless Eye on Vimeo.

Buffalo's own Son of the Sun have just released a new music video. "My Best Mistake" is the new single off of the June 2011, 6 song EP release Almost Not There. The video, shot in Los Angeles, shows off beautiful landscapes, pretty women and a little bit of kaleidoscope vision. Directed by Jeremiah Hammerling and Rita Baghdadi, the pair does a great job capturing the songs story and message. This well crafted song is a bold example of this home grown 5 pieces' ability to think,write, and play "outside the box" and blaze their own trail. Combination's of retro jams with alternative, blues, rock creates a melting pot of thoughtfully crafted sounds. This song will 110% get you interested in this band. After watching the video below, go to their website, where you can get all of their CDs.