Arkells are back for yet another show in WNY at tonight's installment of Thursday At The Harbor. And if that sounds like a negative, it's really not. Their headlining show at the Town Ballroom's "All Canada Night" in February was sharp, energetic, and fun; they opened for The Maine a few months back at Club Infinity, and now they're back to finish the job and win over yet more local music fans with their smart and satisfying power pop.
For a nice twist tonight's night of free music will feature a co-headliner in the form of Gomez. Fans of musical geography will note that Gomez hails from Southport in the county of Merseyside, 16.5 miles from Liverpool; and fans of indie rock will note that their tasteful harmonies and tuneful Spoon-like rock go down easy. Opening duties will be handled by Toronto's very own Elliot Brood, and the show starts at 6 PM.
Tonight Club Infinity hosts an international bill of indie rock featuring The Maine, local favorites Arkells, and Lydia. Hailing from Tempe Arizona, The Maine is in town promoting their current album Black and White while Hamilton Ontario's Arkells is making their second appearance in WNY this year, nary three months after their fine headlining show at the Town Ballroom in February. Lydia, also from Arizona have a debut album coming out later this year, are happy to be there and no doubt have a lot to prove. All of these bands are hungry, so it ought to be good. Tickets are $17 and doors open at 6 PM.
Well, I'm screwed. This is my first buffaBLOG show review and out of the box I'm already using the expression "embarrassment of riches" to describe last night's exceptional show at the Town Ballroom that featured the bona fide Canadian triple threat of Arkells, Hollerado, and Wildlife. Whether you paid $16 in advance or $18 day of, last night your modest investment in the night's entertainment paid off magnificently as each band made definitive statements, and each band made their mark.
Kicking it off was Wildlife, from just up the QEW in Toronto. Wildlife's been building some significant buzz in Buffalo the last few months with their shows at the Mohawk, and based on the size of the crowd that showed up early to see them, the buzz is paying off. OK, I'll cop to being a "Johnny Come-Lately" on Wildlife and admit that last night was my first time seeing them. Well folks, it won't be my last. Wildlife is the real deal. The shit. I mean, there's a curve you expect to grade promising young bands on- because said promise points to future progress, I expect to grant a band like Wildlife some leeway and room to grow. With Wildlife though, I felt like they are already there: the dazzling musicianship and instrument swapping ala Arcade Fire or Radiohead, the soaring melodies that called to mind Unforgettable Fire era U2, their undeniable passion, and grand gestures that consistently paid off... yes, I believe in Wildlife. They will be back in our area in a month or two, and I will be there, without a doubt.
I didn't envy anybody having to follow Wildlife, but Hollerado from Manotick (not quite from up the QEW these chaps) were more than up to the task. Making their Buffalo debut, Hollerado's country inflected stomping roots rock kept the energy level extremely high as they tore furiously through their set, something I considered a feat watching their visibly ill bassist soldier gallantly through their set. I mean, the dude was white as a sheet and I expected him to keel over or hurl into a roadie held bucket any second, but he did not and I salute him for it because for their first time here Hollerado made a very fine impression. Even before they saluted our skyline, our civic virtues, called our food "wicked good" and Buffalo "a less douchey Toronto" (flattery will get you everywhere), Hollerado had the crowd jumping and eating out of their hand.
As far Arkells, well, I've seen them open for Tokyo Police Club two years ago and The Tragically Hip last summer, and while I've observed a noticeable progression there was some concern that they'd have their work cut out for them after Wildlife and Hollerado... concerns that turned out to be entirely unfounded as the Monday morning / Friday afternoon working people's rock of Arkells tore the Town Ballroom apart. I was especially enthused by and impressed with how they filtered and married their clear Springsteen influences to a brazenly fun pop rock sound built around the blue eyed soul stylings of charismatic vocalist/guitarist Max Kerman. Whether it was material off of their 2008 debut album Jackson Square, their 2011 follow up Michigan Left, or covers of Hall & Oates and Temptations classics, Arkells used their first headlining gig in Buffalo to rip shit up and establish their credentials as a band not only at ease at the top of the bill but as a band to watch out for, period. There was no artifice or affectations of coolness to create distance between us, only a total, honest, and joyful connection between band and audience, and if Wildlife declared their intent and Hollerado a desire to make friends with Buffalo's music scene, Arkells declared that they've arrived.
Random aside: could somebody let me know if they play "Kiss Cam" at today's Sabres game? I tweeted #Sabretunes that they have to play it because of the kind words Max Kerman had for our suffering Sabres, and if they don't I want to know so I can be sore and surly about it. You never know what the 14 year old girl who picks the #Sabretunes will go with...
If any of these bands are playing Thursday in the Square / Waterfront / Wherever, circle those dates. I know I am. And stay tuned for word on when Wildlife will be playing Buffalo next. buffaBLOG will be all over that shit...
The QEW is awesome. OK, driving on it can sometimes be (OK, always) a pain the ass and laughably frustrating, but boy, is it fantastic. It's a vital artery that connects Buffalo to Canada and to Toronto in particular, and in my opinion we are lucky to be at the end of it because in addition to Labatt's and shoppers, the QEW occasionally brings us great music. Case in point: the Arkells show tonight at the Town Ballroom. The pride of Hamilton, Arkells have been steadily building an audience on our side of the Peace Bridge with their populist power indie pop, and this headlining show in support of their second full length album Michigan Left ought to be a scorcher. You can stream Michigan Left right here, right now, and believe me, it's worth your time (solid power pop from start to finish, no filler):
Opening for Arkells is Hollerado and Wildlife. I know nothing about Hollerado, but Wildlife is certified buffaBLOG approved and their return is both welcome and hotly anticipated. Here's why:
Tickets for this all Canadian triple threat are $18, and doors open at 7. See you there.
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