If you find yourself at the Aretha Franklin show tonight and you start thinking, "this is great, but where's the grunge?", you may still have time to make it to The Vault for Merchants' EP Release show. Celebrating the release of their debut EP The Red Room on Admirable Traits Records, Merchants are a four piece fuzz bomb of distorted riffs, soulfully scratchy vocals, and moody atmospherics. They'll also be taking the stage at the buffaBLOG 3rd Birthday Party, so tonight is your chance to check them out early. Joining them will be psychedelic garage band Sleepy Hahas and JOHNS, who are fresh off the release of their tape House of Wrongheads. Doors are at 8pm and the $8 cover includes a copy of The Red Room. 

'Tis a wee bit of a somber day here in Buffalo; for the incredible local rock outfits of not just The Found, but also White Bison, shall be in a state of permanent hiatus upon the point which these two harbingers of sweet, sweet rock n' roll leave the stage at Mohawk Place tonight (probably early tomorrow morning, in all likelihood).  It is at that time that Buffalo will get a little lighter... a little more scissor-sy... a little more lacking in the heavy rock department.

...But of course, the world keeps turning and the opportunity will prevent itself for some currently unknown troupe of miscreants to grab that Olympic torch o rock being passed around Buffalo, slap some guitar strings on it, and show us what they've got.

For now, however, you should be concerned about the events for this evening.  I have seen both these bands several times, and all whimsical writing aside, they are an absolute pleasure to see.  It would behoove you to see what these two bands are all about, as tonight will be your last chance before you become like my friend who never made it to a Chylde show and now kicks himself every time he hears them on my iPod.

What can I tell you about these two bands... well for starters, both The Found and White Bison have their origins in Buffalo, NY.  The Found employs an organ-heavy, grimy, slightly psychedelic, blues-soaked sound of the classic rock powerhouses of the mid-to-late 1960s.  Their sound is further rounded out and made complete by having a rhythm section that includes not only a drum kit, but also various other forms of percussion, as well as, soulful vocal melodies.  White Bison is a three-piece powerhouse of heavy rock that will have you bobbing your head and pumping your fist in the air within moments of launching into a song.  They are also quite proficient at slowing it down and laying a smoky, mystical, jam on you.

Of particular note, The Found will be releasing their fourth album on this night.  Word on the street is that their supply of CDs is expected to be exhausted tonight, so this is your chance to be one of a select group that get a hard copy of what is sure to be another great album by The Found.

Head out to Mohawk Place this evening and help make Ben Hayes (drummer of both bands) last* [never say never] show in Buffalo a great one.

Rochester-based Velvet Elvis, will be opening the evening with their own brand of smoke-filled, hard rock.  If you're familiar with the other bands playing tonight you'll love these guys too... if you're familiar with the other bands playing tonight, however, you've probably already seen Velvet Elvis and agree that they also kick some ass.

I couldn't find exact info on cover for tonight but I would assume $5 to be accurate.

The show starts at 10pm
(which is awesome because some people, like myself, have to work until 9:30).

Toss on a band t-shirt and rock n' roll tonight, it should be a spectacle.