It's that time of year again. The Adam Mickiewicz Polish Library and Dramatic Circle, otherwise known as the Polish Library (612 Fillmore Ave.), will be hosting the fourth Annual Buffalo Decency Rally, showcasing the best in local punk rock, hardcore and indie, on two separate floors. The absolute cream of the crop in terms of creativity, power, heart, and attitude will be on display and I am way psyched. If the past few years are any indication, this will be one memorable and wild night. Plus it's cheap ($5) so you have no reason not to go.

Heres a list of the bands and the set times. Get there at 5:30 sharp to catch all the acts.

SPERM..............................6:00 (Up)

REAL PEOPLE.....................6:30 (Down)

CROSS STITCH...............7:00 (Up)

CAGES...............................7:30 (Down)

V.O.C.................................8:00 (Up)

ACHILLEA...........................8:30 (Down)

RESIST CONTROL................9:00 (Up)

MALLWALKERS....................9:30 (Down)

UTAH JAZZ..........................10:00 (Up)

JOHNS.................................10:30 (Down)

ABLE DANGER......................11:00 (Up)

MAYDAY!.............................11:30 (Down)

DREAM JOURNAL....................12:00 (Up)

SUN BLACK SMOKE...............12:30 (Down)

FLOOD DRINKER...................1:00 (Up)

ANCIENTS OF EARTH.............1:30 (Down)

(Vile Crocodile tearing it up at the first Decency Rally)

Buffalo's most glorious local showcase is back. The Third Annual Decency Rally is set to go off tonight at the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle (The Polish Library) and the line-up is the strongest yet. Rally alumni Gas Chamber, Plates and Mallwalkers will share the stage with newbies Malarchuk, Returners and a host of other's as this shindig gets under way at 6pm. As always the event is cheap ($5), in the true punk spirit, and serves as an introduction to many awesome bands that you may or may not have heard before. Here's the lineup with set times. Because there are two floors it's been indicated where the band is playing. Either up or down.

MALARCHUK..........................1:00 (up)

MALLWALKERS.....................12:30 (down)

JACK TOPHT........................12:00 (up)

RETURNERS.........................11:30 (down)

GAS CHAMBER....................11:00 (up)

PLATES...............................10:30 (down)

HUMAN TOUCH..................10:00 (up)

CAGES..................................9:30 (down)

TOTAL OVERCOMERS............9:00 (up)

WATER TORTURE..................8:30 (down)

BEARDAGE............................8:00 (up)

SMALL AXE...........................7:30 (down)

WRECKAGE...........................7:00 (up)

REAL PEOPLE........................6:30 (down)

ANCIENTS OF EARTH............6:00 (up)

Get there early and stay til the end. All of the bands rule. And don't miss Cages...please.

It's that time of year again. Buffalo's best punk, hardcore, and indie bands will share the same bill on this year's much anticipated Decency Rally, Saturday November 3rd. This is the third year for the Rally and marks the return to the Polish Library (612 Fillmore ave), everybody's favorite east side venue. Here is a list of the bands straight from facebook itself.

GAS CHAMBER ----------------------keeping things bleak

PLATES -----------------------keeping things pummeling

WATER TORTURE -------------------keeping things vaped

SMALL AXE-------------------keeping things distinguished

MALLWALKERS------------------------keeping things fun

BEARDAGE-------------------------keeping things rowdy

CAGES-----------------------------keeping this ethereal

REAL PEOPLE-------------------keeping things interesting

HUMAN TOUCH --------------------keeping things touchy

THE TOTAL OVERCOMERS ------keeping things transcendent

WRECKAGE ------------------------keeping things tough

MALARCHUK-----------------------keeping things heady

RETURNERS ------------------------keeping things stark

JACK TOPHT-----------------------keeping things serious

ANCIENTS OF EARTH ----------------keeping things heavy

Anybody who's been to a Rally knows they're a blast and one of the best shows of the year. I'm super stoked that it's back at the Polish Library as the first Rally was so memorable for me. More info to come as the date gets closer.

For those of us into punk, hardcore and indie music, tonight is cause for celebration. Buffalo's version of Woodstock, albeit louder and more agressive, is almost upon us; the Decency Rally 2011. This fest celebrates all that is great in the Buffalo scene if your tastes veer towards the more independent side of things. With such a plethora of diverse and awesome bands, you'd be hard pressed to spend your night elsewhere.

The Rally's being held at the Dnipro Ukrainian Center on the east side of Buffalo (562 Genesee St.) Doors open at 5pm and the first band hits the stage at 6pm (who I strongly recommend... White Whale ias sick). Here's the run-down of bands and set-times. As there will be two stages "f" indicates front stage, "r" indicates rear stage. Each band will play 20 minute sets and there will be 5 minutes between bands so you can travel back and forth between the two stages. It's only $10 so if your anywhere tonight, be HERE!

WHITE WHALE 6:00-6:20f
FINAL INSULT 6:25-6:45r
WORTHLESS 6:50-7:10f
STRANGERS 7:15-7:35r
OLD GHOSTS 7:40-8:00f
UNWELCOME GUESTS 8:05-8:25r
CAGES 8:30-8:50f
DIRT EYES 8:55-9:15r
SONOROUS GALE 9:20-9:40f
BEARDAGE 9:45-10:05r
VILE CROCODILE 10:10-10:30f
WATER TORTURE 10:35-10:55r
RESIST CONTROL 11:00-11:20f
INERDS 11:25-11:45r
EFA 11:50-12:10f
COWORKERS 12:15-12:35r
GAS CHAMBER 12:40-1:00f
MALLWALKERS 1:05-1:25r
MAYDAY! 1:30-1:50f
FUCKING HOTLIGHTS 1:55-2:15r
LEWD DUDEZ 2:20-2:40f


Black Flag "Nervous Breakdown" by savealternative

As many of you already know this saturday marks the return of the Buffalo Decency Rally; a fest of local punk, hardcore and indie bands. In only it's second year, the Decency Rally has already gained a rep as being one of the biggest and best show's around. I was at last years rally and was blown away by several of the bands, including Everything Falls Apart, Mayday!, Vile Crocodile and others. If you have any plans saturday, cancel em. The Rally is the place to be. This year it's being held at the Dnipro Ukrainian Center on the east side, a pretty spectacular venue. Here's a few bands I'd suggest checking out if you make it down there...

SONOROUS GALE

Sonorous Gale has a truly unique sound; A great mix of sludge, punk, and heavy discordant, yet still melodic, rock. They recently released their album, The Grim and Crooked Ride, available on their bandcamp page for download, and it's fucking awesome. These dudes have been around for a minute and are sure to light up the Rally.

OLD GHOSTS

 One of my favorite newer hardcore bands, period, featuring a who's who of Buffalo hardcore alumni. The Ghosts have a hard-edged, aggressive sound that sometimes reminds of Sick of it All, if SOIA played mid-90's chuggariffic hardcore. Derek is one of the best vocalists in the scene and his lyrics are passionate and inspiring. Expect the pit to drop.

GAS CHAMBER

Everything about Gas Chamber is stark; from their artwork and t-shirts to their live show. Their music likewise strikes a great balance between dark ambience and utter chaos, the product of good, pissed off hardcore. One of the more exciting and unpredictable bands to be playing the fest this year.

WHITE WHALE

If your preferences veer more towards punk rock and you like it fast, White Whale is another band you should check out. Their song "We're Dead" off of A Means to An End Volume 4 (and I think one of their 7inches?) has been stuck in my head for weeks now; catchy as hell, great hooks and aggressive enough to make an old dude want to dance.

LEWD DEWDZ

Simply put, their lewd...and their dudes. The Dewdz are crude, probably drunk and definitely the biggest and best party band of the Rally. Expect bad behavior and fast, loud punk rock.


Check back for a more extensive preview of the show Saturday.