7.) Pyromance (Days Park)The Infringement Festival isn't all about the the music. There's also an abundant amount of theater, film, and street artist that make this 10 day event truly unique. Take for example Pyromance at Days Park. These risky daredevils (fire dancers) have been participating in the Infringement Festival for as long as I can remember. Its become a sort of Infringement tradition of ours to close our the festival watching someone put a flaming stick into their mouth, or juggle a flaming baton.
6.) Kicking Bird (Buffalo Barfly)
The backyard of Buffalo Barfly was the perfect venue for this psych-folk two-piece. Jen Whitmore's haunting vocals and Gentleman John's spatial (and unconventional) guitar-playing paired well with the intimacy of the setting. I'm sure that everyone in the small crowd was deeply moved, and I sincerely regretted missing their full band (Ladies and Johns) perform earlier that day.
5.) Sea Snake Vs. (Nietzsche's) One of the many great things about Infringement is being exposed to new acts. Last Tuesday at Nietzsche's, we saw one of our favorite new bands play their first public show. Sea Snake Vs., a three piece band under a certain shroud of mystery, took the stage around 9:30 last week. Take a little bit of The National, a touch of Stone Temple Pilots, and some Doors for good measure, and you get an idea of the band's sound. The dueling vocals of Alexander Reid and J. Daniel fronted the strong rhythm section(the backbone of the group) led by J.Daniel's throbbing base lines and Christopher Joseph's steady drumming. While no current shows are lined up for the trio, we certainly look forward to their next performance as their still growing catalog of songs continues to expand.
4.) Scantron (Nietzsche's)
When the lanky and offensively-dressed Scantron took the stage at Nietzsche's Opening Ceremonies party, he started off by playing some lazy (in a bad way), one-finger blues riff on a guitar, and I found myself moaning a bit and wondering what else was going on. But then he dropped the rouse (and the guitar) and started up his signature dub-tronica beatboxing, rapping and spitting a nasty beat a la Rahzel. As soon as he said "Booty Down, Booty Booty Down Now," a whole bunch of booties, in fact, got "Down Now," and now I can't wait to see this guy perform again.
3.) Wooden Waves (DBGB's)
Remember that part about seeing new bands at Infringement? Well, Infringement is also great for seeing an old favorite in a different light. One of the current bands on our favorite Buffalo indie label Harvest Sum Records, Wooden Waves certainly are no stranger to the Buffalo live music scene. We last caught them at the University Plaza Record Theatre for their Store Day performance back in April, but it was not until last Thursday that we realized how tight the group really was. How is this band not signed to a major indie label at this point? Their jagged, surf rock riffs with dashes of electronics and ambiance, along with spazzy vocals, give a Dan Deacon meets Cymbals Eat Guitars feel. The band does not play as often as we would like, but when they do, they bring it.
Remember that part about seeing new bands at Infringement? Well, Infringement is also great for seeing an old favorite in a different light. One of the current bands on our favorite Buffalo indie label Harvest Sum Records, Wooden Waves certainly are no stranger to the Buffalo live music scene. We last caught them at the University Plaza Record Theatre for their Store Day performance back in April, but it was not until last Thursday that we realized how tight the group really was. How is this band not signed to a major indie label at this point? Their jagged, surf rock riffs with dashes of electronics and ambiance, along with spazzy vocals, give a Dan Deacon meets Cymbals Eat Guitars feel. The band does not play as often as we would like, but when they do, they bring it.
2.) The Merchants (DBGB's)
With so many strange and other-worldly-sounding acts converging on the city this last week, it was a nice respite to catch The Merchants - a more conventional bar-room blues trio - at DBGBs. The group is relatively new and has survived some extensive personnel changes over the last few months, but every time I've seen them, they've sounded better and better (with the Saturday night set at DBGB's being an all-time high). I'm tempted to say it sounds like Tom Waits singing for Cream, and I'm hoping they'll put out some recordings soon because I know you don't believe me.
1.) Kinetic Stereokids (College Street Block Party)
Another new act that we first came across during the festival, although sadly not from the Buffalo area, was the Kinetic Stereokids. We arrived at the College Street Block Party hoping to grab a cold beverage, something off the grill, and relax for a couple hours to the somewhat hypnotic hoola hooping taking place in front of the stage, but instead were met by the loud distorted noise of the Flint, Michigan guitar and drum duo. Think Japandroids without the vocals, add some loops and additional drum and horn samples, and you have yourself the Kinetic Stereokids. The duo, who also played the Sci Fi Costume Party early in the week at Nietzsche's, was a crowd favorite of the block party, and certainly a band we would not dare to miss if they happen to pass through out city again.
