Tonight, Nietzsche's plays host to a tremendous array of Buffalo bands gathered in tribute to Giant of Western Civilization Lou Reed. Starting Saturday night and carrying on into Lou's birthday March 2, High Flyin' Babys, The Good, The Vores, Wooden Waves, After Hours, Dark Marbles, Girlpope, and The Irving Klaws will be exploring Lou's wildly influential career, both his seminal work with The Velvet Underground and years as a vital solo artist, and honoring the Great Man we prematurely lost to liver disease last October. It will be Buffalo's walk on the wild side, downtown adjacent in Allentown, and it can all be yours for $5 at the door. Doors open at 8 PM.

Is it just me or is Halloween really stressful? Not only do you have to figure out what you're going to be, but you have to design that costume, or bounce all over the place purchasing elements for it, and then put it together. The thing I find most stressful though is determining which parties or shows or "events" I'm going to attend. Most weekends, I am not struck with this problem. Most weekends I am at home watching movies. Halloween, however, (or the weekend precluding it, or following it), happen to be the most show-tastic, party raging nights of the year.

Luckily this year my mind was made up fairly early. At least in regards to Friday night (tonight). Nietzsche's and the Irving Klaws, who are known for their wild themed-Halloween shindigs, are holding a Haunted Hullabaloo A Go Go Halloween Love In. What this means for the laymen person is a giant 60's themed party with performances by 60's throwback jammers The Tell Tale Signs, Rock'n'Roll creeps, the Irving Klaws and burlesque troupe, Hells Harlots Burlesque. There will be cash prizes for best costumes and additional surprises throughout the night.

Tomorrow you have a lot more choices, but if you're wise, tonight you will end up at Nietzsche's. Doors at 10pm.

It's been nearly ten years since the legendary Buffalo venue, the Continental, shut its doors yet it still feels like yesterday. Every little detail remains crystal clear. The smell of that place, the dark, brooding ambiance, the dance floor upstairs and the creatures inhabiting it. The Continental was many things to many people. It was a sanctuary for the weird and dejected. It was a venue for "alternative" music however you choose to define that. All in all, it was a staple of our city and is (still) sorely missed.

But fret not! Tonight's all about celebration; not brooding. Tonight we celebrate the Continental Reunion party at Town Ballroom (8pm, $20). Obviously this couldn't be at the Continental...it's long since been destroyed. The Town B's the next best place though and what a way to wring in the party than with all those great bands who defined the place to begin with. You've got Terry Sullivan, you've got the Old Toys, you've got Bobo, you've got a host of killer DJ's that used to spin your favorite goth and IDM tracks. For a full list of bands, check the above flyer. Nostalgia can be a great thing if it's harnessed properly. Do it to it.

Since taking over hosting duties at the WBNY Local Show, Michael Moretti has been doing a great job of introducing to some of Buffalo and Western NY's finest up and coming acts.  For tonight's show, he welcomes one of the city's long time greats as the Irving Klaws make a stop in the studio.  Late last year, the long time Buffalo stalwarts released their first album in 10 years, titled Demon Tarts, a collection of dirty blues, punk, and rockabilly tunes, which was recorded at Buffalo's Hi/Lo Recording Studios.  

The show kicks off as always at 7pm with a long block of the freshest track to come out of Western NY before the Klaws take over the studio.  Listen online here or just tune your radio to 91.3FM  

Once upon a time there as a wonderful and strange lad from Cambridge UK named Syd Barrett. He fronted a band called The Pink Floyd consisting of dude's from architecture school, and they went to London to play their far out songs about gnomes, hyperspace travel, cross-dressers, and bicycles. They and their light shows were very popular, and soon they were in the vanguard of the "London Underground Scene" and recording down the hall from The Beatles who were very busy creating something called Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was a very exciting time... alas too exciting for poor Syd, who's over fondness for LSD got the better of him and his already fragile mind, sadly. The Pink Floyd continued on without him playing different tunes, and poor shattered Syd went home to Cambridge to hide, garden, occasionally ride his bicycle... and become a mythical figure of fascination, inspiration, and obsession to rock fans for over 40 years to the day he died in 2006 and beyond. 

Across the sea in a magical dive bar called the Mohawk Place, there has been  an annual tribute to that wonderful and strange chap named Syd Barrett, and this year's 10th anniversary edition will be very special indeed for three reasons:

1. Any anniversary involving a big round number is inherently special.
2. It begins on January 5 and ends on January 6... Syd's birthday, which of course is cosmic synchronicity.
3. It will sadly be the last Syd Barrett Tribute at the Mohawk Place.

Well, the world's still here, so that means it's time to party, and the spiciest and most dangerous party in town will be at the Mohawk Place celebrating the release of the long awaited 3rd album, Demon Tarts, from long time rockers The Irving Klaws and (almost) THE END OF TIMES. Buffalo burlesque legends The Stripteasers will be opening the show, which starts at 10 PM and goes until the Morality and Decency Squad shuts it down. Pretend like we've actually dodged a cosmic bullet, and get your ya-ya's out at the Mohawk. It's a celebration!

The Irving Klaws are one of Buffalo's greatest rock'n'roll gems. They have been playing in one incarnation or another for the entire time I've been going to shows (a long time) and have destroyed countless gigs (mostly at the beloved Mohawk Place). They are a staple of our scene and their legendary Halloween performances have, well, become legendary. If you've seen them live you know to expect.

If only their recorded output matched their enthusiasm for the live experience. I say this for two reasons. 1. Their new CD, Demon Tarts, is fucking excellent. 2. This is their first full album in over ten years. For fans like me who crave good rock'n'roll that is a long, LONG time.

The album bangs straight out of the gate with "Teenage Heat", a swelling composite of dirt-blues lick-age, BRMC Howl, upright bass-billy, and an insanely catchy vocal melody. "New Way to Meet Girls" sways with the kind of charm that made you love records from the fifties and sixties. I dare you to NOT dance when you hear this. The vocals shift from a sleazy-Lux Interior influenced line to "ooh la la" sixties girl group chants. "Revenge of the Demon Tarts" and "Fire in the Hole" are two other stand-out tracks, although it's a pick or choose. The thing I love most about the Klaws is their ability to integrate pop style hooks with rockabilly swing, punk attitude and fierce fun. All the songs are melting fire.

I'm really not surprised though seeing as how they took it to Hi Lo Studios. Anybody in the know knows that Matt Smith has something special there. All the releases I've heard coming out of that studio are just incredible.

A few things to note. This album is currently only available in CD format, but vinyl should be coming in spring or summer for all you enthusiasts. You can get your hands on it after 12/21 when it will be available at Record Theatre and Spiral Scratch. Or better yet, check out their CD release show on that day at Mohawk Place.

The beauty is in the simplicity people. Irving Klaws may not be re-inventing the wheel, but they certainly find way's to unhinge it. I only wish all rock'n'roll were this exciting.

With so many bands these day's wading the water's of the power-pop genre, it's refreshing to see one that actually wear's its heart on its sleeve. Leaving Atlanta is Jesse's personal testament to the power of music in dark times, combining the hook-driven elements of Elvis Costello, with a kind of desperation typically reserved for the Bruce Springsteen's and Billy Bragg's of this world. Rock'n'roll through and through Jesse's is an exercise in overcoming struggle, and a tribute to all things catchy. Tonight we celebrate his music and message as Jesse (and his Men) take over Mohawk Place along with strong support from Barreracuda's and excellent locals Irving Klaws and Matt Smith and the Immediates (8pm, $10). It's been awhile since four acts as consistent (and awesome) as these bands have shared a stage. Ear candy galore. Make it happen.

Halloween is one of the most fun and frustrating times of the year. You know your going to have a great time but theres always so much to do! Do I go and get drunk at my friends house party? Do I follow my friends to some lame club and spend the whole night people watching and laughing at their ridiculous, slutty costumes? One thing is for sure though:  every year, I try and catch the Irving Klaws Halloween Party at Mohawk Place. Always a good time, Dave G. and crew pull out all the stops and throw one hell of a bash. This years party promises to be no exception. For one it's the Rabies final show. They've been around for several years now and we at Buffablog are sad to see em go. Also on the bill are Pink Tiger performing New York Dolls songs and, of course, the Irving Klaws doing Roy Orbison numbers. Theres going to be cash giveaways, a costume contest, and "weird prizes" as well, and my bet is you'll see some of the most unique costumes in the city. They're on a tight schedule so doors are at 10 which means GET THERE AT 10! $5 with a costume, $8 without.

Monster Mash by Bigjon1971