Mindbenders, rabble-rousers, sonic masters of shenanigans, all converge under one cracking roof and sticker-ridden walls to wear out 2013's old style and lash into 2014 with a flying set of diverse bands. If you're into the twisted chaos of ethereal guitar swirls and enchanting sitar plucks, I should see your bum shakin' it tomorrow evening at Nietzsche's Buffalo.

Even though many, many jam-oriented events were booked here this year, there's still no better place to surrender to Funktional Flow's eclectic style that begs the whole body to get up and groove. At times they start out coy, wheeling a reggae-steady beat, and before you know it you feel like you're breakdancing to the raging synth-like pounces of The Disco Biscuits. If you're lacking a Funktional Flow show under your leather pouch, it's a highly suggested adventure, especially with the additional acts on the bill.

Family Funktion & The Sitar Jams blend a mix of sitar, bass, and drums that give an a-rhythmic quality, similar to groups like Consider The Source and New Jersey-based Zetizen. Songs like "Lusa" and "What To Do" ring of a dark mystery in a most seductive and dervish way. Looking for something more soulful? Smackdab brings the aching funk blend, punching out a steady tune that's heavy on rock with a blues baby mixed in for seasoning. Finally, Logo City's contribution to the evening is a melodic glide and invites the organ as the main component to the sonic banquet.

All the acids and bases are mixed to the right pH level to party. Don't leave the house without your ID that says 21+, 5 dollars, and a smile. Show up around 9 p.m. if you will, babes.

Tonight DBGB's has an excellent night of world music lined up for Buffalo music lovers in the form of Preach Freedom, One World Tribe and Logo City. With thing's getting squirrelly in the US of A, there's something wonderful when music, bands, and audiences break down the BS barriers between us and get free, and that's definitely what's going to be going on tonight in Allentown. Rusted Root's percussionist and backing vocalist Preach Freedom channels an interesting blend of world music, r&b, and reggae, while Pittsburgh's fiercely multicultural One World Tribe and Buffalo's very own organ soul outfit Logo City fill out the evening's entertainment. The show is 21 and over only, the cover will be reasonable, and the grooves start at 10 PM.

"I can kind of envision maybe, um, one person with a lot of machines, tapes and electronic setups uh, uh, singing or speaking and, and... using machines"
-Jim Morrison


Congratulations Jim, your babbling, nonsensical, overrated mouth just spat out something intelligent. Electronic music is here kids, and if you're an American, this is news to you. Electronic music is so here in fact, that even in Buffalo, mostly known for it's red and blue Hammer pants and bizarre allegiance to Pat Benatar (no disrespect), a three story party featuring four rooms of versatile, cutting edge music can still be a success. 

A lot of credit goes to the venue, DNIPRO is one of the coolest places in Buffalo to stage an endless maze of DJ's, bands, lasers, fog, and bars serving delicious Ukrainian beer (Obolon Weizen anyone?).  Such a maze is no fun without talent though.  Leading off the show in the band room, Wonder Crayon forgot it wasn't in the DJ room and dropped into a spirited cover of Daft Punk's "Robot Rock". Following them were The Wakos, performing a more electronic set than the one the night before at the buffaBLOG Holiday Party. Piggybacking sets across the room after that were local favorites Logo City, playing before the largest crowd of the night, before Neffski and Sean Clements cooled down the evening with some lush, diverse downtempo music.

Since I was helping Chris Young from The Wakos run sound in the band room, I didn't make it to the other floors as much as I wanted to, but when I did manage to aimlessly wander, I caught great sets from Hoogs and Odi on the third floor, hosted by Buffalo Drum 'n Bass, Jelo on the Main Stage, and a show stealing set from Sunglasses Mike from Queen City Cartel. As with most of these types of events, the best sets are always hidden on the schedule in the places you'd least expect, where up and coming DJ's push the envelope and try just a little bit harder to stand out. Even if the main stage acts weren't your thing, however, you owed it to yourself to stand in front of Tristan Ferguson's wall of homemade subwoofers on the second floor. I've been to a lot of great sounding shows, but the warmth and clarity of that main stage deserves a shout out from my ears.  A special shout out, however, does NOT go out to the manufacturer of LED lights. Make your lights easier to work, man.

Here's a little video of my aimless wanderings:





Also, check out some photos, courtesy of Michael Nico Nostro



As the event was a charity for the Native American Organization, NETO, a special mention to the Local businesses that helped support it are in order.

-Madd Tiki Tattoo
-Massage Suite & Spa
-Delta Sonic
-Encore Restaurant
-Certo Bros. Distributing
-Designated Drivers of Buffalo

A Special thanks also goes out to the Get Down team and all the people at DNIPRO for putting on a show worth going to. See you next year?

Get Down Solstice! is a fundraiser for the local Native American organization, Neto. It is a unique event featuring musical acts and DJs from Toronto, New York City, and from Buffalo. It is a loaded event for a good cause that is taking place at the Dnipro Ukrainian Center at 562 Genesee St.  In total there will be 23 acts, including Wakos fresh off of their performance at the buffaBLOG Holiday Party last night. BuffaBLOG favorite Logo City will also be performing. The event will feature a Chinese Auction where you can bid on items such as spa treatments, gift baskets, car washes, and restaurant gift cards.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle for $5 with the top 3 prizes being:
1st prize:  A pair of authentic seats from the old Yankee stadium
2nd prize: Apple iPad 2
3rd prize: 32" flat screen TV

-Featuring-
From Toronto: Jelo, The Hektic Krew, Stickbubbly, Mischief N Mayhem, DJ SWICKE.

From NYC: Neffski, DJ ODI, Sean Clements (performing in band room)

From Buffalo/Rochester: Brandon Chase, Killsound, 3po, Ryan Liddell, Paul Kuenzi, Xotex. Influence & 3, Medison, Sun Glasses Mike, Scott Elliott, Sketch, Truth & Turtologist.

Bands: Wonder Crayon, WAKOS, Logo City.

Tickets are $20 dollars at the door, you get $5 off if you bring a toy or 3 canned goods with you. You must be 18+ for entrance. The fun starts at 10PM and the party doesn't stop until 5AM.

Ghosts by wiseandkindoldsouls

Wallet feeling a little light this weekend? Worried about saving up for the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities and the holiday season? Head to Hardware on Allen Street tonight, where Logo City will be laying down grooves from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., and there is no cover. The band features guitarist Zach Mikita of Peanut Brittle Satellite fame, and just like PBS, Logo City is known to be very unpredictable, sounding at one moment like a jazz ensemble and at the next like a blazing rock powerhouse. Below, check out some of the band's only available multimedia, a short video of Logo City entertaining a wild crowd in Rochester.