Local troubadour Nick Gordon has released an original song for the literary project, The Life and Times of Grovey Cleves, a dark and humorous look at the former Buffalo Mayor and two-time President of the United States. Titled "Grovey's Tune," the twangy folk song (think a little Arlo Guthrie, a little Red House Painters) is a somber look at Cleveland's path to the White House. Gordon wrote the song (see lyrics below), and released along with fellow local musician Eric Kendall. Kendall also contributes drums and guitar.

Written by buffaBLOG and Block Club contributor Scott Mancuso and illustrated by local artist Mickey Harmon, The Life and Times of Grovey Cleves celebrated its opening reception this past Friday at the Western New York Book and Arts Center. If you were not in attendance, the exhibit will continue its run at WNYBAC through late April. In addition, copies of the book will be available to purchase at the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair next month. In the mean time, listen to "Grovey's Tune" below.

I shuffled off to buffalo
To say hello to my uncle joe
Tried my hand at politics
It was there I built my name

Took my licks
And had my kicks
I was just young man then
All written down here on the page

Moved it on down to New York town
Boy did my veto make them frown
5 cent fare didn't take me anywhere
I stamped them out
One after another

Heard the White House
calling my name
Life would never be the same
I turned my back
and did what i had to do

Sterling honesty
Is what they said about me
Honest as honest can be
No favors for the upper crust
Public service is a public trust

When I was young
My name was Steve
Now they call me Grovey Cleves
The life and times of Grovey Cleves

A mind without peace
Stuck in political grease

When I was young
my name was Steve
Now they call me Grovey Cleves
The life and times of Grovey Cleves

The Glitter Box is hosting a great little bill this evening, a perfect way to end your music week. The shallow West Side establishment will be hosting Porches, a five piece currently on tour from Brooklyn. Their dark and somber blend of indie rock, dubbed bummer pop (I like that term), is very Pedro the Lion-esque. Local support for tonight is a bit across the board: Bobby Griffith's droney and ambient VWLS project, laid back folkie Nick Gordon, and the debut live performance from the indie pop act, Inquiring Mind.

Music kicks off at 6pm. No cover is noted on the event page, but bring at few bucks to take care of the touring band.

Part of the monthly film series "exploring outsiders of culture through films that have bypassed the theaters and ended up at your local pub," Squeaky Wheel and Allen Street Hardware will be showing the documentary, In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey. 

The documentary examines the life of one of American music's foundational figures, John Fahey. Fahey's work as both a musician and musicologist has deeply impacted our understanding of Delta Blues, Appalachian Bluegrass and New Orleans Jazz and whose influence is felt in musicians across the spectrum including figures like Jim O'Rourke and Sonic Youth. Directed by James Cullingham, the documentary combines recorded performances and interviews, the documentary is billed as a musically charged tribute to a tremendously influential composer, guitarist, author and provocateur."

Tonight's program does not just include what looks to be a very interesting documentary but also includes an additional short film on Wilco's lead guitarist, Nels Cline, Approximately Nels Cline. And if that is not enough for you, there will also be a performance from one of Buffalo's own young jack of all trades/folk wizard, Nicky Gordon. The event is free for members of Squeaky Wheel and only $7 for non-members, so this is really a great deal for what promises to be a night of great music and information about music.

Squeaky Wheel and Allen St. Hardware present the SQUEAKEASY Film Series: In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey
Featuring a performance by Nicky Gordon
Allen Street Hardware Cafe, 245 Allen Street
Free for Squeaky Wheel Members/$7 for non-members
8pm

I could tell you more, but I'm sure you can read the poster. Music starts at 8PM!

Here's a little taste of things to come:

I can honestly say the title to this post is one of the last things I ever expected to type on this blog. But, earlier this week, I found this show in my events feed, so here we are.  Located at 205 Military Road, the Uki Club (Ukranian-American Civic Center) will be hosting an evening of traditional Ukranian dishes (including pierogies) and a pretty great bill of local acts.  So while you dine on some holubtsi, enjoy the fine tunes of laid back troubadour Nick Gordon, or maybe you prefer to pair your borscht with the space traveling electronic duo of UVB-76 instead.  And just in case the bar is not serving any Genny or PBR, make sure to grab a couple Obolon beers when alt MC Jack Topht takes the stage.  The rest of tonight's bill is rounded by Malaria Control, Bear Flames, and Pang!.

Joking aside, this seems like a fun event in a different venue than you would normally think for a show.  People tend to complain in this city that there is never anything different to do. Well, problem solved, as least for this evening.  While admission for this all ages event is free, food and drinks are not, so make sure to bring some money for dinner and beverages as this is a cash only night.  Food service begins at 6pm, while the Back Hall will begin the music sets at 9pm.   
Вас там побачити (See you there)     

Nick Gordon has written the kind of album that any lo-fi slacker could only hope to eventually finish when he gets around to it.  That's not meant to be a dig at Nick (or the other musicians in his band, bassist Sean Kader, drummer Ryan McMullen, guitarist John Toohill, and Keyboardist Peter Scheck), but while I was listening to this album, I got the sense that these are just a bunch of laid-back dudes who wanted to write a bunch of laid-back songs to match. There's a definite Lou Reed vibe here, with even a touch of Bob Dylan or Band of Horses, but all in all, Nick Gordon has written and released what every procrastinator musician wishes he could finally sit down and finish.

"Summertime" kicks off the album on a pretty acoustic note.  I realized fairly quickly that these guys just like jamming on catchy bluesy guitar licks.  Many of the songs on Nicky & The Hall of Fame seem like they could just be really, really good improvisations by five talented guys in a room.  Nick sings about the summertime and how nice it is to get together with friends and just hang out.  He even mentions a fly buzzing around outside of a window.  And just like the brevity of a Buffalo summertime, the song comes and goes before you know it.

The album then heads into one of it's strongest tracks, "Sucker's Paradise." In a different life, I feel like this song could have been a song by the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, or even a hit Black Keys single. It's got classic rock swagger, but Nick rarely gets revved up enough to let his emotions show through - he mostly just rambles eloquently over catchy bluesy rock. For the entire song, it feels like there is something bubbling under the surface and the song is about to explode into something huge.  But Nick & co. never break that surface tension, instead they just jam quietly and contently. Let it be known I am totally cool with that.

The closest these guys ever come to straight-up rocking out is the longest song on the album, "When I Feel A Certain Way," that clocks in at just over four minutes.  For the most part, The Hall of Fame doesn't really linger on their tracks for much longer than they have to, and it is probably usually for the best. Their distinctive slow drawl is a definite strength, but it's also good that they don't play it out more than they have to.  Instead, "When I Feel A Certain Way" comes in gently and finds the band locked in a tight, exciting jam through the final minute of the song.  As a whole, this album isn't one that I would put on if I wanted to get pumped up, but Gordon came damn close on this particular track. 

I really, really (really) liked the electric piano jam, "Shit Talkin'."  You can tell these guys are from Buffalo - Nick immediately gives a shout out when he sings, "Shit Talkin' down on Bidwell and Allen.  I don't care, go run and tell 'em, I got that fearless feeling on that avenue, shit talkin', nothing better to do." Now, to someone who isn't listening to the gentle tremolo that accompanies the Fender Rhodes, that might sound a bit comical - but honestly, this song is just straight up beautiful.  I am sure there are times when we have all "overindulged" (i.e. got super drunk), and that thirty minutes of blissed-out fearlessness that accompanies a good buzz is captured perfectly here. I have been there.  That moment when you are leaning up against a wall or a light post, not a care in the world... I don't hear "Headstrong" by Trapt, I hear this song.

Nick wraps up the album with another good jam, "Under the Moon."  The song is about a seventeen year old named Vincent who (I am assuming) committed suicide in a parking lot.  Gordon sings about how seventeen came way too soon for this poor kid, and it wasn't enough time for him to really develop into an adult. After the band tells the kid's story, they break into a freak out jam to close out the song.  Needless to say, it's awesome.  

Now I might have pegged Nick all wrong here, you know, by implying that he is a slacker so much...  But as a fellow musician, I know how tough it is to sit down and finish a bunch of songs that have been laying around for who knows how long.  I don't know if it was Vincent's untimely passing, or even just some well-timed inspiration, but for all the slackers out there with all the best intentions of releasing a bunch of unfinished songs, take a hint from Nick.

P.S. Nick, seriously, if you aren't a slacker, you should pretend that you are. You'd be a hero.

Stop down to The Vault tonight for an eclectic mix of great music for the only $5.00. Cleveland's Filmstrip will be performing in support of their newest digital album, "Feeling Like Infinity." Appearing with Filmstrip will be Andy the Doorbum (Charlotte, NC), and two Buffalo acts, Aircraft (who will be playing buffaBLOG's Beach Party next week), and Nick Gordon and the Hall of Fame. The show starts at 9pm.

 

The lineup for tonight's Mohawk Place  show is one we've been looking forward to for a while. The super-bleak, super-heavy prog trio White Bison and super-bleak, super-haunted folk outfit Mordaunt Sisters both made our Best-Of list last year. They're going to be joined by Buffalo indie-folk veteran Nick Gordon (who is billed with The Curse Words, which could either be a backing band... or a fair warning). Show is at 47 E. Mohawk St, starts at 9pm, and costs seven bucks. Get into it (and check out our interview with WB while you are in the process of getting into it).