Breckenwood,
cosmic shakedown,
crashfuse,
jon,
preview,
showplace theater,
sleepy hahas,
st. patrick's day
—
In 2008, after nearly 15 years as one of Buffalo's premier music venues, the Showplace Theater (1065 Grant St.) closed its doors. The iconic venue hosted many legendary performances over the years from nationals like the Cramps and the Damned to popular local groups like the Imports and the Budgets. As a little kid, it was always my dream to play the Showplace, and as I got older, I was privileged enough to make that dream a reality several times over. When the closing was announced (the place was practically falling apart) the music community was in shambles; tears were shed, memories were recounted, and a silent fear echoed throughout the scene...what now?
Not long ago the old Showplace was purchased, and since that time renovations have been under way to clean the place up and restore it to its former glory. Anyone who remembers those bathrooms will know that this is no easy undertaking.
Tonight will be a coming out party of sorts for the landmark theater. While Showplace is not officially set to open as a venue (just yet), they are opening their doors for one night; a celebration of all things St. Paddy's. Irish for a Day. The party (doors at 4pm) will include performances by popular local acts Breckenwood, Crashfuse, Cosmic Shakedown and Sleepy Hahas (check em out below). Additionally there will be Irish food aplenty and an endless flow of (what else?) beer. Go for the bands, go for the eats, or just go to see what Showplace looks like nowadays. I, for one, am curious.
babeville,
Breckenwood,
California Wives,
Cliff,
Concert Review,
ninth ward,
searching for dinosaurs
—
Chicago up and comers California Wives passed through the Ninth Ward Tuesday night on their way to meet up with Stars to open for the Toronto New Wavers on their upcoming North American tour (which does not include a date in Buffalo by the way). ESI was having a hell of a year bringing quality national indie acts to our fair city while charging a nice ticket price, and I for one was interested to see if their streak would continue because I love what they are doing for Buffalo, especially now that they are advertising in Artvoice and working the Interwebs. And yes, their streak continues.
Local boys Breckenwood started the show with their pleasing high energy Who inspired cock rock (without the negative connotations). Theirs was an earnest, shambolic, and unashamed set... so unashamed in fact that they even through in a Killers cover and closed with a Backstreet Boys ditty. The Killers song I could forgive, but that other was borderline unforgivable. Out of respect for their profoundly unpretentious rock that has just about all of the sonic virtues of cock rock without the hair, cheese, and misogyny, I'll cut them a break. Searching For Dinosaurs immediately time warped me back to the 90's for a tour of all of the music I studiously avoided during that mixed bag of a decade. Still, I can't hold it against them because looking around these last few years, the 90's are actually the good old days.
After a brief interlude, California Wives closed the night's entertainments with a nicely tight set, their rhythm section dead on and heavy on the grooves with pleasingly jangly guitar riffs that called to mind early R.E.M. (without early Michael Stipe mumble). Touring in support of their debut album Art History, California Wives returned to Buffalo with some blog buzz, and fortunately they did not disappoint the sparse crowd, especially when they veered into New Wave territory for a couple of numbers that were particularly satisfying, their "four indie dude attempt at a love song" and an "80's prom song." Lead vocalist Jayson Kramer was more than up to the task when he was called upon to get smooth and sensual, and the band took full advantage of the excellent acoustics at the Ninth Ward and laid down some lovely atmospherics that cumulatively embued them with a deserved, vaguely U2-esque grandeur. I also appreciated Kramer's "@#$% the haters!" comment during the obligatory Buffalove portion of the show; that was very nice of him to say, considering the crowd was completely already down with them.
By the time they wrapped up the show with a cover of Pavement's "Gold Soundz," California Wives had already lived up the modest buzz that preceded them, and they really showed why that buzz is around in the first place, and why they'll be opening for Stars this fall. That's going to be one hell of a show, and I for one am envious of the folks who will get to see it.
