I set out Thursday evening to pay a visit to our city’s newest live music venue, Buffalo Iron Works, located in the downtown Cobblestone district. Without anticipating much and having only a rough idea of where it was I was going, I eventually made my way to the venue located in a region of Buffalo desperately trying to revitalize itself as the entertainment district what with plenty of sports bars, Helium comedy club, appropriately located right next door to First Niagara Center and a stone’s throw from Coca-Cola Field and Canalside.
A steep $15 cover granted me admittance into this respectfully renovated old industrial building and immediately I could appreciate the aesthetics of the design and décor. The atmosphere felt pleasant, and the brick walls and iron beams sheltered by an exposed wooden ceiling looked quite nice. I thought it to be reminiscent of a Mohawk Place had they chose to clean up their act in order to accommodate a more eclectic crowd and show sports on televisions they never dared to have.
The bar itself is sizable, but the drink selection is not. Prices range $4-6 and at best you’ll get a Magic Hat #9 or at least a PBR. I took a PBR and a seat at one of the many high-chaired tables and noticed the spacious arrangement that invited patrons to hang out comfortably while gazing through a couple of enormous garage doors. Despite the lack of passersby, I think opening the doors in the warmer weather will add a nice dynamic to the room.
For all intents and purposes, Iron Works is a sports bar with a stage, but a nice one I’d like to add. Buffalo’s own Aircraft had already taken to it and I was impressed to hear how good their music sounded in a room so open. If you’re still unfamiliar to the sounds of Aircraft’s energetic cosmic surf rock, you could start by checking out Sonic Boom, the band’s first album they released earlier this year. The record is an ambitious collection that features eight tracks showcasing their ability write well-crafted, fun, spaced-out pop songs. With driving rhythms and reverberated vocals usually layered over loud guitars, led by bleeping synths and more guitar, comparing them to the likes of MGMT and Los Campesinos! wouldn’t be too far off. Live the band relays their far out sound effectively, though the vocals can sometimes become drowned out and coherence tends to get lost. Still the band emits a sense of professionalism and politeness with enough energy to entice those watching to at least nod their heads or sing to songs such as “Meteroite” and “Exist.”
To my dismay, the amount of floor seating makes the atmosphere too subdued considering there is plenty of room at the bar to sit down and still have a good view of the stage. Hopefully temporary removal is an option for these kinds of audiences as it just seemed unnecessary as did the singular waitress who looked pretty and despondent while trying to accommodate the crowd. In an effort to avoid the possible interaction, I opted to step outside which left me with my own sense of depression. The bleakness of Perry Street left me questioning if and how this area could ever truly become less desolate namely during the Sabres’ off-season. Granted, I realize this was a first time for everyone involved and judgement best ought to be reserved and being only 7 weeks old, Iron Works is still beginning to test the waters of course.
Heading back inside I investigated the tiny kitchen with its tiny menu and was pleasantly surprised to see it comprised of sandwiches, wraps, jumbo hot dogs, but first and foremost: poutine. And several varieties I might add! I didn’t have any that night but surely I am looking forward to trying some the next time I stop in.
Like the delicious cuisine originating from Quebec, the Montreal-based band and headlining act, Plants and Animals, have been gracing Buffalo with their presence occasionally over the past few years. I was first captivated by their sound in 2007 when I saw them opening for Andrew Bird one evening at Asbury Hall. Unaware of who they were, I subsequently picked up their first proper album, Parc Avenue, one day while record shopping and it has really stuck with me throughout the years. Meanwhile, the band released two more records, both of which I’d been completely ignorant of, so needless to say, I was excited to see and hear what the band would have to offer. Much of the music that I was unfamiliar with wasn’t too much of a departure from that off Parc Avenue: artful pop orchestrations that are largely folk-oriented while dabbling into sounds of ‘70s stoner rock is basically the gist I’ll give though newer material comes with what I can only describe as a laid back sense of confidence and pride. Upon recently deciding to add a bass player to more fully develop their live sound, the quartet performs with palpable chemistry especially apparent in they playfulness between Warren Spicer and guitarist Nic Basque as they mimic classic rock tropes and mess around with cool sounding effects on their instruments conceivably to remind one another not to take themselves too seriously. Now don’t get me wrong, a Polaris Music Prize nomination in 2008 for Parc Avenue gave Plants and Animals enough recognition to tour alongside a number of bigger name indie bands and festivals around the world.
I found the existential qualities apparent in both bands’ songwriting all too appropriate as my night came to an end. Regarding one’s own existence in this world, Simone de Beauvoir described that “life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and in surpassing itself; if all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying.” That being said, the condition of Buffalo’s music scene is currently in a state of existential crisis. With the loss of Mohawk Place, Soundlab, and the Vault, 2013 marks devastating year in Buffalo’s musical history. But with death comes new life. The Waiting Room has become a hub for local bands to play with one another as well as some low-key national acts. Seemingly, the Tralf has even begun to pick up more nationally recognized independent acts after a quiet couple of years and The Gypsy Parlor instantly became a successful addition to the Buffalo’s west side. As for Iron Works, it has my approval as a spacious, good sounding venue for live music and Thursday’s show was a decent trial run. Foreseeable problems are booking acts that will draw diverse crowds (i.e. The Harbor Concert Series) and promoting the shows better. It doesn’t look like they have too many noteworthy shows coming up anytime soon but if you’re bored, they do have music many nights of the week. Otherwise go for the poutine.
Poutine….
~ Post by Joseph Murray Myers
~ Photo by Cliff Parks
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