My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, Sebadoh, Mazzy Star—there’s been a whole lot of bands coming out of retirement this year for one last hurrah. Whether it’s a reunion tour or some new tracks to remind us of old favorites, guitar rock and rockers are proving they have a better half life than expected. This phenomenon can even be seen at a local level with the ten-year reunion of local band Misconstruity. The four-piece outfit (Russell Sbriglia, John Sbriglia, Bill Fulton and Rob Goc) has started touring Western New York again and comes together tonight at Neitzsche’s for a special show of oldies, newies, and more than likely some Foo Fighter covers. With special guests Enola Oaks and Bearhunter, the place should be pounding with honest rock by old-school believers. $5 at the door, 21 and over. If it’s too loud, you’re too young.

Jimkata will be stopping at Nietzches in support of their latest album, Die Digital. The four piece Ithaca natives won their claim to a fan base by locating a harmony between two dominant genres, as described on their facebook page "Analog synthesizers and heavy bass notes fill the electronic role, while big guitars create space for shredding within the structure of pure indie rock." They've played their fresh hybrid at music festivals in the northeast such as Summer Camp, Camp Bisco, and Mountain Jam. They will supported by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. The event starts at 8:00PM and $10 will get you through the door!

Tonight, Neitzsche's celebrates the sixth iteration of its ongoing tribute to local music legend Mark Freeland. A veteran of so many bands, highlighting them all here would be more tedious than naming the entire Bonnaroo lineup, Freeland was a tireless artist. His creative genius never reached the heights of fame that he deserved, but his impact on the Buffalo music scene is undeniable. For a scene that is (undeservedly) painted as a cover band wasteland, Freeland swam against the stream. Over 10 bands will pay tribute at Nietzsche's tonight, with a cover of only $5, which will go to benefit the Music is Art Foundation.

                  
This was a great year of enjoying live music for me as I just recently moved to the Elmwood/Allentown area. I was in walking distance of a couple of Buffalo's great venues now and had a chance to be introduced to many good local bands and see some great shows. Almost all of the best of items here are of national acts though as I have only recently gotten into the local scene, but perhaps by next year that will all be different.

The Tins are one of the most covered acts on buffaBLOG. And for good reason. They are completely and utterly fantastic. Everything they've put out gets stuck in your head and isn't that the sign of "good" music?

Tonight marks the celebration and release of the bands newest effort Life's A Gas. The album release takes place at Nietsches (9pm), along with several other Buffalo staples:  Handsome Jack, Dotsun Moon and DJ Handsome Dan. This is the a-ha moment when you realize this is the best show going in town tonight and you should be there. A-HA!

In many ways, the Alan Evans Trio are a throwback. They play the type of groovy soul instrumentals that you just don't here anymore.old school, while the production is refreshingly modern. If you get a thrill out of finding an old Booker T And The MG's LP at your local record store, they should be right up your alley.  Tonight, the group is headed to Nietzsche's for the latest gig on their drop and run tour. Fans of classic soul, and highly danceable grooves would certainly be wise to check it out. Tickets are $15, and the fun starts at 7:00pm

Tonight, Nietzche's takes us on a tour of the weirder side of Americana when Baby Gramps headlines a certifiably strange and wonderful bill which includes Buffalo's own Well Worn Boot, Mr. Boneless, and Acoustic Assault. Hailing from Seattle, Baby Gramps has been called the "Salvador Dali of folk music," which means he's ideally suited to follow the delightful freak out that is Well Worn Boot's live set, the fun, psychotic blues of Mr. Boneless, and the acoustic assault of Acoustic Assault. The inspired weirdness kicks off at 8:30, and the cover is a reasonable $7.

Here's Baby Gramps with The Akron Family on Letterman:

Let's face it, the American story has totally fallen out of focus over the course of the last decade; our history either forgotten or dubiously revised, while the shared consensus that formed the "center" of our politics has entirely fragmented. For my money, I think that's why our politics and our society seem to have gone wacky barely 220+ years into the American experiment. Tonight however, it'll be all good because Nietzche's has a lineup that will be a balm for the American soul: Vox Humana, American Stories, and Lazlo Holyfield. No don't get me wrong, none of these bands are specifically political, but between the indie folk/rock of Vox Humana, the acoustic folk of American Stories, and the always pleasing indie rock of Lazlo Holyfield... how could you not come away feeling good about being an American?* Come on now, don't be haters. The show starts at 10 PM at Nietzche's, and the cover as always will be reasonable.







* To our Canadian, sorry, but let's face it.... And to our immigrant and visiting readers, I say "welcome" and "enjoy the show."

On this Monday morning, I can guaranteeeee, that you should infringe a time or two... or even threeeeee... because Monday evening, oh Monday evening you will surely beeee, listening to music at Mohawk or DBGBeeeeeeees!

We're several days in, now, and already there have been successful performances in abundance around downtown.  What's in store for today?  Read on to find out:

Listen to your inner movie buff and start the day at Filigrees (on the corner of Elmwood and Forest) with their Monday Film Fun event.  Three movies will be screened and the event goes from 12:30-5:30PM.  Red Green Totem, Decency in Kind, and Thin Red Line are the the films to look forward to this afternoon.

Crane Library (Elmwood Avenue) is playing host to a myriad of unique events today and, had I not been scheduled to work today, would probably be my destination of choice (I go out to see music quite a bit... gotta change it up sometimes, oui?).  There will be Celtic Storytelling from 1:00-2:00PM featuring stories of healing and repose shared in the Bardic style and accompanied by the soothing sounds of a Celtic harp.
Take a break, grab a bite to eat, and head right back to Crane Library at 4:00PM for the performance of Incident at Deer Lick, a satirical piece dealing with the three M's (murder, mystery, and marriage, of course).  Franklin LaVoie will be performing as Buffalo's former editor of the Courier Express... Mark Twain.
The final event of the day at Crane Library, "Symphony #3", starts at 7:00PM this evening.  'Tis a puppet show featuring a man and his dog who attmept to rediscover and reconnect with society after living in solitude... in a hand-dug hole underneath a highway billboard.  All set to the music of Aaron Coplands' "Symphony #3".

Nietzsche's will be holding the aptly titled Best Monday Ever today.  The event goes from 6:00-10:00PM and features 30 minute sets from the following bands (in order of appearance): Jamey Kern, Autoverse, Chacko P. Coltrane, Frigid Giant, Lloyd MacHardy, Blue Lazer, and Lazy Ass Destroyer.  Nietzsche's is the de facto epicenter of Infringement Festival and always promises to have killer shows throughout.

My personal pick for music event of the night however is a "choose your own adventure" of sorts... it will be a fairly easy choice for most.  Do you prefer rock music (in the vein of indie/alt)? THEN CHOOSE PATH A!  Tend to lean towards electronic music stylings?  THEN CHOOSE PATH B!

Path A leads you to Mohawk Place from 8:00-11:00PM for sets by various alt and indie rockers Mob From Atlantis, The Merchants, and The Screaming Jeans.

Path B takes you to DBGB's at 10:00PM and keeps you there until question mark PM/AM (who knows?) for Monday Mixdown with Drop D, Nobez, and DJ Soma.  Plus, bonus for those who show up early, DBGB's will be hosting the Monday Funday Open Mic Night from 7:00-10:00PM.

Enjoy your day, Infringe away!

Fitting for the time of year, I hope someone plays this song tonight:

Nietzsche's. Rock. Tonight.

The lineup of bands playing at Nietzsche's this evening should easily be enough to erase the question mark bouncing around the inner walls of your skull, clouding your mind, and making you unsure of what your plans for the evening are.

You've got The Found.
You've got Bearhunter.
You've got Sleepy Hahas.

You've got a plan and a half to toss back a six-pack of M. Lite Shyamalan's and rage it up on Allen Street...

...and that's a good plan!

All three bands share the common denominator of being influenced by psychedelia.  From there, however, each band strikes out in their own unique direction and, ultimately, stakes a claim on their individual plots on the map of rock.

I could tell you about the driving percussive force behind The Found, or the fuzzed-out riffs of Bearhunter, or even the impressive way Sleepy Hahas keys and guitar play off one another... but I think you should just take a listen to each band instead.  Show begins at 9:30pm.

It's that time of year again. Buffalo's 55th annual Allentown Art Festival (Saturday and Sunday 11am-6pm) kicks into high gear this weekend and buffaBLOG is going to be on the scene, bouncing between vendors, parties and bars, soaking in the creative atmosphere. I'm sure most of you have been down to the festival before and already know what to expect. For those who haven't, picture a sea of people and art everywhere. Artists will have booths set up on either side of the street where you can purchase art work or just do some heavy browsing. There's food, games and, of course, music. You're bound to see plentiful amounts of drunks, and about 3,000 Golden Retrievers so the people/animal watching will be in full effect as well. Here's a list of some things you might want to check out if you're in the Allentown area. (side note: Many of these artists don't have transferrable soundfiles. Go to the included websites to hear some of their music).


SATURDAY

THE STEAM DONKEY's - DBGB's. Americana lover's unite. For over ten years, the Steam Donkeys have been coloring the rust belt's palette with a fine mix of roots-flavored ballads and lullabies. This afternoon, I suggest you escape the heat and slide into DBGB's, where the Donkey's will be playing a mid-day set. 2pm is the time.

QUEEN CITY CARTEL HOSTS FRICTION - DBGB's. If your thing is electronic music, look no further than DBGB's. The ever popular Queen City Cartel will be hosting one of their Friction dance parties and it looks to be a banger. Derf, Medison, Potent-J and more will be blasting an eclectic mix of Dubstep, D'n'B, House and more. Anybody who knows anything about the EDM scene in Buffalo know's that these nights pop. Party starts at 10pm.

SCOTT CELANI BAND and MORE - Nietzsches. Perhaps the singer-songwriter thing is more your speed. Nietzsches will be the spot if this is the case. At 3:45, Scott Celani and his band hit stage followed by Rick Smith (6:45pm) and Jen Whitemore (8:45pm) and Alasanne Sarr (11:45pm). Probably more of a relaxed atmosphere than DBGB's, it will nevertheless be a great time.


SUNDAY

NEVILLE FRANCIS - DBGB's. Reggae is one of the most underappreciated genre's of music today. It has such a rich history and I feel like it often gets passed by or dismissed. Lately though, Buffalo has seen an upswing in the Reggae scene. Legendary producer Lee "Scratch" Perry recently made his way into town re-charging our collective batteries and wanting more. One man who know's ALL about reggae (He's been doing it here in Buffalo for 15+ years is Neville Francis. I remember seeing Neville (with Riddim Posse?) way back in the late nineties and was floored by his depth of understanding and appreciation for the music. If you want to see what reggae is all about, head to DBGB's around 2pm where Neville will be playing. Chances are you'll gain a newfound respect for the music.

NIETZSCHE's ALLENTOWN MUSIC FEST. All day long Allen's most popular venue will be featuring all different kinds of bands and artists. At 2pm, you have Josh Gage and the Moves. At 4pm, you have Corrections. The ever-popular and long-running McCarthyizm will go onstage at 5pm followed by Shaky Stage (6pm), Randle and the Late Nite Scandals (7pm) and Erie Lackawanna Railroad Band (8pm). Hunker down here and drink yourself silly as you witness the best these parts have to offer.

Tonight, the Tins will (finally!) be releasing their debut album, Life's a Gas, at Nietzsches. After a year of recording and raising money through a Kickstarter campaign the group is ready to prove to the world that hard work does indeed pay off AND that the Tins are easily one of the best bands going. The bill also includes a host of Buffablog faves including Early Attic, Bryan Johnson and Family and Canary Girls. No other show quite displays the level of awesomeness going on in our fair town right now so make sure you don't miss this one. Jams start at 10pm.

Melvin Seals & the Jerry Garcia Band are performing at Nietzsche's tonight and tomorrow night! Melvin Seals joined the JGB Band in 1980 and performed along side with Jerry Garcia until his death. This is one of the biggest shows I've heard of happening at Nietzsche's in a long time and the $26 ticket price proves it. The band is an ever changing line up of amazing musicians playing some of the greatest jam music around. If you consider yourself even the slightest bit of a dead head or fan of Jerry's music, do not miss this opportunity to see them perform at this intimate venue. If you cannot make it tonight, then there is always tomorrow! Also performing tonight is local jam band Sonic Garden & Friends starting at 6:30 pm for "hippy hour" tonight and tomorrow at 9 pm. Tickets are available at Terrapin Station. 

Hooray!!!! We're turning two this year and to celebrate we have put together another fantastic night of local music. On Saturday, March 31st come to Nietzsche's to have the most fun you've had since our Holiday party! This time around we are bringing you the Andrew J. Reimers County Punk Extravaganza, Early Attic, On Beta, Ramforinkus, and Voodoo Friends. If you haven't seen these bands yet, then prepare yourself for some amazing music. The show starts at 10 pm and we will be there all night partying. We thank you ahead of time for graciously paying the $5 cover to pay the bands, and make sure you stop by the buffaBLOG table and pick up some buttons! See you there!!!

ECE Presents just went crazy on our email inbox informing us about the super awesome shows they have booked for Nietzsche's in the next two months. The local promoter has brought four really great music acts into our city and one of the most intimate venues in town... so thanks ECE!


First off, Melvin Seals & the Jerry Garcia Band are performing at Nietzsche's both March 8th and 9th. Melvin Seals joined the JGB Band in 1980 and performed along side with Jerry Garcia until his death. This is one of the biggest shows I've heard of happening at Nietzsche's in a long time and the $26 ticket price proves it. Deadheads get ready, I'm sure this one will sell out (tickets available at Terrapin).


The following weekend is Texas percussionist, vibraphonist, bandleader, vocalist and songwriter extraordinaire Mike Dillon. You might not have ever heard of him but you definitely have heard of the bands he often plays with, such as Galactic, Les Claypool and Buffalo's very own Ani DiFranco.  He is touring with members of the New Orlean's funk band Yojimbo. This show takes place on March 17th, tickets are $12 (at Terrapin). Members of On the Sly and Slykumu are also performing.


March 24th ece brings Zach Deputy to Nietzsche's for a show you will not want to miss.  I had the pleasure of seeing Zach perform at Mountain Jam last summer with an unscheduled and unforgettable show that took place in the campgrounds. This man is unbelievably talented and puts on one hell of a one-man show. He is touring in support of his newest release "Another Day" and I hope you can make it! Tickets are $12 and will be available at the door. 


Lastly but definitely not least, extremely talented pianist Marco Benevento will be performing at Nietzsche's on April 12th. I cannot express to you my excitement for this show.  I've traveled to Bonnaroo and NYC to see this man play... and now he is going to be playing at Nietzsches!? If you are unfamiliar, Marco is part of the experimental jazz group, Benevento Russo Duo, Surprise Me Mr. Davis and GRAB (featuring Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon of Phish). He has several solo albums that featuring some of my favorite jazz interpretations of songs like MMJ's "Golden" and The Knife's "Heartbeats". Tickets are $15 at the door, local band Steel, Keys and Brass are also performing.