Buffalo has a rich history of influential hardcore bands, from Zero Tolerance and Slugfest to Buried Alive and more recently, Every Time I Die. Perhaps the most famous of the bunch is Snapcase, one of the bigger Victory Records acts during Victory's heyday.

Snapcase was always something a bit more than hardcore:  a fusion of heavy music, heavy ideas, and unique enough to represent a sound you could only call its own. When they called it quits a few years back, more than a few tears were shed.

Since that time, the band has played a number of reunion shows, including the excellent opening slot for Dropkick Murphys at the harbor this past summer. Snapcase continues in that tradition tonight and Sunday celebrating (and honoring) Buffalo's soon to be closed Mohawk Place (7pm, $21). It's befitting that a band that represents Buffalo so well will be playing one of the last shows at Buffalo's best venue. Openers tonight include our very own Young Suns and Chae Hawk and Sunday night you can expect some very special guests.

Unfortunately tonight's show is sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for Sunday's show. Seeing as how both nights of the Last Waltz are now sold out, this is your LAST opportunity to see a show at Mohawk if you didn't get tickets to those events. Make this one count. Pay your respects to a great band a great place.

One hour to go til doors and it was pouring rain. I was sulking about the prospect of standing by the stage in the mud. My friend called to let me know he was picking up ponchos. I was prepared for misery.

And just like that the clouds broke, the sky cleared and things were right in the world again. You take risks when you live in Buffalo and outdoor concerts in the fall are one of them. Fortunately for me and the rest of the crowd who descended upon the Outer Harbor that evening, this wouldn't be one of those nights.

Arriving shortly after doors, we were greeted with a line a quarter mile long, full of some of the best Buffalo had to offer; punk rockers, South Buffalo Irish drunks, yahoos, freaks, scoundrels and scalliwags....but mostly a lot of normal people. After making our way through the gate, we headed to the "over 21 section" which seemed to remain more populated throughout the night than even stageside. Some drunk was yelling "Dropkiiiick Muuuuuuuuuuurphys" for five minutes straight and I wouldn't mind if this guy was eliminated from the earth. God have mercy on your soul you swine.

Anyways, after a bit of delay and a few beers, Snapcase hit the stage, which was the highlight of my whole evening. For those not in the know, Snapcase is a Buffalo-based hardcore band that was really popular in the nineties and early 2000's before their untimely breakup a few years ago. Since that time they've played a few reunions. None however had quite the impact of last nights firestorm. The sound was fantastic and the setlist was incredible. Charging out of the gate immediately with "Coagulate", one of the group's strongest tracks, the band continued its tour de force with an End Transmission heavy set, as well as hitting numerous other classics before closing their set with their most popular song, 1997's "Caboose." The usual Bills and Sabre's jokes followed the songs, but it felt more natural coming from a bunch of Buffalonians who have lived through the constant state of sports misery.

Waiting. Waiting. It seemed to take forever before Dropkick Murphys took stage but when they did, it was with a commanding presence. The audience went nuts as traditional Irish music filled the park over the monitors signaling what was to come.. and when the band rushed the stage you'd swear it was AC/DC and not the humble, punk rock of a simple Boston-based band. One thing you have to respect about Dropkicks, whether you're a fan or not, is the energy and passion they put into their music. You can't fake the kind of love they were giving, smiling and jumping around the stage like madmen. In terms of the setlist, it was a lot of newer songs. What I consider "new" though is anything after their classic albums Do or Die and The Gangs All Here. It was at this point when they went from being an Irish influenced punk band to being a full on Irish band. I was pleasantly surprised to hear "Which Side Are You On", "Warriors Code" and "Boys on the Dock", and a few of the newer numbers such as "The Boys are Back (and They're Looking for Trouble)" certainly hold their own in the catalog. Overall though, I would liked to have heard a Do Or Die heavy set. That's just the old punk rocker in me I guess.

The night ended in style, with most crowd goers either stumbling drunk or half deaf (my GOD, was it LOUD!). A rousing finale left Buffalonians feeling proud to be Irish or wishing that they were. It's fair to say Dropkick and Snapcase, although an odd pairing, were perfect for that particular night and that particular place in time. Hell, it didn't even rain.

Everybody's favorite Irish upstarts are back! Dropkick Murphys, the Boston-based punk band turned loud and proud Ireland-via the States representatives, are returning to Buffalo tonight along with barrels of Guinness and enough green to blind the eyes you can expect to hear chants, sing-alongs, bagpipes, and the fiercest hard luck tales this side of the Atlantic.

Opening the show is Snapcase, Buffalo's most legendary hardcore band. This is, in fact, their reunion show, and may be your last opportunity to catch their discordant brand of HC, at least until the next time they do it.

Hopefully we ward off the bad weather as this show is at the Outer Harbor (325 Fuhrmann Blvd), come rain or shine. Shows at 6pm so if you work downtown swing by afterwards. Don't worry about wearing a suit and tie. The crowd will be too drunk to notice either way. Sing loud, sing proud.