In case you haven't heard, Darwin Deez (the NYC based project of Darwin Smith and friends) will be playing at Soundlab tonight courtesy of After Dark Entertainment. Deez has been making a name for himself for catchy guitar licks and "lyrical wizardry" and at around 8PM the full group will be showcasing their most recent and self-produced album, Songs for Imaginative People. As NME describes "There’s still a sense, at its heart, of a warm, yet slightly neurotic overthinker, sat at a mixing desk in his bedroom, possibly in his big white underpants, and just going wherever the spirit takes him." Joining them tonight will be Caged Animals and Nelson-Type, you can check the event page here. Doors open at 7PM and tickets are $12 at the door. See you there!

Before their show at Soundlab on Friday night, I got a chance to chat with the Brooklyn hip hop/punk act People With Teeth. It was hard to find a quiet spot in the building and it was very cold outside, so we settled for a damp back hallway to conduct the interview.

The Connecticut punk-rockers in Hostage Calm are visiting Soundlab this evening.  With the myriad of sub-genres that exist these days, it is hard to know exactly what kind of "punk" Hostage Calm could be claiming to be...  Well, their Facebook page indicates that they are "punk/punk/punk/punk/punk," but seriously, HC songs are fueled by the recession culture that our youth is facing today.  They take Springsteen-esque rock and meld it with punk energy and a little bit of pop melody.

Buffalo-based support comes from the indie-punks The Traditional (who are currently gearing up for a month-long tour of their own!) and the 90's emo revivalists in All Blondes Go To Heaven.  Rounding out the lineup is the female-fronted Doses from Erie, PA.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at the door.  Doors at 6:00pm.

Tonight marks the second evening of Foundry's two night launching event at Soundlab, and in case you weren't aware, Foundry is the new production company based in Buffalo focusing on bringing performances and installations that are a product of both "inspired artistry and unconventional aesthetics." As their mission statement might suggest, it'll be a night of exciting, experimental electronic music, driven by beats and reverberations that will steer your head space into hazy, foreign territory. On the lineup is Container, the one man techno connoisseur who will throw everything-you-thought-you-knew-about-techno  somewhere out of sight. As the event-page describes, Container proves that "techno can be sloppy, unordered, punk, and, above all, casual. It's lopsided, asymmetrical and unevenly weighted." Unicorn Hardon, Timeghost, and local favorites UVB-76, and Ay Fast will be gracing the stage as well with equally distinct beats for your aural enjoyment. Tickets are $8, and doors open at 8PM.

Tonight marks the kickoff of the new production company, FOUNDRY, with a night of music at Soundlab, Buffalo's favorite basement sound cave. FOUNDRY, founded by Kitchen Distribution runner Frank Napolski and Adrian Bertolone of Ay Fast, is focused on artist installations and performances. Looking at the lineup of their launch party, I'd say they're off to great start. From the hypnotic synth looping of Quicksails to the ferocious syncopation of All Of Them Witches, there is something for everyone on tonight's bill. Also look for sets from Tropical Me and Frank Napolski himself with Patrick Cain. Doors are at 8.

Thanks to MNM Presents, I had a pretty wild and awesome music fueled weekend. To start with, Brillz on Thursday night at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar was a killer show. It was refreshing to see the dance floor at Duke's so packed throughout the entire night. Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin, from duo team SwaggleRock, opened for Brillz with a ghetto sexy set. With spikes lining the rim of his flat brim hat, Brillz transitioned smoothly from track to track.

"I dedicate this song to you four girls," he said as each of them twerked themselves into a frenzy in front of the DJ booth as he drops "Big Booty Bitches." 

A Duke's employee sneaked swiftly on stage with a roll of masking tape, to which someone behind the table of equipment then helped tape Brillz's laptop to the stand. In addition to the girls grinding and twerking on the speakers in front of the decks, the packed dance floor jumping up and down, and the crew and myself dancing on stage behind him, the laptop began to violently shake and flop. The masking tape worked as a perfect straight-jacket restraint for the crazed laptop.


I have two main reasons why I love going to a show on a Sunday night. First, it keeps me motivated to do things all day long instead of turning into a Lazy Sunday; I went on a cleaning frenzy, did every single bit of laundry, finished all of my work, rearranged furniture and ran errands yet was still amped enough to doll myself up and head downtown. Secondly, it makes Monday that much more exciting as I walk around doing my usual routine thinking about what happened the night before.

Sunday night, MNM Presents brought a great show to Soundlab. Surprisingly, I believe this was the first time I ever saw Rochester's Papi Chulo perform, and I was quite impressed. It was space groove and even for how early in the night it was, I was pleased to see that people were already dancing so early at a Sunday evening show. Following him was Samo Sound Boy; the visual projection and screen that were brought along for the "Magical Properties Tour" were highly appropriate for the name. A grid of colors projected on him and he was camouflaged with the background when suddenly the dimension changed and behind him was a dark silhouette followed by a gridded silhouette encompassed by a dark screen. It was entrancing. Even with relatively simple transitions between tracks, his set was very up and flawless.



To be completely honest I was most looking forward to Ryan Hemsworth's set. His track selection was totally on point. His performance was mostly trap vibes and the occasional slow jam (I laughed when Usher's "Let It Burn" came blasting through the speakers, but I'm also not going to lie. I was loving it.) The visual projections became even more intense as a cartoon sea took over the screen while little cartoon hands holding cartoon guns stuck themselves surrealistically out of the cresting waves.


Daedelus, the headlining act, followed. I was looking forward to this since I have never seen him perform before and after making the stupid decision of not going to see Yeasayer last year, I continue to hear through friends and my fellow buffaBLOGGERS how incredible the entire show was. However, I was not as totally blown away as I thought I would. Now don't get me wrong, I think that he played a helluva set and he definitely was giving off a lot of energy for the tiny basement venue. My major critiques were the difficulties with the sound; I'm not totally positive what was happening but something was off and the leveling was not as clear as it should have been which to be quite honest was distracting. Also, I was hoping to hear more of the romantic down tempo tunes that seemed to be his M.O.

All in all, shout out to MNM Presents for providing a damn good weekend for Buffalo. 

I have a feeling tonight is going to be a beautiful memory to add to the Soundlab collection. MNM Presents a top of the line bill of musicians: Daedelus, Ryan Hemsworth, and Samo Sound Boy. Opening the night will be Rochester's Papi Chulo.

Self-acclaimed "full time musician, part time Dandy," Los Angeles based Daedelus will be headlining the show tonight. A blend of romance and electronic, his music has an after-hours feel. It's the feeling of holding someone close and walking down rain covered streets with only the hazy street lights to glow a path, or that instantaneous feeling you get when you see the moon on a night when it is so close in the sky you feel like you could run after it and touch it. Then he can flip the switch and has some tracks that have a darker feel, and some that are the downward fall into the rabbit hole.




Be on time to the show to catch Ryan Hemsworth. Canadian DJ and producer, Hemworth puts out tracks that I wish I had back in high-school when we'd cruise around listening to mixtapes from Datpiff.com. It's well-crafted and lustrous trap. He cranks hip-hop and brings about a nodding vibe. In addition to being dear to my heart for putting out amazing music, Hemsworth is also a journalist.





Also based out of Los Angeles, Samo Sound Boy, has a very interesting sound. Upbeat and bouncy it's club music, but there are different characteristics that make it so much more unique than limiting it to be considered just "club." Alongside with Jerome LOL, Samo Sound Boy is the founder of Body High recording label. "It's one of the most influential labels in the U.S. right now...some of it's really soul, disco, future club music, and everything in between," BBC Radio 1 introduces their mix for Diplo and Friends.

After a less than exciting start to 2013, Buffalo seems to be picking up momentum with a handful of exciting dates in the months with warmer weather.  In this case, pop-punkers Transit will be making a stop at Soundlab in May - one of a few venues that has been filling the void left by Mohawk Place.

Also playing the show will be indie-punks Seahaven (returning after their stint at the Funeral Home last year) and the southern-tinged emotional bombast of All Get Out (also returning after an opening slot at Mohawk last summer).  The show is Sunday, May 12 and doors will be at 6:00.  Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 the day of the show. 

The Smiths or The Cure, who do you prefer? I have a serious appreciation for both. But in my beloved collection of music The Smiths definitely outweighs The Cure, by a long-shot. "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" will forever be my devoted romance anthem and "How Soon Is Now?" is one of those songs that is so good I can't quite focus on my surroundings because I'm that enraptured. And although both bands are known for their melancholic nature, there's just something about The Smiths for me. I digress, tonight your opinion is the one that matters.


Each year Transmission has held the event at Mohawk Place. With the closing of Mohawk, the 10th annual Smiths vs. Cure dance party will be held at Soundlab. Dress themed and spend a night in a time warp, dancing, and undoubtedly having the great debate: The Smiths or The Cure. 

December 21, 2012 has come and gone, and nothing happened as far as I know. Hopefully some astrological shift adjusts the social decorum of this and upcoming generations but let's be honest, that was definitely not going to happen over night.

Regardless, Toats Orig is taking advantage of the non-apocalyptic outcome with a party tonight. We're Alive, an exclamatory title for the Soundlab rager that will commence at 10 p.m.

Unable to attend because I'm tucked away in Syracuse for winter break, everyone that can go should  because it will surely be a great time. Rufus Gibson always performs a fantastic set; Mario B is treking back from Rochester; Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin (together known as SwaggleRock) in one year have improved greatly and really come into their own as DJs; KooLiE HigH, a local hip-hop crew that claims "Real Nigga Shit but stayed in skool and played it Kool"; Dr. Ooo is a Buffalo favorite of mine, he performed at our holiday party so if you missed out on that you have a second chance. 

Keep the tradition alive tonight at Soundlab as the 4th Annual Saturnalia Festival will take place tonight. Prior to the collapse of the Roman civilization, their people commemorated the winter solstice with a massive orgy and party that celebrated raucous behavior and role-reversal in the honor of the god Saturn. In contemporary Buffalo, this celebration has been a seasonal staple for the lovers of dancing. Tonight's theme features DJ battles with BACEFACE vs. NECKBRACE, MIOSI vs. BROTHER BEAR, SHOOTER MCNAPPIN vs. BUZZ TRILLINGTON, and MARIO BEE vs. STUNTMAN. Admission is just $5 and if you bring a canned food donation for the Bread of Life Food Pantry you will receive one dollar off the price. You can also get one dollar off by wearing a toga! And two dollars if you do both!

friday 12/21
sunday 12/23
tuesday 12/25