Cheap Time burns out of Nashville, snarling through head thrashing punk with a sharp glam edge. While the music contains an element of 80’s glam rock, their sound isn’t overly polished, and maintains the mud and grit of a garage act. They’ve toured with legends such as Social Distortion and Mudhoney, incurring both adulation and wrath from crowds just as punk music should. Aside from founder Jeffrey Novak, Cheap Time's line-up is ever changeable, which results in a continuous evolution of tone.

The thundering sounds of old-school punks and Mohawk Place veterans Wolf Tickets will accompany them at the Waiting Room tonight, joined by the get-up-freakout rock of The Telltale Signs, and the shimmering lo-fi Fictitious Ray. 

That's $10 at the Waiting Room around 7PM and it's all ages, so bring your kids. 
 

By purchasing a ticket to the Manhattan Project concert at the Waiting Room tonight, you are consenting to an experiment based around your auditory response systems and kinetic energy. The hypothesis is that the sounds of the Rochester based EDM duo will ignite your motor system, inspire sporadic dancing, increase your dopamine levels, and annihilate anxieties and other bad vibes. They are also known to include clever re-imaginings of classic themes in their set, from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Knight Rider. You can do a trial run at home by downloading their EP here.

Before that Fat Man falls on your Little Boy, you've got to pre-game for the apocalypse in accordance with your pre-operative instructions. If you've never been invited before, Armageddon Party is as visually stimulating as they are sonically proficient. Pollock-esque backdrops, sci-fi hallucinations, and dancing men with giant white domes for heads have all been included as visual components of past concerts. You'll have to re-hydrate after their set shakes you up, and if you dig their flavor you can catch them again at the Valentine's Day Vampire Masquerade at the Hotel Lafayette.

Doors at 9PM, 18+ and $12 in advance.

What a weekend for rock'n'roll! I mean, last night you had the sonic bombast of locals Wolf Tickets, the Barksdales, and the Telltale Signs and tonight, you have none other than Detroits finest rock unit (and cover band!) the Detroit Cobras.

Lady fronted, garage crunch, rock sleaze personified, the Cobras have been crushing it since the late nineties. And I mean, any act that's associated with Rough Trade, Bloodshot, and Sympathy for the Record Industry should tell you all you need to know anyway (legit). Tonight, the motor city unit will be playing at Waiting Room. 8pm so you early-morningers can still put a few back and enjoy the show. $14 -----> In.

For those of us who have a worry free life, a perfect relationship, and a stellar group of friends who have never wronged you, my suggestion would be to look the other way...  But fans of loud, angry, emotion-packed music should definitely not miss this one - Balance and Composure will be hitting the Waiting Room tonight in all their alternative glory. Between the angry, sneering vocals and unreasonably huge guitar-driven choruses, listening to them is kind of like getting punched in the face while simultaneously punching someone else in the face... In other words, tonight is sure to be one of the sweatiest (in a good way) nights the venue has seen thus far.

Joining B&C are local favs Cedar Kites and Real People. Hit them up for tickets if you can - it's $12 with doors at 6:30pm. Don't miss the openers - I promise they are just as angry and sweaty as the headliner.

Joe Strummer changed everything. From the way music was played, to the diversification of genres, all whilst politicizing and advocating for real change. He's the person Bono wished he could have been. A cool rock'n'roller with idea's and the attitude, commitment and grit to see it out. We will miss him.

Tonight, the Rebel Waltz as well as many other bands playing Clash and Mescalaroes tunes will be celebrating the life of Mr. Strummer, as part of the annual Garageland; the long-running Buffalo tribute show. Waiting Room will be the venue (although I'll always associate this night with Mohawk). Tickets are $17 (8pm). It's gonna be a helluva time hearing some of those tunes again.

Christmas time means a few things when you live in Buffalo. You can count on snow. You can count on seeing alot of your friends who've moved out of town, and hear how much they miss it. You can count on presents. And you can count on Every Time I Die's annual Christmas show.

This year, the Buffalo born-and-bred hardcore band by way of southern riffage, will be spreading their version of holiday cheer at Waiting Room, along with Code Orange Kids and Letlive (6pm). One of ETID's most endearing qualities is that they "get around" and I mean that in the best way possible. In the last few years they've played Town Ballroom, Mohawk Place, Club Infinity, the Funeral Home, and a slew of other local venues, and it's exciting to see what kind of presence they will hold at the Waiting Room. Hope you got tickets though. It's sold out. Sorry Sally.

In their short history, Rotten (UK) has developed a reputation as one of the most uncompromising, take-no-prisoners heirs to the UK 82 punk and dBeat throne. Featuring the snarling, gutteral vocals of James Von Sinn, and the rock snot leads of Matthew Von Goethe and co., Rotten (UK) has built their fanbase on attitude, sleaze, and gravel. A rock'n'roll street stain if there ever was one.

Tonight, the Rochester-based band, will be opening for two of punk rock's most legendary bands; The charged out, NYC street punks the Casualties, and Negative Approach; led by enigmatic frontman John Brannon. If you know punk rock and hardcore these bands need no introduction.

Waiting Room is the place. 7pm is the time. $20 is the price. Studs, spikes, leather, scum.

If you're a fan of melodic indie rock, there is a good chance you've already heard of Real People, Buffalo's answer to Saves the Day or Lifetime. If not, tonight is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted. It's the group's debut EP release show and if the track below is any indication, Ceilings is going to be one helluva release.

Along with Real People tonight's party showcases some of the cities best indie acts including Lancer, Brother Keep and Del Paxton. Waiting Room is the place (6pm, $8).

"The Werks" calls to mind a combination of many potent elements that form a masterwork... like a "works" pizza. In some seriousness, (pizza is very serious) an amalgamation of musical traits and genres are is exactly what these guys are. Funk? Check. Rock? Check. Psychedelic? Please.

The tools by which they craft this musical monster are fine tuned and sharp. Shredding guitar, slap bass, and bouncy organs and synthesizers tear up and refine the ever evolving paths of their songs.

In a constantly expanding, popular jam band scene, The Werks improvise their way through some juicy, intense musical fusion. Their passion for improv is heavy, so that nearly every show they play is a wholly unique experience.

Their show in Buffalo tonight has been moved from Nietzsche's to The Waiting Room, and pre-sale tickets WILL be honored.   Doors are at 8PM, and tickets are $12

Ten years ago Buffalo staple, The Bloody Hollies, released Fire at Will, a seminal rock'n'roll record that essentially broke the band nationally and internationally. Since that time the band has relocated to California, toured the world, appeared on John Peel, and continued to grow and expand their sound, all while gaining legions of die-hard rock'n'roll fans in the process.

Tonight, in celebration of Fire at Will's ten year anniversary, the group will be performing at Waiting Room (10pm, $10) alongside two of Buffalo's own, ronaldraygun and the Afterbirth Tycoon. The old lineup, Wes, Mike and Philip, are even getting back together to make tonight's show a special one. If you like hard-charged, blues-soaked, no frills rock'n'roll this is the show for you.

Pop-punk is not for everyone. I will concede this. In fact, I will go a step further and say I understand its detractors complaints to some degree. The candy harmonies, nasally vocals, and slick sheen production sometimes feel overblown and histrionic. Sometimes it doesn't feel like "serious music".

Make no mistake though. It is HARD to write a pop-punk song, and while that, in and of itself, is not a reason to necessarily enjoy the music, it is reason to respect it. I, for one, happen to enjoy pop punk and I don't apologize for it. Guilty pleasure? Nope. There are only pleasures in my world.

If you're a fan of pop punk with a little bit of, ahem, late nineties emo (dreaded word), then there is a good chance you've heard of Man Overboard. They write damn catchy songs, and if you grew up loving Saves the Day, the Get Up Kids, or even Simple Plan, you're probably going to like this.

Tonight they play with Real Friends, Young Statues, Head North, and the Daydream Chronicles; some rad bands that occupy a similiar space but have carved out their own unique niche's in the scene. Shows at 6 and $14 is the price so get down to Waiting Room and have a swell time.

Classic Rock. You either love it or you don't. You're either the type of person who blasts Foghat's "Slow Ride" on 10 cruising down the highway, or you scoff at the preposterous nature of "taking it easy." I happen to be  the former. My argument is simple: tasty licks, cat howls, groove for days, songs that you don't have to think about (unless you're an ironic hipster who has to validate these kinds of things). Dumbing it down never sounded so good.

And for you, the fans of this kind of music, there is Monster Truck. Hamilton, Ontario's answer to Led Zeppelin, the Truck entices us with the kind of seventies-throwback jams that make you wish you had picked up a guitar just a little bit sooner. Blues-soaked mountainous riffs layered with thick, belted vocals by Ontario's answer to Nugent (sans the right-wing politics and overall craziness),  Jon Harvey. You may have caught the group when they opened for Guns'n'Roses at the harbor earlier this summer. If you did, there's a good chance you're already a fan of this band. If not, listen to some riffage below and make up you're own mind.

Waiting Room is hosting Canada's favorite retro sons tonight along with Handsome Jack ($17, 8pm). Handsome Jack should be a familiar name to those who follow the blog. Their heavy dose of southern-infused, blues rock via Lockport, NY, has gotten them some much deserved recognition and Super Moon was among one of my favorite records of last year.

Stop down, grab a pabst and take a slow ride back in time. And don't forget to take it easy.

Short on cash but need that music fix to get you over the hump day, then head over to the Waiting Room this evening for FREE night of music. British Columbia's Aidan Knight, a haunting chamber folk outfit full of hushed vocals and lush instrumentation, will be in town to play selections off of their newest LP, 2012's Small Reveal, for the gracious Buffalo crowd. Joining Knight will be blog buddies Bryan Johnson & Family. After a minor shuffling and addition of members, tonight's version of BJ & Fam may be the peppy surf rockers best yet. With summer winding down, best to soak up those sunny vibes while they are still around. Music begins at 9pm.
 

Look no further for quintessential English punk or Oi than Infa-Riot. "Emergency" occupies nearly every punk compilation to this day and for good reason; It's a classic track amongst many others that Infa-Riot put out. Simply put, they were ahead of their time and few did it better.

Tonight, the Riot bring their English-inspired madness to Waiting Room along with Evil Conduct and locals Chosen Ones, Rotten (Buffalo/Rochester), the Barksdales and the Clockers (7pm, $10). Six bands of inspired madness, punk rock guts and glory; this is REAL punk rock.

A Juvenile Product of the Working Class is one of my favorite punk albums of the nineties... maybe one of my favorite punk albums ever. Each track is a scorcher from the somber, acoustic howl of "Next in Line," to the stomped out bombast of "London Drunk." During this period of time, Swingin' Utters could do no wrong. They were a bit of street punk, a bit of old fashioned rock'n'roll; thick on the authenticity and ripe with thought-provoking lyrics, courtesy of Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel and his gruff vocal delivery. The Utters had something rarely duplicated in punk rock: chemistry. Five Lessons Learned and The Streets of San Francisco are just as great, but A Juvenile Product serves as a pivotal record in my timeline. They made me a believer in the spirit of punk rock, and for that I am forever thankful.

After a bit of a hiatus, the Utters picked up where they left off, delivering 2011's oft-overlooked Here, Under Protest. Tonight, the group triumphantly return to Buffalo, playing at Waiting Room alongside Goddamn Gallows and Buffalo's own, Chosen Ones ($14, 7pm). Not to be missed, their live show is as captivating as their recorded output. Get there early for the openers.

If you follow this blog, even remotely, you've picked up on a few things: Praise for the new Daft Punk is unaninimous, Mac's on point with the Just Announceds, Scott is a fantastic writer, and this blog LOVES Young Suns. Like really loves them.

If you haven't heard Young Suns, let me give you a brief introduction. Russian Circles-esque with a touch more melody, not quite Pelican heavy, but certainly treading that slim, sludgy line. Groove for days; the convergent point where metal meets rock meets atmospheric instrumental soundscapes. It's a potent concoction and their mastery of tension-release songwriting cannot be overstated. This music is as thought out as a battle-plan and I mean that in the best way possible.

You can catch Young Suns tonight at Waiting Room with two other Buffalo bands, Scales and Backbiter. Scales are clearly influenced by Young Widows (ok in my book) and Backbiter have this cool hardcore punk/crust/sludge influence (also ok in my book). It's cheap and it's early (6$, 8pm). No better place to party tonight.