Showing posts with label water street music hall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water street music hall. Show all posts
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Tonight: Lotus


Lotus will playing at the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester this evening to showcase their latest LP Monks (courtesy of MNM Presents). Since their formation over a decade ago, the five piece ensemble has secured a niche in the festival subculture by delivering consistently infectious live performances in a seemingly never ending tour. Their hybrid of electronic, world, jazz, funk, post-rock and straight jam improv has proven to be a hit amongst festival crowds and their affinity for playing in WNY has on them a hub of loyal fans in the region. So for all those who choose to attend, the light at the end of the tunnel will be coming sooner than the weekend! Doors open at 7PM and tickets are $22 in advance or $25 at the door.



Jeannette Chin
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buffaBLOG Roadtrip: Grouplove


The Buffalo to Rochester magic bus is fueled up for another jaunt to our neighbors to the East and eastern end of Tor-Buff-Chester, Rochester to check out Los Angeles band Grouplove at the Water Street Music Hall along with Atlantic Records labelmates The Knocks and Saints Of Valory. Originally scheduled for Bill Gray's Ice Plex, this stop on the 2013 Campus Consciousness Tour got moved to Water Street Music Hall to meet demand, and with a new album (Spreading Rumours), an aggressively infectious sound, and an omnipresent new hit single it's not hard to see why.

 Grouplove made a modest splash a few years back with their debut Never Trust A Happy Song that resulted in a few of their songs finding their way into successful ad campaigns, making them a Shazam worthy act for this smartphone driven, post MTV viral era. With some high profile festival appearances under their belts and attendant buzz, it will be interesting to check them out in the intimate and close quarters of Water Street and see how they measure up live. Billed as "half music tour, half environmental and social consciousness campaign," this tour also features NYC electronica outfit The Knocks, who recently collaborated with St Lucia for their new single "Modern Hearts;" and would be arena rockers Saints Of Valory from Austin, TX. Doors open at 6pm, with the show starting at 7pm. Price is $35, and tickets are still available.


Cliff Parks
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Meh? A Suggestion for 49 Illinois Street


The other day a friend alerted me to this news tidbit on the WBEN homepage:

 "As the Canalside project continues to take shape, nearby development is increasing.  Business First reports a partnership fronted by developer Sam Savarino will open a two-level music club at 49 Illinois Street across from the First Niagara Center parking ramp.  The venue will be able to seat 800 people."  

Now I know what you're thinking. "'Friend' my ass. Parks is a WBEN listener!" And to be perfectly honest, I do occasionally tune in for a few minutes of Rush Limbaugh, but only for laughs. No really. The guy is HILARIOUS (and an evil mastermind). He spends the majority of the time telling his listeners how smart he is, and they totally believe it. It's a brilliant and profitable racket (Rush lives in a... kingly manner that would make Elton John green with envy). Anyway. A friend really did give me the skinny (and believe you me, in due time I'll be getting to the bottom of why they were at the WBEN website) about a new downtown music venue, and I was entirely unexcited by the news.

 The Buffalo music scene took a real ding with the closing of the Mohawk closed month when it lost that magnificent 300 person capacity venue. In addition to being the nucleus of the local music scene, it was perfect for up and coming national and international touring bands for whom playing to 200 people is a good night, with the near 1000 person venue the Town Ballroom a future aspiration. This is where it's at, and this is what we want, so I was initially unenthused by news of a 800 person venue in the Cobblestone district. Even though I'm rather keen on the revitalization efforts underway down there and down with music being part of it, I'm pretty sure this is not what we want or need.

 But then I Googled the address from every angle, and got a warm and fuzzy feeling because it kind of reminded me of the old Icon. God how I loved that place: it's three levels of tasteful awesomeness, the non cheesy people non cheesily dancing in the cages, the Guinness on tap before it was cool, that De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest show... and it's decayed, urban post industrial coolness. It was kind of perfect (especially the chilled out third floor), until bullets started flying and it closed down, but damn was that a fun place to see a show. Of course, like the Mohawk, we'll never get another Icon, but 49 Illinois Street has possibilities, even though the 800 person capacity downright worries me.

 Thus, I beg the intrepid entrepenuers involved to borrow a page from the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, and have a smaller space to go along with your 800 person seater to cater to the indie crowd eager to give you their money. A 200 person venue within your venue would be a serious moneymaker for you, in fact I daresay you'll almost certainly get more use out of it than the larger space. This is what the Buffalo music scene needs post Mohawk Place... and did I mention that we're eager to give you our money? Also, please don't overdevelop it; keep some of that wonderful post industrial decay. You can't go wrong with a little tasteful post industrial decay.



Cliff Parks
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Concert Review: Father John Misty


Saturday night I coped with the impending closing of the Mohawk Place by taking a trip east on the 90 to take in the Father John Misty show at the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester. That's just the way I handled that situation, and I have no regrets because Josh Tillman and FJM delivered an impassioned set that blew away the WNY crowd and confirmed their status as an act to watch. In fact, I'd almost have to call it a religious experience, a perfect bit of synchronicity considering the funeral taking place that night on Mohawk Street. I don't know what happened to Mr. Tillman on his magic mushroom fueled migration from Seattle to Los Angeles, but he unlocked something potent and primal, and it was on full display Saturday night.

 San Francisco's Magic Trick started the evening's entertainments with a subdued set of countrified psychedelia that went over fairly well with the assembled crowd. Of particular note was leader Tim Cohen's interest in Buffalo, asking if anybody from our city was in attendance before launching into a bizarre little story about getting mediocre chicken wings at Avenue Pizza on their way to Rochester, a story that elicited absolutely no sympathy from the Buffalonians present. Seriously, how are these bands visiting WNY ending up eating at the shittiest joints? It's getting out of hand and I'm tired of hearing about it at shows. I mean, don't they have Foursquare, or use Yelp? Anyway.

 Father John Misty. The name calls to mind a sketchy, unfrocked priest looking for a good time in low places, an impression that comes to life onstage when Joshua Tillman gets down, leading us astray, and wooing the ladies. Starting off with the lead track on their 2012 debut Fear Fun, "Fun Times In Babylon," the pattern for the night was set: dry, witty banter followed by a spirited jam featuring the peculiar gyrations of the frontman, followed by more dry witty banter and women throwing articles of clothing onstage so the frontman can dab sweat from his brow to protect the stitches he earned the night previous in Cleveland jumping into the drum kit. Is Tillman the first honest to goodness indie rock sex god? I don't know if he's the first, but he's definitely an indie rock sex god because it got a little Elvis up there more than a few times during the set, something you just don't see at Indie shows too often. Thankfully Tillman is also thoroughly hilarious, so his banter with the crowd and the ladies about father figures, religion, and the fashion sense of the audience was very entertaining.


 But everybody was really there for the music, and while it was all fun and games, on the music front Father John Misty didn't disappoint. Tillman and the band worked their way through Fear Fun, transforming the stately and mannered folk rock of that album into rowdy, lived in American rock jams. Every song felt caffeinated and explosive, and the sound at the Water Street was perfect for communicating the delicate and beautiful depth of the music, with Tillman's evocative vocals front and center. The main set closed with a reckless and wicked demolishing of "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" that showed why Tillman ended up with stitches the night before in Cleveland while whipping the crowd into an evangelically delirious frenzy that carried over to the acoustic encore we got from Mr. Tillman when we hushed up to savor the news songs he performed for us, the perfect end to a perfect set. 

 If I sound a little over the moon for Father John Misty, it's because I am. After seeing them open for Youth Lagoon I was deeply impressed, but now after seeing them with all eyes on them as headliners, I definitely feel some of that religious zeal that Father John Misty inspires. Women want to be with him, men want to be him, and for my part I think he'd be a great Thursday at the Harbor choice. His timeless and pleasingly dangerous American rock would be a slam dunk in with Buffalo audiences and catnip for the hipsters, especially for the hipsters rightly mourning the Mohawk. Saturday night, Father John Misty provided, and I sincerely hope he gets to do so in Western New York again this year.
Cliff Parks
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buffaBLOG Road Trip: Father John Misty


It's a busy night for music fans in WNY, with Night 2 of The Mohawk's Last Waltz, the Joywave show with Love Scenes at Duke's, and an hour to the east at the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, the return of Father John Misty. The stage name of former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman, FJM made a big splash last summer when they opened for Youth Lagoon at the Town Ballroom and stole the show with a rowdy set that tore through their 2012 debut album, Fear Fun, (not Tillman' first album, but his first as Father John Misty, an entirely new entity) and showcased Tillman's impressive talents as an zealously charismatic frontman. To be fair, Youth Lagoon's set was great, evocative and beautifully reverb drenched, but Father John Misty just got the crowd too riled up with their potent 70's AM radio rock for anybody to adequately follow them, and Youth Lagoon ended up getting the short end of the stick. Tonight however, Father John Misty is headlining with San Francisco's Magic Trick providing opening support, and after a dizzying breakthrough in 2012, anticipation is high. Tickets are $17 and doors open at 7 PM.




Cliff Parks
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Concert Review: Sleigh Bells and araabMUZIK


It was refreshing to take a break from the 716 on Friday night as I headed to Rochester for the long anticipated Sleigh Bells show at Water Street Music Hall. I finally got to see araabMUZIK live after missing his show in Buffalo last year, which is a regret I can now put behind me. His talent was as mind-blowing as I expected, although I wish he stuck with more of a hip-hop vibe rather than dubstep. Call me jaded.

After feeling like one in a handful of people that was actually getting down to araabMUZIK's set, Sleigh Bells initiated their show with a eerie introduction. I was pressed up against the gate attempted to squeeze next to a couple territorial of their spot. Sleigh Bells took the stage and suddenly vocalist and ultimate babe Alexis Krauss mentioned Buffalo. Several people screamed wildly, including the couple that wouldn't make room for my small frame. We exchanged smiles and nods of acknowledgment with the Buffalo couple, and suddenly enough space was made for me to fit comfortably. Regardless of the different city, the Buffalo love was still there. 


The show left me awestruck. With a more intimate crowd size than the Buffalo show in July, the feel of the room was intense. Similar, if not the same set list, I was able to enjoy this show even more because of how deep I fell into their music in the past three months. I couldn't help but tear up a little bit when they performed "End of the Line" and all that was between Alexis Krauss and I was a gate. "It didn't have to be this way, you know it didn't have to be, but it's the end of the line, so goodbye..." I sang along as she sang directly at me; it was as if she knew I felt that combination of utter desperation followed by the longing for retribution that the lyrics bleed.

 Just as the show was about to end she beckoned the ladies to come on stage. What I expected was what happened at Town Ballroom when Santigold did the same thing. I braced myself for a mass rush of females climbing over each other, over the gate to hop around on stage. What happened was the furthest from that. Krauss came back over to my little space once again and amongst the outstretched arms she grabbed mine and began to pull me up. With the help of the security guard and my youthful skills and practice from hopping fences when I used to play Wiffle Ball, next thing I knew I was up on stage dancing around to "Rill Rill." After the song ended, me, my friend and the one other girl on stage each hugged Krauss and I must say it was that entire moment that verified this show a place in my top 10 favorites.  

Not only did I come home with a sore neck from head-banging, but also a new appreciation for the loyal Buffalo crowd. I left Water Street Music Hall with ringing ears and the biggest grin I've had in weeks. Seeing Sleigh Bells live once again is exactly what I needed to re-learn: that art created in darkness can also be and usually is the most freeing from such.

Alicia Greco
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buffaBLOG Road Trip: Sleigh Bells & araabMUZIK


The moment I found out Sleigh Bells and araabMUZIK were performing together in Rochester, I screamed with joy.

Originally my thoughts on Sleigh Bells were conditional. I had to be in the right mood at the right time; when I wasn't, they sounded a little grating. Until I saw them live at Town Ballroom this past July, and suddenly my vision of them transformed. Alexis Krauss was a being of power, rage and utter sex appeal. I suddenly found myself waking up, putting on "End of the Line" and walking to work in the morning. Reign of Terror is now a staple in my album collections.

araabMUZIK came to Buffalo last year, and I still kick myself for not going. Graced with a second chance, I absolutely cannot wait to see him perform. With his fast-paced fingers, araabMUZIK works an MPC like nothing I've ever seen before.

Originally scheduled for Oct. 3, the show was rescheduled for tonight due to guitarist Derek Miller's unfortunate bone fracture. I'm curious to see how a night of bubblegum metal and ghettotech will mix. I predict it's going to be fire.

Sleigh Bells on Facebook

araabMUZIK on Facebook

Tonight, November 9, 2012 - Sleigh Bells & araabMUZIK
Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St., Rochester)
Doors @ 7 pm

Alicia Greco
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Concert Review: The Antlers in Rochester



Wednesday night one of my favorite groups in the last few years, The Antlers, came to Water Street Music Hall in Rochester and played a fantastic show. The Brooklyn trio, playing as a quartet, released one hell of an album in Burst Apart in early 2011 and an EP earlier this year entitled Undersea, both met with high acclaim. It was nice to see them back in Upstate NY since they last played The Ninth Ward here in Buffalo back in 2009.

Opening were Port St. Willow, also from Brooklyn and friends of Antlers frontman Pete Silberman. They play in a similar strand as The Antlers with lush, expansive hooks and melodies, except with slightly deeper focus on intrumentation and sonic qualities as opposed to a focus on lyrics and storytelling like we saw in The Antler’s debut Hospice. All the same, this was the perfect group to open for The Antlers. With washes of clacking percussion and vocal feedback, their mystical sound coated the little music hall and it was really stunning. 

Soon after, The Antlers came out and we waded in “Drift Dive” which is the opening track off their gorgeous new EP. With flashes of guitar and horns amid languid samples, “Drift Dive” is a gorgeous track that eases you into it’s aquatic bliss. Silberman’s vocals are just as captivating live as they are in the studio, if not more emotionally cutting. They transitioned into “Rolled Together” a robust track off Burst Apart, which also does it’s work by painstakingly increasing it’s instrumentation and volume until snare and ride split the track wide open and Silberman and his lead guitarist fully rocked-out. 

They did their fans well in splitting up their new material with a lot of the old as well. They played the entire Undersea EP in stunning fashion and also chose  many songs from Hospice including “Kettering,” “Silvia,” and “Shiva.” Not to mention playing an awesome rendition of The Mountain Goats’ “No Children” which was a welcomed surprise. 

As they left the stage, obviously everyone in the venue went insane and they came out to play the best encore I’ve seen all year. First they gave us “Zelda,” a favorite from the latest EP. The track is sprawled out and so much more stunning live. The effervescent harmonies toward the end of the track were just as easily rendered on stage as they were on the record. Next they went into “Putting the Dog to Sleep,” the closing track off Burst Apart and one of The Antler’s most arresting tracks as it compares euthanizing a pet to a dissolving relationship. Everyone was pretty cool with this as their final song, but as they morphed the outro into “Wake” that’s when everyone lost it. The emotionally-wrapped song that closed Hopsice filled the room as Silbrman’s voice barely held its ground as he sang “Don’t ever let anyone tell you you deserved that.” 

Tom Dennis
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buffaBLOG Road Trip: The Antlers


We here at the blog have been writing ad nauseum this whole year about how Buffalo has been absolutely killing it in the concert department, but even so, not every band stops through our city so we have to hit the road from time to time.  Luckily, Rochester is close enough to make an evening out of it.  Tonight, we head east to the Water Street Music Hall to catch Brooklyn trio the Antlers.  Since forming in 2006, the indie rock threesome has been releasing some of the best, yet emotionally devastating music that genre has to offer.  Their latest record, the summer released Undersea EP, continues that theme, this time adding woozy horns to the already slow, drifting guitars and percussion.  The Antlers played a thrilling show at Ninth Ward a few years back when they were supporting their debut LP Hospice, and without a Buffalo stop on this tour, taking the short drive to Rochester looks to be the only place in WNY to catch the trio this year.  Tickets for tonight's show at $17 at the door.  Music begins at 8:00pm.



mac mcguire


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