This time last year, an ambitious Buffalo native was putting the final touches on the vision he had of throwing his own music festival. Of course, only local bands would be on the bill as this was intended from the get-go to be a celebration of the Buffalo music scene and its surrounding regions. The gamble paid off and the community responded in a big way, coming out in droves to share in the enthusiasm for Western New York music. The person I’m speaking of is Cody Conway and his ambitious goal, that likely seemed far-fetched to a lot of people, came to fruition and Buffalove Music Festival was established as one of the premier festivals in the area, calling Willow Creek Winery in Silver Creek, NY its home.
This year marks the second year of the festival and the underdog status is no more. Throughout the region, music fans were waiting for the announcement of who they would be seeing on this year’s bill. Fast forward to the present and the start of the festival’s second year is upon us. Things kickoff Thursday (tomorrow) with the Intrepid Travelers starting things off at 6pm. The full lineup is pretty deep this year too, with over 20 bands on the bill. If you bought the full weekend pass, you can look forward to seeing acts like Jimkata, Aqueous, Funktional Flow, Mister F, smackdab, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Slip Madigan, Broccoli Samurai, and many more.
Beyond all of the music, there are new features and personal touches added this year for the enjoyment of all of the festival-goers. Things such as fireworks, a 9-hole frisbee golf course, an Open-Mic Stage, kids activities, and a quiet zone for family camping are some of the great additions that are available this year, building upon the foundation of last year’s successes.
Given the pride that the people and the band’s of Buffalo take in the Queen City being their hometown, last year’s festival alone saw some pretty unique moments as band’s pulled out their best material and all the stops for their sets. Last year’s bust out of the Pink Floyd cover “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” by Aqueous was noted as one of our Best Jams from 2013. It’s exciting to think what we’ll be treated to this year with so many returning acts looking to step up their game and really wow the crowd.
There won’t be a better place to spend this weekend than at Buffalove. Here’s the full lineup of band’s you will see, all linked, so that you can keep up on your favorites by checking out their respective websites:
If you’ve been dragging your feet and still need a ticket, click here to order yours now. With over 20 bands, 3 stages, free camping and parking, and all of the other activities and things to do, the $50 price tag really doesn’t seem like much for all that you get. Additionally, if you’d like to see the festival poster or understand the schedule for the weekend, check out the pictures below which should give you an idea of what is on tap for Buffalove’s much-anticipated second year.
Every summer, fans from all over Western New York come to Darien Lake for Dave Matthews Band; at this point, it’s become the start to a lot of people’s summer concert season. The weather always seems to be the same as well, wet and rain-filled, and it was no different this year. The only thing that changed was the traditional set that DMB usually incorporates into the evening. This year, the band chose to go with a two-set approach and they hit a home run with the concept. The first set incorporated many of their hits into an acoustic driven platform. Opening the night with “Dancing Nancies”, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds wasted no time getting everyone up and moving and it marked the first time since 1997 that the song was opened by both Matthews and Reynolds.
Carter Beauford quickly joined in on the set behind his drum kit for “Recently”. Steffan Lessard (bass), Jeff Coffin (sax), Boyd Tinsley (fiddle), and Rashawn Ross (trumpet) soon followed and “Two Step” broke out boosting an already high level of energy. “Minarets” seemed to also get a lot of attention on this tour, and given it’s rarity in past years, it was a nice to hear it put into the rotation once again. The first set slowed down a bit during “Stolen Away On 55th and 3rd”, but soon picked right up with “Tripping Billies”, “Satellite”, and “What Would You Say”, closing out the first set.
The second set would be in the more traditional flow with a full band electric set and given the first set, which was toned down, made it even more powerful. The second set started with an improvisational intro behind a sheer style curtain, leading up to the highly energized “So Right”, putting an already amped up crowd into a full on frenzy. “#41” was slotted perfectly in the second spot, and with the crowd in a high point, it drove the show to its peak.
Tinsley and Matthews jammed together and soon were joined by the electric force behind Reynolds guitar. “The Lovely Ladies” (Cindy Mizelle, Tawatha Agee, and Sharon Bryant) joined the band on stage during several of the songs with their beautiful background vocals on songs “Save Me”, “Long Black Veil” , “You and Me” and “Stay”, which closed out the second set. It was good to see the ladies joining the band once again on tour since it had been so long since they had last done so.
“The Song Jane Likes” kicked off the encore, which, for an encore, was the first time since 2012 it was played. “Grey Street” closed out the evening, feeding the high energy right until the last note was played. DMB always plays well to the crowd at Darien Lake, however I think this year may have been their best in recent years.
Set 1 (acoustic): Dancing Nancies, Recently, Two Step, Minarets, Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd, Tripping Billies, Satelitte, What Would You Say
Set 2 (electric): So Right, #41, When The World Ends, Save Me, Long Black Veil, So Much To Say>Anyone Seen The Bridge>Too Much, Crush, If Only, Belly Belly Nice, Jimi Thing, You and Me, Stay
Last week, on the eve of my birthday, I decided to stay up late on a weekday, knowing that I’d have to wake up by 6am the next day to go to work. Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band was in town though for their first show ever in Buffalo and I wasn’t going to miss it. Even with the exhaustive circumstances, what transpired that night invigorated me in a way not every concert does. Waking up the following morning, I felt alive, beaming with excitement, and still humming the notes from the night prior. I can only speak for myself, but throughout life, I am constantly chasing that kind of high from music, but was certainly not expecting it to this degree when I walked in to Nietzsche’s the night before.
As I approached the building, I still wasn’t sure what to expect. There is no adjacent parking lot, so you can’t tell if the venue is packed or empty for any show. Crossing the threshold, it was as though the doors had just opened even though I was unfortunately late to arrive. My disappointment in Buffalo for not showing up on a night like tonight – where a band was making their first appearance here – started the night off on the wrong note. Regardless of the crowd situation, on this particular Thursday, Nietzsche’s was the place to be as Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band was ready to share their gritty funk with whoever showed up.
Changing their opening song on the fly, the band kicked things off with a new song in “Wake Yo’self”. This song will be featured on their upcoming album, so the only way to catch this one at the moment is live. The bass line throughout the song had a relentless determination to it that gave the crowd a reason to move right from its opening notes. As it propelled forward through thick and heavy waters, trombonist Derrick Lee Johnson and keyboardist Mary Frances, aka Mama Funk, highlighted his spaces with peaks of cutting tone. There might not have been the greatest turnout for their first show, but the band was determined to have a good time and make sure everyone else did too. Talking with the band after the show, I brought up how bassist Al Al Ingram’s tone is similar to the bass tone on Cake’s “The Distance”, but in a heavier and funky way. The band collectively laughed in agreement and shared how they actually had talked about covering that song on numerous occasions. The show was off to a great start and with a lot of people in attendance unfamiliar with the bands songs, this was the perfect choice as it immediately grabbed everyone’s attention.
Mama Funk Leading the Booty Band
The band continued to light up the crowd with one heavy-hitting song after another. I’ve always felt that a smaller crowd can affect how a band plays in a negative way, but not these guys. On several occasions throughout the show, various members stepped off the stage and came right out into the crowd to dance. Mama Funk, Derrick Lee Johnson, and Al Al Ingram all took turns playing their instruments amongst the dancers in attendance and it really helped elevate the crowd’s overall response. Mama Funk specifically blew me away as her sweet and unassuming look was only a disguise. Throughout the night, she displayed her prowess on the keyboards as she supported the band through her various tones, ripped through solos, and constantly exuded a fun and free spirit that came out through her playful approach. It was all about a good time with her and the band as a whole and there was no shortage of those moments on this particular Thursday night.
The Booty Band played a variety of music from their catalog, but two covers stood out as I had never heard a band cover a hip hop song before in person. The band chose two Dr. Dre songs in “Let Me Ride” and “Nuttin’ Butt a G-Strang” – the latter being an obvious play on the famous “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”. Both of these songs were instantly recognized by the crowd and hit me about as hard as the originals did when I first heard them. The songs had such a beautiful, funky flow to them, similar to the original, but felt right being instrumentalized. Adding layers of live and spacey keyboard runs made two already fine choices that much better. The funky rides down memory lane were complete with rap battles between Johnson and Ingram and choruses colored by Mama Funk. By sharing the vocal responsibilities on these two and others over the course of the night, the self-proclaimed “Mountain Gangstas from North Carolina” were able to flex to the style they were playing and showcase the voice that made the most sense.
John Paul Miller on guitar with Al Al Ingram and Derrick Johnson in the background
The Booty Band’s spirit was just contagious. As they wrapped up their set, the crowd was simply not ready to let them go. After some clamouring, the band returned with grins all over their faces, ready to keep the night going a little longer for the outpouring of appreciation. One person from the crowd yelled, “hey, we all have to work tomorrow, just play one more song.” It was clear that those in attendance didn’t care that it was already past 1am at this point and I couldn’t have agreed more; we all just wanted a little more before they packed up and left. The band obliged with two songs to close the night that featured some heavy grooves and some deep funky ruts. Drummer Lee Allen was blatantly abusive towards his drum kit during the finale, making sure that his talented band mates wouldn’t completely overshadow his own impressive skills; everyone in the crowd already knew this though as Allen drove the rhythm the entire night. This band is loaded with talent from the front of the stage to the back, and if you haven’t taken the time to listen to them or catch them live, you need to drop what you’re doing now and make some time.
On a final note, I have to take a second to outline the band’s genuine appreciation for their fans and that they get to wake up and play music everyday. I talked to both Derrick Lee Johnson and Mary Frances after the show, separately, and I thought it was interesting how they echoed similar sentiments when I asked them for their thoughts on the turnout. Mary Frances said, “”It doesn’t matter if there’s 20 people or a packed house, everyone deserves a good show”. While Derrick Lee Johnson said, “I get to do my passion every single night. Whether it’s 10 people or 10,000 people, I get to pick up my trombone every night and play.” Hearing this from two different members in an off-the-cuff conversation was a breath of fresh air. There’s so many acts nowadays that play for the money and fame and those are the same bands you hear have broken up because money and fame don’t happen overnight. After hearing this, I thanked both of them for having that love and passion for their craft and that definitely translated as they genuinely had fun on stage and you could tell that they enjoyed the night just as much as everyone that was in attendance. The money and fame will come to them in time, so long as they keep doing what they’re doing, people are bound to catch on. I know that next time they come around, everyone in Buffalo will be bringing a friend as they easily won over those who came to dance on a late Thursday night/early Friday morning. As for work the next day, I got by and I am indebted to these guys for kicking off my birthday in the best way possible – with an incredible, booty shaking display of live music!
Setlist: Wake Yo’self, @$$, Quick E, Funk Life, Let Me Ride*, Cancion de Fuego, Mama Feel Good, Sunday Afternoon, Sanchez, Shadows -n- Sunshine, Nuttin’ Butt a G-Strang (Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang)*, 24/7, Naw Brah, Flea Bite, Trunk, Livin’ the Dream
moe. will be coming back to where it all started on Thursday, June 19th at Buffalo, NY’s hottest summer venue, Canalside.Conehead Buddha will be opening for moe. and should be a great opening act as they have been playing for many years throughout the northeast. The show is also the second of many free events on Thursdays this summer at Buffalo’s waterfront area. There is also an option to purchase VIP tickets that allow front of stage access as well as complimentary beer, wine and appetizers.
moe. is coming off of their newest album release, No Guts, No Glory , which came out at the end of May. The band has several dates throughout the summer as well as many stops throughout New York. moe. never seems to disappoint when coming back to Buffalo, so make your plans to head out to Canalside to catch them at this free event.
Gratwick Park in North Tonawanda, NY will host Primus at their annual Niagara River Rocks Concert Serieson Sunday, June 22nd. Primus will play the waterfront show with opening act support from Fishbone.
Primus has been staying very busy with touring and this summer will be no different, scheduled to be at many festivals throughout the summer. Primus has been playing together for over 25 years and brings all sorts of influences to the table, with frontman and bassist Les Claypool’s unique style in the forefront it really makes for an interesting evening.
Doors open at 2PM and the show starts at 3PM, all ages are welcome. Tickets can be purchased for $7 or you can purchase VIP tickets for $30 which includes such benefits as private bathrooms, beverage stands and optimal view of stage.
On June 28th, Island Park in Williamsville, NY will become the center for a new, one-day festival, setting up shop right in the middle of suburbia. Intune Music & Lifestyle Festival will be laying down its inaugural foundation for a day of music, artists, workshops, and other various activities. Upon speaking with one of the organizers, Amanda Gutierrez, she said that the festival is a tribute to a friend, Zack Yambor, and their goal is to turn the pain of his loss into a positive for the community. The vision is truly inspirational and what they plan on encompassing within the gates is a large offering to satisfy anyone who plans on attending.
Throughout the day, those in attendance will be treated to various musical acts such as Skyes, Sumkind, Steel Keys and Brass, Bertioga, Dysrupt, and Kooli. Headlining the festival though is none other than Break Science, featuring Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch. Besides the music, there will be eight free workshops, teaching anything from yoga to live graffiti. Local farmers and food vendors will be there as well to show off their latest with live cooking demos. The fest will take place from noon to 10pm and feature a jam-packed day for a great kickoff! Tickets are $20 presale and you can get them here.
And if you’re a musician who’s interested in playing, there’s still TWO open slots that the organizers are looking to fill via a contest. Hit the link if you think you have what it takes.
With so much to offer, here’s a summary of activities you can expect to see at the festival.
As they make their way to Buffalo, the talk right now is about the stellar show Dave Matthews Band just put on with their two-night run at SPAC. The Dave Matthews Band will play Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on June 11th. DMB never seems to disappoint their loyal fan base in Western NY, and with the new two set format that includes an acoustic set and a full band, electric set, it will surely be an unforgettable experience. The band has been playing songs throughout their extensive catalog, making every show more unique and exciting night in and night out.
Darien Lake Performing Arts Center is the perfect backdrop to a summer concert and with the amusement park connected, you can enjoy some fun during the day before catching a great show at night. With the venue being a consistent stop over the years for DMB, the show is always the perfect start to the summer concert season for many fans in the WNY region.
Tickets can be purchased through Live Nation here.
To get you ready for the show, check out these highlights from SPAC:
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band is a little lengthy of a band name in my opinion, but lucky for everyone, they’re also known, simply, as “Booty Band.” As much a mouthful the name is, their sound is a lot for your ears to take in as well. Their self-proclaimed raucous live show is a humble statement and their mix of deep funk with rock, soul, and rap makes for an interesting combination. Make no mistake, you might not take them seriously at first, but after hearing their spin on funk, you will begin to understand why they can put the fun in funky and showcase some serious chops at the same time. So, hearing all of this, are you ready for a last-minute Booty call?
Just announced today, the band is slated to hit the stage at Nietzsche’s next Thursday. The first-ever show for them in Buffalo is a great way to kick off the weekend a little early, and with a $7 ticket price, how can you argue? With the release of the latest album this past October and a heavy tour schedule, they are making their name known, regardless of length or variation. The show was put together by ECE Presents who have been doing a outstanding job in the Western New York area as of late, bringing quality talent and growing the scene organically, one show at a time. Joining Booty Band and opening the night will be The Wakos who were hand-chosen for the show as they are the perfect fit for Booty’s Band’s bodacious sound.
Check out a sample of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty here and get a taste of what’s in store for next week:
The Summer music season is in full swing with the start of the Memorial Day weekend upon us and is your #1 source for music in NY State. As part of a 3-part series we are running this week and next, we are showcasing the concerts coming to town at the three major concert venues – Darien Lake, CMAC and SPAC – for 2014.
As the weather breaks and nicer temperatures start to become the norm, the residents of Buffalo begin to come out of their winter slumber and explore the city again. This past Friday night, Marco Benevento was in town and, with mother nature’s cooperation, Buffalo’s music community came out in droves and ascended upon Nietzsche’s for a night of great music. As 10pm came and went, the venue began filling up with all walks of life to catch the jazz experimentalist himself. Benevento has played Buffalo pretty consistently as of late and it seems as though the scene here is not only appreciative of his visits, but the crowd continues to grow every time he comes back.
The night started off with local favorites, Lazlo Hollyfeld. With a beer in hand, it was actually difficult to try to maneuver to the front of the venue as it was that densely packed for Lazlo. The group, in my eyes, was a perfect fit to open the night as their instrumental experimentation goes hand in hand with the type of crowd Benevento brings out. With over ten years under their belts, Lazlo knew exactly how to draw a crowd in and keep them entranced with their choice of songs for the set. Without any effort, your ears immediately gravitated towards Matt Felski who has the unique role of Vibraphonist in the band. For those unfamiliar, the instrument is similar to a xylophone and, as you can imagine, stuck out like a sore thumb. That might sound like a slight, but the way Felski utilized staccato and legato couldn’t have been more perfect. I can’t say I’ve ever heard this instrument outside of jazz, let alone in a small band, but these guys made it work and have a truly unique sound because of it. While I would’ve enjoyed seeing some more of them that night, their set was stellar and got the crowd in the perfect mindset for what was to come. Their jamming was dark and exploratory, having almost a heavy metal feel in terms of both tempo and tone. Guitarist Sonny Baker was the visual focal piece for the band as his energy swelled with peaks in the music and forced him to frantically pluck away in certain segments and attack his solos with a fierce tenacity. As they wrapped up their set, the crowd let out an exuberant cheer, letting the band know of their appreciation and enjoyment.
Marco Benevento took the stage around midnight, which was appropriate for Buffalo as the city is known for its late nights and 4am last call. Midnight is when things start to get interesting here and that would hold true on this night as well. Benevento started off the night sprinting out of the gate and showing everyone right away why he’s so talented. On one song, he held the strings inside of his piano, creating a similar effect to a muted guitar and adding a layer of texture to his deep overall tone. As he stated in our interview, he doesn’t go on stage with a setlist in mind; he completely plays to the crowd and feels out what they’re hoping to hear from him. Friday night was no different. Benevento was locked in from the get-go as every change in tempo and every blistering solo only electrified the crowd even more. A few songs in, he turned and looked out across the crowd, grinning, to let both the band and audience know he was having a good time.
As we got deeper into the set, you began to question how much his weathered piano could take. Even though it looked like it could’ve been lying around in the back of Nietzsche’s, the tone that was culled from its depths was beautiful. It was definitely an odd juxtaposition of visual ugliness, yet tonal beauty. The use of effect pedals with his historic rig only make his sound that much more unique. His tone and approach is literally out of this world. If you closed your eyes, it was almost as if you were strolling through Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory” and he was playing the soundtrack.
While only a year has passed since I last saw these guys, they have grown tighter as an overall entity. Dave Dreiwitz (bass) and Andy Borger (drums) have learned how to compliment what Benevento does and now play much larger roles within the group. When they would collectively stop, it felt as though the pressure had finally let up. The three were so good at keeping an incessant pace that you felt the need to gasp for air on the short break in between songs.
Benevento himself is a madman behind the keys. You could see it in his face at various points throughout the show that he was really trying to push his musical boundaries. In and of itself, you can respect him for that, but he balances that seriousness with a jovial side that enjoys the dynamic between the band and crowd. As a clear example of his playful side, a large wolf mask somehow made its was to the stage and Marco was the first to embrace it, playing through the second half of a song while it was on his head. It was difficult to discern whether the whole thing was planned, but Marco’s eagerness and energized playing said otherwise.
The show went on until about 2am with Marco covering songs off of every album, including some new tunes off of his upcoming Fall release. It was an incredible night of music to say the least. As the crowd filed out, I overheard what I presumed to be a new fan talking about how they couldn’t wait for the next time he’s in town. Not surprised, I now understand why Marco is always smiling.
Primus has been staying very busy with touring and this summer will be no different, scheduled to be at many festivals throughout the summer. Primus has been playing together for over 25 years and brings all sorts of influences to the table, with frontman and bassist Les Claypool’s unique style in the forefront it really makes for an interesting evening.
