NYS Music 20​16

Author: Meredith Snow

  • AC/DC Brings a New Flavor to First Niagara Center

    _dsc9469AC/DC finally made their appearance on Sunday, September 22 at First Niagara Center after an extended delay because of the departure of longtime lead singer Brian Johnson. They performed a lengthy list of fan favorites. Guns N` Roses’ Axl Rose had taken Brian’s place and the reviews were mixed from fans.

    Axl treated the arena to a remarkable performance, vocally that is. He seemed to find a perfect harmony between his style and the original singers. Rose had a couple moves like his signature sway dance to make it his own as well. Rose did not dominate the show which was feared; he rather fit into the band like a missing puzzle piece.

    AC/DC really isn’t AC/DC at this point. The only original member is Angus who was really the star of the show, with his signature moves and energy, going from side to side of the stage and skipping out onto the runway with his childlike charm. He has the uncanny ability to work the crowd. Chris Slade replaced Phil Rudd and Malcom was replaced by Stevie Young. They added a new sound to the band but most people who new the original lineup just weren’t having it.

    Like always AC/DC pulled out tricks left and right in regards to special effects, including a giant blow up doll making sexual gestures during “Whole Lotta Rosie,” a giant bell lowering from the rafters for “Hells Bells” and a line of cannons during “For Those About to Rock.”

    The crowd was scattered with an array of flashing red horns that were printed with AC/DC on them. Some people were leaving the venue either by escort or the occasional police car. AC/DC has had plenty of mishaps but still manages to deliver their own brand of rock. Granted Axl killed it vocally all night and made quite the impression; the star of the night was Angus and will always be. He still carries the school boy image after all these decades and will forever remain the face of AC/DC.

  • Gwar Declares the Next President

    The night was beautiful, so beautiful in fact that the only thing that could make it better was blood covered concert goers. That is what was going to happen in downtown Buffalo and Town Ballroom in the heart of the theatre district.  People were wrapped around the building waiting to get in. You know who the veterans are in regards to going to Gwar concerts; they are the ones dressed in white or any lighter color they didn’t mind trashing.

    Hardcore metal band Mutoid Man was first to hit the stage, and that they did with vulgar sexual references; everything from penis to boob jokes. Guitarist Steve Brodsky and bassist Nick Cageao poured huge, unrelenting riffs out of their amplifiers, while Ben Koller drove songs with his innovative style of drumming. The thing that stood out most about Mutoid Man was they were having fun playing on stage and you saw it in each of them based solely off expression.

    GWARCrowbar is a sludge metal band from New Orleans known as “some dudes” and have been in the music scene for nearly 30 years now. Windstein interacted brilliantly with the crowd and kept everyone engaged in between songs as Crowbar tuned their instruments. Spitting like a cowboy who thinks he’s still in the saloon, Windstein rumbles and roars into pit-starter “Conquering,” and so the riffs start falling. Frontman Kirk Windstein, metal legend that he is, still sets up his own gear from scratch, tunes guitars himself, and distributes set lists to the band. This shows the humbleness he has a reputation for.

    Then as the lights lowered and the elaborate stage was set up by a crew of about 10 workers, people got as close as they could to the front of the stage. This is where my previous statement about being a beautiful night for concert goers comes into play. What`s the indication of Gwar coming on stage? When the music stops you know that’s when things are about to get messy.

    GWARThe screen they bring on stage lit up and showed an unflattering picture of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. First to the stage was ring announcer Sleazy P. Martini, who talked about what was going to unfold this evening – 3 separate wrestling matches and one of them would be Trump vs. Hillary. The fight between the two led to Hillary as the triumphant winner. She ripped his face off then took out his intestines and pointed his blood splattering chest towards the crowd, soaking several rows of patrons. As Hillary was celebrating her win, Blothar came up and ripped off her breasts and spewed even more blood onto the crowd ranging almost to the back of the venue in distance.

    Viciously some aliens from another planet came in and fought Blother and Bone Snapper, stealing the title! Musically this group of guys are very talented in their respected instruments; Brent Purgason (Pustulus Maximus) shreds a mean guitar, and Gwar front-man Blothar has appeared on Ted Talks and is quite intelligent. The cult following they have is undeniable. Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus) was the front man prior and that’s what most people knew Gwar as, granted it will never be the same but Blothar is a great replacement.

    Back to the wrestling match, the intruder aliens came back to fight the final fight and this time Bone Snapper and Blothar were victorious! They won the title and Blothar announced to the crows that he was best suited to be the president of the United States. Fans cheered like they were at a rally and with the election candidates we have now, I think our best bet for a better future is Blothar for president!

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  • The Goo Goo Dolls Return Home to Buffalo

    Darien Lake was the loudest it had been all year. Our boys returned home as the Goo Goo Dolls originated in Buffalo over 20 years ago. Chatting with local Buffalonians you hear stories from how “we partied together back in the day” to “I remember when they first started out.” I have roots tied back to them from when my uncle used to work with Robby and Rzeznik at local bars back when they first started. Among their pre-set mix was Rose Royce’s “Car Wash,” a warped reference to their 1993 release “Superstar Carwash.”

    Rzeznik continued to thank Buffalo. Saying “you believed in us when nobody gave a shit.” The set was a vigorous with a blend of old and newer material, opening with “Over and Over.”  You could see pure happiness on Robby`s face as he bounced around on all over overlooking “This is perfect,” Rzeznik would say during the show, “This is exactly what summer is supposed to be like. It’s all good.”
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    Collective Soul turned up the heat; they were the best direct support Goo`s could have asked for. Ed Roland, frontman of CS had a lot to say that evening; and it was about mid-set that lead him to say what might’ve been on the minds of many. “We started in the ’90s; we are NOT of the ’90s. We still fucking rock.” The band played their newest single “See What You Started by Continuing,” the third ever performance of the song. The band dedicated their closer, “The World I Know,” to The Tragically Hip, a touching gesture and moment in the flawless set.

    Tribe Society stick out a bit on a lineup with Collective Soul and The Goo Goo Dolls. However, they quickly got the audience on their side by playing “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins. The crowd also enjoys the flute player running around the stage is a cool unique feature of this band. Vocalist Gavin took a minute to thank us photographers and how hard we work. That was highly appreciated and not a common gesture by any means.

  • Disturbed Turns up the Heat at Darien Lake

    It was a hot humid day this past Sunday at Darien Lake. In turn made some people harbor inside with the AC not to be seen until the temperature cools down and we can breathe easy again.  That didn’t stop rock fans from coming out and enjoying the top notch lineup that was about to implode the venue.

    Saint Asonia is a new name to the music scene, but the musicians in it are rather seasoned. Staind‘s Mike Mushok, Dark New Day‘s Corey Lowery and former Finger Eleven drummer Rich Beddoe help make up the group. With only one album out people had an idea of what to expect, though they threw a Three Days Grace song in the mix. I was highly impressed by this band and how tight they were. The stage presence was good but could use some work. Please don’t become a one trick pony. There is too much talent and years left for that. Though with the heat wave of 89 degrees we had, let’s dismiss this performance for lack of movement from some members.

    Alter Bridge, was formed from the ashes of Creed in 2004. Alter bridge came at you with tons of emotion from the moment they hit the stage. Myles Kennedy, whose voice, sounds radiantly clear despite moving continuously around from stage left to stage right. Adrenaline was running high at this point, and there was more to come. Mark Tremonti really knows how to schmooze the crowd with his killer smile and flawless guitar riffs. The rest of the set-list was a compilation of songs from of all their previous productions, but it was arranged in a manner that kept it agile and very engaging.

    Breaking Ben has been a heavy hitter in the scene for years. They have had their fair share of problems recently and have made somewhat of a comeback but seem to be slightly struggling. Not quite sure if the heat was getting to the bands that night but Breaking Ben vocally was not on their game. He didn’t quite hit the notes he typically does but we all have our off days. That didn’t stop the fans from loving every moment of the show. They sat and had a collection of their best songs ranging from all the catalogs. Fans sang along to ever y last one of them despite his diminished vocal ability.

    This band brings it each and every time they come to town, Disturbed has been dominating the rock scene for just short of 25 years; 22 years to be exact, only 20 of those years contained David. Disturbed brought extra heat with them that night with a pyrotechnics that could be felt from the back rows of the venue. David brought his deep heavy hitting vocals and was on point the entire night. He ranged from his older favorite tunes and even played a new song for the engaged crowd. He also did his rendition of “Sound of Silence” who was originally written by Simon and Garfunkel.  This seems to be his newest bit and people either love it or hate it; there is no in between. Regardless, his entire performance was one for the books and Buffalonians will always welcome him with open arms anytime he wants to come to Buffalo.

  • Kerfuffle Sells Out 3 Years In A Row

    This past Saturday was one of the most scorching days of the year. It also happened to fall on Kerfuffle’s third birthday. Kerfuffle is the creation of Alternative Buffalo 107.7 FM. This has sold out every year so far, they bring a selection of popular alternative bands from different sub genres. They have nailed it every year thus far.

    LA, rockers, The Moth and the Flame kicked things off this year. What makes TMTH such a distinct and fun band to listen to is their fearlessness and originality. They are not afraid to do what they want to do. They aren’t a cookie cutter pop band. There is the grittiness of Robbins’ vocals which glisten on the band’s recordings but give their performance life and depth.

    Coleman Hell was certainly not what I expected when he first appeared onstage. The only song I knew by him was his radio hit “Two Heads”. That was the black sheep of his song list. Everything else was very much different and percussion-heavy synth-pop. He appeared on stage in a paisley 70`s bright colored suit, that look straight out of the 70`s. He was a very spiritual individual and talked about the energy being overwhelmingly positive at the event.

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    Pvris (Pronouned as Paris) is a band that shows no signs of stopping. They have continuously been moving up the ranks and stealing the spotlight left and right. Today was an exception, they definitely brought their game but not their A, maybe B-.The vocals were great but she didn’t hit the high notes that she typically does, which gave it a less sensation to the song.

    Madisen Ward and the Momma bear were a breath of fresh air. Hailing from Kansas City, the duo performed lively, soulful acoustic folk tunes side-by-side for Madisen takes the lead on most of the verses, but his mother certainly held her own.

    New Politics come to Buffalo what seems like several times a year. They sell out each and every time. The band is based out of Brooklyn, NY. The love the audience had for this band is undeniable; it is clear as to why. Front man David Boyd gets the crowd to its feet and is quite the hype man. He has full faith in his fans and lets them carry him away into the crowd as far as they’ll take him. Dave`s famous acrobatic moves our ones you find in a hip hop studio; he does head spins and somersaults with the greatest of ease! Grant it some of their stuff is something you will find at every show they do, but if its not broke why fix it? These guys stole the show as they do every time.

    The Strumbellas are a six piece Canadian based band that played for the first time in Buffalo. They are alternative country rock but didn’t seem to woo the audience; they were rather uninterested in the bands performance. It’s hard to follow heavier hitter the New Politics.

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    Bloc Party are all the way from England, they had some technical difficulties after the first song. Even the first song you could tell there was trouble but they pushed through it. Lead singer Kele apologized a couple times saying “Buffalo doesn’t deserve this”. Buffalonians do what they do best and screamed from the crowd saying its ok and that they’ll wait, not in the sarcastic tone either; in the true we support you because this kind of stuff happens tone. After what seemed like the longest seven minutes of Bloc Party`s life they got their sound system working again. Once they did you could still sense the aggravation in the way they looked but they came back with what they could pull from the wreckage, which was restless punk ska music that had hints of old school wrapped up neatly into it.

    The Violent Femmes are a flash back from the past for some people. I think most of us know the song “Blister in the Sun”. That dates back all the way to 1983. The guys are well seasoned and casual dressers for the most part. They haven’t changed a bit vocally from when they first began according the people who have known them from day 1. They had the crowd to singing a good handful of their songs and the main audience was roughly between the ages 16-30.

    Awolnation, where do we begin? Let’s start by saying the entrance was one to catch attention. Lights were turned down low with a blueish hint haze. A woman dressed in a vintage looking space helmet, wearing a long black robe carrying a lantern appeared on stage. You can find her on their “Beautiful Things” music video as well. No words were spoken just haunting music. Then as quickly as she came she disappeared. As soon as that happened the audience knew it was time to get this party started; not that it hadn’t already. Front man and brain child Aaron Bruno took to the stage with the rest of his mates and when the bass dropped to start the chorus, the crowd erupted to pandemonium that would not cease until the night’s end. It was also refreshing to see a group of musicians who were so musically bound. There were moments of improvisation and jam band style expansions of songs. “Sail” stands out as an example of a song that sounds much stronger live than on the album.  The song set was nothing short of impressive; their performance guaranteed more sellout crowds on return trips through Buffalo.

    Kerfuffle was a success this year, the staff managed to keep their composure while aiding in keeping everyone cool hydrated and happy. The fans soaked up just about every performance that night and the headliner did not disappoint. Hopefully they can keep selling out and keep bringing heavy hitting bands that are relevant like they are doing now. Great job Alternative Buffalo, Kerfuffle is one to compete with.

  • Miranda Lambert Brings the Sass to Darien Lake

    Keeper of the Flame is Miranda Lambert’s 2016 tour, and she brought some friends with her to Darien Lake on June 23. Brothers Osborne kicked things off, but didn’t kick things off right. They did not get the crowd engaged, and more so, their commentary was rather off-putting. Regardless, some of the crowd loved it and that’s what matters, making your fans happy.

    Kip Moore doesn’t quite fit into the country genre per say. He’s got the looks and charisma a country star might have but the raspy pipes of rocker. Regardless, he fit in and blew the opener away. He’s still in his infancy only being signed four years ago by MCA Nashville. Moore already has quite following and had some diehard fans singing along to almost every song. He belted some well-known songs like his very first single “Something ‘Bout a Truck” and his most played on the radio “Running for You.” Give him a few years and he’ll be ready to be the headliner of the shows.

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    As the lights went down the crowd began to scream, and a video that flaunted girl power featuring history icons from the decades sprawled across the screen, while Beyonce’s “Run the World” song played over the speakers. As the old saying goes, if you got it, flaunt it — and Lambert did just dazzling with a set that included each of the hits that have kept her name high atop the charts for the past decade, along with some new never heard before songs. Given that she writes much of her own music, Lambert let her songs do the talking from the stage and treated fans with tales of hard living, lost love, hope and happiness that made for an alluring evening of music.

  • Tom Petty Has Fans on the Edge of Their Wildflowers

    In 1994 Tom Petty released Wildflowers, a staple album from the time period and still to this day. Originally it was conceptualized as a double album. Petty is now considering performing Wildflowers the way it was originally intended to be heard.

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    He recently sat with Rolling Stone for an interview and talked about how he’d like to regroup the Heartbreakers to play Wildflowers in 2017.

    After 20 plus years fans are still eagerly waiting for an expanded version of Wildflowers. Petty has released some outtakes from sessions on the soundtrack She`s The One that came out in 1996. “I think I put four of the [Wildflowers outtakes] on the She’s The One soundtrack just to fill out the album,” Petty explained.

    Tom Petty has been against full album performances in the past but recently he’s changed his tune. “I’ve changed my mind because nobody has ever done something like this where you’re previewing the second part of a never-released album,” Petty revealed. “How often does that happen? It’s old and new at the same time.”

    As for now there are no Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers dates booked as the rocker focuses on Mudcrutch. In the meantime, Petty fans can look forward to the possibility of an expanded release of his 1995 classic with a tour to hopefully follow.

  • Frank Turner Gets Buffalo’s Canalside to its Feet

    Fans couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day in Buffalo on June 16. Canalside hosts free concerts every Thursday evening, and they bring some big-name acts to town. And this night was no exception, as event-goers had the honor of seeing Frank Turner and July Talk on the same bill at Canalside.

    Uncle Ben’s Remedy was the chosen show opener; this group has been making a name for themselves around town, whether it’s winning voting-based competitions or playing for fundraisers. UBR got the crowd engaged and started a good ole fashioned hoedown. While most of their lyrics may be slightly shallow and not have much depth to them, the enthusiasm the band gives off is contagious.

    July Talk has built their band on contrasts. Case in point: their sound blends the raspy, alpha-male roar of Peter Dreimanis’ vocals that graze the honeyed sounds of Leah Fay. During the show, Fay appeared onstage with a plastic red tray that was full of cannolis; she was gracious enough to hand some to the photographers, then proceeded to throw a few into the crowd. Any hesitation that may have been felt about July Talk’s live show appeared halfway through the set. Their radio hits “Guns + Ammunition” and “Summer Dress” was played with much intensity, but then they seemed to lose their enthusiasm when it came to the lesser-known songs like “Blood and Honey.”

    Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls are quite the crowd pleasers. There was no pause, no downbeat, no breather in any moment of the show. A 22-song setlist blew by like the steamy yet refreshing breeze that precedes a train, as it rushes toward the station — in all the right ways, in this case. The audience was fully engaged, and almost everyone in the room knew the words to every song. Turner’s banter was expeditious and friendly. He demands your attention and demands that everyone be nice to each other and treat each other with respect; he stressed it even more given the recent tragic events in Orlando. The vast majority of the floor had hands high, clapping or first-pumping, and bodies moving the entire time.

  • Catfish and the Bottlemen Light Up Buffalo’s Town Ballroom

    With the recent release of their sophomore album, The Ride, Catfish and the Bottlemen are rising to stardom quite quickly. On June 2, fans eagerly waited up and down the pavement for the Town Ballroom’s doors to open, where Catfish and the Bottlemen would be playing for a sold-out crowd.

    They have the uncanny ability to make every song feel like an encore. From the first note played to the very last, Catfish and the Bottlemen created a vibe in the Town Ballroom that is unprecedented in the music scene. At their colorful best, they were indie without indie dowdiness. The group’s latest singles “Soundcheck” and “7” ignited two of the loudest sing-alongs of the night. The energy and enthusiasm of the band did not falter, as the audience lapped up every moment.

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    Formed in Llandudno, Wales, almost nine years ago, Catfish and the Bottlemen have been working their way steadily through the ranks. Describing their new album as “stadium rock,” it is in their live performances that Catfish and the Bottlemen prove their worth. At times, frontman Van McCann didn’t even need to bother singing, stepping away from the microphone and listening to his lyrics — mainly about relationships, booze and hangovers — being chanted back at him. As rock stars, they’re unapologetically traditional, and they’re breathing new life into the genre. There is a reason why they are currently one of the most in-demand rock bands at the moment.

    The Naturalists had been added to the bill only shortly before the doors opened. These guys lit the crowd up, and were a perfect opener. The garage-alt Buffalo natives finally had a moment to shine in front of a sold-out crowd of new fans and continued supporters.

    Catfish and the Bottlemen will roll through the Empire State again this fall with an Oct. 18 show at New York City’s Terminal 5.

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  • Sick Puppies Rock the Iron Works

    Buffalo Iron Works was introduced to a night full of in your face rock with promising young bands rocking the house. Hudson, all the way from Los Angeles, kicked things off Thursday night with a high energy, on-point performance, despite the lack of crowd participation and lackluster reaction.

    Stitched up Heart set up their gear and by their looks I wasn’t sure what to expect. Their outfits were great but hinted at a feeling of metal and screaming, which did not fit the rest of the bill. Front woman Alecia “Mixi” Demner ran onto the stage and had such a crisp, clear voice with a power that reminds one of Lzzy Hale from Halestorm. The band had magnificent harmony and the hair flips and guitar riffs were impressive. I am definitely a fan and cannot wait to listen to their newest tunes.

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    Red Sun Rising (RSR) is a band I’ve seen before when they were in town opening for Seether and Mark Tremonti at Rapids Theatre last year. RSR’s fan base has grown tenfold and they have a more confident stage presence since I last saw them. Mike Protich’s vocals have mammoth power and clarity to them.  He has a towering stage presence that captivates and engages the audience. Dave McGarry replaced original guitarist Tyler Valendza and he is an exceptional replacement. McGarry’s uses his long hair to his advantage, whipping it around while playing his catchy riffs. I expect to see this band headlining their own shows within the next five years.

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    Sick Puppies returned to Buffalo after a lengthy hiatus, and first time since their antecedent lead singer, Shimon Moore left the band. Many fan favorites were played as well as a couple of new songs. They kicked off their set with “War” that immediately brought the audience off their feet.

    Buffalo gave a warm welcome to new front man Bryan Scott as he stood his ground. Bassist Emma Anzai, made her presence felt with her typical top notch performance. Stand out songs from the Aussies’ set list included “Riptide,” “Should’ve Known Better” and “Pitiful.”  The band also performed their latest single, “Stick to Your Guns” from their upcoming release Fury.  The crowd loved the appearance of another taste of the new record during a short version of “Black & Blue.”  Bryan Scott has stepped into some big shoes and came off as a solid replacement. The direction the band is now taking is impressive and the crowd at the Iron Works seemed to agree.