Category: Buffalo

  • NYS Music Presents Friday Nights at Nietzsche’s

    Fridays in April at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo are presented by NYS Music. Get a taste of the Queen City’s favorite venue for rising acts and indulge in Nietzsche’s first ever JazzFest, providing you with an array of jazz, funk, R&B and Dixieland.

    April 8 – Grace Lougen and The Leftover Pancakes with Jacob Peter Band and Blue Rootz

    Grace Lougen & The Leftover Pancakes are a Blues/Rock group from Buffalo, NY. The band features Grace Lougen on vocals and lead guitar, Caleb Saathoff on drums, Ben Saathoff on bass, and Linnea Cremean on vocals and viola. The LP’s grew up listening and playing to a lot of classic and contemporary artists including Led Zeppelin, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa. Their original music encompasses the soul of old school blues and rock with a fresh modern flare. They have developed their musical chemistry learning covers, writing original music, playing shows in the Buffalo area. Grace Lougen and The Leftover Pancakes also have shared shows with many renowned local and national artists including Will McFarlane, Doug Yeomans, David Michael Miller, and Alligator Recording Artist Selwyn Birchwood.

    April 15 – JazzFest Day 3, featuring Cinnamon Jones, THE TRUTH, Toney Rhodes, Houston Gardwell Collective, and Sammy Miller and the Congregation

    9pm: Cinnamon Jones
    10pm: THE TRUTH
    11pm: Toney Rhodes – A well-accomplished and internationally known musician, Toney began establishing his respected reputation and credentials as early as 14 years of age. As with many successful artists, Rhodes traces his earliest influence to his familial gospel roots, particularly attributed to the tutelage and musical talents of his mother; along with the opportunity of being front and center as a young organist in his father’s Pentecostal church.
    12am: Houston Gardwell Collective – improvisatory funk and everything else, featuring a collective of improvisers.
    1am: Sammy Miller and The Congregation
    A native of Los Angeles, Sammy Miller has become known for his unique maturity and relentless focus on making music that “feels good” as a drummer, singer and bandleader. Upon completing his Master’s at The Juilliard School, Sammy formed his ensemble, The Congregation. As a band they are focused on sharing the power of community through their music—joyful jazz. While independently the band members have performed/recorded with notable artist including Wynton Marsalis, O.A.R, Iron and Wine, and Lee Fields at venues including The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, The Congregation has opted to stick together and create globally conscious music with the intention to spread joy throughout the world.

    April 22 – Funktional Flow (Matt Lester’s Birthday Celebration!)

    Buffalo’s own Funktional Flow is a multi-genre quintet heavily rooted in rock and reggae, with a funk foundation. Over the past six years, the band has released three albums and played hundreds of shows throughout the Northeast and beyond. With the release of the newest album Time Will Tell on March 5th 2016, Flow is poised to take it to the next level and branch out nationally. Flow is heavily influenced by Sublime, Umphreys McGee, Moe, and Blind Melon but maintains a fresh, high energy sound that results in a diverse catalog of music.

    April 29 – Midnight Snack, Our Friends Band, Dashuri

    Based in Asheville, NC by way of Boston, Midnight Snack blends masculine rock tradition with a distinctly feminine delicacy. The 6 piece integrates elements of psychedelic rock, indie-dance and baroque pop. Originally the childhood attic project of brothers Jack Victor and Michael Johnson, the duo developed their sound while attending Berklee College of Music. Featuring Jack Victor (vocals, drums), Michael Johnson (guitar, synthesizers), Katie Richter (vocals, trumpet), Peter Brownlee (bass), Zack Kardon (guitar) and Meryll Davis (vocals, percussion), Midnight Snack tours nationally, charming audiences with prominent vocal harmonies, lush instrumentation and introspective performances. Currently, the 6-piece is working on their third studio album and will be touring the Northeast April-May 2016.

  • DATSIK Is Bringing His Robotic Funky Sounds Back To The Queen City

    Troy Beetles, the Canadian born DJ / Producer better known as DATSIK will be in the Queen City of Buffalo April 7th.

    datsik queenIf you were wondering where his stage name is derived from, it comes from his XBOX gamer tag. Since hitting the Dubstep scene in 2008 he has steadily been a force to be reckoned with. In 2009 alone he had 7 number one releases on Beatport. In 2012 his debut album Vitamin D was released. That same year he started his own record label, Firepower Records.

    DATSIK has collaborated with huge names in the music business such as The Crystal Method, Diplo, Jonathan Davis (Korn) and Method Man. He has performed with artists of the likes of Steve Aoki, Nero, Rusko, and Bassnectar. Datsik has played venues all across the world and at festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Electric Zoo, Ultra Music Festival and Coachella. He will be bringing his self described dark, robotic, funky and gangster sounds to the Town Ballroom Thursday April 7th.

    Show starts at 8 and is sold out.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpiuyFpYMFo

  • Update: Project/Object Cancels Spring Tour

    Announced this afternoon via Facebook, the Frank Zappa Tribute band Project/Object is postponing their April 2016 tour dates until further notice. The cancellation comes due to the ongoing health issues surrounding the group’s production assistant-social media manager-merch seller Robin Gelberg, who survived a tragic car accident about a month ago near Shelby, NC; she is the partner of the band’s guitarist Andre Cholmondeley. According to Cholmondeley’s post, this is the first time Project/Object has cancelled concerts during his time with the band since the 1990s. A support page has been set up for Gelberg through GoFundMe.

    Project Object2:58 pm For Immediate ReleasePROJECT/OBJECT TOUR POSTPONEDIt is with a heavy heart that I have to…

    Original story:

    On April 14, Project/Object will bring the sounds of Frank Zappa back to life on stage at The Hollow in Albany.

    The alumni-based Zappa tribute band, featuring Ike Willis and Don Preston, is touring the Northeast this spring in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Zappa’s debut album, Freak Out! Willis’ booming baritone vocals and rhythm guitar appeared on Zappa band tours and albums from 1978 to the final FZ tour in 1988. Preston, a well-known synthesizer and jazz pioneer, played on the Mothers Of Invention records until 1974’s Roxy and Elsewhere; he has also scored soundtracks for feature films like Apocalypse Now.

    The tour kicks off in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on April 7 and makes stops in Marlboro the following night before shows in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Rochester and closing out in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 1.

    Each show this tour will feature two sets of Zappa music with Willis and Preston; the Boston show is double billed with Consider the Source. And this April run continues the voter registration partnership with HeadCount, as shared on Twitter last month:

    Project/Object: The Music of Frank Zappa has toured the United States, Canada and Europe during its 20-year existence. The group was founded in the 1990s by guitarist Andre Cholmondeley as a tribute to Zappa, who died of cancer in 1993 at 52. In 2015, Willis and Denny Walley came out of retirement for a special tour in celebration of Zappa’s late ’70s catalog, playing several shows in New York state. Alongside Willis (guitar, vocals), Preston (keys, vocals), Cholmondeley (guitar, vocals) and Walley (bass), the group will include musicians Ryan Berg (drums), Kendall Scott (keys, synths) and special guest Rich Rakowski (sax) at select shows.

    Tickets for the 9 p.m. show at The Hollow are on sale through the venue’s website, along with passes for Brooklyn’s The Hall, Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo and Rochester’s Lovin Cup. Project/Object’s show at The Falcon in Marlboro does not require a cover charge for live music, but donations are appreciated. See the full tour dates below and visit the band’s website for more venue and ticket sales information.

    Project/Object Spring 2016 tour dates:

    4/7 – The Acoustic – Bridgeport, CT
    4/8 – The Falcon – Marlboro, NY
    4/9 – House of Independents – Ashbury Park, NJ
    4/10 – Iron Horse – Northampton, MA
    4/12 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
    4/13 – The Middle East – Boston, MA
    4/14 – The Hollow – Albany, NY
    4/15 – The Hall – Brooklyn, NY
    4/16 – Arch St. Tavern – Hartford, CT
    4/17 – American Brewing Company – Harrisburg, PA
    4/19 – The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD
    4/20 – Club Café – Pittsburgh, PA
    4/21 – Radio Radio – Indianapolis, IN
    4/22 – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI
    4/23 – Martyrs – Chicago, IL
    4/26 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
    4/27 – The Tralf – Buffalo, NY
    4/28 – Lovin Cup – Rochester, NY
    4/29 – Havana’s – New Hope, PA
    4/30 – River St. Jazz Café – Wilkes Barre, PA
    5/1 – Mexicali – Teaneck, NJ

  • Rihanna Brings an Aesthetically Pleasing Performance to First Niagara Center

    Rihanna has always compensated for shortcomings in technical vocal ability with showmanship and arresting charisma. The international star delivered on levels with fashion, choreography, impressive stage aesthetics, dancers, and the band this past week as she played to a pack stadium at the First Niagara Center.

    Promoting her Anti album, Rihanna will be playing 75 shows in 18 countries this time around. She stopped in Buffalo at First Niagara Center this past Wednesday, and the energy in the arena was explosive and contagious as fans danced, yelled, jumped, cheered, took pictures, and recited the lyrics to their favorite Rihanna tracks. Fans were in full force with a multi-generational diverse crowd displaying their best Rihanna inspired fashion trends, hair and make-up.

    She opened the evening with the ballad “Stay,” emerging on a high platform in the rear of the arena wearing a boxer’s robe.  She was then whisked away by  a floating platform to meet with the rest of her band, who arose from beneath the stage like a magic trick.

    rihanna first niagara centerDuring her set, she had the audacity to call Buffalo “ratchety.” Some of the crowd booed and most were insulted. She then proceeded to back pedal, gushing about how she loves the  fans there etc. Sorry sister, you already insulted us Buffalonians. We have some serious pride in our town, and we have put a lot of work into our town to make it beautiful. Buffalo is far from “ratchety.”

    Vocally, she was what she has always been. Stunning at her ballads, but not pleasing to the ear when it comes to her other music. It was partially a mumbled mess, especially during the song “Work”.  She sang to a backing track most of the night.

    The clothing options of the night left a lot to be desired. Her band and backup singers looked like they were civilians in the Star Wars movies.  Regardless of poor costume choices, Rihanna’s several costume changes seemed to flow seamlessly between songs. While some were sexy; she wore her signature over-sized men’s suit, some were risqué and quite questionable.

    Despite a lengthy set list of her biggest hits, the entire show was only about 90 minutes. The singer appeared to be having fun throughout the night, it appeared that she had her foot on the gas, speeding from one song to another in what felt like a race to the finish. “This is the sad part of the show, when you know it’s almost over,” she said shortly before closing out with “Kiss It Better.” Regardless of the disappointments of the evening, true Rihanna fans were not disappointed and definitely got their money`s worth in theatrics and sex appeal.

  • Jimkata Brings ‘In Motion’ to Buffalo Iron Works

    Ithaca based jamtronic/indie rock trio Jimkata is currently touring in support of their latest fan funded release In Motion.  The trio will roll into Buffalo Iron Works on Saturday March 26th.

    Aaron Gorsch, Evan Friedell & Packy Lunn- Jimkata- Copyright Pat Tellier

    After taking a brief hiatus that took the band off the road for the majority of the fall and winter, Jimkata hit the road for the first time as a trio this February. Frontman Evan Friedell told NYS Music that touring as a three piece has helped strengthen the bands dynamic.

    “I think having just the three of us on stage has simplified the dynamic a little bit in that its easier to communicate and improvise as musicians.  It also has led us to focus specifically on each sound and make everything sound bigger.  We’re also starting to get a good sense of set flow, like what songs pair well with each other, and are continually getting better at making good sets every night.”

    After the departure of longtime bassist David Rossi in late 2014, Stephen Learson (The Endobox) jumped on the road with the band for the majority of 2015.  The band made the decision while on hiatus to tour with only the band’s orginial three members: Friedell, Packy Lunn (drums)  and Aaron Gorsch (guitar/snyths).

    And in Friedell’s opinion, the gamble has paid off.  “Packy and Aaron have stepped up to the plate big time in terms of covering multiple parts.  When we first started rehearsing as a three piece I had some apprehension that maybe we would be missing something.  But, honestly, it feels like the exact opposite, that we’ve gained even more sonically especially with adding all the new songs to our sets.”

    Friedell also noted that the bands long awaited return to the Queen City is met with excitement by not just the fans but the band as well. “We’ve been playing Buffalo for quite a while so our relationship with the city runs deep.  Its starting to feel like a home base for us, especially since we’ve been rehearsing there a lot lately and Packy is now living there.  I’ve found the Buffalo crowd to be a little rowdier than other places we play which is fun.  Something about that goes along well with our upstate New York attitude and upbringing.”

    Tickets for this Saturday’s show are available online through Ticketfly.  Buffalo based band Lazlo Hollyfeld will open.  Doors open at 8pm;Music starts at 9pm.

  • Venue Change: Cage the Elephant to Play Albany’s Palace Theatre, May 11

    On Tues. May 11, rock band Cage the Elephant will now play a 7 p.m. show at the Palace Theatre in Albany. The group was originally scheduled to perform at the Times Union Center. Tickets purchased prior to the venue change will be honored. Floor seat holders are granted general admission access to the orchestra section of the Palace, and all reserved tickets will have general admission seating in the balcony section. Tickets for both price levels ($45 floor; $37.50 balcony) are still available for purchase at the Palace Theatre box office at 19 Clinton Ave. or through Ticketmaster. NYS Music was on hand to cover Cage the Elephant’s stop at Rochester’s Main Street Armory in March for the Spring Fling Tour; read more here.

    Original Post:

    The Grammy-nominated rock band Cage the Elephant will head out in May on a string of tour dates that will route the Kentucky alt-rockers to several venues in New York and neighboring states, plus stops in nearby Toronto and Montreal.

    cage the elephant palace theatre
    Jack White will release new album “Boarding House Reach” on Friday, March 23.

    The headlining North American tour kicks off May 1 in Little Rock, Arkansas, before CTE stops in Canada and takes the stage at Times Union Center in Albany on May 11, the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on May 15, and at SummerStage in New York City’s Central Park May 16. Supporting acts for this run are Portugal. The Man, Broncho and Twin Peaks.

    Prior to launching the 34-date cross-country trek, which comes to a close June 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, the band is continuing Spring Fling Tour with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands with shows billed in Pittsburgh on March 25, at the Main Street Armory in Rochester on March 26, First Niagara Center in Buffalo on March 28, XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, March 30, followed by Portland, Maine, and Providence, Rhode Island.

    The high-energy quartet consists of singer Matt Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, bassist Daniel Tichenor and drummer Jared Champion. CTE is hitting the road following the release of their fourth studio album, Tell Me I’m Pretty. A follow-up to 2013’s Melophobia with hits “Come a Little Closer” and “Cigarette Daydreams,” the 10-track record produced by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys, The Arcs) debuted in December and features the alternative chart-topping single “Mess Around.” CTE has shared the stage with Foo Fighters, Muse and Queens of the Stone Age, among other big-name artists, and most recently, the group performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden, the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Conan.

    Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. Passes for the upcoming New York dates are currently available through the band’s website, the respective venues and ticketing sites like Ticketmaster.

    Cage the Elephant tour dates:

    3/16 – Don Haskins Center – El Paso, TX ~
    3/18 – Cox Business Center Arena – Tulsa, OK ~
    3/19 – Landers Center – Southaven, MS ~
    3/20 – Freedom Hall Civic Center – Johnson City, TN ~
    3/22 – Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, VA ~
    3/23 – Constant Convocation Center – Norfolk, VA ~
    3/25 – Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA ~
    3/26 – Main Street Armory – Rochester, NY ~
    3/28 – First Niagara Center – Buffalo, NY
    3/30 – XL Center – Hartford, CT ~
    3/31 – Cross Insurance Arena – Portland, ME ~
    4/1 – Dunkin Donuts Arena – Providence, RI ~
    5/1 – Verizon Arena – Little Rock, AR *
    5/3 – Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, OK *
    5/4 – INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, KS *
    5/6 – DeltaPlex – Grand Rapids, MI *
    5/7 – Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI *
    5/8 – International Centre, Arrow Hall – Toronto, ON *
    5/10 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *
    5/11 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY *
    5/15 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *
    5/16 – SummmerStage, Central Park – New York City, NY *
    5/19 – Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN *
    5/20 – Infinite Energy Arena – Duluth, GA *
    5/21 – Hangout Festival – Gulf Shores, AL
    6/3 – KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY ^
    6/4 – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH ^
    6/5 – EXPRESS LIVE! – Columbus, OH ^
    6/7 – UIC Pavilion – Chicago, IL %
    6/9 – BMO Harris Pavilion – Milwaukee, WI %
    6/10 – U.S. Bank Theater at Target Center – Minneapolis, MN ^
    6/11 – Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center – Madison, WI ^
    6/14 – Calgary Stampede Corral – Calgary, AB ^
    6/15 – Shaw Convention Centre – Edmonton, AB ^
    6/17 – PNE Forum – Vancouver, BC ^
    6/18 – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater – Portland, OR ^
    6/19 – WaMu Theater – Seattle, WA ^
    6/21 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA %
    6/22 – Valley View Casino Center – San Diego, CA %
    6/23 – Bill Graham Civic – San Francisco, CA %
    6/25 – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV ^
    6/26 – Gila River Arena – Phoenix, AZ ^

    ~ Spring Fling tour dates with Silversun Pickups, Foals and Bear Hands
    * with Portugal, The Man + Broncho
    ^ with Portugal, The Man + Twin Peaks
    % with Portugal, The Man

  • Funktional Flow Showcases ‘Time Will Tell’

    Buffalo fusion jam rockers Funktional Flow played to a packed house at Buffalo Iron Works in honor of their latest release Time Will Tell. The Roaring Twenties-themed evening saw fans dressed to the nines and enjoying the growing attitude of Funktional Flow’s sound.

    Flow CD RELEASE -7

    The opening band, Buffalo-based trio AjamajA, showcased extreme depth, especially for a three-piece. Guitarist Jason Staniszewski played with a distinct sound and mastered skill set.  Funktional Flow guitarist Jeffrey Kuebler briefly sat in with the band to help close out AjamajA’s set.

    Funktional Flow continues to impress.  They look and sound like a band ready to expand. And if given the right opportunities this summer, Funktional Flow could begin to make a name for themselves outside of the Buffalo music scene.

    The evening showcased several sit-ins, and well placed horns added another dimension to Flow’s sound.  There’s a growing showmanship to their stage presence, too. Ryan Acanfora sat in for the entire evening, giving a new element to percussion. These new elements created a more dimensional, layered sound, perhaps a reflection on their time together in the studio. And those simple elements, if only added for the evening, showed a band looking how to expand their studio sound to their live performance.

    Flow CD RELEASE -10

    The band’s first set weaved several new songs with some of the band’s more classic tunes. Crowd favorites like “Leaving Town” and “Mulligans” saw positive growth with the evening’s added elements.  The band selected clever covers for the night including songs by the Beatles, the Clash and A-ha.

    The night’s second set paid tribute to the band’s new album, as Time Will Tell was played in its entirety.  The album’s first single, “Back Door,” continues to impress; the crowd buzzed that the tune is felt to be this album’s showpiece by many fans. Other second set favorites included “New Haven” and “Moving On.”

    Watching Flow on stage, dressed in vintage attire, there was a glimpse of a bigger picture to their expanding and growing sound. Mixed among the funk-reggae-rock fusion, hints of swing and ragtime tributes shyly appeared. It’s a style that is most prominent in key-heavy tunes like “Back Door.”  If Flow could capitalize on this evolving sound, they could find that they have a unique and fresh perspective to their songwriting and performance. These sounds, when they appear in Funktional Flow’s music, present some of the band’s brightest moments.

    Although the band is looking to expand throughout the Northeast, Funktional Flow’s current show schedule has them staying close to home. They will hit up the King’s Rook Club in Erie, PA, on March 11.

    Set One: Dumber > Funk D, Walking Blind, Untitled, Leaving Town^ > Ambush, Shape, Baby, You’re a Rich Man*, Moonlight Tide#, Mulligans^, Rock the Cashbah**%,

    Set Two: Back door, Trouble^, Time Will Tell^, Gone, On the way, Let Me In, New Haven, Strong Feeling^,  Dreidel, Moving On, Ben’s Beach^, Take On Me***^

    ^ Horns – Matt Harris (sax), Joe Cheslak (trombone), Pat Allison (trumpet)
    *The Beatles
    **The Clash
    ***A-Ha (Reel Big Fish version)
    # Jason Staniszewski (AjamajA)
    % Jeff Lewis (vocals and harmonica)
    Ryan Acanfora (percussion)

    [FinalTilesGallery id=’662′]

  • Dr. Dirty Fills Turning Stone Casino Showroom Once Again

    On March 5, John Valby who’s known as “Dr. Dirty” once again packed the room to capacity at the Turning Stone Casino Showroom in Verona.

    dr. dirtyWith no opening performers scheduled, Dr. Dirty made his entrance to the stage and sat at his keyboard shortly after 8 p.m. Even before Dr. Dirty made his appearance, the adult crowd was ready for the night’s comedy and filled the room with vulgar chants and cheers. The entire night was filled with laughter by the crowd who were victims of Valby’s act. Throughout the evening, the Buffalo-based comedian went through many of his fan favorites along with a few new tunes. Many of the night’s jokes hit on current news stories, politics and more.

    Some of the highlights from the show were when Valby collected audience members’ names and used them as part of his songs. Another hight point was when Valby invited girls on stage to join him for another song. The night ended with a poem and a thank you from Dr. Dirty, noting his appreciation for the supportive fans at the Turning Stone.

    Watching the crowd as it emptied the Showroom venue, it was easy to see that everyone had a great time by all the smiles and continued laughter. For anyone who’s never seen John “Dr. Dirty” Valby and enjoys a good laugh, be sure to catch him at the Showroom next time he comes to town. In the meantime, check out “Poetry From Bed Pan Alley,” the new single from Valby’s forthcoming release, Keep Calm and Valby On.

  • Hearing Aide: Funktional Flow ‘Time Will Tell’

    flowBuffalo’s Funktional Flow is starting to gain momentum.  The start of 2015 saw the band undergo line-up changes. By the end of the year, Flow (as they are simply called by their fans) was in the studio recording their latest release Time Will Tell. The band has just under six years in the city’s emerging jam scene, but they are a prominent force in Buffalo’s budding community.  Time Will Tell is a reflection of that.

    The band’s latest release is an amazing representation of what Funktional Flow has become known for in the Queen City – organic funk fusion. They create a swirling blend of funk rhythms laced with Americana.  Hints of folk, rock and bluegrass pour from the guitar work of Jeffrey Kuebler and Joey Lewis.  Matt Lester adds his own variety of swing style keys and saxophone jazz elements to the mix. Bassist Ben Whelan and drummer Jim Edgar head up the band’s moniker funk sound with a solid foundation of groove and drive.

    Time Will Tell is Funktional Flow’s coming of age album.  Recorded and produced at Sonic Farm Studios in Colden, NY, the album is a glimpse into a group of musicians with no restrictions on their artistry.  The album is varied from personal and upbeat, to relaxed and driven.  With producers Dan Brace, Scott Nadolinski and Nick Sonricker, Funktional Flow have created a recorded look into a sound that is distinctly their own.

    Of the albums twelve tracks, “Back Door” is by far the most successful.  It’s an earworm.  The kind of song you want to listen to on repeat.  It has the qualities of a song that gets people to listen to a band later simply because they want to hear “that” song again.  With a catchy chorus and a definitive groove, “Back Door” may just be the song to launch Funktional Flow out of the Western New York scene.

    “Strong Feeling” could be the album’s most overlooked track, with a 90’s fusion that playfully captures the best of the decade’s sounds of ska, jam and college rock.

    Songs like “Moving On” and “Time Will Tell” are the true showcase pieces of the signature Flow sound.  Thoughtful fusions of reggae, funk, and rock that feel like soundtracks for a day at the beach or an early summer drive with the windows down.

    Funktional Flow isn’t afraid to go toward a more intimate place either.  The album’s second single “On the Way” is a personal look at embracing life’s changes – a song written by Kuebler after learning he and his wife were expecting.  And whereas a song of that style could lend itself to popish tendencies, there is a beautiful resolve to this tune that balances both the subject matter and the musical style.

    The album concludes with an instrumental titled “Ben’s Beach”.  Its may sound fairy tale inspired, but it’s the kind of song you might listen to while sitting on the coast line at night.  There is a cool, calm variety of groove that at moments almost nods to fellow Buffalo groove rockers Aqueous’ in its spaciness and layered technical execution.

    Funktional flowMusically, Flow is heading in the right direction.  Vocally, there is room for growth.  The bands two main vocalist, Kuebler and Lewis have very distinctive and different vocal styles.  And generally on the album, you hear them separately.  But if they can figure out a way to fuse their two styles and play more with harmonies and lyrical exchange, it could just be the extra “something” that makes Funktional Flow stand out.

    Time Will Tell drops for official release on Saturday March 5. The band will be hosting a Roaring 20’s themed CD Release party at Buffalo Iron Works with special guests AjamajA. The CD will be available for purchase through Bandcamp.

    Key Tracks: “Back Door”, “Strong Feeling”, “Time Will Tell”

  • Twiddle Takes Over The Town Ballroom – Photo Gallery

    Twiddle returned to Buffalo in their first ever headlining show at the Town Ballroom this past Thursday.  The packed house was treated to Twiddle history as guitarist Mihali Savoulidis  cased his signature Becker Hornet and debuted two new guitars from DGN Custom Guitars.

    Unknown-7

    The Twiddle evening was also a Town Ballroom debut for hometown band Funktional Flow.

    The night’s set list only included one song, “White Light”, from the band’s latest release PLUMP- Chapter One. The evening was packed full of Twiddle fan favorites like “Brown Chicken, Brown Cow” and “Cabbage Face.” The setlist also saw a healthy dose of jam friendly tunes and covers including ALO’s “BBQ” and Tears for Fears “Mad World.”

    Twiddle continues to promotes a packed schedule including a slot at the Lockn’ Music Festival and their own two-day summer concert event Tumble Down in Burlington, VT this July.

    Setlist: Atlantic Mocean > BBQ > Atlantic Mocean, Brown Chicken Brown Cow, Orderly Chaos, Wildfire, Jamflowman[1], Cabbage Face, White Light -> Pachelbel’s Canon In D -> White Light

    Encore: Mad World

    [1] “Jamflowman” contained  a “Layla” (Eric Clapton) tease.

    Setlist courtesy of utwiddle.