Tag: new politics

  • The Kerfuffle Before Christmas Night One

    Christmas is almost upon us and what better a way to spend leading up to it than at a concert with three great acts.  Alternative Buffalo 107.7 hosts The Kerfuffle Before Christmas (TKBC) every year. This year was different; they split it into 3 separate concerts. The last Thursday of November was the night one of three, hosted at Buffalo Riverworks. The venue itself isn’t too new, but they are new to putting on large concerts.

    Upon entry, you could see some people were in the Christmas spirit and were dressed to accompany it. Barns Courtney kicked things off for the night and got the crowd on their feet. At one point, he climbed the scaffolds that were part of the stage, singing to the fans as he went higher and higher. His voice, practically faultless throughout the pop rock morsels he delivered, and the adoring audience singing most of the words back to him only cemented his newfound rock star status.

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    In her first appearance in Buffalo, NY, Bishop Briggs, legally known as Sarah McLaughlin, then walked onto the stage. You could sense a little nervousness in her just based on her mannerisms, but soon enough those were shaken off and she ran the stage effortlessly. Her stage name stems from her family’s hometown of Bishopbriggs in Scotland. Sarah is most famously known for her hit “River” that she sang second song in and that really sparked energy in the crowd. A good portion of female singers portray themselves in a seductive manner when they are singing – not Bishop. She was wearing a track suit and was running back and forth on the stage as her long black pig tails followed right behind her. She didn’t stop smiling the whole time as if the whole thing was surreal. She is new to the music world and soon enough I think she will be dubbed queen of dark pop.DSC_6039

    Headlining the night was the ever so popular New Politics who have created such a cult following over the last several years. Buffalo is their second home base, they come here several times a year. They make it well known that they are very humbled to be here, met with such open arms. They sang classics such as “Harlem” and their newest hit, “One of Us.” They also debuted a new song called “Color Green” which is about David Boyd’s new daughter, Wolfgang, whom he recently had with girlfriend Christian Marie Serratos who is famously known for being Rosita on The Walking Dead.  These guys never disappoint when it comes to a performance, from crazy antics like break dancing moves that you’d find at the NYC subway stations to flawless solos from guitarist Søren Hansen.DSC_6131

    Night one of Kerfuffle was a success. If this is any indication as to how the other two shows will be, we are in for quite the treat. Tickets are still available for both shows. You can find them on www.alternativebuffalo.com or at local FYE stores.

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  • 311 Returns to WNY After 15-Year Abscence

    Multi-platinum artist 311 rolled into Western New York for the first time in fifteen years on Monday July 10. Known for their high energy shows and polished sound, 311 didn’t disappoint with a well-produced stage show and a setlist that was as diverse as the band’s 27 year career span.

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    Despite scattered rain showers, music fans across Western New York poured into the venue for a night of high energy music. UK rock/reggae fusion outfit the Skints’ opened the evening with up-tempo rock roots infused tunes that immediately connected with attendees.  Despite scattered rain showers and gray skies, the Skints energized the crowd with a mix of reggae style beats layered with hints of London punk.

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    Danish Rock New Politics took the stage to showcase their Euro style of edgy, gritty rock.   Lead vocalist and Frontman David Boyd mesmerized the growing crowds with raw energy and enthusiasm.  The band performed a mix of songs from their three studio albums including “Everywhere I Go (Kings & Queens),” “Dignity” and “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.”  The band’s cover of the Beastie Boys classic “Sabotage” was also a crowd favorite.

    311 took to the stage before sunset, opening with “Perfect Mistake” from their latest release Mosaic.  Early in the set, 311 established the tone of the evening with instant energy as they launched into two of the band’s most well-known early singles “Come Original” and “All Mixed Up.”

    Other evening highlights included “Homebrew,” the opening track from the band’s 1994 album Grassroots as well as “Amber” from the band’s 2002 From Chaos. As dusk settled in, 311’s neatly placed “Sunset in July” provided the perfect transition into the second half of the band’s performance.

    The evening’s sunset performance provided a diverse glimpse into 311’s two distinct performance styles. Designs by longtime lighting designer Joe Paradise were perfectly executed by the band’s production team and as night fell 311 transitioned from providing high energy nostalgia to showcasing high end production. A mix of traditional stage lighting and LED programming created the perfect backdrop for new songs like “Too Late” yet was perfectly crafted for the band’s entire catalog like “Don’t Stay Home” or the first set closer “Creatures (For A While).”

    311 returned to the stage to close the night with a three-song encore. “Beyond the Gray Sky” from the band’s 2003 album Evolver was a soft but stunning example of the 311’s ability to create mesmerizing moments.  The night concluded with the band’s first #1 single “Down.”

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    Throughout the evening, 311 performed with polish and precision.  Yet, their distinctly produced sound translates well into their live performance.  Vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum and vocalist Doug “SA” Martinez exchange vocal passing with amazing quickness, energy and accuracy. Martinez performs with an intense energy that is simply stated- fun to watch. Guitarist Tim Mahoney, Bassist P-Nut and Drummer Chad Saxton nail musical execution at its highest level on stage.

    311’s Summer Tour continues Friday July 14 as the band makes a festival appearance at the Great South Bay Music Festival in Long Island.  Although the band has no more upcoming dates after that in New York State, fans can catch 311 in nearby in Asbury, NJ on July 15 and Hartford, CT on July 22.  The band will conclude their 8-week summer tour on August 20 in San Diego.

    311’s return to the greater Buffalo area was hosted by 103.3 The Edge and was part of the Artpark Coors Light Music Series

    Setlist: Perfect Mistake, Come Original, All Mixed Up, Homebrew, Hey Yo, Beautiful Disaster, Sunset in July, Wildfire, Too Much Too Think, Bass Solo, Sick Tight, Amber, One in the Same, Applied Science, Til the City’s on Fire, Freeze Time, Extension, Don’t Stay Home, Too Late, Creatures (For A While)

    Encore: Beyond the Gray Sky, On a Roll, Down

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