Every third Thursday of the month, starting September 19, Buffalo is going to be getting funky at MFDF Funk Nights at Nietzche’s, presented by NYS Music.
Guitarist Matt Fantini of Space Junk and keyboardist Donny Frauenhofer of Intrepid Travelers, DF3, & THE TRUTH will be your hosts, bringing in a rotating cast of local, regional, and national artists each month for a night of improvised heavy funk. This month will feature John Fohl from Intrepid Travelers/Big Martha on drums, James Benders from grüvology/DF3 on bass, and Ellen Pieroni from Folkfaces/THE TRUTH on saxophone.
Admission is $5 at the door, and the events are 21and over unless accompanied by a guardian. Upcoming dates for MFDF Funk Night are Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.
The Old Great Lakes is a captivating collection, brimming with the beautiful verse and evocative arrangements Tough Old Bird has become known for. However, this work transcends everything they’ve done, pioneering beyond the confines of traditional folk. Tough Old Bird is the moniker taken on by brothers Matthew and Nathan Corrigan.
Inspiration for The Old Great Lakes came from a lot of sources: the environment, literature and a lifetime of music appreciation.As the name implies, The Old Great Lakes was shaped by an innate love for geography and environment. Matthew and Nathan have toured quite a bit over the last few years, but their music has always been deeply affected by their Western New York roots.
“We grew up in a little one-stoplight town called Fillmore, NY, and that environment definitely found its way into a lot of our music,” said Nathan. “But I think where we grew up probably had less of an influence on this album than on our previous ones. Our music has always felt pretty rural, but this, to me, is more of a city album. I imagine it taking place in more of a rust belt setting – places like Buffalo and Rochester.”
Listening to the album it’s easy to pick out references to a post-industrial backdrop. The percussion in some songs drone on like the trip-hammers of the old mills. And when they sing about a woman in the snow in the alley, one can feel the unyielding cold of New York winters seeping into your bones.
Don’t be mistaken, thinking this is a period piece. The songs have a timeless quality about them, and could just as easily be set a hundred years ago as they could today. This comes in part from being steeped in diverse influences from bands ranging in genre – from rock to country, and from the beginning of recordings to the present.
Our parents had a huge record collection and started us out on bands like The Beatles, The Moody Blues, Squeeze, or John Prine… I remember our dad calling me downstairs once and we sat and listened to The Wall by Pink Floyd straight through.
Matthew Corrigan
“Growing up I felt like a sponge for new music,” he continued. “My teachers showed me Pearl Jam and The National. My friends got me into Iron & Wine and The Avett Brothers. I think I listened to R.E.M. for two years straight in high school.”
These influences shine through on this album. Whereas their previous work has more of a traditional feel; this time they incorporated more diverse sounds and techniques. The songs carry on the traditions of Americana, but there’s more willingness to take chances on this album – a quickening sense of adventure and risk-taking. It veers away from the expected.
“We wanted to create something new,” explained Matthew. “Nathan and I both had a vision for what we wanted for this album that dates back several years. We both knew we had to create a certain environment that these songs inhabited, and that environment was different than what we had created before.”
Nathan added, “We were a lot more open to electric instruments on this album – electric guitars, keyboards, effects – and more ability to use those things than we had the last time around. I think we’ve had a tendency in the past to think of ourselves as a folk band, and with this album I think it was more important to be open to anything, and not worry about what genre it was or whether it sounded like some abstract idea of how we were supposed to sound.”
A cohesive concept achieved through the use of repeated motifs and musical phrases make this more than just a collection of tracks. There are melodies that repeat throughout the album, tying the songs together. And the lyrics contain a narrative arc, a sonic novella complete with setting and a cast of characters.
The Great Lakes themselves are the most pervasive symbol on the album, they appear in every song in some form. They aren’t the direct subject of any given song, but are placed in the background as an unchanging setting for all of these human stories to take place. They have battered shorelines, sunken ships, lighthouses, and hold watchmen and lost sailors, but they steadily churn and rest at the edge of every city and landscape and story. I feel that they passively narrate the emotional arc of the record.
Matthew Corrigan
The musical composition adds to the emotional tug of the album. From the triumphant horns to the maudlin violin, the soundscape mirrors feeling behind the story of each song. They called some friends, old and new, into the studio to execute their vision for the album. Jay Corwin was on upright and electric bass. Charlie Caughlin, of The Brothers Blue, played fiddle on two songs. Sean Ebert from The Fredtown Stompers played trumpet on a couple. And Marty Benzinger played drums. Matthew credits these musicians with bringing the songs to a whole new level.
Matthew and Nathan went with a new producer this time. They met musician/recording engineer Brent Martone through the Buffalo music scene. Last winter, they got together to turn the vision for The Old Great Lakes into a reality.
“He did a great job of getting us to push ourselves, but without ever steering the record in a particular direction,” said Nathan. “He also has a lot more know-how when it comes to effects and electronic stuff, so we would try to describe how we wanted something to sound and he would be like: great, here’s five ways we can do that!”
Matthew added, “I think he understood the songs from the start which created a very freeing environment to work in, no idea wasn’t worth chasing. Brent also challenged us musically and conceptually in ways that we had never been before. Every song on the record benefited from honest critique and deconstruction.”
The resulting album marks a milestone in their progression as musicians. It builds upon everything they’ve done so far.
“Every album we’ve worked on has expanded our knowledge in some way,” said Matthew. “Gambling Days taught us how to work in a studio, Beasts taught us how to flesh out arrangements and put together a batch of songs that was thematically cohesive. All that experience was carried over onto The Old Great Lakes. That being said, there were also several times on this new album that we purposefully rejected things that we had done before.”
“In terms of lyrics, every song is a push to write a better song than the one before,” he continued. “Every song is a lesson in how to use language.”
Listen to The Old Great Lakes, which is out now. You can purchase it on CD or digital download on their website. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Tour dates to be announced soon.
Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Festival returns for its third year on Sunday August 25 at Silo City in Buffalo for the “Ultimate Sunday Funday.” The festival was created to celebrate the rich history of Buffalo’s art scene and showcase the resurgence of Buffalo art in all forms. For one day only, festival-goers will experience an immersive multi-cultural experience filled with music, food, and art installations.
The festival features three performance stages with more than 30 performers, culture exhibits, a silent disco, a beer-wine garden, and family fun activities that attendees of all ages can enjoy. Located at the heart of the festival, inside the American silos, is the Maison Des Arts stage, which will showcase a performance stage and art installations highlighting a variety of mediums including a live mural painting, photography, and much more. At the Collective Arts Sound Stage, located near the entrance of the festival, fans will be able to experience their favorite bands, graffiti artists, and skateboard pipe dreams. Music performances will span across a diverse array of genres from country and blues to EDM and trap. Highlighted performances from this year include Curtis Lovell, Universal Phunk, Love the Genius, Miller & the Other Sinners, Freak the Mighty and Heather Russel. All of the performances and artists are listed below.
The silent disco is a festival fan favorite and will be held near the river patio, giving fans a scenic backdrop and unique way of experiencing live performances including DJs, spoken word, poets, and musicians. While there are many returning attractions, there are also some new additions to the festival this year. One of these additions is a Next Generation of the Festival Youth Stage, featuring young musicians, poets, artists, and entrepreneurs all under the age of 18.
For more information and tickets visit the website here.
Future funk and electro-soul artist, Griz, continues to Ride Waves on tour, promoting his new album of the same name across the East Coast. The lineup includes electronic and urban pop producers, Yung Bae and Dwilly, for most of the May shows.
Ride Waves was produced over a two year hiatus that Griz took from electronic music, in which he addresses socio-cultural issues like gun violence. The DJ, producer and saxophone player recruited talent from Bootsy Collins and Matusyahu to Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa for his 5th studio album that emanates with positivity. The album contains elements of funk, rap, reggae and soul, including moments of reflection from Griz’ life. The track “It Gets Better” is an uplifting collaboration with DRAM that showcases Griz’ saxophone skills, and sends a message of perseverance.
Join Griz at the Palace Theatre in Albany and King’s Theater in Brooklyn, NY this week for the Ride Waves tour, as well as his signature electronic beats and organic saxophone-funk.
Upcoming Shows:
May 6th – Worcester, MA – The Palladium* May 8th – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre* May 9th – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Riverworks* May 10th – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre* May 11th – Philadelphia, PA – The Met* May 14th – Louisville, KY – Iroquois Amphitheater* May 15th – Columbus, OH – Express Live!* May 16th – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant* May 17th – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory* May 17th-19th – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Fest May 18th – Kansas City, MO – CrossroadsKC* May 27th – Detroit, MI – Movement June 9th – Chicago, IL – Spring Awakening June 14th – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo June 21st – Heber City, UT – Bonanza Campout June 23rd – Dover, DE – Firefly Music Festival July 5th – Liempde, NL – We Are Electric July 10th-14th – Dour, BE – Dour Festival July 12th – Bristol, UK – Nass Festival August 2nd-4th – Montreal, QC – Osheaga Festival August 9th-11th – Salmo, BC – Shambhala Music Festival
Papadosio‘s Content Coma spring tour was comprised of several stops in New York, including a show in Buffalo on April 19 to a packed house at the Town Ballroom. Opening up the evening was Colorado’s Cycles. Then, after a quick changeover, the Asheville, NC-based rockers took to the stage for the one set main event. Playing tracks from throughout their catalog including a few cuts from last fall’s Content Coma release, Papadosio enthralled the crowd with their unique blend of analog-rooted electronica.
Two weeks ago, we started with 64 artists from New York State, representing all genres and corners of the state. Now we have reached the Final Four of NYS Music’s March Madness and these four remaining artists represent four different genres – folk, rock, rap and jam – an eclectic mix of what makes New York State a breeding ground for all types of music.
Beastie Boys bested Billy Joel to take the crown in the TIP the Band region, and they will face off against the lone Upstate victor in the Final Four, moe., fittingly, out of the Funk n Waffles region.
Vote below for who you think is the best artist from New York State in the past century! The finals will start this Thursday, April 4. You can also vote on Twitter!
What better place to start NYS Music’s City Guides series, a monthly musical tour through New York State’s cities, than far West, on the shores of Lake Erie, in The Queen City of Buffalo. Home to the die-hard Buffalo Bills fans, surrounded by the sweet smell of Cheerios from the General Mills cereal plant, and comprised of stunning neoclassical architecture, this city is a little slice of snowy heaven packed full of action.
One of its longstanding claims to fame is the musical talent that seemingly is bred in Buffalo, NY. From activist singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, R&B singer and instrumentalist Brian McKnight, to drummer and co-founder of the alternative rock band Weezer, Patrick Wilson, and finally, to the masterminds behind everyone’s favorite karaoke jam, “Iris,” The Goo Goo Dolls, Buffalo has supplied music with some staple artists from a plethora of genres throughout the years. The music scene of the city now is as hot as ever and this article highlights all the can’t miss music action in Buffalo.
Theatres
Shea’s Performing Arts Center – Shea’s is not only one of the most treasured gems in Buffalo, but also a National Historic Site as the theatre was built in 1925. Extensive amounts of work and volunteering has been put into renovating and ensuring that this theatre is still up and running for Buffalo and beyond to enjoy. It now hosts a plethora of installments of Broadway shows, as well as huge musicians such as Mariah Carey and Bob Weir. This versatile venue is devoted towards sustaining a classic theatre that the youth can enjoy art in for years to come. Take a look at their upcoming schedule.
University at Buffalo Lippes Concert Hall – Every year, at the University at Buffalo’s state of the art facility, the Department of Music hosts over 150 public performances. Here anything from string quartets, to pianists, guitarists, jazz ensembles, and even computer music concerts can be experienced and heard. This is yet another somewhat hidden gem of Buffalo as locals can see the fresh faces of music that are learning and perfecting their craft in their hometown.
Arenas
Key Bank Arena – Not only is this massive entertainment home to the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, but it also houses some of the world’s biggest musicians as their tours come through Buffalo. Since the grand opening of the venue in 1996, the arena has hosted over 23 million guests at its countless events in its over 19,000 seating capacity space. In the months to come, the KeyBank Center will host huge tours such as Ariana Grande, Fleetwood Mac, Cher, Justin Timberlake, Twenty One Pilots, and Carrie Underwood, among many others. For large-scale fun and entertainment all year long, this staple of Buffalo is a go-to.
Darien Lake Amphitheater – About 40 minutes outside of Buffalo, is Western New York’s destination for summer concerts. This large amphitheater is where many Buffalo natives travel for summer concerts of all genres including country, rock, and reggae to name a few. Alternative Buffalo 107.7|104.7 hosts most of their larger shows here, including the upcoming shows for The 1975, as well as Beck and Cage The Elephant. Other shows for this upcoming summer include Chris Young, Zac Brown Band, 311 & The Dirty Heads, Heart, and KISS.
Music Festivals
Cobblestone Live Music and Arts Festival– Presented by Buffalo Iron Works & Lockhouse Distillery & Bar, this year will the third annual Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival. It will be held on August 2nd and 3rd in the historic Cobblestone district of downtown Buffalo, with two outdoors main stages, one inside Buffalo Iron Works, and an electronic stage and lounge inside the Distillery. Spread across these 4 stages, there will be over 25 artists featured, to be announced in the coming months, as well as festival games, local food trucks, vendors, cider, beer and a specialty beverage menu courtesy of the two producers of the festivals’s venues. The festival has been growing and will be sure to continue to grow in years to come, making it one to watch in the Buffalo area.
Beau Fleuve Music Festival – Not only is this festival a staple in the Buffalo area, but it is internationally recognized as a trendsetting, one of a kind celebration of arts and music that bridges the gaps between generations, cultures, and beyond. The festival has been a great success in the past, bringing in a diverse lineup of artists. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on this year’s events.
Notable Venues
Rec Room – Rec Room is the newcomer in Buffalo’s venue scene. Following the closing of the beloved Waiting Room, former owner Chris Ring poured his energy into opening this new venue that he hoped would have something for everyone. On top of stellar live music, the venue hosts parties and karaoke nights that keep the fun going at all times. The venue opened for “test” shows in August and fully set sail in September and has been making waves ever since. The future of this venue looks promising as their upcoming shows are pretty stacked.
Town Ballroom– Yet another historical piece of Buffalo’s musical lineage. Town Ballroom was originally called The Town Casino in the 1940s and ’60s and hosted performances from legendary musicians like Frank Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, John Coltrane, and Les Paul. After a turbulent few years and switching ownership, the venue was restored to the former glory of the original venue in 2005 and has since been continuing its legacy of incredible shows. Upcoming shows include Action Bronson, Snarky Puppy, and Tom Morello.
Iron Works – Right next to the musical giant of Buffalo, the KeyBank Center, is the live music, full bar, and your go-to destination for chicken wings: Iron Works. Voted “Best Music Venue in Buffalo” in 2017 by the Buffalo Spree Awards, this venue hosts a variety of acts such as local bands, cover bands, and national touring acts such as the upcoming KT Tunstall show in May. Check out their upcoming events to plan a night of good music and good food.
Riverworks – Located right on the banks of the Buffalo River is another versatile venue of the city. In addition to skating, rope courses, a brewery, and river boat tours, Riverworks puts on a variety of live music shows throughout the year. Their space can produce both indoor and outdoor shows, and hosts artists from every genre from rock, country, to dance music.
Nietzche’s – They say it best themselves, “Life without music would be a mistake.” A longstanding favorite of NYS Music, Nietzche’s has been a staple venue of Buffalo for over 25 years. Notable for its welcoming reputation to national and regional touring acts alike, and for being the jump-off points for big musicians, Nietzche’s is still kicking and going strong. Currently hosting a multitude of local acts from not only Buffalo, but all across New York State, Nietzche’s is always serving up good times and great music.
Sportsman Taven – Opened in 1985, the Sportsmens Tavern has won over the hearts of Buffalo natives and quickly became one of the best venues in the county. It is another great place in Buffalo to catch local acts on one of their Emerging Artists nights, local bands, and bigger nationally touring acts. The undeniable character and longstanding charm of this venue is a “can’t miss” of Buffalo. Check out their upcoming shows.
Unique Venues
Asbury Hall – Once a Gothic Revival-style sanctuary, this eye-catching venue within Babeville, the arts space founded by Ani DiFranco and Scot Fisher, has been completely remodeled into a music hall with plenty of character. Asbury Hall can accommodate a more intimate crowd of 1,200, compared to Buffalo’s large scale event spaces, and has hosted incredible singer-songwriters such as its own Ani DiFranco, Sufjan Stevens, and Tallest Man on Earth. While Asbury Hall is regarded as one of the most intimate concert venues within Buffalo, Babeville also houses The Ninth Ward, a subterranean bar and listening room, and an art gallery, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. Check out the events calendar to catch a show at this iconic venue.
PAUSA Art House – Honorable mention for a unique and intimate art experience in Buffalo has to be PAUSA Art House. An intentionally small audience, and ritual of pre-show and post-show receptions bring a new and refreshing atmosphere to experiencing a wide array of musicians that perform here. This art space, wine and tapas bar focuses on showcasing the artists local to Buffalo and the surrounding region, but also welcomes international and national touring acts. Check out their upcoming events and be sure to make a reservation to ensure your spot for this one of a kind atmosphere.
Wherever you turn, in any season, Buffalo will be bustling with the music that it’s been breeding since it all began. While some venues and festivals may come and go, Buffalo’s musical roots are definitely here to stay. Hopefully this guide will help you make your way through all the incredible experiences that Buffalo has to offer your ears.
Andy Frasco & the U.N. have been hitting the road in support of their latest album Change of Pace and Sunday, March 10, saw them stop at Buffalo Iron Works. No strangers to Buffalo, they really made a name for themselves in the Queen City at last summer’s Cobblestone Live. Needless to say the place was packed by the time openers Wild Adriatic took the stage and the party did not let up. Beers were chugged, Jameson was passed around and crowd surfing …oh the crowd surfing.
There is something to be said about David Bowie. He was a man once you heard of, you were entranced by him. He has a legacy following that still holds strong. David was a musician of his time, and unfortunately passed away much too young due to his secret battle with cancer.
His longtime pianist Mike Garson and other members of Bowie’s band decided to create a tour to fill the void his passing left. They brought the show to Buffalo, Tuesday February 26, to Town Ballroom. The lineup includes other Bowie alumni musicians Carmine Rojas and Earl Slick, as well as Bernard Fowler, Corey Glover, Naia Kete, Imani Elijah, and Stevie Salas. The special surprise of the evening was Slick’s son, Lee John Madeloni on drums.
Walking into the venue was an intimate experience. The top part of the venue, where the bar is, was blocked off by large black curtains. Giving the room an intimate feel. While the majority of the room was filled with middle-aged people, it was refreshing to see young 20-somethings there singing their hearts out to almost every song played. Others swayed their arms in the air, while some just swayed back and forth.
Towards the end of the set Bernard said in a playful voice, “Buffalo, Buffalo, Buffalo,” only to then giggle and start telling a story. When pianist Garson and he went to the casino, which is currently one of the most safe Canadian Bitcoin casinos, they would play a slot machine that yelled buffalo three times when you win.
They played classics such as “Aladdin Sane” and “Sweet Thing/Candidate.” The huge hit of the night was “Under Pressure,” Bernard Fowler and Corey Glover did a sensational job performing this together. Glover’s pipes had such range that during the song they hit window shattering levels. Fowler stood out predominantly during softer pieces such as “Win,” and one of their encores “Heroes.” Glover’s commanding pipes lit up “Suffragette City” and “Young Americans.” Naia Kete came center-stage to sing “Quicksand” with the band. Her versatile voice gave grittiness and smooth jazz throughout the song. Slick stole the show with his guitar playing by far though. His solos during “Time” and “Fame” were ones the left your mouth hanging open just a bit.
The show was intimate and breathtaking. Everyone left that night with a little less void in the heart. Realizing even though David is gone. People will still carry on his legacy.
The funk-rock quartet, ponder, specializes in soulful and original tune-making. Praised for engaging live performances, the group from Buffalo, has been working diligently to shine light on their music in other regions of the state.
Previously, ponder has performed at Buffalove 2016 and Rochester Fringe Fest 2016 & 2017. An extension of the list includes Cobblestone Live Music and Arts Festival. Music is Art Festival, and Rock Autism Music Festival. Additionally, they have been granted the opportunity to open shows for acts such as LITZ, The Werks, Formula 5, and many others.
With the intention of bringing their talent to North America, ponder’s international tour begins in March, kicked off by the decision to release a brand new single today. Titled “Greener,” the tune embodies the multi-dimensional groove rock aura ponder promotes. Harmonies are smartly layered, accompanied by drums and dueling guitar phrases. The thoughtful lyrics in combination with a prominent bass line results in a full body experience for the listener. In reference to previous works, the single offers an uplifting message about staying together through tough times while keeping life exciting through transition and monotony.
