Dopapod’s winter/spring tour for 2024 kicks off in the Southeast this coming January, but by March the group will be hitting New York for a trio of shows in Buffalo, Syracuse and Saratoga Springs.
After a dozen shows in the Southeast, including five consecutive nights in Florida, Dopapod will have another 10 shows at yet to be announced venues and locales. By mid-March, the four-piece – keyboardist/vocalist Eli Winderman, guitarist/vocalist Rob Compa, bassist Chuck Jones and drummer Neal “Fro” Evans – will be back in the Northeast, ready to hit some familiar haunts.
photo by Filip Zalewski
On Tuesday, March 19, the palindromic band performs at Buffalo Iron Works, then after a day off Dopapod will be at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Friday, March 22 finds the quartet back at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, where the group has performed to packed rooms, most notably on October 20, 2021 when they spent the entire first set performing Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” in its entirety. Check out our recap, photos and videos from the show here.
The Buffalo Central Terminal will host its infamous Oktoberfest on Sunday, October 22, with live music from local bands featuring southern soul, blues, hip-hop, pop-rock, and gospel-inspired sets.
Get ready for a day of autumnal fun with live music and delicious treats at this year’s Oktoberfest. This family-friendly fall festival blends contemporary elements with the traditional charms of Oktoberfest, promising an unforgettable experience with activities for all ages.
Live music: Enjoy music with DJ P followed by live performances featuring southern soul, blues, hip-hop, pop rock, and gospel-inspired sets from fantastic local bands. Don’t miss a Free Music Party at 1:00 pm, as well as Miller and The Other Sinners at 3:00 pm.
Bills Watch Party: Watch the Bills take on the Patriots at Oktoberfest’s Bills Watch Party. Cheer for your favorite team on several big screens. Wear your Bills gear, and don’t forget your lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Petting Farm: Bring the kids for a chance to pet, feed, and learn about some adorable animals such as goats, pigs, tortoises, rabbits, and more, at the petting farm.
Hayrides: The hay wagon is back in the neighborhood. From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, enjoy the crisp autumn air on a hayride around the historic Terminal. Pumpkin Decorating: Skip the mess and get creative at Oktoberfest’s no-carve pumpkin decorating station.
Local Food and Drinks: Indulge in your delicious fall favorites, from traditional Oktoberfest fare to plant-based foods, they have something for everyone. Oktoberfest vendors include sausages from Shish Kabob Heaven, plant-based treats from Avenue29 Foods, spice and flavor from KT Caribbean Cuisine, and artisan German cookies from Catering by Marjorie. Oktoberfest has your favorite local beer, wine, cider and MORE served up by Buffalo Brewing Company, Bully Hill Vineyards, Tree Hugger Hard Cider, Blue Groove Coffee, and Bubba’s Loganberry.
The Buffalo Central Terminal has also partnered with their neighbors at Buffalo Brewing Company to present “Central Terminale,” a pre-prohibition style amber ale brewed in honor of Oktoberfest at the Terminal. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Central Terminale” will support the rehabilitation of the Buffalo Central Terminal. The release of this special brew will happen this week at Buffalo Brewing Company’s Myrtle Avenue tap room.
“This partnership echoes our slogan ‘Good Neighbors, Great Beer.’ The Buffalo Central Terminal and our renovation of Schreiber Brewing run on parallel tracks. Even though each project is happening independent of one-another, they both will have a profound effect on Broadway-Fillmore and the East Side,” said John Domres, Jr., owner of Buffalo Brewing Company.
These events at Buffalo Central Terminal are all about uniting our diverse East Buffalo community. We’re creating an inclusive space right in our very own neighborhood where families can come together and celebrate the season without having to venture out of the heart of the city.” said Lindsey Taylor, events consultant for the Buffalo Central Terminal.
Lindsey Taylor, events consultant for the Buffalo Central Terminal
Buffalo Central Terminal’s Oktoberfest is the perfect opportunity to embrace the autumn spirit and create lasting memories with friends and family. So, bring your picnic blankets and lawn chairs to celebrate at the Buffalo Central Terminal on Sunday, October 22 from 11 am to 4 pm at 495 Paderweski Drive Buffalo. Tickets are free for all October events at the Buffalo Central Terminal.
For more information and event updates, visit the Buffalo Central Terminal website.
Critically-acclaimed Buffalo native, Westside Gunn, continues to push the envelope on his “underground” status with the release of his latest LP, And Then You Pray For Me. Released this past Friday, the star-studded project features a host of hip hop heavy hitters along with a mesh of styles and sub-genres. All in all, showcasing the Griselda head honcho’s status within the game.
‘And Then Your Pray For Me” album cover
The Making of “And Then You Pray For Me”
Furthermore, the self proclaimed “FlyGod” took a unique approach to the creation of And Then You Pray For Me, recording most of the album overseas. Immersing himself in inspiring locals, he laid down tracks in Paris, Athens, London, and Denmark. Subsequently, as Westside Gunn cements his place in hiphop folklore, he has begun to experiment with different sounds. After years of maintaining an air of creativity and cultural fluidity with his keen fashion sense, expressive styles and interest in art, this has begun to manifest itself in his music — which has long fed the streets with a combination of boom bap and luxury drug raps. While the new experimental sounds have been well received, it has led to questions on whether Westside Gunn’s loyalty to the boom bap sound that gained him relevance has begun to waiver.
After all, the 21-track project boasts contributions from legendary figures such as RZA, Rick Ross, Jeezy and DJ Drama. While contemporary stars the Iikes of Ty Dolla $ign, J.I.D., EST Gee and producer Tay Keith make appearances with the addition of British rapper, Giggs, for a bit of European flair. Meanwhile, And Then You Pray For Me maintains its gritty feel with appearances from Griselda cohorts and fellow underground stars. Particularly, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Stove God Cooks, Rome Street and longtime producers Conductor Williams and Derringer grace the project. Ultimately culminating in an electric blend of trap, boom bap with remnants of R&B & soul samples.
Everybody keep asking me based on the the clips they heard wondering is “AND THEN YOU PRAY FOR ME” Boom Bap or Trap bc the “Disgusting” record ft Giggs sound trap & the “ Dunhill”ft Unknown clip sounded trap but the @JIDsv record sounded like Boom bap
I have Virgil Abloh doing my artwork and who left on earth can say that. I cannot disrespect his legacy, he’s immortal and I feel this is his way of blessing me; even though he’s not here in the physical.
– Westside Gunn
In a heartfelt tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, a close friend of Westside Gunn, the renowned Off-White creative designed the artwork for And Then You Pray For Me. Abloh, known for his innovative and boundary-pushing designs, also created the iconic cover for Westside Gunn’s 2020 album, Pray For Paris. This latest collaboration between Abloh and Westside Gunn is a testament to their enduring friendship and creative synergy.
In April of 1994 Phish appeared at the Alumni Arena on SUNY Buffalo’s campus. Trey fell through a hole in the stage during soundcheck which would hobble him for the remainder of that spring tour. It’s possible the band held that incident against the entire city of Buffalo. They didn’t return until two and half years later, and that show, on October 19, 1996, would be their last ever visit to the Western NY metropolis. That was 27 years ago.
Fall 96 Postcard via PhanArt.net
Fall 96 Postcard via PhanArt.net
It was a show I had the pleasure of attending. A junior at Syracuse, I had netted just one show that summer, and was determined to take advantage of the Mid-Atlantic start to the tour that would wind them down the coast to Atlanta for the famous “Remain in Light” Halloween show. Tucked between Wednesday night shows in Lake Placid and Hartford, CT, which in retrospect I am not sure how I pulled off either, let alone both, was an easy rust-belt Friday-Saturday run from Pittsburgh up to Buffalo. So out we headed.
The band was a bit uneven at this point, early in the tour, and in 1996 in general. Lake Placid was nothing special, Pittsburgh was solid and this Buffalo show, was generally forgettable. And forgettable is a pretty apt word from my personal standpoint, I really don’t have a lot of strong memories from that night, couldn’t even tell you a single song they played offhand. And popping the show in for another listen, I can’t really recommend anyone put this in their queue. The playing is fine, the song selection is fine, but there’s just nothing really notable here to be worth anyone’s time.
I have but one strong memory from this show.
In those days, I was stubbornly determined to be in the front row. I literally had nothing better to do with my time. If it meant sitting out in the baking sun all day and then sprinting like my life depended on it, I did it. If it meant waiting out in the bitter cold singing “Tweezer” with some newfound friends, I did it. If it meant weaseling my way down to the floor and sneaking my way past multiple levels of security, I did it. The latter worked like a charm the previous night in Pittsburgh, a far superior show which I enjoyed front and center.
Fall 96 shirt via PhanArt.net
Fall 96 Phish via PhanArt.net
At Buffalo, I again snuck onto the floor and was biding my time chatting it up with some friends who were right on the wall of the 100 level. We were talking about the Pittsburgh show and I mentioned where I sat. They asked where I was sitting that night, and I coyly mentioned I would be in the front row again. They didn’t think I could do it, so now I definitely had to come through. Shortly before the lights went down I walked down the aisle right to the front row and there was an empty seat just waiting there for me, right in front of Trey. Easy peasy!
Fall 96 shirt via PhanArt.net
Some blurry footage of most of the entire show on YouTube can be found below. I watched it all. Like I said, I can’t recommend it for the music. Even for a nostalgic look back at the band and how the lights were back in “the day” is ruined by excessive zoom and blurrier than blurry footage. As I sat through the whole thing trying to figure out what I could possibly say about this show, it took until the end of the very last song for it to dawn on me. The video finally panned out to show the full stage, lights and crowd during the peak of “Run Like an Antelope.”
There is a blurry visage of a young guy in the front row bouncing up and down and throwing his fists wildly into the air as the band goes into manic climax mode. That would be me. Two plus hours of feeling somewhat down on the memory of a ho-hum concert was erased instantaneously. There’s just something about seeing a 27-year younger version of yourself, no matter how blurry, finding ultimate bliss for a few minutes. Guess the show wasn’t all that bad, that guy seemed to be enjoying it.
Phish – Marine Midland Arena, Buffalo, NY – Saturday, October 19, 1996
Soundcheck: Funky Bitch, Reggae Jam, Life On Mars?, Billy Breathes
Set 1: My Friend, My Friend, Rift, Free, Esther > Llama, Gumbo, Down with Disease > Prince Caspian > Frankenstein
Set 2: AC/DC Bag, Sparkle > Slave to the Traffic Light, Bouncing Around the Room, Split Open and Melt, Fluffhead, Swept Away > Steep > Run Like an Antelope, Hello My Baby
Encore: Fee[1], Rocky Top
[1] Trey sang verses through megaphone. The second set started with a Wish You Were Here tease.
Multi-Grammy award winner Thundercat came to Buffalo Riverworks on October 14, showcasing his talent as both a bassist and singer. After immediately selling out tickets to the Town Ballroom, promoters quickly upgraded the venue size. Hundreds of more fans got to pack in for a night of the In Yo Girls’s City Tour.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Openers Coco and Breezy started off the night in Buffalo with their upbeat energy. These musical twins have grown up with a deep passion for dance music that stems back to their time as tour dancers for Prince. They’ve taken their many influences to build a sound that fuses house, R&B, and Afro-Latino roots. These skilled producers brought their fun-filled tunes to a crowd ready to groove.
Shortly after, Thundercat – also known as Stephen Bruner – took to the stage with a Mac Miller intro song. He quickly got to shredding on the bass and filling the venue with vibey tunes. His bandmates Dennis Hamm (keys) and Justin Brown (drums) took this collective playing experience to the next level. Awe-inspiring to watch, the three got lost in the music. They play off one another while intrinsically layering one cohesive piece into another.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Thundercat performed a wide array from his musical catalog, including songs off of his 2017 album Drunk including “Uh Uh” and “A Fan’s Mail (Iron Song Suite II).” Most of his performance encapsulated his latest album, It Is What It Is.
Closing out the night, Thundercat played his most recent release with Tame Impala, “No More Lies,” finishing off the night with everything harmonically sound and soulfully upbeat. A profound musician that without a doubt is inspiring other young musicians to delve into their passions head first. He even signed a young kids bass at the show.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
In case you missed a night of sweet tunes, don’t worry there is plenty more coming to Buffalo this fall season. Up next at Riverworks is San Holo coming October 21 and Dropkick Murphys performing October 24. Get your tickets here.
Setlist: Lost in Space / Great Scott / 22-26, Interstellar Love, How Sway, Uh Uh, Overseas, Dragonball Drug, Lava Lamp, A Message for Austin / Praise the Lord / Enter the Void, Oh Sheit It’s X, Black Qualls, A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II), Jameel’s Space Ride, King of the Hill, Tokyo, Lone Wolf and Cub, Funny Thing, Them Changes
The Tea Party, a Canadian rock band formed in 1996 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada started their fall 2023 tour in Buffalo on Oct 13, to a sold-out crowd at the famous Town Ballroom.
The evening began with an intimate VIP acoustic set from the band to a crowd of steadfast fans on the Oxford Pennant stage of the Town Ballroom. This smaller stage worked well for this intimate VIP crowd of around seventy people. A handful of stories from the road along with the songs played made the moment quite special.
The opening act, Human Kebab, a Canadian DJ from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada began the night in the main ballroom in support of The Tea Party by spinning and mixing many genres of high-energy music, including, but not limited to Hip-Hop, Rock, Alternative, Electronic and more.
For the main event, fans of The Tea Party lined up early for night one of this two-night run at the Ballroom as to make sure to get a great spot as close to the stage as possible for what would be an evening they would not soon forget.
As the house lights went down and the walk-on music started, the sold-out crowd erupted with cheers and applause. The energy was high from the beginning all the way to the end of the show with everyone in attendance hanging on to every word sung, and every note played throughout the night.
Setlist: The River, the Bazaar, Psychopomp, Fire in the Head, The Messenger, Black River, Heaven, Save Me, Release, Temptation Encore: Sister Awake
Junior Jerry Jam, a Western New York non-profit committed to raising money and awareness to support local non-profits and community organizations through family friendly live music events, will host a fundraiser for Hospice of Buffalo with Sam Grisman Project performing live at Buffalo Iron Works. This special event begins at 11am on Saturday, October 21, with doors opening at 1030am.
Sam Grisman Project is an exciting and innovative musical venture from Sam Grisman, along with bandmates Ric Robertson, Aaron Lipp, and Chris J. English, all paying tribute to the legacy of Sam’s father “Dawg” and his collaboration with Jerry Garcia. This afternoon, the group will be recreating the amazing soundtrack of the 1993 album Not for Kids Only.
With the belief that Buffalo is truly the City of Good Neighbors, Junior Jerry Jam will donate all proceeds from the show to Hospice of Buffalo, a distinguished organization committed to providing compassionate end-of-life care.
This show allows families and fans of Grisman and Garcia, to indulge in the musical talents of the Sam Grisman Project, as well as contribute to the invaluable work of Hospice of Buffalo, supporting those in need during their most vulnerable moments. This incredible musical experience will make a meaningful impact on the Buffalo commurtnity.
Tickets for Sam Grisman Project will be available at the door at Buffalo Iron Works, or reserve your place by email via juniorjerryjam.org.
People may not always remember what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel. With only 24 hours in a day – achieving greatness may prove difficult. Anything worthwhile takes time and nobody showcases the rollercoaster ride of life better than Elcamino from Buffalo, a man who believed in himself way before he reached the space he inhabits today.
How did he achieve these magnificent feats? Consistency, dedication to craft and learning from the great individuals that surround him.
Elcamino expresses his artistic license with artwork for, “They Spit on Jesus.”
Biblical Beginnings
Foundationally, his musical prowess stems from a religious background. During one week, he might have attended ten different types of rehearsals since his mother was the choir director. His ability to play bass guitar and the drums correlates mightily within his catalog. Subsequently, he meticulously places parts of a beat exactly where he wants them. Therefore, every song comes out with that type of sound that resonates and creates playback value.
We had a chance to sit down with Elcamino ahead of his Black Soprano Family Records debut album, They Spit on Jesus. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation which took place via Zoom.
Ian Romaker: If anyone listens to Elcamino’s music – they can hear the heart. They could hear the soul in it. No man should have to endure the things that Elcamino has had to endure but yet look at where he is – on the verge of a Black Soprano Family Records album debut.
Elcamino: It’s so crazy too. The album is ridiculous. This some of the best shit ever made by man.
IR: The album is titled, They Spit on Jesus. That’s a wild title in and of itself.
Elcamino: Yeah man it’s definitely wild. You know what’s crazy? You know where I got that name from? My barber gave me that album name while giving me an edge-up.
IR: Oh really?
Elcamino: I said something to him and he was like, “Well hey, they spit on Jesus.”
IR: It’s crazy to think that this is the debut. What goes into making this the debut? For me – a true listener – Don’t Eat the Fruitwas the debut and that thing charted at #13 on iTunes as the first tape you put out.
Elcamino: It did. You know what’s crazy? A lot of people don’t know that. It did. That’s fire that you know that.
IR: Many people have great aspirations. Many people also believe that things are just supposed to happen because they want them. Nothing just falls in your lap – you have to work.
Elcamino: You always wanna stay ambitious, man. Look inside. You have this shit already. Even if you gotta fight through. Find a way. Start a business. Get yourself something to do. If you just sittin’ around with free time – that’s time you could put toward a business or your craft. You always have to use all your time – take advantage of it. Because it’s somebody out there that is moving forward. I tell people all the time – I wake up early as hell. I feel like it’s somebody out there getting money before me. I like to get money first. All this shit – you got to learn from somebody. Unless you’re one of those people that just know it all. You can’t just be perfect and not willing to learn.
IR: You could never stop learning.
Elcamino: You got a chance at being perfect if you’re willing to learn. Greatness comes from greatness.
TSOJ might be some of the highest quality work that Elcamino has put out to date. Feel free to take a listen here and make sure you stay tuned for when he goes on tour around New York State and the rest of the country.
How great it is to hear these words of wisdom from Elcamino – the most versatile artist on the planet. His vocal range makes him quite the X factor. Anyone under the Griselda umbrella will give you a tough verse – that’s a given. Elcamino will give you the toughest verse, the hardest hook and the smoothest sounds.
Renowned icon Stevie Nicks came to the KeyBank Center on Wednesday, October 4 to a packed crowd. She brought a mixture of sound from her own solo album, covers with signature artists, and of course hits from her Fleetwood Mac days.
Special guest CIL opened up the night with her pop and R&B tunes. At just 20 years old she has taken her music career to new heights. CIL uses her unashamedly songwriting abilities to share her most raw and vulnerable experiences. Her soulful vocals lifted up the crowd for a magical night.
Stevie Nicks is nothing short of a singer-songwriter legend spanning over a decade. She performs with a full stage of band members and mystical lighting. She began the night with “Outside the Rain” showing off that the passage of time has had no effect on her outstanding vocal range. She followed up with Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Dreams” which brought the crowd immediately back to the hippy dippy days.
This tour paid much homage to nostalgia. Stevie brought out her old outfits from decades ago and told countless stories about tour life. She stated that Buffalo has always had a special place in her heart because it’s where she bought her first ever signature top hat. It’s a city she always feels called to return to.
Stevie then played “Gypsy,” which she said was a song that took her back to 1975 when she first felt fame and was no longer poor. Tour life back then meant traveling in a beat up car that couldn’t reverse. After, she brought out her iconic Bella Donna Cape for her performance of “Bella Donna.”
The visuals throughout the show flipped through photos over the years. One montage had both the crowd and Stevie in tears when she closed with “Landslide.” She dedicated the song to Christine McVie who passed almost a year ago. Stevie shared how she always struggled when singing this song after her best friend died. The legendary artist shared with Buffalo “something my Mother would share to me, she always said Stevie when you hurt you always go to the stage. So I’m going to the stage.”
This was a special night in Buffalo that was full of love and remembrance. As Stevie and the band members bowed, people could not stop cheering. The Keybank Center has an exciting up and coming fall schedule. Katt Williams is on stage October 7 and Shania Twain performs October 20. Get your tickets here.
Setlist: Outside the Rain, Dreams, If Anyone Falls, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, Fall From Grace, For What It’s Worth, Gypsy, Wild Heart, Bella Donna, Stand Back, Soldier’s Angel, Gold Dust Woman, I Sing for the Things, Edge of Seventeen
West Falls Center for the Arts will hold its second annual Fallsfest this October, in conjunction with The Blueberry Treehouse Farm in West Falls, NY, outside of Buffalo.
The West Falls Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual, performing, music, and healing arts programming to a diverse rural population.
Their ongoing programs include a weekly concert series with local youth performers opening for national talent, a free kids music jam series for young musicians (partnering with the Sportsman’s Foundation), the prestigious Southtowns Youth Jazz Orchestra led by Mark Filsinger, as well as the Buffalo Jazz Collective with young musicians performing alongside accomplished professionals.
This year, they’re hosting FallsFest on October 14 from 10am-10pm, and October 15, from 10am-6pm. Come enjoy live music, the AKG Art Truck, craft vendors and artists, pumpkin smashing, animals, food trucks, the Super Hilarious Magic Show with Nick Mambretti, homemade WFCA pizza, a Prehistoric Reptile Show, a treehouse café, and beautiful nature trails.
Purchase tickets online here for October 14 and/or October 15. Adults are $10, kids 3-12 are $5, and kids 2 and under are free.
