Consider the Source, NYC-based jazz fusion and progressive metal trio, have announced their next tour: Are You Watching Closely, where they’ll rock through the East Coast with two tour dates in Saratoga Springs and Rochester this fall.
Consider the Source is a band that defies easy categorization. Think intergalactic booty-shaking energy, soaked in Indian and Middle Eastern styles. A relentless touring schedule has earned them a fervent following around the world, with fans ranging from tie dye hippies, to head-to-toe black clothed metalheads.
The band is ready to get back to the face-melting electric shows they have become known for. After their most recent Maxx Power Tour, they have a lot to live up to: and they do. The band is also preparing for the release of their next album in 2024 which they have shared will include “some of the heaviest music we have written yet,” and plan to begin weaving some of these songs into their live shows on this tour.
With their tour announcement came their first ever vinyl pressing of their 2009 album Are You Watching Closely. “The original version took up about a side and a half on vinyl so we decided to do something special for this one. We added 2 bonus songs, “Kashyyyk” and “Put Your Face Away,” which we recorded remotely in each of our home studios and are calling “2023 BONUS DEMOS”. (Both songs had been performed live in the early days of the band but never recorded until now)”
Consider the Source is also giving 3 lucky fans a chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to a show, plus a vinyl test pressing of the album. Visit their Facebook or Instagram pages to enter.
“Are You Watching Closely” Tour Dates:
09.17 Wormtown Music Festival – Greenfield, MA 09.21 The Southern Cafe & Music Hall – Charlottesville, VA 09.22 Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC 09.23 Subterranea @ The Caverns – Grundy County, TN 10.05 The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD # 10.06 Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ $ 10.07 Jam on the Grass – Philadelphia, PA 11.03 Bayside Bowl – Portland, ME % 11.09 Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY ^ 11.10 Nectar’s – Burlington, VT 11.11 Stone Church – Newmarket, NH & 11.17 Flour City Station – Rochester, NY * 11.18 Thunderbird Café & Music Hall – Pittsburgh, PA $$ 12.07 Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO ## 12.08 830 North – Fort Collins, CO 12.09 Globe Hall – Denver, CO
DJ and producer Excision has announced his upcoming Nexus tour, hitting stops at Buffalo RiverWorks in Buffalo on March 19th and 20th, and New York City’s Madison Square Garden on March 22nd. The tour kicks off on December 22 and includes stops across the country from Tacoma, WA, to Boston, MA.
The tour follows Excision’s latest single “Bass To The Dome,” featuring Sullivan King. The song was released on August 25th with Subsidia Records, marking Excision’s seventh track release this year.
This is the biggest tour we’ve ever done, with over 50 dates, massive production, and an incredibly talented mix of artists joining us on every stop. I can’t wait to be able to reveal more. I’m excited to see all the Headbangers in their hometowns!
Jeff Abel, Excision
Tickets for the tour will be available beginning with an Artist Presale on Wednesday, September 6 with code “NEXUS”. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, September 8 at 10AM local time. More information is available at excision.ca.
EXCISION TOUR DATES
Sat Dec 22 – Chicago, IL – Navy Pier *
Sat Dec 30 – Stateline, NV – Tahoe Blue Event Center
Sun Dec 31 – Stateline, NV – Tahoe Blue Event Center
Fri Feb 02 – Tacoma, WA – The Thunderdome at Tacoma Dome
Sat Feb 03 – Tacoma, WA – The Thunderdome at Tacoma Dome
Sun Feb 04 – Tacoma, WA – The Thunderdome at Tacoma Dome
Fri Feb 09 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sat Feb 10 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Fri Feb 16 – Las Vegas, NV – High Roller at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center
Sat Feb 17 – Las Vegas, NV – High Roller at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center
Sun Feb 18 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Arena
Mon Feb 19 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
Tue Feb 20 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
Wed Feb 21 – El Paso, TX – UTEP Don Haskins Center
Fri Feb 23 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Sat Feb 24 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Sun Feb 25 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Fri Mar 01 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Sat Mar 02 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Fri Mar 08 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Sat Mar 09 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Thu Mar 14 – Toronto, ON – Venue & On Sale TBD
Fri Mar 15 – Toronto, ON – Venue & On Sale TBD
Sat Mar 16 – Montreal, QC – Place Bell
Tue Mar 19 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks
Wed Mar 20 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks
Fri Mar 22 – New York City, NY – UBS Arena
Sun Mar 24 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Tue Mar 26 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre
Wed Mar 27 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
Fri Mar 29 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Sat Mar 30 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Fri May 31 – Denver, CO – Mile High at Denver Coliseum Outdoors *
Sat June 01 – Denver, CO – Mile High at Denver Coliseum Outdoors *
Tue June 04 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
Thu Jun 06 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 08 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Great Saltair
Sun Jun 09 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Great Saltair
Fri Jun 21 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sat Jun 22 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
GWAR have released a 10th Anniversary Edition of Battle Maximus. fully remixed and remastered, this edition features the final recorded vocal performance of Oderus Urungus on the previously unreleased and never-before heard song “Tammy, The Swine Queen.”
10 years have passed since the release of GWAR’s masterwork known as Battle Maximus, which served as a tribute to fallen Scumdog Warrior Flattus Maximus (AKA Corey Smoot) and was also the last album recorded with vocalist Oderus Urungus (AKA Dave Brockie) before he departed the planet Earth in 2014.
“Musically, ‘Battle Maximus’ is a great debut work by Pustulus Maximus, and lyrically, it is the final word of lead singer and band founder Oderus Urungus, The record is run through with the desperate, dangerous, and fully bananas imagination of Oderus. In fact, this re-release includes a song so nutty we named it twice, and then promptly forgot to put it on the record the first time around. ‘Tammy, Queen of Dirt,’ or, ‘Tammy the Swine Queen’ is the final performance of the maestro of mayhem, Oderus Urungus, and for our fans, it does not disappoint,”
Blothar the Berserker
This Fall, GWAR declares war on humanity (again) on their upcoming “Age of Imbeciles” Tour. The infamous Lords and Masters of Shock Rock will return to the road wreaking havoc, and laying waste to audiences across the US and Canada this Fall. Shows in New York include at the Palladium Times Square and The Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls.
The tour features support from Negative Approach, X-Cops and Cancer Christ on select dates. A complete list of dates can be found below.
A person can be defined by the types of questions they ask. An artist can be defined by the amount of times you have to rewind their song. Therefore, true artists like Che Noir do all that they can to discover information before asking for a helping hand. That way, they ensure that their question and respective response is worthwhile.
We’re not quite sure where Buffalo keeps plucking these different heavy hitter spitters from. Seemingly, everyone who receives a coveted placement on a Griselda Records-affiliated track deserves a rewind. Nevertheless, the difference between these Buffalo Kids and the rest of the hip-hop world involves their craftsmanship, sharp wit and humility.
Many Pieces Comprise an Empire
Every individual incorporated within the Griselda Records multiplex releases tunes through layered release patterns. The content receives clean fine-tuning, polishing, packaging and promotion.
Furthermore, it is downright magnificent to witness these artists couple words, schemes and multisyllabic patterns then just sit back, display humility and even raw shyness in their body language.
Che Noir’s mother shared wisdom with her at a very impressionable age. As time passed, these worldly gems began to stick to her ribs and the craft-sharpening accelerated. One of her first sold-out show checks went directly into studio equipment. As she continued to elevate, this buttery-smooth lyricist realized that the work she put in on her own could finally mesh with some legitimate colleagues.
A trend that we continue to hear about deals with the increasingly timid nature of individuals. Che Noir admitted herself that she had to shake the shyness off and pump her own brand heavily. Conquering interviews, freestyles, podcasts and most importantly booth work separates this quiet one who lets the bars holler loudest.
Certainly, everyone in the session believes in themselves but after these artists finish freestyling it is difficult for the audience to comprehend exactly what just took place. Che Noir’s music really drives home the intensity of her chosen sonics.
Run It Back & Rewind
Che Noir shatters any verse as the most interwoven Shea Butter Queen and a true testament to Buffalo legend DJ Shay. DJ Shay was one of the few engineers who refused to let emcee Che punch in. A lot of times artists will only rap up until a certain point – take a break – then punch in when they’re ready to rhyme again.
DJ Shay from around the way provided some of the fondest recording memories for Che Noir and several Buffalo members of the Griselda camp. His presence and ability to instill work ethic, confidence and skills specific to an artist speak volumes. Much of the reason why Che has great breath control, transitions and poised punchline timing can be attributed to DJ Shay.
“Humans are judged by their outcomes. The results determine the future. Low key it ain’t no such thing as the end, the end is just a new start. You start how you finish.”
AA Rashid
The most intriguing facet of Griselda and Che Noir in unison stems from their copious focus upon the artwork. Music is meant to elicit so many emotions, notably it is supposed to be timeless.
Medieval Hustle
The artwork for Che Noir’s project “The Thrill of the Hunt” series gives medieval behemoth vibes. It exists within the realm of David & Goliath or Attilla the Hun. She actually built the entire project around the artwork from top down.
The wordplay drives the art which extends the marketing as it all operates in a cyclical nature. Che is not selling her body or her image rather she is selling an experience gleaned from carefully-sculpted verses and evocative cover artwork.
Many people just want to release content as soon as it reaches finalization. Going through the process makes one realize full potential can be reached through patience and steady momentum.
Che Noir’s work with 38 Spesh has put her in a sweet spot where she doesn’t need to drop as soon as she records. Rather, she fits right into the circumstance where art and poetic movements lead to immaculate timing and wondrous works of discography.
Punchline Exploration
“Its all about your body language and learn to spell your ABCs.” –Che Noir
This simplistic line builds up a stellar stanza. Are you sturdy enough? Do you personify greatness? Are you outwardly social enough?
“Not equivalent to these ******* not bout they benjamins get my dividends up.” -Che Noir
This line isn’t particularly witty or clever. Its noteworthiness comes from the way she delivers it with a Big-Pun-Little-Italy-type syllabic combination.
“Never kept they word they expose themselves by their memory.” –Che Noir
This line symbolizes nostalgia and perspective. It can be interpreted in so many different ways. We took it as a nod to the notion that memories are the longest lasting moments in your own mind. People come and go, this pen will live forever.
“We playing chess it’s hard to move til you find a Queen.” -Che Noir
If this isn’t the most pure line you will hear..
Looking to be graced by her goodness? Catch Che Noir in Ann Arbor, Michigan on September 24th, 2023, her only announced show at this time.
Pink Talking Fish has mapped out the rest of 2023 with an extensive December tour, that brings the band from the east coast, with shows in Port Chester and Buffalo, before heading west with a New Years run in Denver. A pair of shows in December will also feature the legendary Giant Country Horns for a pair of shows with Pink Talking Fish.
After a run of shows in September and October, Pink Talking Fish will kick off December by bringing Phish’s horn section “The Giant Country Horns” out for 2 shows in Burlington VT and Keene NH. The Keene show is at The Colonial Theatre which is home to one of the more famous performances during the 1991 Phish Tour with The Giant Country Horns and became a Live Phish release.
A Midwest run starts in Buffalo at Buffalo Iron Works on December 13, and will then move through Ohio and end in Chicago IL, and following a holiday break, Pink Talking Fish will close out the year with a two-show run in Denver, CO on 12/30 and 12/31.
Pink Talking Fish Fall Tour
9/08: Syracuse NY at The Westcott Theater
9/09: Bedminster NJ at Fiddlefest
9/10: Weatogue CT at Talcott Mountain Collective
9/16: Morrisville VT at Oxbow Riverfront Park – Keep On Growing
9/22: Plymouth NH at The Flying Monkey – Dark Side Of The Moon 50th Anniversary Celebration
9/23: Boston MA at The Paradise – 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
10/04: Washington DC at Pearl Street Warehouse
10/05: Waynesboro VA at The Foundry
10/06: Raleigh NC at Bowstring Brewyard
10/07: Charleston SC at The Pour House
10/08: Asheville NC at Salvage Station
10/14: Port Chester NY at The Capitol Theatre – This Must Be The Cirque
10/21: Ardmore PA at Ardmore Music Hall
10/27: East Greenwich RI at The Greenwich Odeum
10/28: Port Washington NY at Landmark On Main
Pink Talking Fish December Tour
12/01: Burlington VT at Higher Ground – w/ The Giant Country Horns
12/02: Keene NH at The Colonial Theatre – w/ The Giant Country Horns
12/09: Portland ME at The State Theatre
12/13: Buffalo NY at Buffalo Iron Works
12/14: Columbus OH at Woodlands Tavern
12/15: Covington KY at The Madison Theater
12/16: Chicago IL at Park West
12/30: Denver CO at So Many Roads Museum & Brewery
12/31: Denver CO at So Many Roads Museum & Brewery
Borderland Festival announces it will be returning for its 5th year to Knox Farm State Park, just 15 minutes from downtown Buffalo, featuring many well-known and legendary acts from Sept. 15-17.
Borderland Festival is one of the region’s most popular music and art festivals, taking place at Knox State Farm. The three-day experience will host more than 20 bands on two stages from Sept. 15-17. Festival goers can expect a diverse mix of music spanning the genres of rock, country, and Americana, along with performances from local musicians. Aside from the music, there will be a range of artisans, axe throwing, Kidsland, local chefs and food trucks, and alcohol from local breweries.
The 2023 lineup features Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB from the legendary jam band Phish on Saturday night. Anastasio is known as the co-founder of the band and the lead guitarist, receiving several Grammy nominations for his work and a Tony nomination for “Best Original Score” in 2013 for writing the music to Hands on a Hardbody. For the first time, the festival will host a Friday night headliner with jam band Goose, a four-piece indie groove band from Norwalk, Connecticut. The band is made up of members Peter Anspach, Jeff Arevalo, Ben Atkind, Rick Mitarotonda, and Trevor Weekz, recently closing out five nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.
One of Buffalo’s own favorite bands, moe. will also be closing out the weekend for a sunset performance on Sunday, Sept. 17. The band has had a lot of success and longevity since its creation due to its engaged fanbase, aka the fa.moe.ly which has led them to do headline tours, international festival sets, music-themed cruises, and sold-out shows alongside countless household-name artists. The artist lineup also includes Dawes, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sammy Rae & Friends, Neal Francis, Mighty Poplar, The 502s, Krasno/Moore Project, and a full weekend of local bands.
Tickets are on sale now, featuring three-day weekend passes, single-day “anyday” tickets, three-day VIP passes are sold out, camping passes, and more. Kids ten and under are free if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Donald Mauskovic, Mano Mauskovic, Marnix Mauskovic, Nico Mauskovic make up the Mauskovic Dance Band. From Amsterdam, they swung through Rochester at the Bug Jar on Tuesday, August 29, part of their late summer US tour. The Mauskovic’s though are, like the Ramones, not really Mauskovic’s and not really related.
Though this mysteriousness only served to enhance their performance. The who’s, the what’s. the how’s, were not important. The only thing that mattered was the rhythm and the groove, and the Mauskovic’s were doling out heaping helpings of both. The energy emerging from the stage was immediate and the audience was converted to a dancing frenzy in no time. The band may not have been related, but they invited the Rochester crowd to their family gathering in the upside down apartment that is the Bug Jar. The party was underway and soon enough everyone was a Mauskovic.
Drums, percussion, synthesizers, and effects and echo laden vocals were stitched together by an ever-present and deliciously grooving bass, sometimes doubled up with a second more melodic bass. African, Jamaican and Brazilian sounds all seeped into the mix, bobbing heads, shuffling feet and moving everything in between. At one point supremely deep bass blasts even moved bodies at the cellular level.
Lyrics, sometimes in English, sometimes not, sometimes improvised, sometimes not, piled more into the mystery. Songs blurred together into never ending strings further dizzying the senses, breaking the crowd down into dancing mounds of putty waiting to be sculpted. When the dust settled though there was no doubt, that was a damn fun time on a Tuesday night in Rochester with the Mauskovic Dance Band.
The summer of throwback shows at Darien Lake continued on August 20, as The Offspring’s Let the Bad Times Roll tour stopped in Western NY. With the tour carrying the name of their 2021 album, and 10th studio cut, Canadian punkers Simple Plan and Sum 41 tag along and create a little nostalgic tour.
After starting out in the mid 80s, I am sure that Dexter Holland only dreamed of the success he has had with The Offspring. 10 studio albums, nearly 1600 concerts, and a number of punk/alternative hits, these guys found their niche and rolled with, and never really cared what the naysayers were naysaying.
With no shortage of energy and fans, Simple Plan took the stage and shredded it for nearly an hour, hitting the stage to the Star Wars theme music. With that kind of entrance, you know you are in for a killer show.
From Montreal, the wrecking crew of Pierre Bouvier (vocals, bass, percussion) Chuck Comeau (drums, percussion), Sebastien Lefebvre (rhythm guitar, vocal, bass), and Jeff Stinco (guitar, backing vocals) were all in sync from the start, pumping the crowd up, running around the stage in classis 90s alternative/punk fashion. From the opening notes of “I’d Do Anything” to the finishing tunes on “Perfect,” Bouvier had fans jumping bouncing around like a mechanical Tigger toy and giving everyone around them the middle finger, or the Simple Plan salute as he stated. He gratefully thanked fans often as he recalled the last time Simple Plan was in town, back in 2005 for a Warped Tour stop and raved about how he loved Darien Lake and the fans (if he only knew about the parking issues).
With a new album out recently, the band played “Iconic” and dedicated to anyone and everyone who has struggled or is struggling with acceptance. Bouvier urged those individuals to proudly extend their hands and offer up the finger and let others know that they will be Iconic.
As the set was coming to an end, and about halfway through “I’m Just a Kid”, Bouvier took a seat at the drums as Comeau took to crowd surfing, in an attempt to high five as many fans in mosh pit as possible.
Setlist: (entered to Star Wars theme), I’d Do Anything, Shut Up!, Jump, Addicted, Welcome to My Life, Iconic (new song), All Star/Sk8er Boi/Mr. Brightside, What’s New Scooby Doo, Where I belong, Im Just a Kid, Perfect
Following up Simple Plan and preceding The Offspring is no easy task, but Sum 41 came out and absolutely crushed any doubts that anyone had. Another solid entrance, this time to AC/DC’s “T.N.T”, Sum 41, with frontman Deryck Whibley racking up the steps on his Fitbit, was just as motivated at their predecessors and continued to amp up the crowd in preparation for the headliner.
Guitar and bass solos by Dave Brownsound, Tom Thacker, and Cone McCaslin were huge part of this set, with Frank Zummo doing his best Animal impression on the drums. These Ajax, Ontario natives came to play and did just that for the next hour for fans of all ages. Near me was a father, probably in his late 40s, having the time of his life with his young child. The kid was dancing and having just as much fun and was all smiles for the entire set of Sum 41, even more so during their cover or Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Memories that are sure to last.
Setlist: T.N.T (entrance music), Motivation, The Hell Song, Over My Head (Better Off Dead), We’re All to Blame, Walking Disaster, We Will Rock You (Queen cover), In Too Deep, Fat Lip, Still Waiting.
With the opening acts done for the night, the packed house in Darien was riding a musically induced high that wasn’t going down anytime soon. With some time to kill, the tour had a blimp floating around the seating area with special camera such as ‘kiss cam’, ‘fuck you’ cam, and of course a “headbanging” cam where fans could pose for the camera doing the assigned task. It was the first time I have seen this at a concert, and the crowd absolutely loved it. The “baby got back” cam and the “fuck you” cam seemed to be the most popular as women were shaking their rear ends to the infamous Sir Mix-a-Lot song and giving double middle fingers as the blimp floated by or camera team was nearby. Definitely a great use of dead time as the stage was prepared for the headliner.
Taking the stage around 9:30pm, Dexter Holland and the rest of The Offspring showed Darien Lake why they have been around nearly 40 years, as they helped bring punk rock into the 90s alternative vibes.
With 10 studio albums to pull from, the setlist could have been arranged in any form and fans would have still left smiling and riding that musical high. Tonight, “Come Out and Play” was the first song. Inspired by gang and school violence in the mid 90s, as well as Holland commuting through East LA for grad school, this and many track on 1994s Smash were about what was happening in front of him. Yet 30 years later, this particular track seems to fit to landscape just the same. Regardless, still a fan favorite as displayed on this night.
As the night went on, Holland was reminiscing just as Sum 41 did about playing Darien Lake on the Warped Tour and marveled at the number of fans that poured into the venue. Bills fan, Sabres fans, and music fans alike. According to his calculations and his people, the attendance at this show, which he called the ‘best thing to happen to rock and roll’, was just under 1.48 million people. This, of course would be a new world record for a concert. I would venture a guess that either he counted wrong, or he had people from the Board of Elections tallying the tickets.
Showcasing guitar skills, Noodles and Todd Morse both were demonstrating new tracks they have learned. With opening chords from classics like Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and GNR’s “Sweet Child O’Mine”, they both were dueling for bragging rights as Holland went right into his rendition of “Blitzkrieg Pop” from Ramones. This little number, paired with animated show on back drop screen was quite the display of talent from these punk rockers, as the sync was perfectly timed all night.
Let’s talk about that animation screen behind the band. A seizure inducing light show to rival the best, thought provoking animation (think classic 80s music videos, A-Ha, New Radicals artwork), and nonstop beats the entire night. The screen added an element to each set that took you back the first time you heard any of the bands. Truly a memorable show for those hovering around 50, and for those younger fans who are in the punk phase of their musical lives.
Setlist: Come Out and Play, All I Want, Want You Bad (with organ), Let the Bad Times Roll, Staring at the Sun, Original Prankster, Hassan Chop, Hammerhead, Bad Habit, Iron Man/The Trooper/Sweet Child O’ Mine/In the Hall of the Mountain King, Blitzkrieg Pop (Ramones), Gotta Get Away, Gone Away, Why Don’t You Get A Job?, (Can’t Get My) Head Around You, Pretty Fly (for a White Guy), The Kids Aren’t Alright, Encore: You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid, Self Esteem
Essex, a new music venue, is coming to Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts in the fall, already booking two acclaimed Rochester-based acts Joywave and Danielle Ponder.
Photo credit Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Essex, a music hall and multi-events space, will open at 1048 University Ave. The venue said on its website that it aims to add vibrancy, culture, and life to the Rochester community.
The owners of Essex are Josh Miles, Zach Mikida, Mack Hartman, and Dave Drago. The first three deal with the hospitality side of the venue, while Drago handles the music. The venue features two bars and an industrial-looking outside, changing soon to be a little warmer and accommodating.
In an area that has very few venues, the music hall will be a nice addition to the area, and allow more bands to travel Upstate without going to such major cities as Buffalo or Niagara Falls. The main focus of the venue is to showcase various artists that come to the area, allowing people to enjoy good music and vibes.
Danielle Ponder announced shows for Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7. Both shows will begin at 11 p.m. and tickets cost $30. Indie rock band Joywave announced shows for Thursday, Nov. 16, and Friday, Nov. 17. Both shows will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $35. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
The sounds of rock echoed between the Buffalo Harbor and the Buffalo Skyway on Friday, as Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra teamed up to bring the Amplified Echoes Tour to the Outer Harbor. The two bands are wrapping up a summer co-headlining tour which saw them swap headlining duties each night. Indie rockers the Middle Kids opened the concert.
Grey skies and soggy grounds couldn’t dampen the concert spirit, as the early arriving crowd quickly filled the concert field. The evening’s festivities kicked off with a set by the Middle Kids. Making their way from Sydney, Australia, the indie rock group wasted no time getting the crowd engaged. Opening with “Never Start” off their 2018 release Lost Friends, the upbeat track quickly had fans on their feet and moving. It quickly became apparent to those in attendance the band were rising stars on the music scene. This was never more evident than when the band would play their two newest tracks.
Early in their 30 minute set, the band performed their latest single, “Highlands,” a catchy and upbeat track that had heads bopping and is sure to have fans singing along in the near future. As the set neared a close, the band performed their other release from 2023, “Bootleg Firecracker.” The slower paced track was perhaps the highlight of this set, as singer Hannah Joy’s vocals danced and swirled in front of a layer of hypnotic sounds.
The Middle Kids perform at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
With their familiar logo draped behind and a setting sun to stage left, Manchester Orchestra took the stage next. The band wasted no time getting started, opening with the fan favorite “Pride.” The slow building rocker saw singer Andy Hull’s familiar vocals build from a near whisper, to a growl as the song’s intensity built. Fans jumped and threw fists in the air as the song exploded with a high energy finish. The band kept the momentum going with the fast paced rockers “Keel Timing” and “Bed Head” next, both tracks of their 2021 release The Million Masks of God.
The band would dig deeper into their catalog as their 75 minute set moved along. 2006’s “I Can Barely Breathe” was a prime example of the band’s ability to build intensity through out a song, while tracks like “Simple Math” and “The Gold” showcased the familiar harmonies that have become associated with the band. The band pulled off these harmonies in the concert setting with precision.
Manchester Orchestra perform at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
During the set singer Andy Hull would pause to honor a young fan in attendance who was attending her first concert. “She asked me to play ‘I Can Feel A Hot One’ so I’m going to play a little bit of that… Dad we should probably talk about why is this her favorite song,” Hull said, which was met with much laugher from the crowd. With their slot nearing a close, the band would end with “The Silence.” The track would start at a slow pace but build towards another climactic finish which saw fans passionately singing the song’s closing lyrics. As the song came to a close, Hull took the mic to the front of the stage, repeating the songs lyrics several times in front of layers of feed back as his band members laid their instruments down and left the stage.
Manchester Orchestra performs at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
Taking the headlining duties on this evening were indie-rockers Jimmy Eat World. The band took the stage in near darkness, and began the slow burning and intense “Congratulations” off their latest album, Surviving (2019). As the song’s intensity built, lights would flash to briefly illuminate the various members of the band, with front man Jim Adkins moving about the stage. By the end of the seven minute track, the song had built into a high intensity rocker. This served way for the bands’ second song, the high speed and ever popular “Bleed American.” Fans bopped and sang along to the anthemic track. The band kept the energy going as they segued into their 2001 smash hit “Sweetness” which had the audience calling back lyrics. The remainder of the bands 75 minute set served something like a running sprint, with the band firing off upbeat rocker after upbeat rocker, fitting in a total of 17 tracks during their set.
Jimmy Eat World perform at Outer Harbor in Buffalo
With their set nearing its close, the band would mellow the tempo a bit to perform the fan favorite “Hear You Me,” an emotional track about the loss of a loved one. They would waste no time ramping up the energy again, closing out the set with perhaps their biggest hit track, “The Middle.” It was a fitting way to close their set, allowing fans one last opportunity to sing and jump along to one of the band’s many hit tracks.
