Cold Turkey

Saturday, November 17

After 26 years, Cold Turkey, Buffalo’s annual tribute to the music of John Lennon has become a tradition. The annual event was created by the late Michael Meldrum and it has been carried on by his wife and children in recent years. Each year, local artists gather to pay tribute to one of the most influential musicians to ever live. The event, which occurs every year at Nietzsche’s and will be taking place this Saturday (Nov 17), brings acts from a wide array of musical genres together to perform songs from a fairly diverse catalog of music. Indeed, throughout Lennon’s career, there wasn’t too much he wasn’t willing to try. From the gentle touch of songs like “Oh Yoko,” or the immortal mantra “Love,” to white-hot-rage of “How Do You Sleep,” his infamous screed against Paul McCartney, to the intense pain of “Mother,” which has to be the most brutal song to ever be covered by Barbara Streisand and Christina Aguilera, there wasn’t a whole lot this guy wasn’t willing to try. This year’s lineup features a diverse cast of performers, from long-running acts like Tom Stahl & The Dangerfields (who could slay any of Lennon’s more rock-oriented tunes), to young acts like Erin Sydney Welsh and Sara Elizabeth (either of whom could thrive with one of his gentler numbers). Considering the diversity of Lennon’s catalog, as well as the performer’s at this year’s show, there should be something for everyone to enjoy here. -john hugar

>8pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $8

Thursday, November 15

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds

They’re big, they’re bold and they’re back; after their appearance at Thursday at the Harbor this summer, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds are returning to Buffalo tonight. This time around the band (all nine members) will be occupying the Town Ballroom for what is sure to be another memorable show. The group itself—which consists of one vocalist and eight instrumentalists—basically guarantees a built-in party. Lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe spearheads the group, her sultry lyrics and soulful voice work as the driving force behind their sound. She and her brother Jackson (harmonica) formed the group out of Brooklyn and eventually reached out to cousin Bram Kincheloe (Drums) in California. From there, the Dirty Birds swooned and the flock kept growing; adding saxophones, a trumpet, trombone, guitar, and bass, eventually becoming a little orchestra with a huge presence. The band found success almost instantly in the New York City area and have come to open for bands such as the Black Keys, the Neville Brothers, and Rebirth Brass Band, just to name a few. The contrast between Arleigh’s earthy tone and the brassy instrumentals creates a unique and versatile sound that’s familiar yet difficult to compare. Their new video for “Another Ride” can be found on their official website and offers a good example of their style. Whether you like vocal powerhouses like Amy Winehouse and Joss Stone or eclectic groups like the White Stripes, these guys could be your cup of tea. -elexa kopty

7pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $12 advance, $15 day of show

Friday, November 16

A Place to Bury Strangers

Dark, mysterious and aggressive, Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers embodies everything that is a rock band. Known as the loudest band in New York, Oliver Ackermann (guitar, vocals) Vox Robi Gonzalez (drums) and Dion Lunadon (bass) have said they considered themselves the loudest band in the world. Bursting with sound and energy the band blends atmospheric tones with psychedelic rock. New York Times boasted about garage bands revival of “the ominous, feedback-drenched drones of the 1980s.” Ackermann, the mastermind behind APTBS, owns effects pedal company Death By Audio where he constructs hand-wired guitar effects pedals used by rock superstars like Nine Inch Nails and U2. Since forming back in 2001, this trio has cultivated an entity all on its own, gaining an unstoppable following throughout the US and Europe. Proven to have a wild side, the power trio are notorious for unpredictable live shows, even throwing their own plugged in amps overboard during the Rocks Off concert cruise in New York City. APTBS are constantly honing their craft by producing new music and have just released their third album, Worship. Fans enjoy the signature explosive APTBS sound on tracks like “Alone” and “Keep Slipping Away,” which seems rougher and edgier than ever before. Come see the kings of New York noise rock at Mohawk Place this Friday (Nov 16) performing with Bleeding Rainbow and Young Suns. -jessica reinhardt

8pm Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (465-2368 / themohawkplace.com) $12

Friday & Saturday, November 16 & 17

Dark Star Orchestra

When the Grateful Dead began playing acid fueled improvisational jam rock sets at house parties in 1965, do you think they would have ever imagined that a band like Dark Star Orchestra would pay tribute to them with technical precision nearly 50 years later? Probably not. Though the Dead are known as the “Godfathers of the jam band world,” Dark Star Orchestra take a different approach to covering them than a traditional jam band would. Each song is precisely detailed to the original and formatted for an entire orchestra, while each member of the band pays close attention to everything from their stage positioning to specific musical instrument choices as to fit the era of each show they perform. Deadheads (and there are tons in Buffalo) tend to step into the crowd at a Dark Star Orchestra show and experience instant flashbacks (only partially due to the band’s attention to detail) as the band covers everything from “Franklin’s Tower” to “Bird Song” with the occasional Chuck Berry or Johnny Cash song thrown in for good measure too. Dark Star Orchestra comes to the Town Ballroom for two nights in a row, this Friday (Nov 16) and Saturday (Nov 17). As Jerry Garcia once sang: “put your money where your love is.” -cory perla

8pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $24 advance, $28 day of show, or limited 2-night ticket available for $40

Saturday, November 17

Victor Wooten & Jimmy Herring

Jimmy Herring, one of the founding members of bands the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Project Z, and Jazz is Dead, along with having had stage time with the likes of the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead, is known for his infinite improvisational skills with a soulful edge on lead guitar. This tour, however, he splits the stage with none other than the 5-time Grammy winner, author, and music education figure Victor Wooten. Regarded as one of the greatest bass players of all time, Wooten hits the stage with a countless number of attacks up his sleeve: slap bass, taking his slap hand and fingering along with his other hand in perfect unison, using harmonics at a pace most guitarists wouldn’t dare attempt, and not thinking twice about engaging his whammy bar to smooth out the groove of the shred that had just ensued on the fretboard. Wooten is like the Eddie Van Halen of the bass guitar, minus the cigarette wedged into the tuning pegs of the headstock of course. Each artist will be promoting their most recent releases: Herring’s Subject To Change Without Notice, released on August 21st through Abstract Logix Records, and Wooten’s own two releases Words & Tones and the instrumental version Sword & Stone, released on September 25th from VIX Records. “He’s an innovator and we’re honored to get to play with him,” says Herring. The Jimmy Herring Band and the Victor Wooten Band will be rocking the crowd at the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center on Saturday (Nov 17). If you like thinking “how can human fingers move that fast and with such precision?” then this one is for you. -brett deneve

8pm Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave. (878-3005 / buffalostatepac.org) $37 to $45

Saturday, November 17

16th Annual Women's Gifts

This Saturday (Nov 17) will be the 16th year of the Women’s Gifts event. As always, the event, held at Babeville, will feature jewelry, leather journals, ceramic sculpture, natural products, chocolates, hand-painted shirts, pottery, and more made by local women artists will be available for purchase. Some of the featured artists are Ayoka A. Tucker, Bernadette Hoppe, Jillian Kumor, Lori Struck, Sharon Metcalf, Toni Roessler, and many more. This year, young artists were given extra incentive to participate thanks to a 25% discount on a vendor table for artists under 25 years old. Vendors were also encouraged to feature gift items that are under $25 to make it easier for all visitors to purchase something special. Entertainers and musicians Kathy Moriarty, Sara Elizabeth, Erin Sydney Welsh, Relativity Belly Dance, Savannah King, and DJ Bflo Lydia, as well as hoopers will be on hand. Another new addition is Fliptastic Favors. Visitors can spend $5 and in five minutes will have a flipbook of themselves. Food will be available for purchase from The Whole Hog and Sweet Hearth food trucks. Keep an eye out for our holiday gift guide next week for a list of holiday gift events and pop-up shops for more local shopping options. -jill greenberg

10am-5pm Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. (852-3835 / babevillebuffalo.com, buffalowomensgifts.com) Free

Saturday, November 17

Megadethn

Like them or not, Megadeth have been an integral part of the metal scene ever since Dave Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica in 1983. As one of the founders of the band, Mustaine is a polarizing figure who pens relevant but controversial lyrics on politics, religion, relationships, and his personal struggles. This sometimes overshadows his sheer prowess on guitar though as he has the chops to rip through insanely fast passages and deliver beautiful, yet technical guitar solos. Dave Ellefson, cofounder and longtime bassist, rejoined the band in 2010 and helps recreate their original sound as the other members have changed regularly throughout Megadeth’s history. This past week, on Election Day nonetheless, the band rereleased one of their most popular albums, Countdown to Extinction, in celebration of its 20th anniversary. The release includes a remastered version of the album and a never-before-released live concert from 1992 in San Francisco. The band will be playing the classic album in its entirety this Saturday (Nov 17) at the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls. Prepare to be taken on a trip down memory lane as the band illustrates why they were a leader of the thrash metal movement in the 1980‘s and 1990‘s. -jeremiah shea

6pm Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls. (205-8925 / rapidstheatre.com) $40 advance, $45 day of show

Sunday, November 18

Ital Tek

When Brighton, England’s Ital Tek aka Alan Myson laid down the spooky footwork beats and industrial, bass heavy dubstep of his latest album Nebula Dance, he moved both genres to the next level. The Planet Mu artist released Nebula Dance, his third album, in October and the eerie beats and uptempo sound—similar to acts like Club Root and FaltyDL—have impressed producers and DJs around the world. Not a far cry from his 2008 debut album, Cyclical or his 2010 album Midnight Colour, Nebula Dance reaches into outer-space with tracks like “Dusk Beat,” and the album’s title track, which are highlighted by extended breakbeats and dense atmospheres—appropriate for an album named after an interstellar cloud of space dust. Although some would expect a greater change in sound between albums, Nebula Dance has simply perfected Ital Tek’s signature Planet Mu sound, ranking him alongside names like Kuedo, Floating Points, Eskmo, and Machinedrum as the label’s strongest talents. Take this opportunity to check out one of England’s most promising upcoming producer/DJs when he comes to Duke’s with local support from Big Basha and Demi God, Drop D, Nico States, TechNoddo, Ghettotronics, Rola!, and FastRepeater on Sunday (Nov 18). -cory perla

9pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $8