Queen City Market

Saturday, December 8

The turn out for last year’s inaugural Queen City Market was pretty impressive, so you should expect nothing less for their second annual event. This is the ultimate one-stop shop for Buffalonians this holiday season. More than 50 diverse vendors will fill the space at Karpeles Manuscript Museum on Saturday (Dec 8) from 11am-4pm. Karpeles Museum, a City of Buffalo Historic Landmark, built in 1911, is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon searching for that one-of-a-kind item for a loved one. Artists will be selling either handmade or vintage items that range from clothing to art. Some notable vendors include Rust Belt Threads, a locally based online Etsy store with everything from 1960’s holiday party dresses to mid century modern barware; photography from local photographers Jill Greenberg, Chelsea Kedron, Christopher Fecio, and Tom Schaefer; jewelry from Donna Sturges; art prints from Josh Schlageter, tattoo artist from Hand of Doom; stoneware pottery from Karin Lorenc; Buffalo-made chocolates from Park Edge Sweet Shop; specialty soaps from Robin Lenhard of Aremel Soaps-n-Such; and sculpture from Carrianne Hendrickson, among others. Food will be available for purchase from the Amy’s Place Food Truck, Rolling Joe Cafe, Lloyd Taco Truck, and the Whole Hog Truck. There will also be a spot to drop off non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of WNY, so bring what you can. This event is free and open to the public, and is full of the artists you know and love from Buffalo. Come out, shop local, and make your friends and family happy with items from this creative marketplace. For more info visit qcmbuffalo.com.

- cory perla

11am to 4pm Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, Porter Hall, 453 Porter Avenue. Free.

Friday, December 7

Holiday Live at The Larking, featuring Robot Holiday Live

If the name Robot Holiday Live doesn’t instantly pique your interest in this one-of-a-kind holiday band, then, well, you’re a humbug. Over the course of this band’s existence they’ve seen almost 40 local musicians pass through their robot assembly line. With a slew of holiday and winter themed songs like “Snow Day,” “December Earthlings,” “Dead Christmas Tree,” and “Hard Candy Christmas,” the band has a song for every type of holiday elf, even some that would make Santa’s booty shake. The band will perform at the inaugural Holiday Live at the Larkin on Friday (Dec 7). Dress warm and show up to the Larkin Square boardwalk to see the holiday collective of nearly 20 musicians perform their original and non-traditional holiday tunes for the benefit of the Food Bank of WNY, presented by First Niagara. The Larkinville Players will open the show. Don’t forget to check out the Good Neighborhood after-party at 9pm at Nietzsche’s where Bad Growlers, Bearhunter, Flatbed, Ten Cent Howl, Tom Maynor, and Astrid Young will perform a tribute to the legendary Neil Young in support of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. It all happens on Friday, so don’t miss out.

cory perla

4:30pm to 8pm Larkin Square, corner of Seneca and Swan Sts. (larkinsquare.com) Free

Friday, December 7

The Chosen Ones Album Release Show

Very few bands in Buffalo can match the street punk intensity of Chosen Ones. A chaotic hybrid of such bands as the Clash, Sham 69, and Stiff Little Fingers, Chosen Ones invoke a brutal noise without sacrificing melody or memorable hooks. Fusing elements of traditional punk and hardcore with subtle elements of reggae and soul, the band has earned a devoted following as well as the respect of such icons as Rancid, Murphy’s Law, and Street Dogs. Armed with a take no prisoners twin guitar attack, bassist/vocalist Ruben Lipkind is a born punk shouter. A veteran of the Buffalo punk and hardcore scene, Lipkind often sings as if he’s bloodied but unbowed. Like Joe Strummer or Jimmy Pursey before him, he’s a reluctant voice of the damned who is infinitely wise beyond his years. With songs such as “Fallen Generation” and “Misery And Company,” Chosen Ones capture the zeitgeist of the beaten down and the turned away. After years of break neck shows and jaunts out of town, Chosen Ones are finally releasing their first full length on the reputable Reaper Records. Titled ‘They Called Your Number, the album ranks as one of the best local punk records to come down the pike in quite a few years and will hopefully bring them the national attention they so deserve. Openers are Wisdom In Chains, the Clockers, B Side Basterds, and Malfunction as well as DJ sets from Culture Clash.

- william nehill

8pm Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (465-2368 / themohawkplace.com) $10

Saturday, December 8

Feed The City featuring Ian Hunter with special guests The Pillagers, Ruby Spirit and Breckenwood

As the man once famously sang, “It’s a mighty long way down rock’n’roll,” and from behind his trademark shades, Ian Hunter is still headed down that way. Hunter is a qualified rock and roll legend and—belying his 73 years—he’s not only still at it but producing some of his finest music and still a dynamo in concert. With his unmistakable Hertsfordshire rasp, a detached cool and a storyteller’s knack for attaching a razor sharp wit to keen observation, he led Mott The Hoople to the heights of rock and roll glory. After three years and four albums that failed to make a dent, Mott The Hoople was ready to split in 1972 but then aided by sponsor David Bowie, the yobbish hard rock band was shoe-horned into the exploding glam rock scene. Mott became one of England’s most celebrated live bands and in part inspired the punk rock that would emerge in the ensuing years. In 1975 Hunter split from the band leading to a solo career that eclipsed Mott with a string of albums yielding hits like “Once Bitten Twice Shy”, “Cleveland Rocks,” and “All Of The Good Ones Are Taken.” Like Bob Dylan (one of his long-acknowledged inspirations) Hunter continues to vigorously record and perform with a twilight nowhere in sight. Along with his Rant Band, he released the fittingly election year-titled album When I’m President and it’s another high water mark split with Hunter’s trademark mix of ferocious boogie rockers and lilting, heartworn ballads. Hunter’s long overdue return to Buffalo (it’s been better than two decades since his last) this Saturday (Dec 8) at the Town Ballroom is a part of the annual Feed The City benefit which—in a nutshell—is like a big rock and roll carnival of performances along with auctions, games with proceeds supporting the Food Bank of WNY. Other acts include raucous garage outfit the Pillagers (led by Feed The City founder Gary Zoldos) and Toronto glam poppers Ruby Spirit.

- donny kutzbach

6:30pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $28 advance, $35 day of show

Saturday, December 8

Camp Lo

In 1997, Bronx-based hip hop duo Geechi Suede, aka Saladine Wallace, and Sonny Chiba, aka Salahadeen Wilds, better known as Camp Lo released their debut album Uptown Saturday Night. Inspired by the 1974 blaxploitation film of the same name, the album went on to influence the following generation of hip hop producers. The raps were chill and, mixed with classic east coast style beats sampled from greats like Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Bob James, and even Janet Jackson, Camp Lo achieved a fresh fusion of hip hop, jazz, soul, and R&B that fellow greats like Madlib and A Tribe Called Quest laid the foundation for. Singles “Coolie High” and “Luchini (This Is It)” became instant highlights of an album that has maintained it’s influence for the last 15 years. The duo is currently working on new music, but when they come to Duke’s on Saturday (Dec 8), they’ll perform Uptown Saturday Night live in its entirety. They’re only doing this in eight cities, so Buffalo is lucky to have them. Hosts, the talented Mad Dukez, and Fresh Kilz, will keep it fresh as opening acts Spec-Ill K, Ajent-O, and L-Biz spit rhymes in support. DJ Optimus Prime of the Essential Vitamins Crew will hold it down before DJs Drop D and Frosty Tone’s Big Basha close out the night.

- cory perla

9pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $15

Saturday, December 8

Job For A Cowboy

For a band whose first album was released just five years ago, Job For A Cowboy’s ascension to the top of the metal ladder is the only thing seemingly faster than their music. While it takes most bands a decent amount of time to get noticed, tour as an opening act, get their name out, and build up a base of loyal fans, Job For A Cowboy seems to have found a shortcut. The band is currently headlining “The End of The World Tour” in support of their third album, Demonocracy, which was released earlier this year. To put their success in perspective, their first album sold 13,000 copies in its first week, which made it the highest-charting heavy metal debut since Slipknot’s self-titled album. While their lineup has never stayed consistent, their brutal and unrelenting sound has. Lead by the only original member, singer Jonny Davy, the death metal band from Arizona serves up misanthropic lyrics mixed with crushing guitar riffs and a technically precise beat to match. This Saturday (Dec 8), the band will be taking the stage at Soundlab and will be joined by some equally impressive acts including Cephalic Carnage, I Declare War, Legion, and Buffalo natives, the Donner Party.

- jeremiah shea

6pm Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (440-5907 / bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab) $15

Monday, December 10

Queen City Improv

Performing the second Monday of every month, Queen City Improv will again bring their off-the-cuff comedy extravaganza to Mr. Goodbar on Elmwood. Showcasing smart, surprising, and surreal Buffalonian humor, the improvisation experts are known for their unpredictable antics and brainy incorporation of references from across the pop culture galaxy. The troupe’s current line-up contains members from X-Strike Studios, a local producer of cheeky yet reverent videogame film adaptations. For fans of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Wild ‘n Out, and the Second City, Queen City Improv provides the same enthralling brand of unrestrained and uncalculated fun. Hosting events with titles like “Rock N’ Roll and PCP Mixer,” “Erotic Argonauts Burlesque,” “The Dazzling Robots and Ladies Laser Light Show,” and “Game of Crohn’s,” the improv group is willing to stretch laughs out of any subject. Have a laugh with them this Monday (Dec 10) for their “July 4th on December 10th Improv Show,” an edgy inversion of “Christmas in July” that just might provide the laughs needed to keep you warm if winter finally settles in for the holidays.

- ryan wolf

8pm Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave. (882-4000 / mrgoodbarbuffalo.com) $3 for one, $5 for two

Tuesday, December 11

The Business

There is arguably no band that typifies Oi! like the Business. Born in the late 1970s in South London, Oi! meshed working class punks and skinheads behind a charged-up, fast, straight-forward and aggressive kind of music that tapped into issues from suppression by the government to football to drinking beer—all things relevant to its legions. Right in the thick of it was the Business. Still led by founding vocalist Mickey Fitz after 30 years, the Business are still at it: playing their anthemic songs at break kneck speed as Ben Sherman and Doc Marten-clad crowds gleefully chant and fist–pump right along as pints are spilled. It’s worth mentioning that the Business’ visit to Buffalo comes at just the right time. In just a month, the venerable Mohawk Place will shutter its doors. With its old, beaten up pub feel and its legacy for punk shows it is without question the ideal spot in the Queen City to host the Business. It’s also fitting that as December rolls on and Christmas is on its way we can only hope the Business will grace us with a version it’s wonderfully rude and bOI!sterous version of Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas.” Oi to the world, indeed!

- gore petersen

8pm Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (465-2368 / themohawkplace.com) $12 advance, $14 day of show

Wednesday, December 12

Saucy Soiree to benefit Homespace

The holiday season is all about being a good neighbor, and there’s no shortage of local not-for-profit organizations that truly exemplify what the giving-spirit is all about. This Wednesday (Dec 12), Buffalo’s new favorite homebred hot sauce, HeadstoneHeat, is putting on a “Saucy Soiree” to benefit and raise awareness for one of our community’s most important well-doers in Homespace. Homespace is a local NPO dedicated to providing services for at-risk, single-parent families in our community through transitional housing, educational resources, and job and life skill training. Their goal is to influence two generations at a time by giving young women who are pregnant or have children the opportunity for them and their families to succeed. The evenings festivities will include hors d’oeuvres and hot sauce tastings courtesy of HeadStoneHeat, as well as live performances from the likes of Jon Allen, Po’ Boys, Dave Kolage, John Brady, Ann Phillippone, Tony DeRosa, and the Heavenly Chillbillies. Feel free to bring an unwrapped Christmas gift for a child ages newborn to 5 years old. All proceeds benefit Homespace, and your donation will go a long way in making sure Homespace can continue to make our community a happier and healthier place. If you can’t make it to the event but would still like to donate, you can do so here: homespacecorp.com/donate.

- jon wheelock

7pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $5