One Last Time: The Final Show at The Vault

Saturday, June 29

An art space, a library, a performance area, and just a great place to hang out, The Vault on Main Street has become an important part of the Buffalo art scene, but after five years of selflessly serving the arts community the space is shutting its doors. The Vault will say goodbye with one last hurrah; a 12 hour open mic night, which will give a chance to anyone and everyone who has ever stepped foot into the Vault to express themselves there one last time. “I wanted to help people be creative and express themselves in a positive, comfortable way,” says Kevin Cain curator of the Vault. “I feel like I have gotten to a point where I am not able to do that any longer.“ The idea is still there, Cain says. It’s there to be transformed, to be taken over by the next group in the same space or a new one. For now, Buffalo once again loses a flexible art space that has been host to hip-hop, rock, art shows and more in the years since it began. Levi Van Cleve of the Evil Things and Pine Fever, two bands that have frequented the Vault, remembers one particularly fun night: “Kevin combined our loud chaotic shitshow with this great folk-duo from Michigan. Then at 1:30am a strange bus pulled up filled with 30 zany members of a Detroit marching band...The cops were overwhelmed when the band started playing wildly in front of the station house!” It was that kind of spontaneity that always made the Vault an interesting place to hang out. “Kevin went hard in the paint running that place and he’s done a most impressive job,” Van Cleve says. “His stepping down from head-honcho of the Vault is just as much a bummer as it is understandable.” The Evil Things will be one of the several rock bands, songwriters, noise artists, free-jazzers, rappers, and DJs that will perform during the 12-hour open mic, dubbed One Last Time at the Vault. The show will run from 3pm until around 3am on Saturday (June 29) when “toasts, cheers, shout outs, and promises for a better world” will fill the air in Downtown Buffalo.

- cory perla

3pm to 3am The Vault, 702 Main St. (884-7172) Free, but donations are greatly appreciated

Thursday, June 27

BS2 featuring Teddy Riley & David Hollister

It began in a church. Edward Theodore Riley—known throughout the R&B world as Teddy Riley and the King of New Jack Swing—is entering his 26th year in the music industry, and retains an impressive influence on the hip hop music scene. The Harlem native who once spent his days playing instrumentals for the local church has climbed the ladder to collaborate with stellar names like Michael Jackson, Gene Griffin, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Lady Gaga, Usher, and Bobby Browne. Riley founded R&B groups Guy and Blackstreet, in 1987 and 1991 respectfully, both remaining active today, constantly writing, performing and producing new music, composing four albums in 2013 alone. In 1992, he accepted a Grammy for Best Engineered Recording for Michael Jackson’s album “Dangerous.” Riley reunites with Blackstreet on Thursday (June 27) at Canalside. Best of all, it is free admission. Special guests DJ C-Perfect and DJ Heat open the show.

- jake knott

5pm to 9:30pm Canalside, 1 Navel Park Cove (856-3150 / buffaloplace.com/thursday) Free

Thursday, June 27

Unusually Different

If their name is any indication, Unusually Different likes to get weird and has no problem doing it. Led by musician, recording artist, teacher and composer Rey Scott (Sun Ra Arkestra), the sextet specializes in outside-the-box chamber jazz that showcases oddball instruments and spacey improvisations. The chamber element is what gives Unusually Different their unique vibe, allowing for interplay between the musicians as they explore sounds and rhythms with true artistic fearlessness. They come armed with a cache of instruments, and you’re likely to hear pocket trumpet, bass clarinet, tuba, flute, bass sax, slide didgeridoo, and more in the course of a performance. As you might guess, Unusually Different doesn’t take anything too seriously, and the group throws in all sorts of theatrics for good measure. Don’t let the costumes fool you, the band’s six members—Scott, Ken Foster, Steve Baczkowski, Dave DeWitt, Michael Colquhoun, and Ellen Barnum—are top-notch musicians that give off an immense sound. Get up close and personal as Unusually Different takes the stage tonight at the intimate Pausa Art House.

- jon wheelock

8pm Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St. (697-9069 / pausaarthouse.com) $5

Friday, June 28

Counting Crows with The Wallflowers

Buffalo Place Rocks Canalside kicks off their bang-up line-up for their summer series with both Counting Crows and The Wallflowers on Friday (June 28). Counting Crows earned their high stature in contemporary rock in 1994 after the 1993 release of August and Everything After and their explosive hit “Mr. Jones,” which ironically was the only upbeat song in the album’s compilation of glum tunes. They are often recognized as one of the few commercially successful bands that can -balance the sounds of the 1960s and 1970s with modern styles and the signature, daring voice of singer, Adam Duritz. In 2004, the band regained fans’ attention with their hit single, “Accidentally in Love” which appeared on the Shrek 2 soundtrack. Rock band, the Wallflowers have their fair share of hit singles as well, and are well-known for the songs “One Headlight,” “6th Avenue Heartache,” “Three Marlenas,” and “The Difference” all released on their successful 1996 album Bringing Down the Horse. The album went quadruple platinum, if there ever was such a thing, in 1997. The Wallflowers have been recording well-received music since their birth in 1989 to their 2005 album Rebel, Sweetheart. Singer/songwriter Willie Nile will also perform in support.

- jaz frazier

6pm to 11pm Canalside, 1 Navel Park Cove (856-3150 / buffaloplace.com/rocks) $16 advance, $20 day of show

Friday, June 28

Young Empires

Heads up, summertime, Young Empires is about to steal your heat. That warning goes for Buffalonians alike, as Young Empires plans to steal your hearts while they’re at it. The Canadian self-addressed “world beat haute rock” band has been applauded worldwide as far as Colombia and England and received massively positive reviews from magazines like NME who compared them to Arcade Fire, the Killers, and Yeasayer. Toronto-based magazine, NOW, said of the fellow Canadians EP Wake All My Youth: “It is unashamedly earnest, in a way that makes you wish you were 16 instead of making you cringe with embarrassment.” The band’s full sound sends nostalgic pangs through their audiences, making them feel young and untouchable. It seems the group’s target listener is one of fashion and status. “We’re writing tracks that make you feel wealthy, attractive, powerful; a soundtrack to your haute life,” Empires bassist Jacob Palanhuk explains. Their dreamy approach to house music combines characteristics of a ghostly indie voice, African-esque drums, and classic house ambience. Young Empires is coming to the Waiting Room on Friday (June 28) to unleash the grandeur of “haute rock” and all its glory.

- jaz frazier

8pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $12 advance, $14 day of show

Saturday, June 29

Exile on Allen Street

“Writing a song is like—you’re writing a song all the time. It’s just when it pops out. It’s been there all the time,” said Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger in an interview with High Times magazine in 1979. The songs that popped out of Jagger and crew have just managed to last a lot longer than most. There is no need to go on about the classic nature of the songs of the Rolling Stones; anyone between the ages of eight and 80 can sing the hook of “Satisfaction” or “Can’t Always Get What You Want” off the top of their head. Each year Artvoice gives local bands a chance to belt out those well-known hooks on the stage of Nietzsche’s for a show we call Exile on Allen Street. Nearly 20 acts including the Albrights, Crazy Momma, Peter Sorkin, Chances R and many more, will have a chance to play their own interpretations of classic Stones tracks like the aforementioned sing-a-longs. There will also be some not-so-obvious choices throw in there too—like “Citadel,” and “Before They Make Me Run”—to satisfy hardcore Stones fans alike. It’s true that you can’t always get what you want, but if you want to hear some excellent local bands play some of the most well known songs in all of rock and roll history, then come down to Nietzsche’s on Saturday (June 29).

- cory perla

9pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $5, 21+

Saturday, June 29

Early Attic CD Release Party

Synth-strings swell, distant vocals shout, and reverberated drums slam as “Parallels,” the title track off of Early Attic’s new record opens a retro-futuristic electronic rock gateway. The band wears their influences on their sleeve, citing MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix, and Hot Chip as inspiration, but their music doesn’t follow the formula of any one band. “Everyone in the band was involved in the writing process, and we’re all extremely different as far as tastes go,” says bassist Brian Gorman. “I think that informed the album title a bit.” Between blissed-out pop tracks like “We’re All Human” and “Fooling Time” on which lead singer Matt McCheskey lays down new wave vocals over electro-tinged indie rock, the group sneaks in more atmospheric pieces like “Peaks.” The album continues on a familiar course, staying cohesive to the band’s now well-established sound. Early Attic will perform cuts from Parallels this Saturday (June 29) at Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar in Allentown for their CD release party. More Than Me guitarist Joey Nicastro will join the band—vocalist and keyboardist McCheskey, bassist Gorman, and drummer Erik Eimiller—on stage. Local dream-pop band Go Exploring, experimental rock band Armageddon Party, and DJ Bearskinrug will also perform in support.

- cory perla (photo by Joshua Mastroianni)

9pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $5