Spiritualized

Sunday, July 14 Saturday, September 14*

* Editors' note: After going to press we have learned this show has since been canceled and will be rescheduled for Saturday, September 14.

Donning his signature dark sunglasses Spiritualized frontman Jason Pierce slowly approaches his microphone as sci-fi movie synthesizers begin to swell on stage at Coachella 2013. He lifts a harmonica to his mouth and begins playing the melody to “Here it Comes (The Road, Let’s Go)” a song the band likes to open with, but won’t be found on any of their records. An oscillating sound that would be familiar to fans of Pierce’s former band, Spacemen 3, momentarily spills through the speakers as the 47-year-old singer begins singing quietly, his drummer clapping hi hats, as the band eases into their set like the Big Lebowski easing into a warm bathtub. As Pierce sings, his classic-rock-style vocals cut through the band’s symphonic space-rock sound, melding together similarly to the way the songwriter has melded religious themes and drug references across the band’s seven albums. Pierce formed Spiritualized in 1990 as Spacemen 3 simultaneously disintegrated. In 1997 Spiritualized released their masterpiece, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, an album essentially about satisfying needs and dealing with unsatisfying outcomes. In the early 2000s the band released a string of critically acclaimed records: Let It Come Down, Amazing Grace, and Songs in A&E. Between Amazing Grace and Songs in A&E, albums that came five years apart, Pierce had a near death experience related to pneumonia. Though the title Songs in A&E appears to reference musical keys, A&E is actually a reference to the Accident & Emergency ward in which Pierce spent time nearly dying. The record seemed like the summation of Pierce’s career, but Spritualized followed it up with 2012’s Sweet Heart Sweet Light, an album that has truly defined the idea of symphonic rock with over 50 musicians participating in the recording. Despite the uplifting content of the record, the video for the first single “Hey Jane” is disturbing and violent, the type of dissonance the band has always liked to exploit. Don’t miss Spiritualized when they play an uncharacteristically intimate set at the Waiting Room this Sunday (July 14) with support from Guy Blakeslee of the Entrance Band.

- cory perla

8pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $25 advance, $27 day of show

Thursday, July 11

Type Relevant

Don’t call them hip-hop. Don’t call them funk. Don’t call them soul. Call them Type Relevant. The first ever grand champion of Artvoice’s Battle of Original Music contest in 2009 is scheduled to debut their first full-length project in 11 years titled Pure Speculation this Thursday (tonight!) at Nietzsche’s. After some adjustments, Type Relevant emerges strong with sharp-as-a-tack rhymes and jazzy grooves. The old Hutch-Tech jazz ensemble, friends Brian Herhily and John Hunter, originally performed as a duo with Hunter on drums and Herlihy as the guitarist, bassist, and vocalist. Added to the mix in 2012 to share the load was bassist, Eric Stachewicz, and guitarist and keyboardist, Stefano Wajda. As they stand today, Type Relevant bears a fully-rounded sound. Inspiring and insightful, Pure Speculation is telling of the woes of musicians—especially ones that hang on the outskirts of definitive genres. “Pure Speculation embodies the scrutiny that every artist and band must endure,” Herlihy says. “Often a venue won’t book us because we are labeled a hip hop act. This is a small example of pure speculation.”

- jaz frazier (photo by chuck alaimo)

10pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $5, 21+

Friday, July 14

Bobo with The Steam Donkeys, Johnny Revolting, and The Cairns

Most local bands break up and are never heard from again but Bobo has bucked the trend, coming and going as they’ve pleased since the 1990s. The band has held on to a dedicated following in Buffalo mostly due to the fearless guitar riffs of guitarist Frank Sterlace and outrageous behavior of frontman Jimmer Phillips. After breaking up in the early 2000s, the band reunited several years ago and continue to play shows irregularly around Buffalo. They were named one of “Buffalo’s Drunkest Band’s” in Artvoice’s 2012 Drinking Issue, an honor not taken lightly in this town. Joining Bobo at the Waiting Room on Friday (July 12) will be Buffalo Americana ambassadors the Steam Donkeys with saxophonist John Allen. The Steam Donkeys delivered their fair share of alt-country ballads before the genre really existed and continue to build a following with their swinging honky tonk sound after decades on the scene. Classic Buffalo punk band Johnny Revolting plan to live up to their name with a hail of four letter words and beer foam, while newcomers the Cairns open the show.

- herbie timpson

8pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $8 presale/$10 door

Friday, July 12

RAC

The remix: a personal interpretation and formulaic re-crafting of a song, giving it a new feel, a fresh vibe, a personality to match the face producing it. Factory Nightlife presents The Remix Artist Collective, otherwise known as RAC, at Skybar this Friday (July 12) as part of the Rendezvous EDM Summer Series. The group was founded and is still coordinated by André Allen Anjos, who began working with remixing music while attending Greenville College in Illinois. The group, including engineer/producer Andrew Maury and also songwriter/DJ Karl L. King, are based out of Portland, Oregon. Reaching out to many, Anojs finally caught the ear of the Shins’ manager; his remix of “Sleeping Lessons” went on to make b-side of the band’s UK single. A remix is sometimes harshly prejudged, stigmatized as a perfectly crafted song only to be “ruined” by four-on-the-floor beats or a heavy kick drum. Personal biased love for remixes aside, RAC does the deed smoothly. They take iconic indie artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, Lana del Rey, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Phoenix, Empire of the Sun, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and tweak them to the point where the song is still intact, but it has just a little more dance. Jesse Aaron will be opening the night. If you’re going with a group of friends, Factory Nightlife has a special deal— $25 for four tickets if you purchase online.

- alicia greco

10pm Sky Bar, 257 Franklin Street (buffaloskybar.com) $10 advance, $15 day of show, 21+

Friday, July 12

The Stone City Band

“I just wanna say...Before Rick James, the horns, and the Stone City Band leave this place tonight, we’re gonna turn this mother fucker out!” said legendary funk artist Rick James before a gig with his band the Stone City Band in the 1980s. The Stone City Band was the backbone of James’ sound in the studio and on stage. Now, nine years after James’ death, the original Stone City Band is back together and paying tribute to the legacy, life, and music of their punk-funk leader. In addition to appearing on albums by James, the Stone City Band can be heard on records by MC Hammer, the Temptations, Eddie Murphy, the Mary Jane Girls, Smokey Robinson and the late Teena Marie, whom they also pay tribute to during their live show. The band formed in Buffalo in 1978 and served as Rick James’ recording and touring band from 1979 through the early 1990s. The band features original members Lanise Hughes, Tom McDermott, Nate Hughes, Levi Ruffin Jr., and Billy Nunn, as well as new members including P-Funk alum Jimmy Ali and vocalist Randall “R2” Bostick. Expect to hear funk hits like “Fire & Desire,” “Give it to Me Baby,” “Mary Jane,” “You & I,” “All Night Long,” Sucker For Your Love,” and of course “Super Freak” when the band comes to the Tralf Music Hall on Friday (July 12).

- cory perla

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $25 advance, $35 day of show

Saturday, July 13

Teamwork 2013 featuring Chae Hawk, Grabbitz, and Crooks

Established local rapper Chae Hawk’s brand, Team Radio, will be presenting Teamwork 2013, hosted by Billy Drease, which will feature fellow Buffalonian artists at the Waiting Room on Saturday (July 13). The second annual Teamwork concert aims for a diverse audience. Rap, dubstep, and rock acts are to perform including Chae Hawk, himself, young producer Nick Chiari a.k.a Grabbitz, and East Aurora indie-rock outfit Crooks. Chae Hawk released his newest effort Dance Party for the Heavy Hearted late last year after what Buffalo.com writer Ben Kirst cited on Hawk’s blog page as “four turbulent years, a roller-coaster period of personal successes and let-downs.” Throughout the album, producer Grabbitz can be found laying down dubstep beats to backdrop Hawk’s perfectly articulated lyrics. The two, in just the past year, have shared the stage with huge acts, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, Talib Kweli, and Curren$y. Neil Maciejewski, Frank Moynihan, and Harrison Crook comprise the rock band, Crooks. They have a summery sound that rouses nostalgia of a memory before it can even be made. Crooks plays guitar-boppy, cymbal-smashing, honestly-voiced songs outlining insecurities that still manage to make you infectiously smile and bob your head. The explosive effort, presented by piercing gallery CowPok, New Era Cap Company, and Compeer of Greater Buffalo starts at 9pm at the Waiting Room. Partial proceeds go to Compeer, a non-profit organization that, according to their website, matches and trains volunteers and mentors in one-to-one supportive friendship relationships with children, adults and seniors who are receiving mental health treatment.

- jaz frazier

8pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $8 advance, $10 day of show, 16+

Saturday, July 13

Aqueous with Funktional Flow

For anyone who missed Buffalove Music Festival three weeks ago, the inaugural show was one for the books. Headliner, Aqueous, was on fire opening night and played two sets that showcased their wide array of influences. If you’re rightfully kicking yourself, good, because these guys are flying under the radar for a limited time only. There’s a chance for redemption though as they’re making a pit stop home before finishing their packed summer of tour and festival dates. “We’re really grateful for the number of incredible festivals that gave us a chance this year. We’ve pretty much been touring as hard as possible within a reasonable, live-able context, and we’re excited to see some of these shows coming together,” says guitarist, Mike Gantzer. Nietzsche’s will be the setting this Saturday (July 13) as the band takes the stage for another inspired and unpredictable performance. Fellow Buffalove headliners, Funktional Flow, will also join the band. When asked how Aqueous differs from other acts out there, Gantzer responded, “We work really, really hard to make sure that the shows are always being elevated on some level, from writing and expanding our catalog, to learning other instruments and trying to begin to incorporate new sounds and things. Beyond that, I think the fact that we are so aware of each other as people and musicians, and we all really listen to and respect each other on and off stage.”

- jeremiah shea

10pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $7

Wednesday, July 17

The Flaming Lips

Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips have morphed and transformed several times over their 30-year-long career. From punk to indie rock, psychedelia to industrial, the Lips have always embraced change. Where they were once triumphantly battling pink robots and tripping through the universe, they’re now lurking through a gloomy come-down on their latest record, The Terror. The new record has the band, fronted by the wild-eyed, bushy-haired Wayne Coyne, abandoning their hedonistic love-in philosophy for a dystopic vision of a Bladerunner-like world without love. “If we have love, give love, and know love,” Coyne says, “we are truly alive, and if there is no love, there would be no life. The Terror, we know now, that even without love, life goes on, we just go on. There is no mercy killing.” Heavy words from the 52-year-old vocalist from Norman, Oklahoma, but I think he would agree that experiencing the lows only make the highs feel that much higher. The record peaks with tracks like “You Lust,” which takes the listener down a steam-punk conveyer belt of devilish vocals and static synth beams. In recent years the Flaming Lips have had a dominating live show unlike any other. With the release of their new record they’ve revamped their set-up, so expect a few surprises when Coyne, guitarist Steven Drozd, bassist Michael Ivins, and drummer Kliph Scurlock come to Artpark on Wednesday for one of the most anticipated shows of the summer at an incredibly cheap price.

- cory perla

5pm Artpark, 450 South 4th St., Lewiston (754-4375 / artpark.net) $5 advance, $10 day of show