Artvoice B.O.O.M! Live Show

Saturday, January 26

Four great local music acts will square off this Saturday (Jan 26) in the first live showdown of the current installment of the Artvoice Battle of Original Music—or BOOM for short. Randle and the Late Night Scandals, Super Killer Robots, the Blue Ribbon Bastards, and Cosmic Shakedown each won a spot on the bill by collecting the most votes in our weekly online contest. Now it’s their chance to impress a packed house of local music fans with a live performance. Each audience member through the door will receive one ballot on which to indicate the band that he or she finds to be the best. When the ballots are tabulated at the end of the evening, one act will emerge victorious and win a spot on the bill at our BOOM Grand Finale. There, the four winners of our preliminary live shows will face off in an effort to be crowned the next Artvoice BOOM Grand Champion—an honor that comes with a $5,000 prize. Past Grand Champions include Dali’s Ghost, TypeRelevant, Photos of Wagons, the Etchings, and the Tins. Who will be the next local original music act to gain such prestige, and such a lucrative payday? It could be one of the acts you’ll see this Saturday. Artvoice is still accepting submissions for this year’s contest, and interested artists should visit boom.artvoice.com for more details.

- buck quigley

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

Friday, January 25

Velvet Elvis with Second Trip & Sleepy Hahas

Some of Western New York’s favorite local acts will be merging together for an epic rock show this Friday (Jan 25) at Babeville’s Ninth Ward. Catch stoner rock group, Velvet Elvis, on the last stop on tour for their full length album, In Deep Time. If you were hoping for a cover band, shaking their hips to the “King of Rock” all night you’re out of luck. The Rochester natives combine gritty guitar riffs with the powerful vocal stylings of Karrah Teague, reminiscent of singers, Joan Jett and Karen O. Velvet Elvis will be joined by Buffalo’s own indie rocker’s, self proclaimed, bird flippin, wife stealin’, Sleepy Hahas. The four piece will debut their full length release of, I am Not a Happy Person, mixed by Erik Wofford (Explosions in the Sky, Murdocks) and mastered by Jeff Lipton (Bon Iver, Arcade Fire). Also taking the stage will be progressive rock nerds, Second Trip. The former Florida residents have been hitting up local venues like Duke’s, Mr. Goodbar, and Mohawk Place since relocating here in January 2012. Second Trip has adapted to their new surroundings quickly, the reactions from Buffalo audiences inspired them to work on their first EP, due this April.

- sarah barry

8pm Babeville’s Ninth Ward, 341 Delaware Ave. (852-3835 / babevillebuffalo.com) $8 advance, $10 day of show

Friday, January 25

Universe Shark CD Release Show

Having played over 175 shows across the North East in just over three years, Buffalo’s own Universe Shark is one hard working crew. Their self-described brand of “carnivorous space funk” has indeed translated into otherworldly live performances, but the band has paid their dues in the studio for the better part of two years in anticipation of their independently produced and funded debut album. This Friday (Jan 25) at Nietzsche’s, Universe Shark releases their self-titled album into the galaxy, and promises to deliver a CD release party of intergalactic proportions. The foursome prides itself on pushing the creative envelope, incorporating everything from funk, blues, jazz, rock and psychedelic into their sound, all while balancing spacey instrumental improvisations and jams with recurring melodies and grooves that bring the whole package together. These guys go above and beyond the “jam band” title that gets so recklessly slapped onto groups these days, and their affinity for composition is never more apparent than when they’re grooving together on stage. Opening the show are Massachusetts-based outfit the Brew, who steep their sound in heavy piano-rock and heartfelt vocals, resulting in a highly listenable, emotionally charged mix of original tunes and covers. In addition to having shared the stage with the likes of moe., Levon Helms, Black Keys, and Cake among others, the Brew have also received steady radio play, and continue to tour relentlessly across the country. Five smackaroos gets you into to the show, so congratulate Universe Shark on their latest effort by picking up their new CD, and hear what passionate, locally sourced music is all about.

- jon wheelock

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

Saturday, January 26

Youth Contingent

“There have been generations who have overthrown empires, and battled for civil rights. Generations who try to bring peace and love, as well as pure anarchy. I think what is happening now is quite special actually... We are compiling all of these visions and building towards something I can’t quite see yet,” said Matt Grote, a visual artist who will be showing some of his colorful and bombastic pieces this Saturday (Jan 26) at an event called Youth Contingent. Presented by Only Comrades, a design collective headed by artists Max West and Zach Boehler focused on producing unique t-shirts and hand screen printed posters, Youth Contingent brings together some of the most vibrant and notable young artists in Buffalo for what should be an impressive art event. From street art to sculpture and painting, Youth Contingent will be a unique opportunity to piece together the various approaches these local artists take in their creation. Expect pieces from the likes of Max Collins, Maltdisney, Matt Grote (art pictured), Catherine Willett, Kyle Butler, David Mitchell, Anne Muntges, Shawn Roberts, Adam Weekly, Chow Monstro, Gerald Mead, Chris Fritton, Nicole Wurstner, Evan Hawkins, Alicia Paolucci, Boehler, and West, as well as music from DJ Lulu. “Zach and I are both artists and designers and these are people who we’ve made friends with through the basic art scene in Buffalo,” West said. “There is a really large outpouring of work coming out of this young crowd and they’re changing things in a really interesting, radical way.” Youth Contingent will be on display one night only at Big Orbit Gallery.

- cory perla

8pm Big Orbit Gallery, 30d Essex Street (onlycomrades.com) free

Saturday, January 26

Jumpsuit Shackle

The fate of a juvenile in the US criminal justice system is rarely certain. Will this person be rehabilitated, medicated, or will they be returned to society unchanged by their incarceration, or worse, made more hostile? In the current system there are no guarantees. Psychologist Dr. Susan Feneck chose to tackle the issue of at-risk youth in her screenplay, Jumpsuit Shackle. In her work as a psychologist, Feneck has researched the juvenile justice system of this country and others. She applied that research to the writing of this screenplay in which a young psychologist fights for the well being of young people in a system full of corruption and dysfunction. Feneck, who has a doctorate in psychology from the University of Sarasota, also studied at Canisius College where she received a degree in communication studies and a master’s in counseling, so it is no surprise that she will be debuting her screenplay with a staged reading at Canisus’ Montante Cultural Center. The actors of the Little Theatre of Canisus College will perform a reading of Jumpsuit Shackle at 7pm on Saturday (Jan 26) after a cocktail reception at 6pm.

- cory perla

7pm Canisius College Montante Cultural Center, 2001 Main Street (883-7000) free

Sunday, January 27

Cairo with Bear Flames

What would a fistfight between ancient Greek sophist Thrasymachus and the famous Socrates be like? To psychedelic rock band Cairo it would be like an epic bass solo, each philosopher reaching out and wholloping each other, Thrasymachus rabid punching with each pluck of the string while Socrates lands slowly calculated but powerful blows with each slap of the thumb against the pickguard. At least this is the way the three-piece band, led by virtuosic bassist CJ Boyd (pictured), portrays the battle in their song “Thrasymachus vs. Socrates In A Fistfight.” The song is part of a 3-track album simply titled Cairo that the band is currently on tour in support of. Clocking in at over half an hour long, the record mixes rhythmically complex basslines with rolling drum beats and droning waves of guitar as the trio builds up and tears down jam after psychedelic jam. Boyd has performed on over 20 studio albums, but this is his first as Cairo with band mates John Horner and Ariel Cruz. Though Cairo shines as a recorded piece, the live setting will leave the trio open to experiment with extended solos and elongated jams so don’t miss them when they perform their record at the Vault this Sunday with support from Bear Flames.

- cory perla

8pm The Vault, 702 Main St. (884-7172) $5

Thursday, January 31

Jimkata

Jimkata, the innovative foursome from Ithaca has taken the Northeast by storm. For electronic dance music lovers and indie rock enthusiasts alike, Jimkata mixes rock music with four on the floor beats. They take on the electronic role by incorporating analog synths and heavy beats with guitar, fusing together old and new. Jimkata incorporates the talents of Evan Friedell on lead vocals and guitar, Aaron Gorsch on guitar and keys, Dave Rossi on bass and Packy Lunn on drums. Coming a long way from their first studio album Burn My Money in 2009, they have developed mind blowing and unflinching positivity in their music, impressing fans throughout the world. “Jimkata’s lyrics delve deep into emotionally dense aspects of the American human experience,” said Rob Uslan of Supersillyus. With the growing popularity of electronic music, Jimkata stays true to their roots by sustaining their dedication to meaningful lyrics that truly tell a story that EDM sometimes lacks. Over the years they have consistently backed up their reputation for creating crazy high-energy dance parties at festivals like Summer Camp, Camp Bisco, and Mountain Jam alongside diverse acts like LCD Soundsystem, Pretty Lights and the Roots. Come enjoy the melodic sounds of Jimkata this Thursday (Jan 31) at Duke’s feauturing SpaceJunk and BearSkinRug closing out the night right.

- jessica reinhardt

9pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $7