Da Mafia 6ix

Monday, March 10

Less than a month after Lord Infamous rejoined the regrouped and renamed rap group Da Mafia 6ix, formerly known as Three 6 Mafia, he would die of a heart attack at the age of 40. This tragic turn of events affected the group deeply. “I will never forget the shows we rocked together. My heart is in pieces,” tweeted Gangsta Boo, a member of Da Mafia 6ix. It was a rare glimpse into the emotional side of the typically stone cold, and occasionally demonic group, which unfortunately came at the expense of Lord Infamous’ life. Though devastated by the founding member’s untimely death, the group, which includes Three 6 Mafia founding member DJ Paul and members Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo continue to solider on. Da Mafia 6ix, a group that some argue anticipated the advent of trap music, is currently on tour in support of their latest mixtape 6ix Commandments, a grinding horrorcore record that features names like Yelawolf, 8Ball, and MJG. Though the members of the band consider Da Mafia 6ix a new group in and of itself and not necessarily a reformation of Three Six Mafia, 6ix Commandments nevertheless recalls the group’s classic sounds found on albums like Chapter 1: The End and their 1995 debut, Mystic Stylez. Another notable absence from the group is rapper Juicy J, who contractually is not able to perform in a group with DJ Paul that is not under the Sony label, though it’s debatable whether Juicy J would have even joined the group anyhow, considering his solo fame. Da Mafia 6ix plans to release their reunion record this month, and lucky fans in Buffalo should get a sneak peek when the group comes to the Forvm on Monday (March 10) with support from a slew of opening acts including Twisted Insane, Whitney Peyton, Sozay, Alan Winkle, Evident Truth, Kamp Crystal Lake, AJ Jordan and more.

- cory perla

7pm The Forvm, 4224 Maple Rd (831-3271 / theforvmbuffalo.com) $20 advance, $25 day of show

Friday, March 7

Artvoice Presents: Night Shift

Revelry is a nice word. It means “lively and noisy festivities, especially when these involve drinking a large amount of alcohol.” If all goes according to plan, there will be plenty of revelry, and some great music, at the first edition of what we hope will be a new monthly dance party at Hardware we’re calling Night Shift. Artvoice is known for a bunch of key events each year. Our annual Mardi Gras parade went off without a hitch earlier this week; we run an annual battle of the bands—B.O.O.M., which is in progress right now—and we host perhaps one of Buffalo’s most divisive events, Best of Buffalo, each spring. Night Shift however will allow us to do what those events do not but that we do each week in this paper, which is curate a selection of artists and musicians who we believe deserve your attention. For this first attempt we’re going to start simple with a couple of Best of Buffalo winning DJs who are guaranteed to get you moving. Those DJs include Hardware mainstay, hip hop aficionado, and all around funky dude, DJ Cutler and Rick Jameson aka Seabass, half of Spooky Business; as well as hip hop selector Josh YourMoms. Perhaps next month we’ll feature a visual artist along with a new selection of DJs. Maybe after that an indie rock band. There are many possibilities, but most of all we hope that it is possible that you will join us for a night of revelry and dancing this Friday (March 7) at Allen Street Hardware.

- cory perla

11pm Allen St. Hardware Café (882-8843 / allenstreethardware.com) $3 until 12, $5 after

Friday, March 7

Richard Thompson with Teddy Thompson

If you’ve ever seen Richard Thompson play a live solo acoustic show, you need not read further: You’ve probably already bought a ticket for Friday evening’s show at Babeville’s Asbury Hall anyway. If you haven’t heard him play live, or, bless your heart, if you’ve never heard his music at all, then I envy you: Imagine an opportunity to discover something so sublime as Thompson’s music for the first time. Rolling Stone counts Thompson among the top 20 guitarists of all time; for my money, he belongs at the top of that list. From his days with seminal British folk rock band Fairport Convention, followed by his long-time collaboration with ex-wife Linda (who has a new record out herself), through his 30-plus years as a solo artist, Thompson’s virtuosic command of the instrument continues to grow, and his sharp songwriting grows ever more keen. At Friday’s show he won’t be quite alone: He’ll be joined by his son with Linda, Teddy Thompson, a singer/songwriter of terrific talents who has collaborated with both parents and has a new album, too..

- geoff kelly

7pm Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Avenue (852-3835 / www.babevillebuffalo.com) $35 advance, $40 at the door

Friday, March 7

Transmission Presents the 11th Annual Cure vs. Smiths Dance Party

If Morrissey says not to eat meat, I’m going to eat meat; that’s how much I hate Morrissey,” said Robert Smith, frontman of the Cure. “Robert Smith is a Whingebag,” replied Smiths frontman Morrissey. “Morrissey is so depressing... if he doesn’t kill himself soon, I probably will,” Smith lashed back. This is the infamous discourse that will forever split fans of the Smiths and the Cure into separate camps. This is unfortunate because the groups share so many similar attributes—jangly guitar tones, melancholy lyrics, and iconic hairstyles—but alas fans must choose a side, and the only way to properly express your choice is to dance about it. Transmission DJs Bill Page and Jason Draper will provide just such an opportunity with their 11th annual Smiths Vs. Cure Transmission Dance Party. Stuff your pockets full of daffodils, tease out your hair, and find a nice flowing white shirt for this dance battle Friday (March 7) at Buffalo Iron Works.

- cory perla

10:30pm Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. (200-1893 / buffaloironworks.com) $5

Saturday, March 8

Rage by the Pound Tour featuring SKisM & Mayhem

Vibrations will once again shake Town Ballroom on Saturday (March 8) as MNM Presents the Rage by the Pound Tour, featuring SKisM, Mayhem, and Victor Niglio. With London roots, SKisM has toured worldwide and has collaborated with names like Flux Pavilion, Foreign Beggars, and Excision (with a play on their pseudonyms to form sEXism). The man behind the moniker is Tommy Dash; a producer, DJ and co-owner of record label Never Say Die, which is home to names such as BAR9, Dodge & Fuski and Zomboy. Along for the ride will be Mayhem, an Atlanta-based producer and DJ who is known for dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, and the like; lately he has been putting out tunes with a “trapstep” feel, which is a blend of dubstep and the electronic subgenre of the Southern-born hip hop sound. He has worked with names such as Noisa, Le Castle Vania and Heroes x Villains. Inspired heavily by The Bloody Beetroots, Victor Niglio began producing electronic music at age 18, eventually leading him to a spotlight by Diplo’s powerhouse record label Mad Decent. His Facebook page reads: “Do you matter? Do you even turn up?” Local support will include SwaggleRock. Straight out of Niagara Falls, Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin have climbed the ladder from weekly residencies on Chippewa Street to performing at this year’s SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.

- alicia greco

8pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $20 advance, $24 day of show

Saturday, March 8

Flodwood

What do you get when you cross the masterful drumming sounds and creative lyricism of two staple moe. members, with impeccable mandolin picking prowess, an award-winning fiddler, and a cutting edge bassist? Floodwood, a progressive, bluegrass string band marked with energy, innovation and stellar musicianship. The five-piece super group is a collaborative project between the members of treasured jam bands, moe. and Wooden Spoon. They play with the dexterity and chops you’d expect from top-flight musicians, injecting raw verve into timeless acoustic music. Their debut album, This Is Life transcends their broad musical capacity, weaving campy melodies through tonally pleasant, country-based soft rock tracks and jazzier tunes. Not to worry, old-timey bluegrass lovers, this album is still heavily defined by its dynamics. A bluegrass spirit permeates the album with fiddle and banjo solos and rapid rhythm sections. Their live performances are truly unreplicable. An upbeat, feel good energy reigns over the venue, while fast moving melodies and an instrumental barrage of strings solos and sizzling drumming sounds encapsulate the audience. Banjo player, Nick Piccininni and mandolinist Jason Barady frequently wind up in string-to-string combat, playing fast, tight chords, picking at their strings until their fingers bleed. Just kidding, about the last part, but it does get really intense. Floodwood will perform at The Waiting Room on Saturday (March 8).

- kellie powell

9pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $15 advance, $18 day of show

Wednesday, March 12

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer has made incredible strides in her career since placing fourth in the fifth season of Last Comic Standing in 2007. Schumer’s material is as dark as it is dirty, which made her the stand-out performer on both The Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen and The Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr. Her decision to be one of the most open and honest comics in the business has landed Schumer some great gigs with Comedy Central including a one-hour special, Mostly Sex Stuff, and her own series, Inside Amy Schumer, which earned the network’s highest-rated premiere in 2013 and is coming back for a second season on April 1. She’s extending her raunchy brand on the road with Inside Amy Schumer’s Backdoor Tour. Watch the comedian delve deep into her personal life on Wednesday (March 12) at the UB Center for the Arts.

- johnny moran

8pm Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts, 103 Center For The Arts (654-ARTS / ubcfa.org) $45-$37.50