Shlohmo

Sunday, May 4

Shlohmo, a 20-something producer from Los Angeles can be found tucked beneath the deliciously dark sounds that he creates. Real name Henry Laufer, Shlohmo likes to keep his personal life and appearance very incognito, reflecting the mysterious vibes that reverberate through his productions. In high school he co-founded the collective WEDIDIT and began throwing parties. Since then, WEDIDIT has grown to include names like RL Grime, Ryan Hemsworth, D33J, and Purple, just to name a few. The electronic music producer was studying fine art at college and began seriously producing when he dropped out, leading to the release of his album Bad Vibes in 2011. His eerily sexy music, self ascribed as “night time backyard noises, maintains a lo-fi, trip hop feel. All in all, Shlohmo’s music is experimental—filled with chopped up, often pitched-down echoing vocals, steady minimal drum patterns, and melodic instrumentals—which makes it hard to define. In an interview with HYPETRAK he said, “Experimental. It’s inherit in being experimental. It will always be experimental.” Similar to Flying Lotus, Clams Casino and XXYYXX, Shlohmo leans towoard the intelligent side of electronic music. After Dark Entertainment and MNM Presents will bring Shlohmo to the Waiting Room on Sunday (May 4). San Francisco-based producer Jim-E Stack and WEDIDIT affiliate D33J open the show with local support from house duo Eyes Everywhere.

- alicia greco

8pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $15 advance, $18 day of show

Friday, May 2

Ani Difranco

For the first time since 2012, singer-songwriter and Buffalo native Ani DiFranco is coming home. Over the span on her career, DiFranco has released more than 20 albums. Trust of major music labels is currently at an all-time low, but DiFranco has been rocking under her own independent label, Righteous Babe, since she was 18. Her songs don’t shy away from political subject manner—DiFranco has long been an outspoken liberal activist. She participated in the anti-war movement during the first Gulf War in 1993 and has supported many other causes through her charity, The Righteous Babe Foundation. Being on her own label hasn’t prevented DiFranco from enjoying a long and lustrous career. In fact, the lack of interference from a label that has earned her the admiration of fans all over the globe. She’s worked alongside such legendary musicians as Pete Seeger, Prince, the late Utah Phillips, Bruce Springsteen, Maceo Parker, and Cyndi Lauper. DiFranco has toured all over the world, but this Friday (May 2) she’ll be returning to her hometown for a concert at her own venue, Asbury Hall at Babeville.

- jonny moran

7pm Babeville’s Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave. (852-3835 / babevillebuffalo.com) $32.50

Friday, May 2

Noah Gokey & The Skulls CD Release Show

Since 2005, Noah Gokey and the Skulls have been a staple of the local music scene. In 2012 the band released their album Questions and Answers, an eccentric mix of everything from folk to hard rock and even some reggae. The five piece band—vocalist and guitarist Corey “Noah” Hagstrom, bassist Rob Schmarder, guitarist Kyle Daunce, drummer Bill Nelson, and percussionist Safiyya Hunter—perform often on the local circuit. Now the band is preparing to unleash their follow up record, Dream American. On this record the band has honed their sound down to an uptempo mix of folk and rock that stands out with flourishes of Hagstrom’s windy harmonica solos on tracks like “Stand In,” and restless acoustic guitar strumming on songs like “Stranded,” which at times turns toward chugging guitar tones and squealing pinch harmonics. Noah Gokey and the Skulls will celebrate the release of their new record at Nietzsche’s this Friday (May 2) with support from soul rockers Dirty Smile, the Great Mistake, and John Gusky. The $5 cost of admission scores you a copy of both of the band’s records and a live album recorded at Nietzsche’s in December.

- cory perla

8pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $5

Friday May 2

Euro Block Party Fundraiser

Pro-Russian militants, armed with baseball bats and iron bars, hold flares as they attack protesters marching for national unity in Eastern Ukraine. Western Ukraine is a similar picture, but it’s their own police brutality that protestors must fear. Ukraine assumed their independence in 1991, when they broke free of the Soviet Union, so when Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovich refused to sign an economic association pact with the European Union, to instead accept a $15 billion bailout from Russia, Western Ukrainians grew concerned that their country was being sold out to Russian overlords. What started in November as a protest against Yanukovich’s decision has become a fight for the future of Ukraine. Seven months later Yanukovich has been impeached, Crimea has been annexed by Russia, and hundreds of Ukrainians are dead at the hands of law enforcement officials. The presidential election on May 25th is the one ray of hope for national unity and free democracy in Ukraine. As part of multi-lateral agreements, international observers are needed to take part in this election. Doing so will contribute to strengthening democratic institutions, building public confidence in the electoral process, and deterring fraud, intimidation and violence. The cost is out of pocket, which is why the Ukrainians of Buffalo & WNY are hosting the Euro Block Party Fundraiser in support of the Election Observer Mission to Ukraine. The event will take place at the Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center building on Friday (May 2) and feature live music on two stages by Those Idiots, Tom Stahl & The Dangerfields, the Gallow Walkers, and more.

- kellie powell

7pm Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center, 562 Genesee St (656-1874) $15

Saturday, May 3

Electrorespect 7

There is a wall-sized painting by Mark Freeland in the entrance to the Artvoice office. The painting portrays two of his classic pastel colored characters facing each other with a door next to them. One points to the door, exclaiming: “This is where it all happens.” It’s a daily reminder that brilliant art does not always have to be complex and complex art is not always brilliant. Capturing the essence of an idea with the least amount of words and the fewest brush strokes is not something to be taken for granted. Only the best are able to do it properly. Don’t get me wrong, Freeland was a master of excess in many ways, from drugs to hairstyles and musical stylings, but he was always able to reduce an idea down to its essence. As has been the tradition since the legendary Buffalo artist died in 2007, the Buffalo music community will once again come together to celebrate his life and love in the form ElectroRespect, an annual tribute to artist behind bands like Electroman, Pegasus, the Fems and more. This year, the seventh version of the event, will feature musicians as diverse as Ed Koban, Funk Monster and Woman, David Kane, John Toohill, Disobedient Quartet, Jeff Repeater, Aversa Army, Lemonade, the Gum Wads, Moonpowder, and Lesionread. ElectroRespect 7 is this Saturday (May 3) at Nietzsche’s. Proceeds to benefit the Buffalo Infringement Festival.

- cory perla

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

Tuesday, May 1

The Aquabats

Ever since they formed in 1994, the Aquabats have been fueled by one objective and one objective alone: to combat the evil in the world with music; music that has branched out from ska and punk roots into synth-tinged territory. The super-hero themed outfit boasts a background that includes a timeline of adventures, battles with villainous adversaries, and six studio albums. You can bet that their theatrical live shows are the kind of events that have been heralded as jocular musical showdowns. For their performances, the band of costumed musicians employ pyrotechnics, choreographed fight scenes, pool toys, and fried chicken. You heard right. At one show, during their song “Magic Chicken” a man in a chicken suit joined them on stage and proceeded to hand out fried chicken to crowd members. To top it off, joining them will be the two-member dance catalysts, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, who have been likened to the Beastie Boys and Sesame Street. Wait, what? All of this ought to leave you wondering what’s in store when the two groups perform together at the Town Ballroom on Tuesday (May 6).

- jeanette chin

6pm. Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $18 advance, $22 day of show

Thursday, May 8

Floor

How do you pick up where you left off a decade earlier? Stoner rock band Floor has somehow figured that out. This week, after a 10-year hiatus from writing records, the influential underground sludge-rock band from Florida released Oblation, only their third album since forming in 1992. For a band that has had a dozen or so members over the course of their sputtered, on again off again existence, Oblation is surprisingly cohesive to the band’s back catalog. The demolished guitar tones and slow motion power-drumming on Oblation clearly call to mind the band’s previous releases, 2004’s Dove—a record that was actually recorded in 1994— and their 2002 self-titled record, while at the same leaving the door open for future experimentation with their shift toward extended jams. In their hiatus years, the remnants of Floor formed other gloomy rock projects including thunder-pop band Torche, which was helmed by Floor frontman Steve Brooks. Brooks’ vocal delivery is unique: half way between alt-rock god and grimey grunge star. The band’s musical delivery is as heavy as they come, while maintaining the ability to shift into beautiful melodies at any moment. Don’t miss this rare chance to catch Floor at the Tralf Music Hall on Thursday (May 8) with special guests Hot Vicotry and Darsombra.

- cory perla

7pm. The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $13 advance, $15 day of show