Exile on Allen Street

Saturday, June 28

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards once described the band’s seminal record, Exile on Main St. as “about as unrehearsed as a hiccup.” Many of the bands that sign up to play Artvoice’s annual tribute to the Rolling Stones, Exile on Allen Street, adopt the same philosophy. A lot of these guys just let these classics, which have become second nature after so many listens, rip from their strings. On the other hand, some bands rehearse for quite a while leading up to this show. Some of the bands exist only to play this show. Among the Stones impersonators this year are Bad Ronald, Crazy Momma, 2nd Time Around, Smokin’ Guns, Terra Fractal, Broken Spokes, Room Two o Nine, and the Rolling Stoners. These bands along with solo and duet performs like Chances R, Jimyn the Singing Mime, Chris Abbey, Jodi Sample, Middlemen, Doc Licata, and HoneyLove will perform songs from across the Stones’ lengthy discography from “Jumping Jack Flash” to “Lady Jane,” “Dead Flowers,” “Start Me Up,” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” Get out of your heads this Saturday (June 28) at Nietzsche’s.

- cory perla

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

Friday, June 27

The Well Rounded People's Party: Skate Jam No. 1

Remember what it was like to tie on those rented quad roller skates and confidently roll onto the wooden roller rink with your date, envisioning a roller ballet routine akin to Fez and Jackie’s on That 70s Show? If you were anything like me, that fantasy would last for about one lap until you fell on your butt in front of everyone. But it’s all about having a good time at the skating rink, and nobody cares if you’re a noob or the next Sandro Guerra (Italian master roller skater of the 1980’s). That being said, there is nothing like a good, old-fashioned roller-disco party on the East Side of Buffalo and The Wash Project, Push Buffalo, and Café 59 have you covered with The Well Rounded People’s Party: Skate Jam No. 1. This all ages, all inclusive, family friendly roller-jam happens on Friday (June 27) at New Skateland Arena on E. Ferry Street. DJs Sike and Baby Joe will be spinning throwback tunes all night long for your skating and dancing pleasure and the West Side Bazaar will be on hand to provide some tasty treats. Your $5 entry fee even includes skates.

- cory perla

6pm-11pm New Skateland Arena, 33 E Ferry St. (thewashproject.org) $5 includes skates

Sunday, June 28

City of Night

The grain elevators are a staple in the history of Buffalo’s waterfront, and City of Night seeks to capitalize on the unique beauty these structures bring to the city. In its third year, this event will host exhibits that explore the spaces of the towers in the Old First Ward, performing within the massive silos. These acts include interactive art installations and live performances that take advantage of the environments they are in. As well, some of the artists seek to include the historical weight the grain elevators possess and the impact they had on both the region and on their ancestors, who worked in the silos. These factors, combined with the incomparable sights of the area, culminate to make City of Night an event like nothing you’ve ever experienced. It incorporates a space and time in the blue collar history of Buffalo not many have seen.

- dan leopold

4pm-1am Silo City, 100 Childs St. (cityofnightbuffalo.com) Free

Saturday, June 28

Intune Music & Lifestyle Festival

A music festival held in the middle of Williamsville sounds like more of a pipe dream than a reality, but this weekend you can pinch yourself and head to Island Park in the Village to check it all out. Intune Music & Lifestyle Festival is kicking off its inaugural year in the same location where Old Home Days is held. You would think it would be a big time promoter who would bring this type of thing to suburbia, but a small group of friends who are recent college grads, and all graduates of Williamsville South, have been organizing this event since January in memory of a friend, Zack Yambor, who lost his life at the beginning of the year. The festival is aiming to inspire young people through various outlets of creativity and expression. Headlining the festival is Break Science, featuring Lettuce drummer Adam Deitch. In addition to Break Science, there will be many other music acts including Skyes, Sumkind, Steel Keys and Brass, Bertioga, and Dysrupt. This isn’t just about the music either—as the organizers wanted to take a more holistic approach to inspire people—and are bringing in artists, athletes, farmers, and yogis to round out the day. Festival-goers can expect various activities and classes on yoga, screen printing, DJing and music production, holistic and wellness centric offerings, and even culinary lessons. This is as grassroots as it comes and the organizers are really looking at the big picture to bring a great experience to everyone. The festival takes place this Saturday (June 28), from 11am to 10pm. Tickets are available for $20 presale or $30 at the gate.

- jeremiah shea

11am-10pm Island Park Located behind Town Hall, 5565 Main St. $20 advance, $30 day of festival

Saturday, June 28

A Celebration of Pete Perrone

In the early evening of December 23rd, 2001, Pete Perrone and I were at Mohawk Place getting ready for a soon to be legendary Christmas show featuring the Irving Klaws, Girlpope and Bobo. Not only were all three bands at the peak of their powers at the time but Mohawk Place itself had become Buffalo’s best kept secret in a city full of vibrant, yet often overlooked, music. As we stocked cups and cases of beer, I sheepishly asked Pete if he ever dreamed of such a thing happening when he opened the bar in 1990. He replied that his desire was to open a quiet gin mill with the occasional country or blues artist performing on the tiny stage in the back. That may have been the intention but within five years, Pete’s bar had transformed itself into a hotbed of diverse music with even more interesting patrons. He was not the archetypical club owner. His warmth, charm and smile gave him the fatherly role to both touring and local musicians as well as the weary soul there to see their favorite band. Many claim that Mohawk Place was never the same after Pete retired and sold the bar in 2009. However, one could never deny that Pete’s aesthetic spirit continued to haunt the place via the archaic bar furnishings and the framed band photos on the wall. Sadly, Pete fell victim to a heart attack in Autumn of 2012 and, whilst recovering, passed away in May. Not only was the Buffalo music scene shocked and saddened but so were many national and international artists. This Saturday (June 28) various musicians who repeatedly darkened Mohawk’s door will convene at the Town Ballroom for a celebration of Pete’s memory. Artists performing include Girlpope, The Irving Klaws, The Steam Donkeys, Wolf Tickets, Willie And The Reinhardts, Missing Planes, Bobo, and Mikel Doktor with Jeff Miers. Glasses will be raised, tears will be shed and old flames may kiss once more. Either way, there are thousands of stories about Mohawk Place during its best years and inevitably, Pete’s legacy looms large in almost all of them. He was not only the owner, he was its soul.

- bill nehill

7pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $5 advance

Saturday, June 28

Pinky Doodle Poodle

Get excited about Japanese punk band Pinky Doodle Poodle. The edgy female fronted punk band—featuring guitarist and vocalist Yuria, bassist Kayakki, and the talented guitarist known only as George—combine to create sounds unlike any current alternative/punk band. Their hit “Cosmic Candy” gives listeners a good idea as to what the band is all about. PDP utilizes “session drummers,” choosing one of their six percussionists based on venue location, timing, and the unique talents of each musician. As their first ever U.S. tour begins at The Hard Rock Café in Niagara Falls on Saturday (June 28), drummer John English of Buffalo will provide PDP with rockin’ rhythms. Pinky Doodle Poodle is signed by Good Charamel Records, a local record label owned by Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls. Inspired by sounds of the Hendrix, AC/DC, Motor Head and other rock punk rhythms, PDP’s second album will be recorded at GCR Audio, right in the heart of Buffalo. Find the Buffalo supported duo jamming at the Hard Rock Café this weekend with special guests Failure’s Union.

- bill nehill

10pm Old Falls St., adjacent to the Hard Rock Cafe, 333 Prospect St., Niagara Falls. (282-0007 / hardrock.com) free

Thursday, July 3

Gord Downie, The Sadies, and the Conquering Sun

The heart and soul of the Tragically Hip, Gord Downie, and seminal roots-rockers, the Sadies joined forces in 2006 and by April 2014 they dropped the 10-track collaborative album, Gord Downie, The Sadies and the Conquering Sun. The album cleanly combines punk rock energy with a country roots-minded twang. It was developed over an eight-year period, which is very apparent—it is smooth, yet complex like a finely aged Merlot. It has the distinctive, lyrical strength of Downie and the robust musical chops of the Sadies. It’s an album that begs to be played live. The Sadies have been regarded as one of the best live bands of all time. Downie once famously told CBC radio that he’d “rather chew his right arm off than deliver a bad live show.” So it’s beyond exciting that these dexterous live performers will be touring throughout the U.S. for the rest of the summer, including a free concert at Buffalo’s Canalside on Thursday (July 3) with Hey Rossetta! and Boy & Bear. This is a killer lineup. Hey Rosetta!’s deftly orchestrated song-structure is layered with piano, violin, and cello, plus the traditional four-piece rock setup, which makes for an intense and over-the-top performance. Then there’s the Australian indie-rock band, Boy & Bear who play in the same vein as the Shins, and Crosby Stills & Nash, mixing vintage 1970’s rock with foot-tapping hooks and church like harmonies.

- kellie powell

6pm to 10pm Canalside, 1 Navel Park Cove (canalsidebuffalo.com) free, $40 VIP