DIIV

Tuesday, July 15

Two years after the release of their debut album, Oshin, Brooklyn indie-rock shoegazers DIIV are back on the road to test out some new material. From the sound of some bootlegged live recordings, the four piece band’s new material—or at least the song recorded via cell phone at an outdoor concert in April—seems to be continuing down the road of twee-pop meets grunge that frontman Zachary Cole Smith and company have come to be known for. “On the next record, I can push the envelope in a bunch of different directions,” says the 20-something singer and guitarist who formed DIIV in 2011 after leaving another Brooklyn dream-pop band; Beach Fossils. “It’s definitely going to be a darker record based on how my life has been personally, since the last record came out.” The darkness he’s referring to could be related to his 2013 arrest for possession of a controlled substance while driving a 1990 Ford pickup truck with passenger; pop star Sky Ferreira, in tow. Smith and Ferreira aren’t exactly True Romance’s Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette as far as partners in crime go, but they have been the perfect, brooding indie pop couple since they began dating. So maybe Smith’s life hasn’t been all darkness since the release of Oshin, but the musician has had plenty to say about the corporate invasion of indie rock and the boring state of guitar bands recently, so maybe he’ll express some of these feelings on the next record, which is expected sometime this year. Get a taste of DIIV’s new material when the band comes to the Tralf Music Hall on Tuesday (July 15) with support from Regal Degal and Lordo.

- cory perla

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $12 advance, $14 day of show

Friday, July 11

City & Colour with Young the Giant, Tokyo Police Club, and Clear Plastic Masks

I can hear the train coming and it is transporting City and Colour to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor on Friday (July 11). Singer and guitarist Dallas Green will be performing live in concert as City and Colour, a project that has grown to have a vast fan following. The former frontman of post-hardcore band Alexisonfire started the project in 2005 with debut album Sometimes, which set the stage for the more folk-oriented tunes on his sophomore effort Bring Me Your Love. City and Colour has grown over the years to have a vast fan following, international success, sold out shows, and top hits on the charts. In support of his fourth album The Hurry and the Harm, Green will bring his honest, soul-searching lyrics and incredible falsetto voice to Buffalo for what could be one of the biggest shows of the year. The festival-like show will also feature support from a few more popular bands: Young the Giant, Tokyo Police Club, and Clear Plastic Masks.

- vanessa harris

6pm Outer Harbor Concert Site, 325 Fuhrmann Blvd (outerharborconcerts.com) $50.30

Friday, July 11

The Tins Record Release Show

It has been a busy year for Buffalo based bands with the release of new albums, music videos and weekly shows. This is no exception for indie rock-pop band the Tins. Come July 18, this three piece will be hitting the road on tour, making their way through Canada and to the West Coast. Before they ship off, the Tins will perform on Friday (July 11) at Buffalo Iron Works for the release of their new EP, Young Blame. Not only will the Tins represent Buffalo’s thriving music scene all over the country and in Canada, but they’ve already had one of their recent hits, “Let It Go”premiered by publication The 405 in the UK. The Tins offer a fun and positive vibe with catchy guitar riffs and vocal serenades of Adam Stanley and Michael Francis. Their EP release show, which will also feature Buffalo indie rock bands Aircraft, Brimstone Blondes, and the Actors, will be live to air via “Buffalo’s Original Alternative,” 91.3FM. On Thursday, the Tins will be on WBNY’s Local Show for an interview and to talk about the show, their music, and their upcoming tour. Be sure to stop by Iron Works for the show and if you can’t make it, listen to it live on the radio.

- sara ali

8pm Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. (200-1893 / buffaloironworks.com) $10

Saturday & Sunday, July 12 & 13

Peppermint Pop-Up Shop

Ready to rethink your traditional brick-and-mortar and big box retail store? Then stop on down to the Elmwood Village this weekend and experience the latest trend in the retail world; the pop-up shop. Peppermint, a Rochester-based apparel brand is set to have its first pop up shop at Ashkers Juice Bar & Gallery on this Saturday (July 12) and Sunday (July 13) between 10am and 7 pm and the fashion community is all a buzz about it. Peppermint, which operates a store on Park Ave in Rochester sells retro inspired young contemporary women’s clothing, jewelry, shoes and gifts. “If the pop up shop is successful, it could eventually become long-term”, says Tanvi Asher, owner of Peppermint “We are so excited to be a part of Elmwood Ave and think that we can provide a unique shopping experience. We’re hopeful that the Buffalo community will appreciate the fact that I’m a woman owned business that supports local designers and carries lines that are made in the U.S.” says Asher. Peppermint will be debuting end of summer fashions as well as a glimpse into next season’s trends. For more Buffalo fashion news and features, check out our fashion issue this August.

- agathi georgiou

10am-7pm Ashker’s Juice Bar & Gallery, 1002 Elmwood Ave (shop-peppermint.com)

Monday, July 14

Miniature Tigers

In 2006, they were dubbed “one of the 25 best bands on Myspace” by Rolling Stone. Brooklyn via Phoenix, or as they call it, “Newyorkizona, TX,” band Miniature Tigers will bring some of their catchy indie pop tunes to The Waiting Room on Monday (July 14), with fellow touring band the Griswolds from Sydney, Australia, San Francisco based band Finish Ticket, and local surf rock band Bryan Johnson And Family. Miniature Tigers recorded their latest album, Cruel Runnings, in Jamaica with the help of producer Chris Zane who has also worked with Passion Pit and the Walkmen. Cruel Runnings features unique and upbeat dance-along rhythms with romantic-esque lyrics that celebrate summer romance. The album breaks from their indie roots and other albums with its whimsical and dreamy pop sound. It truly represents both the good and the not-so-good aspects of summer romances, love, and enjoying life day by day.

- sara ali

7pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $12 advance, $14 day of show

Monday, July 14

Sarah McLachlan

Get all the jokes about Sarah McLachlan’s ASPCA commercial out of your system immediately, because you’re unlikely to recall that particular marketing campaign come Monday (July 14), when you hear the Canadian “Angel” sing at Artpark. For the last two decades the pop singer has been captivating audiences with her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range. Her 1994, blockbuster album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, took “Possession” of American audiences. Subsequently she coordinated the Lilith Fair tours to showcase the work of underappreciated female musicians. Her humanitarian efforts and goose-bump-inducing, yodel-like maneuvers made her a paragon in the international folk-rock community. Her 2014 album, Shine On maintains that classic McLachlan ecstasy—the exquisite breaks in her voice and the percussive undercurrent that subtly drives her tracks like a wave, starting off slowly and building it bit by bit to the crescendo. Her studio albums are compelling, but it’s in concert that the chanteuse really “shines on.”

- kellie powell

8pm Artpark, 450 South 4th St., Lewiston (754-4375 / artpark.net) $40-$55

Tuesday, July 15

Fat Creeps with Johns, The Lentils, & Space Wolves

The Fat Creeps do their best to live up to their name. The first track available on their bandcamp page is a four second clip of (in this writer’s expert opinion) a pathetic attempt at a burp. If you make it through the bodily noises though, you’ll notice that this band has actually discharged some quality dream-pop-disguised-as-surf-punk music, including the six tracks on their 2012 self-titled EP. The Massachusetts-based band formed in 2011 and has released a string of splits, EPs and cassette tapes that amount to a pretty impressive grouping of surf-rock inspired post-punk tunes, which bassist Mariam Saleh and guitarist Gracie Jackson will bring to the basement of Spiral Scratch Records on Tuesday (July 15). Buffalo rockers JOHNS will also perform in support of their upcoming album Grift Marks. The Lentils, a Vermont-based band consisting of ex-members of the Happy Jaw Bone Family Band will also perform alongside Buffalo intergalactic garage rock band Space Wolves.

- cory perla

5pm Spiral Scratch Records, 291 Bryant Street (882-3200 / spiralscratchrecords.blogspot.com) $5