Four Year Strong

Friday, November 21

If you’re a fan of pop-punk, you’ve probably heard of Four Year Strong. Having originally coined the term “happy hardcore,” (which should tell you more than you need to know) the group is an over-the-top pop punk band with unique drop note tunings, played in happy major keys that lift each composition with enough power to drive a tank. The five-piece band got rolling in their hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, where they played VFW halls, house parties, and any other DIY show they could book. Although their debut album It’s Our Time was somewhat of a flop, it was clear the band had something people wanted. Their do-or-die for rock and roll work ethic and live performances are what really sold the group. Four Year Strong performances are powerful, and always enjoyable. Dueling vocals offer two different styles of singing that still manage to harmonize perfectly. Through the grit and sweat of their energy, the band engages the crowd fiercely with their fiery antics. Once they released Rise or Die Trying, (I Surrender Records) it was all up from there. Their growing popularity is the direct result of being truly original unlike many “original” bands who really aren’t original at all. Their latest EP Go Down in History (Pure Noise Records) is no different from when they started in 2001. The difference is people are listening now. The EP has that undeniable energy that smacks you in the face as all great pop-punk albums do. As far as great “happy hardcore” bands go, there is Four Year Strong and everybody else. — Jeff Czum

- Jeff Czum

6pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $15

Thursday, November 20 - Sunday, November 23

Marlon Wayans

Some comics begin doing stand-up comedy as a way to get into TV and movies. Marlon Wayans was already famous for being in the TV show “In Living Color” and starring in movies such as “White Chicks,” “A Haunted House” and “Scary Movie” before he got on stage. “When you’re a movie star and you’re just starting to do stand-up, people are like, ‘what’s wrong with you?’” Mayans says. “The reality is that it has made me better and made me much more complete. I’m just beginning. I’m having so much fun. When you write a joke and do it in a movie, you don’t get the laugh until a year later. Stand-up is immediate. You get the payoff right then, and it’s a rush like no drug you can take.” Heavily influenced by Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy, Wayans is determined to please audiences all over the world with his brand new routine. From his kooky caricatures to making fun of past co-stars, Wayans will have you laughing out of your seat Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Helium Night Club.

- Jeff Czum

Thursday: 8pm / Friday: 7:30 & 10:30pm / Saturday: 7:30pm & 10:30pm / Sunday: 7pm & 9:30pm Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St. (853- 1211 / heliumcomedy.com) $30-$37

Friday, November 21

DrFameus (of the Disco Biscuits)

The never-ending debate lives on: Where does electronic music fit into the world? Some never get enough of the endless possibilities of synth kits, drum machines and throbbing bass lines. Some prefer watching musicians deliver live music with “real” instruments. At last, we may have a bridge. The former drummer of the Disco Biscuits, Allen Aucoin will be sure to raise your appreciation for both styles. Aucoin A.K.A. DrFameus is an electronic music producer who explores many areas of electronic music ranging from breakbeats, drum and bass, dubstep, and techno with just his drum set and computer. Programmed beats and swells are blended with live rolls and syncopations, making him a cross between a DJ and a one-man band. His talent, perfected from years of drumming and intensive training at Berklee School of Music in Boston, is precise and mesmerizing. Expect a unique experience as DrFameus brings music fans of all styles together with a hefty dose of bass, rhythm and livestep (live dubstep) 8pm Friday night (11/21) at Iron Works.

- Jeff Czum

8pm Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. (200-1893 / buffaloironworks.com) $10 Ages 21+

Saturday, November 22

Boyz II Men

Boyz II Men. Yes, you read that right. This isn’t going to be like the R. Kelly impersonator who tricked fans into attending an ‘R. Kelly show’ back in 2013 (That really happened. Google it...) This is the real deal. Grammy Award winning R&B group Boyz II Men will be making a grand appearance at The Center for the Arts at University of Buffalo on Saturday night. (11/22) The trio remains one of the most iconic R&B groups in history, and has redefined popular music with timeless hits that appeal to fans of all generations. “End of the Road,” “One Sweet Day” and “Motownphilly” are just a few of the band’s biggest hits to date. The group has earned a total of 4 Grammy Awards, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout their career, Boyz II Men have also won 9 American Music Awards, 9 Soul Train Awards, 3 Billboard Awards, and a 2011 MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Recently celebrating their 20th anniversary, the band has toured and performed almost all of their acclaimed classics of the past two decades, as well as having just released their brand new album, Collide. (MSM Music Group) Still maintaining their classic R&B sound, Collide’s whole foray is younger, hipper and more synthetic than their previous releases. It’s a showcase of their maturity, talent, and diversity. Fans of classic Boyz II Men will not be let down.

- Jeff Czum

8pm UB Center for the Arts, 103 Center For The Arts. (645-6259 / ubcfa.org) $40-$60

Saturday, November 22

EOTO

Born from that crazy bluegrass-calypso-electronica-funk-jazz-reggae-psychedelia band The String Cheese Incident, multi-instrumentalist Michael Travis and percussionist Jason Hann are now performing as EOTO. Through the use of improv the EDM duo thrive on creating a unique musical experience for fans at each performance. “We don’t have songs, a set-list or pre-recorded tracks. We start every night with a blank slate,” Hann says as he describes the ‘live show’ philosophy of the band. EOTO composes instrumental music through computer software programs, instantly creating and adding/removing loops and layering sounds. Hann’s live drumming and Travis’ instrumental flurries add a strong organic element to the music which helps separate them from the majority of DJs scattered around the EDM landscape. The style of music at an EOTO performance is ever changing. In a recent discussion on the band’s Facebook page, the thousands of subscribed fans were asked to describe the band in their own words- descriptions ranged from mythical to visual, each in awe of the duo’s ability to create high octane dance music in a live setting. See for yourself as EOTO brings their particular style to the Town Ballroom, Saturday, November 22, 8pm.

- Jeff Czum

8pm Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $20

Saturday, November 22

The Beatnuts

Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar (DBGB) regular Saturday Night Meltdown Crew will be joined this Saturday, November 22, 9pm by Hip-Hop legends The Beatnuts. Coming out of Queens, NYC, The Beatnuts (Psyco Les and Juju) rhymes and beats have a solid place in Hip-Hop history. The only latino members of the Native Tongues collective from their part of the world that includes Afrika Bambaataa, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, etc. The Meltdown Crew will be on hand, as well, including Amilcar, Milk & Conchise, Darringer, Charlie the Butcher, Scott Down, DJ Dovey and others.

- Jeff Czum

9pm Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St (240-9359) / www.dukesbohemiangrovebar.com $10

Tuesday, November 25

Real Friends

A group of musicians can do a lot of things. They can tell a story, they can make us dance, or as with the group Real Friends, they can express how past romance and heartache become acceptance and closure. This Chicago five-piece has already had a big year, from their latest release, Maybe This Place Is The Same And We’re Just Changing, (Fearless Records) to a very successful run on the 2014 Vans Warped Tour where they drew some of the biggest crowds. The bands greatest asset is their poignant lyrics that evoke a sense of nostalgia. The raw emotion of singer Dan Lambton connects his audience to his lyrics. Whether heard on headphones, car stereo or a live show, Real Friends engaging hooks and high energy should quickly capture your attention. “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “Loose Ends,” and “Cover You Up” bleed power, racing at you with scrappy guitars conveying an urgency behind every song. The songs trace the transition from youth to adulthood and whether you’re going through that transition or have already passed it, you’ll certainly appreciate what they’re saying. Real Friends will take you on that journey this Tuesday (11/25) at the Waiting Room.

- Jeff Czum

6pm Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $15 advance, $17 day of show