Lil Debbie

Thursday, December 11

There’s new girl in town. She’s hot, sassy and doesn’t care about your opinion. Lil Debbie is another fashion obsessed West Coast white girl pop rapper. California is churning out rappers looking like updated Spice Girls faster than the Bills lose games. Nevertheless Lil Debbie’s here to make an impact and she’s sure to turn a few heads. Hailing from Oakland, California, the DJ/rapper/model/fashion designer is constantly seeking inspiration for her music and style while inspiring others. Said to be the inspiration behind Miley Cryus’ revamped look, she first came to the attention of music lovers via Kreayshawn’s viral smash ‘Gucci Gucci,’ which she stared in. Since then she’s put out a collection of music with videos reaching over a million views on Youtube. She’s worked and performed with many of some of the most influential artists and producers in the hip-hop scene from Benny Cassette to NikNikateen. It’s going to be big year for this up and coming artist as she’s scheduled to release her first full-length album, California Sweetheart. Like so many west coast celebs just watching her do her thing is entertainment worth your ticket price. Catch her perform at the Studio at Waiting Room this Thursday (12/11 @ 6PM) with Caskey.

- Jeff Czum

6PM Studio at Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (853-5483 / Waitingroombuffalo.com) $15 Advance $20 Day of Show

Thursday, December 1

Zach Deputy

If you think the black R&B 70s music of Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes or Al Green has been left in the 70s you’re wrong. Zach Deputy is a pretty big white guy whose heart is made of funky R&B meat. Deputy puts a 21st century twist on the music though. Zach is a new breed of R&B artist who uses advanced technology to give his solo guitar performance the sound of a full band with a funky bass. Using drum tracks, vocalizer harmonies, loops, programmed bass lines, and so on, Zach Deputy unleashes a throaty, soulful voice from somewhere deep inside that voluminous belly of his. This “one man band” is far more talented than the guys you see playing homemade instruments on street corners or in NYC subways. Besides his great voice, one of the most interesting things is the musical drama Deputy infuses in his songs through the use of dynamic variations. Bass lines drop out, sometimes guitar drops too, sometimes everything drops but his voice; and they all funking come back into play. Zach will be bringing his set and style to Nietzsche’s Thursday night (12/11 @8pm). It might be hard to understand exactly what he’s doing, but bear witness for yourself as Nietzsche’s is the perfect venue to check out his experience up close and personal.

- Jeff Czum

8PM Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / Nietzsches.com) - $15

Friday, December 12

Alex Bugnon

Swiss born jazz pianist Alex Bugnon will be bringing his own brand of jazz to the Tralf Music Hall this Friday (12/12 @7PM). Alex Gugnon has created one of the most recognized styles in today’s contemporary jazz piano. His music has been described as a sultry mixture of jazz, funk, and R&B with hints of gospel. Bugnon studied at the Paris Conservatory and the Mozart Academy in Salzburg, Austria. At age nineteen, he moved to the U.S. and attended the Berklee School of Music. He began his recording career in 1989 when he released his debut album Love Season, which reached the pop charts and the Top 40 R&B charts as did his follow-up album, Head Over Heels. Whether you’re a fan of jazz-fusion, funk, R&B or soul, Alex Gugnon will certainly not disappoint you.

- Jeff Czum

7PM Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / Tralfmusichall.com) - $46 Advance $51 Day of Show

Saturday, December 13

Santacon

On Saturday, a festive, besotted mob of 20- and 30-somethings, decked out in various measures of Santa Claus dress and undress, will descend down Chippewa St. and rain down Christmas cheer like spoiled eggnog. This event is SantaCon. For those living in peaceful oblivion, SantaCon is an annual tradition in which people dress up as Kriss Kringle (or, at least, put on a Santa hat) and participate en masse in a bar crawl, cramming 12 nights of Christmas boozing into a single afternoon. The focus is on spontaneity and creativity, while having a good time and spreading cheer and goodwill. Something like a Santapalooza or Santa Rampage, SantaCon incorporates a day of cheerful and harmless behavior while friends, family and strangers gather together to sing Christmas carols around the streets of Buffalo. The event will kick off at 1:30pm (at 67 West) on the corner of Franklin & Chippewa at the Labatt Blue tent. Buy, rent or even make your own Santa suit, don’t be the awkward person who shows up to a costume party in normal everyday clothes. This is your chance to be creative and have a good time.

- Jeff Czum

1:30PM 67 W Chippewa St. (842-0281 / Santaconbuffalo.com) - $10

Saturday, December 13

Holiday Open House

One of the cooler local startup businesses of the year is Flying Anvil Metalworks, located just off Hertel in north Buffalo. The shop is run by dedicated metal-crafters Mollie Atkinson and Kenny Kash—longtime friends who’ve worked on projects together, off and on, for over two decades. When Kash moved back to Buffalo this year, after an extended stint working on theatrical sets and other projects in New York and New Jersey, the two decided to go all in and start a business in a cool industrial space adjacent to the lot where the city’s school busses are parked. Their pieces range from candleholders to tables and chairs to heavy and artful iron gates—but their skills and equipment at the shop are capable of producing just about anything you can imagine. Saturday’s free open house will feature food and libations, as well as a performance by Pamela Ryder & John Brady at 4:30pm, singing songs off their recent release Confetti and Mud. It will be a great chance to meet and support the local artists, browse the unique Christmas gifts they’ve been producing, and maybe sign up for the classes in welding and plasma cutting they’ll be conducting at the shop next year. Forget the flimsy tinsel. Give a loved one a present that will last—one that’s made of metal.

- Buck Quigley

11am—7PM Flying Anvil Metalworks, 51 Botsford Place (308-0825 / FlyingAnvilMetalworks.com) FREE+

Sunday, December 14

Chuck Ragan and The Camaraderie

Chuck Ragan is a guy with a beard who wears flannel and drinks whiskey. He knows how to fish and probably whittles, too. He basically represents what it means to be a man in America. As a former member of the rock/emo band Hot Water Music, he’s a deeply compelling songwriter and an effortlessly charismatic performer. Till Midnight is Ragan’s most recent release that is now starting to gain momentum in the music scene today. The album’s formidable blend of head and heart songwriting is reflected on tracks “Something May Catch Fire,” “Vegabond,” and “Wake With You,” on which he applies his distinctively raspy voice and sharp melodic sensibility to express songs that look back on his early grounding in traditional American music and his deep affinity for rock n’ roll. In a musical life that spans close to three decades, Ragan has consistently worn his heart on his sleeve, and carved out a musical niche in the process that fans have come to love. Joining him at the Waiting Room on Sunday night (12/14 @7PM) is the Arkansas soulful folk artist Adam Faucett.

- Jeff Czum

7PM Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (853-5483 / Waitingroombuffalo.com) - $16 Advance $18 Day of Show

Tuesday, December 16

Bro Safari

With the trajectory that Bro Safari is on right now, he is on track to amaze audiences, challenge norms, and represent the quality within the dance music scene for years to come. The DJ began his career in 2012 and by the end of 2013, he was one of the biggest names in the American dance music scene. After his very successful releases of “Scumbag,” and “The Drop,” Bro Safari partnered with his long time collaborator UFO! for the highly anticipated album, Animal. The project was a great example of how the two drum & bass producers took a unique approach at blending spread-out thick bass lines, dramatic builds, and a two-step pulse with quick drum fills. This would later come to be known as the “moombahton genre.” With the support from artists like Diplo, DJ Craze, Knife Party and more, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Bro Safari is someone to keep an eye on for this new wave of music listeners. As if people in Buffalo needed an excuse to go out and dance, Town Ballroom will be welcoming Bro Safari and his turntables to the stage Tuesday (12/16 @8PM)

- Jeff Czum

8PM Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / Townballroom.com) - $20 Advance $25 Day of Show