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See You There!

See you There?

dave rawlings machine w/gillian welch

7pm. Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. (852-3835/babevillebuffalo.com) $30

Heavy hitters on the Americana scene, the Dave Rawlings Machine w/Gillian Welch will bring their hot string band music to Asbury Hall at Babeville on Thursday night. Rawlings and Welch have been musical collaborators for many years, and they are out on a tour in support of the acclaimed album Nashville Obsolete [Acony], just released on September 18. That same month, the duo received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association in Nashville. Not strictly Bluegrass, and anything but tired old folk music, they perform an energetic and beautiful blend of finely crafted originals and delightfully reimagined covers—buoyed by Welch and Rawlings’ homespun harmonies that ring like songbirds in a mountain hollow, while being held down to earth by a backing ensemble that is as sturdy and comfortable as a well broken-in pair of jeans. This will likely be a show that will be talked about by local Americana aficionados for years to come. Don’t miss out. > BY BUCK QUIGLEY

> Buck Quigley

lydia loveless W/ the elliot brood

7pm. Sportsmen’s Tavern, 326 Amherst St. (874-7734/sportsmenstavern.com) $17 advance/$20 door

Bloodshot recording artist Lydia Loveless brings her hardscrabble hybrid of rock and country to the Sportsmen’s Tavern Thursday night, along with Canadian trio the Elliot Brood. Loveless—who grew up in rural Coshocton, Ohio—left that bucolic environment for the big college town vibe of Columbus, where she soaked up the underground punk scene. While growing up, her father ran a country music bar. It was not uncommon to wake to find a house full of grizzled musicians crashed on couches and floors. When you combine those two influences, it’s easy to see how her blend of loud, ringing guitars and twangy, old school vocal phrasing came to be. In 2014, both Rolling Stone and SPIN sang her praises. Meanwhile, the Elliot Brood has been going at it since 2002, when teenage friends Mark Sasso and Casey Laforet united to explore their musical admiration of Neil Young, The Band, and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Joined by Stephen Pitkin, the trio’s sound became more mature in the spring of 2014, when they holed-up in a studio near Lake Ontario to record their critically admired albumWork and Love. Alt.country fans will not be disappointed by this strong double bill.

> Buck Quigley

Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival

Eastern Hills Cinema, 4545 Transit Rd www.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com $9.50 per block $7.50 (students & seniors) $20 day pass/$100 all festival

Horror, Fantasy, and Sci Fi film fans unite! You’re in for a roller coaster ride of blood, terror, weirdness, and campy fun starting this weekend. The Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival returns for it’s third year. Previously known as Buffalo Screams and founded by WNY’s own master horror filmmaker Gregory Lamberson, you’ve got six days of film shorts and 24 features from all around the world (including an impressive number of entries from Buffalo filmmakers) to check out. Watch horror film diva Debbie Rochon’s directorial debut Model Hunger on Friday night and then see her as an evil plastic surgeon in local writer/actor Paul McGinnis’ comedy-horror film Killer Rack (featuring Troma filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman in a musical number cameo) for its own WNY premiere on Saturday night. Also worth seeing: Dick Johnson and Tommy Gun vs The Cannibal Cop, Project M, Holy Hell, an evening with the films of Mexico’s Isaac Izban, the short films of NYC’s Scooter McCrae, Bite by Chad Archibald, Spidora, a short film by the prolific Fred Olen Ray, and a host of other films, both short and feature length, from Italy, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Iran, etc. Don’t miss out! For more info and a schedule of films: www.buffalodreamsfilmfest.com

> Erica Ladd

GWAR

7pm. Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (townballroom.com), 7pm, $22-25

If you don’t know who Gwar is by now, you’ve clearly been living under a rock. The heavy metal/shock/comedy rock band has been in existence since the 80s, with over a dozen albums to their name (Scumdogs of The Universe, This Toilet Earth, Phallus In Wonderland, to name a few), and a distinctly unique stage presence. Dressed in grotesque and elaborate costumes, they perform as other worldy, SciFi-inspired “barbaric interplanetary warriors” who engage in over-the-top violent, overtly sexual, satirical live shows. It’s a sort of Grand Guignol, space monster, death metal, gross-out, social/political commentary kind of an act to behold. Plus, catchy tunes. And buckets of fake blood. Definitely bring a rain jacket if you plan to attend because you will get hosed down with the stuff. Despite the recent death of one of the founders and lead vocalist Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus), Gwar continues to tour and perform with a rotating group of musicians and artists. Most notable, as of late, is their cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “She-Bop”, which they’re sure to play, if you get down to the Town Ballroom to experience the mayhem this Saturday night. They’ll be joined by openers Battlecross and Born of Osiris.

> Erica Ladd

THE LONE BELLOW

8pm. Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St. (852-2860/tralfmusichall.com) $18 presale/$20 day of show

The Brooklyn-based al-country band The Lone Bellow may have formed in the city, but their heart is rooted firmly in the country. Since the release of their critically acclaimed and commercially successful self-titled debut album in 2013, the three-piece outfit has been generating strong reviews for their live performances, showcasing their unique fusion of country, blues rock, and American folk. Falling somewhere between Sugarland and Lady Antebellum, though perhaps even more raw-sounding than either, their three part harmonies dovetail beautifully with their earthy aesthetic. Lead guitarist/singer Zach Williams’ high tenor and understated, soulful singing is perfectly suited to his heart-rending lyrics, managing the feat of being both wistful and melancholy. With an easy smile and her fantastic vocals, bassist/mandolin player Kanene Pipkin more than holds her own, as well . The Lone Bellow is truly a country band for people who don’t like country music (and for people who do, too!) They play the Tralf Music Hall this Saturday, Nov. 7.

> Jordan Canahai

Leon Russel

8pm. Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. (200-1893/buffaloironworks.com) $31.50 advance/$35 door/$50 VIP

Music legend Leon Russell swings through town Saturday night, riding on a 50-year career that has seen him playing on pop, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, standards, gospel, and surf records with artists including Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Edgar Winter, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, John Lennon...the list goes on and on. An Oklahoma native, Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges) took to the piano at the age of four. By high school, he was playing the clubs in Tulsa. After graduation, he headed to Los Angeles, where he became a successful session musician, sideman, arranger and songwriter—playing on many notable records throughout the 1960s. By the 70s, he had a solo career taking off, even as he maintained his other musical roles with a wide variety of performers. In 2010, he recorded The Union, with Elton John—and his long career received an added boost. The next year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Don’t miss this chance to experience American music royalty with special guests at Buffalo Iron Works.

> Buck Quigley

Lettuce

8pm Tralf Music Hall 622 Main St. (852-2860/tralfmusichall.com) $22 advance/$25 day of show

Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, the eight piece jam/funk band Lettuce have been redefining what a funk group should look and sound like for well over two decades, gaining a reputation as one of the best live bands in the genre along the way. Developing their name through their constant request of “Let us play,” Lettuce blends an eclectic array of influences, drawing from modern hip hop sensibilities to Herbie Hancock and Earth, Wind, and Fire’s disco funk to create their energetic, groovy vibes. Their sound is filled out by two guitarists whose dual harmonies recall the best of classic jam bands, keyboards and an organ which bolsters the low end, as well as funky basslines and jazzy drumming which define the rhythm section. Lettuce also boasts an outstanding horn section; the trumpet and saxophones are big and bold, providing one catchy melody after another. Long-time fans as well as new ones alike will be able to see Lettuce Wednesday, Nov. 11 when they break out the funk at the Tralf Music Hall.

> Jordan Canahai