And the Kids
7pm. 9th Ward @ Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. (babevillebuffalo.com/852-3835) $10-$13
Originally hailing from Northampton, Massachusetts, quirky, pop trio And The Kids will be making an appearance in Buffalo on Thursday night. The band is comprised of singer/guitarist Hannah Mohan, Rebecca Lasaponaro, and percussionist Megan Miller. They describe their sound as “unconscious, accessible, existential, indie, glitter, popsicle, crisis” music, (according to their facebook page). Despite the fact that they’ve only just released their 2015 debut album Turn To Each Other, Mohan and Lasaponaro have been best friends since seventh grade and have been playing music together for just as long. Effervescent and sometimes dissonant, Mohan’s soaring voice carries their lilting melodies. They put on a fun show, spreading a sort of sparkly, infectious cheer. Head down to the 9th Ward @ Babeville to catch a glimpse of them in action.
> Elektra Natchios
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Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Various Locations
(852-3900 / townballroom.com) $17—$20
The first full weekend of December is chock full of Christmas Holiday events here in Buffalo. And what better way to celebrate the season than to attend a tree lighting ceremony? You have several to choose from! On December 4th, the 5th Annual Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting Event runs from 5-8 pm right down at the Ice at Canalside. There will be carolers, live music, kid’s activities, food vendors, a visit from Santa, and of course, ice skating. The tree lighting is at 6:30. December 5th features the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration from 5-8 pm. This event kicks off the free skating season at the Rotary Rink w/ fireworks, an appearance by Mr. Claus, horse drawn carriage rides, and much more! The Buffalo Zoo will also host the first tree lighting of it’s own on December 5th. There will be a $5 reduced admission for visitors after 3pm, carol singers, hot cocoa, Santa, and other seasonal activities, including a Zooper Saturday event with the Polar Bears and River Otters, all leading up to the tree lighting at 5pm.
> AV Staff
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The Sword
8pm. Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St. (townballroom.com/852-3900) $19-$22
Since their formation in 2003, The Sword has established themselves as one of the best heavy metal bands in North America today. The Austin quartet has released five critically acclaimed full length albums and shared the stage alongside such legendary acts as Metallica, Motorhead, and Ozzy Osborne, while being featured prominently on the soundtrack of the best-selling Guitar Hero game series. Combining the big-ass riffs of classic metal acts such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin with the solid grooves of stoner metal, The Sword’s sound is both crushing and ethereal. Lyrically, the band draws influence from both science fiction literature and medieval mysticism, wrapping poetic and poignant imagery in a haze of blistering guitar solos and hypnotic melodies to take audiences to a reality beyond this one. “Music is supposed to transport people away from their daily lives”, says lead singer/guitarist John D. Cronise. “I’d like it if listeners think a little bit more about life, their existence, and their place in the universe while taking this trip.” It’s a trip fans shouldn’t miss the opportunity to take when The Sword plays the Town Ballroom this Saturday.
> Jordan Canahai
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Grace Potter
8pm. Town Ballroom, 681 S.Main St. (townballroom.com/852-3900) $31-$35
Best known for performing alongside her band The Nocturnals , Waitsfield, Vermont’s Grace Potter has been gaining huge support across the globe for the past decade thanks to her strength as a vocalist and performer. The recent release of her first solo album Midnight as well as her warmly received live shows in support of it has only solidified her standing as a singer/songwriter of considerable import. Indeed, Potter has remained a massively acclaimed name in modern rock, with the seal of approval from The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach to fellow collaborator Kenny Chesney. Performing with a couple of other musicians, it may be strange for long-time fans to imagine Potter without the faithful Nocturnals backing her, yet her unique blend of bluesy folk rock and her winning stage presence, only confirm what the critically lauded Midnight suggested; that Grace Potter is the real deal in her own right, and she’s definitely here to stay. The mixture of new solo work along with old, well worn tracks from The Nocturnals discography is sure enrapture casual and die-hard listeners this Friday at the Town Ballroom.
> Jordan Canahai
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Todd Rundgren
8pm. Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., N. Tonawanda (rivieratheatre.org) $33.50-$41.50
Musical trailblazer Todd Rundgren has been known for his work as an engineer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, video pioneer, computer software developer and songwriter during a career that’s spanned over 40 years. He’s worked with acts as disparate as the Band, Badfinger, Grand Funk Railroad, the New York Dolls, Hall & Oates, Meat Loaf, and XTC, but many will recognize him for his 1972 hit “Hello It’s Me” and 1983’s MTV smash “Bang the Drum All Day.” At 67, he’ll be bringing out his whole bag of tricks for An Evening with Todd Rundgren at the historic Riviera Theatre—a local treasure of a venue that will provide an intimate stage for a legendary performer.
> AV Staff
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Andrew W.K.
6:30pm Waiting Room 334 Delaware Ave. 853-5483) $8-$10
Singer-Songerwiter. Multi-instrumentalist. Motivational Speaker. Hard rocker Andrew W.K. is many things, but above all else he might be the most outspoken party advocate of his generation. No surprise that the man behind the modern classic “Party Hard” off his iconic 2001 album “I Get Wet” is known for putting on live shows that are among the most raucous, entertaining, and sweaty in rock music today. Mr. W.K’s party anthems are knowingly juvenile, to be sure, but their message of communal hedonism is brought forward with such herculean triumph by the man in concert, he creates an experience that makes everyone in the room the best of friends for the duration of his shows. Nobody in rock thrashes piano harder than Andrew, as evidenced by the beating he gives his keys during the instrumental breakdown of “We Want Fun”, while “She Is Beautiful” has always been a personal favorite of this hopeless romantic. And although Andrew W.K. has played before thousands in arenas and on the festival circuit, it’s in intimate venues where he truly thrives due to the increased fan interaction such a personal setting lends itself to. You should be sure to attend the party when Andrew W.K. performs at Broadway Joes this Tuesday.
> Jordan Canahai
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