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Spottiswoode & His Enemies perform "Youngest Child"

In the past twelve months, the city of Niagara Falls has been damned lucky (at least musically speaking). For it has been in that rapidly receding year of twenty-ought-five that The Falls has been treated to several performances from New York City-based multi-piece group, Spottiswoode & His Enemies. For its final concert of the year, Niagara University’s live music series closes with a command area performance from this critically-hailed group. Led by English-born singer-songwriter Jonathan Spottiswoode, the group’s latest CD, Building A Road (High Wire Music), has been rightly praised as the work of a major new act. Referencing songwriters like Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Billy Bragg, Spottiswoode’s lyrics display both a playful sense of humor and a delicately fractured beauty. For their part, there is nothing devious about the music performed by Spottiswoode’s backing band, The Enemies. Boasting killer horn and rhythms sections, the band’s style is equal parts cabaret jazz and avant rock. Niagara Falls-based jam rockers Salt Peter share the bill.

Friday, December 9 at 8pm. Niagara University, “Under the Taps” Club, Lower Level, Gallagher Center, Niagara Falls. $5