At age 26, The Thirds are one of Buffalo’s longest lasting groups. For most of those years the trio has brought its music to the people, working the clubs, maintaining the kind of performance schedule that leaves little room for recording. In contrast to bands that seem to release two CDs for every ill-attended gig they play, The Thirds have just two releases—1982’s Songs From The City Line and 2004’s Anthology. Their continued appeal lies in the nice, live sound you hear when bassist Jim Brucato and guitarists Joe Head and Charlie O’Neill start singing in perfectly natural harmony. On Friday (July 14) the three return to a stage they’ve made their own since 1982—the front room at Nietzsche’s—in what should be a trademark mix of originals and covers by everyone from Tom Waits to Steely Dan to Lucinda Williams and more. This early show starts at 7pm.