Singer/songwriter Lance Drake kicked off the new year last night (Wednesday, Jan. 3) with a great solo show at McGarrett’s. Lance has been a familiar face and sound on the local coffeehouse scene for long enough to gain a healthy following, and he’ll now be a regular player at the popular Elmwood Ave. nightspot. He’ll be performing at McGarrett’s every other Wednesday at 10pm, through mid-February if not longer, so catch him while you can. Upcoming show dates are Jan. 17, 31 and Feb. 12.

Head to Nietzsche’s this Saturday night (Jan. 6) at 9pm to celebrate Buffalo’s singers and songwriters with Michael Meldrum. Full Circle, presented by Meldrum’s Buffalo Song Project, will feature some of the best Buffalo has to offer, including John Brady, Alison Pipitone, Michael Morrissey, Mary Ramsey, Jessica Kern, Josh Gage, Helen Butler, Leah Kern, Starlet City and Meldrum himself. If you’re into the music scene here and can’t seem to find all your favorites, Nietzsche’s on Full Circle night will be one big family affair, so bring you and yours (and $4 for the door).

Kill Hannah has earned the reputation as one of America’s most inventive and exciting rock combos by putting an American spin on British modern rock. Their latest record, Until There’s Nothing Left of Us, is heavily influenced by their hometown of Chicago, and their sound could be described as the bridge between The Killers and My Chemical Romance. Playing along with them at the Icon on Sunday (Jan. 7), will be Action Reaction (pictured), whose debut album 3 Is The Magic Number is already garnering rave reviews. Action Reaction credits their cohesion as a band to their different personalities, and they incorporate powerful riffs and passionate vocals with their “part carnival, part arena rock” live shows. Tickets are available for $10 pre-sale, or $12 at the door

Musical nomad Julie Loyd will perform one of her kick-ass shows at Ms. Kitty’s Martini Bar this Saturday night (Jan 11) at 9pm. This acoustic rocker takes pride in the reputation she’s established for herself as a live performer, and has said that she makes it a point to see how many strings she can break in one show. With 170 performances or so under her belt each year, that can really add up. Loyd is a solidly established and accomplished singer and songwriter who has taken her solo act on the road for the past several years, playing in one area until she conquers it and then moving on. Her sound is somewhere between Ani DiFranco and Jonatha Brooke, all the while retaining a sense of self that explodes on stage. Also performing Saturday night are Nicole Hynes, Katie Miller, Tim Baldwin, and Lea Prentiss