In Buffalo music circles, Roger Bryan is the guy who can’t say “no” to playing music. Perhaps best known as the guitarist/singer of the Old Sweethearts, he’s been grafted onto and drafted into adding his talents as a player and singer on many projects. The songs on his new release The Engine Hum (Harvest Sum) are either leftovers from the Old Sweethearts or written as they came in the studio. “These were in a much different direction than what we were working toward,” Bryan insists, referring to the Old Sweethearts’ trademark sonic branching out. However, fans of that band’s first album will find plenty to love in the austere and thoughtful folk-rock of The Engine Hum. Bryan celebrates the album’s release this Saturday (August 25) with a 10pm show at Mohawk Place, supported by the Hammond Shutdown

Buffalo based singer-songwriter Vinnie DeRosa has been circulating himself in and aound town as a solo performer for years, most recently with a weekly Wednesday night gig at Staples on Allen St. This Saturday (August 25), he takes the stage at SideBar for an all-out rock show with Day Go Love, a band featuring Larry (Larz) Rizzutto on drums, Matthew James Castrenova on bass and A.J. Scibetta on keyboards. Vinnie takes the lead with electric guitar and vocals. Covering tunes from Hendrix and Bob Marley to Paul Simon, the band will also take on some of Vinnie’s original numbers. The show starts at 11pm.

What do you do after your band has had its biggest album to date, ruled the Warped Tour and gained some of the best critical notice of its career? If you’re Arthur “Ace” Enders and New Jersey emo-rock outfit the Early November, it seems you break up. In a March 2007 announcement on its website, the Early November broke the news that they would “be taking an indefinite hiatus” and followed that announcement with a series of goodbye shows. “Hiatus” doesn’t mean forever, but frontman Ace Enders isn’t even thinking about that right now: He’s too busy with a forthcoming pair of solo albums under the moniker Ace Enders and A Million Different People, and more from his other band, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business. Ace is taking a break for a quick solo tour which stops this Sunday (August 26) at Mohawk Place for an early show at 6pm. Support includes Paper Rival, Pete Nischt and the Common Kings .

Aurora Jane & Massive Change is an Australian progressive folk fusion act spearheaded by Jane Hole, a singer/songwriter with philosophical, political and spiritual convictions to spare. Their innovative, new-roots sound has catapulted the group from Australian stages to festivals and stadiums across the ocean, from NE India to the US. Once introduced at Woodford Folk Festival (one of the biggest annual cultural events in Australia) as “the secret lovechild of Ani Difranco & Jimi Hendrix,” the young musician is becoming internationally known for her intricate guitar style, definitive bass skills and powerful vocals. Aurora Jane comes to the states on a solo tour, where she’ll stop at the Sportsmen’s Tavern on Sunday (August 29) for an 8pm show.

Varnaline was one of the most underappreciated bands of the mid to late 1990s. With singer/songwriter Anders Parker as its nucleus, the band blended folk, country and indie guitar rock with a truly “lived in” impassioned voice. Albums such as Man Of Sin and Sweet Life were some of the best albums of the decade and won accolades internationally, but after 2001’s Songs In A Northern Key (which was essentially a solo album in all but name) Parker retired the Varnaline moniker. After releasing Tell It To The Dust in 2004, he collaborated with tourmate Jay Faraar (Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt) under the name of Gob Iron, which raised his profile even higher. This past year has seen the release of his self titled second full length. Parker performs at Mohawk Place on Monday (August 27) at 8pm. Opening are Tracy Morrow, Jim Colby and Ellen West, who will all be performing short acoustic sets.

Buffalo, NY based group the Reign of Kindo released their debut EP on August 21 on the Orlando, Florida label One Eleven Records. Reign of Kindo is comprised of the four remaining members of This Day and Age, after singer Jeff Martin left the band at the end of 2006. With former bassist Joseph Secchiaroli moving to front the band and the addition of bass player Jeff Jarvis (from Elektromat), Reign Of Kindo was born. The band’s attitude is best reflected by their drastic change in sound, a unique hybrid of bass and piano driven genre-bending music. Capitol Management is hosting the CD release concert at the Town Ballroom next Thursday (August 30) at 8:30pm, with special guests Brian Wheat and Ryan Anderson. Reign of Kindo will be touring the east coast this fall in support of the EP.