Snapcase

Saturday, May 8th

Maybe it’s hard to keep a band this good down. Though they put the nails in their own coffin back in 2005, Snapcase is back! If you were lucky enough to come up in the WNY punk and hardcore scene in the 1990s (full disclosure: I was) then you got to see Snapcase rise from locally adored house band of the all-ages scene to a globally known and respected act. Few bands before or since have matched their power or perspective. From their earliest recordings on Victory Records to having videos on MTV and headline slots on Warped Tour, they consistently got better and grew musically, but always remained uncompromised and “underground” in ethos. By 2005, with over ten years in, they’d seemingly done it all, and on their own terms. While members moved on to be anything from teachers to Apple computer experts to racecar drivers, the idea of Snapcase never really died. Following three sold out charity gigs in late 2007, Snapcase reconvened in 2010 for a short run through the European festival circuit in April that was ultimately derailed by the volcanic activity in Iceland. For the time being, their only show is this Saturday’s sold out performance at Town Ballroom. The supporting cast of artists who are headed to Buffalo to join them for a one-off speaks volumes about the legacy they’ve created and the measure of esteem they’ve rightfully earned. There’s qualified NYC hardcore legends Sick Of It All, who are celebrating 25 years strong. Also the equally legendary renaissance man Walter Schreifels whose CV—from Youth of Today to Gorilla Biscuits to Quicksand to Rival Schools—reads more like a punk/hardcore “Best of” list. Add to the bill Toronto’s unstoppable Cancer Bats who are all at once heavy, funky, sludgy, and awesome. —donny kutzbach, (photo by Mark Miller/HMNI)

6:30pm (doors). Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com). $20/advance at Tickets.com (888-223-6000), box office, Tops Markets. All ages.

Thursday, May 6

Blue Light Border Cross Concert Series
Featuring Brownman, Type Relevant, DJ Cutler

The Blue Light Border Cross concert series is returning in May with a series of four concerts to be held at various locations. The series is in support of the Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, a nonprofit organization that helps to safeguard our waters here in the Buffalo-Niagara region. The concert series will feature bands from both the United States and Canada and help preserve the waters that both countries share. The series will kick-off with a show on Thursday (tonight! May 6) at the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery. The concert will feature Canada’s Brownman, a jazz trumpet player who was cited by Village Voice as “Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpet player,” along with Buffalo natives Type: Relevant and DJ Cutler.

The next installment of the series will feature Lee Harvey Osmond at the Sportsmen Tavern on May 13. A week later, May 20, Free Henry!, Melting Pot, and Aqueous will play to eager listeners at Nietzsche’s. And the Sportsmens Tavern will host the last installment of the series on May 27. The Royal Crowns, a Toronto trio, will be featured along with Texas native Rosie Flores.

—samantha mcdonnell

9pm. $5. Visit thegoodneighborhood.com or bnriverkeeper.com for more info

Saturday, May 8

Rob Falgiano CD Release Show

Rob Falgiano clearly loves his radio, and music in general. The Buffalo-based singer-songwriter makes his infatuation clear on the love song, “Hello Radio.” With a gentle voice and a groove with the dance floor in mind, Falgiano sings “Hello radio, when will you love me? I’ve been singing my heart out for years.” And he means it. The songwriter has a strong work ethic, averaging 50-80 gigs a year. The hard work is starting to pay off, with opening slots for many national acts including Jakob Dylan, 10,000 Maniacs, Nickel Creek, and Goo Goo Dolls. His songs have been featured on major television shows including “Felicity” and “Everwood.” Falgiano lists some of his influences as James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Frank Sinatra. Though these influences are somewhat evident in his songs, his own sound may be harder to peg. His use of digital blips and beats as flourishes sound something like Elvis Costello singing with the Postal Service. Falgiano will celebrate the release of his “18-song, 69-minute opus” All Star Heart with a party at Sportsmen’s Tavern on Saturday (May 8). Come support this local boy doing big things.

—peter vullo

9:30pm. Sportsmen’s Tavern, 326 Amherst St. (874-7734 / www.sportsmenstavern.com).

Sunday, May 9

Laura Marling

Having cemented herself as a mainstay in the London indie-folk scene for years now, singer/songwriter Laura Marling crosses the pond for a show at Soundlab this Sunday (May 9). An exceptionally poetic lyricist and storyteller, Marling hit the London circuit when she was just 16, playing, touring and collaborating with numerous bands along the way, including Noah and the Whale and the Rakes. Her horizons have expanded exponentially since her days playing around London, branching off into the solo realm to engage audiences and critics alike with her intimate, acoustic live performances. The “all grown up” Marling is still just 20 years old, but nonetheless displays a mature, tender writing style that touches on issues like womanhood, spirituality, and family. It is this kind of sophisticated, darkly romantic subject matter that makes her music so accessible and inviting. I Speak Because I Can (Virgin Records) is Marling’s second full-length album, showcasing her vocal range and preoccupation with melody and emotion. Listen closely, and you can actually hear her plucking the strings, sliding her fingers up and down the fret board. It’s not just live music, it’s therapy. Keeping with the overseas theme is the Middle East, out of Townsville, Australia, to open up the show.

—jon wheelock

8pm. Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab). $12-$14.

Sunday, May 9

Sugar & Gold

Somewhere between glow sticks and guitar picks you’ll find Sugar & Gold. The San Francisco quintet grooves like a cocaine-fueled ‘80s dance floor with an eccentric sense of fashion to match, like a super disco Prince. This five-piece is comprised of Philipp Minnig (vox/guitar), Nicolas Dobbratz (vox/keys), Jerome Steegmens (bass), Robin MacMillan (drums), and Fatima Fleming (backing vox). The group brings sex to the party with songs like “Body Aches,” taken from their recently released new album Get Wet!, and the refrain “I can still remember the taste of your sweat. I can remember the nights that we spent.” The band has kicked up a storm of glitter and confetti with accolades like “Best Local Dance Band” by San Francisco Magazine and “Best Party Band” by San Francisco Weekly, along with a sold out set at 2009’s SXSW festival and an array of song placements on MTV shows. They are on a seemingly endless touring schedule that the group says will be “spreading out across the oceans of the world and coming to a town near you.” Sunday’s (May 9) show at Mohawk Place kicks off at 9pm with the Seedy Seeds and Buffalo’s own Wooden Waves. DJ Dan O. will also be spinning the best post punk, new wave and disco between sets. This is mirror ball music. Prepare for the party.

—peter vullo

9pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (855-3931). $7

Monday, May 10

Pearl Jam & Band of Horses

There’s something to be said about longevity, and as they head into an astonishing steady twenty years as a band (while so many early ‘90s peers imploded or needed a hiatus) Pearl Jam has stood the test. Never satisfied to rest on past successes— like over 60 million records sold worldwide —they continue to blast forward. They are certainly a candidate for best live band on the planet at this moment. Currently touring behind the 2009 album Backspacer (Monkeywrench), the band’s live show has more potency and power than it ever has. This Monday’s (May 10) show should prove to be quite an event, particularly judging by Pearl Jam’s last appearance at HSBC Arena, which resulted in an epic 3-hour-plus set that tore through their entire catalog and saw the band paying fines out of their own pockets for breaking curfew rules.

And, though this time they are the supporting act, can it be long before Band Of Horses (pictured) are headlining arenas? Ben Bridwell and company’s feted third album Infinite Arms (due May 18 on Columbia) is a wide open, joyous record of reverberating guitars echoing strains of deep soul, Americana, 70s AM, and stadium rock, ever tethered by Bridwell’s exquisitely lonely, rangey tenor.

—donny kutzbach

7:30pm. HSBC Arena, One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza (855-4100 / hsbcarena.com). Tickets at LiveNation.com, Tickets.com, 888-223-6000

Tuesday, May 11

Mick Taylor

You ask any Stones fan who is the coolest guitarist ever (in the band) and there is an easy answer. No, not Keith Richards, ya dummy! Brian Jones, of course! And who was the most versatile and underrated Stones guitarist? It’s got to be Jones’ replacement, Michael Kevin “Mick” Taylor. Between 1969 and 1975, Taylor’s blues and jazz-inflected style helped soldier the Stones through an era when its leaders were either mired in drugged out debauchery (Richards) or in acting sidelines and tabloid headlines (Jagger). Taylor’s era in the Stones needs no reassuring, but it is getting it on May 18 with a grandly expanded edition of 1972’s Exile On Main Street, arguably the greatest rock and roll record ever made. The new edition shines a light on ten unearthed tracks and alternate versions. Taylor’s storied career highlights and hijinks will always be marked by his Stones daze, but his unmatched playing appears on plenty of other records, including those with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Mike Oldfield’s legendary Tubular Bells, and Bob Dylan’s Infidels and Empire Burlesque. Joining Taylor and his band as support for his Buffalo gig on Tuesday (May 11) are hometowners the Pillagers. Fresh from a tour of England and with a new album titled Extended Play, the Pillagers play a brand of rock that is heavy with touchstone classicisms but still brandishes punk’s vigor and serrated delivery.

—donny kutzbach

8pm. Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com). $28 presale/$30 day of show at all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone 1-800-745-3000. Ages 21+.

This performance has been canceled due to illness. See here for additional info.

Plants & Animals

Wednesday, May 12

A little bit of Radiohead, a hint of the Cure, and some Pink Floyd. These are the bands that come to mind when trying to describe the sound of Canadian indie rockers Plants & Animals. The band has been defined by many for their classic rock sound, despite the clear influence of 80s and 90s music as well. They, on the other hand, prefer to describe themselves with a term that they invented; “post-classic rock,” which seems to be more fitting. On their latest record, La La Land (Secret City Records), released in April, the band took a less than modern approach to making their music. They recorded the album on a 24 -track tape machine, editing with razor blades and splicing it together to create a warm and familiar analog sound. Singer/guitarist Warren Spicer belts out passionate Robert Smith-like vocals on their song “Tom Cruz,” singing desperately; “dying to be friends, oh we’re dying to be friends.” The spaced out and reverberated guitar riffs on “Swinging Bells” recalls Pink Floyd, while the simple piano, bass, guitars and vocals on “Game Shows” gradually builds to a climax like something off of The Bends. The three piece from Montreal will perform at Babeville’s Ninth Ward on Wednesday (May 12).

—cory perla

8pm (doors). Ninth Ward at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. $11 at Tickets.com (888-223-6000), Babeville box office, and Tops Markets.