Exile on Allen Street: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones

Saturday, June 16

“While we are living this life, what’s with the whole speculation about the next one? It’ll either be there or it won’t,” said the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards in an interview with Hunter S. Thompson in 1993. Thompson’s response: “There are a lot of people out there who consider that you are already in the next world.” Maybe Keith has always had one foot in the astral plane. Maybe this is the reason why he rose to be such a god of rock and roll and a person who deserves a tribute every so often. In Buffalo, we pay tribute to the gods of rock each year with Artvoice’s annual Exile on Allen Street tribute to the Rolling Stones. This year will be no different when over 20 musical acts descend upon Nietzsche’s on Saturday (June 16) to perform at the altar of Keith and Mick. As always the line up is a mix of new-comers, veteran bands, and acts that come together just once a year specifically for this event. Some veteran bands performing again this year include Charr Savage and RiffRaff, Dead Flowers, 2nd Time Around, and Chances R while new comers to the event like Pete Sorkin, Autopunch, and Concubine will try out their licks on the Stones’ chops. Come out and give praise to the gods of rock!. —cory perla

9pm. Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com). $5. 21+.

Friday, June 15

Jeremy Jermaine Jerome with AJ Jordan

Jeremy Jermaine Jerome is the kind of guy you have to see to believe. Listening to his music almost doesn’t make sense without the visual representation of where it comes from. His music is weird, sometimes abrasive, and kind of all over the place, but so is the man. Jerome’s latest project is a surreal short film called “-----“ (Dash Dash Dash Dash Dash) and there is a lot of bizarre religious imagery and a message about racism to sort through, but his main goal is to just spark conversation—whether it be about religion, racism, or art. Jerome will perform as Just Ending Now this Friday (June 15) at Soundlab along with Artvoice Best of Buffalo winner for “Best Hip Hop Act,” AJ “The Crescendo” Jordan. The Crescendo can be a scary guy to look at—with his white-out eyes, tattooed forearms, and sadistic grin—but his performance speaks for itself and has earned him opening spots for the likes of Three Six Mafia, Kottonmouth Kings, and I.C.P. 12 & Konspiracy open the show. —cory perla

8pm. Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (440-5907 / bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab). $8 advance, $10 day of show.

Friday, June 15

Hollerado

Every start-up band and their mothers hand out those crappy demo CDs packaged in plastic bags. You know what I’m talking about—ever leave a show and get bombarded with flyers and demos and useless things from bands trying to make it “big?” Well, Hollerado—an indie-rock band formed from four guys who grew up on the same little street in Ontario—did just that in attempt to get their music out to the world. They’ve come a long way from those early days, but they haven’t abandoned their DIY ways; they ditched formal manufacturers and hand-package every single record in plastic bags, filled with prizes and surprises for their fans. Kind of like a Cracker Jacks box, but you get an insanely catchy CD of guitar pop instead of cruddy popcorn. The group prides itself on being creative and fun—check out their video for “Good Day at the Races.” The group filmed the video at an exotic animal farm in Kansas and even raced ostriches. While no ostriches will be present, you can check out Hollerado for yourself Friday night (June 15) at Mohawk Place with special guests Topanga and Johnny Nobody. —rebecca bratek

7pm. Mohawk Place, 47 East Mohawk Street. (855-3931 / themohawkplace.com) $10 advance, $12 day of show.

Friday, June 15 - Sunday, June 17

Convergence 18: Buffalo

Buffalo gets a healthy dose of subculture this weekend for Convergence 18, the annual three-day international goth convention that has served as a gathering place for the internet-based goth and goth fashion community since 1995. Each year, Convergence sets up shop in a new city, bringing in an onslaught of music, DJs, vendors, art shows and fashion upon such locales as New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Montreal. This Friday (June 15th) through Sunday (June 17th), Convergence 18 invades Buffalo—a city known to celebrate alternative and unexpected art of all kinds—for the three-day Goth gala at Wasteland Studios on Main Street. Festivities include the C18 Fashion Show (Friday 11pm), featuring some not-so-mainstream designs from Sludgefaktory, Futurstate, and Gloomth. Musical performers include the electronic workings of Buffalo’s own Armageddon Party (11pm Saturday), and Third Realm (1am), in addition to a slew of DJs spinning throughout the weekend. Headlining the event is local dark electro-rock band Garda, and NYC’s famed goth renaissance man Voltaire. All events are BYOB, with single day and weekend badges available. Join the dark side. —jon wheelock

Wasteland Studios, 2nd Floor, 700 Main Street. (altgothic.com/c18buf). Single passes $20-$25, all weekend $60.

Saturday, June 16

Deco-Fest

As it has been in years past, the 2012 Deco-Fest will be a celebration of the swing and style of the Buffalo Central Terminal. The Terminal is not only the home of and inspiration for Deco-Fest, but is also its main beneficiary. One hundred percent of the proceeds from Deco-Fest will go towards the preservation and restoration of the seventeen-story Art Deco style station, which is on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. The date of this event is fitting, this Saturday (June 16), as it is one week away from the 83th anniversary of the Terminal’s first day of scheduled service (June 23, 1929). Sure to be jumping with festive attendees, the Deco-Fest will feature swing, blues, big band, and rockabilly music from Gas House Gorillas, Double Down, Krypton 88, Kickstart Rumble, The Millwinders, and The Vignettes. If your moves need some work and 1920’s flare, Chuck Chazz and the Next Generation Swing and Swing Buffalo will be on hand offering dance lessons and demonstrations. If you are more of a wallflower, you can behold the vintage vaudeville style performances from Chelsea Green of Pole Play Dance Studio and Eye Candy Burlesque. Outside in the parking lot Lost Kustoms will present a car show featuring twenty vintage cars and rat rods. There will also be the Miss Deco-Fest Contest, refreshments provided by Pott’s Deli and much more. Ladies, dust off your cloche hat, and fellows, dig out your Oxford Bags for this swinging retro affair. —jill greenberg

4pm. Buffalo Central Terminal, 495 Paderewski Drive. (deco-fest.com, buffalocentralterminal.org) All ages. $20/$15/free for Kids 12 and under.

Saturday, June 16

Discover Amherst Street

The 15th annual Discover Amherst Street festival promises to be the perfect blend of old school neighborhood favorites and new kids on the block. The celebrations kick off on Saturday (June 16) with a best pie in Black Rock contest at 10am, followed by a War of 1812 themed parade at noon. Children are invited to decorate their bicycles, which will be judged after the parade. Black Rock stalwart Spar’s European Sausage Shop, will also host a sausage-eating contest at 3:30pm. When you’re done stuffing yourself, take an art break at Artsphere Gallery and 464 Gallery for a jewelry sale and photo exhibit. Recent Black Rock addition Delish!, which uprooted last summer from its Elmwood location to expand on Amherst Street, will also host a beer and wine garden with live music throughout the day, while another new business in the area—and Elmwood Village uproot—Bauhaus Salon of Design will have artwork on display as well as refreshments. Check out the event page for more details: www.facebook.com/DiscoverAmherstStreetFestival. —leigh giangreco

10am to 6pm. Amherst Street from Elmwood to Military. (grantamherst.com).

Saturday, June 16

Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros

With soulful harmonies, passionate guitar-drenched melodies, and lyrics that ponder the forks in life he crossed, Walt Wilkins and his Austin Hill Country Super Group The Mystiqueros rocked Buffalo so well last summer that Sportsmen’s Tavern owner Dwane Hall knew he had to bring them back. This time, they’ll be joined on Saturday (June 16) by even more Mystiqueros, who have grown as a group both in number and musical talent. The singer and songwriter Wilkins was born in San Antonio. He has been called a genius more than once while his vocals have been described as comfortable as an old pair of jeans. He has had six solo albums, three albums with the Mystiqueros, and has produced over 30 records for other artists in the last 3 years alone. His songs have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Pam Tillis, Cory Morrow and Ty Herndon. Don’t miss Wilkins and The Mystiqueros’ second visit to Sportsmen’s Tavern, as they once again grace Buffalo with soulful, upbeat, and inspiring country music with Buffalo’s the Steam Donkeys playing in support. If you’re looking for an extra dose of country/folk, check out famed Canadian singer/songwriter Linda McRae—who is celebrating her 25th anniversary as a recording artist with her fourth album Rough Edges & Ragged Heart—on Friday (June 15), also at the Sportsmen’s Tavern. —lisa khoury

8:30pm. Sportsmen’s Tavern, 326 Amherst St. (874-7734 / sportsmenstavern.com). $15. 21+.

Saturday, June 16

Reid Speed

Reid Speed may have gotten her start promoting 2-step garage in the early millennium, but since branching out from her roots at Breakbeat Science Records in New York, this mutlifaceted D.J. has expanded her resumé to include dubstep, drum and bass, electro, techno, fidget house and moombahcore. Her versatility is evident in her songs like “U Hold the Weed,” a techno beat that transitions seemlessly into piano, or “Don’t Get High [on your own supply],” a high energy galatic marching band drum. The pixieish spin master has broken ground for women on the D.J. scene, even starting her own labels, Play me Records and Play Me Too. In the past decade, she has collaborated with Ming and FS, while also mixing Le Tigre’s manifestation powered battlecry, “Dyke March.” Dubstep fans may know her better for playful and possessed sounding hit, “Bass Monster.” While her shredding beats sound like something you could only hear on a psyched out trip at Berlin club, you can catch Reid Speed at Soundlab this Saturday (June 16) with Buffalo’s HXLY, Potent J, Papi Chulo, and Loki. —leigh giangreco

10am to 6pm. Amherst Street from Elmwood to Military. (grantamherst.com).

Tuesday, June 19

Childish Gambino with Danny Brown

Childish Gambino a.k.a. Donald Glover is not afraid of the microphone. Before he grabbed the mic to start spitting his rhymes as Childish Gambino, the 28-year-old grabbed the mic as a stand-up comedian. “My favorite thing is people are always like, ‘You’re the same person?’,” Glover explains. “There’s no difference between Donald Glover and Childish Gambino—they’re the same. I just want people to come at my music differently.” As one would expect, the rapper has a lot of opinions about hip-hop and comedy and how the line can be easily blurred. “Made the beat then murdered it. Casey Anthony,” he raps on “Bonfire” the lead single from his 2011 album Camp. Joining Glover on stage this Tuesday (June 19) at the Town Ballroom is the always eccentrically dressed, and equally hilarious Detroit rapper Danny Brown. Real name Daniel Sewell, the 31-year-old rapper hit it big last year with his in-your-face and exquisitely produced record, XXX. With tracks like the relentless “Pac Blood” to the hilarious “Die Like A Rockstar” and the serious “DNA,” Danny Brown put out one of the most critically acclaimed hip hop records of 2011. His latest video for his single “Grown Up” comes complete with a child version of the hardcore rapper wreaking havoc on his neighborhood. Don’t miss these lyrical masterminds when they come to Buffalo this week. —cory perla

7pm. Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com). $25 advance.