Every Time I Die After Party featuring Soul Patch

Saturday, December 20

If you didn’t already buy your tickets for one of Every Time I Die’s three Christmas shows, then you’re out of luck. The Buffalo hardcore band’s 10th annual Christmas shows at Town Ballroom and Waiting Room are completely sold out. Hope is not completely lost as you still have a chance to join the band at their official after party Saturday (12/20 @10PM) at Waiting Room. The highlight of the night will be Buffalo’s favorite 90’s alternative cover band, Soul Patch. Fronted by Every Time I Die’s Keith Buckely, the band will be pounding down beers while performing almost every classic grunge (and sometimes iconic 90’s pop) song you can name. From Nirvana’s “Breed” to The Cardigans “Lovefool,” Soul Patch will show you just how much you loved the 90’s. The event will also have comedians Megan Pettit and James Kurdziel doing their stand-up routine in between sets as well as DJs Rick Jameson and Dovey. Put on your cleanest flannel shirt and grab a cold one from the bar. This is one after party you won’t want to miss.

- Jeff Czum

10PM Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (853-5483 / Waitingroombuffalo.com) $15 Advance $20 Day of Show

Thursday, December 18

Courage My Love

Hailing from Kitchener, Canada, twin sisters Mercedes Arn-Horn and Phoenix Arn-Horn, along with bassist Brandon Lockwood make up the pop-punk rock band, Courage My Love. CML has been taking over Canada through constant touring and creating a significant amount of internet-presence. After developing a strong musical reputation north of the border and in Japan, they have finally begun to breakthrough here in the States. After completing a successful run on the Vans Warped Tour, the Canadian group is making their way to the Studio at Waiting Room, Thursday (12/18 @6PM). The members might not be old enough to drink, but singer/guitarist Mercedes is a girl with a mature voice. Her stage presence is remarkable as she holds the crowd transfixed. Phoenix, from behind the drum kit, backs her sister up with duel vocal duties (using impossible to duplicate twin harmonies), while Brandon holds the rhythm down as he occasionally screams the lyrics for dramatic effects. The band has cited Paramore and Flyleaf to be a major influence, and say that fans of either band will find something they enjoy in CML.

- Jeff Czum

6PM Studio Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (853-5483 / Waitingroombuffalo.com) $10 Advance $12 Day of Show

Thursday, December 18

The Tins

After the success of their 2012 full-length album Life’s a Gas, the Buffalo band is back in action with their recent release of their EP Young Blame. Channeling influences from The Kinks, Badfinger, and Animal Collective, Young Blame features a familiar sound that showcases the talent of the bands musicianship. Each member of The Tins is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, bringing their own influences to each song on the EP. The opening track “Let it Go” features layered synth tracks with hard hitting punk style guitar playing and an epic chorus urging the listener to sing along with singer Adam Stanley. Vocal harmonies and textural synth sounds are mixed in each track to give the band their unique sound that fans have come to appreciate. Drummer David Muntner states “young Blame takes what we have learned from earlier recordings and refines the best parts, putting a greater emphasis on the vocals, the interplay between band members, the combination of electronic and organic elements, and the dynamics throughout each song.” The Tins offer a fun and positive vibe with their live performance and should not be missed when they play a free show at Iron Works Thursday night. (12/18 @8PM).

- Jeff Czum

8PM Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. (200-1893 / Buffaloironworks.com) Free Show

Thursday & Saturday, December 18 & 20

Owen Benjamin

Beyond the multiple sub genres of comedians– alternative, cringe, insult, lesbian etc., straight stand-up comedy still lives. Those would be clever comedians who stand onstage just to make you laugh without beating some gimmicky genre to a pulp. Owen Benjamin is a proud part of that team, and that will become clear this weekend at Helium Comedy Club. There has been no shortage of the Upstate New York native on screen this past year. He’s part of a popular TBS sitcom “Sullivan & Son” and has made multiple late night appearances. He has guest-starred on “Chelsea Lately,” “Inside Amy Schumer,” and has his own “Comedy Central Presents.” Benjamin has been compared to great comedians such as Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, but although he exhibits a similar brand of furious indignation, his observations and revelations are entirely his own humor. His angry, insightful act is an absorbing battle between his raw liberation instincts and his refined liberal sensibilities. Owen Benjamin is the kind of comic it would be fun to hang out with. He’s good-natured and goofy, and his comedy isn’t really acerbic or confrontational. He’s a guy who just wants to get on stage, have fun with the crowd and make you laugh.

- Jeff Czum

Thursday: 8:30PM / Friday: 7:30PM & 10PM / Saturday: 7:30PM & 10PM | Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St. (853-1211 / Heliumcomedy.com) $15-$22

Friday, December 19

USS

Buffalo has the privilege of receiving many great acts from just over the border. The Toronto duo Ubiquitos Synergy Seeker, better known as USS, has been playing around Western New York for a few years now, always putting on a well-received performance. USS is both diverse and complex. Interlacing electronica, alternative rock and hip-hop, with an aftertaste of 90’s flair, the group will leave you feeling completely satisfied whatever your musical interests. The duo have earned three CASBY Awards for Best New Artist, a Canadian Independent Music Award for favorite group of the year in 2012-and the list of accomplishments goes on and on. After major success of their debut album Questamation, the pair released their second EP Approved, with singles “N/A OK” and “Damini.” Proving that once you break through the bright/happy surface, the guys have a soft side. Crowds can’t help but to dance along to the drum and bass influenced “Anti Venom” or singing back the lyrics to the love anthem “2 15/16.” USS will be making their way across the border to Rapids Theatre Friday night (12/19 @6:30PM)

- Jeff Czum

6:30PM Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St. (205-8925 / Rapidstheatre.com) $15 Advance $20 Day of Show

Friday, December 19

PUP

The four members of PUP all quit their day jobs on the same day, went to a shitty tiki bar, and celebrated by getting blackout drunk. Within the span of four days, the Toronto band sent in the demo recordings for their debut album, and collectively made the decision to go into PUP fulltime after signing to SideOneDummy Records. Since the release of their self-titled debut album, PUP has gained a lot of buzz from punk rock fans all over North America. The album’s ten songs mix gang-vocal pop hooks, a complex rhythm section and angst-y lyrics, all of which are delivered with ferocious punk energy. The production is simple but effective, with raw arrangements that highlight each member’s ability to showcase their own talent. “We wanted to make an album that captured what we do live” Says front man Stefan Babcock. “We recorded mostly live off the floor and there are a lot of mistakes on the album, but they’re real and awesome. It sounds like us, playing our songs. That’s all I’ve ever wanted out of a punk rock record.” Lately, Canada has been the breeding ground for some of the best punk rock bands in the scene today and PUP is no different. Catch them this Friday night (12/19 @7PM) when they play the Studio at Waiting Room.

- Jeff Czum

7PM Studio at Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (853-5483 / Waitingroombuffalo.com) $10 Advance $12 Day of Show

Saturday, December 20

Mohawk Place Christmas Party with The Irving Klaws

The Irving Klaws will be headlining the Mohawk Place Christmas Party this Saturday (12/20 @8PM). For over a decade, the Irving Klaws have been one of Buffalo’s coolest bands. It’s their mind-bending mix of Syd Barret and Roky Erickson inspired psychedelic mania mixed with pummeling rockabilly and energetic surf sounds that make them so fun and entertaining. Beyond that the band just looks really cool. Although the group has released multiple albums, it’s their live show that has earned them their wild reputation. From go-go dancing spectaculars to supporting the legendary bands that inspired them like the Cramps and the Damned, the Irving Klaws will hook you. The band invites weirdos, fetish freaks and psychedelic nutcrackers to be part of this strange yet entertaining Christmas Party. Country/punk/metal group the Soul Butchers, The Poison Arrows, and Facility Men. If you’re tired of the same old-fashion holiday parties you find yourself going to year after year, this event will be a breath of fresh air.

- Jeff Czum

8PM Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St. (312-9279 / Buffalosmohawkplace.com) $5