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See You There!

Artvoice's weekly round-up of featured events, including our editor's pick for the week: Caspian, playing Saturday, March 23rd at Soundlab.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our full events calendar on-line for complete event listings, a location guide to find your way about the city, restaurant reviews, and more.

Caspian

Saturday, March 23

There is one brand of rock music that I don’t think can ever die, and that is post-rock. It’s surprising to me that it took so long for post-rock to develop in relation to the rest of rock and roll, but it might be that this instrumental brand of rock music is the most timeless of any subgenre of rock, accentuating sound over structure and texture over symbolism. Caspian might not have the name recognition of massive post-rock acts like Sigur Rós, Explosions in the Sky, or Mogwai but that does not mean this six-piece band from Beverly Massachusetts is less creative, spectacular, or moody. If you’ve followed Caspian’s decade long career you’ll know that they came into existence in the early 2000’s at a time when post-rock was coming down from a peak. After releasing a string of demos and an EP, the band released their debut full length, Four Trees, in 2007, which received positive reviews from critics but was generally overlooked by fans of the genre. Now, in the second decade of the new millennium the post-rock wave is swelling again and Caspian is riding the crest with their latest album, Waking Season, released on Triple Crown Records in September of last year. Spin Magazine called Waking Season the “Best Post-Rock Record of the Year” a bold statement, as 2012 was a good year for the genre, with albums from Swans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Rós, and Mogwai to compete with. Produced by Matt Bayles, known for his work with Mastodon, Minus the Bear, Russian Circles, and MONO, Waking Seaons is a powerful album full of soaring guitars that relentlessly build in intensity song after song. Their latest music video, an ethereal live scene of the album’s title track that shows off the bands on-stage intensity, begins as guitarist Philip Jamiseon leads the group while another member quietly taps on an acoustic guitar with a pair of drumsticks. The song steadily gains momentum, but instead of blasting off into space, they simply bring you to the edge and let you drop off. Don’t miss Caspian when they come to Soundlab on Saturday (March 23) with support from Indiana indie-rock band Native.

- cory perla

8pm Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (440-5907 / bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab) $13 advance, $15 day of show

Friday, March 22

The Devil Wears Prada and As I Lay Dying

Longevity in the music industry seems harder to sustain nowadays. There are numerous factors that can be looked at as the cause, but the industry keeps evolving and musicians are finding new ways to stay relevant. As I Lay Dying is one of those bands who have survived longer than a lot of their contemporaries and have been one of the more successful bands within their genre. The Christian metalcore group from San Diego is in their thirteenth year together and continue to grow and attract fans, despite the genre’s general decline. Their sixth studio album, Awakened, was just released this past September and builds upon the style they have developed over the years. This Friday (March 22) the band will be playing the Town Ballroom, and sharing the stage with another Christian metalcore act, The Devil Wears Prada. Opening the night will be For Today and The Chariot. The show was initially scheduled for Club Infinity, but with the venue recently closing, the show was moved to the Town Ballroom. As I Lay Dying puts on one hell of a show and is dedicated to giving their fans their money’s worth. The band came to Buffalo a few years ago without their lead singer, Tim, as he had flown home to be with family after a close relative had passed away. Tim flew to Buffalo that night as the opening bands played, and arrived just in time to give a memorable and inspired performance. Things like that set them apart and could be just another reason why they’ve stuck around.

- jeremiah shea

6pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $20 advance, $25 day of show

Friday, March 22 & Saturday, March 23

JB Smoove

Most people probably know comedian JB Smoove as Leon Black, Larry David’s most recent partner in crime on Curb Your Enthusiasm. JB Smoove, real name Jerry Brooks, joined the cast of Curb Your Enthusiasm as Leon in season six as part of a family who moved into the David’s house after Hurricane Katrina. He quickly became an essential cast member. In addition to Curb, Smoove has appeared on various TV shows from Everybody Hates Chris to The League, and Louie, as well as in movies like Pootie Tang, the Louis C.K. directed comedy cult classic, and most recently in Movie 43. What most people don’t know about Smoove though, is that he’s also the Segway Pimp, a hard talkin, two wheel ridin’ pimp from Oakland. “He’s a bad mutha whose feet never touch the ground. The perfect fusion of man, machine and badass” reads the description of the Segway Pimp next to the “trailer” for the Segway Pimp “movie,” on Smoove’s website, The Ruckus. Smoove brings the ruckus, his catch phrase and general state of being, wherever he goes, be that the movie set or the stand up stage. The 46-year-old comedian has written for Saturday Night Live and has been a regular on shows like Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Smoove brings his hilarious comedy stylings to Helium Comedy Club this Friday and Saturday (March 22 and 23), for four shows. Don’t miss out!

- cory perla

8pm and 10:30pm Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St. (853-1211 / heliumcomedy.com) $20 for Friday shows, $25 for Saturday shows.

Friday, March 22

Kurt & The Loders play The Bends

Radiohead’s The Bends is one of the more important albums of the 1990s. After breaking through with “Creep,” off 1993’s Pablo Honey, Radiohead proved they were no flash in the pan when they created a follow-up that featured deeper lyrics, and more complex instrumentation. Many a depressed high school student has spent nights alone in their room crying along to “Fake Plastic Trees,” “Bulletproof....I Wish I Was,” and of course, the all-time weeper “Street Spirit (Fade Out),” which was actually about environmental destruction but seemed to describe the symptoms of depression pretty well anyway. While the band would go on to create more complex work with OK Computer and Kid A, this was the album that established them as one of best bands in the world. This Friday (March 22), local tribute act Kurt & the Loders will be performing the classic album at the Tralf Music Hall. Kurt & The Loders are a cover band that acts as a tribute to all of the excellent music that came out of the 1990s. Earlier this year, they played a show dedicated to the music of Pearl Jam, and before that, Weezer. They like to focus their efforts on the very best acts to come out of this era, and in that regard, Radiohead was an excellent choice to pay homage to. Any Radiohead fan looking to hear a different act tap into the precise musicianship and raw emotion that made The Bends such a great album would be wise to check out the scene at the Tralf this Friday. Special guest Brad Gowers opens the show.

- john hugar

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $10 advance, $12 day of show

Saturday, March 23

Ikebe Shakewodn with Thunder Body and Slykumu Trio

Everything is better with horns. Brooklyn-based afrobeat outfit Ikebe Shakedown brings some serious brass to the table, boasting a horn section that can maneuver through ultra-tight lines with precision and power. The rest of the band is equally as skilled when it comes to delivering the soulful Afro-funk vibes that Ikebe specializes in, with unrelenting bass grooves, funky guitar chords and globally charged, highly danceable rhythms from the percussion section rounding out this eclectic seven-piece ensemble. The chemistry these guys share on stage is truly something to behold, and you can all bear witness to the funk onslaught when Ikebe Shakedown returns to Buffalo this Saturday (March 23rd) at Nietzsche’s. Joining Ikebe Shakedown is Rochester-based roots-reggae band Thunder Body, fusing together everything from soul, dub, funk, gospel and hip-hop, all while cleverly manipulating their sound with analog and circuit bent tricks. Formed by former Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad members Matt O’Brian and Rachel Orke, Thunder Body gives roots reggae a futuristic makeover, which makes for a distinctive sound that you’ll likely be hearing much more of as the band’s stock continues to rise in New York and beyond. Opening the show is the Slykumu Trio, a collaborative effort from Griffin Brady and the Slyboots School of Music & Art that pays tribute to colorful West African music and dance.

- jon wheelock

9pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $7, 21+

Saturday, March 23

Pile with Fat History Month

Alternating between outbursts of sound and mellow clean atmospheres, Pile has a style that is akin to a modern take on the leading bands in 1990’s rock. Consistently dynamic, Pile can go from softly serenading the listener, to heightening their anxiety, to finally sending them into a fit of frenetic behavior. Based out of Boston, their soaring vocals can suddenly transform into throat shredding shrieks that keep the listener actively engaged. They will be joined at Duke’s this Saturday by fellow Bostonians Fat History Month, a band with an eye grabbing name and equally intriguing music. This two piece employs reverb-heavy ambience, witty humor, and heavy indie rock noises. Also performing are dark, haunting garbage-rock act JOHNS, and alternative rock band Failure’s Union. If you’re down for a night of innovative 1990’s inspired rock music, these groups have all the ingredients you need to satisfy your musical hunger. DJ Dano, Malik Saint of Shaken Stylus, The Plastic Shaman, and DJ Johnny Drama will be spinning your favorite songs all night long.

- tom etu

9pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $5, 21+

Sunday, March 24

Old Man Leudecke

Old Man Luedecke is one of those musicians you listen to when you need a mental hug. The lyrical storytelling and heartwarming sounds of Chris Luedecke are sure make your day a little bit brighter. The most recent album entitled Tender Is the Night was amazingly produced live in four days by Tim O’Brien in Nashville’s The Butcher Shoppe. Inspiration from the prouction location is evident in songs like “Kingdom Come” and “A&W Song.” Some of Old Man Luedecke’s sounds also came from the inspiration of producer, O’Brien and his multi-instrumental talents. Luedecke, a Nova Scotia native focuses on the bluegrass, folk, and pop hooks of the American Nashville culture, in addition to his metaphor-filled lyrics that keep your ears interested. “I am running like everyone else. Laughing just to keep from crying. I am always trying to find a way to express,” says Luedecke. “I am a prisoner for my appreciation for language; language that moves me is language that is unusual. I feel like it’s an important thing I can contribute to songwriting.” Luedecke is a humble man who loves what he is doing and it shows. Each song is very obviously created with meaning and purpose; he takes the time to choose what he wants to say and how to say it. An Old Man Luedecke concert, like the one at the Ninth Ward this Sunday (March 24) is a concert you will want to bring your girl to and enjoy the set list of a man with great musical talent and presence.

- kendra sornberger

7pm Babeville’s Ninth Ward, 341 Delaware Ave. (852-3835 / www.babevillebuffalo.com) $12 advanced, $15 day of show

Wednesday, March 27

That 1 Guy

A born entertainer, That 1 Guy has one of the most confusing names in the industry. Ask someone if they’ve ever heard of him and unless they’re in the know, the response is typically, “Which one guy?” Absurdity and bewildering wordplay are two crucial elements in That 1 Guy’s quirky one man act, butt wait! There’s more! Grooving rhythms, magic tricks, and many unusual surprises are sure to be present, and the Magic Pipe itself is a sight to behold. A futuristic looking instrument, it consists of bass strings, steel pipes, various sensors, and was probably the cause for many trips to Home Depot and Guitar Center. That 1 Guy’s arsenal also includes a “Magic Boot” and a “Magic Saw.” He has been known to perform his own rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on the latter. A classically trained bass player, That 1 Guy has a keen sense of humor that is enormously prevalent in his lyrics, which are sure to lift your spirits as you shake your butt to “Buttmachine” or swing your fists to “Packs a Wallop.” Did I mention that he has collaborated with Buckethead? That 1 Guy’s live show surely packs a wallop that will leave you smiling with a fat lip, and aching for another serving of “Weasel Pot Pie.” He’ll be at The Forvm on Wednesday (March 27) with special guests Captain Ahab’s Motorcycle Club.

- tom etu

8pm The Forvm, 4224 Maple Road (831-3271 / theforvmbuffalo.com) $12