Parquet Courts

Wednesday, June 26

Punky Brooklyn band, Parquet Courts, lets it all hang out, lyrically and instrumentally. Inspired by post-punk’s Sonic Youth, Guided by Voices, and Texas rapper Mike Jones, the band keeps it close to home by talking about what they know, what they like, and whatever comes out. In their newest 2012 album Light Up Gold, songwriters Austin Brown and Andrew Savage wear the frustration of writer’s block on their sleeves in the songs “Borrowed Time” and “No Ideas.” “It’s not in vogue really to wear your emotions on your sleeve, mostly because people take that to be too nostalgic or romantic—but I don’t,” Savage says. Savage finds that people of their generation (20-somethings) are encouraged to choke down what they’re really feeling in their creative outlets. Vague equates to better, many think, but the group is trying to break down that mentality. The album is honest and simple at times, on songs like “N. Dakota” and “Stoned and Starving,” while dabbling in stronger messages that require a little decoding like “Light Up Gold II” and “Tears O’ Plenty.” Parquet Courts possess an effortless view of life in the moment and, despite their self-skepticism, compose sharp lyrics to be coupled with metronomic drum rhythms and incessant guitar weaving that borders on surf rock. Light Up Gold, a fresh effort from Parquet Courts, keeps the group on tour until October. They are scheduled to perform for Buffalo at the Tralf Music Hall on Wednesday (June 26).

- jaz frazier

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

Thursday, June 20 - Saturday, June 22

Buffalove Music Festh

Buffalo has great food, die-hard sports fans, and stunning architecture, but that’s just where the list starts. This weekend, we can add another item to the list: Buffalove Music Festival. It’s Buffalo’s first festival of this nature and the creator, Cody Conway, hand-picked a bill that’s dominated by homegrown, Buffalo talent. Bands that have their roots in jam, reggae, funk, blues, and the like will be making the short trip to Willow Creek Winery in Silver Creek this weekend to take part in three nights of great music, beautiful scenery, and good neighbors from whom the city bears its name. The pre-gaming begins Thursday with Steel Keys & Brass, Groove Force, and Blue Rootz, with the bulk of the festival taking place Friday and Saturday. On Friday, you can catch Stagecoach Robbery, Slip Madigan, DoDriver, and Aqueous. Playing Saturday is Imperial Brown, Off Aurora, Space Junk, Luanjie, Wonder Crayon, Buffalove Superjam, Universe Shark, Smackdab, and Funktional Flow (pictured). “Buffalove is a labor of love for the incomparable Cody Conway who runs Buffalo Jams. He organized everything and got the ball rolling and has really done a fantastic job making this the festival of the summer,” said Funktional Flow’s Jeff Kuebler. “There really has been so much support from our city and the fans in Buffalo it warms you up just talking about it.”

- jeremiah shea

Willow Creek Winery 2627 Chapin Rd. Silver Creek, NY (buffalovemusicfest.com) $35 advance, $45 day of show

Friday, June 21

BBQ & Blues Bash

Nothing indulges the senses of summer more than sweet, sticky, barbecue and guitars in the open air. Nothing tops a cobblestone pedestrian street and beer tents galore. This Friday’s fifth annual BBQ & Blues Bash on Mississippi Street has it all. Blues jams will be provided by two locally renowned and nationally recognized made-in-Buffalo bands: the Mick Hayes Band headlines the Bash, and the Dave Constantino Band will take the stage for the first time in Blues Bash history. Local BBQ powerhouses such as Dinosaur BBQ, BW’s Smokin’ Barrels BBQ, Big Belly BBQ, R&R BBQ Food Truck, and Adventures in Heat will be serving up hot summer delicacies. But this isn’t your average barbecue – Mississippi Street will offer a diverse platter: Do bacon-wrapped BBQ ribs not make your mouth water? How about Pina Colada Pork? BBQ smoked meatballs and BBQ turkey sandwiches have also made the menu. Not only will your stomach fill quickly but you’ll have an opportunity to win free door prizes (including a signed Tyler Ennis jersey), a raffle for Buffalo Bill’s season tickets, and a Sabres alumnus and some Bills players will be in attendance. Proceeds go to the children served by Gateway-Longview, an organization that has been providing care, counseling, and support to children and families of Western New York—in one form or another—for over 100 years. Tickets are $20 presale, $25 day-of—include drinks and music, food tickets sold separately. Free parking in First Niagara Center lot. The event is rain or shine, must be 21+ to attend.

- meghan sauer

5:30pm to 9:30pm Mississippi Street, Buffalo (bbqbluesbash.com) $25

Saturday, June 22

Living Electric

The sound of bass will fill the air on the East Side of Buffalo when Loki DNB and Bass Mountain Events bring Living Electric, an all day and night electronic music gathering, to the DNIPRO Ukrainian Cultural Center on Saturday (June 22). The event is a follow up to the Bass Mountain Winter Massive, which packed the DNIPRO Center in February with quality DJs and enthusiastic fans. This time around should be a little different though. Headliners Dyshemic & Miss Eliza, hailing from Melbourne Australia, are not your ordinary music makers. The duo combines acidic break beats with live violin playing—a unique experience that has pleased crowds across the world. The duo will take the Bass Mountain Main Stage along with drum and bass producer A-Sides from the UK; psychedelic beat makers Horizon Wireless from New York City; Syracuse drum and bass DJ Scro, and more. Evac Protocol, AudioInFlux, Notixx, and electro rock jamband Solaris all make their way to Buffalo for over half a day’s worth of music as well. Local and regional acts like Basha, Arehouse, Drop D, Loki, Paul K, Brother Bear and many more will of course join in on the fun, which will take place across three stages including a new outdoor stage. As always, there will be expert lighting and sound to add to this genre bending musical experience. If you think you know what to expect from a Bass Mountain event, think again.

- cory perla (photo by don burns)

2pm-5am Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center, 562 Genesee St. (lokidnbtix.webs.com) $25

Sunday, June 23

The Zombies

The Zombies are invading! Everyone knows their classic songs and is graced with them on the radio, (if you grew up with them) your personal collection, and (if you’re younger) your parent’s album collection. But the Zombies still perform the same old hits with flair and gusto to their hungry audiences. In 1962, the high school friends joined up and shortly after, in 1964, cashed in big with “She’s Not There.” The band put out Odessey and Oracle in 1968, which to the band’s horror, was misspelled by the printing company. They claimed for a while that the misspelling was intentional, linking it to some deeper meaning of the album. Odessey was self-produced to escape the pressures to reiterate their earlier sound and was only album they claim was truest to their interest as musicians. The band broke up in 1967, before the album was even released. In 1969, “Time of the Season” and “Tell Her No” finally gained popularity in the states. By then, the members had already broken off into different projects. They were badgered by CBS to put out more records and do reunion tours, but The Zombies had folded on all of the offers, though being offered generous compensation. Admirably, The Zombies preferred to keep it about the love of their music instead of the monetary reward partnered with sating record companies. Guitarist Paul Atkinson passed away in 2004, but the Zombies (featuring Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent) still got their “mojo workin’” for their performance at the Tralf Music Hall on Sunday (June 23).

- jaz frazier

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $39 advance, $44 day of show

Wednesday, June 26

Toubab Krewe

It is a bold statement to deem someone or oneself “worldly,” and to have such a characteristic is admirable. If you were to hear Toubab Krewe with no insight into their background, you may not guess they are based in Ashville, North Carolina. The members of the band are wonderfully cultured and it is heard through their music. After traveling to live and study in Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Mali, their music is inspired by the true roots of African music yet still has 21st century influences. It is traditional tribal with the innovative sound of modernity. It is a cultured experience. The band members perform with instruments authentic to Africa in addition to the ones we are all too familiar with; Justin Perkins tends to the kora, kamele ngoni, guitar and percussions; Vic Stafford on the drums and congas; Drew Heller with guitar, piano and some fiddle; David Pransky on bass and guitar; Luke Quaranta on the djembe and percussion. In addition to headlining major festivals like Bonnaroo and Wakarusa, Toubab has also released their second album TK2 under Nat Geo Music, National Geographic’s record label. Opening the night will be the Slyboots Drum Ensemble, the resident ensemble at Buffalo’s Slyboots School of Music, Art and Dance. The ensemble is comprised of teachers and some of the school’s top students. It is a night to culture yourself and vibe to African-inspired jams. Bands like Toubab don’t come through Buffalo too often, so don’t miss out.

- alicia greco

9pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $13 advance, 21+

Thursday, June 27

Best of D&B Tour 2013 featuring AK1200 & DJ Dara

AK1200 has been spinning drum and bass for as long as it has existed. The veteran DJ is a pioneer when it comes to D&B; he’s been on the scene since the early 1990s spinning break beats and dropping blistering remixes. The Orlando based DJ has produced dozens of memorable tracks under his AK1200 moniker including “The Autopsy” and his edit of “Drowning,” a rhythmic and catchy dance floor banger. Recently he’s joined forces with producers Bill Hamel and Meaux Green and others to form 2against1. This godfather of jungle music is also the founder of Big Riddim Recordings. The drum and bass all-star comes to the Town Ballroom on Thursday (June 27) with another all-star, DJ Dara. Dara is a long time collaborator of AK1200, and a fixture of the Planet of the Drums group. Hailing from Ireland he became an important part of the US drum and bass scene when he arrived here in the early 1990s. AK1200 and DJ Dara will be joined by a long list of supporting DJs including Canada’s Alpha Flight Krew, Rochester’s Flex, Bittle, and Perceptor, and Buffalo’s Paul Kuenzi, Bass Affiliates, and Killsound when the “Best of D&B Tour” comes to Buffalo this week.

- cory perla

9pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $22 advance, $25 day of show