Built to Spill with Slam Dunk and The Warm Hair

Sunday, November 10

One of the few outfits to successfully integrate innovative guitar work with melodic noise pop sensibilities, Built To Spill continue to transcend the aesthetics and ideologies of the long lamented SST Records roster of the 1980s. Awash with fuzz and distortion, Built To Spill take the acid drenched experiments of the Meat Puppets and Butthole Surfers and transform them into a raw beauty that echoes some of Neil Young’s finest moments. Hailing from Boise, Idaho, the band was formed by Doug Martsch after departing the criminally underrated Treepeople. Although the band was initially intended to be a thinly veiled solo project where the musicians rotated with each record, Built To Spill were soon a solidified band by the time of their third record. After receiving attention from college radio with their debut, Ultimate Alternative Wavers, Martsch released his first masterpiece entitled There’s Nothing Wrong With Love. A wondrous look into Martsch’s newly found domestic bliss, There’s Nothing Wrong With Love is one of those rare albums about love and happiness that refuses to fall into clichés or cringe inducing traps. The attention from the record allowed the band to sign to Warner Brothers Records, where the band has remained since. The band’s major label debut, Perfect From Now On, swapped the prettiness of There’s Nothing Wrong With Love for oblique lyricism and oceanic guitar noise. Keep It Like A Secret streamlined the experiments of Perfect From Now On and contained some of their most seminal pop moments, most notably “Broken Chairs” and “You Were Right.” Although 2001’s Ancient Melodies Of The Future received some mixed reviews, a brief hiatus seemed to resurrect the band and their two most recent recordings, You In Reverse and There is No Enemy, feature some of Martsch’s finest songwriting as well as some of his most realized experiments. Although often difficult to pin down, Built To Spill possesses a timeless sound that has influenced such luminaries as Modest Mouse and Death Cab For Cutie. While they remain undervalued, they are an entity in and of themselves and that’s probably just fine with them. Built To Spill perform at Town Ballroom on Sunday (Nov 10).

- Bill Nehill

8pm Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle (883-3560 / kleinhansbuffalo.org) $40-$75

Friday, November 8

Infected Mushroom

Infected Mushroom have been concocting a unique brand of trance techno music since their formation in 1997. The Israeli psychedelic-trance/electronica duo comprised of Erez Eisen (“Eisen”) and Amit Duvdevani (“Duvdev”) released their first studio album, The Gathering, in 1999. The album’s dark, rhythmic sonic atmosphere was met with a buzz, charming the masses and sparking a worldwide following that’s yet to burn out. Eisen and Duvdev blend styles like industrial, trip-hop, and goa (spiritualized dance music that originated in India). Although they’re often compared to electronica contemporaries, their music’s ratcheting, propulsive groans and aggressive synthetic beats align them closer to industrial rock than peppy electronic dance music. Taking contemporary styles and incorporating them seamlessly into their unique sound has allowed them to maintain their originality and avoid becoming stagnant in an ever-evolving genre. Infected Mushroom’s intricately, elaborate live performances feature vocals and analogue instruments juxtaposed with a multimedia backdrop. Listening to an Infected Mushroom studio album is simply incomparable to the jaw-dropping phenomena, percolating throughout the venue during a live show. Infected Mushroom will perform at Town Ballroom on Friday (Nov 8).

- Kellie Powell

8pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $22 advance, $25 day of show

Saturday, November 9

Future Islands

There are many reasons that Future Island’s last record, On The Water, is perfectly titled. Not only do the lush synthesizers throughout the band’s 2011 Thrill Jockey release rise and fall like ocean tides waxing and waning, but the emotions of vocalist Samuel Herring do as well. As if he’s stuck in a tidal cycle, his emotions slowly shift from yearning, to contented, to nostalgic. When he’s at his high tide, on songs like “Where I Found You” his band mates—keyboardist Gerrit Welmers and bassist/guitarist William Cashion—take over with glorious, swelling tones and pulsing basslines. When the tide is lowest you can imagine Herring skipping stones in the rain on a rocky shoreline reflecting on better moments or longing for more. At those moments Welmers and Cashion move into almost ambient territory on songs like “Close to None” and “Tybee Island.” The tide inevitably rises again though on swinging synthpop tunes like “Balance,” which channels 1980s neon new wave. On The Water is the follow-up to the band’s 2010 release In The Evening Air an equally melodramatic offering that occasionally gets more theatrical than its more subdued predecessor. It’s been a couple of years since Future Islands put out any new material, so don’t be surprised if they try out a couple of fresh tunes when they come to the Tralf Music Hall on Saturday (Nov 9).

- Cory Perla

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

Sunday, November 10

Story of the Year

Journey back to 2003 when Story of the Year’s “Until the Day I Die” was blasting out of radios throughout the United States. “Until The Day I Die” had everything to make any fan of mainstream post-hardcore salivate; simple yet catchy riffs, clean singing that eventually built up to climactic moments, and lyrics full of teen angst. A decade later and Story of the Year has fine-tuned their craft, yet maintained the same direction: loud and fast rock anthems that get your heart pumping. In 2010 they released The Constant, which is aptly titled as it features big riffs and melodies that are consistent with their past albums. The energy oozes out of The Constant as guitarists, Ryan Phillips and Philip Sneed fire off rapid guitar riffs alongside Dan Marsala’s crisp, industrial voice. This year marked the 10-year anniversary of SOTY’s first album, Page Avenue. In addition to a celebratory tour, they released an acoustic album, Ten Years And Counting. Although it’s been deemed an “acoustic” album the songs utilize acoustic guitars, pianos, percussion, keys, synths and more. On Sunday (Nov 10), Story of the Year will conclude their tour at Buffalo’s Waiting Room.

- Kellie Powell

6pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $16 advance, $18 day of show

Tuesday, November 12

Sinéad O'Connor

Multi-Grammy award winning artist, Sinéad O’Connor, will be making a stop in Buffalo at Riviera Theater on Tuesday (Nov 12). The Irish singer-songwriter has had a consistent career, but her popularity peaked after the release of her 1990 record I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, which featured the single “Nothing Compares 2 U” a devastatingly emotional cover of the song originally written by Prince. After almost 30 years as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, O’Connor hasn’t lost a step. In 2012, she released How About I Be Me (And You Be You), her ninth studio record, which has met critical acclaim. The album manages to focus on real issues like child abuse on “Take Off Your Shoes” while remaining anchored by emotional ballads like “I Had A Baby,” which features stunning, swelling production. Earlier this month O’Connor penned a widely read letter to pop star Miley Cyrus in which she gives some harsh yet motherly advice to the young singer on how to avoid being eaten alive by the music industry. The 46-year-old artist is a bright example of a musician who has relied on her talent over her image to push her career into always new and interesting places. O’Connor’s show at the Riviera Theatre is part of a small, 10-date North American tour so don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear this gifted musician live.

- Cory Perla

8pm Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413 / rivieratheatre.org) $41.50-$46.50

Thursday, November 14

Sleigh Bells

Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss met through Krauss’ mother while Miller was working as a waiter and seeking a new music venture after leaving hardcore band Poison the Well. Krauss, who was a vocalist for a girl band, teamed up with Miller, and combined they became the famous “bubble gum metal” group known as Sleigh Bells. They skyrocketed before even releasing a debut album; now they are touring worldwide and have been featured on some of the most reputable publications including SPIN Magazine, Pitchfork and CNN. With the release of their newest album, Bitter Rivals, they are on tour and will be playing at Town Ballroom on Thursday (Nov 14). Sleigh Bells have received high acclaims from huge names such as Diplo, M.I.A. and even Anthony Bourdain. The group can be viewed as half-and-half DJ and rock band as they incorporate electronic and live instrumentals for a performance that is like no other. The darkness of the metal-influenced guitar riffs paired with Krauss’ feminine and powerful vocals inspire a show that is violent yet floral. Always adorned with Ray Ban shades and tattoos, leather and camouflage, Sleigh Bells is sugar, spice and everything nice tossed into a grinder, spitting out destructive beauty.

- Alicia Greco

7pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $22 advance, $24 day of show

Thursday, November 14

Polish Film Showcase

Now in its eighth year, Canisius College’s Polish Film Showcase opens on Thursday (Nov 14) with the controversial movie Aftermath (Poklosie). Based on actual events, the story takes place in a rural Polish town in the modern day. Returned from American for a visit, Franek Kalina (Ireneusz Czop) tries to find out why all of the locals have turned against his brother Jozek (Maciej Stuhr, named Best Actor at the Polish Film Awards). It seems he has been uncovering evidence of his neighbors complicity in events that took place during World War II, events that the survivors will do anything not to face up to. Aftermath struck such a nerve that it was banned in parts of Poland. Time Out New York (where the film opened commercially last week) says “with its slow-burn pacing and horrifying reveals, Aftermath remains a deeply compelling puzzle.” Other films in the Showcase will be reviewed in next week’s Artvoice.

- M. Faust

7:30pm Canisius College Montante Cultural Center, 2001 Main St., $10 general, $5 seniors/students