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See You There!

Artvoice's weekly round-up of featured events, including our editor's picks for the week: The Christmas Party & Sound in Motion New Year's Eve, both taking place at the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery on Christmas and New Year's Eve, respectively.

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.



The Christmas Party / Sound in Motion New Year's Eve

Wednesday, December 25 & Tuesday, December 31

Two of the biggest holiday parties are at one great place this year. MNM Presents’ annual Christmas Party and Sound In Motion New Year’s Eve parties will both be at the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery. The Christmas Party has become a Buffalo Christmas night tradition. Stretched across 3 floors of the Pearl Street Grill—including the main room, bass music on the patio, and a house music room hosted by igloo Music—The Christmas Party is a who’s who of local DJs including Notixx, DJ 3P0, Swagglerock, Hoogs with MC Braka D, Paul Kuenzi, Brandon Chase, Jesse Aaron, Criminal Sound, Ryan Lidell, Brother Bear & DJ Medison, Eyes Everywhere, McNasty, Stuntman, Joe Jubei, and more. The drinks will be flowing and friends will be dancing, so head over after you’ve finished off all of that holiday stuffing on Christmas night (Dec 25). On New Year’s Eve, Tuesday (Dec 31), the last big party of the year happens at the same iconic Downtown building, but this time with a list of great bands like electro-dub group Roots Collider, psychedelic funk band Rhubarb, and trance-jam band Space Junk. Expect plenty of lights and confetti, a free champagne toast, and of course the final countdown to 2014. Happy holidays to all, and please party safely!

- cory perla (photo by Michael Nico Nostro)

The Christmas Party: Wednesday, December 25, 10pm-4am Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl St. (856-2337 / pearlstreetgrill.com) $10

Sound In Motion: Tuesday, December 31, 9pm Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl St. (856-2337 / pearlstreetgrill.com) $13 advance, $15 day of show

Friday, December 20

Every Time I Die After Party feat. Soul Patch

If you didn’t get tickets to one of Every Time I Die’s two annual Christmas shows, then you’re SOL and that’s no shinfo. The Buffalo hardcore band’s ninth annual Christmas shows this weekend at the Waiting Room with LetLive and Code Orange Kids sold out pretty immediately, but that’s par for the course for these hometown boys. Fortunately Baby Jesus has once again performed a Christmas miracle in the form of an after party by one of Buffalo’s most beloved 1990s cover bands, Soul Patch. Every Time I Die frontman Keith Buckley will bring his 1990s cover band to Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar for a special after party celebration on Friday (Dec 20). Expect some 1990s hits from bands like Blur, Weezer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers delivered with only the faintest hint of irony by a group of guys who’s hips will be wrapped in the warm embrace of flannel sweaters.

- cory perla

Midnight Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $7

Friday, December 20

Megalodon

Megalodon may have emerged from the streets of San Francisco in 2008, but his true street-cred didn’t arrive until his bloodthirsty beats earned him DJ support from dance floor shakers like Skream, Hatcha, Skism and Borgore. Characterized by his pragmatic, yet highly technical mixing style grounded in a rootier, surprisingly unique dubstep sound, he’s made his mark on the dubstep scene. Gluttural Slug (his most recent album) is aptly titled and the album cover, displaying a grizzly shark and a surrendering scuba diver, is even more appropriate—the strands of downtempo and slow, heavy guitar convey the album’s macabre beats. Combined with auxiliary voices, this album completely aligns with it’s precursory albums which show off Megalodon’s eclectic, yet technical mixing style. His music will resonate in the heart of any underground dubstep fan and even metal lovers alike. Presented by Loki DNB & Millennium Megalodon will spin at Broadway Joe’s on Friday (Dec 20) with support from Canadian dubstep duo Distinct Move, and Buffalo’s E-Mission & Enimal Noize, Neckbrace, Dub’l Forte, Subject to Change, and Loki.

- kellie powell

10pm Broadway Joe’s, 3051 Main St. (lokidnbtix.webs.com) $10 advance, 18+

Saturday, December 21

buffaBLOG Holiday Party

There might not be a more insufferable experience than being stuck at a lousy, awkward, crappily designed holiday party. Knowing your surroundings is key in this type of situation, so hopefully you can manage to hang back while everyone gathers for “secret santa,” tactfully break for the exit and make your way over to Duke’s this Saturday (Dec 12), for buffaBLOG’s 3rd Annual Holiday Party. Unlike those other nauseating yuletide galas, buffaBLOG’s holiday festivities will certainly not suck, in part due to the killer music lineup they’ve assembled featuring some of WNY’s best local acts, including Marine Biologist, Del Paxton (pictured), Sports, Forealists, JOHNS, and DJs Lulu & David Lee Rad. Having taken home the prize of “Best Blog” in Artvoice’s Best of Buffalo Awards this past May, buffaBLOG has been providing extensive local music coverage since forming in 2010. This friendly neighborhood music blog knows how to throw one hell of a party, so get to Duke’s this Saturday and spread the Christmas cheer.

- jon wheelock

10pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dukesbohemiangrovebar.com) $5

Friday, December 27

Garageland: Buffalo's 12th Annual Tribute to Joe Strummer & The Clash

The Ancient Mayans (probably) said that a name guides your behavior and defines whom you become. I can’t think of a better name for a guitarist than “Strummer.” Joe Graham Mellor must have agreed. The guitarist and singer adopted the stage name “Joe Strummer” in 1976, when he and lead guitarist Mick Jones opportunely founded The Clash, after meeting in an unemployment line. Strummer was an appropriately named man for an appropriately named band. Though the origin of the band’s name is said to have derived from the class warfare permeating London in the 1970s, The Clash could be interpreted in terms of their music. Combining equal shots of punk, reggae, dub, funk, and rockabilly, the name “The Clash” has a slightly better ring than “The Amalgamation.” Or maybe the name comes from the raucous mosh pits that feverishly launched crowd members into one another at the band’s concerts. Whatever the origins, The Clash disbanded in 1986, and Joe Mellor took the name “Strummer” to the grave with him in 2002. But The Clash’s legacy lives on. Come celebrate a pioneer of punk at The Waiting Room on Friday (Dec 27), as they present Garageland: 12th Annual Tribute to Joe Strummer and The Clash.

- brett perla

8pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $12

Tuesday, December 31

Headstones

The Headstones have never been known for their poise and decorum, but what 1990’s rock band has? Their piss and vinegar brand of thug-rock music has earned them a significant legion of loyal followers. Despite their rock star status, the Canadian band has remained completely down-to-earth. Their commonplace demeanor harmoniously blends with their uncompromising lyrics, ear-tweaking music, and feverishly infectious and charismatic stage presence. After an 11-year hiatus, the Headstones returned with Love + Fury, which perfectly articulated the band’s maturity and growth after their widely publicized break-up in 2003. This album, while maintaining the Headstones’ hard-rock roots features funkier bass lines and (at times) peppier guitar riffs. Frontman, Hugh Dillon’s venomous vocals in the beginning of “Longwaytoneverland” will bring nostalgia to any loyal Headstones fan, but as the song progresses it begins to sound like one of Bob Dylan’s more rock-oriented tunes. Perhaps their relevance is doubted by a fickle industry inundated with fleeting talent, but the Headstones don’t care. With bonechillingly good musicianship, who needs mainstream support? The Headstones will play at the Rapids Theatre on Tuesday (Dec 31).

- kellie powell

6:30pm Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls. (205-8925 / rapidstheatre.com) $50-$100, all ages

Tuesday, December 31

Reanimate New Year's Eve presented by Igloo

New Year’s Eve is a time of resolutions and fresh starts. Parties will be aplenty and the champagne will flow. Many people make extravagant plans for New York City, with dreams of an amazing time on a Brooklyn rooftop, when realistically you’ll probably find yourself trudging through snow to an apartment that isn’t even big enough to fit you and your crew. The Igloo folks are taking NYE to a different level. Their party, Reanimate, which will take place in an unused warehouse space, will feature three rooms for genre exploration; house/techno/psytrance in the Main Room; drum n’ bass/jungle/hip-hop in the Character’s Lounge; and chill/downtempo/future in the Magic Carpet room. The main headling DJs include Buffalo-native Neil Kryszak, who has been seeking inspiration, moving out of the Queen City, to New York City and is now based out of California. Hailing from Toronto is Mix Chopin, who has previously performed in Buffalo and says he’s excited to return to the warm American energy. Sets from 17 local DJ acts will take place as well, until the event ends at 7am. The location is still undisclosed, but it will be somewhere within the city limits. To receive details on the exact location, call 716-217-1752 the day of the event. The event is 21+ and will have security. Heated areas will be available, as will free parking. Tickets will go up in price at the door and can either be purchased online (eventbrite.com/event/9231986119) or at HeadSpace Glass on Elmwood Avenue.

- alicia greco

10pm locatation to be announced (call 716-217-1752 on the day of the event for location details) $20 advance, $30 day of show, 21+