Deafheaven

Thursday, September 18

San Francisco’s Deafheaven deal in tension and anxiety in a way that is cinematically intense and similar in nature to the sounds of Explosions in the Sky or Sigur Rós. Which is odd, because there are not a lot of metal bands that are easily compared to post-rock bands—these days metal tends to be short and brutal or epically progressive—but Deafheaven are kind of the exception to the rule. Metal, as an overarching term that includes black metal—the closest subgenre that Deafheaven touches on with their rolling blast beats and snarling vocals—is not really a sufficient genre-description. On their latest album, 2013’s Sunbather, Deafheaven takes those black metal characteristics combines them with pop-sensible melodies, and creates songs that tend to be structured in a way that is more similar to most post-rock pieces, with tracks like the 14 minute and 37 second album centerpiece “Vertigo,” which adds layer upon layer until it gradually peaks in intensity before subduing once again. This formula lands the five-piece band somewhere between Swans’ drone-ability, Mogwai’s heavy post-rock (they even slipped in a bonus Mogwai cover on Sunbather) and My Bloody Valentine’s noise-layered melodics. Mix in some guttural screaming from vocalist George Clark of which Jacob Bannon of Converge would be proud (he signed the band to his label, Deathwish in 2010) and some relentless drumming and you still probably don’t have an idea what Deafheaven sounds like but it’s a start for a band that eludes categorization. Deafheaven comes to the Tralf Music Hall on Thursday (Sept 18) with support from Canadian indie rock band No Joy and fellow Canadians Indian Handcrafts.

- cory perla

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $14 advance, $16 day of show

Thursday, September 11

Silo Sessions presents Battle Trance

Silo City continues to blossom as it has served as a venue for several events this past summer—from weddings to concerts and art installations. Many exciting memories have been made at the old and rustic grain elevators. Although the summer is approaching its end, Silo City city is still blooming. Silo Sessions will be presenting yet another concert this Thursday (tonight!) at 7pm at Marine A. This will be an eclectic concert featuring both musicians and poets. Ten dollars will get you in to experience a night with Battle Trance—a new tenor saxophone quartet featuring Travis Laplante of Little Women—as well as Flatsitter: the work of Jax Deluca and Kyle Marler—a collaborative project that branches video, software programming, performance and installation; poet, author, and teacher Noah Falck; and solo saxophonist and all around brilliant musician Steve Baczkowski.

- sara ali

7pm, Marine A Grain Silo, 100 Childs St. (silosessions.com) $10

Friday, September 12

Buffablog presents Heavy Rotation

Buffablog will present some back to school fun with their second edition of Heavy Rotation this Friday (Sept 12) in the Back Room of Hardware. Electro-tinged R&B act Chauncey Tails will kick things off with a mix of booming Neon Indian-esque chillwave and slow-motion electronic grooves. DJ Pizza Pizza will deliver some fresh cuts from Pie I, an eight-track (or slice) record of psychedelic, wobbling, and twerkable bass music. When it was released last year, Buffablog made the collaborative effort of DJ Teenwolf and Jack Toft—a bizarre mix of junk-food related hip hop tracks—their album of the week. I surmise that when DJ Teenwolf steps up to the decks at Heavy Rotation, we’ll hear a DJ set that consists of something more similar to the sounds on his “Bitch Asses” bootleg, though. Finally, Hardware requisite DJ, Rick Jameson, aka Sean of Spooky Business will hold down the front room with his mix of new and familiar hip hop. Heavy Rotation: Back to School should be a fun showcase of local DJs not to be missed.

- cory perla

11pm Allen St. Hardware Café (882-8843 / allenstreethardware.com) $5, 21+

Friday, September 12

Well Rounded People's Party Skate Jam No. 2

The Well Rounded People’s Party: Skate Jam is back for round two. It doesn’t matter if you’re lacing up jam skates, speed skates, roller blades, derby skates, or rhythm skates (probably your best bet if you’re trying to let loose some ultra-precise professional-style gold star jumps and spins, as I surely will be) because the Well Rounded People’s Party is for every style. For the second edition Sike will be on hand to spin some deep cuts from funk’s past and present as well as some disco gems. And, of course, it will be an all vinyl set. DJ Baby Joe will also step up to the deck’s to provide some music that should keep your wheels spinning all night. There will be food from the West Side Bazaar, including Exotic Japanese Food, and Taste of Africa, as well as your usual skating rink concessions. This is a costume/dress-up friendly, all inclusive, all ages event for adults and families alike across two rinks at the New Skateland Arena on Buffalo’s East Side (33 E. Ferry St.). Sponsored by The Wash Project, your friendly neighborhood laundromat, community center, and occasional experimental music venue; Push Buffalo, West Side Bazaar, and Turnaround Skates. It all happens this Friday (Sept 12). Let’s roll.

- cory perla

6pm-10pm New Skateland Arena, 33 E Ferry St. (thewashproject.org) $5 includes skates

Saturday, September 13

Silo City Tapped

Craft beer, wine, food, local music, grain elevators, and more beer. How will we ever sell you on this one? Silo City Tapped is a day-long event where people will be able to see their favorite local bands and drink their favorite beer. You’ll spend the day dancing along to Alison Pipitone Band, Miller and the Other Sinners, George Scott Big Band, and Peter Burakowski and the Larkin Plan as you sample over 20 beers including Flying Bison Aviator Red, Ellicottville Pale Ale, Otter Creek Black IPA, Shiner Bock, Franziskaner, and even Miller Lite. Beer will be available in 5 oz. portions, so you can sample them all, or in 20 oz portions (so you can sample them all.) Explore Buffalo will also provide free tours of the Silo City’s historic grain elevators. Even better, tickets are only $5. Make sure your calendar is clear on Saturday (Sept 16) from 2pm to 10pm, and don’t forget to keep the following morning open as well.

- jonny moran

2pm, Silo City, 100 Childs St. $5

Tuesday, September 16

Tatsuya Nakatani

Japanese percussion virtuoso, Tatsuya Nakatani, employs both traditional and extended percussive techniques to create a sound that combines drums, bowed gongs, cymbals, singing bowls, metal objects, bells, various sticks, kitchen tools and homemade bows. The result is intense, organic music that depicts a very intimate sonic world. Playing alongside Nakatani is improvisational violinist, David Adamczyk. Adamczyk’s approach to his instrument is highly personal with a raw sound and virtuosic technique. He plays with such precision and intensity that it’s as if he and his violin are anatomically connected. Also performing is multi-instrumentalist and Buffalo native, Steve Baczkowski. Baczkowski is a fountain of creative music. He began playing alto saxophone at age eight, switched to baritone by the age of 12, and has since expanded to a wide array of woodwind styles and formidable breathing techniques. Tatsuya Nakatani will play alongside David Adamczyk and Steve Baczkowski as part of Three Solos in Asbury Hall on Tuesday (Sept 16) presented by Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center.

- kellie powell

8pm Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave. (hallwalls.org) $12 general admission, $10 students & seniors, $8 members

Wednesday, September 17

The Gaslight Anthem with Against Me!

Founded in 2007, the Gaslight Anthem is maturing at warp speed. The New Jersey quartet, led by Brian Fallon, built their reputation on Springsteen-drenched, indie-rock anthems and Fallon’s straining vocals. TGA has always been known for having an old soul, but their latest album, 2014’s Get Hurt, is downright anachronistic. However, it’s difficult to pin down exactly to what era it belongs. Get Hurt toned down the heartland rock sounds while injecting bold aspects of grunge and arena rock. Driven by epic metal guitars, track by track the album explores the rock sounds of the 1970’s while staying within a grungy 1990’s net. Album opener, “Stay Vicious,” kicks off with dirty, fuzz-covered guitars and a droning riff culled straight from the annals of classic stoner rock. “I feel like a stranger/I feel just like a murderer” growls Fallon, like he’s been gargling broken beer bottles. His voice is gruff, falling somewhere between Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell. Fallon releases his inner Who on this album, experimenting with different vocal ranges especially on songs like In “Rollin’ And Tumblin’,” on which he howls like a 1973 Roger Daltrey, with the sharp, lyrical consciousness of Pete Townshend. With each new album, TGA expands their musical palette. The Gaslight Anthem will play at The Town Ballroom with Against Me! and Twopointeight on Wednesday (Sept 17) presented by Funtime and After Dark.

- kellie powell

7pm, Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $26 advance, $29 day of show