Buffalo | Queen City Hipster?

Over the last few years, I've noticed that Buffalo is getting alot more shows featuring acts not named Dave Matthews, Goo Goo Dolls, or Warped Tour. I thought that Buffalo didn't have much of a market for lesser known acts, but the development of some great venues and promoters looking to fill them has led to some great acts coming to Buffalo. Just last Thursday a fantastic lineup of acts were all over the city, as Diplo was with CSS and Bonde do Role, hardcore-punk legends Lifetime and The Bronx, Icy Demons, and Ween were all here on the same night! This summer is no different, as Buffalo has slipped on its skin-tight jeans and ironic t-shirt for some great shows. Here's a list of what's coming up organized in order of my favorite venues in Buffalo.

The Soundlab - Easily my favorite venue, an extremely small place in the basement of the Dunn Building in the heart of the city. Features a small bar, to the right of the stage, and to the left several booths kind of secluded from the show and candles all over the place. Holds about 250.

July 20 - Deadboy & The Elephantmen
July 21 - Nick Castro & The Young Elders
Aug 3 - Oneida, From Monuments to Masses, Sleeping Kings of Iona
Aug 6 - The Red Krayola
Aug 20 - Red Sparowes, Daughters, Versoma
Aug 29 - Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band
Sept 3 - An Albatross, Bare Flames
Oct 12 - Okkervil River
Oct 16 - Xiu Xiu


Mohawk Place - Another small place but with more of a biker-bar feel. Looks kinda crummy, but always draws a good crowd. Holds around 350.

July 24 - Now It's Overhead
July 26 - Karl Blau
Aug 2 - The Hold Steady
Aug 4 - The Black Heart Procession, Castanets, Devics
Sept 2- The Clientele

The Icon - A slightly larger place, The Icon is usually known for punk, emo, and hardcore (it could be said its where Buffalo's new emo boys Cute Is What We Aim For got their start), but has brought a slew of good acts the last few years including Of Montreal, The Mountain Goats, and The Blood Brothers. Holds up to 900.

July 26 - Murder By Death, Langhorn Slim, Aberdeen City
July 27 - Tarantula AD, Tim Fite
Aug 3 - The Germs
Aug 4 - The Format, Steel Train, Streets to Nowhere, Starflyer 59
Aug 26 - The New Deal
Sept 22 - The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Baby Gramps

The Town Ballroom - A great place for a show, recently renovated and has an excellent sound system. Several tiers so you can get a good view from almost anywhere in the place. Holds around 1000.

Aug 24 - Jurrasic 5
Sept 30 - Built to Spill

Kitchen Distribution - I haven't checked this place out yet, but I hear good things. It's supposed to be in some adandoned wearhouse or something.

July 18 - Six Organs of Admittance, Jax Deluca, Pow Wow
July 22 - Akimbo, Divine Machine, Michael Bettine's Gontopia
Aug 7 - Japanther, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Rat Rasturd
Aug 10 - The Flying Luttenbachers, Caustic Solution

Let's not forget about Rochester! The Bug Jar has some fantastic shows coming up in the next few months as well:

July 23 - Jens Lekman, Frida Hyvonen, Little Yellow Bird
July 25 - Now It's Overhead, Monotonix, Veluxe
Aug 2 - Kalpana, Saxon Shore, From Monuments to Masses, Denison Witmer
Sept 2 - Joan of Arc, Owen, Our Brother The Native
Sept 14 - Magnolia Electric Co., Shearwater
Sept 29 - Wolf Eyes
Oct 17 - Xiu Xiu

Not to mention as well that the man himself, BOB DYLAN will be hitting Frontier Field on August 30 on his tour of minor league ballparks this summer. His new disc, Modern Times, hits stores just a day before he hits Rochester.