Events

[INDIE] This Brooklyn-based five piece is a stunning example of the good things that can happen when pushing at the confines of alt-country and letting convention take a back seat. On the surface, Wilder Maker seems entirely familiar, echoing bits of Whiskeytown and Bon Iver with the more classic tones of the Band and Neil Young. Vocalist/songwriter Gabe Birnbaum’s tales of loss and regret have plenty of bite, but it’s the complexity of the arrangements revealed below the tuneful exterior that keep you coming back: jazzy pockets of shifting time signatures, brief glimmers of dissonance, creepy echoes and chanted repetition all recur under a guise of twangy-pop that’s much more than initially meets the ear. Birnbaum’s honesty comes across not only in his writing, but also in his delightfully under-produced, gritty vocals, softened in spots by co-ed crooning ala keyboardist Katie Von Schleicher. They’re at Mohawk Place on Thursday, April 9 supporting the second in a trio of EP’s, Everyday Crimes Against Objects Of Desire, Vol 2., out this week. — Christopher John Treacy

Buffalo’s Hussalonia will play in support. The phrase “pop does not mean popular,” appears on the front page of Hussalonia’s website. It’s part of the title of the band’s latest album, the full title of which is Pop Does Not Mean Popular: A Polite Introduction to Hussalonia (2004-2014). The album, as you might glean from the title alone, is a strange examination of pop culture. Billed as an introduction to the band  (they’ve released dozens of songs and several albums and EPs since their formation in 2004) the record presents a semi-cynical take on the struggle of small time bands in an oversaturated musical climate. “You’ll never be famous, you’ll never be a millionaire  There are just a few of us who love what you do,” lyrics from the album’s second track, “Never Be Famous” neatly sum up the attitude behind this record. Take this opportunity to catch Hussalonia in a rare live appearance. — Cory Perla