Editor’s note: As frontman of Every Time I Die, Keith Buckley has traveled the world gaining insights about the universe. In this bi-weekly column he’ll use those insights to guide our readers with heartfelt and brutally honest advice. Have a question for Keith? Send it to advice@dailypublic.com.
[HOLIDAY] After the success of Tommyrotter Distillery’s Small Business Saturday event, which hosted a slew of DIY vendors, the distillery located in Larkinville decided to do it again. This time they’ll feature only one vendor, Rust Belt Threads—an Etsy-based vintage shop that sells everything from vintage sweaters and dresses to stylish shoes and neat trinketts.
[COMEDY] Comedian Todd Barry deftly pinpoints the most interesting pieces of considerably uninteresting topics. Frequent flyer miles. Hotel arrangements. A Swedish woman’s usage of the word “boundaryless.” Barry’s low-key tone and mock boastfulness persona make him an ideal captain for sailing the seas of the mundane, making his act anything but boring. But Barry doesn’t even need material to operate a hilarious show. His Crowd Work Tour special (produced by Louis CK) follows Barry through seven cities.
[ROCK] Hailing from Hartford, CT, the Balkun Brothers (Nick and Steve) carry a torch for American blues that dips its toes into psychedlia, with forays into modern rock and funk. It’s an amalgam of core rock-and-roll ingredients that keeps the duo moving forward without losing a shred of reverence for the past, as they’ll surely demonstrate at Buffalo Iron Works on Thursday, December 10.
[INDIE] Songwriter and guitarist Shane Meyer has been making music with bassist Damian Weber for over a decade, putting a sense of familiarity at the core Difficult Night, rounded out by drummer David Hooper and keyboardist Miles Kirsch. The results speak to lost values and dissatisfaction, giving credence to the band name.
[ROCK] If you don’t recognize the names of some of these musicians, you’d certainly recognize the names of the musicians and bands they’ve played with—which include Miles Davis, Ozzy Osborne, Steve Miller, Joe Satriani, Testament, and the Saturday Night Live Band. The band’s leader, Jane Getter is known for her work with the SNL band as well as jazz greates like Brother Jack McDuff. Her band includes Adam Holzman, Alex Skolnick, Stu Hamm, and John Mader, who all have their own list of impressive credentials.
[FOLK]Buffalo folk rockers FolkFaces team up again with the Stripteasers, the Fredtown Stompers, and the 12/8 Path Band for another raucous edition of Brassband, Dixeland, Americana and Burlesque. This is the third edition of the series that mixes live music and dance. Prepare to take some whacky photos at a photo booth run by photographer Brandon Perdomo and also, expect to dance your ass off. Audience participation is expected.
[CLASSICAL] The Daily Planet Coffee Shop on Hertel Avenue has gotten into the groove, holding regular “Classical Music Sundays.” This Sunday the coffee shop will feature Drew Azzinaro and Ed Croft playing jazz and classical music pieces.
[JAZZ] It’s been a mild December so far, but if you still need some warming up, head over to Pausa Art House on Friday, December 11. The jazz club will host Jon Nelson’s latest project, Banda Manix— a band inspired by the bandas of southern Mexicon. The ensemble will touch on Salsa music, music from Latin America, and even some popular rock and funk from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Herbie Hancock.
[FOLK] If singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joanna Newsom’s career in music were to end now, she’d still have made her mark. Others have done it with much less. With Divers, out in October on Drag City, she’s managed to rein in her peculiarities just enough to make something that resembles pop music without sacrificing anything essential from her beguiling trove of quirks.
[PUNK] We’re not sure if this is actually the 8th annual event, or if it’s just a great rhyme. Either way, we’re sure you’ll have a great time, because punk rock at Sugar City is always fine. It’ll be quite divine, with the Scajaquada Creeps heading the line. The Utah Jazz don’t play ball, but they’re sure to enthrall, and Brooklyn’s Death Vacation can really do it all.
[HOLIDAY] Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Erie Basin Marina and Buffalo’s Cobblestone District during this chilly Freezer 5K Run. The race starts and finishes at Buffalo Iron Works where runners will enjoy a brisk 3.1 miles around the city. After the race, participants can experience exciting door prizes and an appearance from “The Yeti.” Pre-register for the race online or register day-of.
[HOLIDAY] Have yourself a merry little…SantaCon? Kick off the holiday season by celebrating in the streets of Buffalo in your most festive garb. All festivities begin at D’Arcy McGees at the corner of Franklin and Chippewa. Register for the “North Pole Stroll” the day of the event or online on the SantaCon Buffalo website. Grab your Santa suit, your elves, and get ready to party.
[HOLIDAY] Almost 75,000 lights will have their chance to shine on Friday, December 11 for the Roswell Tress of Hope Lighting at Kaminski Park. Each year, this tree is lit up as a symbol of hope for those effected by cancer. Bring the family and enjoy live music, a brilliant light show, face painting, refreshments, and much more. RSVP online for this event.
[COMEDY] Pablo Francisco takes the comedy stage armed with creative jokes and tons of energy. His standup is paved with erratic outbursts, from his spastic dubstep sounds – which he calls “the devil’s music” – to silly pop culture impersonations.