[FOLK] For the second year, Nietzsche’s will celebrate all things folk music with their Folkfest. This year’s headliner is Jonathan Richman, a folk musician who many might know from the proto-new wave band Modern Lovers. For more on him, check out our preview of his show—which is a separately ticketed event. Here, however, we want to highlight a few of the local and regional acts playing this four day festival.
[PUNK] Dreamy indie guitars, driving bass, and bizarre lyrical poetry characterize the music of Obnox. The Cleveland-based band is not your ordinary garage punk act. Mixing in psychedelia, and beat-based stuff too, they really transcend any label—landing somewhere between Childish Gambino, Ty Segall, and Mos Def. Those deep into the garage rock scene might recognize the band’s founder, Lamont “Bim” Thomas, from bands such as This Moment in Black History and Puffy Areolas.
[INDIE] This year, influential English shoegaze band, Slowdive, released a self titled album; their first album in 22 years. Though the band was only active between 1989 and 1995, they became an icon of shoegaze, a genre of indie rock music that’s characterized by heavily effected guitars and dreamy, moody, or introspective themes and which could be considered an influence of contemporary bands like the xx and Beach House.
[FOLK] What Jonathan Richman does is so beautifully radical that I almost don’t want to tell you about it, because I want Saturday’s early set at Nietzsche’s to be just as intimate as his last half dozen shows in Buffalo have been. As the former lead man of the Modern Lovers, Richman is one of a handful of pre-eminent American songwriters whose voice and music have spanned the globe.
[HOUSE] A collective of four DJs from New York City—DJ Ashlyn, DJ Voices, DJ Nina, and DJ Nicely—Working Women delivers classic, late-night house music sounds. Their b2b2b2b set has been called “unstoppable” by Boiler Room—and in fact two days after their set here in Buffalo they’ll head back to NYC where they’ll dip into the Boiler Room with a few other New York natives. Over the summer they lit up NYC’s Panorama festival—the sister festival to Coachella—as part of a lineup that also included house greats like Theo Parrish, Omar-S, Derrick Carter and Anthony Naples.
[SOUL] Get the crew together and practice that Soul Train line dance because Sugar City’s regular soul music dance party, Soul Night, returns to Milkie’s on Elmwood this Friday, November 10. Expect to hear some steaming, screaming soul tunes from DJs Handsome Dan, DJ Press, DJ Pat K, and—making a special seasonal appearance—Pumpkin Spice DJ.
Since everyone has a short memory nowadays, what with your iPhones and e-devices, here’s a little trip down memory lane.
JOE GEORGE has a show of photographs called The French Quarter in August opening at Parables Gallery and Gifts (1027 Elmwood Avenue) on Friday, November 3, 7-9pm. This piece is called Goldfinger.
The 2017 election is just a week away. Despite a generally very quiet campaign season, the TV ads are increasing and mailboxes are filling up with those oversized political postcards.
The candidates are spending lots of money but it will not translate into much voter enthusiasm. Look for a countywide turnout of less than 20 percent, with exceptions in the Towns of Amherst, Hamburg, Tonawanda, and West Seneca.
Here is a quick summary of the campaign financial reports in major races which were due to the State Board of Elections on October 27: