Buffalo

April 17, 2011 - 4:19pm
Review: Sam Beam steals show with songs off far-reaching new album, 'Kiss Each Other Clean.'

Part way through the Iron & Wine concert at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo on April 15 - maybe eight or nine songs in - one voice emerges loud and clear from the audience. It’s around the time in the show when people start getting anxious that their favorite songs aren’t going to be played. Some people might start shouting requests.

The request here was an easy one to fulfill.

"Play whatever you want.”

Everyone else cheers in agreement. They know that Sam Beam can do no wrong.

April 12, 2011 - 3:14pm
A look at Iron & Wine's new album, Kiss Each Other Clean, before their performance Friday at the Town Ballroom.

When Sam Beam – better known as Iron & Wine – dropped his fourth studio album, Kiss Each Other Clean, listeners were treated to the striking and thought provoking lyrics they were accustomed to, mixed with a sound that was unlike anything from the artist’s past recordings. The Iron & Wine concert at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo on April 15 should be unlike anything from Beam’s past as well.

March 5, 2011 - 6:47pm
Fans from all over New York experience Lady Gaga give one of her unforgettable "Monster Ball" tour performances.

A teenager casually took his seat before the Lady Gaga show, wearing a long-sleeve, button-up plaid shirt. He looked like any other high school boy.

Then he took off his shirt. Beneath the average plaid was a see-through, fishnet top covering his entire upper body. Around his waist hung circles of yellow caution tape. Underneath his nonchalant exterior was one of Lady Gaga's “little monsters” in disguise.

February 13, 2011 - 11:36pm
Syracuse beat Seton Hall, Buffalo, and Cincinnati in dominating fashion this past weekend to improve their overall record to 7-1, including 3-0 in Big East Play.

The Syracuse women’s tennis team swept its competition this weekend, beating Seton Hall University, the University of Buffalo, and Cincinnati University on three consecutive days. With a combined score of 19-2 for the weekend, the Orange improved to 7-1 on the season and 3-0 in Big East Conference play.

Though none of these teams holds as impressive a record as Syracuse (UC 1-6, Seton Hall 1-5, Buffalo 2-2), all three teams fought extremely hard and made Syracuse work for every point, game, set, and match.  

September 28, 2010 - 9:29pm
The upstate heroes played a lighthearted, often nostalgic show at the OnCenter Tuesday night.

John Rzeznik pointed to a girl in the crowd as the music died down and the lights dimmed. He waved his hand toward his chest, brushing his large golden necklace, signaling for the girl to pass up her big, blinking sign. “Let me see that,” he said. The crowd parted and formed an assembly line across the rows, sending the white sign Rzeznik’s way. It read “biggest fan” in large, blue letters with a row of blinking white swirls underneath. “This is a technological marvel,” he said, gawking at the flashing poster. “Do you want it back?”

September 22, 2010 - 2:25pm
The folk-rock stand-bys ranted and roared to an adoring crowd at yesterday's Westcott Theater performance.

Let’s get something out in the open right now: the accordion is sexy.  I thought so before last night’s performance of Canada’s Great Big Sea, and now I’m ready to challenge anyone who tells me otherwise.  It’s the one instrument that rock bands avoid, and the one instrument that can get people on the dance floor without any persuading.

October 1, 2009 - 5:33pm
If you want to create a music "scene" for yourself in Syracuse, you need to expand your horizons (specifically south to Ithaca and west to Buffalo). Luckily, October is a pretty robust month.

Fellow blogger Jett Wells did a good job of highlighting the premier show to catch this month (indie darling St.