PODCAST: ThinkSoJoe Show for Sept. 28, 2016

Wednesday's all new ThinkSoJoE Show on All WNY Radio, with your hosts, ThinkSoJoE and Muller featured music from Beneath Hell's Sky, So Far So Good, Stalking Neptune, and Nerds in Denial.

Download the podcast and listen again and again and again.

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HEaRD in WNY: Top shows for the week of Sept. 26 - Oct. 2

This week's features show is the Trust Me, They're Dead & Now In Stores Reunion Show at 6 p.m. Thursday at Mohawk Place.

Ryan, Matthew, Tom, David, Angelo, & Tony are getting back together one more time to play songs from their previous music projects! Don't miss your only time to hear some of your favorite metal jams from these Buffalo veterans again! It's about to get rowdy at Mohawk Place on Thurs, Sept 29th when they join Prepare For The Mindscan, One Way Terror, Crooked Gener8ion, & Inertia on stage. Get your Owen Wilson references ready, your jack in your hand, and ears ready to hear those sweet sweet tracks way back from The Team Records days & before!

/// other shows ///

Knockout Kid : 5 p.m. Wednesday at Mohawk Place
Forever Grey : 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sugar City
The Observers : 9 p.m. Thursday at Nietzsche's
Virus X "Punk Rock Reunion Show" : 9 p.m. Friday at Evening Star Concert Hall
Taboo Masquerade & Fetish Ball : 11 p.m. Friday at Mohawk Place
MAPS : 8 p.m. Saturday at Stamps
Motorizer : 6 p.m. Sunday at Evening Star Concert Hall

Greg Burt is a Concert Promoter/Sound Guy/Music Supporter/Keyboardist/etc. He can be reached at Greg@FTMPEvents.com. For the full FTMP show calendar, visit www.FTMPEvents.com.

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PROJECT/OBJECT to play show at Tralf

BUFFALO -- Frank Zappa concept band PROJECT/OBJECT will play an Oct. 9 show at the Tralf.

Formed in the early '90s as an offshoot from an annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre Cholmondeley's basement in New Jersey., PROJECT/OBJECT has continually grown, leaving the basement and touring the world with a growing set list from every era of Zappa's 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Frank's vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $18 -- on sale now at the Tralf Box Office, by phone at 716-852-2860, tralf.com and all ticketmaster.com outlets.

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GURNETT: Lettuce 'blew the doors off' the Tralf

Lettuce blew the doors off the Tralf last night with an exciting, entertaining and high-energy set in front of a packed crowd -- no less than you’d expect from one of the hottest funk acts in the world. Inspired by Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power, the band, which has been performing since 1992, is more popular now than ever thanks to their most recent release, 2015’s “Crush,” which hit #1 on the U.S. Jazz Albums chart.

The opening act was Portland-based band Jaw Gems. The four-piece group consisting of two keyboardists, a bassist and a drummer mixes funk with hip-hop and electronic influences. Their set was groovy and danceable but, unfortunately, mostly forgettable. While the rhythm section (bassist Andrew Scherzer and drummer DJ Moore) was tight and focused, it felt like the two keyboards spent the entire set meandering. With each song lacking a distinct hook, it was hard to discern each from the previous one.

Then Lettuce took the stage. Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes began pumping up the crowd from the start, jumping around and getting people dancing the moment the music began. The hour and 45 minute set managed the difficult trick of feeling loose yet focused, with a groove that sounded both organic and as though every note had been thought out and perfected.

The group performed as one cohesive unit with guitarist Adam Smirnoff, keyboardist Nigel Hall and saxophonist Ryan Soldis delivering slick solos and Coomes laying down some of the tastiest bass licks I’ve heard in a while serving as ringmaster/hype man for the group. Drummer Adam Deitch provided a solid foundation accompanied by understated rhythm guitar courtesy of Smirnoff. With little to no break between songs, the set flowed seamlessly and the funk kept flowing.

From the light show to the enthusiastic crowd, you could feel the electricity in the room. The group played a combination of old favorites and some new material from their upcoming album, and The Tralf was grooving. The high point came about an hour into the set as Lettuce introduced Nigel Hall in the part of vocalist and he performed crowd favorite “Express Yourself,” a 20-minute jam featuring the motif from “Mr. Big Stuff” that nearly brought down the house. Hall’s soulful vocals were spot on and it was a shame they weren’t utilized more often (he sang on only three tunes). Other highlights included “Sounds Like a Party to Me” and “Do It Yourself,” where Hall alternated from singing behind the keyboards to front-and-center on stage.

It was clear the members of Lettuce were having just as much fun as the crowd, and the energy as well as the groove was contagious. Their performance proved why they’re so popular, and if anyone came to this show not really knowing much about the band (like my guest, who couldn’t stop moving the entire evening), they likely came out fans. I look forward to Lettuce’s return to the Buffalo area.

For more on Lettuce, check them out at lettucefunk.com for music, live video and more.

Ryan Gurnett is a local musician with an appreciation for other local music. Email him at never_really_been@hotmail.com or find him on Twitter @SirWilliamIdol.

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The Weepies to headline the Tralf

BUFFALO -- American indie pop-folk duo Deb Talan and Steve Tannen -- AKA The Weepies -- will headline a show at the Tralf on at 8 p.m. Dec. 1.

The married couple began writing together the night they met, and soon formed The Weepies. On the strength of their simple yet insightful songwriting and distinctive harmonies, they quietly sold more than a million records, with over 17 million streams on Spotify, and 20 million views on YouTube.

In 2014, Deb beat cancer, and The Weepies recorded the best album of their career. Coming back from the edge sharpened their skills and focus. At 16 songs and almost an hour long, SIRENS shows a band at the height of its powers.

Tickets for the show are $23. They go on sale at 10 a.m. They're available at the Tralf Box Office, by phone at 716-852-2860, tralf.com and all ticketmaster.com outlets.

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Metric concert converted to Town Ballroom

BUFFALO -- A concert that had been slated for Friday at Artpark will now take place at Town Ballroom, according to a release by Artpark.

The release, offered on the venue's Facebook page, does not explain the reason for the relocation, but states that the show will still begin at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. -- just as it was to have been at Artpark. It also states that tickets bought through Artpark will be honored.

The full release follows:

Funtime Presents announces that the Metric concert scheduled for this Friday, September 23 at Artpark’s Mainstage Theater and managed by Funtime Presents has been relocated to the Town Ballroom (681 S. Main Street, Buffalo) in what will be a rare club appearance for the band. The concert, featuring opener Humble Braggers, will keep the same start time of 8pm with doors opening at 7pm.

All tickets purchased through Artpark will be honored at the Town Ballroom and those ticket buyers will be given an early entry opportunity. Will call tickets can be picked up at the Town Ballroom on the day of the concert. Limited tickets are still available for $48.00 and can be purchased online at www.townballroom.com or by phone at 716-852-3900.

Patrons with relocation or ticket issues may call the Town Ballroom at 716-852-3900.

Some Facebook comments expressed displeasure with the relocation for one reason or another -- largely the change from ticketed seats to a general admission venue. Artpark replied to all with a suggestion to contact Town Ballroom.

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PODCAST: ThinkSoJoe Show for Sept. 21, 2016

Musical selections by The Taken, October Wolf, Rustic Radio, and Sara Elizabeth.

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