Saturday night in the ROC

What do you get when you add one part Hot Rod Circuit, one part Taking Back Sunday, one part Coheed and Cambria and a heaping spoonful of some fantastic, dance-along ska/punk? A solid night at Water Street.

Saturday night in the ROC, we welcome ska all stars Streetlight Manifesto on their Ship of Fools Tour featuring opener and pop-rock conglomerate Terrible Things to the stage at Water Street. I saw Streetlight back in 2009 on Warped Tour, and they were a personal favorite with their horn section and enthusiastic beats. Anyone who can get hundreds of exhausted, sweaty Warped Tour-goers to smile in the middle of the day and dance along earns a special spot in my heart.

It's guaranteed to be a night of fantastic music, ranging from punk to pop. Doors at 6:30, tickets are $20 at the door.

All My Best Friends Are Metalheads

With Bayside and Terrible Things come and gone-and me still pissed I had to miss them- it's time to get geared up for the next great show to come to the ROC. It's almost time for one of the more prolific 90s-2000s pop-punk-ska band to light up Rochester with their confetti guns and horn section.

Last time Less Than Jake came to town I was lucky enough to catch their acoustic set at the HOG and snag an autograph from Chris Damakes. This time, I'll be less of a stalker, and more of a devoted fan from the pit at Water Street on January 31st. Tickets are $16, $20 at the door. Featuring Supervillians, Off With Their Heads and more.

Snowbirds and Townies

When I first heard that Hit the Lights was coming through the ROC, I knew that their show would be the highlight of the winter. With Rochester natives Nate VanDame and Kevin Mahoney on stage, it was bound to be an awesome homecoming show.


And then, the openers were announced.


One after another the supporting acts were announced and the list reads like a who's who of awesome hometown acts, across the genre spectrum of rock, punk, indie and pop punk: Preemptive Strike, A Summer Scene, Joywave, Avenue You, Such Gold.

Needless to say, I will be camped out at Water Street all night to catch them all. And you should too, as this is the best lineup of Roc-local bands we've seen in a while. Thursday night, doors at 6:30.

Black Friday Rule

Now that the turkey is long forgotten and Black Friday is upon us, enjoy this chilly vacation day with some local music:

Kicking off their tour- Young Bloods at Montage Music Hall. Opening are His Name Was Yesterday and A Thousand Shades of Gold, Shadows of the Past, and Yesterdays Heroes. Doors at 7, tickets are $5

Returning to the ROC- Joywave at Water Street Music Hall. Sharing the stage with BEDROC. Doors at 7, tickets are $10.

November 2, 2010

Two very important things are going on tomorrow that all Rochesterians (especially those of you over 18) should be aware of.

Be sure to get out and vote (assuming you are registered, which is a whole other issue if you're not). If you are unsure of your polling location, check out this link.

After that's over, come down to Water Street Music Hall, because The Ataris are going to be tearing up the Flower City. Doors are at 6 and tickets are $12 day of sale. Word on the street is that Roc locals, Young Bloods will be opening.

Let's see if we can get them to close with this favorite like they used to in the old days.

Concert announcement

The only thing that could make Friday being here a little sweeter is that Less Than Jake will be returning to the ROC this January at Waterstreet.

Rage Fest 2010

We're 24 hours out from Rage Fest 2010 and this girl couldn't be any more excited. Three weeks ago I thought I couldn't go, this week I snagged a ticket off the boys of Young Bloods, tomorrow over 20 local bands that range from punk to metal are tearing the roof off of Water Street.

Headliners include Such Gold, Every Last Thursday, Sirens and Sailors, Storm the Bay and Mercia. Also keep an eye out for support bands Call Me The Patriot, Soma Slumber, Heavy Lies The Crown, and Red Letter Statement.

Doors at 5 and tickets are $10 in advance. Get down to Water Street early to catch a prime spot as it will be jammed with the 18 and under crowd quickly.

Terrible Things Thursday

Taking Back Sunday + Hot Rod Circuit + Coheed And Cambria = Terrible Things

Though they will be playing a handful of Warped Tour shows out West, this is the ROC's chance to see them in action.

Water Street Music Hall with Anberlin and Story of the Year
Doors: 6 pm
Cash: $18

April Showers Bring Badass Shows

So I have been excruciatingly MIA the past few weeks. But, to make up for my lack of presence, I've chased this sincere apology with the remaining concerts for April. They are pretty freakin' sweet, so let's hope this makes up for my laziness:

4/15
Cute Is What We Aim For at Mohawk Place
Power pop from the B-lo

4/16
This Is an Empire & Tubestar at Dubland Underground
Rock/electronica, Buffalo and Roc City represent

4/17
Andy Smash and the Rust Belt Hotrods at Record Archive
Punk. Indie. Christian. ROC.

Cry to the Blind, Your Own Reflection, Vanity Strikes at The German House
Rock/metal. Roc represent

Strong Willed at Flying Squirrel Community Space
Straight edge hardcore

Do It With Malice at Mohawk Place
Ska-core from Buffalo

4/18
Eve 6 at Keuka College
90's-2000's Pop punk/rock

4/20
Velvet Elvis at The Bug Jar
Garage rock sexiness

4/22
Faith and the Muse at Waterstreet
Goth electronica

4/24
Mercia, Call Me the Patriot et al at Waterstreet
Roc metal/rock

This Is a Stick Up, A Billion Ernies at Montage
Ska, punk, hardcore = awesome

4/27
Mastodon at Waterstreet
Heavy metal

4/28
The Wonder Years at Mohawk Place
Pop punk/hardcore

4/29
Angels and Airwaves, Say Anything at The Main Street Armory
Blink-offshoot rock, pop punk

4/30
Mrs. Skannotto w/Among Criminals, The Sandwich Crackers at Waterstreet
Ska & reggae

March Madness Starts Here

Winter is dying down, Roc city punks, and it's time to start creeping out of hibernation, shaking off those cobwebs, and getting ready for the concert season to arrive.  We think there's no better way to kick off our own version of March Madness by packing the upcoming weekend with local music.  Clear your schedule all weekend long, because you don't want to miss a minute of these recession-friendly shows. 

Friday the 5th
If your preferences tend to aim more towards reggae, ska and dub, get down to Dubland Underground for an extremely eclectic mix of sounds.  Look forward to a chill Friday night with bands including Two Ton Ska, Reviving Ivory, and headliner Jatas.  Tickets will only set you back the price of a beer.

Saturday the 6th
It's déjà vu all over again if you were at the German House over Thanksgiving vacation.  But, if you are a fan of down-home Rochester kids making sweet, sweet rock music and the sound of screaming 15-year-old girls, this is your show.  Headliners The Sunstreak welcome back Mochester, Avenue You, and This AM Static as openers.  Tickets are $10 through Ticketmaster, or the respective bands.

Sunday the 7th
This is the show I'm most looking forward to, if only to take notes on up-and-coming Roc talent: Vanity Strikes, Yesterday's Heroes, Every Last Thursday, Whitecliff Drive, 441 and Oh Cassandra.  $12 at the door for this Battle of the Bands DVD release party at Water Street buys you access to see some hot bands that range from pop punk to metal, some of the members still in high school.

Bring on the freakin' weekend!

Full Metal Set List

Back in August we happened upon metal rockers Call Me The Patriot at Ragefest while dashing back and forth between the sides of Water Street. We were struck by their stage presence, enthusiasm, and powerful vocals. But, they admitted that they were pretty fresh out on the scene, and their set showed it: lots of heart, needed some elbow grease.

Now, after a couple months, a lineup change, and some time in the studio, they're back headlining a night of metal bands from the Rochester area. We're excited to see what CMTP has been up to since the summer, and also for some rock solid openers. Our pre-show favorites are looking like Sky Davis and Heavy Lies the Crown.

When: Friday the 11th
Time: Doors at 6
Damage: $10 presale, $12 at the door

Back to Back Local Shows

Two of Rochester's rising star local bands are rocking out Waterstreet on back to back nights this weekend. Here's your chance to get out and support our local boys as they take a pause from touring the US to come home and tear up the stage.

Friday- The Hoodies (Greece natives) featuring The Graduate and The Morning Off
$12 tonight, doors at 6.

Saturday- The Sunstreak (Irondequoit natives) opening for Anberlin with Nocturnal Me
$15 tomorrow, doors at 7
Both shows are 16+, but that's just a great opportunity for you kids to bring out your impressionable parents for a couple nights of great live music.

AFI & Gallows pics

Took a little while, but uploaded our pics from AFI & Gallows on 10/16. The night was an awesome mix of traditional punk tunes with the accessibility of modern rock.

RIP Vice Grip

Said goodbye to our favorite local band on Sunday at Waterstreet's Rock for Food concert. Vice Grip, with your absurd sets, smoke machine, monopoly on day-glo skinny jeans and sing-along anthems of ridiculousness, you will be sorely missed. To remember how you singled out the one non-singing audience member and made him feel like a loser, please enjoy Mr. Robot, below.

AFI in the ROC

AFI is coming to Waterstreet on October 16th with Gallows opening. It's never to early to start celebrating.

Rage Fest 2009

Coming this Friday, August 28th, to Waterstreet Music Hall is the 2nd annual Rage Fest. Clear your throat and wear close toed shoes. Get ready for headliners Sirens and Sailors' hardcore rock.

KMFDM, doing it again. ROC style

KMFDM, Germany's industrial hard-rockers, has announced tour dates that also include the ROC city, herself. They are slated to play Waterstreet Music Hall September 27th. Doors at 7, tickets are $20 in advance to see one of the most innovative, influential, crossover techno-metal bands.

Juke Joint Jezebel circa 1995

Best concert economy of the summer

Thursday brings an epic 15-year anniversary Warped Tour to Darien Lake-we're still fruitlessly trying to map out who our must-sees are-but the greatest live music deal this summer is coming to the Water Street Music Hall on Wednesday night. The Bird Circuit, with openers the Beaumonts, are coming to rock your faces for a total cost of $3 ($5 day of show).

The Beaumonts fuse together rock, ska and psychobilly to create a fun but very chill mix. Know both for originals and eclectic covers, this sextet is sure to please.

A smooth-sounding 5-pack, The Bird Circuit, brings a more indie rock vibe, but still knows how to turn out a catchy tune. Their song Dry your eyes got lots of play on WBER last year. Comfy grooves.

Doors at 8.

Friday Night in the ROC

A couple of weeks ago, when I was a few beers past asking probing questions, my friend told me we were going to the CD release party for Shelflyfe this coming Friday. As a local scene enthusiast, I didn't debate much. I do love Waterstreet Music Hall.

Later, I decided not to be an uneducated consumer and check out their MySpace page to further my grasp of what type of music I was getting myself into. First impression? Their headshots look like the emo-flip update of a Motley Crue album cover.

But, conversely, the music on their site betrayed nothing of the screamo nature that their look suggests. Rather, they have a softer tone and less-aggressive, more melodic lyrics, complete with piano parts. Interested to see how the live show goes.