Remembering the Encores

Who: Mat Kearney with the Leagues When: November 11, 2011 Where: Town Ballroom/ Buffalo, NY With: Katie, Sara Of Note: my own personal dance party, Katie's Kearney obsession, discovering the Leagues From Remembering the Encores The internet is an amazing thing. Like really, how else would you be able to discover that people you went to high school with but haven't seen since you graduated moved three blocks away from you? So, thanks Mark Z., for creating a world where you can falsely feel like you're still "in touch" with people even though you're absolutely not. In any event, welcome to Buffalo Katie! I'm glad you're here. And, thank you for being cool with my whole, "We're gong to be friends now, 'kay?" schtick. When Katie asked me to go see Mat Kearney, I was more than happy to go along. Katie & Sara had a good laugh at my expense. I had bought my ticket online, labeled the envelope with the name of the ...

Who: Phish When: September 14, 2000 Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center/ Darien Center, NY With: Ben, and a bunch of other people Of Note: Philly cheeseys, the pouring rain, not finding my car for hours afterwards, my huge fight with Ben So, one of the questions everyone asks you when you go to college is if you're going to stay with your high school boyfriend. I remember running into some folks I graduated with a week or so before I moved to Buffalo and when they asked, I truthfully told them I didn't know. I'm not sure I made a conscious decision about the long-term implications of what it meant to stay together/do the long distance thing but, I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time? Anyway, as I said, before, Ben found Phish. Which means that I got into Phish. So, here's the thing about me and Phish. I like Phish for their great musicianship, their crazy lyrics and their songs. Yes, I like it when Phish sings songs, not so much when they...

Who: O.A.R with the Lost Trailers When: May 17, 2003 Where: The Tralf/ Buffalo, NY With: Matt, Andy, Pete Of Note: Pete getting stuck in the crawl space above the Hell House porch, standing right up against the stage, all my favorite songs in one night From Remembering the Encores Man, who didn't love O.A.R. in college?  Their story is relatable (they started by playing frat parties!), their tunes are infectious (you can't help but yell along to, "It's 3am and I want to go to be-e-ed!"), and they know where their bread is buttered (closing every concert ever with "Crazy Game of Poker").  Matt said that he, his brother & their buddy Pete were coming up to see O.A.R. play in Buffalo and invited me along.  I found some crash-space at the Hell House for them and it was quite the week-end. There was some drama with tickets, I think - Matt & Pete had them; Andy & I didn't?  It wasn't really a big deal; we went to the ticket ...

Who: Chris Trapper with Kristin Cifelli When: October 28, 2011 Where: Ninth Ward/ Buffalo, NY With: Hillary Of Note: fun acoustic show! From Remembering the Encores My (new) friend Hillary is obsessed with Chris Trapper.  She is a super fan.  I can appreciate that, having some musical obsessions of my own.  She has talked about Chris a ton and when she said that he was coming to town and invited me along, I was more than happy to accompany her.  Especially because Hillary is fun, funny and super duper nice. I'd never been to Ninth Ward, but it's a beautiful performance space.  Ani DiFranco converted an old church; the building is stunning from the outside.  The concert was in the basement, a really chill and intimate venue for a concert. Kristin Cefelli opened.  Her voice...was incredible.  It has a really unique timbre with almost a haunting quality to it.  It was just her and her guitar, but she definitely filled the space....