Broadway Joe's, a cozy venue on Main Street in Buffalo's University Heights district, was packed with people Friday night for the Best of UB Showcase. The show featured five talented UB bands, each offering a different style and distinctive sound.
Dark Alone's music was patently metal, and these guys took the stage like professionals. With raw guitar riffs, eclectic bass lines and rapid drum beats that seem to smash into one another and create an auditory monster, Dark Alone stands out among all those other metal bands that seem to sound like everyone else.
Sure, there's growling, screaming, and plenty of head banging, but it was welcomed from the mixed crowd. The group's skill was tested momentarily after a minor technical problem caused the power onstage to be cut. Once restored, these guys were able to pick up right where the song stopped, with no problem at all.
Later, singer Drew Celestino rallied the crowd with a spirited, "We're Dark Alone and we're from Buffalo, New York!" a proclamation that inspired applause and cheers from the audience, some of whom raised a beer and whipped out the devil horns.
...By Exposure's style is a mix of hardcore and metal. Singer Mike Flatt alternates between crooning and screaming in each song. The bass lines cut and the drums are jarring. This band sounds like a deviant sort of Southern rock. Evidence of this can be found in the guitar playing. And instead of being drowned out by the instruments, Flatt's vocals are complimented nicely and appropriately, making their sound fit well.
Krazi-Q and AJ Hladczuk provided the only rap performance of the night. They stepped onstage, mics in hand, ready to show Buffalo something different: suburban rap.
The duo's lyrics are personal, consisting mostly of life experiences, and the audience seemed to be ready for a change in pace as they gathered around the stage and began to move to the music. People threw their hands in the air and rocked back and forth to the creative rhythm and smooth beats provided by turntables.
Though minimalist compared to the other acts, these guys were by no means any less talented in their delivery. There was also a definite air of confidence about them that made the show exciting. The obvious bond between Krazi-Q and A2J made the performance seem to flow effortlessly, and it's clear that they have worked hard to foster the skill that has brought them so far.
Do It With Malice offered yet another change in genre with some high-powered ska that electrified the crowd, causing an outbreak of crazy dancing in the crowd.
This isn't just your average ska, however. Do It With Malice break up their songs with some jumping punk deviations and shattering heavy metal moments, making their style hard to pin down, but interesting nonetheless.
The band plays guitars, drums, a trombone, a saxophone and a trumpet. There's so much going on, and it's so fast-paced, that the live format seems to be where these guys would be at their best.
The most impressive aspect about the band is its organization, cohesiveness, and consistency. The music never disappointed, and the vocals were always on. It's clear that despite the fact that they've been playing for just under two years as a band, they're well on their way to a promising future.
Of Its Own finished up the Showcase with a sound that was mellow and offbeat. Their style is more experimental, and featured screeching guitars and a hollowness that can best be compared to Radiohead.
The lead singer sat down as he played the keyboard, crooning into the microphone while another band member jumps in with the maracas. The band brought an understated power to the show. The music felt raw and personal, so much that it compelled the audience to listen and interpret.
The band was focused and works well together. The crowd remained quiet for most of this performance, but they were engaged. It's clear that this band is forging its own path in the local music scene.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
