It's going to be a weak holiday season for local concerts, but the semester coming to a close is reason enough to celebrate with a little live music. Sell back those textbooks and help support the local venues. Here are some upcoming shows, in order by concert dates.
KISSmas Bash - Dec. 15, HSBC Arena
The most highly anticipated concert of the holiday season in Buffalo is KISS 98.5's 15th annual KISSmas Bash. The show features some of the most popular (and most overplayed) artists.
Lifehouse is on the bill, known for the 2001 hit "Hanging by a Moment." They're currently on tour promoting their new self-titled album with their single "You and Me."
Big names on the lineup also include singer-songwriters Gavin DeGraw and Ryan Cabrera. DeGraw is known for his wildly popular "I Don't Wanna Be" from the "One Tree Hill" soundtrack, and more recently for chart-toppers "Chariot" and "Follow Through." Cabrera, after becoming famous through ex-girlfriend Ashlee Simpson, is now an established performer with hits like "On the Way Down" and "True."
Rounding out the show will be new pop-punk band the Click Five and all-girl dance group the Pussycat Dolls.
Tickets range from $17.50 to $50 and are on sale at the HSBC arena box office and online at tickets.com.
Toys for Tots fundraiser - Every Time I Die and It Dies Today - Dec. 18, Town Ballroom (formerly the Sphere)
There's all kinds of dying going on, for a good cause. Buffalo-native metalcore groups Every Time I Die and It Dies Today will be playing a show to benefit the Toys for Tots charity.
This show picks up Snapcase's old tradition of holding the fundraiser each holiday season.
They take the stage at 6 p.m. with fellow rockers Dead Hearts. General admission is $10, but discounted tickets are available for $5 with the donation of a new toy of at least $5 in value.
Rockapella - Dec. 20, Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College
If teen pop and hardcore aren't your style, world-famous a cappella group Rockapella is performing at Buff State's Rockwell Hall. The group is best known for singing the theme to "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?" as well as countless rock, jazz and R&B covers. Tickets are available at the Rockwell Hall box office.
50 Cent - Dec. 20 Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto, ON)
If you didn't hit the "Candy Shop" in Buffalo a few months back, you can still hitch a ride up to Canada for another performance by hip-hop mogul Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Backup includes Kardinal Offishall, G-Unit and Rihanna. Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com.
Matisyahu - Dec. 28, Showplace Theatre
Hasidic Jewish reggae-rapper Matisyahu played to small crowd at UB's Slee Hall last year, but his critically acclaimed album "Live at Stubbs" is becoming more popular by the minute.
Matisyahu's unique style of rapping over dancehall reggae beats while in full Hasidic Jewish attire makes for quite the mix and proves to be an excellent live show featuring stage-diving antics. Tickets are $17 at the Showplace Theatre box office.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Dec. 28, HSBC Arena
Paul O'Neill founded the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 1996 and has been writing rock operas ever since. The resulting pieces were meant to be an inspiring ensemble of music and lyrics along with a story-like context.
Most notably, the Orchestra has performed with heavy metal icons Metallica on several occasions. Tickets are $48 and $28 and are available at the HSBC Arena box office as well as tickets.com.
Bon Jovi - Jan. 20, HSBC Arena
Just in time for classes to start up again, legendary rockers Bon Jovi stop by Buffalo on their "Have a Nice Day" tour. It's the group's first tour since 2003, and they're out promoting the new album "Have a Nice Day."
Now, instead of drunkenly slurring the words to "Livin' on a Prayer" at PJ Bottoms, you can do it with the man himself in concert. Tickets are a little pricey at $75 and $49.50, but return a couple of those department-store sweaters and you're there.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
