WNY Music: Festival offers wide variety of don’t-miss artists

By Robert J. McLennan

Coming up with a Top Ten list, popularized in my memory by David Letterman, is kind of a gimmick to draw attention to your topic.  But think of this; there are over 30 bands playing at Borderland this year, plus some more local bands playing tribute shows at the third stage, the Split-Rail stage.  And the Borderland people, led by Jennifer Brazill, have done an amazing job in putting together a very eclectic, exciting lineup of musical artists.  I want to see all these bands.

However, to utilize my theme, I’ll focus on the 10 that I want to experience the most.  But if you’re going to the fest already, or if this article, or my previous article about WNY bands at Borderland, convinces you to not miss the fest, you should still check out the bios about the artists on the Borderland website.  They all sound like they will be great, and of course the timing of all the acts may come into play.  There’s a lot to see and hear over the three days of music and it ain’t easy fitting it all in.

I will be at Borderland all weekend long with The Buffalo Hive.  We’ll have a table and a tent set up so we can tell you all about The Hive.  And we’ll be giving away some free concerts from the Sportsmen’s Tavern, Babeville and Buffalo Iron Works.  You’ll be able to sign up for our free weekly newsletter and we hope you’ll see fit to join The Hive and become a member. 

One caveat I’ll mention here is that I’m not including the WNY bands in this top ten, in the interest of covering more of the lineup. See my previous article about the local WNY bands; some of them surely would have made this top ten. 

So here goes; I’m not writing long comprehensive bios of the bands, there are plenty of other places you can find that, including the Borderland website.  Here’s my very subjective list of who I most want to see, and why, in order of when they are appearing at the festival.

Jesse Welles-Friday at 7:15, Main Stage

To me, the lyrics matter.  In most cases, the music I like has words where I enjoy hearing the message or the story.  Not always, because there are a lot of instrumental bands I love.  But I’m the extreme opposite of the “shut up and sing” crowd.  Welles makes no bones about expressing his viewpoints on current political issues, and that’s why people love him.  He is a man with a guitar saying what he thinks; maybe “this machine kills fascists” is still valid.

Andy Frasco & The U.N.-Friday at 8, Homespun Stage

When a band is described as rock, jazz, funk, blues and high energy and there are horns and reckless abandonment, you got me.  And I’m lucky that I share my interest in music with my sons, and my son Corey is always raving about this band.  It’s time I experienced the U.N.

Alabama Shakes-Friday at 9:15pm, Main Stage

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service before her band broke out, and considering my past career, that’s something I never forget; John Prine, the “singing mailman,” wasn’t the only one.  A show I put on several years ago, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” a show honoring women singers and songwriters with a WNY all-women band featured an Alabama Shakes song, “Don’t Wanna Fight” sung by the fabulous Alex McArthur, and it was a highlight of the show. 

Blending southern soul and garage rock, Alabama Shakes should be a great closer for the first night of the fest.

Rebirth Brass Band-Saturday at 4:30, Homespun Stage

First of all, anything that’s presented by The Big Easy in Buffalo has gotta be good.  Here’s the one time, I’ll cite the text from the Borderland website: Rebirth Brass Band is a legendary New Orleans ensemble that has been blending traditional brass band roots with funk, soul, and hip-hop influences since the early 1980s. Known for their infectious grooves and high-energy live shows, they’ve become global ambassadors of New Orleans street music while keeping the city’s second-line spirit alive.  What can I add to that?  They’re a must-see band!

The Pixies-Saturday at 7, Main Stage

I’ve never seen them; they just never crossed my path.  Formed in Boston, Mass., 40 years ago, they’ve been described as punk rock, surf rock, with jagged guitars, outlandish lyrics, and sudden bursts of rhythm and melody.  Artists including David Bowie, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, U2, Nirvana, the Strokes, Alice in Chains, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon and Matthew Good have cited admiration of the Pixies.  I’m very curious to hear them.

Jack White-Saturday at 9pm, Main Stage

One of the top three headliners of the fest, White is a renowned American singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer, best known as the frontman for The White Stripes.  He’s had a long, varied career, and many people think very highly of him.  But I never listened to him much, so I haven’t quite got him.  I’m going to see what he’s all about; I told you this article was very subjective.

Clay Street Unit-Sunday at 2:30, Homespun Stage

Borderland always brings in great bluegrass bands, and bluegrass thrives in a live music setting! “Whenever we’re onstage, we’re just trying to throw a party,” says Clay Street Unit’s Sam Walker. “Life’s hard enough already. We want to remind people to let loose, love each other,and enjoy themselves.” 

Clay Street Unit is a high-energy bluegrass band with lightning-fast picking, tight harmonies and modern edge on traditional Appalachian roots music.  I love that they describe their music as folk-country, or western Americana, or Rocky Mountain Newgrass with southern soul.  When your music touches on a wide range of influences and genres, you got my attention.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones-Sunday at 3:30, Main Stage

The first time I saw them was on a Cayamo Americana Music Cruise.  Talk about a party on the pool deck!  Then I saw them at Babeville.  Anna Kapechuk of Babeville and the Asbury Arts Center describes them, “Both times they performed here have been memorable, such as watching singer Paul Janeway work his way around the balcony singing to the crowd without missing a beat!” 

They have a rich, horn-driven sound mixing southern soul, funk and R&B.  Esquire magazine said they have a “potent live show that knocks audiences on their ass.”  Heard enough?!

Leftover Salmon-Sunday at 5:45, Homespun Stage

Ten years ago, we spent a Memorial Day weekend in Maryland at the famed bluegrass festival, DelFest, named after the renowned Del McCoury family.  And in the middle of an incredible lineup of performers that you almost wouldn’t believe were all there in one weekend, (that’s’ another story for another time) Leftover Salmon stood out as a highlight. So of course I want to see them again.   

What is Americana music?  See Leftover Salmon.  Bluegrass, Cajun, Bourbon Street, Nashville, mountain music.  On the Homespun Stage, you absolutely can’t go wrong.

Lord Huron-Sunday at 7, Main Stage

I saw Lord Huron once before, at the Town Ballroom.  They are something else; they had an extraordinary and moving light show with their performance, working with their sound of surf rock, folk and western psychedelia.  Some of their music has been used in movies and TV, as it is very cinematic, evoking landscapes, desert sunsets and the open road. 

None other than the Wall Street Journal described them as having “a decidedly cinematic flair, heavy on mood and evocative imagery. Lord Huron brings to mind the high-lonesome sound of antecedents like the Band, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes.”  Lord Huron will close out the festival on Sunday night, when the sun will set at 7:18.  So, we should get a bit of darkness and maybe some creative lighting for Lord Huron’s closing set.

That’s the who, what and why of my Top Ten.  Yours might be completely different, which is the beauty of this fest.  And remember, I said above that some of the local WNY would actually make the top ten if I combined them, but then I’d go into overtime and end up doing an extended list.

It’s pretty special that we have this nationally recognized music festival right here in Western New York.  It’s a great lineup of big-name artists and it’s also cool that so many Buffalo bands are included.

Have a great time at the fest, and stop by and visit us at The Buffalo Hive!

---

Robert J. McLennan is vice president of the Buffalo Hive’s Board of Directors.