Buffalo Music: Shows at Jack Rabbit, Nietzsche’s and Hot Mama’s to the rescue

By Benjamin Joe

The music community of Buffalo has risen to the challenge of helping its unfortunate peers who were impacted by the floods caused by waterline breaks last week.

Three benefits are scheduled to help those who lost their equipment: Feb. 18 at Jack Rabbit on Elmwood Avenue; Feb. 21 at Nietzsche’s on Allen Street; and Feb. 28 at Hot Mama’s Canteen on Military Road.

The Jack Rabbit event will include Lauren Clifford and Sean McNamara — who both lost equipment in the flood — along with Alison Pipitone and Graham Howes, Dee Adams, Buck Quigley, Maria Sebastian, Tom Maker and Geno McManus.

The show will be a live acoustic event where the hat will be passed to help the victims. Its starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m.

Sebastian said she “jumped” on the idea for a benefit because of Lauren Clifford’s kindness to her while she was sick in 2024.

“When I saw that her new car was flooded and her band lost equipment, I wanted to return the gesture. We know insurance and the city making good on all of this will take time. We want to help now. Thanks to Josh Mullin at Jack Rabbit for not thinking twice about hosting,” she said.

Nietzsche’s

The Nietzsche’s event is organized by Dauphin Thorndike and dubbed the Black Rock Flood Benefit. Performers include Joseph Vertino, Sasha Fleet, Lark & The Night Owl, The Waves, The Delegates, Hooked on Casiophonics, Goodbye Metro, Green Schwinn, Palomino Eyes and surprise special guests.

Thorndike said the proceeds from the event will be split among affected musicians and artists and any claim can be emailed to TopCatmanagement125@gmail.com by Sunday, Feb. 22.

“There was a number of musicians who had practice spaces right around the intersection (that was flooded) and not only lost their equipment but their space was trashed as well,” he said in a short phone interview. “I reached out to bands that I knew would be interested in doing a benefit show for no pay and donating all the proceeds.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. Music at 7:30 p.m. Raffles for an Ibanez guitar and three other items are also planned, with those items donated by Thorndike and his wife.

“I have so much equipment and stuff that it’s not really a sacrifice to donate some of my gear,” he said.

Hot Mama’s Canteen

At Hot Mama’s Canteen, the band Not Normal has organized a benefit show from 5 p.m. to midnight to help all affected by flooding in the Black Rock and Riverside communities following, an email statement said, “the multiple water main breaks this winter, including but not limited to the Hertel/Military incident costing local musicians thousands worth in damage from a flooded practice space.”

The performers include Anthony Markell & John Booth, JT Nicholson, Too Skinny, Philip Stephen, The Travesties, Jade Marciniak, MYQ F, Not Normal, One Foot Up and The Living Braindead.

Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Black Rock Riverside Alliance to support neighborhood revitalization and community improvements initiatives in Black Rock and Riverside and the other 50% will go to Music is Art to provide loaner musical equipment to local artists.

“This event was organized in response to recent challenges affecting the 14207 area and reflect a broader effort by local musicians and small businesses to support long-term community resilience and stability. All proceeds from ticket sales and raffle participation will be documented and distributed accordingly, with a public total shared following the event,” read a statement from Jen Karlis of Not Normal.