Best Girl and ‘97 Flood at Milkies – July 25th, 2026
Best Girl and ‘97 Flood put on an incredible show at Milkies this weekend, alongside special local guests Silver Proof and the Mookies. All four bands had the place rocking with passionate music.
Milkies Elmwood Lounge is one of the places to get your summer music fix with a drink or some good food. With a welcoming environment and crowds that love live music, Milkies does a great job at hosting traveling and local acts.
The set opened with Silver Proof, a young and charismatic punk-rock band from Buffalo. They got the night off to a great start, playing their original works in progress or recently released songs before passing the mic off to Best Girl.
Hailing from Jeffersonville, Indiana, Best Girl went on tour with ‘97 Flood, a band from Louisville, Kentucky. This summer, the groups traveled across a handful of states. The emo-pop punk-rock band noted it had been a while since they had been in Buffalo, but were beyond excited to return. Watching them perform is captivating because you get to see in real time a group of good friends doing what they love: travel and jam and share their music with fans and other supportive patrons.
Their skills are off the charts, from the complicated runs nailed every time by the keyboardist to the riffs from the guitarists and bassist. Each piece of the group was perfectly in tune with the members beside them, their focus sharp while engaging with the crowd. The lead singer spent most of the time off the stage with the crowd, singing and bouncing along.
All of the members at one point or another invited the crowd to dance and rock alongside them, and it was amazing to have a front row seat. Their music was emotional and beautifully written in a way that allowed them to be completely engrossed in their craft.
All of the same sentiments could be said for ‘97 Flood, who took the stage after Best Girl. This was the Emo and Post-Rock band’s first performance in Buffalo, and they certainly did not disappoint.
Their energy was so high that it was transcending through their music, throughout the crowd, and even to passersby on the street. People were fully engaged with their show and set, laughing and bumping along with them as the band thrived in their element.
The drummer was always on point, whether singing or drumming, for every single song, and the bassist and guitarist communicated in a way I’ve only seen a handful of times. Their vocalist was also amongst the crowd, giving the show a more personal and intimate vibe.
The night ended with another fantastic set from The Mookies. It was a treat to see and hear them again in a different venue.
Their catchy riffs and tunes give a more unique spin to their original music. The whole band also sings along, adding ear-pleasing harmonies you will want to hear in person for yourself. Their singers might have been slightly under the weather, but with the caliber at which they play, you would never know.
Check out Best Girl (@best_girl_emo) and ‘97 Flood (@97flood) on Instagram to see dates for their upcoming shows, and catch all of the acts’ music on streaming platforms.
