Amy’s Place Packed to the Brim with Local Music on March 9th, 2024

One may not expect Amy’s Place, a top-notch vegan diner along Buffalo’s Main Street in the heart of the University District, to be much of a music venue, but this “hole in the wall” proves to be a perfect destination for local music. The gallery room, situated alongside the diner with table spaces for gaming and creativity, has set at its front window a stage and sound system for performing. The walls are nearly filled with stunning and even jarring artwork, making it a cozy atmosphere. Amy’s Place was the perfect setting for the evening’s entertainment.

At this all-ages show, first on the bill was Astronot Junkie; a local, self-described “diet punk” band with a solid, large following. There were a number of audience members sporting shirts and hoodies with their logos, a refreshing sight amid the vast age range of their fans.

The energy of the band was akin to Gwar, with the room filled to capacity and standing room only; albeit the audience did little standing as they danced and bobbed their heads along with every song. Their lyricism is similar to that of Moldy Peaches or early Pavement, with a similar jangle style to Polaris. While their lo-fi recordings, available on Spotify, sound closer to The Shaggs, they are far better live where their energy and melodies can be appreciated.

After Astronot Junkie,  the equipment was removed and replaced for the next act, Spiria. A local sister and brother duo, Spiria is a complete 180 from Astronot Junkie. With Johnny Manke on drums and Mikayla Manke singing and on keys, the pair have an ethereal synchronicity to their magnificently atmospheric and emotive songs. Mikayla’s vocalizations are similar to those of early Ghostly Kisses, while their arrangements sound like a down-tempo Ben Folds Five.

What stands out live is Mikayla’s charming stutter. You hear it as she warms the audience between songs, but disappears effortlessly as she sings. It makes the band even more endearing. Spiria has delivered both times I’ve seen them perform, on this night and during Buffalo’s annual Infringement Festival.  They transformed the small room at Amy’s Place into a fantastical garden of sound. This is a band worthy of going further than our own local scene, and an act I cannot suggest or recommend enough to everyone in Buffalo. Make it a point to see Spiria live.

While the next act did not have their full band, Ryan Terry of The Ryan Terry Family Band did not disappoint. Playing an acoustic set in place of any accompaniment, he played a few new songs with a number of older recordings. Terry even brought his girlfriend on stage to sing along to a song he had written about her.

It was an intimate and vulnerable performance, one which endeared me even more to Ryan. His solo music sounds so entirely different than performances with the Ryan Terry Family Band, with beautiful melodies and lyrics that couple so perfectly together. You can find him on Spotify as just Ryan Terry, and this performance provided an entirely new and refreshing view of his music. His banter between songs gave a fresh perspective of Terry. A lovely person and fantastic performer, his set accentuated the entire show, tying together the louder acts with the more melodic Spiria, perfectly.

Last up was Pretty Good State University (PGSU), a four-piece band born amid the pandemic. Typically fronted by Tobias Prey on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Vinnie Lema on lead guitar, Clayton Duffy on bass, and Noah Logan on drums, the lineup was altered slightly for the night as an amp was forgotten, so Tobias wound up only singing.  It turned out for the best.

Tobias’ energy on stage is that of a young Axl Rose, while Vinnie ironically resembles Slash without his signature hat, jumping and dancing about the stage with  his bandmates like a kid with ADHD given nine espresso shots. Far better left to his own devices rather than leashed behind an instrument, Tobias’ performance made the entire set all the better.

With synchronized noise and catchy lyrics, PGSU are as good live as heard on Spotify and other streaming services (sans Amazon, as the band humorously bantered on about). Their comradery and storytelling made their set all the more enjoyable, sharing the meaning of lyrics with anecdotes on how songs were written. Their banter made them relatable and charming, inspiring the audience to laugh along with them and clap and dance to their songs.

Each band provided a vastly different atmosphere with every performance, which made the night nothing short of an outstanding local show. Amy’s Place was both welcoming and accommodating to all who passed through their doors, and owner Greg Kempf was an absolute delight to work with. I highly recommend checking out every band from the show and considering checking out any upcoming shows at Amy’s Place.