I was simply too wore out to make it to Buffalo last Wednesday to catch The Old 97s. But my man slick Nick over at The Red Wings made the schlep. "Question" off of "Satellite Rides" is one of my favorites. It's a beautiful love ballad I wish I'd written. And thanks to Nick, I got to hear it by way of T-Mobile's low fidelity. My wife and I waltzed around the living room with the phone on speaker.

Friday night, while waiting to warm the boards for The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band on the Club side, I caught some of the madness going on next door at Water Street Music Hall. Bludwulf seethed and raged about the stage minus America's bass. The intensity and energy was there, but the bottom end was definitely lacking. Bludwulf's guitar work is fast upper register stuff full of hammer-ons and pull-offs, and the vocals were a throaty wail above the drums' apocalyptic thunder. All managed to cover the deficit as best they could. Audience reaction was mixed; Bludwulf has fans and detractors of equal passion and aggression - the sign of a great band. 

Headliners The Casualties spewed old-school punk rock to the young and rabid in a pit that resembled a demolition derby. And whereas The Old 97s' "Question" is akin to the swoon and romance chicks dig, The Casualties' music resembles that more male, leg-humping pit bull, sloppy seconds urgency. The two rarely intersect. Beer helps.

Meanwhile, back at the Club, The Reverend made a parade entrance, honking his harp through a bullhorn. This was his third visit to town and the buzz is definitely on. There are so many blues fans out there that just don't know it yet. The Rev is good for both entry-level curious types and seasoned enthusiasts. His finger-style playing is manic and mean, with the thwack of his thumb serving as bass. Delta blues boogie with no brakes.

In the guilty pleasure department, I caught MDG's Cheap Trick tribute, No Clones, Saturday at High Fidelity. I'm a fan, and I'm picky, but I gotta say they nailed it. And not just the pop stuff. I mean, c'mon, they kicked ass on "Hot Love." Meddling Kids opened and left me scratching my head. Why aren't these guys on the radio all the time?