Sophistafunk — the Syracuse-based Funk Hip Hop crew that has been touring coast-to-coast since 2012 — rolls into Buffalo Iron Works on Friday, June 26 with a stacked bill that includes Mike Gantzer of Aqueous and DJ Kimonofoxx of Grub. Doors open at 7:00 PM, show at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. This is an 18+ General Admission event.
About Sophistafunk
The easiest way to explain Sophistafunk is the tagline they earned themselves: “Rage Against the Machine meets The Roots, dipped in P-Funk.” That is not marketing copy — it is a roadmap. Frontman and emcee Jack Brown holds down the lyrical side with conscious, storytelling-driven energy. Adam Gold runs synth bass lines and funky vocals while occasionally beatboxing (yes, at the same time). Emanuel Washington is a gospel-trained drummer who pulls from neo-soul, deep house, and reggae. And Tommy Weeks — who tours with the Funky Dawgz Brass Band — handles saxophone. Rotating guests on brass, guitar, and turntables show up regularly, which means no two nights look exactly the same.
The festival resume runs deep: Electric Forest, Camp Bisco, GrassRoots (five years running), BoomTown and Shambala overseas, Horning’s Hideout in Oregon, Spirit of the Suwannee in Florida. Four studio albums into their run, they have built a following that stretches from the Northeast to Colorado to the Pacific Northwest. You may have also caught them on Food Network — they are regulars on Guy’s Ultimate Game Night and have appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (twice) and Guy’s Grocery Games (four episodes). Eclectic credits for an eclectic band.
Opening the night: Mike Gantzer of Aqueous, followed by DJ Kimonofoxx from Niagara Falls-based genre-benders Grub — a solid warm-up for a room that is going to be moving all night.
About Buffalo Iron Works
Buffalo Iron Works is a 500-capacity club at 49 Illinois St in Buffalo — one of the more reliable rooms in Western New York for catching a band that puts real craft into a live show. General Admission means the floor is yours. Get there at doors — 7:00 PM — if you want to be close to the action.
Tickets
Advance tickets are $15. Day of show bumps to $20. This one has the makings of a sweaty, sold-out Friday night — grab them early. Get your tickets here.