Concert Review: Cloud Nothings at Buffalo’s Rec Room on May 2, 2024

Cloud Nothings kicked off their 2024 Final Summer tour at Rec Room in Buffalo, New York, a small venue that doubles as a large bar. It was my first time seeing Cloud Nothings live — tickets were cheap, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, especially so close to home. With my girlfriend along for the ride, we ordered a few drinks (couldn’t taste the vodka in my vodka-tea, unfortunately) and watched the opening act from the bar, an anonymous indie band called Hurry, who put on a good performance despite lead member Matt Scottoline downplaying their abilities. Their fuzzy indie pop/rock stylings were a nice contrast to the post-hardcore onslaught of the main act. Immediately forgotten by the time Cloud Nothings took the stage, exactly as Scottoline presumably wanted.

Van issues apparently resulted in Cloud Nothings showing up a little late, but no fear, because Rec Room is a venue where such mistakes can be made and laughed about. Broken string or busted snare or stage lights too bright? Who cares! The crowd was less than 100 people, probably less than 70, maybe even less than 50, ranging from old hippies to middle-aged punks to greasy alt college kids: a testament to Cloud Nothings’ lasting appeal. Good music is good music, after all, and Dylan Baldi and co. are amiable hosts who bring the energy, even if that means also bringing in a rank and semi-odorous audience.

I enjoyed the semi-intimate atmosphere of Rec Room. The audience was actually smaller than I thought it’d be, which is a shame since Cloud Nothings deserves more, but either way I was glad our view and enjoyment of the show was never compromised or obstructed. We set up shop about 25 feet from the stage give or take and simply basked in the vibe, watching a mini-mosh pit form near the end of the show, nodding along to the loud, anthemic post-hardcore tunes that engulfed the venue.

Cloud Nothings blistered through every song on their new album, the very good Final Summer, tunes that translate perfectly to live music, and then played an hour’s worth of older tunes, the highlight being a punishing noise rock rendition of “No Sentiment.” Finishing off the set was a 15-minute “Wasted Days,” which devolved into a lengthy (too lengthy?) feedback breakdown, incorporating instrumental elements of “Pattern Walks” and “Dissolution,” before returning to normalcy for a rousing climax. They are an ambitious band, on record and on stage, and Baldi has a commanding stage presence if only for his complete devotion to his music: he needs not cater to the audience because he knows that the audience is there for the fantastic songs, not for him.

If you get the chance to Cloud Nothings in concert, I advise you to take it. Baldi’s vocals are raw yet controlled and charismatic, while his guitar creates a foreboding wall of sound. Likewise, drummer Jason Gerycz is relentless and powerful and the heart and soul of their live performances: he gets angry at his drumset, and the crowd feeds off his energy. Even if Cloud Nothings aren’t your cup of tea, they put on a damn good show, one that’ll inspire you to bang your head in solidarity or nod along in introspection, and they sound pretty much the same as they do on record, only a little heavier and a little faster.