On Saturday, March 2nd, the sounds of blues filled the air at the newly opened Vivarium on the East side of Milwaukee. Buffalo Nichols and opener Social Caterpillar, both Milwaukee natives, played memorable shows to a talkative and sizable crowd. 

For Social Caterpillar, this show would be one of their last, as they recently announced a final three-song EP and one additional show before the experimental-punk-instrumentalist band calls it quits. The front row was filled with avid fans, some with tears in their eyes. Each member of the group seemed focused, contemplative, and emotional as they played through much of their latest album Alphabet Crown, but despite their concentration, the crowd was quite chatty, a trend that would continue throughout the night.

When it came time for Buffalo Nichols, he came out on stage, picked up a guitar, and went right to singing the blues. No backing track, no drums. Just a man, his voice, a guitar, and a steel slide on his finger. In any other circumstances, the room would have been silenced by the expressive performance, but not that night. Despite the emotion pouring out through his fingers into the guitar, the crowd chatter continued. 

As the show went on, Nichols brought out additional band members including Tori Yocum on upright bass, Spencer Tate on violin/mandolin, and Shaylee Walsh on drums. They played a mix of hits from Buffalo Nichols, as well as the recent release The Fatalist. Highlights included “The Long Journey Home” when Nichols switched to banjo instead of his collection of beautiful guitars, “The Fatalist Blues” which showcased Nichols mesmerizing guitar work, and “Friends” where his deep, melancholic voice shined, despite the continued background conversations of the crowd. 

For the final song of the set, before launching into the heartbreaking song “How to Love,” Nichols asked of the crowd two things: “be nice to each other, and shut the fuck up when I’m singing. If you can’t do that, then maybe you should leave.” Eventually, the crowd acquiesced his request. Despite the challenges of the crowd, Buffalo Nichols was a force to reckon with, and Milwaukee should be proud to have him.