Five Buffalo Acts We Want to Reunite in 2025

We’ve taken the office Christmas tree down and it’s back to business over here at blog headquarters. 2024 had its ups and downs with the local scene. We launched buffaBLOG version 4.0, witnessed the usual band break-ups/venue closings, but also saw the emergence of new artists that we are excited to listen to and share.

With that, we’ve brainstormed Buffalo musicians that we would like to see reunite in 2025. We understand some of these may be a pipe dream, but think of this as more of a fantasy draft rather than an open letter.  Don’t get us wrong however, if any of these acts return in 2025, we are taking full credit.

(photo via Unlisted Projects) 

Jack Toft / Jack Topht

Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh don’t you miss Jack Toft? A wishlist for acts we would like to see reunited in 2025 would not be complete without the kookiest rapper of the 2010’s. The alt-hiphop West Side basement king was a staple in the scene, playing seemingly anywhere and everywhere, from punk to rap bills and gained a notable following along the way.

Starting off as an art-punk band, Jack Toft evolved his style into that of an abstract emcee. After collaborating with Ninjasonik producer, TEEN WOLF, and hazy beatmaker Chauncey Tales, Toft upped his production and ultimately his rhymes, aura, and persona into the enigma we knew and loved.

Toft disappeared off the scene with the pandemic, but perhaps 2025 could see the emergence of ONE Jack Toft appearance on a punk show at AMVETS, a cypher at Milkies, or a bodega opening. All are possibilities with Jack. He loves to do rap. – Michael Moretti

Canary Girls

Not to be forgotten is “Laser Prom,” a song that manages to perfectly capture the feeling of holding your crush’s hand while skating laps at the local roller rink together. Even the most stoic listener would have a hard time not being swooped back into a state of nostalgia while listening to this slinky ballad. With most of the members of the band scattered from Buffalo, a reunion may not be a possibility, but certainly is something we would look forward to. – Mac McGuire

The Traditional

There was always something special about Buffalo-based quartet The Traditional… They represented and embodied that sort of blue-collar emo/rock that screamed “we’re from the rust belt.” Whether it was Anthony Musior’s heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics delivered in his trademark, reformed pop-punker sneer; Jon Coric’s thundering and creative stop/start drumming; or the dingy (but incredibly pristine) riffy rock ‘n roll guitar work of Mike Bienias (among a rotating cast of others); their songs hit hard, fast, and never failed to find a way to make you feel things. Musior’s sugary-sweet and ruthlessly catchy melodies were just barely disguised by hate, cigarette smoke, and the already worldworn angst of youth – the songwriting was there; the desire was palpable; and the sincerity made it all feel so real.

When they weren’t on tour, they were mainstays of the After Dark show rotation – It’s not that often that a local act can sell out a mid-size venue like The Waiting Room (RIP). For all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into their craft, The Traditional deserved the payout by always putting on an insane show, sweating out all the Yuenglings consumed before (and during) their set, and belting out song after song while the rest of the room sang along – if there was any Buffalo-based band that was going to “make it” in that beautiful, long lost era of Buffalo music, my money would have been on them.

At their last official show in 2019 (also sold out), The Traditional printed a shirt that said “2012-2019: seven years of pissing into the wind…” But with 2025 being the 10-year anniversary of their full-length, How To Live Without Blood, here’s hoping we might see these boys lined up at the Rec Room urinals for something a little more formal. – Nick Sessanna

Newish Star

There was no denying the power of Newish Star. The DIY garage punk trio had a uniquely staggering sound: explosive, riff-centric fuzz with a satisfying deadpan lyrical delivery. The songs are short, sharp bursts of energy, rarely surpassing the two-minute mark but with every second capitalized upon. Those lucky enough to have caught Newish Star live during their five year run between 2013 and 2018 understand how magnetic their brand of punk rock really was, and the band’s prolific release output during that run never left fans wanting.

Though the band’s core has continued as recording project American Angelica Tree with an impressive debut in 2023 and more to come, there was strange magic in the chaos of Newish Star and we miss it. – Ronald Walczyk

(Photo via Three Seas Photoco)

Applennium

Often unfairly overshadowed by the more rocking roster of Harvest Sum artists, Applennium were surely the collective’s most unassuming outfit. Comprised of members of the label’s past (Bearhunter, Sleeping Kings of Iona) and present (the Orphans, Lower Pony, TVMTN), the four-piece’s delicate blend of dreamy folk-rock recalled the likes of Mutual Benefit, Antlers, and Yo La Tengo at their most tender. Secret weapon and co-vocalist Stacey Stoll rarely graced a song that wasn’t as heartbreaking as it was heartwarming.

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This post was written by Admin