Latest Posts

Koko Neetz – I.T.T.I.P.

December 23, 2019

First, a science lesson: Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. They’re made up of only three basic subatomic particles – electrons, protons and neutrons, as you probably remember from sixth grade. Their dance, multiplied across the 1080 or so atoms in the universe, makes up existence in all its wild, varied forms. The songs on I.T.T.I.P., the new album from Koko Neetz (Andrew Kothen, who you may also know for his guitar work in dreambeaches) are atomic in the sense that they start from almost nothing and put the same few components into motion with each other to propel melodies forward. While the atom has electrons, protons and neutrons, Kothen has an acoustic guitar, a drumset, a quiet piano, a shimmer, the hint of a Mellotron, and his own wispy voice with which to create. And create he does – I.T.T.I.P is both a showcase of Kothen’s[...]

Tonight: heave

December 18, 2019

Do you need to escape the winter cold? Nietzsches has you covered this evening with a night of soulful folk by a Christmas Tree. Tonight’s lineup will feature Heave, who will play a solo set from lead singer Emily Finlan. A good portion from Heave’s catalog will translate well to a solo acoustic performance, as many tracks from their EP Pike are stripped back and subtle. That said, it will be nice to see Emily deliver a solo version of their full band Buddy Holly-esq tune ‘Boys’. Support acts, Sidney Jeanne, a punk rock carnation, and scene newcomers Blunted Lip will round out the night. Bundle up and make your way to out.. $5 cover and doors at 8:30pm. Pike by heaveWritten by Kevin Prentice

Canetis – Putting Time Together

December 16, 2019

Things have been quite hot for newcomer Buffalo band Canetis. In short, the indie. alt-rock band formed in 2018, released their first single in July 2019, and have recently come off a raucous release show for their EP Putting Time Together. On first listen, their alt-rock sound becomes quite apparent, as well as the excellent execution of sophisticated song structure. Canetis have come to play. The first track off Putting Time Together is “Double Take,” which introduces the album with a four bar build of drums and long guitar tones. It breaks open into a syncopated guitar riff played with a palm mute. East Bay punk, Rancid and NoFx among others, popularized the fuzzed out guitar groove and lend influence throughout Putting Time Together. The transition into the chorus swings the song from groove to powerful ballad style rock and roll. Lead vocalist Brendan walks the tight rope to connect[...]

Dogs in Stereo – Idle

December 9, 2019

Most of us know what it’s like to feel idle. While stillness itself can be situated in a state of calm, idleness implies expectation of eventual movement. That’s why we use the word to describe a car that’s started, but isn’t moving; we’re still, but the parts inside are still turning. Buffalo’s Dogs in Stereo explore that paradoxical combination of stagnation and restlessness in their new EP Idle, a melancholic, living collection of six songs filled with longing. Idle is a step in a different direction for Dogs in Stereo. Previous efforts by the Dogs exhibited earnest, lo-fi rock with charming melodies and captivating guitar work. The essence of earlier work is still around on this new EP, but clean production and more deliberate songwriting are clear marks of artistic maturity. They’ve also seemed to move into the computer age with more synth than we’ve seen in the past, a[...]

Breakfast for Dinner Releases New Single

December 5, 2019

Fresh-faced indie-pop outfit Breakfast for Dinner just released their newest single “She Ate My Heart Out Like A Hurricane.” Originally based out of the DIY scene in Corning, NY, they’re now based out of Buffalo. The heavy garage rock/DIY aesthetic is very clearly presented in their first single “Wonder” which came out earlier this year. “She Ate My Heart Out Like A Hurricane” shows a much more evolved sound from the band. At the outset, the song pulls you in with glistening synth textures, a driving beat, and a reverb drenched lead line. The breathy vocals in the verses are balanced well by the stronger chorus, which is undeniably catchy. With a sound akin to Robyn, Bat For Lashes, and iamamiwhoami, Breakfast for Dinner has a deeply mystical indie-rock sound that still manages to channel a DIY pop-punk aesthetic. This neatly packaged song is a great addition to your playlist. Keep[...]

Personal Style – Demo 2019

December 4, 2019

There is nothing new under the sun. That being said, to express yourself you need to take your influences and make them your own. The fresh-faced Buffalo band of familiar faces, Personal Style, have released their first demo tape, a six song collection of tight punk rock, which they branded as their own. “Total Kontrol,” a title that shows Personal Style making the English language their own, kicks off the demo. Bryan Johnson (of Bryan Johnson and Family, honeyCOMA) delivers a punk-classic three chord winding guitar riff for two measures until the drums enter. Evan Wachowski’s jumpy drum beat establishing the song’s pulse thumps to life low in the mix. Think Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life.” Then the song explodes into a full on punk ringer. The vocals, a low almost flat delivery in the vein of garage rock heroes Pavement, tell about a classic punk trope. The urge for[...]

Cooler Drops New Single “Gentleman”

December 3, 2019

Buffalo’s favorite Indiemo trio Cooler returns with their newest single “Gentleman.” Their first release since 2018’s Buried EP shows a mature side of the band, with deeply cathartic lyrics that are very catchy. Their previous releases have been very guitar driven, and while that energy still exists, the lush harmonies and textures that are present on “Gentleman” really highlight the lyrical acuity of the band. Cooler has always had an ability to write compelling pop-oriented songs about such heavy topics such as mental health, love, and loss and “Gentleman,” which focuses on the end of a relationship, is no exception. Check out “Gentleman” below and be on the lookout for their upcoming EP in 2020. Gentleman by CoolerWritten by John Smigielski

Helmsley – East HIlls #1

December 2, 2019

If you have not yet heard the newest effort by Steak and Cake Records’ foot soldier Helmsley, then you should brace yourself for impact. In the vein of surrealist and expressionistic art, Helmsley wrote East Hills #1, a record full of songs that drastically distort, amplify, and warp traditional musical practices to invoke an emotional response. The first track off of the record, and the first single released, “Narcotic,” introduces the heavy Deerhoof influence that is heard through out. The song’s first five seconds blast a siren that acts as wake-up alarm. Sit up and take notice. From there it delivers a delicious bass line groove that is coated in fuzz effects. Combined with the underlying siren and back beat drums, the EDM-esque track makes it near impossible to keep one’s head from bobbing. “Narcotic” fades seamlessly into track two, “Pratt Fall.” Usually meant to refer to a humiliating instance, “Pratt Fall”[...]

Full Body – Always There

November 27, 2019

Waste not, want not. If one uses their provisions wisely they will never be in need. Rochester-based band Full Body apply those wise words to their musical prowess, and it resulted for them in a wide ranging new album, Always There. Following their much applauded debut record, What’s Good?, Full Body have created a separate, and at times manic, new world. Full Body found themselves recording their sophomore effort away from their home turf. They tracked down to Headroom Studios in the bustling city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, PA, and worked with engineer and producer Scoops Dardaris. Track number one, “Small Voice (Still),” kicks the album off with slow sludge drums accompanied by metallic and beautiful guitar chord picking. Vocals hover over the main melody, and lead singer Dylan Vaisey long-windedly sings the main character’s motivation with the simplistic self-centered line, “I’m here for myself.” “Small Voice (Still)” lays down[...]

Bold Folly – I Think That It Is Wonderful

November 25, 2019

Forget the surreal cosmic expanse on the cover of Bold Folly’s I Think That It Is Wonderful– the key setting of the album is far more cramped: the dirty mouth. It’s an image that pops up at least twice, as far as I could decipher from guitarist and vocalist Timothy Zdrojewski’s shouted vocals. First, in “buddapest”: “When I talk to taxi drivers, I talk real loud with food in between my teeth.” And again, in “war games”: “Stick your dirty fingers in the back of my hungry mouth.” I’d bring those two lines into conversation with another seemingly innocent observation from “CAT,” which Zdrojewski screams at the top of his lungs: “We all breathe the same air.” Taken together, these lines imply the aesthetic universe in which I Think That It Is Wonderful lives – not the neverending cosmos, but inside a stinking mouth, a dank, dark space where the[...]

Tonight: Canetis EP Release

November 22, 2019

Tonight, make your way on down to the Rec Room to catch one of Buffalo’s newest up-and-coming acts as they celebrate the release of some new music. Canetis, a group of young heavy-hitters, just released their first EP entitled Putting Time Together, a five-song collection that perfectly blends alt and indie-rock goodness. Canetis has been making a name for themselves lately, so make sure to catch them as they surely won’t disappoint. Joining them on stage this evening is Buffalo heavy hitters Post Prom, and if you haven’t heard of these guys by now, tonight is the perfect opportunity to see what everyone’s been talking about. Also joining the stage is Grace Greenan as well as Elemantra. Doors are at 6pm, tickets are $10. Putting Time Together by CanetisWritten by Mike Rakiecki

Koko Neetz Reveals New Video for “molecules”

November 7, 2019

Indie-songwriter Koko Neetz (the moniker of dreambeaches’ guitarist Andrew Kothen) recently released “molecules,” the first single and accompanying video off his upcoming album titled i.t.t.i.p. This marks the first release from Kothen since 2016’s Moral Monsters, an excellent EP that shows his prowess as a songwriter. molecules shows us an evolved sound, while maintaining Kothen’s meticulous attention to orchestration. Lyrically “molecules” maintains a gentle existential tone, backed by expertly by simple guitar lines and gorgeous harmonies. Kothen’s attention to detail puts him in a category with orchestration and arranging superstars such as Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Sufjan Stevens. If this track is any indication of the rest of the album, we may have a contender for one of the strongest releases in Buffalo this year. Kothen has proven time and again that he’s a true “musician’s musician”, with wistful introspective lyricism, and a deeply thoughtful approach to recording. for fans[...]

Tonight: Hollerado

November 7, 2019

It’s hard to say goodbye. Especially when it comes to leaving behind someone or something that’s been a part of us for years. It is with great sadness that Canadian indie rock act Hollerado announced earlier this year that they are hanging up their axes and calling it quits (hopefully only for a little while). Forming in 2007, the band first pulled at our heartstrings with the driving riffs of “Americanarama” and the soaring chorus of “Juliette” and has been steadily been churning out hits ever since. But with this bad news comes some good: they announced they would release a new album and embark on a “one-last-hoorah” tour, and they have been coming through with their promises. Hollerado released Retaliation Vacation in June this year to great reception, and have already embarked on their tour. The band will be in Buffalo tonight at Town Ballroom for what will be[...]

Tonight: Justin Roeland & Lady D

November 6, 2019

Indie-folk bard Justin Roeland joins a stacked bill of local songwriters tonight at Nietzsche’s. Currently based in Ithaca, Roeland along with his band Nightswimmers has been a fairly regular sight in lineups recently. With deeply poetic, quasi lethargic lyricism, and captivating melodies, Roeland has proven himself to be a standout member of a sometimes crowded field of songwriters. Joining Roeland tonight are Sonny Baker, known for both his solo work and his work with Lazlo Hollyfeld,  Oats Holy Roller, the moniker of Joe Myers most recently known for his project The Shallows, and Andy Pothier, lead singer of Passed Out. Tonight is a night for deeply cathartic, moderately melancholy music presented by four of the most talented songwriters this city has seen in years. This event will sure to be a hit for fans of Jeff Tweedy, Andy Shauf, Big Thief, and Slaughter Beach, Dog. 8:30pm doors, $5, 21+ Doomed To Bloom[...]

Eerie Shores – Wicked Disposal

November 4, 2019

It is no secret that SUNY Fredonia produces a lot of talented artists, especially musicians. There have been countless acts over the years that have staggered their way up from the Chautaugua County college to leave their mark on Buffalo. One of the latest outfits to make that journey is Eerie Shores. Formed in 2017, the band has finally found it’s footing and now identifies as a five-piece. It is with this identity they have found their groove and have released their debut EP called Wicked Disposal. Upon first listening, it’s apparent that this band wastes no time getting to what it does best, which is heavy, detuned riffs. The EP opens up by hitting you right in the mouth with “Days and Weeks,” a 6-minute heavy rock jam with quite the catchy chorus. From there, the group showcases a bit of their softer side on “Ghosts (Dried Out),” as[...]