Latest Posts

Tonight: Cloud District

August 8, 2019

Local alternative acts SMUG and Color Cult will give a warm Buffalo welcome to New Paltz’s Cloud District tonight as the three take the stage at DIY space Sugar City. With a stacked lineup spanning subgenres, tonight’s show is sure to attract a diverse audience of indie music lovers. The local bands on this bill are ones we know and loveSMUG has been playing around the city ever since they got back from tour in support of 2018’s Gorgeous, a triumphant pop punk record that blends catchy melodies, powerful vocals, and tireless, rhythmic guitars and drums to produce the perfect soundtrack to scream and dance along to. Labelmates Color Cult recently emerged from a rebranding, releasing a new single “Invisible Monster” in June following a name change from The Sofa Kingz. A slight departure from the sound of monikers past, the track keeps the party-ready indie pop charm of The[...]

Tonight: Interpol

August 6, 2019

New York City post-punk act Interpol makes their return to the area with a show at Town Ballroom tonight. After forming in 1997, they burst onto the scene with 2002’s Turn on the Bright Lights which forever cemented them into the indie-rock canon. Along with The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, they defined the sound of the early 2000’s NYC scene. After a hiatus the band is back with the 2018 release of Matador. While not as strong as Turn on the Bright Lights, it’s very clearly the band’s strongest release in a decade. The band followed this up most recently with A Fine Mess, a five track EP they released in May 2019. With an instantly recognizable sound and catchy, danceable hooks, this concert is sure to appeal to long time listeners as well as recent converts. Expect to hear a mix of songs, but focused heavily on Turn[...]

Folkfaces – Fat Ol’ Rat

August 5, 2019

Buffalo’s rowdy roots rock quartet Folkfaces just released their sophomore album Fat Ol’ Rat. With their signature blend of raucous jazz and blues, the quartet has further refined their sound since their debut release How Long? in 2017. Anchored by the virtuosic multi-instrumentalist Tyler Westcott, the group also features local sax powerhouse Ellen Pieroni, upright bassist Patrick Jackson, and washboard wunderkind Dan Schwach. It’s fairly easy to hear the influences of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Dave Van Ronk, and Django Reinhardt on the band’s sound, but to stop there would be fairly limiting. There’s also a healthy dose of jazz, jug band, and even punk that round out their very eclectic sound. Without doubt I believe Fat Ol’ Rat is the band’s most successful album, as it captures the high energy and intensity that is ever present at their live shows. An absolute barn-burner from start to finish, Westcott’s rambling[...]

Tonight: Kurt Vile & the Violators

July 31, 2019

Tonight, you best make your way down to Town Ballroom to catch the one and only Kurt Vile & the Violators. Vile, who originally made a name for himself in The War On Drugs, has been an indie rock and folk machine, cranking out 8 studio albums since his solo debut in 2008. For those efforts, his trip to the Queen City has been long awaited, and long overdue. This show will have quite the draw, so if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, now’s the time. Joining The Violators on stage this evening are Garcia Peoples, a rock n’ roll and jam band powerhouse from Rutherford, New Jersey. Tickets are available online via Town Ballroom’s website. or $37 at the door. Written by Mike Rakiecki

Kelli Bobbi Drops Second Single/Video “July Rush”

July 26, 2019

Buffalo label Steak & Cake Records is back with another summer single and video by pop act Kelli Bobbi. “July Rush,” directed by Brandon Schlia and starring singer Jazmine Frazier, epitomizes the youthful defiance of summer days and nights. Kelli Bobbi embodies 1980s revival. The name alone sounds like it belongs to an ‘80s pop icon, and the video for “July Rush” serves some fashion nostalgia with oversized jackets, bright high-waisted shorts, crew socks, smoky purple eyeshadow, neon shades, and denim – though you’d probably see these styles walking around the city right here in summer 2019. This then-meets-now aesthetic also comes through in the music, and it’s infectiously fun. The track has an instant, understated catchiness from the beginning; synth, a simple drum beat, and Frazier’s breezy vocals evoke the timeless feelings of optimism and excitement that come when the summer really starts to get going every year. The[...]

Carmen & Lizzy – Climate

July 23, 2019

Mother Nature’s daughters have come down from the clouds with an album of tender and heartfelt songs. Buffalo’s Carmen & Lizzy, cousins who grew up together singing and playing music have released their third effort in three years, 2019’s Climate. An introspective album about their past, present, and future, Climate polishes elements of folk to tackle an ever pressing dilemma: Our Environment. “Carry You,” a short lead off track, gently stirs the album to life with thick and warm acoustic pickings from Carmen, guitar and vocals. The message directly employs pathos with Lizzy, vocals, reassuring that the subject will always have an aid. Bridging seamlessly into the second song, “Shelter,” the album continues its message of protecting the most vulnerable. Lizzy and Carmen highlight their harmonious beauty throughout the entire track, which bolsters the compassionate lyrics, “Even if you want to hide/I’ll shelter you.” Pulling from their bag of magic,[...]

Ugly Sun – s/t

July 22, 2019

Crunchy, sweaty, rock-n-roll that should be played to summon demigods or while making sweet love under the desert sun has landed in Buffalo. The Crook brothers, John and Harrison, formed the rock duo Ugly Sun and have showed us the portal to a good time with the release of their first album, self-titled, Ugly Sun. The tone of the album begins at the cover. A desert sun setting behind mountains, spends its last few minutes shining down on a group of presumably nude females. If one downloads their album from Spotify, the figures will be blurred. However, I am hard pressed to believe that the brothers made that decision themselves, since their attitudes align with consistently pushing their creative boundaries. “Little Fire,” the album’s first song, and first released track, begins with an airy guitar melody that steadily builds until it combusts into a full on arena rock guitar lick[...]

Tonight: The Burkharts

July 20, 2019

Wes Anderson’s favorite band, The Burkharts, have released the perfect soundtrack for summer daydreams. Their latest effort, ‘Lazy Dazing’, shows how the Buffalo natives have grown into a distinct field of well-crafted and hook laden indie rock n roll. Reminiscent of Buffalo heavyweight ex-pat M.A.G.S. with a hint of Mac DeMarco, The Burkharts will put a groove in your step tonight at Nietzsche’s. Sharing the stage will be newcomer M.T. Lakes, who will be playing their second show ever (this time a stripped down solo set), former Dreambeaches guitarist Koko Neetz, and one-woman synth project VHS Era. Doors at 9pm with a $5 cover. Written by Kevin Prentice

Tonight: SMUG

July 19, 2019

Dust off those earplugs. Nietzsche’s will be hosting an alt-rock blowout tonight as pop punk trio SMUG headlines its first show of the season, with support from Canetis and Hundred Plus Club. SMUG left its past life behind with the release of 2018’s Gorgeous, a high-energy album that takes the late ‘00s pop punk we all loved (come on, you know you did) and brings it to the present, blasting listeners with a fresh, memorable blend of bubbly punk rock. If that’s not reason enough to get yourself down to Allentown, this will be Buffalo alt babies Canetis’ first-ever show, fresh off the back of the release of their impressive first single “Warning Call.” Round that out with Hundred Plus Club’s powerful indie rock, and you’ve got yourselves a certifiable banger. Doors for this 21+ show open at 9pm. $5 cover. Gorgeous by SMUGWritten by Grace Trimper

Tonight: Twin XL

July 19, 2019

L.A. Trio, Twin XL will be making an appearance tonight at The Tralf, located in Buffalo’s theatre district. The pseudo-supergroup, which includes Cameron Walker-Wright, and brothers Stephen and John Gomez, previously of The Summer Set fame, formed in 2018 and quickly released the EP entitled How To Talk To Strangers. The record combines the perfect combination of glistening retro synths, catchy bass-lines, and memorable melodies. Making large strides, the group has already toured with Jukebox The Ghost earlier this year, and is set to embark on another tour later this year with I Don’t Know How But They Found Me. Supporting Twin XL onstage are Buffalo’s own rockers Marquee Grand. Tickets can be purchased for $1.07 in advance courtesy of 107.7 FM, or alternatively $10 at the door. Written by Mike Rakiecki

Borger Releases Debut EP Titled Camp

July 17, 2019

Lo-fi dream pop outfit Borger just released their debut EP titled Camp. With a healthy amount of fuzzy DIY vibes, it’s a must listen for fans of Beach House, Cults, and Real Estate. The album opens with “when you smile,” which features a gradually building texture, and does an excellent job of setting the vibe. On “nat geo,” lead singer Mackenzie Harris’ vocals float effortlessly over the hypnotic textures. “pollen,” drifts along with a gentle lilt as does “vineyard” although both songs achieve this through different means. “mr. rogers” brings us back to the subtle driving textures present at the beginning of the album. One of the most interesting tracks on the album is the closer “strawberry.” An instrumental ambient track, it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the album in the best way. In a way, it’s almost teasing “when you smile” in the way it gradually[...]

Canetis Reveals First Single “Warning Call”

July 11, 2019

The City of Good Neighbors is full of creatives, from artists, to poets, photographers and musicians. We clearly have a expansive and diverse group of people making contributions to the community to make it a better place. One of Buffalo’s newest band, Canetis (pronounced ca-nay-tis) is a recently minted quintet with who have released an equally shiny and polished single, “Warning Call’ to match. Their sound combines the angled jabs and cut of old-school alternative rock with the shimmer and sleekness of The Smiths or Gleemer. The group, consisting of Brendan Hoare, Mike Butler, Matt Sacha, Matt Broconier, and John Grennan, will make their live debut July 19th over at Nietzsche’s with SMUG and Hundred Plus Club. Written by Mike Rakiecki

Halo Nellie Debuts Second Single “Sick on the Floor”

July 10, 2019

Indie-rockers Halo Nellie have just released their new single “Sick on the Floor,” following up last month’s release of “Cold Room.” With a driving beat, the band creates an energetic texture that does an excellent job of showcasing the vocals. With the perfect amount of jangle and fuzz, it’s a very fun listen and a worthy addition to your Summer playlist. Hopefully this is leading up to the release of a full length, and that will definitely be worth checking out. Catch them at their next show on July 18th at Mohawk Place alongside The Vaughns, Clever Girls, and Velvet Bethany. Sick on the Floor by Halo NellieWritten by John Smigielski

Tonight: And the Kids

July 9, 2019

Northamptonites And the Kids are coming to the 9th Ward at Babeville tonight. The genre-bending indie act is currently on tour to support the release of their third album, When This Life is Over, which came out this past February. While you could definitely call them a pop band, And the Kids has been known to break the rules a bit. When This Life is Over is a testament to their ability to complicate a genre so unfairly pinned down for its simplicity. With powerful, warbling vocals, layered harmonies, glimmering synth, and the occasional string section, And the Kids shine in the buildup on this album. The sound grows and grows until we’re dying to know what’s going to happen next – and we rarely expect what does. Whether it be an alternating tempo, a complete instrumentation change, or a beautifully crafted wall of sound, throughout each song and into[...]

Tonight: The Beths

July 7, 2019

Indie pop New Zealanders The Beths will take the stage at the 9th Wardtonight, bringing L.A.’s Girl Friday along with them. The group is right at the beginning of the North American leg of their gigantic summer tour, which supports the release of their 2018 debut album, Future Me Hates Me. The Beths formed in 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand, where vocalist/songwriter Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, and bassist Sinclair studied jazz at the University of Auckland. Drummer Tristan Deck, who amazingly also studied jazz, rounded out the group’s live line-up in 2019. Though the band departed from its constituents’ jazz backgrounds to take on a guitar-driven pop sound, musical education shows itself in the group’s impressively tight debut album. The Beths have worked up their own brand of indie pop for Future Hates Me, pairing playful, infectious melodies with punchy lyrics to deliver ten danceable, relatable, re-playable tracks. The[...]