Latest Posts

Pink Guitars – Hand EP

May 13, 2019

“DIY or Die.” That phrase, created in the seventies by punks willing to put it all on the line, has grown into a mantra for the hardcore community. By the grace of god we are lucky enough to bare witness of that philosophy’s magnitude with the freshman release of Hand EP by Pink Guitars. Erected from the ashes of the past group, Supergoner, Pink Guitars’ creative force, Sean Wild, drew from his influences; Black Flag, The Germs, Sonic Youth, and No Wave bands Mars and DNA. The lead track establishes the tone for the entirety of the EP.. “On The Inside” begins with dissident feedback before the punch of the 1-2 driving punk drum beat, which had put Wild’s musical ingenuity to the test. Lacking a full drum-set for the recording, he employed the use of drum-hit samples to round out the bass, toms, and high hat percussion. Layered on top[...]

Tonight: Wild Once

May 10, 2019

Tonight, you need to get down to Mohawk Place to see one of the best all-local lineups this year has to offer so far. Wild Once is kicking off the weekend by celebrating the release of their new EP Perennials. If that wasn’t enough to get you out the door, let us remind you that you will receive a FREE copy of the release with a ticket purchase. In case that doesn’t get you jazzed enough, keep in mind that the lineup absolutely rules. Synth-pop titans Humble Braggers are playing their first show in quite some time, which, in and of itself, is a good reason to attend. Joining them as well are rising post-emo acts Cooler as well as Worse Things. Doors are at 8pm, tickets are $10.  In the meantime, check out Wild Once right here: Perennials by Wild OnceWritten by Mike Rakiecki

Tough Old Bird Reveals First Single off Upcoming Album

May 9, 2019

Late late month, Filmore NY’s Tough Old Bird dropped “Harbor Song,” the first single off their upcoming album The Old Great Lakes. “Harbor Song,” finds them expanding their sound slightly, in a way that highlights their rustic, blues tinged Americana stylings. The track opens up with a soulful trumpet duet, which is soon joined by a gentle beat in the drums. Lead singer Nathan Corrigan’s vocals balance perfectly, with a lilt that carries a certain weariness. The track is extremely evocative, conjuring up images of dusty, yellowed photographs. As the track builds, the layers grow, but at no point overpower Corrigan. Perhaps this is the real beauty of Tough Old Bird; their ability to capture Rust-Belt languor and the weariness of the road without succumbing to it. Aside from their expanding fanbase, this track will also appeal to fans of Buck Meek, The Avett Brothers, and Townes Van Zandt. Tough[...]

Tonight: Caroline Rose

May 8, 2019

Sharp-tongued satirist Caroline Rose brings her LONER LOSER FREAK Tour to town with a show at Buffalo Iron Works tonight. Rose is currently finishing up a year plus long tour behind her critically acclaimed third album LONER, which was released on New West Records in 2018. A far cry from the alt-country styling of her previous two albums, LONER finds Rose embracing a synth forward sound with danceable hooks. Lyrically, this album covers topics such as death, loneliness, self-doubt, and misogyny amongst other things. But the beauty of the album is Rose’s ability to deal with such serious and potentially traumatic topics with such unflinching candor. Rose uses satire as a means of translating or transforming the inherent anger and pain of her subject material. Coupled with her infectious pop sensibilities, Rose is able to capture attention in a way that doesn’t minimize the weight of the topics she covers.[...]

Coral Collapse – Don’t Wait to See Me Say Goodbye

May 6, 2019

Buffalo natives Coral Collapse have released their second album entitled Don’t Wait to See Me Say Goodbye. The effort showcases the bands ability to combine spaced-out guitars, clever and crafty drum-work as well as haunting-yet-mellow reverb-laden vocals to create an indie pop work of art that can sit comfortably next to Beach Fossils or Wild Nothing. There is a strong since of cohesiveness that unites these ten songs. The album opens up with “Nocturnal,” as it should. The beach/surf rock tune immediately catches your ear and buries itself into your brain with the jangly guitar riff and ensuing hi-hat beat that follows. The vocal rhythm and melody is the perfect counterbalance to the otherwise busy instrumentation in the track. The album flows seamlessly through “Atlantic”, “Never Go” and “ After Hours”. One of the highlights on Don’t Wait to See Me Say Goodbye come from the tracks “Mono”, where the band picks[...]

Tonight: Pinky Doodle Poodle

May 3, 2019

Japanese power rockers Pinky Doodle Poodle will be making a stop at Milkie’s tonight at 8pm. Known for their heavy, riff based music with positive lyrics, PDP maintains a fairly active touring schedule. After catching the ear of Robby Takac, the band was signed to Good Charmal Records and released their first full-length record in 2014. Their most recent release, Poodle Boogie was released in 2017. Core members Yuria and George have created a high-energy guitar driven sound that balances scorching riffs with playful lyrics. Rounding out the bill tonight are the punk outfit Radical Operations and instrumental rockers Good-Dude. In addition to their show at Milkie’s, you can also catch PDP at the Cherry Blossom Festival this weekend. Doors at 8pm with a $6 cover. Written by John Smigielski

Tonight: The Felice Brothers

April 29, 2019

Catskills based folk rockers The Felice Brothers will be making a return to the area with a show at the 9th Ward on April 29that 8pm. They’ll be touring in support of their new record Undress, out May 2 on Yep Roc Records. This will follow up their 2016 release Life in the Dark. Far from being novices, The Felice Brothers have already proven themselves to be a formidable force in the Americana scene. In 2017, the band served as Conor Oberst’s backing band on Salutations, and his subsequent tour. They will also be performing at the Borderland festival this Fall in East Aurora. This new album features a paired down sound, and is far and away their most reflective and personal release. On Undress, The Felice brothers tighten the scope of their increasingly sociopolitical songwriting. The title track of the new record features rich imagery and a decidedly political[...]

Tonight: Coral Collapse

April 27, 2019

Nietzsche’s is the best place to be tonight if you are looking for new music. Come out and celebrate two new releases, Don’t Wait To See Me Say Goodbye from Coral Collapse and Shapes of Color from M.T. Lakes. Needless to say, it’s going to be a great time. Joining them are Buffalo’s “animal rock” experts Bold Folly, as well as the humble, soft-spoken offerings from The Shallows. Doors are at 9. $8 cover which includes a physical copy of Coral Collapse’s new album. Written by Mike Rakieki

The Flaming Lips – King’s Mouth

April 26, 2019

Two years have passed since Oklahoma’s Flaming Lips last graced us with an album, with the last arriving in the shape of ‘Oczy Moldy.’ Calling anything the Flaming Lips do ‘offbeat’ at this point is a complete redundancy, but some of the criticism they received for that release doesn’t seem to have stung them in the slightest. If anything, they’ve only become more obscure and experimental. The Flaming Lips are, of course, anything but a band of young up and comers. They’ve been with us since the late 1980s and should by rights be settling into middle age comfortably, and sitting back on their riches. That isn’t really the way of this band, though. While high-art concepts and openly pretentious visual and musical ideas are usually the preserve of the young, the Flaming Lips are still showing bands half their age how to employ such notions effectively. Make no mistake;[...]

Tonight: Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers

April 15, 2019

A long creative career is never a singular track. Different incarnations, both visually and sonically, are required for sustainability. Laura Jane Grace, the lead singer and guitarist for punk band Against Me!, started garnering underground fans with demos, eventually earning support from punk-purists NOFX and their label Fat Wreck Chords close to twenty years ago. Seven studio albums followed, along with success on the Billboard 100 chart, but that did not give Grace complacency. An AOL TV series about transgender lifestyle, multiple columns written for Noisey, and a full length confessional book allowed fans a direct look into her personal life. Now, the punk-rocker who wears many hats has a new side project, Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers tour their first album Bought to Rot. Containing songs Grace deemed not appropriate for Against Me!, the album still packs the hardcore punch and melodic rhythms that is her forte. Catch[...]

Tonight: Single Mothers

April 14, 2019

Ontario’s Single Mothers brings their debaucherous brand of rock-and-roll to the Rec Room this evening. The band, formed in 2008, recently released their third album, Through A Wall in September of 2018, and is visiting the city of good neighbors to show us what it’s all about. It will certainly prove to be a show we’ll all look back fondly upon. Single Mothers will be sharing the stage with Boston’s Rebuilder, as well as Buffalo acts The Eaves and Worse Things. 

Tickets are $15, doors are at 7pm.  Check out Single Mothers’ “Dog Parks x Switch Off “right here. Written by Mike Rakiecki

Hate Club – A Clear Mistake

April 9, 2019

Albany’s Hate Club are keeping their torches lit. Their latest effort, A Clear Mistake, marks their fourth release in only two years. Besides highlighting their admirable work ethic, A Clear Mistake presents a conceptual recording of a difficult aspect of the human condition; Mistakes and Regrets. The cover art, flames engulfing a home, signify the watershed moment of life irrevocably changing, and sets the stage for the aptly named first track, “Hot Take.” Chugging drums from Ian Kerr-Mace build throughout the verse, while Noah Bondy tells a hard truth, “Relationships sour, we count down the hours alone”. The chorus opens up in Nirvana-esq fashion, with an equally tough pill to swallow, but lubricated with harmonies by Bondy and Audrey Goodemote, “All your favorite bands have moved away.” Track two, “Earth Signs,” a structurally rich song with a 1/2 time signature intro and bare bones bassline verse from Alex Brooks then[...]

Tonight: The Demos

April 5, 2019

Spring is upon us (kind of), and there is no better way to both celebrate the warmer weather (sometimes) and clear your sinuses than to come out Nietzsche’s. This is a show you definitely do not want to miss. Even if dancing isn’t your thing, you will have fun you will have at this show. The Tins are sure to sonically bring the house down with their new-wave rock that features tight grooves, tasteful electronic percussion, nostalgic vocal effects, and truly amazing guitar shredding. Also on the bill is Rochester-grown The Demos, who will certainly have you dancing right out of your shoes with their upbeat, indie pop beats and catchy hooks that you’ll be humming for days. The Leones are also joining in on the festivities, and they’ll have you feeling melancholic with their dreamy guitar parts and distant psychedelic vocals. Don’t fret about feeling somber though, because they[...]

Maybird Drops New Single “Gonna Lose Your Mind”

April 3, 2019

Rochester psych pop quartet Maybird just released “Gonna Lose Your Mind,” the first single off their forthcoming album. This release will be a follow up to their 2017 EP Keep In Line, which was produced by Patrick Carney, best known for his work with The Black Keys. Maybird was first signed to Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records back in 2016. “Gonna Lose Your Mind” features lush psychedelic textures, and the unique addition of a horn section. Lead singer Josh Netsky’s vocals dance effortlessly around the track, and are joined in a haunting duet during the chorus. The result is a track that will appeal to both new and longtime listeners. Keep an eye out for their new album, dropping May 3rd on 30th Century Records. Written by John Smigielski

Chevron Bloom – Henry

April 1, 2019

In the interim since Buffalo’s Chevron Bloom debuted their first recording, they’ve packed on some muscle with the addition of veteran axe-man Gerald Thomas, and the now-foursome has just released a second recording—another EP titled Henry. While this enhanced instrumentation affords them a bit more range and complexity, Henry remains largely rooted in their established lush and spacey indie rock sound, while marking a progression towards a slightly darker and more urgent place. However, unlike many other bands carrying on the torch of the 90’s shoegaze sound, Chevron Bloom crafts their dreamy soundscapes through solid and original songwriting rather than relying on a wall of effects noise and sonics, and that gives this album a unique soul and character. The raw sparkle of Galaxie 500 is a palpable undercurrent in these songs—especially in frontman Jay Sallese’s vocal delivery—but they also channel the moody intensity of late-era Unwound, especially on “Halfway[...]