Latest Posts

Guest Picks: Brandon Schlia

December 18, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, Brandon Schlia, founder of local DIY label Steak and Cake Records, submitted his year end list. Earlier this month, S&C released its forth and final Christmas Meltdown compilation. Featuring holiday covers by Welks Mice, Beekeeper, RED HEAT, and more, the EP can be downloaded here. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. Thank you buffaBLOG for having me back for a third installment. Best Songs Homeshake – “Heat”* Don’t waste your time listening to this on laptop speakers. This is a headphone record. Peter Sagar shakes off the DeMarco skeletons and ends up sounding like a fever dream. And don’t forget about 2014’s[...]

Guest Picks: Rise Collaborative

December 17, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, Drew Brown and Kevin Heffernan of Rise Collaborative submitted their year end lists. Rise supports local businesses, artists, non profits, and advocacy groups. As a culmination of their shop local series this season, they’re throwing their first of many “Storefront Sessions” this Friday from 6pm-9pm at Renew Bath and Body on Elmwood. Free cocktails, food, and old school hip hop as well as all the gifts you need to finish off your shopping list. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. Drew Brown No matter the monumental or tiny shifts in my world – and 2015 was full[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 10-1

December 17, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. Earlier this week we posted our five close calls and our first half of the top 20.  I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined below are the blog’s favorite songs of 2015. 10. Tiny Rhymes – “Arrows” Tiny Rhymes‘ ”Arrows” is an incredibly cherishable tune. It approaches the listener with a coy but welcoming softness, making it feel like a delicate gem that only you are privy to. Atop prime musicianship, singer Sharon Mok’s[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 20-11

December 15, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar,  but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined blog’s favorite songs of 2015. Yesterday we posted our five songs that ALMOST made the cut.  Here is the top half of our annual top 20 countdown, 20-11. 20. Lesionread – “Addicted” Lesionread (Shawn Lewis) has had a big year. Between the release of the experimental artist’s excellent Greatest Hits! Volume 1, touring it across the country, and slew of local shows (one of which opening for[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 5 Close Calls

December 14, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined as the blog are our favorite songs of 2015. Here are five great songs ALMOST made our top 20. The Slums – “Plain Pine Box”  The Slums always deliver the perfect thrash song but “Plain Pine Box” might be the most perfect yet. “You can call me first and final nail in a plain pine box, I said I’d keep you separate but I guess[...]

Guest Picks: Alex Berkley

December 14, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, singer/songwriter Alex Berkley submitted his year end list. 2015 saw Berkley release the latest installment in his annual Fun-A-Day series, 28 Days of Fun: Shuffled, and later this week, he will be opening up for Parade Chic at Mohawk Place on December 17th. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. Hello buffaBLOGGERS! Boy, wasn’t 2015 one heckuva year? I’ll say! Great tunes, great buds, and other things! And the best is yet to come: a new non-Lucas Star Wars movie, a Lombardi trophy (you gotta Billieve), and a new President (congratulations in advance, Donald Trump, you fucking monster)! Look, I’m done talking about the future.[...]

Guest Picks: Jon Lewis

December 11, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the next installment in the guest series, Rochester singer/songwriter Jon Lewis submitted his year end list. Yesterday, under his Mr. Loops moniker, Lewis released his children’s music album Meet Mr Loops, which is currently available to order here. The musician will perform with this band this Saturday, December 12, at Small World Books. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. I was flattered and intimidated when asked to compile a “Best of 2015” list. I’m an outsider to most music and this year in particular, I only attended a handful of shows and stayed blissfully ignorant to many new releases. I am always gravitating to the saturated emotions[...]

Top 20 Rochester Tracks: 10-1

December 10, 2015

It’s that time of the year again where we rack our brain, scan our playlists, and check all of our posts for all of the songs that we’ve covered from the 585 from the past year. It seems like just yesterday we were jamming out to Kitty Snowpants and discussing when JOYWAVE was going to break (spoiler: they did). This is our fourth year of tracking our favorite songs of the year out of Rochester. Now, I am sure there are amazing songs that we’ve brushed over or haven’t even heard coming out of the city. This list is subjective obviously, this is a blog. Regardless, I think Rochester’s scene this year has been the strongest it has been ever, pumping out consistent jams which is giving Buffalo a run for its money. On Tuesday, we posted our first half (20-11) of our favorite tunes. Here are our top ten songs[...]

Lowest of the Low at Town Ballroom (11/25/15)

December 9, 2015

On Thanksgiving Eve, we sent contributing photographer, Mike Sansano, to catch reunited Canadian rock legends, Lowest of the Low, at Town Ballroom.  As Buffalo is basically an extension of Canada, the crowd was rowdy and in the palm of lead singer Ron Hawkins. Below are a selection of pictures Sansano sent over to us. Make sure to check out his website to catch his latest adventures crisscrossing the border in the pursuit of live music. Photos by Mike Sansano

Top 20 Rochester Tracks: 20-11

December 8, 2015

It’s that time of the year again where we rack our brain, scan our playlists, and check all of our posts for all of the songs that we’ve covered from the 585 from the past year. It seems like just yesterday we were jamming out to Kitty Snowpants and discussing when JOYWAVE was going to break (spoiler: they did). This is our fourth year of tracking our favorite songs of the year out of Rochester. Now, I am sure there are amazing songs that we’ve brushed over or haven’t even heard coming out of the city. This list is subjective obviously, this is a blog. Regardless, I think Rochester’s scene this year has been the strongest it has been ever, pumping out consistent jams which is giving Buffalo a run for its money. Without further adieu here is the first half of buffaBLOG’s top Rochester track of 2015. 20) Animal Sounds[...]

Guest Picks: Sonny Baker

December 3, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the next installment in the guest series, Sonny Baker (Wooden Waves, A Hotel Nourishing, Lazlo Hollyfeld), submitted his year end list. Baker will be performing with his new trio this Friday, December 11th, at Mohawk Place. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. The original list I compiled contained 12 shows, 15 albums, and 6 local albums. Here is my attempt at narrowing that list down, a list that contains my favorite musical moments from this year. I’m in no way saying that my opinion matters and/or that these are THE best musical moments. They’re just my favorite. Favorite Shows of 2015 Dave Rawlings Machine @ Babeville – 11/05/15 This[...]

Guest Picks: DJ LuLu

December 1, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the first installment in the guest series, Laura Robinson, better known as DJ LuLu, submitted her year end list. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December.   Over the past year I have rotated different tracks on my playlist titled “bedroom dancing.” Made for myself but occasionally shared in the company of another, I created a list of songs that I have enjoy behind closed doors (think of every romantic comedy movie montage ever). This has truly has been the year of modern romance: swipe right, a/s/l, Netflix & chill, getting ghosted wtf?! and a whole mess of other millennial romantic woes. New Years Resolution: be[...]

Tonight: Peelander-Z

November 18, 2015

Peelander-Z lands at Mohawk tonight with Super Killer Robots and Jamie and the Debt. Peelander, from New York/outer space via Japan, are pure punk rock fun, with a raucous live show. The last time the group rolled through town, the bonkers show included a good deal of the audience on percussion and Goo Goo Dolls member Robby Takac sitting in on guitar. Local robots Super Killer Robots have been busy on the scene circuit will join the far out antics. Buffalo DIY hero Jamie and the Debt will open. Tonight doors are at 7pm, music at 8pm, and the cover is $8.

Tonight: Pleasure Leftists

November 12, 2015

Pleasure Leftists return to Sugar City tonight with JOHNS and Worst Gift. The Cleveland group is all post punk with a catchy goth vice you can dance to (always important.) Their bandcamp tags them as “deranged,” which is fun, and even better, their label Deranged also put out releases from White Lung and Fucked Up. Worst Gift will bring perfect glam metal from Toronto that calls back to certain Baltimore hardcore. JOHNS, Buffalo’s punk purists, will join. Get to the gig at 7pm with $8.

Tonight: Screaming Females

November 3, 2015

New Brunswick’s finest rock and roll band, Screaming Females, hits Mohawk Place tonight at 8pm. With unique brooding vocals and catchy dancey beats, they’ve got all your modern new wave needs covered. The trio recently performed a viral cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” (because Ryan Adams can’t have all the fun) for AV Club’s online series, “Under Cover.” Check it out below. Potty Mouth is bringing their bubblegum punk as the supporting touring act. With hits like last year’s “Black and Studs,” Potty Mouth is for all rebellious teens everywhere. Read our interview with the band here. Local rockstars Hot Tip will open. It’s $14 at the door for true punks.