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Tonight: Rootscollider

May 30, 2014

Imagine the deep beat of a fast-paced drum folded into the harmonious sound of a celestial synth. The music lifts you into the air, like you’re a sylph, guiding your hands and feet in motion. Subtle waves of bass creep around you and your accompaniment as you wander further and further into the fresh, funky sound. That’s a little bit what it’s like to listen to RootsCollider, the Rochester-based band coming to DBGB’s tonight. The four-piece collaborates their vibes into a chaotic and chill frenzy that’s perfect for letting the day go and getting down. This will be their last stop in Buffalo before they head into the Summer festival months–if you’re looking to dance, hover on down for the show, starting at 10:00 p.m. Whorehey and Lopro open the night with DJ sets, and Big Basha takes the stairs down with his final set closing the night.  $5 will[...]

Hundred Waters – The Moon Rang Like A Bell

May 28, 2014

I am afraid that my fingers will have kelp on them from my time spent in the sea. The humid tendrils of wind make me crave a fresh, cold drink. Immersed in the salty water, I hear an echo of a glorious sound, coming closer with each vibration. After I raise my head above water to breathe in air, I am relaxed. Floridian quintet Hundred Waters’ music can be described as Aphrodite music. Singer Nicole Miglis’ voice is a luminescent, deep cry, soaring above the production that Trayer Tryon, Paul Giese, Zach Tetreault, and Allen Scott compose from found sounds and precise electronic instruments. Their first self-titled album, Hundred Waters LP, was released on the Elestial label in 2012 and heard by Skrillex, who immediately signed them to his label OWSLA. Say what you want about Skrillex, the guy has taste. Two years have flown by and their latest release,[...]

Tonight: WSADA 11

May 23, 2014

Ever wanted to dissolve into a bubble of sound and feel effaced by the grains of noise? Tonight, The Wash Project presents a throng of experimental sound and noise artists both from Buffalo and parts of Ohio that connect and twist the notion of what music is and how it can be manipulated. You may recognize Buffalo native Needles Numark who runs The Upstate Soundscape, a blog focusing more on experimental and associative music. The other Buffalo artist is the group Low Prospects, a duo working with deep drone tapes and “experimental onions” (looking forward to what those will sound like looped). From the Midwest, we have Church Slut, Fanngface, and Karl Vorndran. They are all working with harsher sounds that grit and grind down the foreground and then let up to encourage space. Karl Vorndran’s latest release, Thawing, uses a modular synthesis to produce stretching tones that produce a[...]

Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso

May 14, 2014

There are very few new albums in 2014 that have struck me song by song. The War On Drugs’ Lost In The Dream and Porches’ Lost In The Cosmos are two of those. It pleases me to say that I have found a third. Sylvan Esso, comprised of former acapella-folk singer Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, former bass player for Megafaun, merged together as solo artists to create a work of art. Sanborn brings the vision of an electronic music producer to the front, and Meath works her wide range of crafty vocals. The first track, “Hey Mami,” introduces us to the soundscape of walking in a city. Meath slowly builds on the phrase ‘hey mami’ into an arpeggio, as thick drops of bass plop in while the chorus repeats. Meath’s voice is remniscent of the quality of Feist’s–smooth, elegant, and raw. This song is the feeling of being a woman on the street–it’s[...]

Tonight: of Montreal

May 13, 2014

“Let’s pretend we don’t exist, let’s pretend we’re in Antarctica.” I’m sure you are familiar with these two lyrical lines, sung by Kevin Barnes in a droll tone supported by a roaring, peppy synth. If you haven’t, they belong to the ever-popular of Montreal, who will be taking the Town Ballroom tonight. Since then, they have moved on to an inclusive, eclectic sound, riding hard on guitar and experimenting with strong diction in their vocals. Atlanta’s of Montreal was formed a while back in ’96, and since then, has grown a long repertoire of albums. They are contemporaries of The Elephant 6 Collective including bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Apples In Stereo. Most recently, their latest album lousy with sylvianbriar, featured a strong rock and roll edge mixed with an upbeat pop twang. WNYBAC designed the poster for tonight that you can have a chance to purchase for $20[...]

Tonight: Rubblebucket

May 9, 2014

Rubblebucket. Rubblebucket. Rubblebucket. Say the word three times and all your wishes will be granted! Not really, but the Brooklyn-based band’s name is a catchy one. It brings to mind a magical spell that can be cast anywhere, from the dirty city streets to the cool air of a mountaintop. A charismatic, playful lead female vocalist and saxophonist carries the spotlight among her fellow band members. Together, they form a dynamic septet that produces a riveting big-band sound, flowing between softer pop sets and extended grooves. 2011 album Omega La La fastened their music as a facet to the larger festival scene–playing at larger line-ups such as Bonnaroo and Camp Bisco. Rubblebucket moves in catchy, dance-heavy spurts, proven to get you hooked. Opening for Rubblebucket tomorrow will be Rhubarb, a staple in the WNY groove-rock community. Preach Freedom from Rusted Root (I’m sure you’ve heard “Send Me On My Way,”[...]

Andrew Jackson Jihad – Christmas Island

May 7, 2014

Andrew Jackson Jihad is the type of group that can make you want to laugh and cry at the same time. Their lyrics are undeniably witty and hit you with a punch, and after settle in with a pinch of reality. Christmas Island, their latest album-length release, is both cryptic and hard-hitting. Lyrically, the words resonate on a dual plane, touching on the beautiful and the ugly. Musically this album stands in line with their previous work, exploring more accompaniment but still following suit in a folk-punk tradition. “Temple Grandin,” the opening track, sets the tone for the rest of the work. Sean Bonnette’s voice comes off sounding more broken and exasperated than usual as he chimes the words, “open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out.” It’s set in a lo-fi stage without bleeding together the separate components. In the backdrop, the organ[...]

Mystic Braves – Desert Island

April 30, 2014

Mystic Braves is one of those groups that tend to ramble on. Since their last, self titled album, they haven’t quite figured out how to stray from their original sound, which is a western-influenced, rawhide feel. For starters, I’m not asking that a group create dramatically new content with each work, but when I can’t tell the difference between song A and song B, there’s a cog missing in the clock. On Desert Island, guitar licks are swinging in the wind like a pair of balls too big for their boxers. Indeed, this is good music to listen to if you’re driving or trying to get through the day at work. It’s casual surf rock, almost like they didn’t know what to play when they started, so they decided to rehash the same motif heard in groups like Tame Impala and Ariel’s Pink Haunted Graffiti. On “I Want You Back,” they[...]

Tonight: Keir Neuringer

April 28, 2014

Keir Neuringer is what you could call a jack-of-all-trades. He doesn’t limit his mind to one form of artistic expression. Instead, it blends together and crosses over into one experimental golden nugget. Initially Neuringer focused on developing a idiosyncratic relationship with the saxophone that can be heard in his latest LP, Ceremonies Out Of The Air. Neuringer also champions the organ and other electronics, mixing these elements into sonic reflections about our world’s history (see clip below) that demand the listener let go of their preconceived notions about what music is and how it should work. His background in merging visual art with sound brings another dimension of the creative spirit to the table. Don’t go into the performance expecting anything but hearing a new way of approaching music itself. Tonight Neuringer will be playing at Hallwall’s Contemporary Art Center at 8:00 p.m. $10 does the trick.

Medeski, Martin, & Wood + Nels Cline – Woodstock Sessions Vol. 2

April 23, 2014

Medeski, Martin, & Wood sure like their fair share of jazz guitarists. Recently, they teamed up with Nels Cline, who if you weren’t aware of, is the guitarist for one of the U.S.’ most famous bands, Wilco. On this collaboration, Woodstock Sessions Vol. 2, the group channels a free-flowing, experimental canyon of sound. Take “Doors of Deception,” the opening track. It begins with a series of atonal noises and misaligned percussion that seems to backtrack in on itself. A clear influence here is avant-garde artists John Zorn and John Coltrane. On songs such as “Mezcal” and “Los Blank,” the members flow back into a more tangible composition. “Mezcal” opens with gritty guitar crunches and a smooth, spidery pat-down of percussion. Even though the sound moves into a chaotic tumble and epiphany section, it mimics the effects of what really great tequila can do to a man or woman (see: “Tequila[...]

Kristachuwan Releases Beachers Cassette

April 18, 2014

Kristachuwan’s latest release Beachers ranks, in my books, as the best ambient album I’ve heard while living in Buffalo. It’s not pushing any heavy beats in my face, forcing my hand when it comes to dancing. “Dill’s Pick” is a good example. Kristachuwan arranges the elements in a light manner that when added up, equal a strong groove with pumping shakers and an angelic bell egging the track onward.  When adding accessories, such as a saxophone or heavier synth, it’s used tastefully. In the EP’s title track  and “Shimotahitubo,” the saxophone is broken up and tossed in with a static sound and occasional synth tones.  Kristachuwan is no stranger to creating down time. “Pump” gives the listener a quieter break, as the music explores downtempo clicks and varied electronic synths. Bleachers caps off at a little less than a half hour, which is the perfect length to listen to before you start the[...]

Japanther – Instant Money Magic

April 16, 2014

“Do it–don’t try it” could be Japanther’s motto. The duo, consisting of Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek, have proven they can keep creating fresh, innovative material again and again. Their approach is just as avant-garde as it is rooted in plain old experimentation. Since forming in 2001 at art-haven Pratt Institute (the place reeks of hard work), they’ve performed at the Whitney Biennial in 2006 and always included an artful touch to their live shows, whether it be inviting a multimedia artist to collaborate with them or putting on a performance art piece. For a group that’s been around the block once or twice, it’s impressive to see their latest release, Instant Money Magic, can be just as brazen as their “coming-out-of-the-closet” albums such as Master Of Pigeons or Don’t Trust Anyone Over 30. The same elements are there–churning, pumping guitar rhythms and stomping drums–but the content has stripped down. It’s disheveled in a good[...]

Tonight: Julie Byrne

April 15, 2014

I would like to compare Julie Byrne’s music to that of a bird in flight. The chords swoop in from the clouds, barely audible to the ear. Then, the wings of the track flap, move closer, creating a delicate ripple as the sweet trill of her voice is heard. It’s like she’s constantly walking further away from you, murmuring to herself, quietly expressing what’s suppressed within her mind. The nightingale is originally a Buffalo native, recently making the move from Chicago to Seattle. 2014 brings us her latest work, Rooms With Walls And Windows, that begins with a spacious balance between strumming and plucking, her words barely coming through until a more distinct ruffle bubbles up. Not every song of hers is a tease. “Emeralds” and “Holiday” clearly define Byrne’s ability to create a captivating melody in classic singer/songwriter form. Lyrically, she poeticizes about fleeting moments that suits her singing style[...]

Tonight: Jimkata

April 12, 2014

If you’re ready to set the pace for the upcoming months, as the weather becomes a little kinder, the electro-rock grooves of Jimkata would be the right place to start. Even though the quartet is a staple within the jam circuit, with the release of their album Die Digital they set themselves aside from the aimless sea of extended improvisations. Jimkata is EDM without overkill, indie without drab, and rock without the drama. This March the group released a singles collection Feel In Light, that carries throughout a blissful chord and is best heard with the volume up high. Cosmic Dust Bunnies, hailing from Connecticut, will be opening the night with their series of high-energy ‘wavetronica’ flow. Details: 10 pieces of gold to get you in, 21+ ID to seal the deal. 9 p.m., Nietzche’s.

Ratking – So It Goes

April 9, 2014

Let’s be honest–New York City is still a main hub of culture when it comes to the arts, but it’s changing rapidly. A constant topic of discussion is gentrification, basically, in more simple terms, the ‘neighborhood is changing.’ Defining a ‘New York’ artist sound is nearly impossible, especially in contemporary hip-hop. One can recall an older, east-coast sound, like Wu-Tang or Public Enemy, with  more aggressive, higher beats. Ratking, a NYC-based trio including Wiki, Hak, and their Bushwick-born producer Sporting Life, creates a new New York palette on their latest release So It Goes. Even though the main thread of the album is based upon New York City life, it seems to be more focused on the challenges and shifts between youth and adulthood, seen in the opening song titled “*” that goes on about “Graduated what’s next, well everybody’s askin’/ college, well what do you have planned?” over a[...]