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Tonight: Brillz and SNAILS Twonkaholics Tour

September 30, 2014

If you happened to catch Brillz the last time he was in Buffalo, then you know that he knows how to throw down, and he throws down hard. Brillz and SNAILS are kicking off their Twonkaholics Tour tonight in Buffalo. Brillz, a moniker based on an abbreviation for “brilliant.” He has had releases on major labels like OWSLA, Mad Decent and Slow Roast Records, toured major cities and has played big name festival crowds. What started as a title for his album, “twonk” has clearly become it’s own defintion. What does TWONK mean? In an interview he did with Bass Collective, he said the word is all about it’s openness to interpretation. Twonk is whatever you want it to mean. “It’s about being weird, having fun and being creative,” he has said. Here’s a visual representation for you to form your own definition: Check out Brillz’s Instagram: @brillzbrillz [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/153059351″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false”[...]

Tonight: Adventure Club

September 5, 2014

Hailing from Montréal, Quebec, Christian Srigley and Leighton James form the dubstep DJ duo Adventure Club. They have performed at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival, and Electric Zoo. Presented by After Dark Entertainment, Factory Nightlife, and Funtime Presents, they will be performing at Town Ballroom, tonight. Be sure to get there early for a show that’s most likely going to sell out; the opening lineup is absolutely stacked. In addition to Buffalo’s Brother Bear, catch two local duos that have been taking things to the next level. Kyle Tatum and Brian Doyle, of Eyes Everywhere, recently released an EP that climbed the Beatport charts. In the past year, SwaggleRock — otherwise known as Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin — have done some traveling from coast to coast and also up across the Canadian border [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/17602302″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Tonight, Friday, Sept. 5 Adventure[...]

Tonight: araabMUZIK

August 29, 2014

Hailing from Providence, R.I., Abraham Orellana goes by araabMUZIK, and he is master of the MPC. A revolutionary talent, by tapping the pads of the piece of equipment and making loops, he paints an electronic and hip-hop inspired masterpiece of sound with his fingers. The vibes of his productions are sultry, sexy, and ghetto, interspersed with the signature female vocal letting you know, “You are now listening to araabMUZIK.” He has toured with Sleigh Bells, Baauer and Zeds Dead in addition to a multitude of collaborative work with highly influential artists such as Cam’ron, Styles P, Swizz Beatz, A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown. He pulls samples from a diverse range of artists from Oceanlab, Kaskade, The Who, Jay Z, The Supremes, Lana Del Rey, and so much more. By basically, in essence, performing a remix live, araabMUZIK has mastered one of the most creative ways to perform electronic music, entitling[...]

Tonight: Artvoice Presents Night Shift with Cool Dad Records

August 22, 2014

For those who haven’t yet taken a night shift with Artvoice, it has been a series of Friday evenings showcasing Buffalo’s best DJ talent in the back room of Allen Street Hardware. This week, the Cool Dad Records crew takes over with sets from Eyes Everywhere, Nick Fowler, Mascone Lee and Alex Morrison in the back room. Also, find Rick Jameson (aka Spooky Sean of Spooky Business) in the front room. Earlier this year, Kyle Tatum and Brian Doyle of Eyes Everywhere had their Buffalo-inspired track “Off Bailey” released under Fool’s Gold Records Clubhouse series. Also, this week, the duo’s Privilege Thing EP  was released under San Francisco-based Anabatic Records and is currently climbing the Beatport charts. Squad up and catch the crew’s vibe tonight. It’s Friday. Let’s dance. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/47030225″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]   Tonight, Friday, Aug. 22 Artvoice presents Night Shift with Cool Dad Records 11[...]

Rustie & Danny Brown – “Attak”

August 11, 2014

Rustie and Danny Brown collabed on a song together, which isn’t the first time. With Danny’s lyrical flow and Rustie’s electronic masterpiece, “Attak” is a complimenting blend of high energy. The official video was released today. As URL increasingly seeps into the IRL world, this video uses superimposed text, suggestive emojis and rolling lyrics that are reminiscent of having fun with 3D word art in the early days of Microsoft Word. It’s perfect. Rustie – Attak ft Danny Brown (Official Music Video) from Music on Vimeo.

Tonight: Queen City Cartel Presents Boombox 004

August 1, 2014

It’s a sucker free zone at the Queen City Cartel Boombox parties. The fourth session will take place tonight in the backroom at Hardware, featuring music from Miosi, Jolly Wailer and NSFW. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/76932595″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/160955179″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/156985056″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] The colorful and vibrant painted stacked sound system, provided by Jolly Wailer, is like no other. High energy vibes and dancing. Also, get entranced by the weirdly fascinating visuals projected behind the DJ. Jony James Band will be in the front room if you’re looking for that kind of vibe. Or party in the back, if that’s more what you’re about. Queen City Cartel presents Boombox 004 Allen Street Hardware (245 Allen St.) 11 p.m.-3:30 a.m. 21+ View the event page on Facebook.

Orcales – Divination

July 30, 2014

There is something so satisfying about exploring the darker side of things. From Houston, Texas, Leroy Bella – monikered SINES – has released the Divination compilation, under the Oracles label. The compilation features a variety of artists that bring a heavier and hauntingly intriguing vibe. This album is not the type where I am going to break down each track one by one. The tracks, unique in their own way, makes the compilation just that: a product of previously separate items coming together to create something bigger. This one specifically inspires visions of dark alleyways strewn with faint, hazy light. One you would want to dance down. “As the influx of cross mutations of club music became more and more evident to catch the ears of party goers. I wanted to bring my take with a spin on it and see how it would do showcasing a label with predominately[...]

Tonight: Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses

July 12, 2014

To carry a legacy on decade after decade is quite a feat. Louis Prima was a pivital musician during the New Orleans jazz era. He became notable for classic Italian tunes to his starring vocal role as King Louie in the Disney film The Jungle Book. With Vegas experiences and collaborations with Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, Prima became known for his “Wildest!” signature. If you think you don’t know Prima, think again, especially if you’ve wandered Hertel Avenue for Buffalo’s Italian Festival. And if that doesn’t strike your memory, take a listen to his famous song from The Jungle Book. His son, Louis Prima Jr., is continuing the legacy but rather than recreating the past and following a set path led by his father, he is amping it up with a modern vibe. The band’s album Blow scored a #25 rank on CMJ‘s Jazz charts. Along with his eight-piece band,[...]

Today and Tonight: Red, White & Igloo – Queen City Cartel Boombox 003

July 4, 2014

America. Political stances aside, the Fourth of July is the one day a year where mostly everyone will bust out their patriotic attire, fire up the grills and shoot off those fireworks they scored from Pennsylvania (or trek downtown to watch regulated ones). For a while, my family and I had the same tradition each year. We would camp at Southwick Beach, which was just outside of Syracuse. I have the fondest memories as a child of chasing fireflies, spending time with my grandparents, the smell of the campfire and the exciting but almost terrifying feeling of holding a sparkler and running wild. My “Uncle Kenny” (we weren’t blood related) would gather the family, head to the beach and we would walk a decently far way down, where the campsites ended and there was hardly anyone in sight. My entire family and I, under the starlight ,with the sound of the[...]

Grimes – “Go”

June 26, 2014

I would be lying if I said I didn’t get chills while listening to the latest Grimes release for the first time. “Go,” released today, has that ethereal sound and angelic vocals that the Canadian musician is iconic for. The production work for the track, however, hits much harder and heavier than her usual dreamspace sound. The lyrics are powerful, the build-ups are perfect, all with an overall XXX feeling. The track features Blood Diamonds, a DJ and producer from Los Angeles, who has collaborated with Grimes in the past. A perfect match with a clear ability to diversify, a year later and their collaboration for “Phone Sex” is a tune I found myself never losing interest in. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/156075705″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Only Comrades

June 19, 2014

Only Comrades have become known as the crew adorned in base tones, with classically gothic-inspired design and a vibe that sings dark and sweet and tempestuously divine. Since the clique’s European travels, the Comrades’ artistic work reflects that much more poetic prowess. For their Herd Fest showcase, the street wear crew will present Tanner Caldwell, hailing from Philadelphia. As a DJ and producer, he travels nearly consistently and has releases under names such as Top Billin, Gold Whistle, creator of DICKSQUAD, and more. His sound is expansive and unique, whether you’re looking to bounce to some jersey club, or get melodically lifted with songs like his remix of Télépopmusik. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/119188090″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Sharing in the camaraderie are Buffalo’s SwaggleRock, comprised by Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin. These two and Caldwell have shared the stage before and will again during Comrades’ showcase at Hardware. SwaggleRock just recently[...]

Tonight: The Bloody Beetroots

June 5, 2014

When I think of The Bloody Beetroots, I hear “1, 2, WOOP, WOOP,” a humming scratching, a ticking clock and the guttural screams of “Warp.” [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18855122″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] From Italy, Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo is known for his punk influence on the electronic world. He adorns a mask during performance and is known to many as The Bloody Beetroots. Whether it be a DJ set or a live performance, it is more than just dance music. The art of the Beetroots spans time and history, and incorporates cultural influences that set the sound apart from the rest. Last year, The Bloody Beetroots did a collaboration with Paul McCartney. The music video for that song, “Out of Sight,” truly captures the poetic essence of who Rifo is. “Electronic dance music is the bridge that spans my musical influences. My intention was to use the energy of punk[...]

Tonight: Pearson Sound

May 17, 2014

Part two of Club Phenomenology will stir up Buffalo tonight. It’s subtitle? “The Grid.” Put on by Sean Feiner and Nick States of Infinite Zone Productions, in addition to their other crew Cool Dad Records, which additionally comprises Kyle Tatum and Brian Doyle of Eyes Everywhere and Alex Morrison, the tight-knit group is out to bring an aspect of music that is not new to the dance scene. Rather, they’re out to enhance it further, and explore the opportunities. Headliner Pearson Sound, a UK producer and DJ, will take the stage at Buffalo Iron Works. Originally, this event was planned to be at The Wastelands (located at 700 Main St.) but due to unfortunate – and uncertain – circumstances, that venue closed. Execution of the event was shaky, but only momentarily. In the same day that it was “cancelled,” it was announced to be back on and taking place at Iron Works,[...]

Tonight: Shlohmo

May 4, 2014

A blend of heaven and hell, Shlohmo has a way of lifting the black lace veil. Vocals drowning in slowing syrup and echoing sounds, reminiscent of the acoustical ambiance of a cathedral’s vaulted ceilings. He relaxes the hyphy. Un-monikered, he goes by Henry Laufer. He is only in his early 20s and under his WEDIDIT collective, has been signed to labels (Friends of Friends, Error Broadcast) and with his  Jeremih remix, became a crate staple for DJs from all over. Initially a collegiate student of fine art, he dropped out, began producing on a serious level and eventually turned out his EP, Bad Vibes. His Myspace account got him signed to the Los Angeles-based label Friends of Friends, where he is among the likes of Daedelus, LOL Boys, Groundislava, Jerome LOL, and Salva. Shlohmo incorporates unconventional experimental sounds to his lo-fi melodically straight forward produced tracks, which makes them a bit more[...]

Tonight: Ani DiFranco

May 2, 2014

Ani DiFranco has built up quite the history in my heart, and I’m sure many others. One of my first CDs was a mix made by my cousin. Although I have this underlying feeling that listening to Ani’s music at the youthful age of 11 years old may have prematurely added to both my romantic vulnerability and jadedness, she played a significant part in the development of my poetic state of mind, my endless search for meaning and truth and the drive to become who I want to be. Perhaps many people can agree with that statement, or maybe they have reasons otherwise. Regardless, Ani DiFranco lovers from the Queen City share her Buffalonian heritage. Seeing a concert of hers in Buffalo, particularly Babeville – a 19th century Gothic-revival church she saved, rehabed, and turned into a venue hall – is a special moment, in and of itself. The “little[...]