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Potty Mouth

November 3, 2015

Prior to their set tonight at Mohawk Place opening for Screaming Females, we had a chance to chat with the vocalist/guitarist Abby and bassist Ally of Western Massachusetts trio, Potty Mouth. With a new self titled EP released this August, the three piece has been turning heads, and for a great reason. Their acclaimed style of 90’s tinged punk inspired pop tunes have led to the band taking one foot out of the DIY scene and reaching to bigger audiences, and with great success.  We had a chance to talk about the past, present, and future of the band, as well as essential 90’s film soundtracks. buffaBLOG: For those unfamiliar with your band, care to give a brief history of how you all met and began making music? Ally: We formed in 2011. I met Victoria when we were students at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. We didn’t know Abby at the time,[...]

Shellshag at Sugar City (10/21/15)

October 22, 2015

Last night, the first Yace Booking showcase at Sugar City took place, and hopefully, it was not the last. The show set off with a quick set from touring pop punk act Rational Anthem, followed by a raucous set from local garage rock act Kharlos. Mallwalkers then took the stage to showcase their unique brand of danceable funk-punk. Finally, on tour for their latest release, Why’d I Have to Get so High?, Shellshag ripped through their set, no doubt winning the crowd over by the end of the evening.  Check out some shots of the show below, and click here for a full gallery. Kharlos Mallwalkers Shellshag  

Tonight: Tundrastomper

October 19, 2015

The freshly reopened West Side basement spot Curly’s will host a night of solid indie and punk tunes. The show boasts some great local acts, including the wildly unique drum duo CCDS, the new lady quintet known as Basement Rat, and the thinking man’s punk trio, Red Heat. The touring act is Ardsley, New York’s Tundrastomper, a band which cooks up just the right mix of surf rock, punk, and indie into something that is just plain fun. Things are set to take off right at 7pm with CCDS with a cover of only $5.

Tonight: Saintseneca

October 14, 2015

Stellar indie folk crew, Saintseneca, will be rolling through Buffalo for an incredibly intimate performance at Babeville’s Ninth Ward tonight. The Columbus, OH outfit’s new album, titled Such Things, just dropped on Anti Records and while most critics have yet to weigh in, it is just as special and unique as their previous releases, still managing to avoid the label of just another bland indie folk band. Doors are set to open at 6pm with music starting at 8pm. Tickets will be available at the door for $15, and touring acts the Sidekicks and Yowler are set to open the show at the intimate venue. This is one you won’t want to miss.

Blobs Release Latest Tape, Shame

October 8, 2015

Last week, local DIY cassette label More Power Tapes dropped its latest release, Shame, by local group Blobs, just months after sharing its early demo. Simply put, both of these tapes are great examples of punk jammers that don’t take themselves too seriously and are incredibly fun to listen to. On Shame, singer Amelia Martin’s hectic vocals seem to hold a bigger role in the mix in the recording, and with a great effect. Her wailed vocals paired with the crazy riffs lead to feelings of absolute and joyous insanity.  Shame is proof that a little bit of surf influence, a little bit of horns, and just the right amount of accessibility can go a long way. Be sure to check out the official tape release show with the Utah Jazz at the Bird House (ask a punk) this Friday. Shame by Blobs

The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die – Harmlessness

October 7, 2015

I want you to say it with me! The World is a Beautiful Place and I am no Longer Afraid to Die is not just another emo revival band! The World is a Beautiful Place and I am no Longer Afraid to Die is not just another emo band!  Sure, you’re probably going to look at their name and think to yourself, “Wow, that is definitely just another emo revival band,” and before the release of Harmlessness, I may have let that slide, but no longer. If you are going to only read the first paragraph of this review, this should be your takeaway. If you are into indie music, and I mean in any manner, LISTEN TO THIS RECORD. On Harmlessness, The World is a Beautiful Place comes through with their most undeniably thought out, well put together, concise release to date. The band does not leave their past behind them though,[...]

Newish Star Shares You Missed Everything Pt. 1

October 6, 2015

Well, they’ve done it again, and it doesn’t even really come as much of a surprise anymore. Coming as their THIRD release this year, local lo-fi punk/indie act Newish Star has announced another new full length, titled You Missed Everything, and put the first half up on bandcamp this past Sunday. It also comes as no surprise that this clocks in at less than 10 minutes. At this point, one would guess that at three releases in just this year, the trio’s material may begin to become stale, but that is not the case. On the first half of You Missed Everything, it’s clear that Newish Star is showing no signs of slowing down, presenting some of their hardest hitting, down to earth, and catchiest tracks yet. The band’s punk influences show in moments like the ripping drum tracks on “Pinball / Dirty Pool” and the short but sweet “Cream,”[...]

Tonight: Lydia

October 6, 2015

Yet again, another stacked indie/emo lineup will be hitting Waiting Room tonight. Indie veterans Lydia will be bringing their “Run Wild” tour to Buffalo in support of their new album of the same name. Support for the show includes Seahaven and Turnover, as well as the Technicolors. Both Seahaven and Turnover have recently changed their sounds from a more pop/punk related one to a far more distant and dreamy variety, and far more indie in nature. Tickets will be available at the door for $17, and doors are set to open at 7pm, with music starting at 7:20pm.  All ages are admitted, but under 16 need a guardian, as usual.

Toro Y Moi at Waiting Room (9/29/15)

October 1, 2015

After five long years, chillwave pioneer Toro Y Moi made his much awaited first stop in Buffalo at Waiting Room. Check out our shots of the show below. Click here for our review of the show, and click here for full photo galleries of both acts. Astronauts Etc. Toro Y Moi Setlist “Hald Dome” “Buffalo” “Talamak” “Grown Up Calls” “Campo” “The Flight” “Lilly” “Rose Quartz” “So Many Details” “High Living” “Cola” “Ratcliff” “Run Baby Run” “What You Want” “Say That” “New Beat” “Empty Nesters” Encore “Multi Love” (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Cover) “Yeah Right”    

Bully at Mohawk Place (09/26/15)

September 27, 2015

Since the show’s announcement, I have been hyping this past Saturday night’s Bully gig to all of my friends as one of the potentiality best shows of the year, and I was damn near right. Thinking they could properly warm up the crowd for what was to come, the Dead Soft and Heat delivered absolutely incredible sets, but there was nothing that either could do to really prepare you for the Nashville buzz band’s enormous sounding, raucous performance. There are still a few months left this year, but I can already tell that this is going to be on my list of the best shows of 2015.  Check out some photos from the show below, and a full gallery of the night’s shots, click here. Heat Bully

The Front Bottoms – Back On Top

September 25, 2015

I’m not sure if it was the choice of the Front Bottoms or their new label, Fueled By Ramen, but in an exceedingly strange move, prior to the release of their new record, Back On Top, SIX of the record’s eleven songs were made available to the public. Why they did this, I’m not too sure, but what I do know is that coming from someone who had this record as one of their most anticipated of the year, it almost totally killed all of the hype behind it.  That’s not to say that the tracks they released were bad or anything, but knowing what half of the record sounded prior to the release really was a buzz kill. The release of the first track, “West Virginia,” actually came as a pleasant surprise. The band had taken a somewhat more advanced approach to song construction, and vocalist Brian Sella’s lyrics seemed as on point[...]

Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down…

September 24, 2015

For the past year or so, Kurt Vile’s last full length, Wakin on a Pretty Daze, has been my go to road trip album. The sound was so expansive, warm, and spacious, it almost seemed perfect compliment for a long drive in the sunshine. I guess that this might partially due the fact that the majority of the record was written by Vile while on the road, and I guess to me, that really showed. While Wakin on a Pretty Daze was far from his most depressing sounding release, the idea that every track was lyrically rooted in something dark was hard to escape, as is the case with most of Vile’s releases. His newest record, b’lieve i’m goin down…, might work on a road trip, but only the part of the road trip where night falls and your friend fell asleep in the passenger seat, and you are left[...]

Tonight: Godflesh

September 22, 2015

As further proof that Buffalo is getting almost every incredible tour this year, metalheads and lovers of all things experimental rejoice as yet another stacked tour package takes the stage at the Tralf Music Hall this evening. Godflesh, absolute pioneers and legends within the industrial metal scene, will be headlining tonight’s show, and for good reason. The band has been active since the late 80’s, and has put out solidly received material ever since, including the 2014 album A World Lit Only By Fire. Opening for Godflesh will be noise legend Prurient. Even though Dominick Fernow has been active within the experimental / noise scene since the late 90’s, his popularity has recently picked up steam after his incredibly well received album Frozen Niagara Falls dropped earlier this year. There are no locals on the show tonight (bummer), and doors are set to open at 7pm with music at 8pm. There are still[...]

Mikal Cronin at Mohawk Place (9/15/15)

September 16, 2015

As summer comes to a close, I am reminded of all of the incredible shows that come through Buffalo. Last night at Mohawk Place, though, I was greeted with a strong reminder that just because the season is turning over, doesn’t mean the barrage of shows will be stopping any time soon. The Cairo Gang and Calvin Love both played stellar opening sets, and Mikal Cronin and his backing band played an upbeat and indisputably memorable set, spanning his entire catalog. Check out our photos from the show below, and click here for a full gallery. The Cairo Gang Calvin Love Mikal Cronin

Chon at the Studio at Waiting Room (9/10/15)

September 11, 2015

I was not expecting the amount of extreme technical proficiency that Chon brought to the stage at the Studio at the Waiting Room on Thursday night. The quartet seamlessly ripped though its entire set list without missing a beat, nailing every single note, leaving the crowd in awe. Regardless of your level of interest in instrumental progressive rock, you really have to hand it to these dudes for the amount of talent the possess. Check out some of the photos from the show below.  Click here for a full gallery. Chon