Latest Posts

M83 – “Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun”

August 28, 2014

You have to love how these things work out. Just as Mute Records and M83 are getting ready to reissue M83’s out of print first three albums, a frankly spectacular video has been “unearthed” for “Lower Your Eyes To Die With The Sun.” Directed by Yoonha Park, the 8+ minute clip is epic, cinematic, tragic, sensual, and a shoegaze classic; in other words an essential M83 music video that’s somehow not been available on YouTube for us to drool over previously. The physical reissues for M83, Dead Cities, Read Seas & Lost Ghosts, and Before The Dawn Heals Us are in stores now, with 2 EPs of B-sides and remixes available digitally on September 9t.

Tonight: Wooden Cities Perform Sigur Ros’ ( )

August 28, 2014

Released in 2002, ( ), the third album from Sigur Ros, was a game changer for both the band, their fans, and music lovers all over the world.  Ethereal and haunting from start to finish and sung by frontman Jonsi Birgisson in a made up language  akin to angelic mumblings, ( ) is a profound album that’s as visceral and challenging today as it was then. Enter composer and UB PhD student Ethan Hayden and his new book for Bloomsbury Press about ( ), which has it’s local launch tonight at Talking Leaves on Main Street and features a performance of songs from ( ) from local favorites Wooden Cities. Part of Bloomsbury’s rather acclaimed 33 1/3 series of books about popular music albums ranging from Dusty Springfield to Pink Floyd to The Beastie Boys, Hayden’s book about ( ) is actually a fairly big deal, and not just for local[...]

Hooray For Earth at Sugar City (8/20/14)

August 22, 2014

Wednesday night, New York City’s Hooray For Earth returned to Buffalo after a four year absence for a special yet sparsely attended show at the newly reopened Sugar City art space on Niagara Street. I don’t know exactly what happened that contributed to a show for an up and coming band being attended by 15 people, but that’s basically what ended up happening. That those 15 people were treated to a magnificently loud and blisteringly gorgeous performance is almost beside the point; Hooray For Earth made good on their promise to get here after cancelling in January of 2013, and I want to thank Hooray For Earth and opener Grooms for making the trip. It was one of those shows where the bands start early so they can get on their way to the next stop, hopefully with a bigger crowd. Grooms, a power trio from Brooklyn, started before the[...]

Hooray For Earth’s Noel Heroux

August 14, 2014

Upfront, I just have to tell you that I’ve been dying to see Hooray For Earth since Janauary of last year. A Johnny Come Lately to their 2011 debut, True Loves, after somebody on the blog (probably Mike Moretti) flagged them as a band to check out for their “M83 but weird” vibe, their show at the Ninth Ward was high on my list after 2012’s M83 blowout. Formed in 2005 as the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Noel Heroux, Hooray For Earth became a hit with music bloggers thanks to the incredibly solid True Loves, which earned the moniker “cult favorite” and marked the band as one to watch. Unfortunately, fate cruelly intervened to scotch the show. Fast forward to this July and the release of Hooray For Earth’s sophomore effort, Racy. Guitar driven and more in your face than its predecessor, Racy represents something of a departure for Heroux and Hooray[...]

Tonight: Girl Talk

August 8, 2014

Tonight, Pittsburgh mash-up guru, Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis), brings his brilliant dance party back to Buffalo for a highly anticipated show at Canalside. A party for the body and the mind, Gillis creates a full on sensory overload experience that also manages to simultaneously stimulate the brain with thought provoking and frequently hilarious mash-ups while driving crowds positively insane with delight. Tickets are $15 for the rabble and $55 for the hoi poloi, and if you missed it here’s Vanessa Lyne’s interview with the man himself. If you manager to arrive at Canalside early, make sure to catch the urban surf vibes of The Get Money Squad. The buzzing, Buffalo act, comprised of members of Network, recently released their debut EP, Nothing’s Wrong, capturing our album of the week honors. Music kicks off at 7pm.

Janelle Monae – “Electric Lady”

July 31, 2014

This fine new clip for “Electric Lady” from Atlanta r&b and soul starlet, Janelle Monae, is so great I even forgive the sorority/fraternity theme. An homage to School Daze, Cooley High, and 80’s Janet Jackson videos, “Electric Lady” features step dancing, an affirming Afrocentric vibe (NOT a reference to her fly new hairstyle), and cameos from Erykah Badu, T-Boz, Kimbra, and Esperanza Spaulding. The product placing effort is a true dance party sure to advance Janelle Monae’s quest for global domination.

The North Park Theatre to Screen A Hard Day’s Night

July 21, 2014

The 1964 classic A Hard Day’s Night has been digitally restored and remastered, and will be gracing the big screen at the also recently restored North Park Theatre, which screened the original when landed here 40 years ago, this week through Thursday. Directed by Richard Lester and featuring some band called The Beatles on the cusp of global domination, A Hard Day’s Night is nothing short of a masterpiece, a celebration, and send up of The Beatles by The Beatles that’s breathlessly entertaining, hilarious, and yes, like it says in the trailer, revolutionary. Yes, Elvis was a movie star too, but he was Elvis, in movies. A Hard Day’s Night, however, features George, John, Paul, and Ringo in a movie about themselves, a movie explicitly designed to sell their art to a potential worldwide audience, and present and solidify a public image they’d crafted, an example of self commodification that redefined youth[...]

The Lindbergh Babies – The Lindbergh Babies

July 21, 2014

Earlier this month, The Lindbergh Babies released their eponymous debut album, and simply put, it’s tremendous.  A collaboration between local music scene mainstays Brandon Delmont (Girlpope, Son Of The Sun) and Mark Norris (Girlpope, the Backpeddlers), The Lindbergh Babies is a mature, sensual and rewarding journey into sonic ecstasy, and a gift that genuinely keeps on giving. Redolent with sweet mellotron and gorgeous soundscapes, it’s a musical tour de force from multi-instrumentalist Delmont, who seamlessly plays in so many sandboxes crafting the music for this stellar debut: Pet Sounds era Brian Wilson (“Hucklebuck Blues”), Wilco circa Summerteeth (“Only In A Dream”),  Zappa (“Flying Through”), early 70’s Pink Floyd (“Volcanoes”), and Super Furry Animals (“Oh Love”). The record is a veritable field day for rock aficionados. But the record is not derivative or a cavalcade of musical references. Yes classic rock fans will savor the vibes and grace notes, but The Lindbergh[...]

Interpol – “All The Rage Back Home”

July 10, 2014

New York post-punk heavyweights, Interpol, have released a video for “All The Rage Back Home,” the first single off their first album in four years. Now a power trio after the departures of Carlos D and Brandon (Secret Machines) Curtis, Interpol has been gearing up to make a return with some shows in Europe in anticipation of the release of El Pintor in Septemeber, and this Paul Banks directed clip offers a glimpse of this retooled and stripped down edition of the band.

Hooray For Earth – “Keys”

July 3, 2014

New York psych-electronica band, Hooray For Earth, recently dropped a video for “Keys,” the first single off Racy, their upcoming follow up to 2011’s excellent , True Loves. Featuring crunchy guitar licks,  Wolverine’s motorcycle, and a bike ride through the woods (and warp space), the video, directed by Beau Burrows and Tucker Bliss, is stylish, evocative, and points to big things for Noel Heroux and company, who just announced dates for an August tour. No Buffalo date announced so far, but Hooray For Earth owe WNY a show, and hopes are high for the Fall. Stay tuned. Racy hits stores (and the Interwebs if you like your music in 0 and 1 form) July 29th.

Tonight: Gord Downie & The Sadies

July 3, 2014

I generally loathe referring to Gord Downie as the “heart and soul of The Tragically Hip.” It’s a disservice to the rest of the guys in the band, and besides, Gord is so much more: an enigmatic frontman,  solo artist, poet, activist, and a beloved international righteous dude. Tonight at Canalside, he’ll be here in the role of esteemed collaborator when he and the Sadies perform songs from their 7 years in the making Conquering Sun album, released in April by Arts and Crafts. Opening the show will Newfoundland indie rock band Hey Rosetta and Australian folk rockers Boy & Bear. Like all Canalside shows the good times start at 6 and wrap up around 10. It’s been said that Buffalo likes it’s Canadian rock, and with this being an international holiday week, Canalside will be jumping. See you there.

Tonight: Well Rounded People’s Party Skate Jam [no. 1]

June 27, 2014

Damn, this is just about the best damn thing I’ve ever had the pleasure to do a write up for. Tonight, Skateland will be alive with beats, funk, and skating when PUSH Buffalo, The WASH Project and West Side Bazaar put on a skate party for the people, like the kind we used to have at Skateland back in the day. All of these magnificent organizations are doing tremendous work for the West Side, our city, and some of it’s newest residents (note: the West Side Bazaar has also been doing tremendous work for my love world gastronomy), and tonight’s party is an excellent excuse to support them and social justice while skating and getting down. DJ Sike and Baby Joe will be kicking out the jams, food vendors will be from the aforementioned West Side Bazaar, tickets are only $5, and the party’s from 6 to 11.

Tonight: Silo Sessions Launch Party

June 14, 2014

One of the most exciting developments in Buffalo’s alleged resurgence has been what’s going down in Silo City, in the city’s post industrial district. Between epic art happenings and pop up food fests, the Silos have become treasured local structures favored by Buffalo’s creative class, a trend that continues tonight with the launch of the Silo Sessions. Almost 30 local and touring acts will be converging at Marine A, Perot Grain Elevator, and American Warehouse starting at 5:00pm for a multi-stage event that will put the excellent acoustics and possibilities of those magnificent buildings to the test. Tickets at the gate will be $15, but you will get in for $10 if you kicked in to this Kickstarter campaign. The full schedule: RIVER STAGE 5:pm Difficult Night 5:45pm The Observers 6:30pm Alex Berkely and the Atlanta Falcons 7:15pm Wooden Cities 8:pm Sam Goodwill 8:45pm Viking Moses 9:30pm Aircraft 10:15pm Landlady 11:00pm Mallwalkers[...]

World Cup Brasil 2014

June 12, 2014

Starting today, whether you like it or not, World Cup soccer is back. And with that in mind, we have a little playlist to get you ready for it, or piss you off because you’re tired of the World Cup and all this soccer already.  If you’re in the latter category, well, good luck with that during the next month, because it’s going to be everywhere this time around (and you can forget about Twitter during matches)…. even in Buffalo, with bars all over town vying to be your “World Cup bar.” If you’re a fan, then you know it’s going to be a hell of a party. Enjoy. “Tive Razao” by Seu Jorge. The standout track from the FIFA 06 soundtrack, this sublime acoustic ditty from Brazilian superstar Seu Jorge is gorgeous, irresistible, and a glimpse into the soul and rhythms of Brazil. “Festival” by Sigur Ros.  This soundtrack[...]

Tonight: Poliça

June 2, 2014

The Tralf’s “Summer Of Indie” continues with a killer lineup of up and coming electronic artists featuring Minneapolis  electronica outfit  Poliça with New York’s Lolawolf and blog favorite Lesionread. In town to promote last year’s excellent Shulamith,  Poliça stands apart from the field thanks to their propulsive, R&B infused 80’s new wave sound, evocative lyrics, intense live shows, and chilled out yet soulful vocals from front woman Channy Leaneagh. There’s a tremendous amount of buzz around Lolawolf and their debut EP due in no small part to minimalist old school synths and the distinct and delicately smokey voice of Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny, spiritual son of Prince), while local wunderkind Lesionread (aka Shawn Lewis) will no doubt continue his rise to power and rapid evolution as electronic and multimedia artist  with some new hardware and some mouthwatering new material. Missing Lesionread is foolish, so being there by 8 PM is[...]