Latest Posts

Rogue Wave – Delusions of Grand Fur

May 23, 2016

Hop in your car, roll the windows down, drive along a long winding road, and throw on Rogue Wave’s Delusions of Grand Fur in your CD player.  Well, I should say throw this album on the aux chord because this is 2016, lets be real. Rogue Wave’s sixth studio album releases those adventurous and spontaneous feelings in your heart.  Delusions of Grand Fur will run your car out of gas before you even know it.  Rogue Wave is driven by the acoustic guitar, the piano, clean guitar riffs, and the unique, echoing voice of Zach Rogue. “Take It Slow” is the first track off this album, which captures Rogue Wave’s style and deep thoughts on relationships and life.  A simple subject is what inspires this band’s lyrics.  Starting off with the acoustic rush and straight into the drums. Then comes the piano lick, which will be relevant throughout the entire[...]

Tonight: The Fox Sisters

April 30, 2016

Rochester’s retro rock scene will be invading Mohawk Place for a night that will undoubtedly entertain fans of R&B, Blues, and retro rock and roll.  The Fox Sisters’ band name basically describes their vibe, which is that of an energetic rhythm blues band with the power of Little Richard, the brash vibes of King Khan and the horns of Van Morrison. Also on the bill are The Temptators will be putting on your dancing shoes as well with their surf rock beats and 50’s style jams. Their lyrics fit the bill of The Beach Boys, and their guitar riffs will take you straight to the beach. Not to be overlooked are The Televisionaries, whose retro instrumental surf rock licks  will surely bring you straight to the beach. Maybe after the show is done you can go to the waterfront or something. Doors open at 8pm with a $5 cover.

The Cat Empire – Rising With The Sun

April 15, 2016

The Cat Empire has just released their new album Rising With the Sun.  I wouldn’t put this Australian band into any particular genre because they are a very unique group that incorporates several genres into their astounding music.  Rising With the Sun is a very Reggae-ish album compared to most of their other albums.  With the use of trumpets, synthesizers, and a funky bass, The Cat Empire brings you into the summer with this album. The second track on the eleven-track album, “Bulls,” is an upbeat reggae song that relies heavily on the piano for the refrain and the reggae breakdown in the verses.  The bass is also a big part of the verses holding the groovy beats together.  Once the refrain hits, the trumpets come in hot, giving the refrain a sing-along effect.  It then cuts into a fast break/ending with the bass leading the way to close it[...]

Damien Jurado – Vision of Us on the Land

March 30, 2016

Damien Jurado brings us a unique experience with his newest album titled, Visions of Us on the Land.  His latest release is a 17-track album that revolves around the acoustic guitar.  From the experimental folk genre that has risen from the Indie Rock scene, this album gives us exactly that.  This is a combination of the soft voices and harmonies of Fleet Foxes and the mysterious lyrics and raw acoustic guitar of Iron & Wine. We see much more of an experimental phase from Jurado on this album.  As we hear in the fifth track titled “Sam and Davy,” he opens with a simple guitar riff while singing with an intense echo in the background.  The experimental rock side to this song is the synth that is being played as well making the song sound like it came out of a Pink Floyd album.  With the orchestra instruments slowly coming in[...]

Tonight: The Moth & The Flame

March 5, 2016

After a little over four months, Provo-based buzz band The Moth & The Flame makes their return to the queen city, with a headlining gig at The Tralf.  Since their last visit in October, the trio have released their first full-length album in five years, titled Young & Unafraid. If their name rings a bell you’ve probably caught wind of their public outcry when a certain Facebook profile ripped their video for “Young & Unafraid,” making the video viral while stealing a bunch of ad money. While this unfortunate event seemed like a curse, it ended up being a blessing in disguise, leading to a press blast, putting The Moth & The Flame on the forefront of the Facebook content stealing debate and the internet rallied behind them. This lead to alternative radio picking up on the song and they are headlining a national tour. Also on the bill are Buffalo-based[...]

Ra Ra Riot – Need Your Light

February 25, 2016

After three years of no music from Ra Ra Riot, they have finally released new material with the act’s fourth studio Need Your Light. Co-produced with Rostam Batmanglij, former member of Vampire Weekend, the album has brought Ra Ra Riot’s electronic anthems back to the scene. Working with Batmanglij has given Ra Ra Riot a distinct and unique sound to the band. Need Your Light has combined the lyrical talent of Wesley Miles from their album The Rhumb Line with the electronic pop progressions of Beta Love and solidified Ra Ra Riot’s sound. The opening track “Water” clearly brings out Batmanglij’s unique talents, which have been carefully honed from his tenure with Vampire Weekend. Wes Miles shares his vocals through the falsetto chorus lines, while the keys kick in a heavy hitting melody. The drums bring this whole piece together with a stomping beat throughout the entire song. With the second track coming in[...]

J. Cole – Forest HIlls Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC

February 12, 2016

J. Cole released his fourth album,  Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC at the tail end of January. This is a live album of Cole’s third album Forest Hills Drive, except with the bonus addition of “Note to Self.” The album is very different from the studio version. The intimacy, and emotion with his lyrics are brought to life. The big hits like “Fire Squad,” “Wet Dreamz,” and “G.O.M.D.” are told with so much passion emotion that the listener will feel as if they were at the concert with their eyes closed. Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC runs through each song starting with “Intro” and ending with “Love Yourz.” Throughout this album, you get a chance to experience J. Cole on a personal level. The story he tells through Forest Hills Drive is explained in easier terms through this live album. It gives us an intimate experience where we[...]