The album opens with a quick instrumental intro track of gliding electric guitar that leads directly into the upbeat basement punk rocker “Boys”. Throughout the rest of the album, Heave churns through genre changes and tonal shifts seamlessly and with expertise. From breezy and bouncing jazz on “Bevels” to winding acoustic rock on “Paradigm” to apathetic bop “Big Shrug,” and all moments in between, the band turns in a masterful performance. Though it is varied and eclectic, Pike is still a cohesive work, buoyed by Finlan’s heartfelt lyrics and the sonic vision of engineer Chris Ploss.

The production and arrangement work is top notch, where each decision is meticulously calculated and perfectly executed. The ethereal electric guitar noises and chilling fade out to just vocals during the final verse on “Agency”; the great double tracked slide guitar solo and creepy toy piano on “Seasons”; the sorrowful cello during the build up at the end of “Circle”; the rousing gang vocals and lush synth on album closer “Interstate.” The smallest details are huge here, and really add up to create an excellent listening experience (especially in headphones).

Lyrically, there is a tender sadness in Finlan’s words that gives these songs heft, all of which are delivered through a delicate and almost aching vocal performance. Each track swells with emotional intensity, as she details feelings of desolation, insecurity, misplaced love, and deteriorated mental health. The haunting lyricism pairs well with the reverberant DIY vibe of the music, the sum total of which makes for a deeply affecting record.

Pike fully marks the arrival of a thrilling new voice in lo-fi indie rock. Emily Finlan has something to say, and through Heave, she is ensuring that you will be listening.

The post Heave – Pike first appeared on buffaBLOG.

The post The Shallows Release First Single first appeared on buffaBLOG.

Opening the show is Newburgh, NY group Native Harrow. The folk duo recently released a 90-minute 2X album, Sorores, expanding their sound into a darker, more avant-garde realm.

Doors are open at 8pm, with music at 9pm. Tickets are $18 at the door.

The post Tonight: Great Lake Swimmers first appeared on buffaBLOG.

The featured performer this evening is local composer Jacob Peter. A fixture among the Buffalo music scene, the multi-instrumentalist has meticulously crafted a body of intricate and delicate contemporary songs across 3 EPs (all of which are available for free via bandcamp). Jacob Peter will be joined live by keyboardist Harry Graser and drummer Gabriel Wells.

Doors will open at 6:30pm with a show start time of 7pm. The event is free with paid gallery admission.

The post Tonight: Jacob Peter first appeared on buffaBLOG.

The once light and bouncy air of Jong’s music is now treated with a heavier shade. His previous sound of coffee shop pop meets blue-eyed soul is amplified here with darker and more ambient elements. The tune itself floats through different phases, borrowing from both alt. rock and contemporary R&B, and pairs acoustic guitars with electric ones, and ethereal synth embellishments with a tight modern R&B groove. Even from a lyrically standpoint, “Driving Away” moves in a more melancholic direction, hinting at what is to come from Jong in the future.

In regards to the production, “Driving Away” is the artist’s most polished and intricate work yet. Alternating instruments and effects are panned wide through both channels, and there is plenty of ear candy gliding through the speakers. The new single opens with a pulsing electric piano and bright acoustic guitar, before giving way to a full band arrangement. Jong’s vocals are smoothly layered, with double tracking and occasional harmony, and stacked neatly on top of the mix. However, it is the electric guitar that sets the mood, initially shimmering and ambient but eventually letting loose with echoing distortion. At the end of the song, there is a crescendoing guitar solo which then subsides into stereo strummed acoustic guitars. This is an excellent touch, and provides a stand out moment on the track.

There is currently more music in the works from Jong SL that is sure to follow this moodier and more eclectic vibe. In the mean time, “Driving Away” is now available to stream via Spotify.

The post Jong SL Releases New Track “Driving Away” first appeared on buffaBLOG.

Opening the show is Virginia alt rock duo Illiterate Light. The pair posses a commanding stage presence, featuring Jeff Gorman, who simultaneously sings, shreds guitar, and plays synth bass with his feet, and drummer Jake Cochran, who sings harmony vocals and plays drums while standing up.

The show begins at 8pm, with doors at 7pm. Day of show admission is $21.

The post Tonight: J Roddy Walston and the Business first appeared on buffaBLOG.

Opening up the show is NYC-based artist Cut Worms, the project of Chicagoan Max Clarke. Their debut LP was released this year via Jagjaguwar. Tickets are $30 at the door with doors opening at 7pm, music at 8pm.

The post Tonight: Jenny Lewis first appeared on buffaBLOG.

“The Art of Falling Apart” is melancholic and breezy, dripping in that kind of sunny-yet-sad vibe that dominated California pop in the ’60s and ’70s. There’s also something very modern here, too, with an ambient dream pop sound that cloaks the song’s tuneful, almost Beatles-esque bounce. Harp flourishes and a downward-descending bass line meld with wilting and reverb-soaked guitar and keyboard passages, while Preston’s laidback and understated croon sits perfectly in the center. It all comes together to create a smooth retro-leaning millennial head-hung-low-head-bopper.

Check out Katie Preston’s new single “The Art of Falling Apart” below. Be on the look out for her EP Soap Opera soon.

The post Katie Preston Drops Single “The Art of Falling Apart” first appeared on buffaBLOG.

Musically, A Century Ago is a varied tapestry, weaving elements of folk, Americana, pop, rock, jazz and even emo sounds. Acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele all engage in passages of melodic, proficient, energetic and stirring instrumental interplay, adding up to a perfect collision of traditional folk instrumentation and contemporary alt. rock riffing. Drums and electric guitar make occasional appearances to supply heft, while flourishes of clarinet, flute and trumpet show up to adorn the surfaces. The vocals are slightly wild, yet smooth and polished, like early 2000s emo. When paired with the acoustic instrumentation, the overall sound is reminiscent of groups like AJJ or The Front Bottoms.

The stories here are as intricate and varied as the arrangements, covering subject matter ranging from silent film, to baseball, to the first congresswoman of the United States. Noworyta uses these tales and their imagery as a vessel for commentary on themes of adolescence, mortality, humanity, society, politics and love. In this way, A Century Ago bears a great resemblance to Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois or Michigan albums, using historical and geographical backdrops to voice inner musings and feelings, and portray a broader thematic scope that is equally personal and worldly. There’s a grandeur here as well that comes from tackling heavy subjects and dense musicality, and it plays out like an indie folk Hamilton.

A Century Ago is a sincere, endearing, and intriguing record that is at times as wryly humorous as it is emotionally poignant. Nate Nowortya has established a sound and lyrical voice rich in both historical context and modern inflection. You can find the new album from Darth Nater on Bandcamp, and check out the lead track “The Immigrant” below.

The post Darth Nater – A Century Ago first appeared on buffaBLOG.

The track is a straight ahead rocker in a minor key, with deep distortion and a firm low end. There is a funky clavinet-like keyboard that is peppered throughout that balances against the guitars, reminiscent of psych-rock sounds from the late ’60s-early ’70s. Lewis’ mid range lead vocals are smooth and land right on top of the whole mix. There’s a good blend of classic and modern rock, with a slight griminess to it, too; essentially its Tom Petty meets Wilco with a splash of Primus.

Check out the music video for the new single, “Cinnamon Only” below. Be on the look out for the new record Get Wild Somewhere, sometime in May.

The post Jon Lewis Band Drops New Video off Get Wild Somewhere first appeared on buffaBLOG.