Latest Posts

Pizzagirl – “Seabirds”

April 16, 2018

Pizzagirl’s new track “Seabirds” is a serene gift from the multi-talented Liverpool lad who goes by the aforementioned pseudonym. It’s an endlessly fun and listenable but emotional guided journey through a 1980s-influenced soundscape. However, like every intuitive descendent of that culture, Pizzagirl manages to capture something fresh, as the song’s echoing vocals and fresh, shimmying production sound brilliantly transcendent. Pizzagirl’s debut EP An Extended Play was released on Friday via the independent label Heist or Hit.

The Gloomies – “Tiger”

April 16, 2018

“Tiger” by Californian duo The Gloomies starts with a distant but steadily approaching guitar-led melody, which flowers into a thumping beat accompanied by (fittingly) gloomy, reflective lyrics tackling the end of laughter, the breakdown of seemingly everything in one’s life and the feeling of losing stride. The chorus gives off a touch of life amidst such despair, as a funky and resolute rhythm kicks in and presides over the next verse. The song rises even higher from there, with a majestic crash of instruments to closing out the tune with a bang. The band’s debut album is due to be released this summer.

Tonight: Space Cubs

April 7, 2018

Tonight electronic group Space Cubs will carry their tantalizing brand of futuristic experimentation over to Mohawk Place, the venue located at 47 E Mohawk St. in the band’s hometown of Buffalo. The gig will act as a celebration of their newly released EP What iff. For the unfamiliar, Space Cubs specialize in spellbinding vocals encased in frenetic, sonically beautiful rhythms. In The lineup for tonight’s show will also feature the assertive and dynamic vigor of Jack, the guitar-led jangly indie rock magic of Sonny Baker and the disquieted psychedelia of Bold Folly. Doors open at 8pm with a cover of $5. Check out Space Cubs’ new single “Quitting” below

kvlt daddy releases new album Bones Buried

April 5, 2018

Bones Buried, the new album from kvlt daddy, is a gripping listen—something for which you must buckle in and brace yourself. The introductory track, “Salt,” is laden with hardcore, heavy metal-influenced riffage, a constant throughout the album. It’s a characteristic, however, that doesn’t run dry in the slightest, and that’s not owing to Bones Buried being a quick listen. The same would surely be said had this been a 60-minute-long endeavor. The greatness of this Syracuse trio’s sound lies directly in the overflowing energy that presides over it. The distortion-filled, lightning-fast instrumentals are met with vocals categorizable more so as the kind you might find in a garage rock or alternative band—they certainly don’t rely on screaming as much as other heavy-sounding bands, that is. Given this, the group should be filed, or rather put on top-shelf display, somewhere between Tool and Queens of the Stone Age (a high compliment).[...]

nomad – “2 flares”

April 2, 2018

“2 flares,” a fresh-off-the-presses single from New Zealand indie pop band Nomad, is charged up with a certain undeniable zest crossbred with the radio-friendly hooks of Bastille with the raw emotion of The National. The song begins by giving off the feel of a somber piano ballad. Then, in a flash, it blossoms into a fast-paced tune that harnesses an arena-ready energy. If you needed an exhibit of this band’s dexterity as musicians, look no further than “2 flares,” found below.  

New Shack – “Bit Map”

April 2, 2018

The ravishing new single “Bit Map” by Utah-based duo New Shack invokes excitement and a parcel of nostalgia through fluttering flourishes of synthesizer. They hearken back to the 1980s new wave movement, only with more introspective undertones, this being the reason they label their sound “darkwave.” The track, with its influences abounding, manages to sound remarkably modern, perhaps with the help of lyrics about losing a GPS, leaving the narrator unable to find their home address. Cat Leavy’s vocals here are gentle but affecting and full of emotion, while the instrumental backing goes back and forth between a peppy, in-your-face groove and a gorgeous soundscape. New Shack has supported Glass Animals live and garnered a notable live following of their own, along with acclaim propelled by the likes of numerous blogs and publications. Check out “Bit Map,” off their upcoming EP Ways and Means, below:

LCAW – “Meet In the Middle”

April 2, 2018

LCAW’s “Meet In the Middle” is a testament to the German producer’s knack for making a danceable and fresh electro-pop record—the allure that has attracted him growing industry attention. Off the 4-song EP of the same name, the track unfolds with angelic guest vocals, a rousing rhythm and a bouncing keyboard line. Be sure to snap along for yourself to this eminently catchy tune, featured below:

Glassio – “Back For More”

March 31, 2018

Indie duo Glassio’s “Back For More” is about as polished and magical as synth-pop gets. The track is full of life, backed by deep, affecting splashes and soaring, majestic trickles of keyboard. Beyond the musical sense, this New York City-based act strikes a chord emotionally with their new track. “Back For More” concerns the unsure feeling and loss of hope derived from a relationship hitting the rocks and ending for good, a relatable but still hard-to-swallow dilemma. Glassio, the partnership of Sam R. and Charles Pinel, also has a number of sold-out shows under their belts and an Internet-rooted following behind them. It’s no surprise either, as surveying their new track will reveal. Check out “Back For More” down below.

No Kind of Rider Releases New Tune “Savage Coast”

March 31, 2018

“Savage Coast” is a heart-thumping, must-listen new single from quartet No Kind of Rider, an indie rock band hailing in parts from Portland and separately from Brooklyn. The song manages to elicit feelings of both exultation and turmoil. The range of emotional depth contained within its running time is impressive yet toll-inducing on the listener, especially a first-time one. But with a catchy and spirit-lifting melody beside the presentation of lyrical beauty tackling a romantic relationship’s turning point, the pull to revisit the track is inevitable. Listen below, and attest to the appeal for yourself.

Buffalo Sex Change Releases Title Track “Searching Hands”

March 29, 2018

“Searching Hands,” a new single from Rochester-based garage rock duo Buffalo Sex Change, is chock-full of vim and vigor.The tune would fit right in with the rugged nature of Vietnam War-era rock ‘n’ roll—such grittiness and uninhibited raw power reminds one of something proto-punk bands like The Stooges or MC5 might’ve released to the public back then. “Searching Hands” might even sound to some like a train about to run off the tracks, chugging along nearer and nearer to light speed. Its depiction of uncontrollable lust and sexual tension is carried out just as superbly in its bursting-at-the-seems instrumental cannonade as its concise but striking lyrics. Catch Buffalo Sex Change’s next show in Buffalo on April 21st at Nietzsche’s and be on the lookout for their new album out April 20th. In the meantime, listen to the song below:

Tonight: North by North

March 22, 2018

Tonight the Chicago-based duo North by North will take the stage at The 9th Ward, the bar located in the basement of the multi-use facility Babeville at 341 Delaware Ave. North by North’s brand of hard-hitting, riff-oriented rock will be the go-to rock show in town this evening. Also on the bill are buzzing up-and-coming local act, Witty Tarbox, indie rockers The Rifts, and perhaps the busiest grunge revivalist act in Buffalo, Nylon Otters. The show will start at 8pm with an $8 cover. Last Days of Magic by North by North

Callum Pitt – “Happiness”

March 21, 2018

Northeast England’s Callum Pitt has released “Happiness,” a tune that encapsulates its title superbly, bringing forth a cheery, endlessly ear-catching melody and sonorous background vocals. Similar in style to a more pop-oriented incarnation of Fleet Foxes, it’s an indie-folk song most fitting for a long, warm day (when days like that will return around this area is more questionable territory, but the point remains). After his breakout year, which included a steady rise in coverage and attendance at his shows, Callum Pitt is deservedly a singer-songwriter with immense potential going forward.

I Feel Fine – “Lifer”

March 21, 2018

Out of Brighton, rock band I Feel Fine crafts music quite unlike the Beatles song that shares their name. Their newly released tune “Lifer” is noisy but meticulous rock ‘n’ roll devoid of strict pop sensibilities, similar to a slice of Modest Mouse’s early catalog. Chugging guitars, a barrage of drums and angst-ridden vocals make up a large quantity of the song, with a loud-quiet dynamic appearing ever so sparsely but ever so perfectly throughout the track. These guys know how to keep a listener on edge and engaged—that’s for certain. Their full-length Long Distance Celebration, to be released through Failure By Design Records, is due out May 4. Long Distance Celebration by I Feel Fine

thanks. – “Loose Gun”

March 21, 2018

“Loose Gun,” a new song from Los Angeles-based alternative rock outfit thanks., is vibrant as can be—a short, sweet and pulsating burst of indie pop energy. Saturated simultaneously with a freewheeling attitude as well as reflections of oneself and the precious nature of time’s passage, “Loose Gun” is something to get you dancing or thinking, or potentially even both. Check out the tune, released through the label Highland Park, down below:

Palace Winter – “Empire”

March 19, 2018

Copenhagen-based alternative rock duo Palace Winter’s new tune “Empire” is couched in a remarkably full-sounding and embracing sound as well as a catchy-as-all-hell vocal melody. It sways around like a glorious classical overture blended with all the arena readiness of a Bruce Springsteen concoction and doused in the more modern, instrumentally layered touches of indie darlings like The War on Drugs. Palace Winter’s album Nowadays, their first full-length effort since 2016, is set for a release in May.