Latest Posts

Just Announced: Strand of Oaks

April 2, 2015

One of 2014’s best success stories came from Timothy Showalter’s Strand of Oaks project. Last summer, the Philadelphia rocker released his acclaimed new album, the emotionally raw Heal, which was anchored by the blistering lead single, “Goshen 97” and the devastatingly nostalgic nod to Song: Ohio’s Jason Molina on “JM.” In leaving some of his folk roots behind, Heal would go on to find itself on countless year end lists and put Showalter under an unexpected spotlight. To keep the momentum going, Showalter will take Strand of Oaks on a summer tour in support of Heal, which will include a stop in Buffalo on Saturday, July 25th at the Tralf Music Hall Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Apri 3rd at noon, for $10.

Just Announced: The Rolling Stones

March 31, 2015

After weeks of rumors, its turns out those Rolling Stones to the Ralph speculations are true after all. The British Rock legends will play the Orchard Park stadium on Friday, July 11th as a part of their Zip Code tour, a tour that will take the band to 15 stadiums in 15 cities. The tour will also coincide with the deluxe re-issue of the Stones’ classic Sticky Fingers album, set to drop on May 25th. Arguably the greatest band in rock n roll history, as long as you don’t get into the argument with a Beatles fan, the Stones have continued to stay relevant over the years as the members have toured their asses off while celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary back in 2013, and sadly, performing an unfortunately boring and predictable Super Bowl Half Time show in 2006. Tickets are set to go on sale on Friday, April 10th at[...]

buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party @ Nietzsche’s (3/28/15)

March 30, 2015

The blog crew ringed in our 5th birthday this Saturday night with a packed house and a bill full of Buffalo’s (and one of Utica’s) very best acts. On hand to shoot the evening was blog friend and local photographer, Nate Peracciny, capturing sets from Zak Ward, Comfy, Applennium, and many more, in addition to candid shots of many of the night’s supportive audience members. I say this after every one of our parties, but this was my favorite yet. Check out a handful of Nate’s pictures below, and for the full gallery, please click here. Photos by Nate Peracciny

Steak & Cake Releases SAMPLER 6 Compilation

March 30, 2015

I remember the first time I met Brandon Schlia, the founder and operator of Steak & Cake Records. We were throwing our first birthday party at Nietzsche’s and he gave me the label’s first sampler compilation, featuring a collection of Fredonia and Buffalo musician friends’ songs. Fast forward to four years later, and the label has released its latest in the series, SAMPLER 6. For this time around, the comp includes some off beat covers, unreleased b-sides, and remixes from S&C acts like FYFE, Inquiring Mind, and Scary Planetary, and most intriguingly, a previously unheard track from Schlia’s former buzz trio, the Malones. Fun Fact: the cover of SAMPLER 6 features a shot from the Buffalo-based cult classic, Buffalo ’66, which just so happens to be playing at the North Park Theatre this Thursday evening at 7pm. Listen to “Green Rock” by the Malones below.

Tonight: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

March 28, 2015

Later tonight at Nietzsche’s, we return to the seen of the crime: our first birthday party. Looking back at the bill from that night, a lot has changed since then. Love Scenes and Arctic Death are no longer active. The birD day moved out to Portland, and the Tins just returned from SXSW. All week long, we have been spotlighting all of our birthday acts, a mix of both seasoned acts and fresh to the scene bands. In case you missed any, now is the time to catch up: Zak Ward M.A.G.S. Difficult Night Comfy Applennium Wooden Waves Music kicks off at 10pm sharp with a cover of $7. Thanks in advance for all of the support over years. We hope to see you all tonight.

Tonight: Bring Back The 90’s Skate Party

March 27, 2015

I still have very vivid memories of going to the Eastern Hills Mall roller rink during my elementary/middle school years of the 90’s, awkwardly skating around the rink, just waiting for the DJ to yell “REVERSE” and completely turning the rink into a cluster of falling kids trying to change directions. If you are another child of the 90’s and are in the mood to lace up the old skates and relive those times, then head down to Skateland this evening on East Ferry for a Bring Back the 90’s Skate Party. Entry is free, but make sure to bring a buck to rent some skates. DJ Remmez will be providing the nostalgic tunes all night long. Puka shell necklaces and JNCO jeans are optional.

Buffalo Porchfest Continues to Seek Bands, Porches

March 26, 2015

Despite this last gasp of what has been a truly horrible winter, better times are ahead. One sign that spring will at some point arrive in its true form is the announcement that the forth installment of the Buffalo Porchfest, presented by the Elmwood Village Association, will be going down on Saturday, May 9th. The concept is still as simple always: a band plays on a porch somewhere in the village and patrons can roam the neighborhood with the handy map/guide and take in a day of sun and music. Well, maybe just plan on music. After a really strong showing in last May’s installment, which saw the bi-annual festival feature performances from bands like Merchants, Radarada, Humble Braggers, and Alex Berkely & the Atlanta Falcons, the line up seemed to take a bit of a step back last fall. The on again, off again, and then straight up pouring[...]

Tonight: The Public Picnic Fundraiser

March 26, 2015

The Public Picnic, a new collaborative project between Silo Session and the Public, will host its first fundraiser tonight at Mohawk Place, hopefully shedding a bit more light on the summer, Silo City located events curated by the live session series and still fresh, weekly publication. One tap tonight for musical merriment will be a trio of the city’s finest songwriters: Alex Berkley, Sonny Baker, and Laura Buckley. The Evil Things, a long time duo featuring Pine Fever band mates Andy Pothier and Levi Van Cleve, will come out of a long hibernation for a special performance this evening as well. Music begins this evening at 8pm. Event runners are asking for a donation of $5-$8 at the door.

Just Announced: UB Spring Fest

March 26, 2015

The State University of NEW YORK (see the men’s basketball jerseys) at Buffalo continues to prove it is with the times as its Student Association announced this year’s Spring Fest yesterday, set to be headlined by Young the Giant on Saturday, May 2nd. N̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶A̶l̶t̶-̶B̶u̶f̶f̶a̶l̶o̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶w̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶b̶u̶s̶y̶ ̶l̶o̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶s̶h̶i̶t̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶u̶p̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶K̶e̶r̶f̶u̶f̶f̶l̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶n̶o̶u̶n̶c̶e̶m̶e̶n̶t̶.̶   Nevermind, they found time to sponsor this. The rest of the bill, though, is comprised of alternative radio mainstays Bear Hands, In the Valley Below, Banks, and local act, Royal Tongues, so it’s close enough. UB, who frequently seemed a tad out of touch on many of its Fall/Spring Fest acts, took a major step in the right direction with last year’s Kendrick Lamar show, although I am still waiting for them to top that Outkast Spring Fest when I was in high school. The multi-band show will once[...]

The Televisionaries Drop Latest Track “AGAVE”

March 23, 2015

Despite this last blast of winter, summer is coming (we think), and with that, we have a seasonable new song from Rochester surf trio, the Televisionaries. Titled, “AGAVE,” the track is set to be included on the band’s forthcoming sophomore album sometime in the near future. Just don’t mistake that intro for “When The Saint Go Marching In.” You can catch the Televisionaries in their live (and free!) glory along with Buffalo’s finest surf acts, Aaron & the Burrs and the Hamiltones, next week on Friday, April 3rd. No matter what the weather looks like outside that evening, thoughts of sunny skies and tiki drinks will be in the air in the Glitterbox basement. Listen to “AGAVE” below. Surf’s up.

Just Announced: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

March 23, 2015

With spring in full bloom (sort of), Artpark has begun to roll out its summer concert schedule. We learned of the My Morning Jacket show a few weeks ago, along with Amos Lee just recently. The next show that should be of note is an August 4th engagement with Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. The retro soul act will be a part of the “Wheels of Soul Summer Tour 2015” along with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Doyle Bramhall III. The show will be the conclusion to the venue’s annual  “Tuesday at the Park” series. After successfully beating cancer last year, its a pleasure to see Jones and her band returning to the WNY area. Those who caught them a few years back at Town Ballroom know should expect another soul explosion from the dynamic front woman and one of music’s finest backing bands. Tickets will on sale this Friday,[...]

Just Announced: Melt-Banana

March 19, 2015

One of 2013’s more bonkers shows in Buffalo had to be Melt-Banana’s ridiculous fall show at the Tralf Music Hall. The schizophrenic, Japanese punk/pop/noise group unleashed a chaotic set full of squealing guitars, out of control percussion, and songs sung so strangely you barely recognized they were sung in English. Concert opener Lesionread, who was still establishing her live act, even brought along a 15 foot machine pinata to the show, which was quickly destroyed at her request almost as quickly as it was assembled on the venue floor. If you missed this one-of-a-kind show, fear not. Melt-Banana will be back in town on Saturday, May 16th, at the strangely early time of 6pm, this time around at Mohawk Place. Tickets will go on sale this Friday at noon for $14 in advance, $16 day of.

Brass Palace Continues “50 Bands 50 Weeks” Compilation, Releases SPEIRS’ “Threshold”

March 18, 2015

Last month, we wrote about the Rochester recording studio, Brass Palace, and its ambitious “50 Bands 50 Weeks” project. At the time of writing, producer and engineer Chris Vandeviver had already released tracks from bands like Druse and Edge of Jupiter. For the latest installment in the ongoing project, Brass Palace premiered a song from SPEIRS, who you may remember us introducing you to earlier this year when the ethereal, female-fronted post-rock act from Rochester released its debut single, “Headwarm.” For the five piece’s contribution to “50 Bands 50 Weeks,” the group recorded its newest offering, “Threshold,” a track full of swelling, guitar-driven ambiance a la Appleseed Cast or Now, Now. Listen to “Threshold” below and follow the progress of Brass Palace’s “50 Bands 50 Weeks” compilation here.

Blue Falcon Drops New Single, “S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)”

March 17, 2015

After an extended lull out of Rochester, our sister city’s music scene had a sudden surge last week with the release of some quality, blog worthy material. One of those bands, Blue Falcon, released its latest single during the tail end of last week. Titled “S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder),” something I would have to assume most WNYers were hit hard with this past, insufferable winter, the song has a laid back Mac DeMarco meets Earlimart slacker feel, a bit of a departure from the band’s blues-rock sounds on its previous EP, First Flight. No word yet on whether the single is going to be included on a future release, so in the mean time, listen to “S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)” below.

Scope & Figure Shares First Single From Forthcoming EP, Exemplary Sports Magic

March 16, 2015

Late last week, Rochester quartet, Scope & Figure, released the first single from its forthcoming EP, Exemplary Sports Magic, set to be released on May 1st via Dadstache Records. Titled “Cincinnati Fire Kites,” the track is pretty different from last spring’s single “Entropy Knows Best,” sounding like clean mathy indie rock (think Minus the Bear meets Two Door Cinema Club with a hint of Early November). The band seemed to take a nod from fellow Roch math rock act, Fowls, distancing its from the robust, folkier sounds of the previous single. Look for the Scope & Figure full EP to drop this spring. In the mean time, listen to “Cincinnati Fire Kites” below.