Latest Posts

M.A.G.S. Signs to Admirable Traits, Releases “My Love” Single

January 15, 2015

M.A.G.S., an indie-rock trio fronted by former Malones bass player, Elliott Douglas, has signed to the Buffalo/Brooklyn rooted label, Admirable Traits, to release its forthcoming EP, Cellophane. Douglas, who debuted his new project late last year with a quick two-song demo, evolved M.A.G.S. into a full time band after the self-recording of Cellophane, recruiting former Young Suns drummer (and former ex-pat turned born again Buffalonian) Adam Lilley and Andy Wesner of Mosaics to round out the live group. Today, the three-piece released the first single from Cellophane, titled “My Love,” which you can give a spin at the bottom of this post. Admirable Traits has been on a bit of a roll lately, ending the back half of 2014 on fire with quality releases from Brimstone Blondes and Bryan Johnson & Family, and is primed to start the new year strong with the release of Cellophane. M.A.G.S. will be celebrating the[...]

Symphonic Electronix Drops New Single, “Lila”

January 12, 2015

Electro-psych producer, Symphonic Electronix, has been dropping music on his bandcamp page since 2011, but it wasn’t until yesterday, after stumbling upon the new single “Lila,” that I started paying attention. The song itself is hard to peg. There is some Tame Impala, latter day Beatles, abstract Joy Division, maybe even some Tortoise all sprinkled in there. I’m still looking for a better comparison, but regardless, it’s a great tune, something that wouldn’t sound too out of place on a future Steak and Cake compilation. Anyways, take a listen to “Lila” for yourself below.

Applennium Submits “The Race” to Tiny Desk Concert Contest

January 12, 2015

We frequently say here at the blog office that Applennium may be the best band in Buffalo you haven’t heard of, or maybe even the best band in Buffalo period. The four piece – Chris Groves, Stacey Stoll, and Dave and Mike Calos – play maybe twice a year, if you are lucky, and premieres new music about as quietly as any band in Buffalo. They are one of the city’s true musical treasures, releasing stunner after stunner when you least expect. The band dropped a pleasant surprise online last night in the form of an entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert contest. First off, if you don’t watch Tiny Desk Concerts, get on that now. Recently, the lucky NPR staff has been treated to some fantastic performances from Angel Olsen, Tweedy, T-Pain, Beirut, and the National. As for the contest, the station/series is asking bands to submit one video of[...]

Genesee Live Releases Latest Installment feat. Jon Lewis

January 7, 2015

Catch up week continues here at the blog with the first session from Genesee Live of this young year. For the Rochester based video series’ latest installment, GL caught up with charming and introspective singer/songwriter, Jon Lewis. We introduced you to Lewis back in October with his music video “Tomorrow.” In addition, Lewis has been involved in the OTHER Rochester related video session series, 1809 Sessions, filmed at 1809 Studios in Macedon, NY. Fans of Jens Lekman and stripped down Belle and Sebastian may find Lewis right up their alley. Check out his Genesee Live installment below, which was recorded in the attic of Maybird/OHS member Sam Snyder, and to catch up on past clips, visit the site’s tumblr here.

Queen City Music Lottery Returns For Round Two

January 7, 2015

One of the more interesting projects that came out of the Buffalo music scene last year was the Queen City Music Lottery. A collaborative project headed by Sugar City and Peterwalkee Records, the lotto basically brought in local music vets and relative amateurs to make a cast of new musical acts. At the two drawings hosted early in 2014 at Spiral Scratch and Black Dots, participants threw their names in to a hat, were randomly selected, and basically, became a band. It didn’t matter what genre you came from, what instrument you may or may not have played, those four-five people were now a collective unit assigned to make music. It was pretty cool. Bands were asked to rehearse, put together a short set, and ultimately make their debuts later a couple months later at the Foundry. From punk to electro-dance to folk, there were some valient to great efforts[...]

Day 10: Alex Berkley & Kayleigh

December 23, 2014

One of the nicest holiday projects to come out of Buffalo this season was a charming covers album, titled Put Some Records On While I Pour, from newly married couple, local singer/songwriter Alex Berkley and his wonderful wife Kayleigh. The two tackled some classic holiday standards, even “Auld Lang Syne” if your New Year’s Eve mix is a song or two short. Surprisingly, the best track on this album is the pair’s cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Its a touching number sung between the two, giving the song a bit more depth and heart than you would normally expect from Carey’s original. Stream the full album here, and listen to “All I Want For Christmas Is You” below.

Day 9: ABCDJ

December 22, 2014

Day 9 of our 12 Days of Christmas countdown comes from DJ duo, ABCDJ. “A Funky ABCDJ Xmas” is like Christmas stocking full of samples, even clips from Home Alone. The track could easily be a holiday tune from Aussie sample masters, the Avalanches. Get down to the song below and see how many samples you can catch.

Tonight: buffaBLOG Holiday Party

December 20, 2014

Less than a week until Christmas and what better way to spend the evening with friends than to head down to Duke’s for our 4th annual holiday party. The place is always well decorated, bound to get even the biggest Scrooge into the festive spirit. If you missed any of our artist spotlights during the week, take a minute to brush up. The Slums Pleistocene Newish Star Radarada Plus, pizza loving DJ, Yung Zza, will be keeping the party going in between sets and all night long. Music kicks off at 10pm. $5, 21+

Day 6: Aircraft

December 19, 2014

Another leaked song from the forthcoming Steak and Cake Christmas Meltdown 2 compilation comes from Aircraft. The psych rock quartet submitted a cover of the Billy Hayes’ penned and Elvis popularized “Blue Christmas” to the record. Aircraft’s submission sounds like what Youth Lagoon may have done with the song: dreamy reverb over fragile vocals. Its a nice cover for sure, one that makes the song Aircraft’s own. Check it out below.

Day 3: Small Signals

December 16, 2014

The third day of our 12 Days of Christmas series sees our first Rochester tune in the mix. Small Signals, the new solo project from Taking Under Water and Pleistocene drummer Stephen Roessner, released a two track holiday covers EP last week. Christmas 2014 EP includes an angsty rendition of “White Christmas” and a take on “Taking Down the Tree,” a holiday original from slow core heroes, Low. The full EP can be streamed here, and you can listen to Small Signals cover of Low’s “Taking Down the Tree” below.

Day 1: DJ Pizza Pizza

December 14, 2014

Why do the 12 Days of Christmas start AFTER Christmas? Who wants to listen to holiday tunes after you open your gifts and the tree is becoming increasingly more pathetic looking? Here at the blog, we like to start our count down leading up to the big day, so from now until the 25th, we will be presenting you an original or standard holiday tune from the WNY area. For Day 1 of our countdown, our favorite pizza loving DJ, Yung Zza, delivers his own little Christmas miracle with “I Have To Make A Shitty Christmas Song,” which samples holiday standards like “Jingle Bells” and “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen.” You can listen below. The house DJ for our annual holiday party this coming Saturday, December 20th, at Duke’s, Zza may have a couple extra treats on hand so don’t miss it.

Just Announced: Neutral Milk Hotel

December 10, 2014

Much celebrated indie-cult band, Neutral Milk Hotel, will be gracing the stage at Delaware Ave’s famed venue Asbury Hall this upcoming spring on Tuesday, April 21st. After staying out of the spotlight for years, front man Jeff Mangum recently began playing live again, including a Babeville date a couple years back. This past summer, the full band hit up the festival circuit to the pleasure of many. I caught them at the final night of TURF this past July. The set was as bizarre as it was nostalgic and magical, as many in the audience were treated to a set from a band that may never dreamed of seeing live until recently. The band has stated that this will be its last tour for the forceable future, which, if you know this band, could very well translate to BUY A TICKET OR ELSE YOU ARE SCREWED. Tickets will go on[...]

T.M.M.C. Releases Powerful Single, “Too Many Eyes in the Crowd”

December 9, 2014

Lost in some of the wild performances this past Friday at the Wooden Waves release show was a powerful and understated set from T.M.M.C. Made up of local heavyweights including Bill Nehill and Dave G, the five piece delivered a moving set to the packed Mohawk Place audience. Earlier this fall, the band finally launched a facebook page, one that included the devastating track “Too Many Eyes in the Crowd.” The song, which was actually released three months ago, recalls Automatic for the People era R.E.M. or maybe even early Counting Crows, and features the always captivating Nehill delivering the absolutely humbling chorus “It takes a long time for a man to realize his welcome is worn out.” Damn. The tune appears to be a part of the band’s forthcoming release, recorded at Matt Smith’s Hi/Lo Studios, so keep an eye out. In the mean time, listen to “Too Many Eyes in[...]

Tonight: Robot Holiday

December 5, 2014

Catch Robot Holiday shake the rust off right after work tonight as the reoccurring musical collective breaks out the tunes and holiday spirit for the 3rd annual Holiday Live at Larkin show. Since surfacing about a decade ago, the long running group has been dropping holiday flavored albums on to the Queen City at a yearly clip. Past and present members of the collective have included Vic Lazar, Son of the Sun’s Brandon Delmont, the Hussalonia Founder, and many more. Robot Holiday dropped its latest album, the well timed Between the Snowflakes, right during the heart of #snovember. All proceeds raised from sales of the album will go towards the Food Bank of WNY. Bask in the holiday glow tonight with the cast of musicians starting at 5pm right at Larkin Square. Entry for the event is the very giving price of FREE.