Latest Posts

Jackson Cavalier & The Fevertones Drop Devil’s Undertow EP

November 19, 2014

Quietly last night, rollicking Rochester folk outfit, Jackson Cavalier & The Fevertones, dropped its latest, two song EP, Devil’s Undertow, its first new material in nearly a year. The band has been pretty low key over the last year, working on new songs while keeping busy with live gigs. If you are new to the alt-country quartet, think Deer Tick and go from there. Locally, bands like Pine Fever and Mr. Boneless would pair nicely with the Fevertones. Also, listen carefully and tell me you don’t hear a touch of Iggy Pop’s “Passenger” in the EP’s title cut. Gravelly vocals, peppy harmonica and strings, and a toe tapping beat make “Devil’s Undertow” a very late edition to my list of favorite Rochester tracks of the year. Check it out below.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat

November 18, 2014

Hopefully they grabbed a couple parkas before hitting the road because New Orleans based act, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, will be dropping down on the winter wonderland that is Buffalo tonight. Made up of long time electronic musician, Quintron, and puppeteer (yep), Miss Pussycat, the pair have coined the term, “Swamp Tech,” a chaotic version of electronic dance music bred in the deep south for nearly 15 years. They even popped up on an episode of Treme, HBO’s love letter to the Crescent City’s eclectic neighborhood, a couple years back. Originally scheduled for Buffalo Iron Works, this show will now be taking place at the comfier confines of Mohawk Place. Buffalo punk-funk all-stars, Mallwalkers, the Queen City Lotto product, Scajaquada Creeps, are set to open. If you want to see something out there, fun, and original, this is the show for you. Plus, the city barely got hit with snow, so no excuses[...]

Orations Releases Music Video for “Anhedonic Moan”

November 17, 2014

Brooding post-punkers, Orations, released the music video for the rather dark “Anhedonic Moan” this afternoon. The video plays like one of those B-Horror intruder flicks, where the masked strangers eerily gaze upon the band until something really bad happens. Orations released one of our favorite EPs in 2014, simply titled ep. Give it a listen over at the band’s bandcamp page, and in the mean time, watch the video for “Anhedonic Moan” below.

Just Announced: The Decemberists

November 17, 2014

Hyper literate folk outfit, the Decemberists, will make a return appearance to the Center for the Arts’ Mainstage Theatre at the UB North Campus on Wednesday, April 1st. The band is prepping the release of its latest album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, set to drop on January 20th. Check out the album’s strong first single, “Make You Better,” below. The show is a nice land for the CFA, a venue that had a nice run of indie-esque artists a few years back. Opening for the Decemerbists will be buzzing Toronto indie pop act, Alvvays. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 21st, at 10am for $33-$38.

Tonight: Attack of the Vinyl Mondays

November 17, 2014

Essex St. Pub has become my go to winter bar in town. During last year’s Polar Vortex, a small crew and I trekked down Richmond and found comfort in the establishment, donating as many quarters as we had to Essex’s legendary juke box. With the snow falling outside of my window as I type, tonight would be as good of a night as any to get comfy at the Rhode Island dive and hear some choice records as the bar’s Attack of the Vinyl Mondays is back tonight. The crew from Record Theatre will be behind the tables tonight, throwing a bizarro wrench into the normal programing. Except a variety of oddball selections this evening, covering everything from creepshow country to psyched out world music. The records start spinning around 10pm tonight. Entry is, as always, free.

Tonight: WSADA 14

November 16, 2014

It’s mid November, and right on schedule, the Bills’ season is pretty much over. Thankfully, this should clear up your Sundays to do something a bit more productive, something like attending the latest WSADA series installment at the WASH Project on Massachusetts. WSADA, now at #14, is a reoccurring bill showcasing challenging experimental artists that are very left of the dial from Buffalo and beyond. Tonight’s bill is features acoustic noise trio, Sult, in addition to local multimedia project, Flatsitter (check out the profile Cory Perla of The Public did last week), and abstract video artist Brian Murphy. The show kicks off at tonight at 8pm. $5 cover and its BYOB.

Tonight: Dr. Ooo

November 15, 2014

Buffalo garage based outfitter, Day After Day Supply, will be celebrating its one year anniversary later at Hardware, and Queen City MC elite, Dr. Ooo, will be on hand to help ring in the festivities. Formerly of Kinda Like Dreamin, the good doctor (AKA Drew Aintworriedboutnuthin Hartman) recently returned home from NYC, bringing his culturally aware references and clever rhythms back to Buffalo with him. Manning the tables tonight will Spooky Stephen, one of half of the busiest DJ party duo in Buffalo, Spooky Business. The party goes down tonight at 10pm. $5 is all it takes to get in.

Tonight: Mooses

November 15, 2014

Fredonia psych rockers, Mooses, are set to touch down at Mohawk Place later this evening. Born in 2012 and landing on our radar earlier this year, the soaring four piece has one EP to its name, Tales From the Elephant’s Nest, containing the exhilarating song of the year contender, “Bette Davis.” Mooses is the latest act to come out of the college town, which previously birthed acts like Well Worn Boot, Zealot, and Mr. Boneless Rounding out the bill are whacked out country-folk outfit, Pants and the Family, jammy funk trio Luanjie. Music kicks off at 10pm tonight. Cover is $5.

Molitor – “lonelypeople_Music”

November 14, 2014

Niagara Falls, CAN (the nice side for those not from the area) bred artist, Molitor, is prepping the release of his new EP, #lonelypeople_Music, set to drop on November 25th. Now based out of Toronto, the 20-year-old musician is making a big synth/disco rock in the vein Walk the Moon, Owl City, or newer Passion Pit. For local fans, think a more driving version of the birD day. Check out the EP’s stand out title track, “lonelypeople_Music,” below.

Just Announced: Cherub

November 13, 2014

Nashville electro pop duo, Cherub, have just announced a stop at the Waiting Room early next year. Currently on tour with Capital Cities, the pair will headline the freshest Delaware Ave venue on Wednesday, February 4th in support of its latest album, Year of the Caprese, which was just released this past spring. For those who are unfamiliar with Cherub’s sound, it’s perfect make out music if you don’t mind the occasional bits of laughter mixed in. That should at least make you curious right? Tickets go on sale tomorrow, December 14th, at 11am for $17 in advance, $20 day of.

Royal Tongues’ “The Balance” Remixed by Ra Ra Riot

November 11, 2014

Buffalo synth pop duo, Royal Tongues (Like A Parrot’s Aaron Bonus and Justin Gammella), is prepping the release of The Balance EP, a seven song release containing the title track and a whole lot of remixes of the single. The most notable reworking of “The Balance” comes from Sycracuse based chamber pop act, Ra Ra Riot. The central New Yorkers turned the original, which would have fit nicely along side Grouplove and Passion Pit, into a mid tempo, Discovery-esque number. The full EP is set for release on December 2nd. In the mean time, listen to Ra Ra Riot’s remix of “The Balance” below.

Genesee Live Releases Latest Session feat. Attic Abasement

November 11, 2014

Thank goodness for area live video session series on slow blog days like this. Our favorite series out of Rochester, Genesee Live, continues its blistering pace with the release of its latest installment, #18 overall, featuring Attic Abasement. The elusive basement rockers originally caught our attention with a split release with Nod this past spring. For its GL session, the band was filmed at Rochester’s WITR studio at the Rochester Institute of Technology Watch the full session with Attic Abasement below and as always, visit Genesee Live’s tumblr page to catch up on any missed installments.

Big Noble – “Peg”

November 10, 2014

The words “new music from Interpol” used to not send cringes down my spine. There was a time when this band was still good and that time is long up. Save for the throw-back opening track, El Pintor is another album that lacks the swagger Carlos D used to bring to the band. Still, my curiosity has remained strong whenever anything Interpol related is released,so naturally, the first track/video from Big Noble was at least click worthy. Big Noble is the side project from Interpol guitarist, Daniel Kessler, and upon first listen, its already better than most of Interpol’s last decade. Some of my favorite tracks from the band, “Untitled” and “Next Exit,” relied heavily on dreamy atmospherics, and that’s exactly what makes “Peg” so good. Its contemplative, minimal, and carries a lingering dense of dread that never really shows itself. The video pairs the song with gorgeous shots snowy[...]

Tonight: (New England) Patriots

November 8, 2014

Spiral Scratch’s basement may feature the tonight’s best bill with Boston’s (New England) Patriots performing. The four piece plays an eclectic form of punk,  with songs that range from raucous 3 minute put-up or shut-ups to avant garde experimental noise. Along for the ride with the Pats will be PA power pop group, Glamour Girls. Local support comes from basements regulars, punk super-group Hot Tip, West Side surf kings Aaron & the Burrs, and the unknown Worse. Doors are at 5pm. Bring $5 for the touring bands and a little extra to grab a record or two. P.S. While this bill is great, this did seem like a missed opportunity to pair the Pats with Utah Jazz and Alex Berkley & the Atlanta Falcons. P.S.S. This show is also a celebration of Spiral Scratch’s 5 year anniversary. In a time where record stores have become a dying breed, the shop[...]

Tonight: Pleistocene

November 7, 2014

Take a night off from Allen and hang out with area co-eds at Mr. Goodbar tonight as the college bar welcomes Rochester’s Pleistocene. Fronted by Katie Preston, a former member of Fredonia based act Giving Up The Otter and old school Steak & Cake alumni, the four piece specializes in fuzzy, female fronted indie-rock that should fit in well with fans of Bleached, Best Coast, or even Metric. Their early 2014 releases, Ontario Girls, is still one of our favorite albums out of the 585 area code this year. Check it out at their bandcamp page if you want to hear for yourself. Rounding out the local bill are West Side basement regulars Supergoner, Cross Stitch, and Hot Tip. All of this talent can be head tonight for the low price of $3. Music kicks off at 11pm.