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Mikaela Davis Performs on Consequence of Sound’s Treehouse Sessions

October 23, 2015

Rising Rochester singer-songwriter/harpist Mikaela Davis was recently featured in an episode of Treehouse Sessions, a live studio session performed in Chicago’s Treehouse Studios. The clip is the latest installment in an on going series featured on Rock It Out! Blog via Consequence of Sound. Over the past few weeks, Treehouse Sessions have featured performances from acts like San Fermin, Violent Femmes, JEFF the Brotherhood, and Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes. For her episode, Davis and her band tackled two new songs, “Other Lover” and “My Light is Always On.” Watch Davis perform “Other Lover” below, and to catch her full session, click here.

Tonight: Friendship

October 21, 2015

If punk by way of Brooklyn or Japan isn’t your thing tonight, head down to Dreamland on this unusually busy Wednesday night for a set from Philadelphia’s Friendship. Friendship has a Weakerthans meets Bonnie Prince Billy with a touch of Magnetic Fields vibe and could easily be an alt-country counterpart to Buffalo slackers Difficult Night. The group’s new album You’re Going to Have to Trust Me was released this past weekend on New Hampshire label Burst & Bloom Records. You can give it a spine here. Joining Friendship will be fellow Philly, well, friend Abi Remold. The folk artist has a Sharon Van Etten thing going on and should be a fine compliment to Friendship’s laid back tawng. Buffalo’s own chamber pop six piece Parade Chic will open the show. Music begins this evening at 8pm with a $5 suggested donation to cover the touring acts.

Just Announced: Dr. Dog

October 20, 2015

After a handful of memorable area appearances over the years, including a eulogizing set for Mohawk Place a couple years back, the Philadelphia based, Queen City loved psych-folk rockers, Dr. Dog, will be once again gracing the stage of Town Ballroom, this time on Wednesday, March 9th. While the band does not have a new record under its belt (at least yet) to tour on, the group did release its first live album, Live at a Flamingo Hotel, earlier this year, so if you have yet to catch Dr. Dog’s raucous, and sometimes shriek inducing, live show, that would be a good place to start. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 23rd, at noon for $25.

Hawker M. James Shares Latest Track, “Here’s A Love Song”

October 16, 2015

Hawker M. James, the solo moniker of Demos’ drummer Mike James, is prepping to drop his new, self-titled cassette, set to be a part of this weekend’s Cassette Store Day batch of special edition releases. And to whet the whistle of Hawker fans, the long time Rochester musician shared the first single from the cassette, “Here’s A Long Song.” Whereas James’ previous track “Pleasure Part” teetered more into a moody and atmospheric Roxy Music territory, the catchy “Here’s A Long Song” is led off by some glammy riffs and toe tapping percussion. Fans of Guided by Voices and The Soundtrack of Our Lives should dig the new single. Copies of the limited edition tape, which will be self released on James’ Bête Noire label, can be purchased at Rochester area record shops Record Archive, Lakeshore Record Exchange, and The Bop Shop starting tomorrow, while the digital version of Hawker M. James will hit the webs sometime this[...]

Tonight: Aircraft

October 16, 2015

Buffalo’s heady psych pop outfit Aircraft will return to Mohawk Place’s stage tonight as the group continues to tour in support of its latest record, the Admirable Traits released 7 Gems From the Sparkling Void. With a healthy dose of surf and space rock, the album continues to raise the ceiling of one of the city’s most cherished and promising acts. Those who have yet to catch the band live will be #blessed tonight with some fantastic harmonies and exhilarating musicianship. Joining Aircraft tonight will be rising Rust Belt post-rockers Tomoreaux and sardonic slackers Difficult Night, both of which are set to release a new album over the next couple months. Rounding out the bill will be the debut local performance from Albany’s dark shoegazers, Slowshine. Doors open at Mohawk Place this evening at 8pm with a cover of $5.

Jawbone Releases Follow Up Record, 2

October 13, 2015

Jawbone, a dream team act of sorts featuring some of Steak and Cake’s regular players – Elias Van Son (Beekeeper), Ben Randall (the Etchings), Brandon Schlia (Red Heat, Rackmastas), and former Batavia native turned LA transplant Adam Steinbrenner – have re-teamed to release their follow up record to last year’s contribution to the label’s 2014 improv trilogy.  Recorded over a three hour writing/recording session at the S&C homebase of Curly’s, 2 is an impressive and very well flowing album, one that is especially remarkable given the record’s short turn around time. The lyrics were scavenged from old, unused poems written by Van Son, while the layered harmonies are provided by the Beekeeper front man, Schlia, Steinbrenner, and fellow S&C mainstay, Jaz Frazier. Creepy Clues-y keyboards, rugged early Saddle Creek instrumentation, and Paul Banks meets Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYOU) vocals, make 2 an album that you need to download immediately and cherish on your mobile devices. Check[...]

Passive Aggressives Anonymous Release “Ninja” Music Video

October 13, 2015

Rochester tongue-in-cheek crooners Passive Aggressives Anonymous have premiered the music video to the previously unreleased song, “Ninja.” A heartbreaking tail of a ninja who can’t take a hint, the PAA front man John Valenti and crew deliver the slightly creeper-esque number in the most charming way possible. The clip was shot by Alex Freeman of Studio 73 Productions and directed by Valenti himself, and features cameos by the just-asking-for-it members of Buffalo Sex Change as Valenti’s ninja wisely keeps his stealth skills at bay inside Rochester’s Small World Books. No word on whether the track will show up on a future PAA record, so in the mean time, watch “Ninja” below. Ninja from John Valenti on Vimeo.

Just Announced: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

October 6, 2015

Legendary soul/funk innovator George Clinton will land the Parliament Funkadelic Mothership onto the Town Ballroom stage for a ridiculous, one-night-only event on Sunday, November 22nd. I don’t need to give a history lesson on Clinton, the definitive artist of the funk movement, and his P Funk All Stars, as if you are reading this post, you should know the deal by now. What you do need to know is that tickets go on sale this Friday, October 9th, at noon for $30 in advance/$35 day of. I wouldn’t expect that day of price to really be needed…

Just Announced: Joanna Newsom

October 6, 2015

As she preps the release of the much awaited follow up to her critically praised album Have One on Me, beguiling folk singer Joanna Newsom has announced a fall tour that will include a stop at Babeville’s Asbury Hall on Sunday, December 13th. The harp player is set to drop her latest album Divers on October 23rd, so expect some road testing of the record when the storyteller takes the stage. And with Sleater-Kinney and Waxahatchee also set to play Babeville this December, the Delaware venue appears set to end 2015 on a major high note. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 9th at 10am for $30 in advance, $35 day of. Alela Diane and Newsome collaborator Ryan Francesconi will provide support.

The Slums Share First Installment of #Slumdays

October 5, 2015

It’s rare that a band stays active during a long hiatus from playing live shows, but the tail end of 2015 appears to be a busy one for the Slums. While gearing up for its Quiet Country Audio session at the end of October, the Buffalo post-hardcore four piece premiered a new month long video series yesterday called #Slumdays just as most of Buffalo shook its head at the Bills. Every Sunday this month, the quartet will drop a new clip, all shot by band photographer/videographer Corey Harris, and for the first installment, the Slums shared the video for “Son,” a previously unreleased cut filmed at a recent live performance. The band has also hinted that a new album will be released before the calendar turns, and along with the upcoming QCA session, the Slums appear ready to end the year on a strong note. Keep an on the band’s facebook[...]

Deadwolf Shares First Single “Now & Then”

September 29, 2015

The revamped psych rock outfit Deadwolf, now featuring singer/songwriter Andy Pothier on drums, made its live debut this past Friday supporting Sleepy Hahas’ tour kick off show at Nietzsche’s. And because timing is everything, the five piece shared its first single, “Now & Then,” online prior to shaking the stage. The track features bluesy riffs and just enough retro swagger for fans of acts like the Black Angels and the Bright Light Social Hour. The single’s groovy artwork comes courtesy of Peter Cahlstadt’s Moody Designs. If you like what you hear, you can catch Deadwolf next live at Mohawk Place on November 25th with Second Trip and Malarchuk. In the mean time, listen to “Now & Then” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/225396742″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Newish Star

September 24, 2015

After a summer long slew of free shows that featured the likes of Governess, Dreambeaches, Sonny Baker, Kharlos, and more, Queen City Cartel’s bi-monthly showcase in the back room of Hardware is coming to an end (just for the season, though, so don’t be sad). For the final bill of the summer series, QCC welcomes the sharp pop/punk West Side trio, Newish Star. Since debuting in the spring of 2013, the three piece has already amassed a deep catalog, one that included two new releases this year alone, of clever, over-before-you-know-it nuggets. If you missed Newish Star’s nearly washed out set at the once again soaked Music Is Art festival a couple weeks back, tonight’s gig should be considerably more dry. Opening for NS will be the raucous, lo-fi punk pair Space is Haunted. Like all QCC showcases this summer, tonight’s finale is free of charge. Music begins at 10pm.[...]

Buffalo Sex Change Shares Video for “Gender Unknown”

September 22, 2015

Over a year after dropping their self titled, debut LP via Dadstache Records, Rochester post-punk garage duo Buffalo Sex Change has shared the music video for one of the record’s stand out tracks, “Gender Unknown.” The lo-fi, VHS-esque clip, which was directed by Brooklyn visual artist Kristen Felicetti, finds members Phil Pierce and Clayton Eddy performing the rockabilly flavored tune under colorful video glitches while spliced with retro work out tutorials. Check it out at the bottom of the post. In further BSXC news, the pair contributed a new track, titled “Glori Ann,” to the recently released KNDY benefit compilation. All proceeds from the album sales go towards the recovery of Glori Alexander, the sister of vocalist/guitarist Pierce, following her successful kidney transplant. Listen to the song and get further info here. Catch up our review of the band’s Album of the Week honored debut here and watch the video for “Gender Unknown” below. Photo by[...]

Just Announced: Screaming Females

September 18, 2015

New Jersey punk trio Screaming Females will make its latest Buffalo appearance  later this fall with a date set for Mohawk Place on Tuesday, November 3rd. Featuring powerhouse vocalist/guitarist Marissa Paternoster, the group released its latest record Rose Mountain earlier this year on the buzzing Garden State label Don Giovanni Records. Joining Screaming Females will be Massachusetts punk/pop three piece Potty Mouth as well as local basement super group Hot Tip. Tickets are currently available for $12 in advance, $14 at the door.

Night Slaves Share Video for “No Blinding Light”

September 17, 2015

After a quick introduction at the beginning of the summer, industrial duo Night Slaves (David Kane and John Toohill) have been making up for lost time. First, the pair dropped its second demo a couple weeks ago for the track  “Into The Nowhere,” and now have a brand new video courtesy of FLATSITTER. The audio/visual head trip for the duo’s latest shared track “No Blinding Light” is best viewed with those old 3-D glasses you have lying around, and should be a nice holdover while the band puts the finishing touches on its debut cassette. FLATSITTER, by the way, has been quietly building a nice collection of local music videos for the likes of Jax Deluca, Nick Gordon and Frankie NP, as well as the trailer for Torn Space Theater’s much buzzed about production of They Kill Things. Catch up on the pair’s growing digital catalog here. Check out the[...]