Latest Posts

Moverealfaststop at Allen Street Hardware

June 23, 2014

This past Friday night, local DIY collective, Sugar City, took over the front and back rooms of Hardware as a part of our Herd Fest weekend. Kicking things off in the back room was Moverealfaststop, a new(er) group that features members of Cross Stitch and Lesionread. A product of the Queen City Music Lottery, the frantic three-piece helped lay an energetic groundwork for what turned out to be one of the best showcases over the long weekend. You can watch a clip from the band’s set, complete with some special guest spoken word and a gnome, below.

Harvest Sum Releases 10th Anniversary Compliation

June 23, 2014

This past Saturday at Nietzsche’s, long time local label, Harvest Sum, celebrated ten years of music in Buffalo. In conjunction with the anniversary party, which was put on as part of our weekend long Herd Fest, the label released a compilation of previously unreleased, new, and rare tracks from Harvest Sum’s past and present. Featuring cuts from Wooden Waves, Roger Bryan & the Orphans, Fourem, Applennium (who, BTW, may have had the best performance of Saturday night), and more, the 8-track comp is a great way to familiarize yourself with one of Buffalo’s best music treasures, which hopefully will still be running strong in another ten years. You can download the entire compilation over at Harvest Sum’s facebook page. While it’s downloading, check out the stunner of a closing track, “I Hope You’re Well, Brother” from Fourem, below.

Tonight: Herd Fest Day 2

June 21, 2014

Day 1 of our inaugural Herd Fest is in the books, and if you happened to miss last night, or just wanted more, then you are in luck. Day 2 is bigger, and depending on your tastes, maybe even better. If you missed any of our spotlights on today/tonight’s showcases, lets once again get you up to speed: Black Dots Spiral Scratch Records Harvest Sum @ Nietzsche’s buffaBLOG @ Duke’s Only Comrades @ Allen Street Hardware Music kicks off earlier today at our first of two bonus record shop showcases. Black Dots will begin at 4pm, while Spiral Scratch gets things going at 6pm, then head back to Allen for another long night of music. All showcases today are $5. If you already bought a pre-sale bracelet, then you are all good.

Sea Planes Release Latest Single, “Right Now”

June 20, 2014

After a year plus wait between Sea Planes’ debut single and its superior follow up, the Rochester synth-pop duo has dropped its third track in the anthemic “Right Now.” Similar to last month’s “Young At Heart,” the new track finds the pair sticking with the big 80s sounds of drum machines, arena ready guitar solos, and shouting choruses. Fans of the Killers and M83 should like what they hear, especially as those “oh oh ohs” take us through the bridge. Check out “Right Now” below and visit Sea Planes’ bandcamp page to listen to past singles.

Tonight: Herd Fest Day 1

June 20, 2014

I am not sure what more there is to say about Herd Fest tonight so I will give you the basics: 2 Days, 9 showcases, 43 acts, 1 city. We decided to go big this year for our summer party by bringing in the heavy hitters of the Buffalo music scene and work together to make something different, something special. If you missed any of our spotlights on tonight’s showcases, lets get you up to speed: Steak & Cake Records @ College Street Gallery The Good Neighborhood @ Nietzsche’s Quiet Country Audio @ Duke’s Sugar City @ Allen Street Hardware Steak & Cake kicks things off at 7pm tonight. Spolier: College Street is on the smaller side so get there early to get a spot. Music will be running all night long. Bounce around, find a new favorite band, and have fun. Thank you in advance for supporting this project.[...]

The Get Money Squad Drops Debut Single, “Back Again”

June 20, 2014

Last night, Quinton Brock of Network and producer Jon Bap debuted an interesting new project called The Get Money Squad. The pair is prepping the release of a debut EP and have shared their first single, titled “Back Again.” Those familiar with Network’s Death Grips inspired live shows will be pleasantly surprised to hear laid back, chiming guitars, and the smooth vocals of Brock, drawing comparisons to the latest albums from both Mac DeMarco and Ducktails. Check out “Back Again” below and keep an eye on the band’s soundcloud page for future tracks.

Mikaela Davis Arranges “Chicago” For Crane Harp Ensemble

June 19, 2014

A couple years ago, we caught wind of Rochester songtress, Mikaela Davis, and her rendition of Sufjan Steven’s “Casimir Pulaski Day.” The cover was a hit of sorts on Youtube and firmly entrenched the talented harp player on the blog’s radar. The buzz around Davis has been building over the years through cross-country touring and a SXSW appearance, all while becoming one of WNY’s best and most promising artists. In recent Davis news, she tackled another Stevens’ track, his breakthrough “Chicago,” this time rearranging the tune for the Crane Harp Ensemble out of SUNY Potsdam (Davis’ alma mater). The song is already getting some good burn on Soundcloud and you can listen for yourself below. Those wanting to catch Davis live in Buffalo should head down to Buffalo Iron Works on July 25th to see the real deal in person.

Harvest Sum

June 19, 2014

Back in 2006, I really didn’t know much at all about Buffalo’s local music scene. I just graduated from college and returned home to figure out my next move. While working part time at UB, my boss turned me on to this band he liked from this local label. He told me a guy he went to high school with played guitar in it and I should check it out. Said it had some poppy Wilco vibes going on. He burned me a copy of the Old Sweethearts’ Arms of the Town and I was hooked. I didn’t know there was local music that could affect me like those bigger bands that stopped in our city once in a blue moon, if we are lucky. I wanted to find more acts like this. I started visiting Mohawk Place on a semi-regular basis. Being from Amherst, I never went into the[...]

Five Questions with BAMBARA

June 18, 2014

Editor’s Note: Local musician John Toohill (JOHNS and Alpha Hopper) will occasionally sit down with touring bands and ask them five questions. For his first installment, he spoke with Blaze Bateh of Brooklyn’s BAMBARA, set to play Buffalo tomorrow at Broadway Joe’s. John Toohill: Hey, I’m getting this local blog to do a post about the show. They asked me to ask you five questions, like a mini interview. Then they will post it as promo. You into that? Blaze Bateh: Oh cool. Yeah we are definitely down. How was your trip out west? JT: Hey, I’m asking the questions around here mister. BB: Whoops. I’m such a dingus JT: Question 1 – So I just got back from Salt Lake City last week. There is a restaurant on South Main Street there called BAMBARA. Why did you name your band after that place? Are you guys all Mormon? BB:[...]

Couples Counseling & PARI∀H

June 17, 2014

We here at buffaBLOG have teamed up with local videographer Lesionread to present a new video series titled Wonk Sesh. The series is set to capture live performances from some off-beat, possibly off-the-radar acts that come through our city in hopes of placing them onto your radar. The debut videos in the Wonk Sesh series were both filmed at the Northrup House on Sunday, June 8th and features Boston electro-pop artist Couples Counseling, along with tour mates PARI∀H. Keep an eye out for future “seshes” on the blog, or follow Lesionread’s Youtube page. Check out the Wonk Sesh videos from Couples Counseling and PARI∀H below.

Just Announced: Pinback

June 16, 2014

Earlier today, long time San Diego indie act, Pinback, announced a tour to commemorate 10th anniversary of the release of their Summer in Abandon album, and luckily for us, the tour is set to include a stop at Buffalo Iron Works on Tuesday, September 16th. Led by Rob Crow, Pinback’s bass-heavy groove has been soothing their listeners for over 15 years. Their arrival in Buffalo should put a nice cap on an already packed WNY summer season. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 20th, at noon for $16. Tera Melos will be providing support.

Fotisporn Releases “D Frenzy” Single

June 16, 2014

Speaking of Buffalo vaporwave acts, another interesting track popped up over the weekend from the underground genre in the form of “D Frenzy” from electronic artist Fotisporn. The dark, disco single samples Billy Ocean’s “Carribeen Queen” while backed by smooth horns and has some serious Darkside vibes. Keep an eye out from future releases from this mysterious project. In the mean time, listen to “D Frenzy” below.

Silo Sessions Debuts Nat Baldwin Performance

June 16, 2014

After this weekend’s successful launch party over at Silo City, Silo Sessions, a weekly live video blog, launched its first installment featuring Nat Baldwin of the Dirty Projectors. The blog fittingly kicks of its series with the artist whose performance was one of the inspirations of the project. The stand up bass extraordinaire, who has made it a habit of performing in Buffalo over the years, delivers a stunning and haunting performance in the site’s inaugural session. Silo Sessions will be releasing a new session, all filmed within Silo City’s grain elevators, every week over the coming year, featuring performances from both local and touring acts, many of whom played Saturday night’s event. Follow Silo Sessions website for future installments. Watch the full session with Nat Baldwin below.

Arvid Releases Old Factory Living

June 13, 2014

Early last month, one man garage act, Arvid, released his lo-fi, debut album Old Factory Living. Recorded on a 4-track cassette player in the Rochester musician’s attic, the 90s alt-rock inspired album is ideal for fans of like era staples Stone Temple Pilots and the Presidents of the United States of America, as well fresher San Fran garage rock acts like Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin. Track 7, “Stage Fright,” sounds like a Mac Demarco/Ducktails collaboration that you wish would actually happen, while the Spaghetti Western-flavored “Wasted” could have been placed on a Tarantino soundtrack without missing a beat. You can download Old Factory Living in its entirety at Arvid’s bandcamp page. In the mean time, listen to the stand out, opening track “Phantoms of the Night” below. Old Factory Living by Arvid

Just Announced: Deafheaven

June 11, 2014

Buzzing black-metal/shoegze act, Deafheaven, will put a cap on the Tralf’s summer season as they roll through town on Thursday, September 18th. After releasing one of 2013’s best reviewed albums in Sunbather, the San Fran based act will make its Buffalo return after playing Soundlab a couple years back, joining fellow heavies like Boris and Swans in the downtown venue’s diverse summer schedule. Supporting Deafheaven on the bill will be No Joy and Indian Handcrafts. Tickets go on sale this Friday for $14 in advance/$16 day of