Latest Posts

Tonight: The Misfits

March 27, 2014

It’s one of the most iconic logo’s in rock’n’roll. The Misfits‘ skull can be spotted miles away; often greeted with enthusiastic shouts and howls. Whether a punk rocker or casual music fan, everyone recognizes it, even if they aren’t exactly sure what it refers to. Much like KISS, albeit, a darker, faster and more menacing version, The Misfits have turned that logo and their brand into a brand-name. They are now known, because of it, which is strange because I remember them as the underground punk band that all my friends worshipped. This popularity has won them some fans and lost them some fans. One thing is undeniably true about our ghoulish friends. The Misfits are one of the most iconic punk rock groups of all-time and arguably one of the biggest cult bands (i.e. never saw any mainstream success) that has ever walked this planet. And “Astro Zombies” is one of my[...]

The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams

March 27, 2014

The Hold Steady, as their name suggests, have always been consistent. Each record contains the same classic rock bravado, the same gritty tales of skaters and punks, druggies and barflies, “kids at shows” and their “scene leaders.” Jesus is found and lost, beverages consumed and vomited, girls hooked up with then abandoned. And yet, through all the recycled imagery, frontman Craig Finn keeps his storytelling gripping and sympathetic, caring deeply for the life-hungry characters he creates as they binge-and-purge their way through the city’s slimy little sins. Teeth Dreams, a more straightforward affair than some of their records, is no deviation from the Hold Steady’s concentrated vision. Although Finn has stated that the album’s title was inspired by a David Foster Wallace passage, Jack Kerouac still serves as his main literary muse. Soaked in booze and blood, the songs lift themselves up from the barroom floor to reach toward the flickering[...]

Cut Copy at Town Ballroom (3/25)

March 26, 2014

From the moment they took the stage with a vocal excerpt of Rhythm Control’s classic track “My House” playing faintly, it became clear that Tuesday night’s Cut Copy show at the Town Ballroom would be yet another memorable and celebratory performance from the Melbourne synthpop band. Touring in support of their latest record, Free Your Mind, co-produced by Fredonia based studio maestro Dave Fridmann, the band showed an effortless ability to incorporate house and Madchester influences into their eclectic, pop oriented sound.  Opting to play the album’s spectacular title track early in the set, “Free Your Mind,” was projected behind the band in Facebook’s signature font before a blue background, making for an interesting juxtaposition and provoking statement on independent thought in the digital era. Given frontman Dan Whitford’s background in graphic design, the show had a strong and concise visual element that ranged from hypnotic black and white spirals during “Let Me[...]

buffaBLOG 4th Birthday Party Artist Spotlight: Alex Berkley & the Atlanta Falcons

March 26, 2014

This week we have been previewing the five great acts we have in store for our fourth birthday bash this Saturday at DBGB’s. Third on the lineup is Alex Berkley & the Atlanta Falcons. You may have seen Berkley’s solo workings before, singing songs about Dawson’s Creek or Star Trek on an acoustic guitar any given Monday night in the heart of Allen, but this Saturday’s performance will be different. Berkley is set to be backed by his newly reformed backing band, the Atlanta Falcons, consisting of Sonny Baker (Lazlo Hollyfeld, Wooden Waves, A Hotel Nourishing), Billy Fulton (Wooden Waves, Ay Karou) and Colin Griffin (Bear Exchange). Berkley’s songwriting style is quirky yet sincere, comparable to Jeff Mangum/Neutral Milk Hotel or the Mountains Goats. The band is set to perform numerous blasts from the past, including songs off Lists and Listlessness, Berkley’s 2008 debut full-length that was retroactively declared buffaBLOG’s top local album of 2008. Music kicks off[...]

Tonight: Prawn

March 26, 2014

This isn’t the first time Top Shelf Records has sent one of their top-tier emo revivalist bands through Buffalo – tonight’s offering is Prawn, whose clean guitars and angsty vocals sound like Joan of Arc if they calmed down a little and tried to put a little structure to their songs. Tonight’s show is at The Lair and starts at 6:00pm. The support for tonight is incredible, featuring Buffalonian support from Del Paxton, Figurehead, and Alleys. Rochester is sending over Barbarossa. $10.

Just Announced: Swans

March 26, 2014

After playing one of the most blistering shows that the Tralf has held in some time, the long time post-punk outfit Swans is set to return to the downtown venue on Saturday, July 5th. Led my Michael Gira, the band is set to release the follow up to 2012’s critically claimed album The Seer on May 13th, a double album titled To Be Kind. You can listen to To Be Kind‘s first leaked song, “A Little God in My Hands,” below. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, March 28th, at noon for $15 in advance/$18 day of.

Gumwads Release Debut Surf-Punk Single

March 26, 2014

Over the last couple years, a few surf-rock bands have been sprouting up in Buffalo, most notably Space Wolves and Aaron & the Burrs. Yesterday, Gumwads, a new local surf-punk trio, released their raucous debut single “Gimmie Every Inch.” This is dirty, messy music. Captain Geech & the Shrimp Shack Shooters it is not. The single, along with the change of pace B-side “I’m Sick of Musicians,” was recorded by Mr. Ski-Mask and can be downloaded over at Gumwads’ bandcamp page. Don’t be surprised to hear this blaring through the Pink’s speakers at last call one of these nights. In the mean time, listen to “Gimmie Every Inch” below.

Liars – Mess

March 26, 2014

The Brooklyn-based threesome Liars is hard to peg when it comes to classifying, or relaying their catalogue of music. After moving between New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Berlin, finally settling down in New York City, it is apparent their music morphs alongside them like a nomadic passenger. Liars’ seventh studio album, Mess, is glam-electronic at its finest, boasting erotic, dark synths, and deadpan vocals that make me wonder whether these guys are night walkers (see: Game Of Thrones). If the title of the album doesn’t already give off a strong hint of the chaotic, musical swirl that follows, the album art might, looking like something out of artist Jim Drain’s anthropomorphic, woven sculpture collection.  “Mask Maker” begins with lyrics sung through a vocal changer that say “smell my socks/ eat my face off/ take my face off/ I like your face” that remind me of what a crazed man or woman on bath[...]

Humble Braggers Release New EP

March 25, 2014

Since being featured on one of our Album of the Week features last year, Humble Braggers have been quietly working on their live set. They’ve also been hard at work on some new material. The Say EP was released today and features three new songs that show that the Braggers have been working hard at honing their reverb-soaked indie rock. I’d like to call these songs “sharper” than their last release, but that wouldn’t be the right word… In fact, they specialize in swirly songs whose instruments seem to decay for days. The EP puts a spotlight on prominent bass, ambient guitars, and foggy synths. There is a distinct 80s vibe to some of these songs (most notably, the cover of Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”), but on songs like “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” the Braggers nail it with catchy, contemporary guitar lines.  Have a listen below.

S. Carey – “Crown the Pines”

March 25, 2014

Lush, orchestral folk music from Bon Iver member S. Carey. “Crown of Pines” can be found on upcoming Range of Light album, due out on 4/1 via Jagjaguwar. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/138227376″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Admirable Traits Signs Brooklyn’s Half Day, Releases In Public LP

March 25, 2014

Admirable Traits Records, an upstart record label with roots in Buffalo and Brooklyn (and Iowa) has today announced its latest signing, Brooklyn’s Half Day. The rollicking In Public is a collection of ten call-to-arms cuts of indie punk with shout along, pissed off vocals that recall Titus Andronicus, Cloud Nothings, Swearin’, and even Cap’n Jazz. You can stream/purchase the entire In Public LP at Half Day’s bandcamp page. In the mean time, listen to the album’s lead single, “Madison,” below.

Tonight: Cut Copy w/Jessy Lanza

March 25, 2014

Over the last ten years, Cut Copy has been one of the most consistently solid electro-pop acts out there. On last year’s Free Your Mind, the band inflected their sound with an acid house vibe and the result was excellent. Tonight, they will be returning to Buffalo with the equally great Jessy Lanza. Those who have seen the band before know that their live shows are not to be missed. If you are unfamiliar with the opener, the Hamilton, Ontario based Jessy Lanza released the amazing Pull My Hair Back last year on Hyperdub. This strong debut was produced by the Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan. Lanza’s icey grooves and spacey vocals make her an excellent opener for Cut Copy and this is definitely a show you should get to early. Cut Copy w/Jessy Lanza Town Ballroom $26 Doors at 7pm

buffaBLOG 4th Birthday Party Artist Spotlight: Harmonica Lewinski

March 25, 2014

As much as we here at buffaBLOG love to write about bands from the Queen City; every once in a while we do take time out of our hectic schedules from dropping obscure references, and shotgunning PBR’s to talk about bands from Rochester. Today is one of those days, and Harmonica Lewinski is one of those bands. Chocked full of fuzz, distortion, ghostly guitar riffs, and echoed vocals, Lewinski’s latest release, Twerk Jerky, is a must have for any garage band enthusiast. They manage to channel Link Wray and the Sonics with true garage-punk elements. Afterall, how can you not love a band with members who go by handles like Captain Trash, Wild Hanes Stains Richards, Hooter McTooter, The Musical Linn Linn, Harold “Docks” (raw dawg n’ it) Jenkins, and Dirty Sanchez? Then again what would you expect from a band who met “in the basement of a gay club, in Rochester, NY[...]

Future Islands – Singles

March 25, 2014

If you’ve never heard of the synth-rock trio Future Islands, then take a moment to watch their unorthodox yet strangely entertaining performance on the Late Show with David Letterman a couple of weeks ago. That should give you a good idea of the group’s emotional attachment to each performance, particularly the passion lead singer Samuel T. Herring seems to have. Following the success of 2011’s On the Water, the trio went back to the drawing board and came up with the concept of making another album that was rhythmically cohesive while focusing on their fiery beats and catchy hooks. Luckily for them, all of those preconceived thoughts fully embody their fourth studio album, Singles.  Right away, the track listing foreshadows a theme of optimism throughout its collection with songs such as “Spirit,” “Sun in the Morning,” and “Doves” to name a few. The opening track to Singles, “Seasons (Waiting on You),” is a combination of everything Future Islands is sonically: breezy[...]

buffaBLOG 4th Birthday Party Artist Spotlight: Mr. Boneless

March 24, 2014

Well, how about Mr. Boneless kicking off buffaBLOG’s 4th birthday party? No time to sit down, order a light beer and settle down; nope, they are going to get things started with a bang. Their music, thankfully, has much more depth than the bio offered on the band’s Facebook page: Elliot met Nate who met Joe whom all met Brian in the summer of 2010. Sure, Brian sounds like a lucky son of a bitch, but surely there is more to their story than what they are telling us.  To find out more, check them out Saturday night at buffaBLOG’s party (and keep an eye out for a new Boneless album this summer). So far, they’ve filled a void left by Merchants’ semi-uncertain future, in that I listen to them and want to become more of a man. When Elliot sings, he uses every bit of throat that he’s got; picture, if you[...]