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Tonight: Zak Ward

June 17, 2015

One of Buffalo’s newer summer music traditions, Larkinville’s Live at Larkin series, kicks off this evening down at the revitalized business neighborhood. Niagara Falls singer/songwriter and former Son of the Sun front man, Zak Ward, will be opening the night for long time Buffalo folk outfit, John & Mary & the Valkyries. John Lombardo, the “John” of John & Mary, is a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs, by the way, while “Mary,” that is Mary Ramsey, replaced Maniacs’ singer Natalie Merchant two decades ago. The more you know… Ward will be joined by fellow SOTS band mate and current Soft Love member, Jeremy Franklin, plus a backing band, and (hopefully) will be tackling tunes from his most recent release, the stellar, 2014 EP, That’s What You Get. Make sure to head right down to the Square as soon as you punch out this afternoon. Ward and Franklin kick the evening off[...]

Just Announced: Sleater-Kinney

June 16, 2015

As we marvel at the ridiculous amount of fantastic acts visiting the Buffalo area this summer and early fall, winter has just called its shot with the first must see show of the season as Sleater-Kinney will help end Babeville’s year on a high note with a performance at Asbury Hall on Thursday, December 10th. After parting ways nearly 10 years ago, the Olympia, WA trio returned earlier this year with well received No Cities To Love and will take the album on a short December tour that will hit a handful of East-Coast and Mid-West cities. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 19th, at 10am for $28 each.

Just Announced: Bully

June 15, 2015

After receiving some serious buzz throughout the blogosphere for its debut LP, Feels Like, the Nashville quartet of Bully is set to ride said buzz into Mohawk Place this fall on Saturday, September 26th. Referred to as a female fronted Cloud Nothings by some, the band’s debut record is a collection of anthemic punk-pop filled with angst and aggression, so the comparison seems apt. While Feels Like does not drop until June 23rd, its currently streaming in full over on NPR’s First Listen. While ticket prices have yet to be announced, you can grab one for the fall engagement starting this Friday.

Michael Tripi of Buffalo Beer Mug Co.

June 15, 2015

Last week, we had the chance to grab a pint with Buffalo Beer Mug Co. founder Michael Tripi at one of his old watering holes, Mohawk Place, to talk music and beer. Tripi’s company creates custom branded barware for local businesses and breweries. In addition to working with local craft brewers, Tripi also sells his own line of fictitious beer branded bar ware inspired by local icons, people, and places. This month, his company launched some new products including a pint glass titled “East Mohawk Punk Bock.” And with our Herd Fest Opening Ceremonies just a couple days away at, you guessed it, Mohawk Place, we figured this was as good as a time as any to talk to him. buffaBLOG: So tell me about East Mohawk Punk Bock? Michael Tripi: I’ve always been one for nostalgia, and Punk Bock is a tribute of sorts to my college years when[...]

Howlo Announces Debut LP, Shares “Bleary”

June 15, 2015

We awoke this morning to the pleasant news that one of our favorite Rochester foursomes, Howlo, is prepping the release of its debut, self-titled LP for late July. Comprised of busy songwriter/producer Ben Morey, Justin Pulver (Europa and the Great Red Spot), Jane Bryant, and Christine Benincasa, the group shared a couple album teases over on its bandcamp page to keep us busy until next month. The first, the newly recorded “Blanka,” was on the band’s short and sweet Attic Tapes EP last spring. Howlo‘s second tease, though, comes in the form of the fantastically dreamy “Bleary,” the first new recording we have heard from the band in over a year. Led by the sweet and tender boy/girl vocals of Morey and Bryant, the song is a melancholy cut of 90’s jangle pop, recalling the likes of Polaris, Flake Music, and early Cloud Nothings. Simply put, “Bleary” is one of my[...]

Tonight: Pattern is Movement

June 14, 2015

Philadelphia indie duo, Pattern is Movement, is going on one last run before throwing in the towel this summer. After nearly fifteen years and five studio albums, the band will come to an end this coming Saturday in the pair’s Phily hometown, but not before making a stop in Buffalo this evening at Mohawk Place. The genre shifting duo, which over the years has incorporated elements of math rock, r&b, hip hop, neo-soul, and gospel into its cerebral catalog over the years, dropped its ultimately final album, Pattern is Movement, last year. The self titled swan song should appeal to fans of Dirty Projectors, Gayngs, Volcano Choir, and TV on the Radio. Opening for Pattern is Movement is Buffalo’s experimental drum duo, CCDS (Death Squad). Music kicks off this evening at 8pm with a cover of $10.

Tonight: Northern Spies

June 11, 2015

Lately it seems like some of Rochester’s best and up-and-coming acts have been making frequent stops to Buffalo and the trend continues tonight as ROCH foursome, Northern Spies, will take the stage at Sugar City. The power pop group, which features members of KOPPS and Quarries, recalls acts like Elvis Costello, the Byrds, REM, and Stephen Malkmus. While the band only has a short EP to its name, the late 2014 released Nothing But Static, its spring released Genesee Live session should give a nice indication of what to expect later on from NS. Music begins this 8pm with a cover of $5. Indie rock trio turned quartet, Wolf, and Steak & Cake’s politically minded act, RED HEAT, will round out the bill. And please remember to leave the booze and drugs at home as Sugar City is a substance free space.

Just Announced: Ratatat

June 10, 2015

The Rapids Theater up in Niagara Falls apparently decided to get on this ridiculous late summer fun and book Ratatat to perform on Thursday, September 3rd, as the NYC experimental, electro-rock duo will be on tour to support its latest record, Magnifique (7/17). The new material should be properly road tested after the pair runs through a shorter festival itinerary during the back half of summer as it moves on to a run of theater shows. Tickets for the September gig on sale this Friday, June 12th, at noon for $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

1809 Studios Premieres Latest Session feat. Hannah Weidner and the Doorway Talkers

June 9, 2015

We haven’t checked in with 1809 Sessions, the live video series from the Macedon, NY studio, for a few weeks, so it was very convenient timing (more on that below) to see that the studio’s latest session features Hannah Weidner and the Doorway Talkers. You may remember the Rochester singer/songwriter from back half of 2014 as we featured her  debut LP, Comfortable Existence, as our Album of the Week. Weidner later formed a backing band, featuring members of Secret Pizza and Passive Aggressives Anonymous, and filmed a session with Jon Lewis and Dave Drago at the studio, which just hit the interwebs this week. If you like what you see, then mark down July 25th on your calendar as Hannah Weidner and the Doorway Talkers, along with a cast of fellow Rochester acts, will invade Nietzsche’s as part of this year’s Infringement Festival. Full details on the event can be found here.[...]

Sleepys Hahas Release First Single from From the Bottom of a Warm Lake

June 9, 2015

Speaking of lineup changes, Sleepy Hahas has gone through a bunch in the group’s four year existence, most recently losing long time drummer Steve Tripi and is currently operating with its third bass player. We think? Anyways, the frequent changes have not stopped the band from refocusing its sound once again and dropping its latest song, “Deep River,” the first single from the group’s forthcoming, 11-track LP, From the Bottom of a Warm Lake, earlier this morning. Recorded with sound engineer Drew Vandenberg, whose impressive resume includes work with Deerhunter and Toro y Moi, “Deep River” is an industrial tinged cut of psych rock, maybe something Nine Inch Nails and of Montreal would record together it they collaborated. The track is long way from the group’s early sounds of Arctic Monkeys-esque garage rock, and is a further example of never knowing what to expect from Sleepy Hahas, not to mention[...]

Comfy – “Poetic”

June 9, 2015

Utica and Rochester BFFs, Comfy and Skirts, respectively, are set to drop a split EP later this summer on August 7th through Miscreant Records and Rochester tape label, Dadstache. While the first listen from Skirts’ half of the EP won’t come until next week (stay tuned…), the Comfy boys (who you may have caught at our firth birthday party last March) dropped a tease this morning through Impose in the form of the less-than-a-minute track, “Poetic.” With Cap’n Jazz like vocals and a touch of Tim Kinsella-esque depression, “Poetic” is a perfect little morsel of the Comfy world, one that appears to be changing a bit as the group goes through some line-up changes (drummer Zeno Pittarelli is exiting the group this summer). You can now pre-order the record over at Miscreant’s bandcamp page for the very fair price of $5. In the mean time, listen to “Poetic” below.

Zak Ward Releases Music Video for “Who You Really Are”

June 8, 2015

Late last week, Niagara Falls born singer/songwriter and former Son of the Sun front man, Zak Ward, released the music video for his excellent song (and our #8 song out of Buffalo in 2014), “Who You Really Are,” the lead single to his latest EP, That’s What You Get. The clip, which gives a clever nod to That Thing You Do, finds Ward backed by a new band, the Glad Hands, as the songwriter delivers a performance of the M Ward-esque number. Maybe the Shrimp Shack Shooters weren’t available? Watch the video for “Who You Really Are” below.

The War on Drugs

June 8, 2015

After releasing one of 2014’s finest records in Lost in the Dream, Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs has extended its victory lap into the summer with a return engagement to the WNY area, this time at Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall. The hazy heartland rockers showed up on nearly every best of lists last year, hit the late night circuit hard, and with festival season upon us, tonight’s gig at Water Street should be a nice test run before the group hits Bonaroo later this week. Tickets are still available to purchase for $26 online and most likely at the door, which is set to open at 7pm, as well. New Jersey rockers, The Everyman, are set to open.

Just Announced: Talib Kweli

June 8, 2015

Seasoned Brooklyn MC, Talib Kweli, will be in town this summer as part of his Midsummer Nights Dream Tour, which is set to include a stop at Waiting Room on Wednesday, July 15th. Going strong for 20 years, the Black Star member is one of the genre’s most socially conscious and thought provoking lyricists, so make sure to set the night aside to catch one of hip hop’s finest artists. Tickets on sale this Friday, June 12th, at 10am for $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Tonight: The Demos

June 4, 2015

If a crowded Canalside isn’t your scene tonight, then stick to Allen St for a weekend pre-game bill made up of a trio of WNY rock acts. With a Genesee Live session on the way, in addition to a new EP set to drop sometime this summer, now is as good of a time as any to catch Rochester power pop act, The Demos, as the band is set to visit Nietzsche’s later on this evening. The band has been making a habit of visiting Buffalo lately, but with some new material under its belt ready to be road tested, you might as well start digging through your couch for $3 in change now to cover tonight’s door. Joining The Demos this evening will be The Soft Love and The Naturalists, two acts that will be a part of Quiet Country Audio’s Herd Fest showcase in a couple weeks at[...]