Gatto Black is new voice in melodic hardcore from Buffalo, NY with songs nspired by singer / songwriter Sal Mastrocola’s childhood as a bisexual Irish Italian Catholic kid growing up in the Bronx, New York. The project features some other heavy hitters in the Buffalo emo/hardcore scene, including Michael Hansen (Pentimento, Hotel Etiquette). Fans of Comeback Kid, AFI, or Bayside would be a fan of this one.
Deluxxe is a new post punk/new wave band from Buffalo NY, sharing members of Oi and hardcore bands such as Violent Way, Bad Blood and Exhibition. Their punk background can be heard in the music, but it’s the love for darkwave and goth that led to creation of their debut record. Written in the cold winters of Buffalo, you can almost feel the harshness of the weather affecting the sounds that propagate from these grooves. Icy and frostbitten but somehow still relevantly civic and urban. You can tell some skinheads are involved here because the outcome is so tidy and neat, without losing one inch of atmosphere or enchantment. – Avant! Records
Friday, June 13th Perfume Genius @ Electric City Art-pop crooner Perfume Genius makes a stop Friday night for an undoubtedly gripping performance in the Theatre District. Perfume Genius is the performing name for Iowa native Mike Hadreas and his rotating cast of musicians who have been performing under the project name since 2008. The band has connected with their fans largely in part to Hadreas’ vulnerable lyrics and commanding story telling. The band touring in support of their critically acclaimed album, Glory, which came out in the tail end of March. If you are a fan of Sufjan Stevens, Andy Shauf, or Arcade Fire, this is up your alley. It’s $45.28. Glory by Perfume Genius Saturday, june 14th @ 5pm The Beaches @ Albright Knox Gallery The AKG ups the ante after last spring’s Khruangbin performance as part of their Rockin’ the AKG series. This year,[...]
Wednesday, June 4th @ 7pm Sunny Day Real Estate @ Electric City Second wave emo forefathers Sunny Day Real Estate hit the big stage at Electric City for a night of nostalgic feels mid-week. Formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992, the band has been credited for the recipe and rise of the Midwest emo sound. Sunny Day has been inspired many of the movers and shakers in the third wave of emo and early to mid 2000s pop punk fields, serving as a major influence and inspiration on their songwriting styles. If you’re a fan of The Get Up Kids, The Promise Ring, or Appleseed Cast then you already know about Sunny Day Real Estate and you already have your ticket most likely. It’s $49.32. Diary (Remastered and Expanded Edition) by Sunny Day Real Estate Saturday, June 7th @ 7pm Lazlo Hollyfeld Plays In Rainbows @ Town Ballroom[...]
Thursday, May 29th @ 7pm Keep Flying @ Rec Room Since 2015, high energy pop punk/ska hybrid act Keep Flying has been consistently pumping out Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater adjacent singalong anthems that have been hooking listeners throughout their tenure. The outfit may already be in your periphery as they have been regularly touring Western NY between Buffalo and Fredonia for close to a decade. If you are fan of Less Than Jake, Four Year Strong, or Millington, this one is for you. This gig has a great undercard as well, featuring Buffalo post-hardcore act Gatto Black (who also released one of our favorite albums in 2024). Joining the lineup is local indiemos We Were Blank and alt-rockers Star Theory. $20.55 landed. To save the bartender from repeating the same phrase over and over again, yes, Rec Room has mozzarella sticks. Daylight by Keep Flying Saturday,[...]
Wednesday, May 21st @ 7pm Low Cut Connie @ Town Ballroom Philly-based vintage rock and rollers Low Cut Connie play mid-week in the Theatre District. Since forming in 2010, the project has evolved from the early days of playing karaoke bars and honky tonks to getting the presidential rub by landing a slot on President Obama’s coveted Spotify playlist. Fans of J. Roddy Walston and the Business, King Tuff, or Har Mar Superstar would be enthralled with LCC’s encapsulating lyrics and their twangy, no-frills western saunter. Tickets are $37.25. Low Cut Connie – Audiotree Live by Low Cut Connie Friday, May 23rd @ 7pm Smoking Popes @ Rec Room Influential Chicago-based punk act Smoking Popes play the Chip Strip for a night of nostalgia and familiar tunes. Since forming in 1991, the band has been largely influential to the punk/indie scene with their earnest pseudo-Morrissey delivery and[...]
Raw punk outfit Power Creep re-emerges as a project after a fairly quiet 2025. Fronted by Tyler Will, Power Creep is the offshoot of his previous band, Cheap Peach, which was a constant opener on Buffalo’s indie scene in 2022 and 2023. Jericho by Power Creep
Hailing from the Rust Belt, Stephen Babcock’s journey began in modest surroundings, a world shaped by the blue-collar pulse of industry. Amidst a family of four, including a twin, he absorbed the musical background passed down by his father. At 13, he started crafting songs, laying the foundation for a career as a singer-songwriter. Eight years of relentless dedication birthed “Said & Done,” Stephen’s inaugural project that resonated with the authenticity of Rust Belt roots. As the release echoed beyond the industrial horizon, he embarked on a nationwide tour, from intimate Nashville writers’ rooms to stages across the United States. “Fiction,” the critically acclaimed EP dropped in April 2018, showcasing Stephen’s genre-blending prowess. Opening for Ed Sheeran, William Hinson, Brad Goodall, and others, he became a favorite of PASTe, Atwood Magazine, Variance Mag and more. “Monroe,” released in October 2021, solidified his place in the musical landscape. “When We Were[...]
Wednesday, May 7th @ 7pm M.A.G.S. @ Rec Room Arguably one of the biggest Buffalo musical exports in the past decade, M.A.G.S., returns to his home turf on Wednesday for mid week rager on Chippewa. M.A.G.S. is the moniker for multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Elliott Douglas, who has nurturing the project since 2014 and has achieved numerous accolades under the flag. Pre-pandemic, Douglas relocated to the West Coast, where M.A.G.S. really took off, sparking numerous sold out shows, multiple national tours, and even catching the attention of Polyvinyl Records, who invited Douglas to cover one of American Football’s classics on their 25th anniversary tribute album. If you’re a longtime reader of the blog, we’ve been covering Douglas’ evolution as an artist, going back to the days of DIY shows with the Malones or even short-lived projects like Marie Antionette. Regardless of the banner, Douglas has consistently pumped out high quality, heart-on-your-sleeve[...]
Wild Once is an emo-rock band from Buffalo, New York. They are known for their heart-on-their-sleeve lyrics and indie rock sound, showcasing their musical ideas through their EPs, including “Perennials” and “We Did It Anyway”. The band’s lyrics often explore themes of personal growth and the complexities of relationships, making them relatable to fans. We Did It Anyway by Wild Once
TVMTN is a WNY supergroup of sorts, comprised of many frequest collaborators from local indie label Harvestsum. The lineup consists Mark Nosowicz, Jeff Pietrzak, Andy Vaeth and Chris Groves and pumps out piano centric 2000s indie feel tracks. How It All Began by TVMTN
Thursday, May 1st @ 7pm Michigan Rattlers @ Rec Room Michigan Rattlers make a stop on the Chip Strip in support of their third studio album, Waving From a Sea, this Thursday. Hailing from Michigan (shocking), the band’s unique blend of Americana, rock, and indie-folk has been capturing the attention from critics since their formation in 2016. Fans of American Aquarium, Tommy Prine, or Driftwood would be into the band’s twangy and rootsy sound coupled. Michigan Ratttlers with earnest vocals and gripping story telling make this an easy Must See Show this week. 7pm with a $26.70 cover, get there early for locals VOYAGR. Saturday, May 3rd @ 8pm Wild Once @ The Attic @ Mr. Goodbar The Upstairs at Mr. Goodbar plays host to a local rager on Friday night, headlined by local indiemos Wild Once. We try to focus on an all-locals lineup once a[...]
Wednesday, April 16th @ 7pm TV Star @ Area 54 Wednesday night has a certified ripper headlined by touring alt/psych act TV Star. Since forming in 2020, the band has been compared to The Jesus and Mary Chain and Mazzy Star, leading to much buzz in the Washington music scene. TV Star even managed some face time with famed KEXP DJ Cherlyl Waters and recorded a live session and interview with the outlet in 2023. The lineup also features two Ontario power-pop acts with Windsor’s Heavenly Sweetheart and Welland’s Big School. Fun fact, I had no idea Welland was so close to Buffalo until maybe a month ago. I had never even heard of the city, which is only 36 minutes from downtown Buffalo. After spending a weekend in Toronto recently, I discovered that many creatives have been moving to that area which seems quite promising for southern Ontario’s[...]
Thursday, April 10th @ 7pm Moon Hooch @ Buffalo Iron Works One of New York City’s most successful (former) busker acts, Moon Hooch, returns to the Queen City Thursday for a night of dance, positivity, and woodwinds. Moon Hooch emerged from the Bedford L platform in the early 2010s and their live set was so mesmerizing, the band was actually banned from playing the platform because it became a standstill and was too dangerous to gather. From their early days, the project has mastered the upbeat, live dance looping sound that gets the crowd moving and grooving into the palm of their hand. Opening the show will be space funk duo Future Show. Iron Works has really cornered the market on saxophone-centric dance acts. $25 and it’s well worth it. Red Sky by Moon Hooch Friday, April 11th @ 7pm Bright Eyes @ Buffalo Riverworks This[...]
Thursday, April 3rd @ 8pm Stephen Babcock @ The Caz Buffalo-based indie/singer-songwriter Stephen Babcock headlines a great bill at the Caz in South Buffalo Thursday evening with support from two additional bands we are excited about. The Caz (on Seneca St.) has been open to the public for just about six months now, with a variety of programming ranging from jam to jazz to cover shows. The venue has barely dipped it’s toe into the local indie scene, so Thursday’s showcase will undoubtedly be a testing ground for the genre. Like many of the current artists we are jazzed about in Buffalo, Babcock found his footing in a post-COVID landscape, emerging into the scene in 2021 with his debut album Monroe. Babcock’s songwriting is vulnerable and has range, with the ability to channel a somber Paul Simon or James Taylor feel with indie-pop contemporaries such as Matt Pond PA[...]