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Tonight: JoyCut

November 14, 2014

It’s not often that a band out of Italy plays Buffalo. It’s even rarer an Italian electronic band plays Broadway Joe’s, a venue usually associated with Punk’n Tots showcases and nu-metal. Tonight, Joycut is set to make their Buffalo debut as  part of the last leg of their tour, which was preceded by a European tour.  Needless to say, 2014 has definitely made use of the duo’s passports. Joycut’s sound is a dash industrial with a splatter of well-produced delicate and hypnotic electronica. This band’s performance is very lively, consisting of two live drummers/multi-percussionists tweaking computers and samples to make a cohesively gripping sound. If you like Sleep Party People, Fuck Buttons, Matthew Dear, or even Bergs Sans Nipple, than you should probably be at this show. I haven’t been able to come across a door time or cover, so let’s just say normal Friday night showtime and normal Friday[...]

Undergroud Electronic Producer, Davor, Drops “City Nights” Single

November 12, 2014

With the 2014 emergence of acts like Darksleep and FOTISPORN, Buffalo seems to have quite a few underground electronic producers lurking in it’s shadows, mostly releasing sultry bedroom compositions.  Another name to add to the club is home-studio act, Davor aka Davor Majdandzic, a Burlington expat turned Buffalo pioneer. His latest single, “City Night,” is a cut of playful electro pop, dripping in youth and innocence. Take a listen below.

Slight – “Run”

November 12, 2014

Rochester’s music scene has had an amazing 2014. From breakout national hits like Joywave’s “Tongues” to strong tracks by local staples like Mikaela Davis, Harmonica Lewinski, and Secret Pizza, to name a few. Some good things must come to an end, though, as the city took a hit with the early 2014 announcement that one of the most notable bands in the scene, Cottage Jefferson, would be splitting up, with lead singer/guitarist Jim Hill packing his bags and heading to New York City. When God closes a door, he opens a window though because this morning, Hill shared with the internet his new Brooklyn-spired two track demo, Run, under the project name Slight. Fans of CJ’s fuzzed out college rock can breath easy as Slight manages to conjure up visions of Yuck on the EP’s title track. Listen below.

Gillian – “Out & Out”

November 4, 2014

Over the weekend, we received an e-mail from Brooklyn-based indie-pop quintet, Gillian. Fronted by former Rochester resident, Geoff Bennington, Gillian is almost the total package, a polished sound with incredibly catchy, developed melodies that fans of Broken Social Scene, Sheer Mags, Los Campesinos!, or The Cast of Cheers would love. The band has two shows in Rochester this winter, with the first being Sunday, December 7th at the Bug Jar. The second is January 23rd with two bands we’ve been talking about this week, Bryan Johnson & Family and Talking Under Water. Don’t just listen to “Out & Out.” The whole EP, The Eyes In My Head, is phenomenal.

Slap Bracelets – “The Wendigo”

October 30, 2014

New York City based shoegaze duo, Slap Bracelets, is comprised of Debbie Chou (vocals/bass/ keys) and Chris Gersbeck (vocals/guitars/bass/programming). The band has the ability to be both sweet and dreamy (listen to “The Wendigo”), but can also put on the edge to a more raucous classic punk sound. Expect a mix of Depeche Mode, Lower Dens, and Haim, and you are good to go. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/114147567″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Camp Counselors Releases “Sighs” on Halloween Compilation No. 2: Gatherings

October 30, 2014

Spookytacular WNY expat, Kyle J. Reigle, records under the moniker Camp Counselors and for the second year in a row, released another track to producer’s yet-to-be-created slasher flick. The creepy new single “Sighs” has the same feel as Camp Counselors previous works, pairing well with fog coming from the ground, being unsure you locked your door on a windy night, and irrational fears that Freddy Krueger is actually a real person that wants to kill you. The track is included on Halloween Compilation No. 2: Gatherings, the second annual seasonal collection released via Reigle’s Snowbeast Records label. Gatherings also includes contributions from Teen Daze, Psychic Twin, and Medina native, Seismograph. Listen to the full comp here, and check out “Sighs” below.

Comfy Releases New Singles

October 29, 2014

Utica, New York’s Comfy is a band that’s buzz, unlike Ebola, has been spreading all over New York State, from the jampacked DIY shows in Brooklyn to the dimly lit basements of Buffalo and every cool house show in between. Last week, while prepping for their super legit slot on the Miscreant & Father/Daughter co-sponsored showcase at Silent Barn, Comfy released two new tracks, “Dreamy” and “People Talking.” The band’s sound is in the same realm of Swearin’, The Babies, and Krill with a hint of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. With a forthcoming EP set to be released soon via Miscreant Records, Comfy is a band that you should have in your band vocabulary because there is a chance they may be playing top secret show in Buffalo at some point this week.

Tonight: Diarrhea Planet

October 27, 2014

Without a doubt, party-punk act Diarrhea Planet is one of the most talked about bands rising in the ranks of the blogosphere. Another consensus is the off-putting band name, which some dismiss before giving them an actual listen. I, for one, think the band name sounds like a writer for a failed 90’s teen comedy came up with fictional grunge band playing a high school prom. “Like… Diarrhea Planet are totally playing prom. Duh.” The band’s sound is big, almost like if you took the good parts of Weezer, with the energy of Andrew W.K, and Nashville-style of labelmates Jeff the Brotherhood. To boot, Diarrhea Planet’s live show is incredibly engaging. This past month, I caught them in Brooklyn’s soon-to-be-closed DIY space Death By Audio, where I witnessed the sextet crunch itself onto a tiny stage, pump out jammers to a sweaty, constantly crowd surfing audience intent on pulling down the drop ceiling[...]

Tonight: JPNSGRLS

October 24, 2014

Tonight marks the unofficial start to Halloween Party season here in Buffalo, but it should be noted that a decidedly less spooky option is going down tonight if you haven’t put a costume together yet. Vancouver’s JPNSGRLS will make a stop on their international tour to famed Allentown go-to, Nietzsche’s this evening. Self-described as high voltage garage-pop, the band’s set is full of energy and crunchy, head bobbing tunes. Think Hot Hot Heat mixed with Two Door Cinema Club and Foals, and you have a good start. Also on the bill is a fresh out of hibernation American Stories and Lockport’s Dark Eyes 55, with Allentown mainstay, Shaken Stylus, spinning choice records between sets. Music kicks off tonight at 9pm. $5 will get you through the doors.

Routine Involvements Release Music Video For “UFO”

October 21, 2014

Last week, Rochester-based two-piece, Routine Involvements, released its first music video for the single “UFO.” Featured on the band’s early 2014 release, Future Days (Dadstache Records),  the video for “UFO” is superbly cinematic, displaying the Routine Involvement boys breaking free from their sheltered vision to experience a well-choreographed dance routine to an almost blinding light show. The instrumental song is clear, cohesive, and incredibly driving, almost like Queens of the Stone Age sat down with a Cloud Nothings album prior to going into the studio. The video is a collaboration between Michael Schifino (Director) Aaron Gordon (Director of Photgraphy), and Ciera Carhart (Executive Producer), and without a doubt, it is the most well-produced and expertly directed video we’ve seen from a regional band to date (sans Joywave, but are they even a “local” band anymore?). Routine Involvements “UFO” from Michael Schifino on Vimeo.

Tonight: Dads

October 19, 2014

New Jersey’s Dads have been exploding in popularity in the past couple of years due to the resurgence of the second wave of emo which still manages to lure heartbroken high schoolers and nostalgic twenty somethings. Touring in support of their latest full, I’ll Be The Tornado, Dads’ sound can be placed right in July 2001, halfway between the evolution of Chicago indiemo and 2003’s emergence of the skinny-jeaned jaded Myspace generation. Dads will be one of the first wave of bands christening the Studio at the Waiting Room (334 Delaware Ave UPSTAIRS), with support from Tiny Moving Parts and Nai Harvest.  Doors are at 7pm with a $13 cover. Make sure to wear your cool clothes.

Tonight: The Shivas

October 17, 2014

Tonight Mohawk Place (47 East Mohawk) has a pretty bitchin’ bill that will appease both the DIYers and entry level plebs. Headlining the stacked bill is Portland-based dream-surf foursome, The Shivas. With releases on both K Records and Burger Records, the band’s sound could easily be compared to SW/MM/NG, Beach Fossils, and a pinch of Aaron and the Burrs.  Not to be forgotten is the killer support for the show, featuring lo-fi electropop outfit, Small Smalls, power-pop partners, Space Wolves, and in-your-face punk act, Mayday! Should start off right at 9pm with a $6 cover.

Los Waves – “Your World”

October 15, 2014

Upbeat Portugese twosome, Los Waves, have been on repeat this morning in the office. Comprised of multi-instrumentalists Jose Tornada and Jorge Da Fonseca, the duo’s sound picks up after Phoenix’s It’s Never Been Like That with the Strokes’ indie-pop accessibility. Check out their single “Your World” below [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/168058621″ 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: Overhand Sam

October 11, 2014

Tonight Allentown will be treated to a pretty eclectic mix at Dreamland (387 Franklin St. Set to perform is Rochester-based OHS (Overhand Sam), aka Sam Snyder who might look familiar from his other gig in Maybird. OHS’sound is full-bodied, sounding like a mix between a Jack White project and college radio hit. Also on the bill is fairly new to our radar, Different Planets, which sounds like if Casiotone for the Painfully Alone took hallucinogens accidentally after his wife left him and subbed in  an industrial band.  Certainly not to be left out is Iowa’s best atmospheric rock troubadour, Bob Bucko Jr. and sludgy weirdo outfit, Pappy Stardust and & the Eclectic Moon Sandwich. Doors are at 7pm with kickoff at 8pm. $5 donation goes to Bob Bucko Jr., because he traveled 13 hours to get to Buffalo. Trust me, that drive sucks. I’ve done it way too many times.

SHEER MAG – “WHAT YOU WANT”

October 10, 2014

While perusing the calendar for upcoming events in the next couple of weeks this morning, we finally gave South Philly’s SHEER MAG a listen, and are ecstatic we did. It’s been the soundtrack of the office all morning. SHEER MAG is a relatively young band, starting just in February but already creating some interstate buzz. The band’s sound is power-pop all the way, think The Nerves meets King Khan and the Shrines and a dab of Chastity Belt. Mark your calendar for next Saturday (10/18), as the band will be playing an early show at Black Dots in support of NANCY along with local indie-rockers, Softlines.