Latest Posts

moverealfastSTOP Release Final Single

August 25, 2014

moverealfastSTOP announced that they would no longer be going forward with the musical project, which was born out of Queen City Music Lottery that took place last spring. As a parting gift, the band released their final single, “The Words Song.” The song is a mix of Lesionread’s delicate vocals, playful bass, purrs, and Cross Stitch’s Joleen Bolger’s accented yelps, and tempo-changes. moverealfastSTOP was one of more promising Lotto bands, and with the announcement of the absolution of the project, this puts added pressure on Scajaquada Creeps, who seem to be the last remaining active project from the lottery.

A Hotel Nourishing Releases First Single From Empty Gesture EP

August 19, 2014

I remember my introduction to the Buffalo music scene. I drove from my hometown in central New York to catch a glimpse of Say Hi to Your Mom in the dark Sound Lab basement in the middle of a snowstorm. The Wishes and the Glitch was an amazing album. Anyways, upon arrival, I realized I was in Buffalo like an hour before the show even opened it’s doors (Buffalo time was foreign to me) so I had to wait outside in my car for an hour, then inside alone in a booth for an hour, then standing up front until eventually I caught the first band, A Hotel Nourishing. I initially had thought they were a touring band based on how tight they were as a duo, with Cameron Rogers’ lightning fast, thunderous drumming coupled with Sonny Baker’s wry energy and sprawling guitars. The night capped off with me nervously introducing[...]

Tonight: Queen City Cartel’s Summer Melt

August 16, 2014

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Buffalo DJ enclave, Queen City Cartel. The group used to control the coolest dance parties and DJ most events throughout the majority of the scene. There was a time that if there was a legit DJ spinning at a Buffalo party, there was a 96% chance that DJ was a QCC member. With that being said, Queen City Cartel ventured beyond it’s DJing safety zone to throw a pretty notable party at DBGB’s tonight complete with live music acts. Featured on the bill are three bands that if you read the blog regularly, you know we are fans of. First on the bill is SMART HOUSE, a band that seldom plays, but every time they do, the crowd digs them. Like REALLY digs them. Fronted by Alek Ogadzhanov, the band is the perfect mix between JOYWAVE and Metronomy. Following SMART HOUSE is Humble Braggers, a[...]

Strawberry Boys Release First Single, “Got It”

August 14, 2014

Earlier this week, we received an e-mail from Rochester-based electro-pop twosome, Strawberry Boys. In the message, the sender described Strawberry Boys’ sound as a “boy band but serious.” The single, “Got It,” is slow building, but soon evolves into an Architecture in Helsinki-like backing coupled with vocals of Proto Zoa, the fictional band from Disney’s Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. Although Strawberry Boys prefer to release their music under a veil of mystery, I would not be surprised if familiar names are behind the project. Check out “Got It” underneath these words.

Aimes – “Burnin’ (ft. Javi)”

August 12, 2014

If there is one thing DJ/Producer AIMES can do, it’s make you move, whether it be on a crowded festival, an intimiate basement afterparty, or in this case, the buffaBLOG office. The  Alabama-raised, Brooklyn-based Italo spinster has kept busy since last last spring’s On Holiday EP.  His latest single, “Burnin’,” is in the same realm of his numerous Maserati-Disco anthems (is that a term? that’s what it sounds like). “Burnin” begins with 80’s arcade (not chip-tune) cruisin’ Miami synths  which soon leads into 4/4’s pounding the kicks easily syncable for dance floor groovin’. The track evolves into something really special once up-and-coming Javi joins AIMES’ slow building banger.  “Burnin'” is the first single off of AIMES’ forthcoming release via Wonder Stories and can be downloaded for free now. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/161650028″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

buffaBLOG Premiere: Work Drugs – “Free To Roam”

August 7, 2014

We’ve been a fan of Work Drugs at buffaBLOG since their 2011 sleepy dream-pop single, “Rad Racer,” so we were beyond excited to jump on an opportunity to premiere their latest single, “Free To Roam.” The band is comprised of electro-pop, Philadelphia-by-way-of- Florida, synth workhorses, Thomas Crystal and Benjamin Louisiana. “Free To Roam” is a featured track on band’s  eighth album in four years, RUNAWAYS, with a set release in early October.  The single, from a flavor sense, is more in the realm of “Double LIfe” than “Rad Racer.” It’s bouncy, carefree,  and accessible, similar to if you let Two Door Cinema Club produce a Phoenix album after sitting down with the latest Cherub release. For a local recommendation, they would be perfectly nestled somewhere between JOYWAVE and Humble Braggers. The subject matter of “Free To Roam” is about young love, hitting the country side, and discovering a new color with[...]

Tonight: Morning Arms

July 29, 2014

Tonight, buffaBLOG’s favorite basement venue, the Ninth Ward (341 Delaware Ave.), will play host to dreamy indie Chicago sextet, Morning Arms. The band’s sound is comparable to a female-fronted Ra Ra Riot with a morphined Los Campesinos. For a local touch, Applenium would have been the perfect opener for the band’s vibe.  Also on the bill is Steak and Cake Records’ MINK as well as the Etchings. Doors are 7pm with an 8pm start time. There will be someone behind a table asking for $5.

Pitchfork Music Festival – Five Acts to Watch on Sunday

July 17, 2014

For the second time, buffaBLOG has been given the opportunity to attend and cover Pitchfork’s annual festival in the heart of Chicago. This year, we will be sending buffaBLOG writers Michael Moretti and Alyssa Gottlieb to preview, cover, and review the festival to clue some of us in as to what to expect or in many cases, what we are missing out on. Each day, the two will preview five acts to make sure you are in attendance for.  It would be easy and obvious to say “You need to check out Beck,” or “Make sure you don’t miss Neutral Milk Hotel,” but the writers will focus on the lesser known bands to check out and pay attention to.  Here are Friday’s and Saturday’s recommendations in case you missed it.  Speedy Ortiz (1pm, Blue Stage) Northampton, Massachusetts  based quartet, Speedy Ortiz, are another one of the many buzzed about newcomers playing the festival this year.[...]

Pitchfork Music Festival – Five Acts to Watch on Saturday

July 15, 2014

For the second time, buffaBLOG has been given the opportunity to attend and cover Pitchfork’s annual festival in the heart of Chicago. This year, we will be sending buffaBLOG writers Michael Moretti and Alyssa Gottlieb to preview, cover, and review the festival to clue some of us in as to what to expect or in many cases, what we are missing out on. Each day, the two will preview five acts to make sure you are in attendance for.  It would be easy and obvious to say “You need to check out Beck,” or “Make sure you don’t miss Neutral Milk Hotel,” but the writers will focus on the lesser known bands to check out and pay attention to.  Here are Friday’s recommendations in case you missed it.  The Range (4:45pm, Blue Stage) The Range (aka James Hinton) may be on your radar already thanks to clutch opening slots for CHVRCHES and[...]

Pitchfork Music Festival – Five Acts to Watch on Friday

July 13, 2014

For the second time, buffaBLOG has been given the opportunity to attend and cover Pitchfork’s annual festival in the heart of Chicago. This year, we will be sending buffaBLOG writers Michael Moretti and Alyssa Gottlieb to preview, cover, and review the festival to clue some of us in as to what to expect or in many cases, what we are missing out on. Each day, the two will preview five acts to make sure you are in attendance for.  It would be easy and obvious to say “You need to check out Beck,” or “Make sure you don’t miss Neutral Milk Hotel,” but the writers will focus on the lesser known bands to check out and pay attention to. Friday, July 18 Hundred Waters (3:30pm, Red Stage) Gainesville, Florida’s Hundred Waters exploded onto the blogosphere with their 2012 critically acclaimed self-titled debut.  Best described as a mix between Four Tet, Bjork, and[...]

Tonight: Transmission Dance Party DJs the 2000s

July 11, 2014

Tonight at 11pm, Hardware will host one of the top three events to go to tonight (it’s a pretty stacked Friday), with Transmission Dance Party taking over the backroom to deliver you some of your favorite dance punk must-haves from the 2000s. If you still have a fondness for Peaches, The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, Le Tigre, Hot Hot Heat, !!!,  Franz Ferdinand, Shiny Toy Guns, Shout Out Out Out Out, Fischerspooner, The Faint, and a bunch of other bands that I’m sure you’ll say “Oh yeah, I haven’t heard that in a while,” then you need to head on down to Allen. If you don’t care for the music, you can just stand out front and get in the way of people trying to get in. Doors are at 11pm with a $5 cover.

Mountain of Youth – “Thinkin’ Bout Love”

July 7, 2014

Over the weekend we received an e-mail from delicate chillhouse artist, Mountain of Youth. Hailing from the incredibly vague “United States,” this downtempo electro rework musician has recently achieved a following via Hype Machine, ranking in at a high of number six on the charts at some point in June.  “Thinkin’ Bout Love” is the followup to his previous success  and is equally soulful, sweet, and hypnotic.  Mountain of Youth reconstructs THE NIGHT VI’s cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinking Bout You,” to make it something more palpable to fans of Hot Chip or Poolside. Check it out below or above. Formatting for ‘Listen Ups” is a work in progress.  [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/156704270″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Today: Tony Flaminio/Spiral Scratch Sidewalk Sale

July 6, 2014

If I were hired to be a music supervisor for an HBO series dramatizing life in Western NY, the first person I would contact is Tony Flaminio. The second would probably be Nick Reynolds (Space Wolves, Aaron and the Burrs, Bad People). The third would probably be… I could go on forever, but that’s besides the point. Tony Flaminio is a longtime staple in Buffalo’s music scene, with a well respected resume which includes first and foremost Failures’ Union, as well as supporting roles in Malllwalkers and Returners.  If you have not taken the time to digest his incredibly earnest songwriting style. then make your way down to Spiral Scratch this afternoon. Word on the Facebook is that it started fifteen minutes ago (12:00pm ET) and goes til 6:30pm, but I’m sure Flaminio will go on later this afternoon as there are supporting acts. Get there by 4:30pm to be safe.

Scope & Figure Debut “Entropy Knows Best” Video

July 2, 2014

In late June, Rochester-based quartet, Scope  & Figure, released their debut video “Entropy Knows Best.” The video follows lead singer/guitarist, Thomas Varner, having an “oh shit!” moment, running down streets people in Rochester probably know, then arriving late to gig to an empty Bug Jar with only sketchy looking dude in a Carmen Sandiego jacket on. Based on some of my weekday ventures to the Bug Jar, this isn’t that far fetched. The band’s sound is definitely robust, sounding like a jazzy Okkervil River/Beirut hybrid. With plans for a late summer tour, keep Scope & Figure on your radar because they have plans to stop in town.

Just Announced: Kishi Bashi

June 30, 2014

This morning, buzz band bookers ESI Events announced an additional act to their already packed indie summer lineup. On Sunday, August 24, the Tralf will play host to anti-pop, orchestral mastermind, Kishi Bashi. Reigning as one of NPR’s golden children, Kishi Bashi’s performance at the Tralf will be one of the numerous “gotta be there” summer shows wedging into your already packed calendar. Tickets are available via TicketMaster for $14 advanced or if you find yourself walking around Main Street, pop into the Tralf’s ticket office.