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Tonight: Cavalcade

March 2, 2018

Long-running Rochester act Cavalcade will be trekking through the snow tonight to play a fervent set at Mohawk Place… Their music transcends genre, but falls somewhere between prog rock and psychedelic indie rock, with special attention payed to pop songwriting. Joining Cavalcade tonight are psych-rockers Moody Cosmos (who are returning after a lengthy absence), and the grungy punk trio of Major Arcana. Tonight’s show is located at Mohawk Place and starts at 8:00pm. Bring $5 for admission. The Switch by Cavalcade

Giant Rooks – “New Estate”

February 21, 2018

German art-pop quintet Giant Rooks recently caught our ears with the shimmering indie rock of “New Estate.” Their sound is inherently familiar, yet is flavorful enough to stand out from the pack. Full of spring-loaded guitar riffs, tasteful drumming, and an insatiable pep, “New Estate” sounds fresh and optimistic all at once. Their latest EP is out now via Haldern Recordings – check it out via the widget below. There are many ways to support Giant Rooks – check them out here.

Oh Maddie – “Youth”

February 21, 2018

Oh Maddie has already been drawing comparisons to The Killers and The War on Drugs, perfectly evident on their latest single, “Youth.” Somehow, the song juxtaposes stark lyrics about trauma and shortcomings with a danceable, indie-rock backbone. Having been adopted as a baby from Romania in the years following the Soviet Union’s collapse, singer Ben Rowntree certainly has a unique perspective – check it out below. Like what you hear? Keep up to date by following Oh Maddie on IG.

Into The Wake Release Dark, Three-Song EP

February 21, 2018

Into The Wake has been through a lot… For them, 2017 was a year of many shows (solo and otherwise), but an equal amount of loss and frustration. They soldiered on through a member change and still managed to hit the studio with Jay Zubricky at GCR this past autumn… Now standing strong as a solid quartet, the band is moving forward as always, having just released a three-song EP called Listening Through Silence. On Listening Through Silence, the band has honed their biting, political approach into something more emotional and nuanced. Into The Wake has polished many of their rough edges here – their songs are flush with lead guitar, and layered thick with shimmer and ambiance. There now exists a palpable darkness to their hard rock/heavy-emo songwriting – think somewhere between A Perfect Circle and Thrice. On lead single “The Note,” the band trades anger and guttural screams for tasteful[...]

Post Prom – Changing Weather

February 19, 2018

It’s mid-February, and winter should be in full force here in Buffalo… Instead we’ve been subjected to wild temperature changes and bizarre precipitation – topical, especially in the case of Buffalonian quartet Post Prom. Their debut EP, Changing Weather, came out earlier this month, and whether it was intentional or not, CW certainly lives up to its name. Last summer, the band was hard at work writing; they recorded the EP in the autumn and finally released it in the winter… All in all, these songs document the evolution of a new band across the changing seasons, and now, it’s our Album of the Week. Without wasting any time, Post Prom launch right into their upbeat title-track, EP opener “Changing Weather.” Fans of the Starting Line or Fall Out Boy, early aughts-style, will find themselves right at home. Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for fast tempos and energetic guitar-driven songs (set off by lead guitarist Charlie Rumfola’s snappy, nimble[...]

Hanne Mjøen – “Vanilla”

February 18, 2018

Chocolate? Strawberry? Eat your heart out Neapolitan… Hanne Mjøen knows where its at, case in point, her latest banger “Vanilla.” The Oslo native sings about the classic flavor, metaphorically of course. She says, “Vanilla is in many ways a synonym for something ordinary and boring… The song is really about wishing for more of what’s good and exciting.” Let’s just say, we think her synth-pop is VERY flavorful. Enough ice cream puns – get down to business and give “Vanilla” a listen below.

Riah – “Prom”

February 18, 2018

LA is surely full of talent, but we’ve been especially drawn to the latest single from indie-pop singer-songwriter Riah. “Prom” is a pulsing, mid-tempo gem, boasting an incredibly catchy chorus and smooth, swelling synth work. Riah’s on a hot streak lately, having recently racked up 700k Spotify followers, four million streams, and some pretty cool placements on TV… Have a listen below and hear what all the hype is about. “Prom” is out across a number of different platforms – check them all out here.

Keenan O’Meara – “God’s Song”

February 18, 2018

Keenan O’Meara has a thing for “God’s Song,” originally by legendary songwriter Randy Newman. Though not a religious person himself, Keenan was drawn to the haunting vibes of the original, and how the positivity of a higher power might bring someone’s psyche a little comfort. O’Meara’s haunting vocals and Bon-Iver-esque instrumentals certainly paint a yearning and ghostly picture of the Newman original… Check it out below. Learn more about Keenan here.

Common Holly – “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You”

February 18, 2018

Common Holly, a.k.a. Montreal singer-songwriter Brigitte Naggar, recently contributed her own take on Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You” to a Valentines Day themed Amazon Music playlist… The song is sparse on percussion, driven strongly by Naggar’s ethereal vocals. Otherwise, the song features blippy electronic elements, vocal samples, and Postal-Service-esque keyboard riffs. We think Naggar’s wispy take on Frank Ocean does the original justice… Have a listen below and judge for yourself.

Buffalo Trio Ghostpool Releases Debut EP

February 13, 2018

Pop-punk refuses to die, and it probably never will… Mostly because of bands like Ghostpool, a Buffalo-based three piece whose m.o. is crunchy guitars and hooks aplenty. Their debut EP, There is a Hole at the Center of Everything, is a five song offering chock full of catchy pop-punk tunes, set off by emo-esque vocals about longing, self-hatred, and growing up. Fans of Alkaline Trio, Green Day, The Menzingers should give this one a listen. “Nightmare Eyes” kicks things off perfectly with a simple chord progression, backed by a catchy lead guitar riff, and distant vocal ooohs. Ghostpool is at their most nuanced here, channeling bands like The Hotelier through unique progressions and dynamic changes. Songs like “Dropout” and “Humanoid” are more Green Day/Alk3 oriented, pairing spitfire guitar work with big, irresistible vocal melodies. It’s worth mentioning that Ghostpool has a knack for writing big pop hooks… They just happen to be wrapped up in a gritty punk[...]

Marigold Releases Fresh Acoustic Take on Debut EP

February 8, 2018

Early last year, Marigold (aka Benjamin Lieber) put out an EP packed with shimmery, dreamy emo-pop called Counterfeit Art. Full of fully fleshed-out songs, the EP was almost entirely written and performed by Lieber (with a little help from bassist Alexander Matos) at GCR Studios with Jay Zubricky. As any determined solo artist will tell you, it’s tough to acquire and keep a full band going… So Marigold is now predominantly an acoustic act. His latest EP, aptly titled Counterfeit Art (Reprise), embraces his newfound approach with a fresh acoustic take on five of the songs from Counterfeit Art. “Foothold (Reprise)” is a gentler take on the driven emo rock of the original “Foothold.” Lieber’s debut EP was reminiscent of the new wave of emo dream rockers like Turnover or Citizen… But “Foothold (Reprise)” is a good introduction to Marigold’s impressive range. Here, he trades a full drum kit and distortion pedals for shakers and acoustic[...]

Tonight: California Cousins

February 7, 2018

Rochester math/emo/punks California Cousins are headlining a Buffalo show tonight in support of a genre-blending tour package definitely worth your attention. Philly’s Caracara are swinging through courtesy of Flower Girl records, bringing their emotional baroque-pop/shoegaze/emo with them. Joining them are Richmond, VA act The Weak Days, who have been accurately described as “emo by association, pop-punk in denial.” Rounding out the show are Buffalo act honey, whose pop-tinged emo always guarantees a good time. Tonight’s show will be at Sugar City. There’s an $8 donation at the door to support the touring bands. Doors are at 6:30 – keep in mind Sugar City is an alcohol-and-drug-free safe space! George’s Bridge by California Cousins

aeseaes – “Two Knocks”

February 1, 2018

aeseaes is a husband-and-wife duo based out of Austin, Texas whose debut EP, Six Songs,  came out late last year… They sent over the video for “Two Knocks” and we immediately enjoyed its deeply aesthetic animation. Beyond the video, their music is intimate, folksy indie rock with lyrics that touch on “the push and pull of perspective and how difficult it is to pin down an ever-changing sense of self.” Fans of The Shins, American Analog Set, or Sea Wolf will love this duo’s music. Learn more about aeseaes on their website.

Tonight: Diet Cig

January 29, 2018

Tonight is a special night… Typically a powerhouse duo, Diet Cig are touring the US as a quartet, and they are bringing this specially curated lineup to Buffalo tonight for an evening full of peppy indie-pop. The band released the stellar Swear I’m Good At This last year, full of thrashing guitars and singer Alex Luciano’s charming vocals – expect to see a lot of that tonight. Joining them tonight are Glasgow band The Spook School, who are buzzing from the recent release of their third LP, Could It Be Different?. Released just a few days ago, this quartet specializes in shiny, quirky power-pop with a special ear for pop hooks. Also playing tonight are fuzzy three-piece Lala Lala. Mohawk Place is the place to be tonight. Doors are at 7pm, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Swear I’m Good At This by Diet Cig

Stay South – “If You Leave LA”

January 28, 2018

Fullerton, CA solo-act Stay South nailed it on her latest single, the sad dreaminess of “If You Leave LA.” The song is indie-rock at its heart, but is genre-blending at its finest, injecting tinges of emo and indietronica into an otherwise straightforward song. She pairs frantic rim clicks with ethereal guitar strumming for a calm, but yearning vibe. Perhaps most notable is Stacey Park’s sweet, unassuming vocal delivery… She does a great job at encapsulating the feelings of tension that you might experience when being abandoned. Be sure to give it a listen below. “If You Leave LA” is available via Bandcamp.