Latest Posts

Garrett Klahn (ex-Texas Is The Reason) Releases Debut Single

February 19, 2016

For anyone familiar with earnest, 90s indie rock, you may recognize Garrett Klahn from seminal emo band Texas is the Reason. Fun fact: Klahn is originally from Buffalo and still has strong ties to the Queen City. Recently, Klahn holed up in a Main St. studio with a bunch of veteran Buffalo musicians to cut a new album. The result is a 10-song, self-titled effort that will be released via Rise Records. Klahn is currently streaming his debut single, “Are We Alright?.” Klahn’s brand of simmering indie rock is atypical from Rise’s heavier reputation, emphasizing his smooth baritone drawl over chill, synth-textured indie rock. Klahn is slated to return to Buffalo to play a few solo shows soon – until then, you can preorder the album via iTunes or MerchNow. Have yourself a listen to “Are We Alright?” by clicking below.

Muler – Unlikely Soldiers

February 8, 2016

If there’s one thing I have learned thus far in life, it’s that there is no substitute for experience. In terms of being a musician, there’s a certain type of maturity that comes with two and a half decades of playing music together. It’s an unbreakable but tumultuous bond that controls the subtle nuances that take a band from being good to being nuanced. Rochester’s Muler has been a band since 1992 – that’s a lot of life experience. Unlikely Soldiers is Muler’s triumphant second full length since reforming five years ago. The songs are tightly wound, catchy, and earnest, comparable to The Get Up Kids in their Guilt Show-era. In fact, the vibes while listening to Unlikely Soldiers are enough to bring me back about 15 years in time. This is welcome nostalgia; a listen through Unlikely Soldiers feels like 2002 surging through my ears. This batch of 10 songs would sit nicely upon a shelf next[...]

La Fiesta Lafayette Releases New EP

February 2, 2016

Mysterious lo-fi act La Fiesta Lafayette has just released a new three-song EP. Recorded on the cheap in in a run-down apartment with a gas leak, LFL has made efficient use of the surprisingly ideal bathroom acoustics. Capoed guitars and smooth mandolin tones lay the groundwork for LFL’s snarky, but fitting vocal delivery. What results is an impassioned acoustic effort in the same vein as Fevers and Mirrors-era Bright Eyes or Balance Problems. Check out “OpheliaOphelia” below.  

Tomoreaux Release Single from Forthcoming Debut Album

December 21, 2015

Local atmospheric nature rockers Tomoreaux have just released”In Plain Air,” the first single from the trio’s forthcoming debut record At Peace, Overlook. The new track channels the best of Sigur Ros and Local Natives, slowly building presence around a wispy, chiming guitar motif. The song’s apex finds the band experimenting with spacey chants and whispered falsetto, reminiscent of subtle Animal Collective vibes. You can catch Tomoreaux at their CD release next year (on 1/8/16 that is). Show details can be found HERE; while you browse show details, please enjoy the sounds of Tomoreaux below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/238030956″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Anthony Del Plato Releases Two New Singles

December 16, 2015

Our Batavian buddy Anthony Del Plato surprised us with a new two-song, EP last week, which he has affectionately self-titled. The first track, “Call and Answer,” is a wonderful addition to Del Plato’s canon. The song pairs autumn imagery with winter laments and is bolstered by spiraling guitars and Del Plato’s signature layered harmonies. “Numbers” is an ethereal take on a previously released song, reminiscent of Del Plato’s recent foray into electronica with new project, Tape Drive. As if that weren’t enough, Del Plato is on a roll having recently reunited with his Strings & Chords collaborator Bradley Kujawski for a one-off song under the moniker Junction Hill. Their new song, “Suburban Lawn Envy Blues,” is an upbeat number, despite the rainy weather being sung about. The grass is always greener, right guys?

Tonight: All Them Witches

December 10, 2015

Psychedelic rockers All Them Witches are passing through Buffalo today. The Nashville quartet are quickly becoming front-runners in the underground heavy rock scene, seeing as how they masterfully blend blues, sludge, and stoner rock into long, droning songs. RIYL The Black Angels, Kyuss, or Pink Floyd. Support tonight comes from New Madrid and Rochester stoner rock group (and perfect fit for this particular bill), King Buffalo. Tickets are $12, doors are at 7:00pm, and music starts at 8:15. Clarification: you should not confuse All Them Witches with Buffalo-based mathy duo All of Them Witches, although that would have made for a pretty awesome lineup.

Prince Daddy & The Hyena – Adult Summers

December 1, 2015

Prince Daddy & The Hyena has me baffled. They’ve just put out something truly unique, an almost unclassifiable sounding new EP called Adult Summers. My attempt at classification: take equal parts Andrew W.K. and The Hotelier, and toss in a dash of The Locust. One of their songs even sounds like Atom and his Package. Either way, their music is fast, loud, and weird… In a good way. A very good way. Amidst the aggression, there’s a cavalcade (yes, a cavalcade) of really impressive and beautiful guitar work, not to mention the myriad of other creative noises peppered into the mix. At any rate, Prince Daddy & co. are pushing the limits of whatever genre they’re defying. In order to truly describe this band, you’ll probably just need to use the word “party.” If it’s not apparent by their irreverent approach to musicianship, Prince Daddy & the Hyena are a release from Broken World[...]

Tonight: Knuckle Puck

November 19, 2015

Get ready to pogo and mosh and potentially even feel a little sad tonight! If you like pop punk, the Waiting Room is the place to be tonight. The premiere, pizza-guzzling pop punkers in Knuckle Puck are headed to Buffalo tonight, along with a strong bill of supporters. Fellow bands include the fellow pop-punkers in Seaway, the omnipresent Sorority Noise, and Buffalo’s very own Head North. Doors are at 6pm tonight and tickets are $16. Russ would be proud, fellas (other Mighty Ducks references are encouraged).

Bethlehem Steel – Docking

November 9, 2015

This isn’t the first time we’re writing about Bethlehem Steel (BS), so by now, Becca Ryskalczyk’s move to Brooklyn has been well-publicized. We like to take care of our own, even when they move out of town after all. In case you’re unfamiliar, Becca was Buffalo-born and educated at SUNY Fredonia. You may have caught her several years ago on a solo trek across the US with fellow Buffalonians A Hotel Nourishing. Either way, we consider Becca an honorable Buffalonian, even as she’s busy making waves in the Brooklyn independent scene. Docking is the new EP (out via Brooklyn’s Miscreant Records) from this talented three-piece. Though they’ve always had a knack for fuzzy indie-pop (see “Guts” from their last EP, Grow Up), BS has really stepped up their fuzz game on Docking. Opening track “One Giant Fuck Machine” is a poppy, apt introduction to this EP, showcasing the groups’ loosely-wound, borderline lo-fi tunes. Most notable is Becca’s[...]

Super Defense Releases Debut EP

October 28, 2015

If you were lucky enough to catch Geneseo’s Soft Cough at our Yace showcase earlier this month, you should give Syracuse’s Super Defense a spin. Super Defense is a lo-fi, DIY project showcasing jangly fuzz-pop for fans of Japandroids, Wavves, or Cloud Nothings. This EP also marks the first release from Syracuse-based tape label, Ghoul Tapes, which buffaBLOG will surely be keeping their eye on. Until Ghoul Tapes’ next release, enjoy some Super Defense below. P.S. The albino deer’s name is Fritz.

Alleys Release New Live Session

October 20, 2015

Alleys are some of Buffalo’s most prominent twinkle daddies (aka emo dudes who utilize “sparkly,” tap-heavy guitar parts). Needles to say, the twinkle skill of groups’ members are demonstrated quite clearly in their new Chrome Session video, featuring footage that was captured at their show at Chrome Industries in Minneapolis. Mysterious guitarist Alex Ryan’s tapping is particularly hypnotizing, emphasized further by drummer Sebastian Cichon’s nimble drum work. Also, despite officially being a two piece, this video features the integral bass work of Tom Bryant. If you don’t have a full 28 minutes to spare, I recommend the particularly hooky song at 24:15 to start. Check out the riffage below.

Tonight: Meat Wave

October 14, 2015

Tonight might turn out to be quite a raucous Wednesday… Actually, I take that back. Tonight’s officially gonna get pretty rowdy. The Dirty Nil and Meat Wave will be stopping through the Waiting Room tonight; both bands will be slinging their brand of loud, aggressive, indie-punk. If you would like a comparison, both bands are contemporaries of METZ, Pissed Jeans, Single Mothers, or even Cloud Nothings. Opening the show are the Rochester-based post-hardcore/screamo dudes in DRUSE and the Fredonia-based alt-rockers in Ellsworth. Tickets are $12 and doors open at 6pm.

Misconstruity Preps Comeback Album

October 7, 2015

Misconstruity were one Buffalo’s premiere post-hardcore/emo bands of the early 2000s, having opened for the likes of Brand New, Coheed and Cambria, The Weakerthans, and many more. After almost a decade of inactivity (band members have since gone on to play in Wooden Waves and Atlanta Falcons, among others), the band reunited in late 2013 and has been gradually recording its newest offering chè vuoi? with longtime pal and contributor Jay Zubricky. Misconstruity also sprung for the Paul Leavitt treatment (Yellowcard, Pentimento, The Dangerous Summer). So far, we’ve only been treated to two of the new tracks from chè vuoi?. Check out one of the new jams below. RIYL: Jimmy Eat World, American Football, Early Foo Fighters.  

California Cousins – George’s Bridge

October 2, 2015

Rochester emos California Cousins are no stranger to buffaBLOG. We’ve been following them and theirs since the dissolution of Keeler last year. Luckily, Cali Cousins are still hanging around, blessing us with a new EP full of noodly emo jams that they’ve christened George’s Bridge. I’m sure you can all reminisce of a time where you and your high school friends jumped off an old derelict bridge or had a clandestine rendezvous by a graffiti-laden abandoned structure. California Cousins tug on your nostalgic heartstrings in that way (and boy am I a sucker for some good emo jams). “Soft Earth” kicks off this EP with some twinkly guitar riffs reminiscent of Snowing, Del Paxton, or Tiny Moving Parts. Guitarist Christian Ortiz is a twinkle daddy for sure (it’s a Facebook group for twinkly guitar-riff lovers, so get your mind out of the gutter). Drummer Juan Ortiz skillfully weaves his rhythms in between  Christian[...]

Tonight: Comfy

October 2, 2015

Yace Booking is having one hell of a weekend. After the “Golf Pop” extravaganza at Dreamland tonight, please head straight to Nietzsche’s for an incredible lineup showcasing Utica buzz-magnets Comfy. Comfy specializes in that special sort of self-deprecating indie rock; think a lo-fi version of Weezer’s Blue Album with all the shredding and ooh-oohs you can stomach. Support tonight comes from Modest Mousy newcomers Passed Out, Sonny Baker’s solo project, and the Geneseo-based Comfy contemporaries in Soft Cough. Doors are at 9pm, music starts at 10pm. Bring $5 and be sure to tip your bartender.