Latest Posts

Blonde Redhead

June 5, 2015

Blonde Redhead is a band whose music speaks for itself. And sure, by definition, that is what being in a band is all about—writing, recording, and performing something worthwhile. Yet there exist so many artists today who build their reputations on a foundation of publicity stunts (“Imma let you finish but…”), ceaseless social media interaction, and endorsements. A sad thought to think that perhaps that’s just the way the industry operates now. But in this current age, in which a quantifiable number of twitter followers may often times trump true musicanship, it’s refreshing to see a band like Blonde Redhead maintain consistent quality throughout the course of their 20+ year run. Amidst preparation for a full US tour, which makes a stop at The Waiting Room on June 16th, singer/drummer Simone Pace agreed graciously to answer a few questions we had about this ‘quality over quantity’ business, among other things.[...]

Tonight: Matt “MV” Valentine

June 1, 2015

Today is Monday. If you’re one of those people who just can’t seem to say goodbye to that sweet, sweet weekend (acute weekend separation anxiety syndrome, or AWSAS), then take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. Tonight, underground-ish experimental psyche superstar Matt “MV” Valentine makes a return to the Queen City in support of his sprawling new double LP Midden Mound, an album that will probably make you forget what day of the week it is, anyway. Valentine, one half of folk duo MV & EE, is known for his mind-bending neo-psychedelia; his new album conjures up a good Dark Side of the Moon feel, albeit seared with his signature style of experimentation that will melt your weekday blues away. Opening talent for Valentine’s stop at Mohawk place includes indie folk singer/songwriter Chase Huglin (Fort Wayne, IN), Scott Valkwitch / Bill Nehill duo (of Mohawk Place royalty), Steve Baczkowski /[...]

Pappy Stardust Reveals Fresh Single “Want You to Know”

May 28, 2015

Pappy Stardust, the Buffalo based/Rochester bred psychedelic garage rock outfit for the solo work of songwriter Steve Leszyk, just unleashed a fresh track upon the masses last week. The leisurely track, titled “Want You to Know,” offers flavorful guitar riffage that grooves, shreds, evolves, combines, separates, and repeats. Leszyk peppers the track with his blues-tinged hound dog vocals, but usually lets the guitarwork do the singing for him, striking a satisfying balance of slack, garage, and psyche. The track reminds me of something an ambitious Devendra Banhart might put out, maybe if he started throwing back shots with Mac Demarco and hit the studio for a day or two. “Want You to Know” is the first single of the band’s upcoming album and is available for free download on their bandcamp page. Keep your ear to the ground for more from these guy(s) in the near future, and blast that[...]

Hania Yiska – The Beauty Within

May 25, 2015

You could be listening to one of two different artists if you’re giving our latest album of the week a spin. Well, kind of. One of Rochester’s primo electronica artists, Jeffery Hull, writes under a slew of various pseudonyms, his name contingent upon the style and mood under which he is writing. For the purpose of this article, which highlights his latest release The Beauty Within, I’ll be focusing on two: Hania Yiska, which explores his sonic creations with vocals layered on top, and Mad Hugs, which is the artist’s instrumental side of things. It should come as no surprise that Hania Yiska and Mad Hugs are actually very similar; both projects are brainchildren of the same brain. Yet, where there are obvious and innate similarities, there are also small differences that mark an interesting variety in Hull’s electronic craft. While Yiska delves into vocal territory with a pseudo-experimental fervor[...]

OHS – Long Legs

May 18, 2015

It stands to say that Sam Snyder is about as DIY as they come. The Rochester-based musician, commonly referred to as “Overhand Sam” on the local band circuit, is the emblematic jack-of-all-trades—writing, playing, recording, and engineering his own sonic outpourings. But his musicianship is not the only facet that defines him—Snyder also runs a local record label / production team hybrid called Turtle Phonic that records artists in his attic studio and subsequently promotes the shit out them. (Have a look at #turtlephonic on Instagram.) Snyder’s latest release under his OHS moniker—a “mini LP” titled Long Legs— is a stylistic potpourri, drawing influence from a grand multitude of artists and ultimately cohering into his most stimulating material to date. It’s tough to lay down an all-encompassing classification on such an eclectic bunch of tracks, though most of the songs share elements of psychedelia at its most basic of definitions. Sam[...]

Tonight: Great Lake Swimmers

May 16, 2015

Toronto-based indie folk sweethearts Great Lake Swimmers will make their return to Buffalo tonight in support of A Forest of Arms, their first album since 2012’s New Wild Everywhere. Taking cues from influences ranging Sufjan to Neil Young, Hank Williams and beyond, the rootsy charm of their craft has been beloved by many since their debut in 2003. Those attending will enjoy the comforts and high-end acoustics of The Tralf, as well as mystery opener “special guests” whom even I don’t know the identity of. Tickets for tonight’s show are now $15 at the door, and it serves to mention that the event is 21+. Sorry, kiddos. Doors at 7pm.

The Tallest Man On Earth – Dark Bird Is Home

May 13, 2015

“Every day a growlin’ storm, but they’re kind somehow…” chirps Kristian Matsson, or The Tallest Man On Earth as he is so endearingly known, on the title track of his newest record Dark Bird Is Home, his lyrics still soaked with the stoic isolation that so beautifully sets the man apart from his contemporaries. While modern ‘folk’ artists (I’m looking at you Mumford and Sons, Lumineers) set their scopes on hand-clappingly accessible sing-along hits, Matsson continues to write songs for himself—unearthing his inner poeticisms and bearing them over songs with increasingly lush instrumentation. Though I’m reluctant to compare Tallest Man to anything that can be considered “modern,” his newest album does re-embrace the full-band jubilance of 2012’s There’s No Leaving Now. That’s not to say Dark Bird is without the profound simplicities that Matsson is known for, but the album does strike an interesting balance between the two. That balance[...]

Tonight: Pam Swarts, Fashion Expo 1990, and many more

May 8, 2015

In what is probably the largest non-festival local bill so far this year, Mohawk Place will play host to a deliciously wide spectrum of musical talent tonight. Beginning at 8pm, with no definitive headliner, tonight’s performances are to include the eclectic klezmer vibes of Ahavaraba, the powerful acoustic songwriting of Lara Buckley, Different Planets’ electronoise lounge beats, Rochester’s Makeshift Letterbox and their thick and eerie post rock, abrasive feminist punkers Jamie and the Debt, Pam Swarts’ beautifully layered art rock expeditions, Buffalo’s favorite saucy alt rap duo Jack Topht and Little Cake, and finally electro/house duo Fashion Expo 1990, who will be closing out the night at 11:30. *Inhales deeply* Mohawk Place will be divided into two separate stages for the monster of a bill, with live music being played endlessly from 8pm until after midnight. I know it’s getting warm out, but don’t wear flip-flops—more than just a few[...]

CCDS (DEATH SQUAD) Drops New Video

May 7, 2015

One of Buffalo’s most unique musical projects comes in the form of local drum duo CCDS – DEATH SQUAD, and the pair just dropped a new video on the Buffalo DIY YouTube channel. Normally, CCDS (Cameron Rogers and Amber Kogut) makes use of a sampler which they use to inject brief, interesting sound bites and recordings into their craft. However, in this video, an acoustic (dual kits) performance of their song “Murdered By Ghouls” in Buffalo’s reverberantly spacious Silo City, they cut the electronics out altogether. The result still gives way to something completely fresh, their synchronized tribal beatdowns echoing through concrete halls of the abandoned urban hotspot. Check it out below.

Tonight: Robert Sarazin Blake

April 29, 2015

All you folkies put on your Wednesday’s best; Robert Sarazin Blake is coming to town. Queen City Cartel is hosting the travelling folk singer/songwriter and his band, The put-it-all-down-in-a-Letters, tonight in the back room of Hardware on Allen. Blake is known for his inviting live performances of highly improvisational story folk, and anyone who has seen him perform before knows that “seeing him perform” isn’t really an all-encompassing way to describe being an audience member at one of his shows. In addition to the neighborly vibes of his celtic-laced acoustic songs, Blake excels at involving the audience conversationally, transforming whatever room he happens to be playing into a congenial space with old friends a-plenty. And speaking of old friends, the Americana balladeers in Pine Fever will be providing tonight’s local support. If there’s a good time to be had anywhere in Buffalo tonight, it’s here. Show starts at 8pm, with[...]

Neutral Milk Hotel at Asbury Hall (04/21/15)

April 22, 2015

Neutral Milk Hotel is a band that needs no introduction; if you’re reading this, you probably know exactly what you clicked on and why you clicked on it. Either you were there, basking in the intimate glow of Asbury Hall, or, regretfully, you missed out on the sold out show and read now to salt your wounds. For the very few of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, allow me to fill in the blanks. Neutral Milk Hotel, a band whose eclectic freak-folk stylings has amassed a mammoth indie-cred and a highly dedicated cult following—almost autonomously, I might add, as the group disbanded in 1999 and didn’t retake the stage until 2013—rolled through Babeville last night on what frontman Jeff Mangum is calling the band’s “last tour of the foreseeable future.” Undoubtedly some heartrending news (as farewell tours tend to be) for fans of the underground neo-folk[...]

Amateur Radio Club – The Laughing Vulcan and Her Dog

April 13, 2015

Rochester’s got some new digs. Ian Egling, formerly of the band SPORTS, and now performing solo under the moniker Amateur Radio Club, just released his debut late last March. The eight track album, titled The Laughing Vulcan and Her Dog, is heavy on the electro pop stylings and draws influence from the synthy jams of yesteryear; snap judgements conjure Bowie and Depeche Mode. Further critical listens reveal a certain modern charm that, when paired with the unambiguous vintage flair, gives this release a unique sound worth diving into. The Laughing Vulcan and Her Dog is our Album of the Week. Vulcan opens strong with the catchy and intimate “SOMEWHERE SUMMER,” making the most of a cheeky synth line layered with electric piano and bouncy drum beat. The synth solo towards the latter half serves as the sweet icing on an already delicious cake. “On and on, on and on…” sings[...]

slackjaw – friendly pestering

April 6, 2015

You’ve got a friend in slackjaw, and not just because their bandcamp URL says so. The Geneseo quartet’s catchy blend of garage punk and slacker rock has a pleasantly affable vibe to it, an air of innate approachability. Their self-appointed description is “weekend rock,” which I think they wear well. Start with the indie charm of Waxahatchee or Lemuria, add a little Pumpkins-esque crunch, and just a dash of late nineties emo influence, and you’ve got yourself some slackjaw. The band just put out their first release a few short days ago, the wonderful friendly pestering EP, already earning a bit of buzz and some heavy rotation here at the blog. I’m happy to crown friendly pestering buffaBLOG’s Album of the Week. It didn’t take very long to warm up to the songs, suffice to say that’s what the band was going for. Singer Ella Mosco delivers lyrics with an[...]

The Decemberists w/ Alvvays @ UB’s Center for the Arts (4/1/15)

April 2, 2015

I had seen The Decemberists once before. The Portland, OR natives played an outdoor, midday set on a sweltering day at Bonnaroo 2011, and I was excited to be able to cross one of the “bucket list bands” off of my list, despite the heat. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t show up hours early for a good spot in front of the stage, and the sun was entirely unforgiving—curse my fair skin—making the experience distant, hot, and less than magical. Luckily for me, the indie-folk storytellers made their most welcome return (and second sell out) to UB’s Center for the Arts this past Wednesday evening, and this time the magic prevailed. Toronto-based girl-pop group Alvvays opened the show promptly at 8pm (the CFA doesn’t mess around when it comes to start times), kicking things off with “Adult Diversion,” the opening track off of the group’s excellent 2014 self-titled debut. For[...]

Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell

April 1, 2015

Loss can alter a person. Whether it’s reinvention, recollection, or flat-out despair that hits the hardest, the death of a loved one often times has a profound effect on an individual. In the case of Sufjan Stevens, the feelings resulting from his mother’s death in 2012 became the creative fuel for Carrie & Lowell, his most masterfully put-together musical release to date. However, this claim does not come without its irony. The album, an emotionally-baring open-book chapter of Sufjan’s personal life, is also the artist at his most torn-apart. Detailing childhood feelings and the difficult relationship he had with his late mother, Sufjan lays out his experiences without expectation, covering a wide spectrum of human emotion. Struggling with alcoholism and bipolar disorder before her untimely death to stomach cancer in 2012, Sufjan’s mother Carrie (along with his stepfather Lowell, who now works at the label that put out this very[...]