Latest Posts

Tonight: Newish Star

November 13, 2015

Buffalo’s favorite lo-fi power punk act Newish Star has some new(ish) announcements! As a follow up to their October release, You Missed Everything Part I, the trio recently released the second half of their new album, You Missed Everything Part II. With a whopping eight minute-thirty second run time and a total album run time of about 17 minutes, the guys stay true to the brief, quip-like tunes they’re known for. Though it feels like the album is over in the blink of an eye, the cryptic lyrics and hooky melodies always linger for much longer. As an added bonus, tonight marks the start of Newish Star’s November tour, which will include nine additional East Coast dates. The celebration kicks off at Curly’s at 7pm tonight. $3 gets ya in the door to experience the band’s punchy, energy packed set, along with opening sets from Kharlos and Tony Flaminio. Ask[...]

The Naturalists – Home Honey, I’m Hi

November 2, 2015

If you’ve ever seen The Naturalists live, you might know what I mean when I say their live set feels like a party scene straight out of a cult classic 90’s movie. They’re gritty, loud as heck, there’s a lot of fearless guitar riffs and hair being flipped back and forth. This three piece, grunge-soaked Buffalo band is the perfect lovechild of that golden era of 90’s alt-rock and modern, fuzzy garage rock. Lead singer and guitarist Craig Perno has this unique Raine Maida quality to his voice that is equally piercing as it is haunting. He has a solid grasp of when to kick it into high gear and when to hold back for a mysterious, brooding effect. The rest of the band, consisting of Zach Russell on bass and Perno’s twin brother Travis on drums, exudes the same confidence and dark allure when performing. The camaraderie between these[...]

Tonight: Darklands

October 27, 2015

Darklands throws a little bit of everything your way. There’s a fuzz-driven foundation, indie pop vocal lines to latch onto, that same magnitude of sound that a post-rock band might project, and an overall shoegazey blend. The Providence, RI band’s recent five song EP, St Thaddeus, dishes it all out equally. “Hope,” the nearly eight minute long closer to the EP is my favorite song off the release. It manages to have a somewhat lackadaisical attitude that a band like Ovlov carried (RIP), but it’s still melodic enough for you to stay tuned in. It erupts into an enormous, dreamy jam toward the end that I can only imagine will be badass in a live setting. The three piece plays with Twin Foxes, another Providence based band, tonight at The Tree House (ask a punk). Local support is offered by Avocado Boys (ft. members of Newish Star, Softlines, and Rosy)[...]

The Front Bottoms at Water Street Music Hall (10/22/15)

October 23, 2015

Here’s the thing about this band: every time you think you’ve seen enough or are burnt out on listening to their stuff, you come back for more. I’ve been to a total of five Front Bottom shows now and am somehow still unremittingly drawn to them. For the same reason I tend to always order a medium iced coffee with cream and caramel swirl when I roll through the Dunkin’ Donuts drive thru, I always try to snag a ticket if they’re in the area because I know what I’m getting into at a Front Bottoms show, and I know it’ll be real damn good. Last night’s Rochester show at Water Street stuck out to me among all of my past TFB show escapades. With a set list that included eight songs from their newest release, Back On Top, three songs from the Rose EP, five songs from Talon of the Hawk and four[...]

The Front Bottoms

October 22, 2015

The Front Bottoms carry the unique ability to put listeners through the emotional wringer and have them come out on the other side embracing a limitlessly carefree attitude. Through charm, wit, innuendo, pointed imagery and melodies that nest themselves neatly in your ears for a seemingly infinite amount of time, this four piece has been able to use that ability to develop into a captivating indie-pop force. The band’s recent full length release, Back On Top, is somewhat of a power statement. It’s undoubtedly different than previous releases but it still retains the same characteristics mentioned above. Even people who initially expressed reservation toward the album have come to love it in some way — in almost an exclusive, “this album was written for me” type of way. Tunes like “West Virginia” and “Cough It Out” showcase the creative risks the band is taking instrumentally and melodically, but there’s still this inherent somber hopefulness[...]

Tonight: Tiger Hatchery

October 14, 2015

If there’s anything the haphazard nature of Tiger Hatchery‘s music proves, it is this: chaos can be just as much a refined art as it can be an all-out disorderly rage fest. The  Chicago based free jazz group has been described from other sources as harsh, destructive, explosive — pretty much any adjective that incites some sort of discord. Upon listening, it all might initially seem senseless, but after awhile it seems quite the opposite. Every crazed run of notes seem to have a place after one another, and it just keeps going and going until you’re totally engulfed in the chaotic bubble they create. Their specific brand of sound reminds me of a class I took in my college days. It was called Free Improv and it was exactly one and a half hours of chaos. We did everything from use shopping carts as instruments to flail our arms around to short bursts[...]

Tonight: Eskimeaux

October 9, 2015

Eskimeaux is conscientious music for the attentive listener. Started as a solo effort by Gabrielle Smith, the project has recently evolved into a four piece outfit on the road. The band’s latest full length release, O.K., has been held in high regard by major publications like Stereogum, Pitchfork, and NPR, to name a few. Stark honesty is littered throughout, but it’s dressed up in a silk case. The album really does a good job of taking a bare-boned look at what it’s like to feel scared, unsure and alone in a quiet, humble way. It also successfully breaks the mold of traditional, soft-toned indie singer-songwriter type music in terms of instrumentation. There’s a real clarity to the heavily layered songs, and one that brings the whole collection to a much more poppy level. It’s less lo-fi bedroom rock, more crystal clear, heartfelt stuff that’s carefully constructed. I have a hard time imagining Eskimeaux playing anywhere else in[...]

Today: Buffalo Porchfest

October 3, 2015

Now that the hubbub from the Gates Circle hospital implosion (and all of the Facebook group notifications about it) is over, you can ready yourself for a musical explosion of sorts. This afternoon marks the 5th installment of the beloved bi-annual Porchfest music showcase and celebration, which is exactly what it sounds like. Around 52 bands are scheduled to play porch-side at various locations in the Elmwood Village this year. This includes bands like The Tins, Wolf, City Under Seige, Bagel Jesus, Wood Bois, and dozens more. Not only is this a great excuse to wander around, it’s an event that highlights both the variety of talent our music scene fosters and how rad the Buffalo community is for pulling something of this nature together in such an organized way. We rule. The whole fest starts around 1:00pm and you can view official times and schedules here or at http://buffaloporchfest.org/.[...]

Cooler Releases Debut EP 1993

September 29, 2015

Cooler’s debut EP is nothing less than a power statement. The Buffalo four-piece has brought a hard hitting slice of 90’s infused fuzz-rock to the table in the form of 1993, and it certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. With wailing vocal melodies and smoky undertones, you’re given something to latch onto right away as a listener. The fuzzed out guitar riffs top off their entire sound, which I can only imagine is intensified in a live setting. The whole outfit is reminiscent of Pity Sex but with discernible vocals, mixed with the grit of local rock trio The Naturalists (whom Cooler make the perfect counterpart to in my opinion). At three songs long, the EP is short and sweet, but still a cutting testament to the natural craft they have. Give it a listen below.

The Fox Sisters Release New Album Under The Stars

September 25, 2015

Ever wish you could get away with doing the mashed potato or the hitch hike at a show nowadays? The Fox Sisters provide the perfect musical backdrop for some old-timey jivin’ of that variety. The Fox Sisters are a big band with a big sound. This seven piece group out of Rochester will transport you to a different time period with their zippy rock ‘n’ roll tunes that are reminiscent of King Kahn & BBQ Show. Their newest full length release, Under The Stars, combines 60’s R&B with a lo-fi, garage sound to give us a retro frat-rock feel. It’s a feel good record that brings about the ruckus of a full fledged 60’s dance club in the best way possible. Grab your sweetheart and/or your dancing shoes and give it a listen below.

The Young Couples Release Debut Single

September 21, 2015

Rochester is always bringing us tasty tunes these days. From the neighboring land of indie gems comes the Young Couples, a hodge-podge super group of sorts led by former SPORTS front man Ian Proper which features contributions from members of Howlo, Pleistocene, Passive Aggressives Anonymous, and Amateur Radio Club. The debut single “Carnivores” from the band’s upcoming debut EP is an upbeat fusion of styles. It’s a little Vampire Weekend-ish with a unique 80’s inspired twist of their own. The super singable chorus and crunchy guitar solo makes it the perfect cruise-around-in-the-T-Bird-I-don’t-have type of song. Definitely expecting awesome things to come from TYC. Listen to the single below and keep your eyes and ears peeled for their upcoming release near the end of 2015.

Tonight: Taking Back Saturday

September 18, 2015

We all wish we could go back to a simpler time. Let that time be the early 2000’s, when the likes of Bert McCracken and Gerard Way reigned supreme and teased half-mullets were the hairstyle of choice. Sure, the emo kids got shat on as much as any hipster does today but let’s face it, we loved emo music and emo music loved us. buffaBLOG is kicking off our “Taking Back Saturday: A Night of Emo Music” series tonight at Milkie’s on Elmwood, with plans to make it a continual event. What other time will it be appropriate to bust out your youth sized At The Drive-In shirt and channel Adam Lazzara’s stage moves? To make things extra nostalgic, there will be guest DJ appearances from Jeff Czum (Cute Is What We AIm For), Anthony Musior (Mandy K), and Nick Sessanna (In Motion). 10pm fun, $5 is all it will[...]

Spring Service Shares Debut EP Concrete Prayer

September 8, 2015

Spring Service, the acoustic bedroom folk project of Tom Dennis, is music for the quiet observer. The Sun Kil Moon-esque instrumentals and story-like lyricism wring you out in an emotional but overwhelmingly appeasing way. All four tunes on Dennis’ debut EP Concrete Prayer carry a really beautiful earthy quality to them, but also incite an astral feel when it comes to the overall production. My favorite tune, “Polylonliness,” makes use of a twinkling, dizzying electric guitar part while Dennis describes striking terrestrial images of Capulin Mountain, volcanic bone and ribbons of smoke. Something about the melody reminds me so much of Band of Horses with its soaring progression and impassioned vulnerability. Concrete Prayer is more than just a union of earth and cosmos. It is also a union of East and West, a collaboration that bridges great distance. Dennis is a former resident of the Queen City and a former[...]

Ratatat at Rapids Theatre (9/3/15)

September 4, 2015

I was told I’d encounter two things at Ratatat’s live show: lasers and birds. It was my first time experiencing the rock-tronica duo, comprised of Evan Mast and Mike Stroud, and after the forecast I was given, I walked into the Rapids Theatre entirely unsure of what to expect. I think it’s rare to be able to say that and see your own genuine sense of uncertainty equate to bona fide bewilderment come show time, which is exactly what happened. There was a palpable anticipation and an even more palpable energy soaked into the crowd. Pressed up against the stage barrier in the midst of wait time, the security guard in front of me smiled to the few of us up front and said, “This is one of the brightest shows I’ve ever seen, that’s why I’m sittin’ down on the ground when they start.” He definitely wasn’t wrong. About[...]

Aircraft – 7 Gems From the Sparkling Void

August 31, 2015

Aircraft is the band you’d picture being propelled 200 years into the future and selling out venue after venue in Saturn’s ringside (presumably flourishing) psych-pop music scene. It’s spacey, surf-like indie rock that maintains a tastefully flashy appeal, but it’s stuff that all of us earthlings can cut loose to in a grungy basement or bar, also. The Buffalo quartet (comprised of Justin John Smith, Tyler Skelton, James Warren, and Matt Cosmann) released their long awaited sophomore album, 7 Gems From the Sparkling Void, through local label Admirable Trait Records this past weekend. It’s a neatly packaged seven song album that offers a clean sound with modish aftertastes. The album had a slower build for me, but I often discover that to be one of the greatest qualities an album can have. I found myself humming the first tune to myself by the time I got to the last and wanting to[...]