Buffalo

Fourmile – Fourmile

February 13, 2026

It’s amazing that, as musicians, we can collaborate across literal oceans. That’s exactly what Fourmile did – a collaboration between Buffalo’s Dylan England (of Del Paxton * fame), and a group of London-based musicians (Owain, Cais, Hank, and Tom) that boast a pedigree of other great bands including TTNG, Harlem Renaissance, Big Hug, and Muttering. Their efforts have resulted in a three-song EP, Fourmile, that continues England & co.’s penchant for guitar-driven Midwest emo sounds. Having initially connected when Del P did a European tour, the members have stayed in touch – lucky for us, it’s resulted in new music.   If the album art to Fourmile is any indication – a patchwork of carpets strewn with some guitar pedals (very nice ones, I might add), cables, and Fender Telecasters – this is a guitar-forward offering, layered thick with lots of tasty textures, twinkles, and any other relevant buzzword typically given to[...]

New Words – “Meteor”

February 7, 2026

Last time we checked in with New Words, we were psyched on the big hooks and emo energy of single “Gave You More.” Project mastermind Benny Scheibel is back and has doubled down on the emo energy, this time with a track called “Meteor.” Fans of Listener or La Dispute will appreciate the passionate sprechgesang that kicks this one off, before a chunky, guitar-driven chorus brings everything home a la The Early November or Knuckle Puck. It’s clear Scheibel loves the art of “emo,” in it’s many forms/waves – get sucked in by the emotional catharsis and stick around for the phat hooks.   “Meteor” is available via Spotify – see below.  

halfstride – “Reading With The Lights Off”

February 6, 2026

Halfstride is a newly-minted Buffalo-based band that specialize in indie rock sounds that go down ultra-smooth. Their latest single, “Reading With the Lights Off” is about “late nights, quiet thoughts, and the moments that linger after the noise fades.” A ringing, rhythmic ride cymbal sets the scene for a chuggy, palm muted guitar backbone and an impressively nimble bassline. Astute readers of the blog may recognize former members of Ponder (the Giraffe) in this act, so expect a little bit of funkiness to this otherwise pleasantly straightforward rocker.   Check out the music video for “Reading With the Lights Off” embedded below.    

West Ferry – Watching the World Run By

December 15, 2025

West Ferry have been not-so-quietly building an oeuvre of passionate, emo-tinged indie punk for 15 years. They’re back with another three-song EP, Watching the World Run By, which finds the band pushing their sound even further, playing around with Midwest emo riffing, folk-tinged punk, and raw emotive passion.   Opening track “Ralph” is as Midwest as it comes – a twinkling guitar riff is the star of the show here, setting the scene for hard-hitting lyrics. Lines like “I’m gonna break every rule so you react / gonna count down every minute till you get back / gonna act like I don’t hear you call my name / gonna clean your plate, gonna keep you SAFE!” are spit out with defiance and a voice-breaking intensity – reminiscent of Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes, but a bit more aligned with the high-intensity punk of Desaparecidos. Keep your ears peeled around the 2:10[...]

The Burkharts – “Tell Me”

December 12, 2025

Buffalo’s surf-pop loyalists The Burkharts are back in the spotlight with a new single, “Tell Me,” serving up another dose of their 60’s-soaked California style rock and roll. The single, their first new release since 2024, comes hand-in-hand with an official music video that nods blatantly (but charmingly) to the freewheeling antics of The Monkees TV show.    In the video, the boys tee up a series of lighthearted shenanigans as they race through several notable WNY filming locations, all soundtracked by their signature retro jangle and stacked vocal harmonies. Seems we won’t have to wait long for more new music either, as the single is the “first of many to come soon” according to the band’s Instagram.   “Tell Me” is streaming now on all major platforms; check out the music video below.    

Science Man – “Monarch Joy – Pt. 3 (The Laughing Hour)”

December 8, 2025

Buffalo hardcore punk act Science Man are capping off their ultra-busy and ultra-noisy 2025 with the visual release of “Monarch Joy – Pt. 3 (The Laughing Hour),” the final installment of their Monarch Joy album-accompanying short film series.   Featuring the songs “Puzzle Hoax,” “Lesser Species” and “The Laughing Hour,” the latest short soundtracks the conclusion of the abstract journey of our unnamed protagonist as they navigate a dark fantasy world inhabited with unexpected friends and dangerous foes.   Directors Lindsay Tripp and Science Man frontman John Toohill bring their Terry Gilliam-inspired vision to life using an impressive DIY combo of homemade costumes, papier-mâché masks, green screen, and stop-motion. Their art direction continues to stand out as unique and singular; building upon a surreal collage of landscapes and characters scrapbooked together with mismatched paper cut-outs and clippings, similar to the cover art of the Blood Brothers classic …Burn, Piano Island,[...]

New Words – “Gave You More”

December 3, 2025

Buffalo-based New Words is led by vocalist Benny Scheibel – they’re here with the ’00s-inspired bombast of new single, “Gave You More.” With the energies of Jimmy Eat World and a hint of All-American Rejects, “Gave You More” is built around a super catchy guitar rhythm and a rolling drumbeat. Scheibel’s vocals are proud and powerful, complimented perfectly by the thundering basslines found here. This one was tailor-made for anyone processing a breakup – so, especially if you’re feeling heartbroken, let the anthemic vibes run through your bones and be prepared to be humming this one the rest of the week.   “Gave You More” is available on Spotify, too.  

Super Flea – Demo

November 28, 2025

It would be safe to assume we’re writing a nostalgia piece about the popular, Cheektowagan market that closed in 2014 and was revitalized in 2022… But no, we’re talking about a new emo/pop punk crew that have named themselves Super Flea. Cooper Taylor and John Carr (of Autoignition, Speed Dial, and other projects) teamed up with Milo Duhn to come out swinging with a three-song EP, simply called Demo… With a few friendly faces in tow. Expect fantastic drumming from Del Paxton’s Greg McClure and the tried-and-true Jay Zubricky/GCR Studios treatment, who both suit this project perfectly.   If their pedigree tells us anything, Taylor/Carr are becoming masters of pop-punk songwriting. Opening track, “86,” is a great place to start – blistering drums from McClure lay the groundwork for Taylor/Carr explosiveness. Fans of Knuckle Puck, Neck Deep, and The Story So Far will enjoy the bratty, gravel-voiced vocals and sharp[...]

Lower Pony – Bluette

November 17, 2025

If you’re at all familiar with Buffalo’s music scene, you already know the guys in Lower Pony. Ray Fulton, Dave Calos, and Ryan Besch have been in and out of Harvest Sum bands for years, and they recently tapped Passed Out frontman Andy Pothier (another recent Harvest Sum inductee) on drums. So their first proper 7-inch, Bluette, isn’t really a debut, it’s more of a “hello again.” After a years-long stream of demos, these four tracks finally put the band’s sound on wax: lo-fi, 90s-indebted slacker rock. It’s a refreshingly traditional guitar/guitar/bass/drums formula that leans on good, honest songs, not studio tricks, pulling hard from influences like Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh.   The EP starts fast with the single, “Bluette,” a 59-second sprint that’s all tangled guitars and resigned lyrics (“if you feel this way / there’s not much I can say”). It’s as jagged as it is engaging and[...]

Astronaut Head – “Talk To Frank”

November 7, 2025

Once again returning to buffaBLOG, Astronaut Head, the solo project of Buffalo’s Jessica Stoddard, treats us to an epic, movie soundtrack-esque piece of lo-fi, indie trip hop called “Talk To Frank.” Stoddard has worked on projects that are at least part-Scottish, such as The Deep Red Sky and The Little Birds. Not too long ago, Astronaut Head also released the 5-song EP Meek Moon, a musical grouping reviewed by buffaBLOG’s Ronald Walczyk. The EP departs from Stoddard’s past creative endeavors, and presents with an alienesque echo. “Talk To Frank” is a similar, yet continued evolution of Stoddard’s journey – it is drenched in reverb with titillating synthesizers and massive electronic drum queues. The song provokes, all at once, intense introspection and dream-like entrancement. It feels natural despite its intensity at times.   Stoddard is very mindful, exact, and practiced in her approach to songwriting and musical production. One can definitely[...]

Crows Will Cry – Maelstrom

October 24, 2025

With electrifying instrumentals and haunting vocals, Crows Will Cry truly lives up to its name. The Buffalo-based act is known for its post-rock, ambient, and cinematic elements and genres, spinning trance-inducing webs of sound woven into powerful melodies. Their latest LP, Maelstrom, is a ten song offering that features a broad selection of both instrumental tracks and songs with hauntingly stunning vocals, showcasing the band’s interesting dichotomy – captivating rhythms and beats versus vocal-driven melodies.   The tracks that do have lyrics are amazingly written. Songs like “You,” “Solace,” and “Fire” provide the audience with deep and emotional lyrics about feeling alone, betrayed, and abandoned. The raw energy that is exhibited throughout Maelstrom shows the band’s immaculate ability to display both intense and emotional feelings through music.   A standout track is definitely “Chemical,” with dynamic and fun beats and harmonic, almost robotic vocals. The track is emotionally charged and builds as[...]

The Mookies – “Grocery Store”

October 22, 2025

Sporting an updated lineup and a slight rebrand, The Mookies (formerly Mookie) have dropped their latest single, “Grocery Store,” a track that gives the Buffalo five-piece a solid launchpad for their jangle-pop trajectory. Recorded at Watchmen Studios and mixed/mastered by Nathaniel Weiss (of Rom Com Victims), the track is a quick, boppy earworm that has surf-punk leanings, showing a bit more teeth than their previous work. The instrumentation is tight and energetic, a fitting foundation for a song that’s all about the dizzying internal monologue of spotting a potential crush in the produce aisle.   The concept is relatable enough–letting your imagination run wild with “what-ifs” in the context of an alluring stranger–but it’s the execution that makes the song shine. Giuliana Bauman’s vocals are sweet and disarming, offering a counterpoint to the song’s blazing pace and jangly, overdriven guitars. It’s bubblegum punk of the highest degree–accessible enough for a[...]

Godlvng – “Go!”

October 20, 2025

Godlvng is an abstract hip hop trio from our city that challenges the zeitgeist with their lyrics, and sends you to otherlands with their sounds.   Vocalists Tr38cho & Father Baker tend to meet producer Hunger Artist wherever they are. On their latest track, “Go!” that appears to be in some sort of dark, vaguely evil dungeon. Each vocalists lyrics are far from vague, posturing within some purgatory of understanding. “Go!” explores the relationships between prey and predator, both with foxes and hens and lions and sheep. They repeat the line “A Lion doesn’t concern himself with the thoughts of a sheep – that’s a lie if I ever heard it. If a lion doesn’t try to think like its prey then how does it eat?” examining conventional societal wisdoms. What else is nonsensical? What else need not apply? Should we lean into nihilism? That thought is also proposed here[...]

Stephen Babcock – “Hockey Town”

October 14, 2025

The Bab-man strikes yet again – the latest in a series of Buffalo-adjacent singles, “Hockey Town” trades Buffalo Bills mania for the quiet and stoic life of a Buffalo Sabres fan. Sure, the Sabes have become a long-struggling team that are now essentially a farm team for the rest of the league (e.g. Eichel, O’Reilly, Okposo, Reinhart etc.)… Bit I digress – if you were around in the late aughts, the Sabres were an absolutely electrifying team that brought honor and glory to our Rust Belt locale. Babcock brings a similar prestige with his understated, almost folksy approach to “Hockey Town,” evoking small-town nostalgia with an approach not unlike Sam Fender or Catfish and the Bottlemen a la his signature twang and ultra-clean production.   Check out “Hockey Town” via the YouTube embed below. Spotify and Apple Music exist too.  

Roy Flush – “Buggin’ Out”

October 13, 2025

The Eastside of Buffalo continues to produce some of the most compelling artists in the 716. One of our favorite new acts is rapper Roy Flush, who brings a street sensibility to each of his bars. “Buggin’ Out” is one of his recent highlights. It’s a great track to explore Roy’s mindset and his experiences, as each line drips with authenticity. Verses describe his connections within the prison system, intimidation with a purpose and the gravitational pull of the streets.  A voice representing a conscious asks Roy on the hook about his behavior, and his poignant response is essentially that it’s just the way things have to be. Roy’s anchored on the beat by a melancholic soul sample that really grounds Roy’s street diary. Its sweetness counters Roy’s aggressiveness and creates a perfectly well-rounded sonic experience. Give it a spin below. Check out Roy’s latest run of singles on Spotify.[...]