Buffalo

Tough Old Bird – “Come Back, Come Back”

September 2, 2026

Tough Old Bird keeps on keeping on – the fourth song in a string of successive singles that has seen the band put out a new song every three (3) weeks. The process of releasing music is cathartic, especially at a pace like that, and “Come Back, Come Back” embodies that expression. It’s carried by a trembling tremolo guitar; beautiful folksy harmonies; and a slow crawl tempo that really highlights the band’s penchant for modern folk songcraft, especially their super-tight live vibe, which they took extra effort to capture (excellently) here.   “Come Back, Come Back” is available on bandcamp (below), Spotify, and Apple Music.   Come Back, Come Back by Tough Old Bird

Urge Surfer – Camp Club

September 1, 2026

Urge Surfer, a duo of multi-instrumentalists made up of Jordan Maelyn Smith and Chelsea O’Donnell (of Stress Dolls) recently packed up a bunch of modular synths, acoustic guitars, and other gear, and headed out to rural WNY for “Urge Surfer Summer Camp.” The result of their isolation, the new/unfamiliar locale, and a weekend of collaboration is their new EP, Camp Club.   Releasing music is hard… and stressful… and often a labor of love. So this time around, the duo focused on something novel – having fun. The songs were finished up and released quickly, because that’s what making music is about – doing art with your friends so you can eventually create more art. The duo’s work with modular synths is absolutely their calling card, but it stays rooted in organic pop songwriting with the backbone of acoustic guitar. The EP kicks off with “Night Owl,” a pulsating slice[...]

Roger Bryan and the Orphans – “Concrete”

August 25, 2026

What’s left to say about legendary Buffalonians Roger Bryan and the Orphans? The band has been releasing great stuff for the last 18 years, give or take, and they’re back with another great guitar rocker called “Concrete.” With equally legendary Buffalo-based recording engineer John Angelo in tow, the bands rips and roars through big vocal melodies overtop wry guitar chords utilizing some of the sexiest tones possible. I can only imagine the guitar pedals that they have tucked and layered into this bad boy.   The band is gearing up to release their next record, Open Chord Dispatch, upon which “Concrete” resides. Until then, give it a listen on bandcamp (embedded below), or alternatively, on Spotify and Apple Music.   Concrete by Roger Bryan and The Orphans

Amateur Hockey Club – “Ted”

July 13, 2026

Amateur Hockey Club aim for summer anthem status on their latest single, “Ted.” A bona fide diss track about a landlord who doesn’t care (landlords, amirite?) and a drum set rotting in an inch of standing water, “Ted” is surprisingly breezy for its background rooted in hatred. There’s an island-y acoustic guitar chiming behind the typical AHC-style guitar chugging, but by the time they sing “I guess that I won’t see you around my dude,” you realize this one’s less about chilling poolside and more about telling someone to rightfully eff off.   “Ted” is out now – peep the Soundcloud embed below and then add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.   Amateur Hockey Club · Ted

Tough Old Bird – “Wednesday’s Child”

July 8, 2026

Brothers Matthew and Nathan Corrigan, perhaps known best around Buffalo as Tough Old Bird, are back, this time with a few extra musicians in tow. They’re joined by Ricky Bechard on drums and Brendan O’Shea on bass for a refreshing new take on their already storied catalog. “Wednesday’s Child” is a full-bodied jam making use of twangy guitars, soulful vocals, and a distinctly Americiana-based sound. It’s the first in a string of singles-to-come that were captured at Sunwood Studios in Trumansburg, NY, mostly live-in-studio, which encapsulates the band’s live sound perfectly.   You can listen to “Wednesday’s Child” via the bandcamp embed (below) or via Spotify.   Wednesday’s Child by Tough Old Bird

Barz Banga – “Crack Era”

May 4, 2026

You can almost hear the latest single from Buffalo rapper Barz Banga the moment you get eyes on the cover art. Bills-era Marshawn Lynch, branded with “Beast Mode” text down by his galloping cleats greets you as the most powerful horns you’ve ever heard trot out to kick off the beat. “Crack Era,” the new single from the Brooklyn-born, Buffalo-bred artist is appropriately declarative, boldly announcing a fearlessness that stems from when and where Barz grew up. Perfectly timed for windows-down weather, “Crack Era” is punctuated with booming bass – your neighbors might get transported to 2009 when they hear you coming. If you’re looking for more of this throwback hip hop style, make sure to check out Barz on Spotify, and while you’re there, give our Best Hip Hop 2026 playlist a spin.

Autoignition – “Not For Nothing”

April 29, 2026

Buffalo punk rockers Autoignition are ready to blow out your speakers with a new EP – they’ve started strong with new single, “Not For Nothing.” After three long years of waiting, this is exactly the kind of song you want to hear from your local punk mainstays – lyrics barked with such ferocity that you can almost feel the spittle flying at you from the Mohawk Place stage, set off by blistering drums and huge guitars. These are the kind of songs you need to sit down and form your own bond with, so if you’re into emotional stuff that’s supremely guitar-driven, Autoignition is definitely going to be your thing.   “Not For Nothing” is out now – all the different ways to listen can be found here.    

Robbery Club – “Never Better”

April 15, 2026

Robbery Club can add breaking and entering (and probably trespassing) to their list of crimes – the evidence is clear in their new video for single “Never Better.” In the video, the sharply-dressed band plays a squiggly, Joyce-Manor-meets-Weezer brand of indie punk on some random Buffalo rooftop. Crunchy guitars and melodies aplenty, the song isn’t so much a departure for them – moreso an evolution. Lyrics like “I’m not a child anymore” and “everything is okay” offset the more angsty material from their past, with just enough vagueness to keep you guessing on whether they’re tongue-in-cheek. The visual motifs in the video are cheeky, but cool – keep your eyes peeled for an omnipresent smiley balloon, cowboy hats, and… chickens?   Check out the music video for “Never Better” embedded below. While you’re at it, check out our previous features of Robbery Club here and here.    

The Burkharts – “Please Don’t Wake Me Up”

March 24, 2026

The Burkharts have done it again – another retro-inspired, beach-pop jam they’re calling “Please Don’t Wake Me Up.” As always, the band’s image (and imagery) is on point – superimposing images of lighthouses and the ocean over their finely-tuned, red button down aesthetic. The band themselves appear comfy and cozy in a bedroom, adorned with wood paneling and bold colors, not unlike something you’d see in one of those legendary JC Penney photoshoots from the ’80s. Juicy harmonies, jangly guitars, and a 3:4 time signature help to give this one a slow dance vibe – Fans of The Beach Boys, Real Estate, and Best Coast’s lighter fare are in for a treat on this pretty little waltz.   Check out the video embed for “Please Don’t Wake Me Up” below, or, stream it on Spotify.    

JIRI – “ClockWork”

March 5, 2026

Raleigh-based emcee JIRI emphasizes substance and skill with each of his releases. In his latest track, “ClockWork, ” JIRI makes it clear he’s a different cat. It has all the markings of a single – earworm beat with a tasty looping melody, rapidly evolving sing-songy flows and a chorus that can get stuck in your head on initial listens. JIRI sets himself apart with the skillful storytelling he’s able to weave into a song this accessible. “ClockWork’s” narrative tells the story of a lady who falls for JIRI’s inevitable charm — or does she have different, more sinister intentions? A couple expertly placed lines take this from a typical braggadocious track into one that subverts your expectations. Give it a spin. Check out more from JIRI on Spotify – while you’re there, take our Best of 2026 playlist for a spin. You’ll see JIRI and other talented rising rappers on[...]

Romcom Victims – “Alaska”

February 26, 2026

Are there any bugs in Alaska? Is that a dumb question? Because Romcom Victims are buzzing hard, and their latest single, “Alaska,” is indication why. The band’s been an unstoppable force in the last year or so, putting out jangly college rock vibes that make use of twinkly guitars, lilting vocals, and blistering paces. “Alaska” seems like a step forward for the group – excellent production values certainly help, but the song itself is a neurotic listen through jangle-pop bliss. The bass guitar is thumping, the guitars are plucky and spry (thanks Rickenbacker), and the tempo is fast enough to make this a must-hear on your next trip to Milkie’s or Nietzsche’s. The video itself is a good time too – music videos are notoriously tricky, but the live performance captured is all-smiles and on point, while a CRT tv provides just enough vintage charm to keep it cool and[...]

Mother Nature’s Son – “Angel Attack”

February 23, 2026

Buffalo’s Mother Nature’s Son has just shared a new single, “Angel Attack,” from their upcoming album, The Seven People You Meet In Heaven. Taking queues from sardonic-but-literate emo/pop-punk acts like Say Anything, Motion City Soundtrack, and Ludo before them, “Angel Attack” threads the needle between sneering and smiling – pairing squiggly keyboard tones and crunchy guitars with lyrics that touch on demons, ego death, and being kissed suddenly on the cheek. Musically, the song’s synth-smooched approach gives it a uniquely airy mouthfeel – and the slightly-swung, guitar-driven backbone culminates in a cool, phaser-laden solo. At any rate, MNS knows how to craft a catchy hook, and if “Angel Attack” is any indication, The Seven People You Meet In Heaven is going to be full of inescapable melodies.   Check out “Angel Attack” via the YouTube embed below. Other ways to stream/support can be found here.    

Lesser Birds – “Buffalo”

February 20, 2026

“Buffalo” is an oddly specific name for a song, is someone trying to curry favor with us?! Evidently not, but Lesser Birds has roots here as two members are University at Buffalo alums. You can argue for or against Boston being an upgrade, but I won’t wade into that; ask me about my khakis or my car keys but not both.   Aficionados of post-punk will appreciate the various smatterings of sounds that pop up (including some brassy sounding instruments). The track warps and shifts around and adopts a prog-ish experimental vibe – although, where post-punk ends and prog rock begins, who can say? Speaking to the track the band had this to say:   “Buffalo is a meditation on change, loss, and the quiet pull of home. The song captures the tension between nostalgia and escape, the reluctance of chasing a new life while still haunted by where you[...]

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.