Buffalo

Tough Old Bird Reveals First Single off Upcoming Album

May 9, 2019

Late late month, Filmore NY’s Tough Old Bird dropped “Harbor Song,” the first single off their upcoming album The Old Great Lakes. “Harbor Song,” finds them expanding their sound slightly, in a way that highlights their rustic, blues tinged Americana stylings. The track opens up with a soulful trumpet duet, which is soon joined by a gentle beat in the drums. Lead singer Nathan Corrigan’s vocals balance perfectly, with a lilt that carries a certain weariness. The track is extremely evocative, conjuring up images of dusty, yellowed photographs. As the track builds, the layers grow, but at no point overpower Corrigan. Perhaps this is the real beauty of Tough Old Bird; their ability to capture Rust-Belt languor and the weariness of the road without succumbing to it. Aside from their expanding fanbase, this track will also appeal to fans of Buck Meek, The Avett Brothers, and Townes Van Zandt. Tough[...]

Jesse & The Spirit Releases New Single “Anthropocene”

May 2, 2019

Jesse & The Spirit aka Jesse James Kaufman is back with a compellingly bleak and punishingly psychedelic single and video called “Anthropocene” that takes no prisoners and holds back no truths. Saving you a trip to a search engine, Anthropocene is the geological name for our age, the time period during which our human activity has actively wrecked the planet we live on. Meanwhile, the word psychedelic  comes from the english word psyche (the human mind, soul or spirit) and the greek word delos (clear, manifest), and this futuristic and Fridmannesque “wall of sound” aural experience is excruciatingly concise and clear of mind about our current state and future prospects, while jamming hard in the process.

Handsome Jack Go Inside The Making Of Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

April 18, 2019

Gritty Lockport rock revivalists and intrepid world travelers Handsome Jack have given their fans an intimate glimpse into their creative process and the making of their last album Everything’s Gonna Be Alright in a new documentary by Christian Gentry. Calling their sound “timeless” is a huge understatement, and Gentry digs in to show how the boys along with producer Ben McLeod and Nashville engineer Grant Husselman crafted an album with such deep analog vibes for a modern audience and listening experience. There’s also sharp cinematography reminiscent of Anton Corbijn, heavy jams, rock & roll shenanigans, and blood, sweat and tears to round it all off for you, so you should check it out immediately, below.

Wild Once Release Brooding Debut Single, “Perennials”

April 15, 2019

Newly-minted Buffalonian indie rockers Wild Once are due to release their debut EP later this spring. Until then, they’ve come out swinging with the brooding title-track, “Perennials.” The quartet shows off a decidedly mature and atmospheric guitar-driven sound, while not straying too far from their emotional and punk rock roots – think The National meets The Get Up Kids with a hint of The Killers. Perennials is due out this spring via Admirable Traits records. Make sure you catch Wild Once’s EP release – it’s at Mohawk Place on May 10th. Perennials by Wild Once

Ryan Luce Finds “California Gold” On New Single

April 2, 2019

Buffalo ex-pat Ryan Luce has hit a vein of pure Americana goodness on his new single “California Gold” off his forthcoming album and you should get it in your ears pronto. Shuffling earnestly with just  a sweet whiff of melancholy, some killer slide guitar lines and intertwined harmonies that conjure sensations of 70’s country and Buckingham Nicks, “California Gold” is indeed AM radio gold; timeless and bittersweetly irresistible. “California Gold” is the title track of Luce’s forthcoming album that comes out April 26, with a homecoming  show scheduled for May 4th at The Tabernacle.

The Tins Reveal New Single “Boulder Soul”

March 12, 2019

Local mainstays The Tins are back with a new single titled “Boulder Soul.” Since we’ve last checked in with the band, the trio has grown to a quartet, adding Aircraft’s Justin John Smith to the line-up. The band is constantly evolving and changing up their sound, making the project consistently interesting. “Boulder Soul” starts out with a bounce-y rhythm section a la The Cure’s “Close to Me,” adding a carefree, dancing key line. Lyrically, it’s about feeling restless and anxious and overall lost in life’s purpose – a feeling many of us can identify with. Be on the lookout for more of The Tins’ new material and their upcoming show with The Demos, The Leones, and Leyda on Friday, April 5th.

Johnny & The Man Kids Release Raucous New Single, “Before”

March 11, 2019

Buffalo lo-fi pop-rockers Johnny & The Man Kids are gearing up for a new release later this spring. In anticipation, they’ve just dropped the first single from their upcoming EP, You Made Me Hurt. “Before” is an energetic blast of overblown distortion, fleshed out with tastefully distorted vocals that sling earworm pop hooks. Fans of The Strokes, Twin Peaks, or Diarrhea Planet will find something to like here – be sure to check it out through the convenient widget below. Johnny & the Man Kids’ new EP, You Made Me Hurt, is due to be released on 4/12/19 via Admirable Traits Records.

Ghostpool & Hand Out – NYLA

February 28, 2019

A good ol’ fashioned split goes a long way; both bands get the out-of-town rub. In this case, Buffalo’s Ghostpool have teamed up with New Orleans pop-punkers Hand Out for NYLA, a four-song offering that highlights two brand new songs from each band. Hometown reps Ghostpool kick things off with “Bug,” a mid-tempo banger with the strongest of the emo elements across this EP. Both bands straddle that hard-to-define pop-punk/emo line, but “Bug’s” strong dynamic range gives it a true emotional edge. It pairs forlorn lyrics with guitars that switch from reverb-ed and forlorn to fuzzed-out. Lyrically, Ghostpool laments about being existentially annoying – a babbling nobody with a racing mind, eternally buzzing in someone else’s ear like a god damn bug. It’s a touching and sincere sentiment, even if it’s executed with huge guitars and gravel-voiced, pop-punk brattiness. “Feels Bad” (maybe a reference to the ever-memed “feelsbadman”) is another song[...]

Aircraft Drop Live Video For “Bad Things”

February 19, 2019

Beloved psychedelic rockers Aircraft have some new music on the way and our first taste has arrived with an atmospheric video for their new single “Bad Things.” Filmed live at Mammoth Recording Studio, “Bad Things” is more than a tad appropriately bleak, with some groovy underwater guitar sounds maybe a little bit reminiscent of “The Rain Song” and 90’s R.E.M. and hauntingly plaintive vocals from our man Justin John Smith that synch up rather nicely with the prevailing disquiet. You can check it out below, and definitely stay tuned for new Aircraft material incoming this year.

Feverbox Releases Video for Single “Dear Leader”

February 15, 2019

Buffalo’s Feverbox takes to the rooftops in the video for their dynamite indie rock protest anthem, “Dear Leader.” Hot off their 2018 EP, Political Theater, Feverbox pulls no punches in their catchy critique of our Commander-in-chief. Politically charged and defiant lyrics are delivered with fire by lead singer/guitarist Griffin Smith over a raucous and exploding rock beat. Watch the video for this presidential indie rock diss track below and give Political Theater a listen on Bandcamp here.

Nylon Otters Drop New EP, Single

January 22, 2019

Rising Buffalo-based grunge revivalists, Nylon Otters, started 2019 off with a bang by releasing a brand new four song EP titled Goldilocks. The first song off the album and title track “Goldilocks” is the lead single from the album. Lead singer Logan Ross almost effortlessly channels the gravelly howl of Kurt Cobain in the trio’s latest track. The band has mastered a slacker grunge feel, meshing two of the buzziest sounds of the past couple years. Be on the lookout for Nylon Otters in the area, as they are a major go-to bands for local bills and in the meantime enjoy Goldilocks in its entirity over on bandcamp. Goldilocks by Nylon Otters

Lesionread is Back for “2019!”

January 15, 2019

Art provocateur Lesionread has returned to us from the ether (and his ongoing membership in Space Cubs) with a handy and bonkers manifesto for the new year in the form of a new video for “2019!” that’s almost too much. Featuring drums from dreambeaches alum Gabe Wells and even more bodystocking action than ever before, this truly is the kind of art that kicks you up the backside, shakes loose the cobwebs, and blows off excess steam caught in the pipes and leftover from the year before.

VR Sunset Drops “I’m Your Density”

January 10, 2019

Electronic artist VR Sunset aka Reggie Clark, formerly of Planet Three and Lesionread, just released “I’m Your Density,” the debut single for his forthcoming  solo album Artifact that is pure, uncut ear candy and a showcase for some really talented people operating in the Buffalo scene. On the music end you’ve got contributions from local psychedelic sound gurus Tyler Mendola on drums (who was on fire at that M.A.G.S. homecoming show before New Years) and co-producer Cody Morse from Deadwolf, while the ethereal video features direction from Jeanette Chwan and editing by Space Cub’s Shawn Lewis (aka Lesionread) and Reggie channeling Alan Palomo, Crispin Clover, Top Gun, and that dude from The Kingsmen movies. Check it out.

The Shallows Release First Single

December 26, 2018

Members of local bedroom folk acts Heave and Oats Holy Roller have teamed up to form a new group, The Shallows. In anticipation of their debut album, Hold Out For Love, they’ve released their first single. Titled “joan + lily” it’s an excellent foray into delicate and heartfelt Americana. Recorded at Sunwood Recording Studios in, Trumansburg, NY, “joan + lily” pairs multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Emily Finlan of heave with singer-songwriter Joe Myers of Oats Holy Roller. The song is a gorgeous modern folk ballad that chronicles two people who’ve grown apart, getting away from it all and working with your hands, and the feelings associated with trying to piece together a new life. Myers’ low gravelly voice and storyteller prose are the bedrock here, with Finlan providing ethereal backing vocals and haunting cello that gracefully adorn the compositional surface. Overall, its a contemplative and melancholic affair, and a brooding and stirring[...]

Rocco Of The Snow Releases New Single “Big Riddle”

December 21, 2018

Buffalo expat Rocco Of The Snow aka Rocco DellaNeve is back literally and proverbially: proverbially in that he’s got a juicy new single out by the name of “Big Riddle,” and literally because he’s back home for the holidays with a cd release show tonight at the fairly brand new Imagine Event Center in Black Rock. First things first: “Big Riddle” is ideal for those of us prone to seasonal affective disorder, an unseasonably bright slice of electronic r&b perfect for our troubled times, gray, sunless winter days and cold nights in need of funky beats and soaring, fuzzed out synths that broadcast some joy and solace directly into your heart (it’s also a tonic for the soul for those of us who miss Forealists). You can see and hear what Rocco has been up to tonight when he plays a show celebrating his new cd release Prime Mover at the newish Imagine[...]