Buffalo

Bryan Johnson and Family Return with New Single

February 22, 2017

Local surf rockers, Bryan Johnson and Family, returned earlierr this month with a new reverbed-out single “Next Wave.”  On the Fam’s new single, the guitar is a wonderful blend of janglyness and smoothness. The bass thuds along joyfully while the hi-hat swarms about your head like a feather-down pillow. The xylophone-esque lead does the song well – it adds to the Hawaiian feels. “Next Wave” is a welcome return from the Buffalo staples. Check it out.

Short Moscato – “Whisper (Disappear)”

February 21, 2017

Buffalo rapper Short Moscato is a proven wordsmith that also comes through with thematic songs and projects on the regular. His latest track “Whisper” discusses his methods of escape from his insecurities and beyond. The voice of John Lennon talks of the transcendental powers of meditation, and Moscato follows him up by delving into his own explorations. He delivers just one titular verse, allowing for Lennon and medasin’s production to frame his messages. Medasin’s light-yet-abrasive outro captures the flux of Moscato’s deliverance, and wraps up a tight track. “Whisper” is the first single off of Moscato’s commercial debut The Colour of Air, due out March 17th.

Mega Powers – “Hit the Streets”

February 20, 2017

Buffalo’s Mega Powers is the tandem of emcee Ideal and producer Jacebeats. Their name calls to the legendary wrestling duo of Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man Randy Savage and they’ve got the talent to back it up. “Hit the Streets” is an idealist boom bap single with a call to action to take things back to the people. Ideal’s bars promote independent thinking and living in the moment, while Jace’s joyful production features show-stealing vocal samples and horns. The “Hit the Streets” music video continues the throwback vibes  as Ideal takes center stage while Jace stunts stoically in the background. “Hit the Streets” is the debut single for the Mega Powers’ much-anticipated upcoming album 0 = 1. Press play below.

Eli2ah Releases Debut Single “Bamaphones”

February 17, 2017

Buffalo MC Eli2ah delivers an impassioned verse over a sinister instrumental on the first track released from his debut EP, Galore. “Bamaphones,” produced by Derek Sullivan, also features verses from Leemsworld and OJ who use their agile flows to hover atop menacing 808’s and hi hat rolls. Asking “make who great again?” and wishing for a third Obama term, the track, while not overtly political, feels like a powerful reaction to the current establishment’s attitudes towards the young and disenfranchised. Eli2ah’s Galore EP is expected to drop this spring. Listen below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/305848991″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Rap & Destroy Drop Video For “R. Kelly’s Heel”

February 15, 2017

Buffalo’s got a new crew exploring the frontiers of hip hop and punk by the name of Rap & Destroy and they’ve dropped a video for their jam “R. Kelly’s Heel” that could be a game changer. Uniting local MC’s Tr38cho, Ideal, OLMEC, and MC/producer sparKmatiK, Rap & Destroy has both flow and grit, and an understated flavor that brings the big beats along with sweet lo-fi grooviness in manner reminiscent of the late 80’s and early 90’s… halcyon days when skatepunks skated to punk and hip hop.  There’s a full length debut LP on the way from Dead Trash Mob Records so stay tuned for more from these cats, and in the meantime enjoy this suitably gritty video for “R. Kelly’s Heel.”

Bedroom Folk Musician Alex Radice Releases Brooding Debut Single

February 9, 2017

Mysterious Williamsville native Alex Radice knows a thing or two about anxiety, a topic he covers in his debut single, “Am I Hollow.” Radice laments over his anxiety’s hold on his long-lost emotions, questioning himself with “Is anyone there?” In reality, Radice’s use of his longing baritone voice and gentle ambient instrumentals has resulted in a beautiful and catchy song reminiscent of Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, and Volcano Choir. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/304696910″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Deadwolf Achieve Liftoff On Latest Single “Half A Man”

February 8, 2017

“Half A Man,” the latest single from Buffalo psych rockers, blew my mind straight up. If you haven’t already gotten this towering, epic jam into your ears, you really need to do so immediately. Anchored by drums that conjure seventies Genesis, spaced out, Drozdesque guitars, and glorious California folk rock vocal harmonies, “Half A Man” achieves celestial liftoff  and doesn’t come back, opting for sweet electronic oblivion instead. It’s B-side “To The Garden” is six minutes of nimble, psychedelic garage rock that simultaneously reminds me of Talking Heads and The Beach Boys and the American songbook these dudes are joyfully shredding on. Please check them out below and Deadwolf’s Bandcamp page for more goodness.

Humble Braggers Reveal New Single

February 3, 2017

Humble Braggers are diving head first into 2017, announcing earlier this week the Buffalo-based trio will be releasing their first full length album I Know Better, I’m No Better on March 10th. Along with the album announcement, the band dropped the lead single off of the album “Weight,” an M83-y sprawling indie pop song with lyrics about dealing wth anxiety and overcoming that feeling. As we’ve come to expect from the band, “Weight” is a big sound banger. Humble Braggers will be celebrating their release on Friday, March 10th with support from touring UK indie-pop act Chad Valley, local baroquers dreambeaches, and the first performance of ex-Sleepy Haha’s frontman Pat Butler’s new project, Bottler. Put ht at in your calendar and in the meantime check out “Weight” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/305311389″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Photo by Krit Upra

Telempathy Releases Grungy New Single, “Dream Life”

February 2, 2017

Buffalo solo act Telempathy recently released her second single, a grungy tune she calls “Dream Life.” She recently spent some time at GCR with Jay Zubricky recording her latest effort, an EP titled Temple of Music. We dig Telempathy’s use of fuzzed-out, straightforward guitar riffs combined with catchy female vocals. Fans of Field Mouse, Tancred, or Hop Along should listen to this immediately. Temple of Music is due out on February 28th. Till then, Telempathy is on Instagram too – give her a follow. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/304216373″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

M.A.G.S. Debuts New Side Project, KIN

February 2, 2017

Elliot (M.A.G.S.) Douglas is back with a rather exciting new project that’s been something very much missing from the Buffalo music scene up until now. Over the last decade indie music has seen an entire sub genre rise up of boy/girl bands: Beach House, Purity Ring, Sleigh Bells, Civil Wars (defunct), Best Coast, Phantogram, etc etc… a genre noticeably absent from these parts until KIN. Composed of Douglas and his wife Julia Douglas, KIN goes one better and gives us the husband/wife duo (ala Tennis or The Carpenters) we’ve been waiting for, kicking TV On The Radio styled surf rock jams that feel good in all the right ways. Check out KIN below and stay tuned for more from Mr. and Mrs. Douglas.

Mutual Friends Release Video for “Instant Gratification”

February 1, 2017

Buffalo synth-pop quartet Mutual Friends debuted a new music video today for “Instant Gratification.” Directed by Nolan Whipple, the video has a calm, introspective nature that parallels “Instant Gratification’s” longing, low-key vibes. Frontman Kevin Scoma’s impressive acting debut had us feeling nostalgic as we watched him travel longingly throughout some notable Buffalo-based scenery. Check it out via the widget below. If you’re digging “Instant Gratification,” be sure to swing by Bandcamp and download it.

Close Ties Release Bedroom Pop Debut

January 31, 2017

Close Ties is a pretty unique act within the Buffalo music scene.  Their five song EP, titled “Nothing really shocks me anymore.,” dropped earlier this month and is an impressive debut to the scene. The EP was written and recorded by Matt Walker in his basement with vocalist Natalie Colucci, later to be mixed and mastered by Buffalo uberproducer Jay Zubricky at GCR Audio. “Nothing really shocks me anymore.,”  as a whole is reminiscent of modern pop punk / emo-tinged acts like Tigers Jaw, Adventures, and especially The Front Bottoms, notably on the single, “Church in the Morning.”  This standout track showcases Colucci’s immense talent for lyrics and telling a story. “Church in the Morning” is all about staying in on a Saturday night because of a family commitment the next day that you aren’t super pumped about. The duo utilizes overtly personal lyrics and while driving acoustic guitar builds up into a climax where bouncy[...]

Moody Cosmos Reveals New Psych-y Single

January 26, 2017

Buffalo’s fearless freak Moody Cosmos are back with a heavy curveball of a new single called “Take Me Home” that’s arrived right on time. Trading psychedelic space rock for unhinged psych garage rock that’s every bit as out there as anything Peter Cahlstadt has done, but with a glorious flaming car crash ambiance that feels so right for this new era. It’s been gratifying and encouraging seeing concerned citizen artist/musicians stepping up locally over the last few months, and now we can add Moody Cosmos to that roster with this fiery, shredding jam.

Del Paxton Drops Latest Single, “Take It To The Limit”

January 18, 2017

If you’ve been at all involved with the Buffalo music scene over the past few years, you should be no stranger to the local indie-emo trio, Del Paxton.  Following their debut in 2013, and a split 7″ in 2015, the trio are gearing up for a full length via Topshelf Records, a major label in the modern “emo revival” scene.  While you’ve probably heard them play this track at various shows over the past year, we are finally being treated to the long awaited studio recordings. “Take It To The Limit” follows the band’s theme of introspective lyrics and math rock inspired instrumentals,  but this track carries an overall much more refined feeling.  The song is one of the band’s most driving yet, featuring catchy riffs, dynamic drums, killer melodies, and almost playful backing vocals all coming together to create overall incredible balance and composition.  While their more obvious, classic, emo influences like Braid and[...]

Ugly Sun Releases New Video, “Pretty One”

January 17, 2017

Buffalo garage rockers Ugly Sun are back with another excellent video, this time for their irresistible latest single “Pretty One.” Directed by Neil Maciejewski and edited by Made Violent collaborator Andy DeLuca, “Pretty One” features some beautiful lo-fi digital photography and local ingenue Whitney Smith to go along perfectly with the the single’s tasty post industrial garage riffs and stellar vocal harmonies that have already become the band’s signature sound. They might have made their debut last fall, but with jams and videos like “Pretty Sun,” 2017 could be Ugly Sun’s year.