Buffalo

Johnny & the Man Kids Release Single “I’m Just a Man”

October 31, 2017

Within the first 40 seconds of “I’m Just a Man” by Buffalo natives Johnny & the Man Kids, a grouping of instruments coalesce one by one—rollicking drums, chiming guitar, a buoyant bassline, a keyboard replicating a theremin, and intervening vocal calls of “1, 2, 3, 4.” Lead singer John Marciniak lyrically pleads with a love interest, tossing his pride to the curb while insisting on living each day to the fullest. The lines “now I / know that I’ll find / some peace of mind / knowing you’re fine” meet a thunderous instrumental barrage before falling back to that initial guitar line and, fittingly enough, a call to “slow down.” “I’m Just a Man” then reintroduces the remaining instruments only to wipe them all away again with exception of an ascending bassline and ethereal sound effects. After another build-up, the words enter, flipping the message to “don’t slow down” instead.[...]

Passion in Constellation Returns with New Single

October 24, 2017

Buffalo-based producer Passion in Constellation has returned, joining forces with singer Star Cvlt to release the new single “A Little More About You.” The track is a sparkly affair filled with flashy keystrokes and surges of synth, all laid underneath Star Cvlt’s (aka Amanda Terragnoli) breathy vocals. “A Little More About You” succeeds in building to the crescendo, which crashes like a tidal wave once the beat drops. Anticipation swells as tempos slow, though it’s only a matter of time before the waves start to crest once again. As a matter of fact, this all happens within the first minute of the track, but that’s just a taste of what’s to come over the course of the next few minutes. “Light up these skies / So at night / I can keep you / Light up this tomb / I’ll be the moon / To reflect you,’ she sings during[...]

heave – S/T

October 6, 2017

Buffalo musician Emily Finlan has released her first EP via bandcamp. Recording under the name heave, the self-titled EP is a quick three-song debut. Here, she acts as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, with accompaniment from Jake Galenski on drums, slide guitar and organ. Having been recorded in an attic, the EP has deep DIY indie vibes, which lends itself to the laid back nature of these tunes. The smooth reverberant tone of the electric guitar provides a gliding effect that coasts throughout the not quite 8 minute release. The lightest organ and second guitar flourishes ebb and flow at just the right moments to bring each track to life. For being only three songs long, there is quite a bit of range here. Opening track, “beveled,” has a loose jazz groove to it, with a slide guitar refrain that teases a lazy beach afternoon. The second track, “cape squad,”[...]

Wild Things Return with “Don’t Wanna Feel It”

September 28, 2017

“I’m always on the fence about love / How am I supposed to get some / When I’m always close to my heart / Tell me something I wanna know / Don’t make me give you my all / I’ll fuck it up just show,” Wild Things’ vocalist Ben Cain sings at the outset of new single “Don’t Wanna Feel It,” overtop a driving bass beat, though the best of the track is still to come. It doesn’t take too long for the song’s massive hook to take over, leaving the listener awash in dance floor-ready synths, squeaky clean guitar tones, soaring vocals and plenty of ‘nah nah, nah nah’ call-and-response bliss. “It’s getting harder and harder to fight the fear and the desire,” Cain waxes later on, before the song’s big hook takes hold once again. “Don’t Wanna Feel It” is a fun-as-hell pop banger, but rest assured, once[...]

dreambeaches Drop New Single “Trademark,” Ready New EP

September 27, 2017

Buffalo baroque surf rockers dreambeaches are getting ready to drop their newest EP in a few weeks and they’re getting us ready for it too with a hot lead single, “Trademark.”  A gorgeous riot of chiming guitars, a propulsive beat, irresistible hooks, and sunny harmonies that soothe the soul, it’s an excellent teaser for Disappearing Act due October 13th from Admirable Traits Records and the show they’ll be putting on at Milkie’s for their album release shindig that night.  In the meantime, enjoy “Trademark” below.

SMUG Drop New Video “Swearing At You”

September 26, 2017

At the Flaming Lips with Mac DeMarco show the other night I was talking with a respectable citizen and elected union official who lamented to me that he’d read something on the Internet about how today’s youth don’t engage in the coming of age shenanigans previous generations did. Sneaking beers, getting into low level trouble and other forms of teen rebellion has apparently gone out of style and been replaced by other pursuits… but it still happens, and it should be celebrated, like it is in the new clip and single from SMUG. The former Naturalists are up to no good, and “Swearing At You,” directed and edited by fellow buffaBLOG writer Shauna Kyle and Del Paxton’s Greg McClure,  is fun in all caps, and a reminder that some of the youth, including the kids at the Lips show, are all right.

The Slums – Bloodsucker

September 15, 2017

The Slums describe their band as ‘loud rock ‘n’ roll’ and their music as ‘loud songs,’ a pair of phrases that perfectly describe their latest EP, Bloodsucker. In fact, they’re pretty much the hallmarks of the record. Bloodsucker explodes like a house of fire on the opening title track; a barrage of powerful swagger, cacophonous screams and jarring cymbal crashes.. However, the Slums quickly pump the brakes on the subsequent “Black Dress,” proving they aren’t mere pomp and circumstance by tempering the pace with angular riffs and soaring hooks. This goes until the final 40 seconds or so, when the band brings the noise back to your speakers once the track devolves into a sea of discordant shrieks, wailing guitars and loud percussion. The closing “Eight Months” represents the best of Bloodsucker’s trio of tunes, effectively combining the bands ability to craft stirring melodies and still crank everything to 11[...]

Dean Chatham Drops Video for “Blueberries”

August 29, 2017

Buffalo rapper Dean Chatham has been on the grind for a while now, having released five projects throughout his career and taking part of the hip-hop collective Black Sol, Chatham seems as though he knows what he’s doing. With his newest released EP titled, Red vs. Blue, Chatham recently released a charming music video for the single off of the EP, “Blueberries.” Directed and edited by James Werick, it has a DIY element to it, yet it’s kept professional with clever editing skills like certain shots coinciding with different lyrics that give it a humorous and light feel. Showing shots of his family, friends, and footage of his shows, the video for “Blueberries” gives a genuine view of the rapper by capturing him in a candid and relatable light. “Blueberries” also gives an authentic view of Buffalo and how Buffalo welcomes anyone with open arms. At one point, Chatham sings with[...]

Pop Punkers Kill The Clock Release New Music Video

August 7, 2017

Buffalonian pop-punk act Kill The Clock are on fire right now. The quartet is buzzing, having just played a massive gig with alt-rock mainstays Theory of a Deadman at Canalside. With what seems like perfect timing, the group has just released a music video for their new jam “Ode to Cheating Death.” Fans of Knuckle Puck, New Found Glory, or Four Year Strong will definitely dig this one. Click play below and prep yourself for blistering punk riffs, major chord progressions, and urgent vibes. Do KTC a solid and head over to their Bandcamp page. There, you can pick up their latest EP, Southgate, for a very reasonable “pay what you want” rate.

Digit n Kemp Release Defused via Dance & Rave

July 27, 2017

Darlington, UK house duo Digit n Kemp offer a trio of groove-laden house cuts on their latest Defused EP, the inaugural release for Buffalo based electronic label Dance & Rave. Ranging sonically from tech house to acid and more straightforward techno, the set of tracks provides near peak time jams with hefty percussion and vivid textures. The title track combines a fluid bass line with buoyant synth sounds, percussive vocal sampling that makes way for a hyper tense breakdown and buildup which allows the deep groove to burgeon. “Fallen Acid” again brings a deep atmosphere with an eccentric acid line and punchy drums, while “Ibiza70s” builds from a hypnotic synth groove and features a prominent vocal sample addressing history of the island of reference in the track’s title. Digit n Kemp are well versed in the types of immersive sounds and arrangement styles that make for dance floor weapons, their[...]

M.A.G.S. Returns with New Single “Demon”

July 21, 2017

Buffalo-based multi-instrumentalist M.A.G.S. released “Demon,” the first single off his forthcoming self-titled album, due out September 8th via Admirable Traits Records. M.A.G.S., the moniker for Elliott Douglas, has proven to be on a quick rise to popularity. After his debut EP Cellophane in in 2015, his work was featured on the soundtracks for TV shows including Shameless, The Flash and Famous In Love. Douglas looks to continue his rise through “Demon.” Nestled under dreamy guitar riffs, we find Douglas’ falsetto vocals. Effects draw these vocals out further, giving them some grit and character. All the instruments on the track are played by Douglas, so we are left with a consistent product throughout. Check out the music video for “Demon’ below via YouTube.

Previous Love Releases Debut Single “Caffeine”

July 21, 2017

Buffalo based alternative rockers Precious Love released the first single “Caffeine” off their upcoming self-titled EP. Recorded with Jay Zubricky at GCR Studios, “Caffeine’s” guitar riffs come as dreamy, but carry an edge to them. The vocals hold the somber feel that captures the essence of glory days of emo music. Listen along with the single below and make sure to keep an eye out for Previous Love’s EP out July 25th.

Darth Nater – “The Western Lowland Gorilla Song”

July 19, 2017

Darth Nater (pun intended) is also known as singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nate Noworyta. The Buffalo-born musician recently caught our attention with “The Western Lowland Gorilla Song,” a tongue-in-cheek ditty that highlights his wry delivery, dry wit, and unique storytelling ability. Noworyta recently released his fourth full-length album, People Are Animals, which is (unsurprisingly) a collection of ten songs about people who act like animals. Fans of The Front Bottoms, Modern Baseball, or Dave Matthews will surely like this one. If you’re digging it, you can purchase People Are Animals via Bandcamp.

Eyes Everywhere Release New EP Talk/Cold Bug Out

July 12, 2017

Last month, Buffalo DJ/production duo Eyes Everywhere’s released their highly anticipated new EP Talk/Cold Bug Out  via Atlanta house label Psycho Disco. The EP presents a pair of tech house heaters with dense bass, dynamic percussion, and evocative vocal samples. “Talk” features dexterous drum patterns, atmospheric, sonorous synth work and the type of incendiary breakdowns the pair has become known for. B-side “Cold Bug Out” includes wonky synths, energetic vocal samples, melodic builds leading into a propulsive groove. “Talk/Cold Bug Out” is out now on Beatport, iTunes, and Spotify. Listen below.

D.A Live Releases “Everything I Ain’t Been”

June 10, 2017

Buffalo-based rapper D.A Live provides complex wordplay through his release “Everything I Ain’t Been.” With a mixture of unpredictable flows and smooth melodies, Live brings an unconventional vibe to the track. Ski Beats brings a laid-back beat with a light snare and a slow, deep bass. The song goes into the struggles of everything that Live wants to be, but cannot reach in his present state. Listen to “Everything I Ain’t Been” via SoundCloud below.