Buffalo

Tonight: Montage of Heck

August 20, 2015

For one night only, the fine folks at Cultivate Cinema Circle teamed up with North Park Theatre to bring one of the year’s most-acclaimed films to Buffalo, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. With production beginning nearly 8 years ago, Brett Morgen became the first filmmaker ever offered full authorization to make a documentary on Kurt Cobain. Granted this privilige, Morgen was given access by the Cobain family to over a decade’s worth of home movies, diary enteries, audio tapes, and artwork. What Brett Morgen has crafted is a vibrant and harrowing multimedia collage that seeks to recreate who Kurt Cobain was as a human being. Rather than recap the pop mythology of Nirvana, Morgen’s film tells the human story about a deeply damaged outsider who brought his childhood pain to his art. A pain that somehow resonated with a public who had never heard anything like it, to make him[...]

King Midas Releases “Take a Trip” Video

August 19, 2015

“Take a trip, make it flip.” Its not a complicated formula, but its absolutely working for Buffalo rapper and Loot Boy King Midas on his latest track “Take a Trip.” With youthful exuberance, Midas flips and whips over a playful instrumental remnant of the ringtone era of rap music. Catchiness has been the law of the land in rap, and Midas is certainly doing his part with this head-nodding chorus and digestible verses. The beach-vibe video maintains the fun summer sounds. The track serves as the second single from Midas’ upcoming project Midas Touch, and the Loot Boys are cooking up No Free Loot for release in September. Give “Take a Trip” a watch below.

Father Baron Releases Debut EP

August 18, 2015

Strung Way Out is the new EP from the Buffalo crust punk outfit Father Baron. The three piece is no strangers to buffaBLOG – the Crook brothers and Trey Hollowood have been previously seen in impressive Buffalo acts that span multiple genres (think Mandy K, Arctic Death, and Nelson Type). But if you’ve come here expecting jaunty indie rock or dream pop, you should brace yourself. In typical fashion, these dudes have genre-hopped again; Father Baron is about as filthy as it gets. Some other great words to describe the act include (but are not limited to): disgusting, vile, angry, and brutal. Not convinced? Listen below.  

Joe Mason Releases The Feels EP

August 13, 2015

Multi instrumentalist and songwriter Joe Mason released one of the more infectious local debuts last year when his infectious, melodic self-titled LP, which earned Album of The Week honors here at buffaBLOG. With vocals similar to Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, hazy synths, and soulful rhythms, the artist’s dense arrangements feel vibrant and evocative, bringing a sense of wonder to the listener. The straightforward, patient songwriting style present throughout Mason’s releases is present on his latest EP, titled The Feels, a five track effort with a psych-pop flavor and melodic instrumentation. Opening track “Stay The Same” begin with a sonorous synth and offers a spacious sound defined by reverb-heavy, soulful vocals and beaming keys. “Pretty Sun” sonically reflects its’ namesake with reflective melodies and dusty percussion, which along with “When I’m Away,” presents a dream-pop oriented sound previously unheard from the artist. In contrast, the immediacy of the title track takes[...]

Mic Excel and L-Biz Release Unsettling New Vid

August 7, 2015

Oktoberfest is in stores, so some Halloween-y, horrorcore-inspired hip hop from Buffalo’s Mic Excel and L-Biz couldn’t be more welcomed. Though not quite horrorcore in the vein of artists like Gravediggaz and Three 6 Mafia, “What’s Under Your Bed?” is certainly on the creepier spectrum of rap music. On the track, Mic Excel delivers an emotionally manic verse, and L-Biz follows it up by discussing his demons as well. Framing the verses is a crooning hook from Angelica R, who begs the question of the track’s title. The track, produced by Angie M. Conte (aka Sparklebomb), includes funeral organs and running dialogue of what sounds like a taped phone conversation between a serial killer and a sex hotline worker. This is definitely a video that will be getting some plays back for the upcoming Halloween season, as it includes occult imagery, some demented barbies, and a Psycho-inspired shower scene. Turn a[...]

Valor Shines on “The Grove”

August 5, 2015

Buffalo rapper Valor is a fun listen. He flirts between serious and nonsensical, and his sound seems purposefully lo-fi and one-takish. On “The Grove,” Valor rides the beat with a pacing and bounce emulative of something form the New Atlanta scene. It seems unorthodox at times, but always remains where it wants to be. Valor also has somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek subject matter, evident by the opening words of the chorus, “Wake up in the morning and I piss sunshine.” Buffalo producer melisahasagun came through with a great, versatile beat that could be flowed over in numerous ways, and the way Valor chose to attack it has me excited for his beat choices down the road. Give it a listen below.

Wood Bois Release New EP Sex Playlist

August 5, 2015

With the break-up of Buffalo’s beloved goofrock band/art project, Well Worn Boot, the local scene has been void of a talented group of talented musicians that can simultaneously deliver good music and “wait… what did they just say?” Enter Wood Bois, a three-piece electro-goth project featuring Blaine Wood (vocals/keyboards), Julius Bois (vocals/samples) and Hiding in the Dark Hiding in the Shadows (keyboards). I am assuming that’s not his birth name. Anyway, the trio released a new EP this past week, titled Sex Playlist. riding  As far as the subject matter,  it’s all over the gambit. The EP starts off with “Razor Scooterz.” The track is led by a gothy-synth and soon evolves into a song about how much a job sucks and how you can’t wait to just get out of work and ride a Razor Scooter. The second track of the album, “The Sparkles,” could easily be a Cure/The[...]

Cemeteries Release New LP Barrow

August 4, 2015

Former Buffalo resident Kyle J. Reigle has been making spacious, atmospheric music as Cemeteries since 2010 when he released a pair of virtual 7″ singles, Brighter Colors/Living Alone along with a subdued cover of Neon Indian’s “Should Have Taken Acid With You”. The now Portland, Oregon-based project has gone on to include Jonathan Loviero and Kate Davis during live performances since the release of their 2012 debut LP, The Wilderness. Praised for its’ ability to sonically reflect a warm summer night, the sometimes sombre record balanced melancholic tones with optimistic melodies similar to artists like Wild Nothing, Youth Lagoon, Mister Lies, and Foxes in Fiction. From the reverb-laden vocals to the eerie soundscapes reminiscent of vintage horror films, the artist’s progression has allowed these core elements to come across more compelling than ever, with his latest LP, Barrow, representing the most imaginative, intriguing collection in the project’s short discography.  The record’s fictional setting[...]

Thick Winter Blud & I Can See Mountains Merge, Form Super American

August 3, 2015

The run of Thick Winter Blud proved to be a short one as the pop-punk trio, which emerged from the ashes of singer/bassist Mat Cox’s I Can See Mountains, is no more. Instead of disbanding, though, the group merged with a couple members of the fellow defunct Buffalo act to form Super American. The newly branded group reminds us of our favorite shouty, gone-to-soon local act, All Blondes Go to Heaven, along with some up-and-coming nationals like Modern Baseball, Somos, and Front Bottoms. You can get the full story of the four piece’s birth right here by the way. The quartet has promised to drop some new material early this fall, so until then, listen to “Nevermind,” a track the band quietly shared near the end of July, below.

MileHigh Muzik Drops Track Each Day of July

July 24, 2015

Buffalo’s MileHigh Muzik crew has been producing quality, versatile tracks for a minute now. The great thing about MileHigh is that when they release these songs, they do so at a frenetic pace. As a Christmas present to their listeners, MileHigh dropped a new song every day of December in a series entitled #JUUGcember, and six months later they’ve brought it back for July. #JUUGly is the consistent dopeness we saw in December, if not at a higher level. Milehigh’s ability to cross rap subgenres ensures that each track feels fresh, and contributes to a project that touches on so many sounds. There’s the gothic bangers “Replacement” and “Don’t Worry,” which combine melodic verses with cloudy synth lines and heavy sub bass a la Travi$ Scott. The instrumental from MileHigh figurehead M-A on “10 Chains” is somewhere between the work of ATL’s Zaytoven and Erick Arc Elliott of the Flatbush[...]

A House Safe for Tigers Releases Video for “Evaporate”

July 24, 2015

A House Safe for Tigers, the latest project from long time Buffalo players Brandon Delmont and Mark Constantino, has just released the music video for “Evaporate,” the melancholic lead single off the duo’s self titled debut LP. Directed by Stevie Matthews, Delmont’s former Son of the Sun band mate, the clip finds the the two strolling through Bidwell/Lincoln Parkway and Hamburg (?) Beach, contemplating their surroundings and each other as a longing Constantino croons into the off screen distance. A House Safe for Tigers will be celebrating the release of the record, which has been available to stream/purchase since early June and is currently out on vinyl via Headless Actor Records, at Mohawk Place later next month. In the mean time, watch the music video for “Evaporate” below.

Motherhouse Drops Early Demo

July 23, 2015

Things have been a little quiet with new music lately as Buffalo paces through summer’s humid dog days, but last night, an intriguing new project hit bandcamp. Motherhouse, a collaborative duo featuring current and past members of acts like the Mordant Sisters, the Actors, and Cross Stitch, dropped a 3-track demo dubbed Sessions during Wednesday’s waning hours. The early material from the band is a haunting, yet soothing collection of ambient no-wave that should appeal to fans of Orenda Fink or Buffalo’s Space Cubs. The pair promises that more music will soon come, so enjoy this appetizer and keep an eye out for additional material in the near future. Listen to “Strong” below.

Blobs Drop Demo Via More Power Tapes

July 22, 2015

Blobs probably has the best band name in punk right now. Born out of the Buffalo scene and two fourths comprised of the now defunct hardcore outfit Bad People, Blobs makes an impressive impact with its 7-track debut demo, recently released over on local tape label, More Power Tapes. The short and sweet demo is pure punk, highlighting Amelia Martin’s vocals. With members in many other bands (Newish Star, Aaron & the Burrs) in addition to this project, the varying influences come together to reach a broader audience, kind of like hardcore punk for fans of Space Wolves. Catch Blobs at Hoyt House on August 2nd and give the EP a listen below.

Sixties Future Releases HAIM Cover

July 21, 2015

It’s no secret that Sixties Future has been one of our favorite bands to pop up in 2015. With just one show under its belt, the quintet has brought a whole new sound to the oftentimes repetitive Buffalo’s music scene. After an impressive debut show as part of Humble Braggers release party, Sixties Future showed a very engaged crowd what was up their sleeve, which included an impressive cover of HAIM’s “The Wire.” This week, the band debuted the cover recorded last month with Jay Zubricky at GCR Audio. Highlighting Chris Couche’s gravelly vocals, Sixties Future delivers a version of “The Wire” which is on par with the original while adding some of the band’s unique flair to the track. Sixties Future will be playing on August 7th at Nietzsche’s with Attic Abasement, M.A.G.S., and Newish Star. Check out the HAIM cover below.

Mr. Boneless Premieres Mammoth Studio Clip

July 16, 2015

Mr. Boneless is back this morning after premiering a live performance video shot at Mammoth Recording Studio. The Fredonia bred, folk-punk foursome dropped by the studios to perform the woozy “Fall Risk,” which was captured on film by the Bumrush Booking crew. The Mr. Boneless clip is the second installment from Bumrush at Mammoth Studio, having previously filmed an Aircraft performance back at the end of 2013. Watch the video below.