Buffalo

Toneyboi Drops Lead Single from Leaders of the New Kool

June 17, 2015

The summer of EV III releases is getting into full swing with the debut music video from Koolie High’s Toneyboi. “Guacaroni & Cheese” is the first single off of the rapper’s soon-to-be released album Leaders of the New Kool, produced entirely by Neckbone Rollins. The street banger’s production is an awesome effort of bizarro grittiness, over which Toneyboi lays out bar after bar. The Malt Disney-directed video sees the rapper and accompanying squad ball out on some courts, do some skating, and post up effortlessly around the city. Toneyboi is headed down south to finish school, but this Saturday the crew is throwing an album release/going away party for the rapper at the Waiting Room. The album is available physically at the party, and online the day after. Peep it below.

Tiny Rhymes Announces A Kinder History EP, Releases “Arrows” Single

June 17, 2015

Our first introduction to Buffalo chamber-folk outfit Tiny Rhymes was a clip of the band performing its wonderful song “Arrows” over at the Unitarian Universalist Church last fall. And now, the band has officially released the song as the lead off single to its upcoming debut EP, A Kinder History. The newly recorded version of “Arrows” is Andrew Bird-esque, full of rich harmonies, lush strings, and whimsical percussion. The 4-track EP (which is currently streaming via Exclaim!) will be available to purchase/download beginning on June 23rd, and you can join the band later next month on Saturday, July 18th, to celebrate the EP’s release over at Pausa Art House on the Allen/Wadsworth bend. Listen to “Arrows” below.

The Traditional Posts Somewhere Sessions

June 15, 2015

Our buddies in The Traditional are in a pretty permanent state of touring. This time around, their travels brought them, well… somewhere, where they performed an acoustic song for the Somewhere Sessions crew. They chose “My Brother Is The Sea” from their debut full-length, How To Live Without Blood, which came out earlier this year on Anchor Eighty Four Records. Of particular note is the group’s innate ability to harmonize over a lone acoustic guitar (see chorus). Check it out below.

Chauncey Tails Links with Ultra Doux for “Otra”

June 10, 2015

Buffalo beatmaker Chauncey Tails has been noted in the past for his strong remix game and his lush, multifaceted production on original tracks. For “Otra,” Tails unites with NYC songstress Ultra Doux for some melancholy electronic R&B. The instrumental features an array of whistles, blips and Chaunce’s signature pitch-shifted vocal samples. The longing of the beat’s sample provides the perfect undertone as Ultra Doux sings hauntingly of regret, drugs, and contemplation. Give it a listen below.

Sleepys Hahas Release First Single from From the Bottom of a Warm Lake

June 9, 2015

Speaking of lineup changes, Sleepy Hahas has gone through a bunch in the group’s four year existence, most recently losing long time drummer Steve Tripi and is currently operating with its third bass player. We think? Anyways, the frequent changes have not stopped the band from refocusing its sound once again and dropping its latest song, “Deep River,” the first single from the group’s forthcoming, 11-track LP, From the Bottom of a Warm Lake, earlier this morning. Recorded with sound engineer Drew Vandenberg, whose impressive resume includes work with Deerhunter and Toro y Moi, “Deep River” is an industrial tinged cut of psych rock, maybe something Nine Inch Nails and of Montreal would record together it they collaborated. The track is long way from the group’s early sounds of Arctic Monkeys-esque garage rock, and is a further example of never knowing what to expect from Sleepy Hahas, not to mention[...]

Sixties Future Drops Newest Single “Sugar”

June 9, 2015

Having just recently emerged on the local band circuit, Sixties Future is on a bit of a roll here, despite its infancy. Last month, the quartet dropped two introductory tracks in “Skeleton” and “Shot,” giving us a solid preview of what the band is all about: straightforward rock-and-roll that is handsome, catchy, and radio-ready. This week, the group brings us another freshie in the form of “Sugar,” an upbeat fireball of a track channeling Springsteen in his best moments. The song, recorded at GCR Audio with Buffalo boardlord Jay Zubricky, balances quick, tom-driven percussion and loud, urgent guitar playing for a high-energy sweet spot that makes me want to front-kick holes in drywall. Fans of The National or The Gaslight Anthem: you’d dig. Sixties Future will play its first gig this Saturday at the Humble Braggers’ EP Release Party; don’t miss out. Until then, give “Sugar” a spin below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/203939123″[...]

Zak Ward Releases Music Video for “Who You Really Are”

June 8, 2015

Late last week, Niagara Falls born singer/songwriter and former Son of the Sun front man, Zak Ward, released the music video for his excellent song (and our #8 song out of Buffalo in 2014), “Who You Really Are,” the lead single to his latest EP, That’s What You Get. The clip, which gives a clever nod to That Thing You Do, finds Ward backed by a new band, the Glad Hands, as the songwriter delivers a performance of the M Ward-esque number. Maybe the Shrimp Shack Shooters weren’t available? Watch the video for “Who You Really Are” below.

Queen City Music Lottery Band, HOTMediummild, Drops Debut Material

June 3, 2015

With 10 new Queen City Music Lottery bands set to make their live debuts this Saturday at Sugar City, a couple of bands have begun to leak their material to the interwebs. One of those bands, HOTMediummild, dropped a 4-track demo, the Mild EP, yesterday afternoon. Featuring Damian Weber (Difficult Night), Norelle Merlo of Mallwalkers and 2014 Lotto band, Scajaquada Creeps, and a very WHAM-like drum machine, HOTMediummild reminds us of Wesley Willis, Kimya Dawson, and Geneseo’s Slackjaw. HOTMediummild (band #8 if you have been following the QCML progress since the beginning) will kick of its set on Stage 2 right around 7pm Saturday night. Listen “Chess Club (I’ll Show You All),” the standout cut from the Mild EP, below so you have a favorite song to clap to.

Pizza Club Productions Premieres Latest Cool Little Music Session feat. Zealot

June 2, 2015

While we wait for that ever elusive release from Fredonia bred fuzz act, Zealot, the band has been busy filming a Cool Little Music Session with Pizza Club Productions, which has previously featured sessions from fellow Fred-town act, Mooses, as well as Buffalo trio Wolf. The new, North Buffalo filmed clip is once again presented by Fredonia’s Cool Little Music Shop and captures the threesome performing cuts “Spent” and 2013 debut single “Magic Eye,” in addition to an interview with Zealot singer/guitarist, Jesse McMahon Eagan. Look for the forth installment in the series, featuring Buffalo emcee Bagel Jesus, in the near future. In the mean time, watch Zealot’s Cool Little Music Session below and make sure to catch the band performing at Record Theatre on June 20th as part of the Steak & Cake Herd Fest showcase.

Lesionread Unveils Massive Summer Tour

June 2, 2015

The ever restless pop artist Lesionread has unveiled a summer tour itinerary that is frankly ridiculous. The nearly 50 city, 10,000 mile cross-country tour (see route map here) begins next Monday, June 8th, and will feature fellow local (and formally local) musician friends – Space Cubs, Logan Locking, and Kristachuwan – joining Shawn Lewis on various legs of the summer tour. The just announced tour will include a couple Buffalo dates to start out, beginning Monday night supporting Yawn at Sugar City and an afternoon set at Record Theatre on June 20th as part of the Steak & Cake Herd Fest lineup. In addition, while not a Lesionread show, Lewis’ lotto band, ELVIRA, will makes its live debut at the Queen City Music Lottery #2 Showcase this Saturday, also at Sugar City. PUSH by Lesionread + Jon Bap

Black Sol’s Dean Chatham Drops “Enrollment” Video

May 28, 2015

The very active, but until recently, somewhat visually lacking Black Sol hip hop collective has been a regular feature on the blog over the last couple months as tracks from Saint Opal, Melo-Nymbus, and [ez amädi] have been keeping our hip hop writers quite busy. Collective all-star, Dean Chatham, just dropped the music video to the track “Enrollment” which can be found on his recently released Dean’s List EP. The well timed video is just begging to be played at commencement ceremonies for students entering the post-grad world. “The concept for the video is that I’m encouraging people to follow their passions/talents and to take action to make things happen for whatever those passions may be.” Chatham explains of the clip’s uplifting message. Watch the video for “Enrollment,” which features the whole Black Sol crew backing Chatham, below and follow all of Black Sol’s activity of the group’s soundcloud page.

Pappy Stardust Reveals Fresh Single “Want You to Know”

May 28, 2015

Pappy Stardust, the Buffalo based/Rochester bred psychedelic garage rock outfit for the solo work of songwriter Steve Leszyk, just unleashed a fresh track upon the masses last week. The leisurely track, titled “Want You to Know,” offers flavorful guitar riffage that grooves, shreds, evolves, combines, separates, and repeats. Leszyk peppers the track with his blues-tinged hound dog vocals, but usually lets the guitarwork do the singing for him, striking a satisfying balance of slack, garage, and psyche. The track reminds me of something an ambitious Devendra Banhart might put out, maybe if he started throwing back shots with Mac Demarco and hit the studio for a day or two. “Want You to Know” is the first single of the band’s upcoming album and is available for free download on their bandcamp page. Keep your ear to the ground for more from these guy(s) in the near future, and blast that[...]

VWLS Releases Soft Block EP

May 27, 2015

Multi-platform artist, Bobby Griffiths, has released his latest collection of ambient drone under the VWLS moniker through his record/media label, Bad Drone Media. The 7-track Soft Block opens with the warm “Early Prighs” and continues to change pace between the ominous “Glass Of Water, Fork In The Sink,” abrasive “Weathervane,” and hopeful “Words Used.” Its a moving collection of experimental music (something the drone genre rarely does to me), and fans of fellow local noise musicians like Logan Locking and Kevin Cain, the latter of whom previously collaborated with Griffiths on last year’s Low Prospects EP, would be wise to give it a spin. Listen to the EP standout “Words Used” below.

THICK WINTER BLUD Releases Music Video for “Garden Face”

May 26, 2015

Wondering what to do with all of those leftover Memorial Day condiments? Take a page out of THICK WINTER BLUD‘s book – they made the best of their surplus in the music video for the new song, “Garden Face.” TWB excels at keeping things simple; think the best parts of I Can See Mountains mixed with ear-candy pop rock along the lines of Third Eye Blind or Guilt Show-era The Get Up Kids. There’s also a subtle “Banana Phone” reference… For all you Ebaumsworld alumni.

Short Moscato and Truey V Team Up for “Aaliyah”

May 22, 2015

Buffalo emcees Short Moscato and Truey V are two of the city’s most talented, and one month before their appearances in Herd Fest’s 2015 Hip-Hop Showcase presented by Deep Thinka Records, they’ve teamed up for a great collab. Taking the name from the late turn-of-the century RnB goddess, “Aaliyah” begins with a mystical beat of which Moscato remarks “Sometimes I wonder why all my songs sound like intros.” His verse goes on to be bar-rific with shoutouts to a young Batman (who he cleverly calls “Lil’ Wayne”) and “girls that do power squats” before he hands the chorus and second verse off to Truey V.  V’s verse starts off with the line “Sometimes I rhyme slow, sometimes I rhyme quick,” an allusion to the oft-referenced 1991 hip-hop classic “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” from Nice & Smooth. It ends up being something of a guideline for his verse, as V’s flow becomes[...]