Buffalo

Frigid Giant Drops From My Cold Dead Hands

May 13, 2014

This past weekend, Buffalo rapper Frigid Giant held the release party for his excellent new album From My Cold Dead Hands. Those who attended that show have a vital recording of one of the freshest voices to emerge on the Buffalo hip-hop scene. Throughout its 42-minute running time, From My Cold Dead Hands is packed with witty, conscious lyrics, and well-produced beats with a futuristic sound that points to hip-hop’s next wave. It’s a brilliant record all around. A big part of Frigid Giant’s charm is the ability to mix bravado with self-deprecating humor. While he often boasts about his skills as an MC (he can definitely back these claims up), he also is quite honest when he jokes about sleeping till noon and being broke. Our narrator is aware of his considerable talents and his not shy about his ambitious. But he also acknowledges that for now, as he’s[...]

Jeremy Jermaine Jerome Releases Video for “coexist”

May 12, 2014

It’s been a while since we last heard from Jeremy Jermaine Jerome, a Carolina-raised, Buffalo-rooted abstract emcee (mostly because he has sworn off any-and-all social media). So with this, we were delighted to receive an e-mail from him this morning  which included a link to his latest music video, “coexist.” The video, much like others in JJJ’s repertoire, is an avant-garde piece layered with Jerome’s hushed staccato rapping . In “coexist,” Jerome proves once again his divergent performance art and poems are something to be noticed. This may be a little editorializing, and whatever this is a blog, but JJJ makes the best music videos in Buffalo. Every one is different and it is obvious that the rapper thoroughly thinks through his projects’ locations, props, and scenarios.  Other acts should take notice because we’re becoming a little waned from these repetitive narratives. coexist from ROY Productions on Vimeo.

Anteek Recipes Release B-Sides Collection From Upcoming Debut

May 9, 2014

Self-described “jazzy hip hop heads,” Anteek Recipes, have released The EP, a collection of 11 B-sides that did not make the cut for their forthcoming debut album. The album stays true to the group’s namesake, as the project is littered with the components of traditional, Golden Age-era hip hop music. Mr. Dirty Hairy handles the production for the duration of the project. Each beat appears to be a nod to the early-mid 90s production of artists like A Tribe Called Quest and DJ Premier, complete with the jazz samples and the DJ scratches. Dirty Hairy, all the way from Zagreb, Croatia, continuously demonstrates his understanding of the New York hip hop sound. Buffalo’s own Shuteyes takes care of the vocals on the EP. His deep, gritty voice compliments the production of Dirty and really helps capture that golden age aura that they’re all about. Shuteyes’ lyrics also circle around  the theme[...]

Orations Debut Two-Track EP

May 8, 2014

While you await the next installment of Transmission Dance Party, give a listen to the new project from Jason Draper, one half of Transmission (and bass player for Failures’ Union), called Orations. The four piece outfit dropped a short, two track EP full of driving and hypnotic post-punk on Tuesday. I bet they could easily sneak one of the songs onto the next Transmission set list and no one would miss beat. Keep an eye out for future music from this interesting project, and while you are here, listen to “Early Spring” below.

Le Printemps Readies New Album, Shares Tracks

May 7, 2014

It’s been a while since we last heard from Buffalo expat/Portland transplant Jon Riggie and his project Le Printemps. For those unaware, Riggie was the drummer of 2011 Buffalo buzz band, the birD Day. Le Printemps is probably as opposite of the birD Day as it can get, with jazzy guitars, swung drums, along with a healthy does of south western Americana, almost like a Cass McCombs meets Jose Gonzales. Riggie and crew are prepping the release of their new album, Long Walk Home, which was recorded at Supernatural Sound Studios, a notorious noise factory that has recorded some of the very best west-coast acts including Modest Mouse, the Shins, and Portugal the Man. Le Printemps is clearly in some good company. The band has shared three of the tracks on its soundcloud page, all of which sound like they would be the perfect soundtrack to a drive along the coast.[...]

SLPCLSDTH Shows Off Potential On “Brains”

May 7, 2014

Tucked away on a relatively small soundcloud page, Buffalo hip-hop artist SLPCLSDTH (pronounced Sleep Close Death), has been releasing a stream of music over the last two years, and his newest track “Brains,” is probably his best. It’s one of those songs with lyrics where I don’t really know what they are, but at the same time, I know exactly what they mean. It’s an interesting track. SLPCLSDTH jumps from talking about artistry, love, and life in general, all around a chorus of “Nervous as it worsens, person nerves twitch, itch, no service.” SLPCLSDTH does a great job using assonance throughout, as each string of lines seem to revolve around the same sounds. All over a particularly catchy, unique keyboard loop, these elements fused together create a very pleasant listening experience on “Brains.” Check it out here:

The Observers Release Self-Titled Debut Album

May 6, 2014

A lot can happen when a bunch of local songwriters and musicians happen across each other’s paths and subsequently decide to make some music. Sounds come together, voices fall into harmony, and direction begins to take form. Coming off their self-titled debut release, The Observers seem to have little else on their minds than following a road they have ardently begun to forge for themselves and busting out of Buffalo’s coddling grips. “The trajectory seems to be moving in a positive direction,” says Josh Gage, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the now seven-person ensemble. “Coming off the CD release, our goal is to get on the road as much as we can…and possibly do a house-concert tour along the 90 corridor.” It couldn’t be a more perfect regional introduction for an acoustic band that is just coming of age. “It’s kind of our bag. When we can forget about the[...]

Brother Keep Releases To You and Yours

May 6, 2014

Brother Keep are some angry mo-fos! Their new EP, To You & Yours, listens like a middle finger to the “empty girl” who ran off with guitarist/vocalist Nick Sessanna’s former best friend. The four track release opens up with the pop punk “Windy City” and ends with the whimsical “Laces”. In a lot of ways, this recording is classic boy meets girl, girl betrays boy. Just listen to any Senses Fail record. Where Sessanna and company differ from Buddy Nielsen and Senses Fail is that there isn’t any huge climax where Sessanna kills his ex. To You & Yours is more than a revenge record.  It has real sustenance, something that can really hold you over until dinner time. To You & Yours is that ‘Dear Jane’ letter that you drunkenly leave on the nightstand after you have packed the last truck load of your belongings from the studio apartment the two[...]

Dr. Ooo Premieres New Malt Disney Directed Clip

May 5, 2014

One of the blog’s favorite Buffalo MCs, the now Brooklyn residing Dr. Ooo (or Drew Aintworriedboutnuthin Hartman to his friends), has released the new music video for his track “Comfy.” Directed by Malt Disney, frequent collaborator of the Toats Orig Crew and Jact Toft, the clip finds Hartman strolling around Chinatown channeling his inner foodie and hitting up some markets. The track appears to be a part of an upcoming project called Canary Yellow, so keep your eyes peeled for further details. You can watch “Comfy” below.

New Visuals from Local Rap Trio Nameless

May 2, 2014

Coming off of the Walking on Water EP that dropped back in March is Niagara Falls trio Nameless’ hard hitting track “Milli.” After an intro from the EP’s opening track, the dreamier “In The Air,” the mood switches to the hard-hitting “Milli.” With a backdrop of some gritty western New York scenery, each of the group’s members gets a verse over some pretty dope, murky production. Highlight lines include “I tried to keep it modest but it simply wasn’t honest, what you think I hustle hard for, I studied Reaganomics.” from the second emcee of the group and “Hi Mom, drugs are awesome, so damn high I bet I could Moss em’,” from the third guy rocking the ski mask. I can’t figure out their individual names, but with the name ‘Nameless,’ I think that’s the point. Check it out .

Billy Drease Williams Drops The Long Awaited EDREYS MMIV

April 30, 2014

Billy Drease Williams is a veteran of the Buffalo hip-hop scene. If you’re not familiar with his work you might recognize one of his five songs (as a part of the duo Raw Intel) that made it onto the ESPN NFL 2k5 video game, the ultimate sign of success in the music industry. 15 years out of winning the Buffalo Music Awards Hip Hop Artist of the year award, Billy Drease releases EDREYS MMIV, a full project with an interesting backstory. Per his Bandcamp page, EDREYS MMIV was recorded 10 years ago and kept under wraps until this week in celebration of Billy Drease Williams’ birthday. The title is a nod to his given name, Edreys Wajid, and in Roman numerals MMIV is 2004. With the exception of “If I Should Die,” and “Hold Me Tight,” Billy Drease also handles the production on the whole project. It is really a wonderful piece of[...]

Stepfriends Premiere New Song From Forthcoming LP

April 25, 2014

Lucky day! We here at buffaBLOG have recently stumbled upon an exclusive track from the new Stepfriends LP, set to drop by early summer. Stepfriends, of course, is a collective of sorts, featuring all sorts of musicians from the WNY area, but mainly focuses around the duo of Johnny Lucas (from Buffalo but currently based in NJ) and Greg McClure (who you might recognize from Buffalo-based band Del Paxton). “I Know You” blends a subtle horn section, some beautiful vocal harmonies, and nimble guitar lines.  Check it out below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146290766″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The Afterbirth Tycoon Releases The Filthy Late Bloom

April 24, 2014

The ground is finally thawing and Buffalo is alive and well. To celebrate our survival of old man winter, several bands released new music this past weekend. The Afterbirth Tycoon is one of the bands which decided to get in on the celebration of spring with the righteously titled Late Bloom. Late Bloom is a 10 song, crusty, whiskey swilling, honky tonk bar brawl of a blues record. You can feel the broken beer bottles whizzing past your head with this one. The record makes you want to go out and do some day drinking out on Allen Street, and get into as many bar brawls as possible. Just make sure you have your bail money on the ready, though, because you have to work tomorrow. Late Bloom marks the first release from the band in nearly ten years. Originally formed in 1998 by Jason Pitcher (guitar/vocals) with a revolving door[...]

Del Paxton Announces Signing to Secret Audio Club

April 24, 2014

This week, Del Paxton, one of our favorite neighborhood indiemo revival acts, made public its signing with Rochester-based label, Secret Audio Club. The label is set to release one of Buffalo’s strongest albums of 2013, Del Paxton’s Worst. Summer. Ever., on vinyl this May. Secret Audio Club is a project run by Kyle Chapman, one of the minds behind 2013’s scene must-have, Wax Packs, which featured a series of limited edition 7″ from Such Gold, Banquets, and Podacter. Pre-orders for Worst. Summer. Ever. can be found here for $13. Well I guess they’re just burning a hole in your pocket. Photo Credit – CG Photography

Pizza Pizza Comes Through With Some Fresh Slices On Pie I

April 23, 2014

Airy synths, lead bass rhythms, and a variance of drum noises help form an impressive first album for Buffalo electronic hip hop artist DJ Pizza Pizza.  A pitched down “Pizza Pizza” DJ drop spatters throughout the songs, and they are probably the only words that matter on the whole project. The rest of the vocals heard serve as instruments as Pizza Pizza crafts a debut full  of different head-bobbing trip-hop/trap instrumentals.  Pizza Pizza is probably worth looking into due to his image alone. Every picture on his social media accounts is pizza related, and  his logo is of Little Caesar’s mascot holding an MPC and rocking a gold grill in his teeth with some gold on his wrist.  The format of the album, titled Pie 1, is that each song is a numbered slice that makes up the whole pie. The first song, “Slice 1,” is a really hard hitting trap beat[...]