Buffalo

SPACED – “Spinning”

August 18, 2021

SPACED is a Buffalo-based hardcore band with a brand new EP that you should be checking out now – they’re a veritable supergroup, featuring members of Talking in My Sleep, Funeral Coat, Post Prom, Calloused, and more. They’ve self-described their new EP as “far-out hardcore” with an “accessible sound, unique groove, and different perspective;” we can’t help but agree. You can feel the magic in debut single “SPINNING” – expect rip-roaring guitar solos, phasers, and a powerhouse performance from singer/screamer Lexi Reyngoudt. You can preview “SPINNING” via YouTube below, or, you can check it out via Spotify.

Breakfast For Dinner Release Sparkling New Single, “Say”

August 12, 2021

Buffalo’s own Breakfast for Dinner has just released an excellent new single, the synthy, indie-pop magic of “Say.” Full of sparkling keyboards; tight, 80s snare drum flavor; and dreamy, lovelorn vocals; fans of Anna of the North; Clairo; or Now, Now are going to find something to love here. It’s set off by a stunning music video – the band is lit with purple, syncopated lights set to the beat of “Say.” It’s perfectly simple and B4D looks amazing, enough to have already racked up 20,000+ views (as of August 12, 2021). Check out the video for “Say” below via the YouTube widget. If you’d prefer to stream, you can find the song on both Spotify and Apple Music.

Prímera División – El Sonido de Prímera División

April 26, 2021

Hunger Artist and Covito, two of Buffalo hip hop’s most versatile producers have teamed up to keep the city’s current cultural dominance in the forefront with international beats and vibes under the code name Prímera División, and El Sonido de Prímera División  is their debut manifesto. Projected through the prism of the global obsession that is football (soccer) and the gritty and hazy ear candy that’s  an essential component of  Buffalo’s Hip Hop sound, the remixes and sonic collages of El Sonido de Prímera División showcase the inescapable fact that the Queen City’s hip hop scene is the spiritual and aesthetic inheritors of all things East Coast. Following in the footsteps of sonic pioneers like The Bomb Squad, DJ Premier, and The RZA, Primera Division creates intricate Walls of Sound for each cut to get all the way in your ears, with layers of esoteric samples and psychedelic frequencies designed[...]

The Hamiltones Release New Surf-Punk Concept LP, ‘Dracula Invitational, 1791’

March 14, 2021

The Hamiltones have been kicking around Buffalo for years now, crafting epic, spindly surf-punk that brings to mind The Ventures, The Cramps and Dick Dale. They’re also fiercely individualistic – this time around, they’ve crafted an utterly unique batch of songs, 14 to be exact, self-described as “the score of the most ridiculous, b-movie Dracula film no one has ever seen (and may not even really exist).” Welcome to Dracula Invitational, 1791, a next-level concept album that tells the story about how the Hamiltones were invited to be the house band at the most infamous Dracula party in the world. The whole plot is spelled out in a wax-sealed letter that’s included with every record. The Hamiltones went all out for this, including a huge centerfold illustration depicting the Dracula party drawn by Buffalo-based illustrator Mickey Harmon. Songs like “No, Let’s Eat the Musicians” (which is accompanied by a music video[...]

Wild Once Release New Music Video for “Alone by Choice”

February 23, 2021

Buffalo indie/emo mainstays Wild Once are back (or still here, rather) with a brand new music video for “Alone by Choice” – the video showcases the band’s members in various states of relative solitude before bringing back them together to play in the same room once more. In an impressively choreographed shot, singer Tom Mayer plays his guitar in a kayak… Hopefully it didn’t fall overboard. This video feels especially poignant after the socially distant hell that most of us have been living through this past year. For that matter, Wild Once’s unique brand of ambient punk-meets-indie-meets-americana energy is the perfect accompaniment. Wild Once recorded “Alone by Choice” with Jay Zubricky at GCR studios this past August 2020. If you like what you see/hear, it can be found on We Did it Anyway, out now on Bandcamp and Spotify

Tines – “Thin Blue Line / Rock and Roll Witness Protection Program”

February 17, 2021

Over the course of rock n roll’s sordid history different styles of songwriting have emerged and worked their ways to the forefront. On one end of the spectrum, bands such as Black Sabbath, The Who, and Rush, have woven together fictional stories and flawless music to create grand, theatrical performances. All the way on the other end of songwriting and storytelling resides punk rock. Its DIY ethics are breathed into every aspect of creating, performing, and way of life. Lyrics from punk bands are personal. The songs are shorter and hit harder than those of the rock n roll grandfathers. Different, yes. Worse or better, that is irrelevant. Piercing the belief that a band must chose one style or the other is Buffalo’s very own rock n roll soldiers, Tines. Members of Tines have lived in the trenches of rock n roll since the nineties, fronting various projects, running a[...]

Humble Braggers Release New Music Video for “Better”

January 5, 2021

Buffalo synthpop heroes Humble Braggers are back with a new music video for their reimagined jam, “Better.” The video finds the HB boys getting raucous in a backyard beer pong session, complete with NFL-quality can punting (Go Bills!), table flipping, and plenty of quasi-drunken bliss. Juxtaposed against the band’s tomfoolery is front man Tom Burtless, smoothly mouthing the lyrics and dressed to the nines in an expertly-decorated room. It’s a good look for the Buffalo mainstays, who continue to pump out mature and polished music (and evidently having a great time doing so). Like all of Humble Braggers’ work, “Better” is another absolute earworm, full of tasty synths, soaked in reverb, and tinged with just-enough vintage 1980s flavor. Check it out below – If you prefer to listen elsewhere, you can find all of the links here.

Buffalo Duo Amateur Hockey Club Releases New EP & Single

December 4, 2020

Here’s a dope one from Buffalo’s own Amateur Hockey Club. The Buffalo-based duo reside in an emo-indie aether, as evidenced by their latest offering, “Mad Max Mathews Makes Machines Musical.” Bringing to mind bands like Transit, Charmer, or Dryjacket, “Mad Max” finds the duo exploring the realities of post-grad ennui and twenty-something angst with lyrical sincerity, meandering guitar and bass riffs, and a bedroom-pop-esque mix. This one really lets loose around the two-minute-mark, where the guys step on the distortion pedals and go out swinging with an anthemic sing-along section. Amateur Hockey Club just released a brand new EP called Figure Myself Out, upon which “Mad Max” resides. Check out the whole EP on Spotify here.

Sons of Luther Explore “Isolationism”

November 2, 2020

Batavia post grunge disciples Sons of Luther are back with a lacerating slice of political protest rock right in time for Election Day called “Isolationism” and it takes no prisoners. Recorded in secret at a post industrial location under the strictest safety procedures in October, “Isolationism” finds Sons mastermind Wren Werner pondering America’s fraught political climate amidst a global pandemic fragmenting our society and minds susceptible to conspiracy theories and fringe thinking… and laying down some serious riffs to back it up. The very 80’s, analog VHS video clip for “Isolationism” directed by Adam Burnett is psychedelic and also right on schedule because our linear conception of time itself has been rendered meaningless by Quarantine 2020-2021. What’s not meaningless is Werner’s commendable pledge to donate any Sons of Luther revenue generated during our annus horribilis of 2020 to the NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) Save Our Stages, and the Equal[...]

Quinton Brock is Taking All of Us “To The Moon”

October 19, 2020

Quinton Brock’s latest single “To The Moon” is everything you need right now in the year of our lord 2020, and it’s video directed by Shauna Presto is pure gold and the future Leftists dream of. The ever elusive Brock has previously offered us glimpses into his progressive and soulful vision hip-hop, but here it’s sunny and frankly gorgeous surf punk rock that’s rousingly,  joyfully alive thanks to his satisfyingly earnest melodies, some killer riffs and shredding from Griff Smith and Peter Enriquez, and some fat and swinging rhythm from bassist Don Hanson and drummer Gengis Don. The video from buffaBLOG alum Shauna Presto is pure summer, and a heavenly expression of freedom, love, and community, and everybody needs to get with it as soon as possible. Thanks.

14 trapdoors Shares “Love” Music Video

September 2, 2020

Offbeat hip-hop trio 14 trapdoors has shared music video for the new single “Love,” the third single from the group’s forthcoming new album Eileen. The laid-back track is complimented by heady visuals via Mi6fit and includes guest verses from DNTWATCHTV and Medusa. Comprised of local MCs Short Moscato, Bendyface and Wza, the threesome is set to drop the record on September 11th. The 10-track release features guest appearances from Bille Esco, Benny the Butcher, Che Noir and more heavy hitters from Buffalo’s hip-hop community. Check out the clip below.

Elemantra Drops Live Sessions EP

September 1, 2020

Local indie rockers Elemantra are back with their first collection of new tunes in two years with G Camp Live Sessions. Recorded and filmed last fall while camping Seneca Allegheny Territory, the 3-track EP finds the Salamanca foursome continuing to mine the early emo / post-rock / shoegaze  hybrid sound that has made them a favorite of this blog.  The group’s range – from delicate melodies to crescendoing riffs – should appeal to fans of Hum and Sunny Day Real Estate. All of the songs are accompanied by a live, river-backed clip, a nice reminder that the best season in WNY is right around the corner. The audio files can all be found on the band’s Spotify. In the mean time, watch the video for “Sun Hugs” below. G Camp Live Sessions by elemantra

Velvet Bethany Shares New Video for “She’s So Mean”

August 28, 2020

Local garage punk quartet Velvet Bethany is busy prepping for the unveiling of its latest album Abuse Paradigm. While no release date has been given, the record’s first single “She’s So Mean” dropped earlier this month and has already been given the music video treatment. The clip for the peppy surf rockin’ tune finds front person Alison Mitchell performing the song on one of Buffalo’s beautiful beaches. The video’s lo-fi quality reminds me of an old family outing to Crystal Beach my dad captured on VHS. Anyway, the track, recorded at Lockport’s Watchmen Studios, is currently available for purchase via Bandcamp while the full length should assumingly surface sometime this fall/winter. Watch the video for “She’s So Mean” below.

Rust Belt Brigade Preps Upcoming Album, Shares New Single

August 27, 2020

Buffalo roots unit Rust Belt Brigade has announced the release of its forthcoming new record Howdy Hallelujah, Here’s The Thing, set to drop on September 18th. The album’s first single “Roll Call” plays heavily into the band’s bluegrass roots, once again employing local violinist Sally Schaefer to add some old timey sheen to the tune. As always, the group’s raspy vocals and foot stomping melodies highlight its rustic punk charm. Recorded at Mammoth Studios, the album finds the busking foursome embracing a more electric sound versus its normal live band studio work. Speaking of foursome, the makeup of RBB will soon change as founding member and vocalist Victor Castillo relocates the project out west to pursue future music opportunities in Colorado. In the mean time, the single is currently streaming on Bandcamp while all proceeds from track sales will be donated to Black Love Resist in the Rust. Listen to[...]

Medusa Releases Menacing New Single, “Woof”

July 28, 2020

Here’s another darktronica banger from prolific Buffalo-based producer Medusa. “Woof” is a grungy, genre-bending slog that beautifully aligns with their m.o.: [Medusa has] pledged their life to composing anthems of the scorned. Like the infamous gorgon, Medusa is all about avenging wrongs and turning you to stone – but, like, in a fun way. It’s revenge pop. “Woof” absolutely feels like a revenge jam – especially the recurring refrain of “I’m that b*tch.” Noisy, angry, and menacing, this one is sure to pump some adrenaline into your veins. Check it out below and be sure to add it to your Spotify if you dig it. WOOF by MEDUSA