Buffalo

Ian McCuen – Permanent Ending

March 3, 2022

The ever-so-gentle acoustic tones of Buffalo based multi-instrumentalist Ian McCuen recently brought closure to their project, Songs of Fleeting Permanence, originally started pre-pandemic in April of 2019. Their latest installment, Permanent Ending, features songs such as “Five Year Plan” which is guaranteed to lift every hair on your body from the whispered vocals (which are expertly mixed by the way) reminiscent of Bon Iver or Sufjan Stevens. Ian invented the sonic equivalent of a lazy river with instrumental track “Desultory,” and the final and title-track to the EP, “Permanent Ending,” provides a warm and nostalgic ending to this long-running project. You can find Permanent Ending on Bandcamp (below) or on Spotify. Permanent Ending by Ian McCuen

Del Paxton Gets Vinyl Release For September, Bedtime, Ontario

March 1, 2022

Recently brought to you on vinyl by Better Days Will Haunt You comes Buffalo-based Del Paxton’s EP, September, Bedtime, Ontario. Originally released by Topshelf Records in 2020, this three-song EP from the three-piece is packed with a good spread of sound, including but not limited to: mid 90s nitty-gritty emo; heavy-hitting hooks; righteous guitar riffs; cool chord progressions; and wonderful syncopation. Check out the EP in both digital (Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp) AND physical form:

Genesee Hotel – Strawberry

February 28, 2022

Genesee Hotel from Buffalo NY claims to create “songs your mother would love,” and I couldn’t have said it better myself. Their debut EP, Strawberry, was born on July 1st of 2021, and it’s due for quite the growth spurt. The project consists of four tracks that represent the stages of a classic night out. “Strawberry” would be played when closing time comes around at the bar. The slow-but-strong, succulent guitar strums from Nick Sessanna are perfect for a woozy slow dance either accompanied or solo. The lyrics hit in a way that flushes your body with a nostalgic blast of emotions from the past, giving off a premonition that we’re not going to be here forever… Together at least. “Little One” is the type of song you sing (or scream) to the Uber driver on the ride back home from the bar. Head and hands out the window, letting[...]

Davey Harris – “Self Saboteur”

February 23, 2022

If you were to ask me what genre Davey Harris (aka David Muntner of Buffalo-based act The Tins) belongs to, I wouldn’t be able to identify it by name. On his latest single, “Self Saboteur,” he walks and swaggers across genres as if he’s walking through a garden. We’re picking up hints of alternative, psychedelic, rock, with even a splash of Latin tinge… Which means this is a record for pretty much anyone who breathes air. “Self Saboteur” is now available on all streaming platforms, check them all out here.

Just Ending Now – “Indivisible”

February 22, 2022

The production over “Indivisible” must have been the work of a mad wizard atop of a moated castle. Buffalo based artist Jeremy Jermaine Jerome, (aka Just Ending Now) posted this statement along with the release of “Indivisible,” “faith is a measure that know boundaries are as close and as far as your mind will embrace. honored to fulfill a prophecy that took insanity to make.” Take that as you will but I personally take it as your perception is your reality that goes for both dreams and nightmares. This genre-defying track is tagged as “goth country western,” which is as good as any description that we could come up with. Definitely worth a listen below: just ending now · indivisible

The Weather Might Say Otherwise – “I’ll Drink To That”

February 22, 2022

Alternative rock band The Weather Might Say Otherwise (TWMSO), based out of Fredonia, NY, gave their hometown something to drink to with pop-punky anthem “I’LL DRINK TO THAT!” The use of negative space to make the song sound like it’s skipping makes my heart skip a beat in solidarity. Core members of TWMSO consist of Damian Brown on guitar/vocals, Zach Richardson on drums, and Tanor Morrison on bass. The trio bring an exciting, electric grunge flavor to “DRINK,” especially as they pick up intensity in the third act of the track. “I’LL DRINK TO THAT!” was released by Rocket Weasel Records on April 16th 2021. Check it out below via Bandcamp or listen to them on Spotify. I’LL DRINK TO THAT! by The Weather Might Say Otherwise

Carmen & Lizzy – “When It Ends”

February 17, 2022

Like a pair of voices from the clouds above, Carmen & Lizzy present a divine performance on their latest release, “When it Ends.” The acoustic duo from Buffalo bring out vocals and guitar riffs that are lighter than air and bright enough to pierce the soul. On “Ends,” about halfway through the track, there’s some sort of synthesizer floating hand-in-hand with an interstellar bassline, as if it weren’t beautifully spacey enough already. “When It Ends” is out now on Fredonia-based label Nonexistant Records – check it out below via Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify. When It Ends by Carmen & Lizzy

Hotel Etiquette – “Sounds Like Love”

February 16, 2022

Sounds Like Love” paints the picture of emo/pop-punk and excludes no details. “We could fuck it up, and if you’re asking me, then it sounds like love…” It’s a line that hauntingly holds true to relationships that sink. Hotel Etiquette (aka Mike Hansen & co.) seems to have found themselves in the classic, unfiltered love tragedy and we love it. The track is followed by a soothing, sugar-glazed minute and a half track entitled “cigarettesafterthebachlor,” containing a dying heartbeat as if it were to represent the sound of love You can find Hotel Etiquette on Bandcamp (below), but be sure to check them out on Spotify and Apple Music too. Sounds Like Love by Hotel Etiquette

Sons of Luther – “The Wrong Way”

February 16, 2022

Buffalo-based rock band Sons of Luther released a fresh new single, “The Wrong Way,” on February 1st, and within a week it became their number one song on Spotify. It speaks to the intentional songwriting and the “earwormitis” that comes along with listening to something so catchy (and also, the band’s commitment to marketing themselves effectively in today’s musical landscape). SoL somehow combine the sounds of nostalgia with authenticity in a way that it sounds familiar, but not like any band I’ve heard before… At the same time, their lyrics bring about discussions that have been talked about for decades in a way I’ve never heard before. About “The Wrong Way,” Sons of Luther say: “[‘The Wrong Way’] is a mediation on bridging our current cultural divides as an act of resistance. Reminding us to not get “bent out of shape, cause it didn’t go our way.” You can find[...]

Deadwolf – Deadwolf EP

February 11, 2022

It’s almost as if five musicians from Buffalo went back in time, taking elements from the sixties, seventies, and eighties, and brought them to July 1st of 2021. Those people are Tyler Mendola, Cody Morse, Bryan Williams, Ken Shockley, and Andy Pothier, aka the long-running and never-imitated Deadwolf. The psychedelic rock of their self-titled EP could turn even the straightest-of-edge person into a full-fledged hippy for at least fifteen minutes. My personal favorite, outro track “Sooner or Later,” takes you on a five-minute sonic trip, floating above the thunderstorm of a clouded reality. You can find Deadwolf EP on Bandcamp (below). You can also find the band (and their entire discography) on Spotify and Apple Music too. Deadwolf by Deadwolf

Dolly Sods – “tupelogumswamp”

February 11, 2022

Hot new gloomy shoegaze band from Buffalo, Dolly Sods is making some literal noise with their debut single “tupelogumswamp.” Comprised of three members of other Buffalo-based bands, Jesse James, Nate Ward, and Andy Pothier, Dolly Sods hit at the very peak of bleak. Heavily reverbed vocals sound as if they’re coming from a cemetery within a church. The instrumental contains much reverb in itself which ties together the loose vocals in a very dark and ominous package. At seven-plus minutes, this one is as epic as it is sludgy in all its doom-and-gloom glory. Check out all the different ways you can listen to “tupelogumswamp” here. tupelogumswamp by dolly sods

Velvet Bethany – “Teamwork”

February 10, 2022

Movement of the hips guaranteed or your money back! Buffalo based singer-songwriter/producer Allison Mitchell (aka Velvet Bethany) created a peppy tune titled “Teamwork” that will surely jumpstart your heart. Lines like “I feel like I have superpowers” are truly contagious to the soul and inspire a better day. “Teamwork” reached streaming services at the turn of this past new year; and with it’s upbeat pop rock energy, will hopefully usher 2022 in as a new era of hope.  You can find “Teamwork” on both Bandcamp and Spotify. Teamwork by Velvet Bethany

Rafi Bloomberg – “Your Eyes”

February 8, 2022

Listening to Rafi Bloomberg’s latest drop “Your Eyes” with your eyes closed is not only meta, it’s also borderline dangerous. This sparkly indie-pop jam sounds as if you’re driving through a spiral where both space and time are obsolete. The icy, 80s-esque synthesizer cools down any hot-headed thoughts that it reaches. “Your Eyes” touched down just about one week ago on January 25th of 2022 but don’t fret, this track will stay fresh forever. “Your Eyes” was recorded at Bloomberg Audio by Rafi himself – preview “Your Eyes” using YouTube below, but be sure to add it to your favorite Spotify or Apple Music playlist.

Quit Yourself – “Get Better”

February 8, 2022

A righteous, twinkly guitar riff alone is enough to perk anyone’s head up. Buffalo-based act Quit Yourself is about to celebrate the first birthday of their double single, Get Better, originally dropped February 28th, 2021. The band is still kicking nowadays, shuffling lineups to make things work like any good, scrappy emo band should! Somehow, no matter what their formation, they always manage to sound like an army of midwest-emo rockstars. If you’re looking for some local grudge rock to roll your face off, or even just to “Get Better” on a personal level, then you’ve come to the right place. Check out Get Better via Bandcamp below – you can also stream it using Spotify. Get Better by Quit Yourself

Fake Space – “Cut It Loose”

February 4, 2022

Buffalo punk rock band Fake Space held absolutely nothing back in the rebellious banger “Cut it Loose” from their latest EP, Big Money Only (B$O). Released by Triple Hammer Records on November 17th, 2021, B$O serves as a blueprint to learn how to let loose in life. The vibrato in the vocals laid down on “Cut it Loose” are sharp enough to cut anything that’s keeping you tethered down. The face of Fake Space, Christian Adams has been percolating as an integral part of the Buffalo music scene for more than a decade. Although Christian isn’t afraid to branch out and use keyboards, acoustic guitars, and ukuleles to write his songs, make no mistake – Fake Space is still a punk band at heart. With the huge pop-punk hooks here on B$O, he’ll surely infiltrate the rest of the world sometime soon. Check out “Cut It Loose” via YouTube below,[...]