Columns

Must See Shows (2/26/25-3/4/25)

February 25, 2025 Michael Moretti

Thursday, February 27th @ 7pm Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @ Rec Room Time flies in the indie rock universe. Just 20 years ago, Ted Leo released his highly acclaimed album Shake the Sheets, which tore up the early blogosphere and nestled nicely into the airwaves of many college radio stations. This Thursday, Leo and his gang of Pharmacists celebrate the anniversary at the Rec Room. Formed in Washington, D.C. in 1999, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists is head songwriter Ted Leo’s most recognizable outfit. Although the singer/songwriter has been a constant creative for over 35 years dabbling in more than a dozen projects, the Pharmacists is the longest spanning project and may be Leo’s north star, with over eleven years worth of material in the project. Go for the nostalgia and expect to see many of Buffalo’s music scene of yesteryear in attendance. $38.51 SHAKE THE[...]

buffaBLOG Sessions: Makeout Tactics

February 19, 2025 Michael Moretti

We are so excited to unveil our latest iteration of buffaBLOG sessions to the public. Previously, the blog had done different live sessions series, ranging from simple cell phone videos, to live-to-tape recordings, to DIY pop-ups with a temporary set-up. This batch of sessions will be the first time we’ve partnered with a studio, Mammoth Recording Studio, based out of the First Ward. The videographer from the series is the very talented Devin Chavanne, whose work spans across Buffalo and beyond. Likely, if you pay attention to anything coming out of Buffalo’s start-up industry, you’ve seen his handiwork. This past fall, we gathered 22 people to execute the session which went off seemingly flawlessly and it excites us to continue the project and continue to showcase up-and-coming musicians from Western New York that need to be on your radar. Our third session features Elmwood Village indie pop collective act[...]

Must See Shows (2/19/25-2/25/25)

February 18, 2025 Michael Moretti

Thursday, February 20th @ 8pm Tough Old Bird @ Milkies Thursday is a banger for any local indie-folkheads finding their way down the Elmwood Strip with four excellent acts joining forces to combat the inevitable cabin fever we will all have after this bone-chilling week. The lineup will feature local indie folk project Tough Old Bird *, a project headed by siblings Matthew and Nathan Corrigan, who have been playing the Western NY circuit for close to ten years. Recently, the band has expanded from an acoustic act to a fuller sound. Also on the bill is a rare appearance for busker-Americana act Jungle Steve with a full band, singer/songwriter John Herr and improv avant-garde trio plantwater. Doors at 7pm with a $10 cover. Garden Dream by Tough Old Bird Friday, February 21st @ 7pm Steak and Cake’s 14th Anniversary Party @ Duende at Silo City Local[...]

buffaBLOG Sessions: echolocator

February 12, 2025 Michael Moretti

We are so excited to unveil our latest iteration of buffaBLOG sessions to the public. Previously, the blog had done different live sessions series, ranging from simple cell phone videos, to live-to-tape recordings, to DIY pop-ups with a temporary set-up. This batch of sessions will be the first time we’ve partnered with a studio, Mammoth Recording Studio, based out of the First Ward. The videographer from the series is the very talented Devin Chavanne, whose work spans across Buffalo and beyond. Likely, if you pay attention to anything coming out of Buffalo’s start-up industry, you’ve seen his handiwork. This past fall, we gathered 22 people to execute the session which went off seemingly flawlessly and it excites us to continue the project and continue to showcase up-and-coming musicians from Western New York that need to be on your radar. Our second session features North Tonawanda indie act echolocator, who[...]

Must See Shows (2/12/25-2/18/25)

February 11, 2025 Michael Moretti

Friday February 14th @ 7pm Hot 8 Brass Band @ Rec Room New Orleans-based 8-piece brass band, the Hot 8 Brass Band, will be bringing their Mardi Gras party sound to Chippewa this Friday. Since forming in 1995, the Hot 8 have made a name for themselves reimagining classics and putting their own unique and engaging spin on very familiar songs such as “Sexual Healing,”and “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” The band will be sure to bring their hits and slip in some familiar re-worked covers along wth some of their own original material. If you’re feeling romantic, bring your partner. If you aren’t feeling romantic, bring a co-worker. $29.27. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Hot 8 Brass Band Saturday, February 15th @ 7pm Lowspot @ Hot Mama’s Canteen Traveling Cleveland grunge-punk quartet, Lowspot, makes a stop in Black Rock Saturday night. The Ohio band combines[...]

buffaBLOG Sessions: Addisyn Logan

February 5, 2025 Michael Moretti

We are so excited to unveil our latest iteration of buffaBLOG sessions to the public. Previously, the blog had done different live sessions series, ranging from simple cell phone videos, to live-to-tape recordings, to DIY pop-ups with a temporary set-up. This batch of sessions will be the first time we’ve partnered with a studio, Mammoth Recording Studio, based out of the First Ward. The videographer from the series is the very talented Devin Chavanne, whose work spans across Buffalo and beyond. Likely, if you pay attention to anything coming out of Buffalo’s start-up industry, you’ve seen his handiwork. This past fall, we gathered 22 people to execute the session which went off seemingly flawlessly and it excites us to continue the project and continue to showcase up-and-coming musicians from Western New York that need to be on your radar. Our first session features singer/songwriter Addisyn Logan, who has been steadily[...]

Must See Shows (2/5/25-2/11/25)

February 4, 2025 Michael Moretti

Friday, February 7th @ 8pm The Spit Sisters w/ Racehearse, Catspurr, and Sleep Debt Ceiling Milkies has an accessible local ripper on Friday with some bands that should be on your radar if you are paying attention to the local scene. Sharing the bill will be riot grrrl redux rockers The Spit Sisters (who you may have caught night 1 of Mohawk Place’s curtain call), folk-punk aficionado Sleep Debt Ceiling, multi-genre experimental outfit Catspurr, and raw surf punkers Racehearse. 8pm doors with a $10 cover. Saturday, February 8th @ 7pm Brooke Surgener & the Bandits w/ Star Theory, Nancy Dunkle, and akloh. Erie, Pennsylvania indie pop artist Brooke Surgener and the Bandits heads north on the 90 Saturday evening in support of their latest release, “Got it Good.” Surgener’s sound has a bit of a cheeky Alex Lahey meets a smokier-voiced Lucy Dacus vibe. Joining the lineup[...]

Must See Shows (1/29/25-2/4/25)

January 28, 2025 Michael Moretti

Thursday, January 30 @ 8pm Wishy @ 9th Ward Indiana-based indie quintet Wishy makes a stop at the coziest basement venue in town this Thursday. Formed in 2021, the project has exploded onto the blogosphere with their accessible shoegaze sound that rivals some of the most buzzed-about college radio standouts. Wishy is touring in support of their latest full-length release, Triple Seven, which came out during the dog days of summer via Winspear Records. Fans of Wild Pink, Girl Scout, or Ducks Ltd would be into this one. Local one-man R&B psych-pop act Ex-Pat opens the night up. The fun starts at 8pm with an $18 cover. (photo by Alexa Viscius) Planet Popstar by Wishy Friday, January 30th @ 6pm Mohawk Place’s Farewell Show Night 2 Well, it’s happening again. Mohawk Place shuts its doors for the second time in buffaBLOG history. In 2013 with the initial closing, there was[...]

Must See Shows (1/22/25-1/28/25)

January 21, 2025 Michael Moretti

Thursday, January 23rd @ 8pm Adelaide @ Milkies Adelaide has been playing the Buffalo scene for the past few years as mostly a solo artist, however, this Thursday will be a special one as the project expands into a full band. With backing musicians, expect Adelaide’s powerful vocals to be complimented by a lusher sound. Fans of Diet Cig, The Beths, or Snail Mail would be into the expansion of the Adelaide team. Also on the bill is introspective singer/songwriter Ian McCuen who will be playing in support of their latest album As the Oceans Rise and the Empire Falls, which came out at the tail end of November. Orange Dog Club, the original act announced on the lineup, had to sit this one out. Taking their place will be mystic solo outfit Amanda Bridges. $10 gets you VIP seating. Fire by adelaide Friday, January 24th @ 9pm Looms[...]

Must See Shows (1/15/24-1/21/24)

January 14, 2025 Michael Moretti

Friday, January 17th @ 8pm Captain Tom & the Hooligans @ Molly Maguires Buffalo’s #1 polka band under sixty years old will play a fun one at one of South Buffalo’s finest dive bars on Friday. If you aren’t familiar, Captain Tom & the Hooligans exploded onto the scene post-Covid, sharing the stage with both punk rock bands and old time Polish journeymen, gaining fans along the way with their re-imaginative spin on polka classics. They’ve hit the local market pretty heavily over the past couple of years and you may have encountered the band inadvertently on their circuit of community festivals, breweries and one-offs. If you’ve ever heard a band playing polka with some stank on it, it was likely Captain Tom & the Hooligans. No cover, just buy 5 White Claws. (Photo by shervinfoto) Saturday, January 18th @ 7pm Rubblebucket @ Electric City Rubblebucket[...]

Five Buffalo Acts We Want to Reunite in 2025

January 7, 2025 Admin

We’ve taken the office Christmas tree down and it’s back to business over here at blog headquarters. 2024 had its ups and downs with the local scene. We launched buffaBLOG version 4.0, witnessed the usual band break-ups/venue closings, but also saw the emergence of new artists that we are excited to listen to and share. With that, we’ve brainstormed Buffalo musicians that we would like to see reunite in 2025. We understand some of these may be a pipe dream, but think of this as more of a fantasy draft rather than an open letter. Don’t get us wrong however, if any of these acts return in 2025, we are taking full credit. (photo via Unlisted Projects) Jack Toft / Jack Topht Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh don’t you miss Jack Toft? A wishlist for acts we would like to see reunited in 2025 would not be complete without the kookiest rapper of the[...]

Must See Shows (12.18.24-12.24.24)

December 17, 2024 Michael Moretti

Saturday, December 21st @ 7:30pm buffaBLOG Holiday Party @ Milkies Well, we’re back. These past few months we have been increasing our content load and getting back on the saddle to provide our normal churn of quality local and regional bands for your listening pleasure. With that, we wanted to re-establish some of our defunct annual traditions, which include our heavily attended annual Holiday Party. Previously, we hosted this event annually at DBGB’s, however with the closure of the establishment, we had to find a new home for the showcase and we are happy to now collaborate with Milkies for this upcoming event. If you haven’t wandered to that section of Elmwood over the past couple years, the lounge underwent a giant revamp of their menu, branding, and interior since 2023 when the general manager Nikki Rosenberg took the realm. Our past holiday parties have featured performances by JOYWAVE, Humble Braggers, Newish Star, RADARADA, The Slums,[...]

Must See Shows (12.11.24-12.17.24)

December 10, 2024 Michael Moretti

Wednesday, December 11th @ 6pm Disintegration @ Area 54/Amy’s Place Amy’s Place / Area 54 have a mid-week jam-packed show featuring, but not limited to, Cleveland post-punkers Disintegration. The band is the meeting of some the minds behind Pleasure Leftists, Profligate, and Cloud Nothings. Touring in support of the band’s latest album Shiver in a Weak Light, released just this past October, fans of The Faint, Radio 4, or Handsome Furs would like this one. This bill is jam-packed for real though. It’s not often you have a five band midweek bill. Not to be overshadowed and joining the lineup is hardcore Florida punk band Armor, Philadelphia deathrockers Academy Order and local sets from the spooky Black and White Cat / Black and White Cake and Buffalo hardcore act Exhibition. $15 bucks gets you in. Don’t forget your snow brush because that’s all Alexa is talking about this morning. Shiver[...]

Jordan Buckley of Better Lovers

December 6, 2024 Nick Sessanna

We recently caught up with legendary Buffalo-born guitarist Jordan Buckley to talk about Better Lover‘s new album Highly Irresponsible; making hundreds of pounds of chicken wings at Warped Tour; what Blissmas means to Buffalo; and buying a bar on Chippewa. Tickets for Blissmas ’24 can be purchased here. Highly Irresponsible is out now via Sharptone records. Check out our review here. *This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. buffaBLOG: Better Lovers has just released their debut album Highly Irresponsible. What was the influence behind the name of the album and how do you think the songs play into the overall concept? Jordan Buckley: Greg came up with the name – it’s one of those things that felt like “it has a nice ring to it” and looks good on a t-shirt *laughs*. But I like when names are open to interpretation – not[...]

Must See Shows (12.4.24-12.10.24)

December 3, 2024 Michael Moretti

Thursday, December 5th @ 8pm Bad Bloom @ Mohawk Place Rochester shoegaze band Bad Bloom return to Buffalo on Thursday in support of the project’s latest two singles “subatomic” and “onion.” Fronted by bassist/vocalist, Kate Rogerswith guitarist Jay Trovato co-writing the tracks, Bad Bloom have become a staple of the Rochester indie scene in short time period. Rogers and Trovato relocated from Brooklyn to Rochester as COVID-19 settlers, leaving the hectic and unpredictable NYC landscape during the very uncertain times in the early 2020s. Fans of From Indian Lakes, Gleemer, or Alvvways would be into this. Joining the night will be local dreamo act Cooler, as well as prog-rock newcomers Sailing Stones. $10 cover. Bad Bloom · subatomic Friday, December 6th @ 8pm The Baker’s Basement @ Milkies Cleveland-based alt-folk duo The Baker’s Basement (tBB) makes their Buffalo debut this Thursday with an eclectic line-up showcasing some of Buffalo’s[...]