Rochester

Genesee Live Releases Latest Session feat. Attic Abasement

November 11, 2014

Thank goodness for area live video session series on slow blog days like this. Our favorite series out of Rochester, Genesee Live, continues its blistering pace with the release of its latest installment, #18 overall, featuring Attic Abasement. The elusive basement rockers originally caught our attention with a split release with Nod this past spring. For its GL session, the band was filmed at Rochester’s WITR studio at the Rochester Institute of Technology Watch the full session with Attic Abasement below and as always, visit Genesee Live’s tumblr page to catch up on any missed installments.

1809 Studios Releases New Live Session feat. Secret Pizza

November 6, 2014

WNY is starting to become a hot bed for great live video sessions. If you follow this blog on a regular basis, you should already know about Buffalo’s Silo Sessions and Rochester’s Genesee Live, but how about 1809 Studios? Located just 20 mins outside of Rochester in Macedon, NY, the recording space has just begun to release its own installments of live clips, debuting just a couple months ago with Roz & the Rice Cakes. For its third installment, 1809 invited our favorite new 585-based act, Secret Pizza, in to film a live performance of the band’s fantastic, driving post-punk track, “Oh My My.” The clip was filmed/edited by studio engineer, Dave Drago, and Rochester singer/songwriter, Jon Lewis. Check it out below. For past installments of 1809 Sessions, visit the studio’s Youtube page.

Talking Under Water Releases Debut Single, “Tossing & Turning”

November 3, 2014

Yesterday afternoon, Rochester alt-rock outfit, Talking Under Water, premiered “Tossing & Turning,” its debut single and title track to its forthcoming new EP. Forming this past summer, the quartet is comprised of front man Dave Chisholm, Alex Patrick of the Absolutes, Stephen Roessner of Pleistocene/Small Signals, and Cayuga Chamber Orchestra cellist Elise Hughey. The four-piece’s “Tossing & Turning” is a theatrical number with a flair for the dramatics, with smokey verses that explode as the song’s bombastic chorus is unleashed. Fans of the Black Keys, Muse, Cage the Elephant, and even Dead Man’s Bones (minus Halloween) should all find something within the track to peak their interest. Tossing & Turning will be released on December 2nd. In the mean time, listen to the single below.

Skirts Debut First Single From Semesters EP

October 28, 2014

Rochester garage-pop act, Skirts (formerly the dorm room outfit Meanagers), dropped the first single from its forthcoming EP, Semesters (Dadstache Records), early this afternoon. Led by a bouncy surf rock lick, “Pink Hair” features a peppy, playful melody and bursting guy/girl vocals from Hayden Ford and Brianna Battista. The single and new EP are follow ups to the great, basement session filmed by Genesee Live this past summer, which you can view here. Listen to “Pink Hair” below and keep an eye out for Semesters later this fall.

Routine Involvements Release Music Video For “UFO”

October 21, 2014

Last week, Rochester-based two-piece, Routine Involvements, released its first music video for the single “UFO.” Featured on the band’s early 2014 release, Future Days (Dadstache Records),  the video for “UFO” is superbly cinematic, displaying the Routine Involvement boys breaking free from their sheltered vision to experience a well-choreographed dance routine to an almost blinding light show. The instrumental song is clear, cohesive, and incredibly driving, almost like Queens of the Stone Age sat down with a Cloud Nothings album prior to going into the studio. The video is a collaboration between Michael Schifino (Director) Aaron Gordon (Director of Photgraphy), and Ciera Carhart (Executive Producer), and without a doubt, it is the most well-produced and expertly directed video we’ve seen from a regional band to date (sans Joywave, but are they even a “local” band anymore?). Routine Involvements “UFO” from Michael Schifino on Vimeo.

Hawker M. James Premieres Glammy New Single, “Some Attention”

October 20, 2014

Hawker M. James, the moniker of Rochester every-man Mike James (Longwave, Demos, Admirers), had his latest single debut this afternoon on Wondering Sound. Produced by electronic musician Joel Ford (Tigercity, Ford & Lopatin), “Some Attention” sees James getting his best Mark Bolan on as the track is full of glam rock chords and in your face synths. The song is set to be included on James’ forthcoming new album (title and release date are unannounced), so in the mean time, rock out to “Some Attention” below and keep an eye out for future Hawker news.

Secret Pizza Releases New Song From Shark Tank Recording Session

October 20, 2014

Over the weekend, one of our favorite 585 acts, driving post-rockers Secret Pizza, released a new track as part of a (mostly) Rochester based compilation, The Shark Tank Sessions, from Brass Palace Recordings. The seven track collection features tracks cut from 4-hour recording sessions, many taking place in the living room and kitchen of Rochester’s Shark Tank. Secret Pizza’s contribution to the compilation, “Not About a Lover,” features drummer Giana Caliolo taking lead on the slow burner, guiding the sprawling introduction into a raucous, shoe-gaze jam. The full collection of recordings from the Shark Tank Sessions can be heard here. In the mean time, listen to “Not About a Lover” below.

New Look High Drags Release Latest Single, “Red White and Blue”

October 14, 2014

Our favorite (former)bi-coastal, brother/sister duo, High Drags, have reemerged this afternoon with their latest single, “Red White and Blue.” Marissa and James Longstreet, High Drags’ founding pair, have recently fleshed out to a five piece and permanently left their Western, NY hometown for the big city lights of Los Angeles. The first single from the new look High Drags is 6+ mins of smooth and sultry synth-pop that recalls Polica and Banks. Listen to “Red White and Blue” below.

Genesee Live Releases Latest Session feat. Rountine Involvements

October 13, 2014

Late last week, Rochester’s premiere live music session series, Genesee Live, debuted latest installment, this time around, featuring college rock duo, Routine Involvements. The two-piece’s sound ranges from grunge to garage, with shades of shoegaze and 90s alt-rock mixed in for good measure. If Lithium is your satellite radio channel of choice, then Routine Involvements may be up your alley. Watch the full session below, and if you want to catch up on past Genesee Live sessions, visit its tumblr page here.

Arvid Releases First Song From Forthcoming Album

October 9, 2014

We haven’t heard much from Rochester act, Arvid, since this past spring when he released the 90’s alt-rock tinged album, Old Factory Living. Early this morning, the one man band returned to tease his forthcoming album with a new song titled “Fever Dream.” Moving away from the garage rock sounds of his past work, “Fever Dream” has a dreamy rockabilly feel, recalling early Girls or some of the more accessible yet lo-fi sounds of Ariel Pink. Arvid gave no word on when the album may drop, so in the mean time, listen to the track below.

Jon Lewis Releases Animated Video For “Tomorrow”

October 2, 2014

Earlier this week, we came across the new music video for “Tomorrow,” a Jens Lekman-esque track from Rochester singer/songwriter, Jon Lewis. The animated clip, which was directed by Johnny Mchone (Adult Swim’s Mr. Pickles), features a reflective, gumby-like man looking at past memories and getting sucked into the drawing. Kids who grew up on Nickelodeon in the early 90s should get a nice shot of nostalgia from the clip. Check out Lewis’ material on bandcamp and watch the video for “Tomorrow” below.

Sunny Union Premieres New Single, “Wild Mountain Thyme”

September 30, 2014

Late last week, Rochester born folk act, Sunny Union (the moniker of Sunny Zaman), released the first track from his forthcoming album, Wollstonecraft II, the follow up to the January released Wollstonecraft. Titled “Wild Mountain Thyme,” the rustic number is full of gorgeous, Fleet Foxes harmonies, and contemplative acoustic plucking. The song was originally written by folk singer Francis McPeake and has been covered by White Antelope, the solo project of Robin Pecknold (speaking of Fleet Foxes). The now Brooklyn-based musician plans to release the full album sometime next month, so keep an eye out. Listen to Zaman’s take of “Wild Mountain Thyme” below.

Such Gold Premieres New Single, “Faced”

September 23, 2014

Arguably one of the most popular up-and-coming pop-punk bands in upstate New York, Such Gold released its new single today via Alternative Press. The track “Faced,” is a great sample of what is to come with the band’s upcoming album, The New Sidewalk (Out November 10 via Razor and Tie). Listen to the song below and make sure to catch Such Gold on November 21st as the quartet plays the Waiting Room with Four Year Strong, Transit, and Seaway.

Overhand Sam Releases Debut EP

September 18, 2014

We’re a little late to the game on this one. Rochester multi-instrumentalist (and Maybird member) “Overhand” Sam Snyder released Debut EP back in July, a deliciously fresh take on contemporary blues rock that gives off a faint Besnyo vibe. The four-track banger contains a few previously released songs, including single “For Better / For Worse” and an excellent full-band version of the formerly acoustic “Feel So Bad.” Stand-out track, “Just Don’t Know,” pairs a light, ghostly piano riff with a soaring guitar lead comparable to the sounds of Fuse.tv-era band Snow Patrol. However, OHS’ studio effort comes off as more than your typical blues-tinged alt rock, blending lush, piano-peppered instrumentation (highlighted by Snyder’s quality guitar leads) with a wispy vocal style and elements of blues, folk, and even R&B. It’s refreshing how much ground the four tracks are able to cover. Check out the NYC-mobster vibes of “For Better /[...]

Rochester’s princess//princess Releases New EP

September 10, 2014

Call it punk, call it lo-fi, or call it tweemo, Rochester’s princess//princess’ new EP is full of it. Upon reaching my goal, I am completely underwhelmed. is a set of six raucous bedroom-esque recordings full of bouncy guitar and, at times, some surprisingly dark lyrics. My personal favorite was the brooding “BFF <3 (metacaricature),” full of minor chords and lyrical curses like, “I won’t be there when you’re drowning in the ocean. I’ll be drenched in suntan lotion.” A close second was the album’s second, albeit upbeat metacaricature, “The Girls School (another metacaricature).” They’ve offered it up for free – follow the link to bandcamp below.