Rochester

Louis Bijoux Releases Debut Album

September 9, 2014

One of the more interesting releases we have come across this week is the debut project from Rochester based pop musician, Louis Bijoux. That’s about all we could find on the guy. His first release, Bijoux, is a collection of lo-fi, Cure-esque post punk backed by off-beat, Wesley Willis melodies, in particular on track four, “Tetra Town.” The album’s stand out song, the playful “Owe Ya,” sounds like Ariel Pink if he had to play an 80’s prom Check out the full album at Bijoux’s bandcamp page here, and if you know more about this project, let us know. Listen to “Owe Ya” below.

Genesee Live Debuts New Session feat. Buffalo Sex Change

September 8, 2014

We have been really enjoying Rochester duo Buffalo Sex Change lately in the blog offices. The pair’s brooding, self-titled debut, released via Roch label Dadstache Records, is a great blend of shoegaze, punk, and surf, and we liked it so much, it was named our Album of the Week last month. Late last week, Genesee Live, Rochester’s premiere live session series, debuted it’s latest video installment with BSC, much to our delight. You can watch the full Buffalo Sex Change session below, and for past installments, visit Genesee Live’s tumblr page.

Faux Leather Jacket Releases Music Video for “Only I Can Break My Heart”

August 27, 2014

Rochester’s alt-country rockers, Faux Leather Jacket, released a music video late last week for “Only I Can Break My Heart,” the shining track on their debut EP, Sorry, Bud. In collaboration with Rocco Hagan, who shot and edited the video, it features a dreamlike montage of friends goofing off, dudes playing with hatchets, and, as many of us can relate to, a man on a mission to make things as hard as possible for himself. With a wisdom of the ages, this youthful group highlights the song’s title through the pointed words of a repeating chorus: “Don’t go feeling guilty/ Don’t even start/ It’s like I’ve told you once/ Only I can break my heart.” It only seems right, then, that the video’s protagonist (songwriter, lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Trevor Courneen) might be likened to something of Sisyphus, as he makes a hellish journey across town hauling a burlap sack[...]

midnight Releases Followup Single

August 26, 2014

Rochester R&B crooner, midnight,  is back with his followup single to last spring’s slow jam of the season, “Adonis.” His latest single, “1v1,” sticks to the same format, sensual falsetto vocals over downtempo electronic backing. Although the song title sounds like it’s about a basketball game, I’m pretty sure it’s about banging. Fans of Kanye’s A Twisted Dark Fantasy, D’Angelo, and How to Dress Well would be the pretty hip to have this on their playlist. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/164874486″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Cottage Jefferson Prep Final Album, Release “Trapper Keeper” Single

August 21, 2014

Rochester’s Cottage Jefferson appeared to call it quits earlier this past May  with an advertised final show  at the Bug Jar. One day after the group played their final show, they posted that they had enough material to produce one last album to be released later in 2014. Cottage Jefferson’s final album, titled B-Side, had its first single premiere this morning via CJ’s bandcamp page. “Trapper Keeper” continues the foursome’s crunchy, college rock tendencies, and should please fans of Yuck and minimalistic Dinosaur Jr.. You probably won’t be seeing Cottage Jefferson touring in support of the album. Members are scattered all over the state now, playing in different projects such as blog favorites Routine Involvements, Pleistocene, and Faux Leather Jacket. Look out for the full length when its released in full on September 4th. In the meantime, here’s “Trapper Keeper.”

Gay Angel Releases Under The Radar Album, Places I’ll Eat, People I’ll Meet

August 21, 2014

One of the more interesting releases to grace our mail box this month has to be from Rochester’s Gay Angel. The moniker of singer/composer Jake Bellissimo, the musician recently released his latest album, Places I’ll Eat, People I’ll Meet, in late July. My first thoughts when listening to this album were that it is busy as hell. Look at the liner notes on the bandcamp page. Aside from Bellissimo, nearly 25 musicians contributed vocals, horns, strings, and more to the nine track album, which, according to Bellissimo, is “a collection of stories, people, sex, food, and music collected over the past 3 years.” Here is the thing though. While some artists compensate lackluster song writing with busier complex sounds, Gay Angel is one of the few that can combine swamped audio with quality. Its wild and all over the place at times, but I never once listened to the album and[...]

PG: A Female Rapper with a Golden Era Steez

August 20, 2014

The Roc is in the building! Rochester’s own PG is a female emcee with a dope flow and a knack for storytelling. On “Brooklyn Girl,” the femcee narrates an encounter with a fly chick on the train tracks of NYC. It’s an old school-styled song that’s refreshingly focused on songwriting, that which PG s already very good at. We’ve all been there, wanting to talk to that cute person, waiting for that moment to actually speak while your nerves build. The song touches on that feeling we’re all familiar with. As PG actually tracks down the BK girl, the song doesn’t lose any of it’s honesty and relatability. Check it out, it’s a great introduction to a promising new femcee.

Harmonica Lewinski Releases First Single From Upcoming EP

August 20, 2014

We have been doing parties for the blog for nearly four years now, and I feel it’s safe to say that the set from Harmonica Lewinski at our fourth birthday party last March was my favorite yet. Making their debut Buffalo show, the band almost didn’t make it due to some out-of-nowhere snow that had them stuck on the I-90 for much of the early evening. Luckily for those in attendance, Harmonica showed up and delivered a tight, retro-tinged performance that lured everyone to a very crowded Duke’s dance floor. You can watch a clip from that performance right here. The band has been teasing some new material and subsequent tour all summer long, and early this morning, the wild Rochester surf punk crew released the first single from their forthcoming 7″ EP, Naked Brunch (9/11). Titled “Har Har Bizarre,” the song is a retro-synth based carnival-like track that maintains an eerie vibe[...]

Strawberry Boys Release First Single, “Got It”

August 14, 2014

Earlier this week, we received an e-mail from Rochester-based electro-pop twosome, Strawberry Boys. In the message, the sender described Strawberry Boys’ sound as a “boy band but serious.” The single, “Got It,” is slow building, but soon evolves into an Architecture in Helsinki-like backing coupled with vocals of Proto Zoa, the fictional band from Disney’s Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. Although Strawberry Boys prefer to release their music under a veil of mystery, I would not be surprised if familiar names are behind the project. Check out “Got It” underneath these words.

Genesee Live Debuts New Session feat. Mike Brown

August 5, 2014

After a short breather, Genesee Live, Rochester’s live session series, returned late yesterday afternoon with a new installment featuring folk musician, producer, and Grammy nominee, Mike Brown. Shot at Brown’s Temperamental Recording Studio, a renovated country church in Geneseo, NY, the lastest session features a beautiful, stripped down performance from the long time musician that fans of Calexico, Iron & Wine, and Americana music would be wise to take a few minutes and check out. Watch the full session with Mike Brown below and for past installments, visit Genesee Live’s tumblr page.

Buffalo Sex Change Releases New Music Video

August 4, 2014

One of the new, WNY releases that we are eagerly awaiting in the blog offices is the debut LP from Rochester, post-punk duo, Buffalo Sex Change. Set to be released tomorrow on 585-based label, Dadstache Records, the album currently has three songs available to stream on the label’s bandcamp page to get a little taste before the entire album drops. Late last week, the pair released the music video for one of those three songs, “Holy Ghost Fire,” a gothic-folk number that would not sound too out of place on the new Mr. Boneless record. Check out the black and white video to the song below, which mostly features a woman lackadasically lassoing.

California Cousins Release Limited Edition Tour EP

July 31, 2014

Fresh off of a huge show with Pentimento and currently on a summer tour, California Cousins have just released a new three-song demo. The Rochester emo band has been on our radar since the dissolution of the now-defunct buffaBLOG favorite, Keeler. This set of songs is perfect for fans of riff-heavy emo and hardcore. The demo is currently free, but only for the duration of California Cousins’ summer tour. Listen to opening track “Your Backyard” below or follow the link to Bandcamp for a free download.

JOYWAVE Makes Network TV Debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers

July 31, 2014

After the explosion of their 2013 track “Tongues” and a couple of opening gigs for the Killers, Rochester’s JOYWAVE continued their excellent 2014 last night as the band made their network television debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers. The electro pop quintet, led by Daniel Armbruster, closed out the show with a head bobbing rendition of said single, sadly without fellow Rochester siren Patricia Petrone of KOPPS providing her infectious scat in person. Armbruster also joined electro cohorts and recent Kefuffle act, Big Data, earlier in the program to play “Dangerous,” a song that you can not escape as of late if you have any alternative music channel or Doritos commercial on. While we are unsure where JOYWAVE will ride this high next, we over at the blog sure wouldn’t mind a proper full length down the road. Until then, we will continue to wear out Koda Vista over in the[...]

Small Signals Drops Music Video to “Whiskers” Single

July 23, 2014

Yesterday, Small Signals, aka Rochester-based, multi-instrumentalist Stephen Roessner, released the first single, “Whiskers,” off of his debut EP, The Aimless. Currently operating as the drummer to jangle-rock band, Pleistocene, Roessner heads in a different direction with his Small Signals project, channeling aspects of Rivers Cuomo, Archers of Loaf, and Fugazi on the seven track release. The video to “Whiskers” finds Roessner fighting the urge to cut his very impressive beard until he finds some hairy, kindred spirits to boost his self esteem. If you are feeling uncomfortable about having a beard, you’re more than welcome to come to Buffalo. I’m sure there are a number of girls at the Pink that wouldn’t think your beard is weird. You can stream the entire EP over at Small Signals’ bandcamp page and in the mean time, watch the video for “Whiskers” below.

Buffalo Sex Change Premieres New Single, “Black Circle”

July 22, 2014

Upstart Rochester label, Dadstache Records, has been keeping busy this summer with solid releases from bands like Pony Hand and Fat Africa. Their next release will be the debut full length from post-punk act, Buffalo Sex Change, a Rochester based group (don’t let the name fool you) who has been on our distance radar for a little while as their inclusion on some solid 585 area bills has peaked our interest. The first single from Buffalo Sex Change, which is set to drop on August 5th, debuted today on bandcamp. Titled “Black Circle,” the crawling, reverb drenched track sounds like Okkervil River’s Will Sheff moonlighting with Crystal Stilts, or even Ariel Pink at his less weird of moments. Check it out below.