Rochester

Soviet Dolls Unleash New Single “Hunters”

April 11, 2018

Synthetic pop-rockers, Soviet Dolls, are back and unleash the latest single and title track off their new EP, Hunters. With a beat like a panther stalking its prey in the moonlight, the Rochester quartet mix Siren vocals, velvet riffs, lurking keys and a soaring chorus for a tune that will tap into your primal thrills and desires. Pounce on this electrifying and irresistible listen below ASAP. Check out and support Soviet Dolls’ Hunters on Bandcamp here or stream it on Spotify here. Hunters by Soviet Dolls

The Able Bodies Release Video for New Single, “Ordinary Life”

April 5, 2018

We all could use an escape right now. The wheels are coming off our government, 1984 is our reality and now the Tatums are separating. Thankfully Rochester’s electro-pop pride and joy, The Able Bodies, offer one with the liberation of their latest meme-inspired video, “Ordinary Life.” Armed with a guitar and drum machine, this promising pair craft a catchy, stress-relieving psych-rock track with dreams of escapism you won’t be able to help sing and dance along to all day and night. This is the third video release from Able Bodies and arguably their best and most exciting one yet, so take a break from your troubles and check it out below. Subscribe to The Able Bodies YouTube channel for more videos here or stream them on Spotify here.

Jon Lewis Band Drops New Video off Get Wild Somewhere

April 3, 2018

Rochester group Jon Lewis Band are back with some new music. After having released eight studio albums in just four years, the indie rock’n rollers are hitting early 2018 with yet another release, slated for May. In anticipation of the the new record, titled Get Wild Somewhere, they have released their first single “Cinnamon Only,” along with a music video. The track is a straight ahead rocker in a minor key, with deep distortion and a firm low end. There is a funky clavinet-like keyboard that is peppered throughout that balances against the guitars, reminiscent of psych-rock sounds from the late ’60s-early ’70s. Lewis’ mid range lead vocals are smooth and land right on top of the whole mix. There’s a good blend of classic and modern rock, with a slight griminess to it, too; essentially its Tom Petty meets Wilco with a splash of Primus. Check out the music[...]

Hawker M. James Releases New Single & Video, “Falling Out,” Off Upcoming Album

March 29, 2018

Hawker M. James, pseudonym of Mike James (formerly of Longwave and The Demos), brings us his emotional first single and video for the song, “Falling Out,” off his upcoming album, The Cool Wind. The Rochester songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer reflects on the devotion to one’s craft and sacrifices made in pursuit of dreams on this gentle, contemplative folk ballad. Evocative and thoughtful, the track is comprised of soothing acoustic strings and touching piano keys wrapped up in James’ warm and cozy vocals. Check out the visuals for this infectiously introspective tune below. Keep an eye out for the release of The Cool Wind and in the meantime check out James’ SoundCloud here for more tracks.

Trevor Courneen Releases Video for “Thursday, Endlessly”

February 6, 2018

With a music video shot and edited by photographer Kurt Indovina, and Rochester based musician Trevor Courneen’s “Thursday, Endlessly” is a self-effacing alternative rock jewel. The tune is breezy and accessible, much in the vein of a modern version of Pixies’ “Here Comes Your Man” or one of those instances wherein Dinosaur Jr. lightened their hardcore touch. The explosive guitar solo that hops in around the 2-minute mark may show slight influence an energetic group like Japandroids, whose 2012 album Celebration Rock makes a brief cameo in the song’s video. The future certainly appears bright for the mult-tasking Courneen, Check out the visual for “Thursday, Endlessly” below.

The Able Bodies Drop Video For “Pet Shop”

January 30, 2018

Rochester electropop outfit The Able Bodies are back with a new single and video that’s absolutely guaranteed to provide some warmth during this fine Buffalo winter we’re having. “Pet Shop” is irresistible 80’s pop and a Chromeo-esque summer roller skating jam that’s just a few months early, heavy on juicy synth lines and breezy, soulful vocals… but it should be noted that it’s definitely not about about the joys of pet ownership or the American pet industrial complex. A tight follow up to their debut single “Flicker” from last August, it’s hilarious, catchy as hell, and what you need right now.

Boy Jr. – “50 mg”

January 22, 2018

Breaking in the exuberant new track “50 mg” with a nifty bassline, the Rochester-based project Boy Jr., which finds music conservatory-studying collegiate Erica Allen at the helm, adopts a punk-type verve while keeping things light and easy on anyone’s ears. The fast pace is matched with a delicate guitar presence and crooning vocals fir for tackling the Great American Songbook. Everything remains playful but cool at the same time, such as in extemporaneous-sounding lines like “another round, please.” Such a mold was carved out by The Strokes in their prime, and Boy Jr. certainly nails it here on this fresh offering. The recent two-song effort from Boy Jr. titled Some More Tunes (a continuation of December’s Some Tunes) is available through bandcamp. Some More Tunes by Boy Jr.

River Lynch and The Spiritmakers Drop New Video “Straight Through”

October 19, 2017

Rochester rock and roll upstarts River Lynch and The Spiritmakers have teased us with a video for their latest single “Straight Through” that is pure, organ soaked, riff heavy goodness.  These guys are clearly on a mission, and this song and rock-band-in-studio-recording video definitely qualify as a call to arms to fellow rock revivalists ready to reassert the primacy of rock music, for good or ill, in the crowded modern marketplace. With more new music  on the way, it will be most interesting to hear what they’ve got to back all of this up. In the meantime, check out “Straight Through” below.

Rochester Indie-Emo Act Barbarosa Release Ambient New EP

October 4, 2017

Rochester’s Barbarosa are a talented duo who craft beautiful indie-pop tunes laced with synthesizers and well-thought-out male/female harmonies. Their new, self-titled release is no exception; fans of mid 2000’s emo like Lydia, Copeland, or MAE will find this lush EP hitting close to their heart. We recommend starting with opening track “A Step Back,” which combines the sentimental twang of late 90’s emo with atmospheric synth swells and cavernous reverb. Barbarosa’s pop songwriting is best demonstrated here, especially in the chorus, where they expertly expand a typical four-chord structure into something atmospheric and beautiful. Their male/female harmonies shine through strongest here, pairing a strong, catchy melody with inventive and jazzy drumming. Track two, “Pervitin,” might be the best juxtaposition of their Bandcamp bio – “loud and pretty.” Here, we find Barbarosa at their darkest… Bordering on menacing and mysterious, the duo have crafted a song more energetic than “A Step Back,” but no less beautiful.[...]

Big Fred Releases Swirly Trash-Pop LP

September 6, 2017

Fans of big muffs, small clones, and pop songwriting unite! We’re digging Rochester’s Big Fred, who recently put out a nine-song LP called Oh Hi Hello. OHH is full of swirly, wonky trash-pop that seems tailor made for fans of Mac Demarco or Ariel Pink. The cherry on top of their psychedelic-tinged garage-rock comes from front man Conor McCann, whose distinct vocals add a tasteful trashiness to the mix. On a deeper level, Big Fred touches on themes of companionship and introversion and ponders whether the act of “wanting something” is more fun than actually having something. Check it out via the widget below. If you’d like to support Big Fred, Oh Hi Hello is out now via Sad Cactus records. You can snag it digitally from Bandcamp or purchase a physical copy here. Oh Hi Hello by BIG FRED

The Able Bodies Get Pumped with Debut Video “Flicker”

August 24, 2017

Rochester indie pop starlets The Able Bodies just dropped a video for their debut single “Flicker” that’s alarmingly fully formed, deeply satisfying, and utterly irresistible. Shot and directed by Adam Antelek, Krit Upra, and Nick Kundrat (from the gnarly and very groovy Rochester indie culture magazine Floated), “Flicker” is a feel good 80’s digital freak-out as a fitness infomercial, perfect for a glorious slab of Jackson 5 by way of Daft Punk and Cut Copy goodness. The Able Bodies (aka John Viviani and Eli Flynn) are definitely onto something here with a this instantly timeless single that feels… right. Check it.

Pink Elephant Return with Grungy New Single, “Around Your Neck”

August 17, 2017

Rochester trash-wave veterans Pink Elephant are back at it again with a grungy new single called “Around Your Neck.” Recorded at More Sound Studios in Syracuse, “Around Your Neck” is a skulking rock banger with tinges of psych rock and garage twang. The song is about wanting to help someone who can’t be saved; rather than actually helping out, you just wind up getting sucked into their chaos and darkness. Fans of Portugal. The Man, The Pixies, or The White Stripes will like these guys’ dirty, yet nuanced rock n’ roll. Pink Elephant is on Bandcamp – you know what to do.

Harmonica Lewinski Releases New Track “Pyramid Scheme”

August 2, 2017

Rochester based sleaze rockers, Harmonica Lewinski have released a new single titled, “Pyramid Scheme” which comes almost a year to the date after the release of their last full length, Head Honcho. It bares mentioning that the cover art for the single is not an entirely apt description for the music but seems to be another example of irony the band puts to use.  In some ways “Pyramid Scheme” follows this ironic trend by being a valiant reproduction of 50-60’s style surfer/rockabilly with less of the blues/country twinge the original genre typically used, and instead they add to the mix stuff that could be out of the Detroit garage-rock scene. Check out “Pyramid Scheme” below. Pyramid Scheme /// Risky Bizness by Harmonica Lewinski

midnight Drops New Single “Promethium”

July 5, 2017

Rochester R&B crooner midnight delves into the topic of Greek mythology through the release of his new single “Promethium.” In the singer’s new song, midnight brings up the Prometheus myth as a source of inspiration for the song. His gift comes as both a blessing and a curse because he must suffer for others. There is a complexity to the track with each beat layered over each other. Dreamy Buffalo-based producer ylxr brings an atmospheric style to the track with the spacey synths and slow snaps. Check out “Promethium” below via soundcloud.

Talking Under Water Release Video For “We Used To Dream”

June 13, 2017

To borrow and adapt a now classic Rick James quote, nostalgia is a hell of a drug. Ephemeral, elusive and irresistible, we can’t escape it now matter how hard we try (trust me, after a while you just go with it), and for Exhibit A of this human phenomenon would have to be the video for Talking Under Water’s “We Used To Dream.” Already lovely and melancholic slab of Beatles, Beach Boys and Chicago infused 80’s mega pop, the clip from the Rochester quintet is practically weaponized nostalgia… for the joy of youth, the Tom Hanks classic “Big,” and a magical time long ago when blowing on things like videogame cartridges really did fix them. The clip and single hail from the bands eponymous debut album which arrived in April and can be found here.