Rochester

Joywave Returns with “It’s a Trip!”

May 30, 2017

Rochester indie powerhouse Joywave dropped their second single “It’s a Trip!” earlier this month from their new album Content due out July 28th via Hollywood Records/Cultco Music. The album will be a major followup to the band’s 2015 breakout release How Do You Feel Now? “It’s a Trip!” taps into the roots of psychedelia with a groovy guitar riff and a smooth synth to back everything up. Lead singer Daniel Armbruster cracks out the falsetto, which gains some twinges of analog sound embedded in the chorus.  Check out the music video for the new single below.

Calicoco Releases Debut Single “Night Owl”

May 24, 2017

Calicoco is the moniker of the new project fronted by Rochester musician Giana Caliolo. “Night Owl,” Calicoco’s debut single, dives headfirst into the stresses of lifestyle changes. The outfit’s upcoming Needy EP serves as the culmination of the past four years for Caliolo with the ending of the band Buckets, and the balancing of projects Pony Hand and Secret Pizza. “Night Owl” goes into the changes that Caliolo went through in her life and the anxieties that came with the choices that she made to change herself for the better. The catchy guitar riff loops as the drums set a solid punch to back up the song and pair well with Caliolo’s gentle voice. Needy is set for release via Dadstache Records on June 9th. In the meantime check out “Night Owl” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/319147863″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]  

The Fox Sisters Return with “Stuck On You”

May 23, 2017

One would think with a name like The Fox Sisters, the group would be a family affair. Ironically though, The Fox Sisters are not a group of sisters, but seven guys playing ‘60s style R&B out of Rochester, NY. The song serves as the A-side, with the track “Yeah Yeah” on the B-side. The song carries elements from ‘60s rock & roll music like Phil Marshall’s bouncy guitar riffs, supported by Patrick McNally’s upbeat vocals. The song also dips into R&B with the incorporation of the alto saxophone, which comes in strong during a solo towards the end of the song. Check out “Stuck On You” below. Stuck On You by The Fox Sisters

KOPPS Drop “Baby I’m Dead Inside”

May 3, 2017

Rochester electro darlings KOPPS are back with a new single that accurately/regrettably/inevitably captures the zeitgeist, the sweet electronic poison that is “Baby I’m Dead Inside.” Trading their trademark trashed glitz for simmering, low key electronic funk punctuated by crunchy, fuzzed out guitar riffs, KOPPS find a new brand new slowed down groove for Patricia Patrón’s sultry disco diva vocal stylings to bewitch the faithful into helpless submission. Check out “Baby I’m Dead Inside” below and keep an eye on KOPPS- they could be busy this year.

Pleistocene – “Your New Life”

May 2, 2017

In a brash two-and-a-half minutes, Rochester’s Pleistocene conveys a message like a swarm of bees: Missing an old friend is hard even if you’re confident she’ll be okay. “Your New Life” is the lead single from the band’s killer release Spear. New life is breathed into the song via this roller derby video featuring a protagonist colliding recklessly reflecting the free, surf rock nature of the lively tune. The video tells the story of roller derby moms and their children growing to love and experience the same rough-and-tumble sport. Pleistocene’s effort is respected as “Your New Life” demonstrates a best foot forward. Check it out below. [vimeo 213706391 w=640 h=360] PLEISTOCENE – “YOUR NEW LIFE” from BUBL-T on Vimeo.

Soviet Dolls Release New Single

March 20, 2017

Soviet Dolls delivers us a taste of wholesome synth-pop with their track “Dreams.” The Rochester natives craft a sweet brew of alt-rock intensity with the synth-driven whimsy of indie-pop. It has a familiar feel, but manages to present a unique idea through stimulating production and captivating electronic elements. The group has built quite a name for themselves by sharing stages big names like The 1975, Joywave, and Broods. It seems only fair to assume this won’t be the last we hear of Soviet Dolls. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/306492952″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Mammal is a Mountain Teases Two Singles

January 20, 2017

Central NY folk rock ensemble Mammal is a Mountain is gearing up for the release of their debut full-length Memory Albums, having shared the first single of the new record, along with a solid B-side. The often-rotational outfit of musicians, helmed by songwriter Dan Lynch, melds folk / Americana influence with an unrestrained songwriting style akin to Conor Oberst. The new single, a studio version of a previously acoustic track titled “Thick Mud,” has been fittingly renamed “Ode to Dirty Lovers” and given the full-band treatment. The song’s driving upstroke and gradual crescendo brings out the personal intensity of the lyrics, all topped with blasts of electric organ. A second track, “Backed by the Bank,” complements the single release with somber acoustic vibes not unlike those of the late, great Elliott Smith. Both tracks, though inherently different in tonality, work well together to deliver some A-level hype for the forthcoming[...]

Soviet Dolls Release New Dark-Pop Song, “Ghostlover”

December 14, 2016

Rochester electro-pop act Soviet Dolls recently released their latest single, the dark and looming “Ghostlover.” The quintet combines lush synth textures with an alternative rock backbone and the cherry-on-top vocals of dusky singer Alexandra Wendt. The result is a dark pop banger that we can’t help but crush on. Fans of CHVRCHES, Metric, or The Naked and Famous would really dig this tune. “Ghostlover” is available via Bandcamp for a “pay what you want” rate. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/296780980″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

KOPPS Share New Single “I LOL @ U”

November 18, 2016

Right now during these surreal and uncertain times, when we needed something like this the most, KOPPS has delivered a sonic judo chop to the senses with their bonkers new single “I LOL @ U.”  A riot of 80’s electronica, 90’s sass, ulterior motives, and super sweet ear candy, this psychedelic head rush from our good friends from Rochester doesn’t play around. That goes for the accompanying lyric video, which is beautifully executed and viciously trippy (if not unduly mean to ice cream), proving again that KOPPS is the whole package. You can catch KOPPS December 3 at Anthology in Rochester when they join Joywave, The Demos, Harmonica Lewinski, Mikaela Davis, Secret Pizza, Pleistocene and pretty much the rest of Rochester’s indie scene to play a benefit for Tim Avery, a booker and essential scene impressario battling cancer. Tickets are $20. Show goes 2pm to midnight.  

Oh Manitou Releases New Singles

September 28, 2016

Oh Manitou, a Rochester-based indie act still in their infancy, released duel singles”People I’d Like To Be” and “Once Again” last week. The songs, notably “People I’d Like To Be” showcase immense talent as Oh Manitou embarks on quite the sonic journey. All instruments (keys, vocals, guitars, the like) are played with noteworthy skill and their notes were chosen with great care along with production savviness. The tune commences with a brilliant horn and woodwind introduction. Guitar work and cymbal embellishments are the bow on the present. Then, a chorused and distorted guitar nudges the song awake. “People I’d Like to Be” fills out with bass, drums, and a unique lead. While toms and tambourine shakes fill the air, vocals take to the forefront – awesome harmonies carry you away. “Falling into the sea watching the stars align,” is a perfect way to describe this song, but the sight must be equally as[...]

Full Body Drops “Magnesium Deficiency” Singles

September 13, 2016

Full Body, a slackrock trio from Rochester, released two versions of one song, “Magnesium Deficiency,” on August’s final day. The first, “Magnesium Deficiency,” is a quick punk song with fuzzy bass, robust electric guitar, and Blink-182-like lead vocals. The second, dubbed “Mag Def,” is a beautiful, slowed down take of the same song with the addition of synth, easier vocals and drums, and chorused guitar. Both versions are equally as potent. Both carry the same relatable lyrical lines, such as “Validation is a curse,” and “Everything that’s not yours is shared.” But, for separation’s sake, the first sounds like Dads and the second is something you’d hear from Balance and Composure. Check out the demos below, and stayed tuned for their upcoming split with Soft Cough.

midnight Releases Second Single from 0:00

August 12, 2016

On his recently released o:oo EP, Rochester-artist midnight rolls out a club-influenced R&B sound courtesy of Buffalo producer YLXR’s evocative percussion and atmospheric synths. The pair supplement each other’s aesthetic especially well on “Descent,” a sultry track that highlights the artist’s clever vocal phrasing and patiently builds to a break with chopped vocals and deep bass groove. The single is out now via Majestic Casual records. Take a listen below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/275623820″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The Branch Davidians – Sex, Death, and Things Less Boring

August 3, 2016

The Branch Davidians have released their EP Sex, Death, and Things Less Boring. Based in Rochester, the band began as an indie folk duo, before lead man Ben Stephanus expanded both the size of the group and the scope of its sound. Their five-song release is full of fuzz and shoegazey vibes. The lead guitar’s grimy buzz is a consistent force throughout the EP. They fuse throwback ‘90s tendencies with noise-rock elements to achieve a dissonant pop sound. Stephanus’ vocals are trippy with a dash of reverb, and reminiscent of melodies from underground ‘60s rock. The groovy “Bridges of Madison County” sounds like it could be a pop tune from The Zombies fed through the lens of a Tame Impala rocker. The lead guitar riff on “Your Sex Wants You Dead” is textbook pop punk, but with much more distortion. It’s not until the final track, “Blessed Water,” that the[...]

Pleistocene Shares Track from Forthcoming LP Spear

July 18, 2016

Pleistocene rises! Rochester’s coolest named-after-a-geological-epoch surf-punk outfit has dropped a new single off of the band’s forthcoming LP Spear, due out on Pleisto-tour cassette via Casual Punks on 7/22 (and beyond, if you happen to catch the 5-piece on their midsummer East Coast tour), with a full-fledged digital release slated for early August. Spear marks the band’s first full length since 2014’s Ontario Girls. The new single, “Your New Life,” is the third to be shared from the new record, and it basks unabashedly in all things Pleisto—reverb-laden ocean leads over a bass tone sludgier than sludge itself. Singer Katie Preston’s unphased vocals deliver the sweet nostalgia of an old friend, offering a perfect contrast to the song’s surrounding fuzz. The chilled-out new track seems to contradict what might have otherwise been considered a reinvention of the traditionally jangly Pleisto-sound, judging from the first two album spoilers (the exceptionally explosive[...]

Joywave Remixes Maybird’s Single

June 29, 2016

Rochester-raised psych-rockers Maybird have released the first single and title track off their debut EP, Turning Into Water, in late February. The song recently underwent a facelift by getting remixed by fellow breakout Rochester synth-rockers Joywave. “Turning Into Water” is transformed from vintage spaced out psychedelia into a riot of loops, drums simultaneously from the future and the past, discordant keyboards, and the clear, otherworldly tenor of Josh Netsky. Now based in Brooklyn and signed to Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records, who released their debut EP last month, Maybird are yet another band  to the east that are breaking to the next level (see: KOPPS, Mikaela Davis). Check out the reworking below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/269635543″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]