Rochester Showcase Artist Spotlight

Harmonica Lewinski

November 21, 2014

I last saw Harmonica Lewinski at our fourth birthday party, and I was struck by just how good they were at what they do. There’s some apocryphal story about the Clash that’s relevant. I can’t find it for fact-checking, and maybe I dreamed the whole thing, but it went something like this: Joe Strummer, let’s say, gathers the whole crew in their practice space. He says it’s time to get serious about who The Clash is and what they’re trying to do. He draws a line on the ground in chalk, or something. On one side of the line: the members who view themselves as entertainers. On the other: the members who view themselves as musicians. Tense moment, until Paul Simonon sticks his little English tongue out and plants one foot on either side of the line. Probably didn’t happen. And when faced with that kind of decision, most people[...]

Mallwalkers

November 20, 2014

The only Buffalo band on the bill for this week’s roadtrip/showcase, Mallwalkers, may have to be airdropped into Rochester. Luckily blog editor, Mac McGuire, is a licensed pilot* and master of the skies.* That said, Mallwalkers will be rounding out this lineup by bringing their gritty brand of punk funk to Shelbyville…I mean Rochester. Mallwalkers have spent the year since releasing their debut LP, Shake The Rust Off, continuing to refine their sound and dominating whatever bill you put them on. Recently the band added two new members, Jaz Frazier (buffaBLOG alumni) and Mario Fanone (one half of UVB76), making the band perhaps the closest thing Buffalo has to an all-star band (way better than the Travelling Willburys). In addition to Saturday’s show at the Bug Jar (8pm, $7), the band has played and will be playing a few upcoming album release shows. I recently spoke with lead singer, Dan[...]

Buffalo Sex Change

November 19, 2014

I like Rochester. It’s a nice place. There’s a bunch of bands from there that I really, really like. I’ve been to a lot of really good shows in and around Rochacha, a term I say with love. Being in Western New York, their food is good (once you get further east on the 90 it gets dodgier). So yeah, I’m a little stoked for the show this Saturday at the Bug Jar. One of the bands I’m keen to check out live is Rochester lo-fi garage rock duo Buffalo Sex Change. These guys, Clayton Eddy and Phil Pierce, are bringing it in from way out there with a skeevy, raw sound that’s ideal for petty crime like shoplifting meat by sticking it down your pants, sniffing glue, lewd conduct, driving recklessly, and spicing up an already stocked bill. The pair will be batting second in our lineup Saturday night, following[...]

The Absolutes

November 18, 2014

It may come to no surprise that buffaBLOG has a show this Saturday in Rochester due to the all-encompassing Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram teases. If this is the first post you’ve ever read on this website and have never visited our social media accounts, Hi. We put together a nice show on Saturday at the Bug Jar in Rochester with four bands and a DJ. As a matter of fact, I will tell you about one of the bands right now. Set to start Saturday night off with a bang is Rochester-based trio, The Absolutes. A long-time player in the local scene, the band’s retro power pop sound is similar to that of The Zombies, Elvis Costello, or more currently early Apples in Stereo. These garage rockers should be on early, like way earlier than you would expect bands to start on a Saturday night, so make sure you get[...]