Suggested Bands

Makeout Tactics

Buffalo-based indie pop quintet Makeout Tactics has been making their name for themselves since emerging onto the scene in 2021. The band has an ability to switch directions and sounds based on who is taking lead, and combines into a Los Campesinos meets Say Anything megazord with their end product. The band dabbles in jangle-pop and indie rock and is quickly becoming a must-have name on bills with their live show performances.

Captain Tom & the Hooligans

Born out of Buffalo NY, Captain Tom & the Hooligans rose from the rustbelt with a determination to entertain audiences while sharing their passion for the cultures that birthed their unique sound! Inspired by local cultures the Hooligans Range in instrumentation from accordions to electric guitars. They’ve created a unique blend of the old-world and the new, while preforming original material the group also puts spins on traditional and contemporary songs alike, with an ability to produce up-tempo songs and ballads, rendering their own twist on new and old favorites from across the spectrum of Polka to Celtic Punk, Americana, Eastern European Folk, Folk-Rock, Ska and everything in between! – Captain Tom

Matt Smith’s Nervous System

Matt Smith’s Nervous System is a Buffalo-based project led by  Matt Smith (guitar/vocals) alongside Roddy Potter (drums) and Colin Pratt (bass/vocals).The band is composed of three long-time music scene veterans whose sound is much akin to The Velvet Underground or The National. In essence, the end product is bluesy power-pop centric with some themes of “black magic, natural disasters, memory loss, deep depressions, and love gone forever wrong.”   Today And Tomorrow Too by Matt Smith’s Nervous System

Elemantra

Buffalo, NY’s indie rock group Elemantra blends somber and sincere melodies with the lush aura of dream pop and shoegaze. Formed by childhood best friends Justin Woodmancy, Nick Beiling and Brent Bergstrom, the ensemble has consistently crafted creamy, reverb-drenched and infectious tunes. Their swirling pop sound is highlighted by dense, warm walls of guitars that are offset by transparent and introspective lyrics that bare all. Elemantra has curated a sonic atmosphere that is comforting, fresh and nostalgic. Only Momentary by elemantra

Eugene Palmer

Eugene Palmer is the alter-ego / moniker of Buffalo’s Matt DiStasio and his slowcore / 90s style college rock music. Formed in the dark days of COVID-19, the project has emerged as one of the tightest indie bands on the indie scene. Rut by Eugene Palmer

Aye Karou

“Aye Karou is an energetic 5 piece rock band from South Buffalo, NY. Its members include Mark Barrett (bass guitar/vocals), Ray Fulton (guitar/vocals), Brian Battenfeld (drums/percussion), and Bill Fulton (guitar/vocals). They began playing together in the summer of 2007 as The Tragically Sith, a cover band playing songs by The Tragically Hip but altering the lyrics to be all about the Star Wars films. A decision to begin playing original music drove the group to form Aye Karou in early 2010. The goal of the band became to share their music with as many people as possible and have the absolute best time ever doing it. Influences include My Morning Jacket, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Weezer, Pavement and Built to Spill.” – Aye Karou Hi, Karate by Aye Karou

Dr. Ooo

Dr. Ooo has been a purveyor of wordplay in the Buffalo hip hop scene for minute. Drew Hartman’s rap project has been going strong since before Soundcloud was an era. For over a decade, he’s been combining his Rhymesayer-flavored poetic delivery with some of the tastiest boom bap beats and samples this side of the Pharcyde.

Cooler

“Buffalo, NY’s Cooler has always combined a calculated, pop-minded approach with sincere and gritty storytelling. Their unique brand of “dreamo” takes the best aspects of emo, dream-pop, and alterantive songwriting and smashes them together into a soothing, shadowy mist that just barely smooths over the underlying tones of urgency and anxiety.” – Cooler

Welks Mice

Welks Mice is Buffalo’s premier vibraphone – vocal DIY pop duo. Songwriter Max Weiss and vibraphonist Andre Welks-Fabretti explore themes of openness, positivity, and hope. The anxious and incessant edges of the duo’s sound give way to softer song forms while maintaining their signature stark and minimalist pop aesthetic that keeps Max’s lyrics central for the listener.

Hundred Plus Club

Buffalo-based indie rock trio Hundred Plus Club consists of Zain Shirazi (vocals, guitar), Burak Spoth (drums), and Zekeriya Spoth (keys). The three have been friends since middle school, playing together for over ten years, officially donning the Hundred Plus Club moniker in the summer of 2015. Hundred Plus Club is reminiscent of mid 2000s indie rockers such as Tokyo Police Club, Bloc Party, and Interpol.

Wylie Something

Wylie Something is the working name for Buffalo singer/songwriter Jake Smolinski, who performs under the name both as a solo project and as a full band. Since returning to Buffalo in 2014, Wylie Something has been a well represented in the local music scene with fans noting Something’ introspective lyrics, with shades of Silver Jews and Mac DeMarco present in the project’s repertoire.

Roger Bryan and the Orphans

For the past 16 years, Roger Bryan and the Orphans have been foraging a path merging classic american songwriting with both grace and recklessness. Over the fourse of four albums, multiple EPs, and singles, they have created a catolog of ragged glory that continues to grow and evolve while managing to keep a heart stil stitched on it’s well worn sleeve. – RBATO Days Or Nights/That’s Life! by Roger Bryan and The Orphans

Matches Laces

After more than a decade of writing and performing with indie rock band, The Tins, Mike Santillo is creatingmusic under a new moniker. Primarily a recording project, Matches Laces combines electronic and natural elements, including moody sci- synths, dark acoustic guitar, retro drum machines, eld recording samples and layered vocal harmonies to create a mix of somber and upbeat pop-leaning songs. In an interview with1120 Press, Santillo says, “everything I’m writing, I kind of write and record as I write. The songs kind of write themselves as I’m recording and adding layers. “These recorded layers have come together to form an 8 song EP. In the self-titled debut, Santillo explores heart break by examining past relationship dynamics, contemplates the nite nature of existence while re-solving to focus on the love there is in the moment, and tracks time just existing in mundanity, “sitting down by the water to pass the[...]

Tough Old Bird

“Tough Old Bird was formed by songwriting brothers Matthew and Nathan Corrigan in a rural corner of Western New York. Since releasing ‘Gambling Days’ in 2016, the duo has taken their singular style of modern folk music to coffee shops, listening rooms, music clubs, dive bars, campgrounds and front porches across the United States. The band’s newly expanded lineup features Ricky Bechard on drums and Brendan O’Shea on bass.” – Tough Old Bird

Zak Ward

Zak Ward is another familiar name that blog has been covering since its inception in 2010. Back then, Ward was buzzing with his work with Son of the Sun. Summer 2024 saw a Son of the Sun reunion, which delivered tenfold with their packed show at Fountain Plaza. Ward is debuting a new project many are excited about, Zak Ward and the Million Dollar Question. Without any recordings of the project online yet, we are left to anticipate and prognosticate. All we know is it’s going to be good.