Figurehead Releases Wordy Single
Over the weekend, Figurehead released their new single "a song about the sea, a song about sex, a song about using both to drown yourself." You may remember Figurehead from their fall 2013 release which first put them on our radar, No One Wants to Be Your Friend. The...
Delplato & Kujawski – Strings & Chords
I am treated to the best of the best of local music from week to week. Over the past few years, I have had an opportunity to objectively review and appreciate a wide variety of music that comes my way. That being said, nothing ever seems to grip me like a release from...
Only Comrades Drop Spring Mixtape
Buffalo streetwear fashionista duo, Only Comrades, have released the second installment of their seasonal mixtape series. Following the winter cut from local DJ duo Buzz Trillington, the OC crew reached out to buzzing NYC DJ Tanner Caldwell this time around, which can...
Exclusive: Local Onlys – “Cogito Theory”
The Cascos' frontman/mastermind behind The SSC, Jacob Smolinski, leaked us the new single for his La Salle-influenced, Philadelphia-based project, Local Onlys. The trio released their debut EP late in 2013, but it seems as though the band's knack for lo-fi indie rock...
Makeshift Letterbox Releases Hazy New EP
Rochester has been a little quiet this week, so we were delighted to stumble upon Makeshift Letterbox. The hazy post-rock band just released its new EP this week, titled The Vaporbomb Love Affair. This menacing collection of songs, which by law should only be played...
Ratking – So It Goes
Let's be honest--New York City is still a main hub of culture when it comes to the arts, but it's changing rapidly. A constant topic of discussion is gentrification, basically, in more simple terms, the 'neighborhood is changing.' Defining a 'New York' artist sound is...
Like A Parrot Debut “Awkward Arm”
I just want to dance! Maybe it’s because it’s Tuesday or maybe it’s because Like a Parrot has just released the brand new track, “Awkward Arm.” Consisting of Aaron Bonus and Justin Gammella, Like a Parrot have been making music together for the past year, creating...
Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks – Enter the Slasher House
After more than a decade together as one of the most prolific and unorthodox psychedelic-pop indie bands, Animal Collective's founding member Avey Tare has decided to break away and form an alternative trio side-project called Slasher Flicks. Unlike many of the less...
Passion in Constellation Releases Music Video for “Weird Tonight”
Simply put, Passion in Constellation will expand your connotation of the word “weird,” which according to Chris Alan (the artist behind PIC), is a state of mind that should be fully embraced to it's second exponent. Let's get weird squared is more like it and this...
Mapmaker – Critical Path
Mapmaker is probably one of the more underrated bands in Buffalo’s catalog. Their new release is called Critical Path and, while putting the finishing touches on this review on this fine Sunday evening, I realize what a real barnburner it is. The production is lo-fi,...
Fat Africa Releases Teaser Single
Set to be released on Dadstache Records (Skirts [formerly Meanagers], Routine Involvements, and bc likes you!), Rochester based outfit, Fat Africa, released their teaser single to their upcoming album. "Futility, or..." is a crawling minimalist track which can be be...
Queen City Music Lottery Band, Nail School, Debuts First Song
On the eve of the Queen City Music Lottery Showcase, one of the randomly assembled acts, Nail School, has released its first track via bandcamp. Featuring members of JOHNS, Merchants, and Space Wolves, Nail School's "Russian Bride" is a cut of dark, aggressive...
Cloud Nothings – Here and Nowhere Else
Cloud Nothings' face-crunching fourth album is a fearless, assertive follow-up to 2012's Attack on Memory. Oscillating between a chaotic rush of existential howls and throaty but tuneful melodies, Here and Nowhere Else pounds its presence out through furious snare...
Rackmastas Release Return of the Rack LP
Rackmastas, a long time duo born out of the basement of Gates Circle Wine & Liquor, recently released its long awaited LP, Return of the Rack. Spanning 17 tracks, the record has a lot going on, although don't be misled by the long tracklist as a handful of those...
Listen to “See Me Again” by Soul Butchers
Soul Butchers have recently made a blip on our radar with their debut 7 deep EP/short album 18 Wheeler (produced by Mr. Skimask). The album starts off with a retro-punk flavor similar to that of locals Irving Klaws or Wolf Tickets, but the real magic creeps out on the...
Thievery Corporation – Saudade
Rob Garza and Eric Hilton are busy guys. Since forming Thievery Corporation in the late '90's, they've produced eleven studio albums, with the release of Saudade as their twelfth. Normally when one thinks of Thievery Corporation, they are associated with the acid-jazz...
The New York Breakfast Releases DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK
Anyone who takes even a brief dip into the waters of Buffalo's live music culture quickly realizes that Steak and Cake founder Brandon Schlia is one of its proudest captains. On the eve before his label's third anniversary show (which also happened to be Valentine's...
Mac DeMarco – Salad Days
NOTE: This review was written immediately after returning from a Mac DeMarco concert in Cleveland, in which he and his touring bassist licked me in the face (I gave Mac a Valentine and asked for a kiss in return. He obliged me.) and then I talked to him and...
S Carey – Range of Light
S. Carey – better known as Sean Carey, the drummer for Bon Iver – knows how to stay on the top of his solo game. After surprisingly captivating us with single after single of ethereal beauty from his debut effort All We Grow, the soft voiced drummer has returned in...
Check Out Made Violent’s New Video “Dirty”
There's something incredibly infectious about Made Violent's approach to rock'n'roll. Part Strokes-swagger, part downstroke pummel, their songs have a melodic bite to them; A special kind of thing that you don't find every day. Attitude, fun, and energy have always...
Passion In Constellation Drops New Single
Passion in Constellation, the project of Buffalo producer Chris Alan, released its follow up single to "Sunlight" this past weekend. On "Weird Tonight," Alan appears to be aiming to drop a summer anthem on Buffalo as playful synths lead up to a big chorus that recalls...
Failures’ Union – Tethering
When I mentioned to people that I'd be writing up the new Failures' Union release, Tethering, I generally got one of two responses. The first was that these guys were staples over at Mohawk Place. The association makes sense: that's where the band got its start back...
buffaBLOG 4th Birthday Party Artist Spotlight: Chauncey Tails
One of the most important factors involved in pleasing the party goers is the disc jockey. They do us a great service by pleasing our eardrums in-between acts, making sure we all keep our dancing shoes in check. This time around for our 4th bday party at Duke's, we...
Johnny Cash – Out Amoung The Stars
It’s hard to believe that over a decade after his death, Johnny Cash is still giving us new, baritone-riddled insights to chew on. Or maybe it’s not, given the many stories that seem necessary to accompany a life held by such a prolific personality. In his fourth...
Waka Flocka Flame – Re-up Mixtape
Waka Flocka goes hard in the motherfuckin tape on his new mix, Re-Up, an 11 track compilation with solid production and clever collaborations. His much-anticipated album, Flockaveli 2, doesn't drop til later this year, and this mix will carry you through til it's...
Attic Abasement Teases Upcoming Split LP
Carbon Records, a 20 + year Rochester indie rock mainstay, is prepping the release of a split LP from 585 act Attic Abasement and Nod. Earlier this week, the label dropped a couple teaser tracks from the record via bandcamp. "Pretty Teeth," part of the Attic Abasement...
buffaBLOG 4th Birthday Party Artist Spotlight: Real People
Back in November, when Real People's excellent Ceilings EP got the album of the week treatment, our own Nick Sessanna wrote that "Real People is a prime example of a band meant to be seen in basements." By which he meant that they're the kind of band you want to...
The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams
The Hold Steady, as their name suggests, have always been consistent. Each record contains the same classic rock bravado, the same gritty tales of skaters and punks, druggies and barflies, "kids at shows" and their "scene leaders." Jesus is found and lost, beverages...
buffaBLOG 4th Birthday Party Artist Spotlight: Alex Berkley & the Atlanta Falcons
This week we have been previewing the five great acts we have in store for our fourth birthday bash this Saturday at DBGB’s. Third on the lineup is Alex Berkley & the Atlanta Falcons. You may have seen Berkley’s solo workings before, singing songs about Dawson’s...
Gumwads Release Debut Surf-Punk Single
Over the last couple years, a few surf-rock bands have been sprouting up in Buffalo, most notably Space Wolves and Aaron & the Burrs. Yesterday, Gumwads, a new local surf-punk trio, released their raucous debut single "Gimmie Every Inch." This is dirty, messy...