Latest Posts

Roger Bryan and the Orphans – Keep You in Mind

September 3, 2019

Veteran americana indie rock outfit Roger Bryan and the Orphans recently released their new record Keep You in Mind. The quartet’s first release since 2017’s 9er EP, Keep You in Mind is quite simply a gorgeous record that further cements Bryan’s status as one of the most talented songwriters in Buffalo’s music scene. Bryan’s deep vocals have an extraordinary ability to feel brooding, exuberant, wistful, or contemplative as each song progresses. The title track, which kicks off the album does a nice job of setting the tone, with an upbeat sound and a thoroughly catchy hook. I must also make special note of the standout lead guitar work on this record by Bryan’s fellow Harvestsum alum David Calos. Another fabulous track is the blistering “Faster Than Forward” which almost begs to be played with the windows down. “Roll It” shows a slower side of the band, with mournful pedal steel underscoring[...]

Chaz Hearne & the Dazzlers – Intelligence is Rising

August 19, 2019

Rochester folk-rock artist Chaz Hearne is back with another album – and this time, he brought friends. There’s strength in numbers in Intelligence is Rising, the musician’s latest release under his collaborative moniker Chaz Hearne & The Dazzlers. According to Hearne, the mantra “Intelligence is rising” came to him while he was visiting what may be the best thing this country has to offer: national parks. Nature is present on Intelligence is Rising, both lyrically and in its instrumentation. While the great outdoors is a recurring theme on the album, the sound has a natural quality to it as well, with a glowing openness and clarity that come from heartfelt songwriting and the innate skill of its personnel. With the opening title track, Hearne displays his signature banjo-picking finesse, but also brings the talent of a long list of other local musicians to round out his sound – including Susanna[...]

Folkfaces – Fat Ol’ Rat

August 5, 2019

Buffalo’s rowdy roots rock quartet Folkfaces just released their sophomore album Fat Ol’ Rat. With their signature blend of raucous jazz and blues, the quartet has further refined their sound since their debut release How Long? in 2017. Anchored by the virtuosic multi-instrumentalist Tyler Westcott, the group also features local sax powerhouse Ellen Pieroni, upright bassist Patrick Jackson, and washboard wunderkind Dan Schwach. It’s fairly easy to hear the influences of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Dave Van Ronk, and Django Reinhardt on the band’s sound, but to stop there would be fairly limiting. There’s also a healthy dose of jazz, jug band, and even punk that round out their very eclectic sound. Without doubt I believe Fat Ol’ Rat is the band’s most successful album, as it captures the high energy and intensity that is ever present at their live shows. An absolute barn-burner from start to finish, Westcott’s rambling[...]

Everything In Waves – Echoes

July 15, 2019

Hopes and dreams are funny, fickle things. As we get older, we start to reconcile some of our childhood delusions of grandeur. For some, this means settling peacefully into a routine 9 to 5 grind and making the most of your comfort and free time. For others, it’s an uphill battle to cling to what defines you as an individual. It may be different for the doctors of the world, but for the rest of us who have embraced our humdrum day jobs, how many of us are really pursuing our passions for employment? Enter Everything in Waves, a.k.a Anthony Del Plato – a talented and prolific musician from Batavia with 15+ years of songwriting experience. Besides a healthy dose of inescapable hook-writing skills gleaned from the Cobains and Grohls of the world, Del Plato was raised on the atmospheric emo heroes of the late 90s and early 00s – think The Appleseed Cast[...]

Heave – Pike

July 8, 2019

When Heave released their debut EP two years ago, it immediately made waves within the local singer-songwriter community. In the short time since, they have risen to become one of the most exciting new bands in Buffalo’s burgeoning indie scene. Initially the project of multi-instrumentalist Emily Finlan, they’re now a four-piece group with a cult of followers. Pike, Heave’s debut full length record, is a confirmation of their status as new standouts. The album opens with a quick instrumental intro track of gliding electric guitar that leads directly into the upbeat basement punk rocker “Boys”. Throughout the rest of the album, Heave churns through genre changes and tonal shifts seamlessly and with expertise. From breezy and bouncing jazz on “Bevels” to winding acoustic rock on “Paradigm” to apathetic bop “Big Shrug,” and all moments in between, the band turns in a masterful performance. Though it is varied and eclectic, Pike[...]

Maybird – Things I Remember From Earth

July 1, 2019

“Earth weighing you down? Take an intergalactic trip with the latest effort from Rochester’s very own Maybird. Things I Remember From Earth, the band’s first release since 2017’s ‘Unraveling’, which had The Black Keys’ drummer, Patrick Carney, at the producing helm, sends the listener on an upward trajectory that happens to be highly infused with technicolor, rock n roll riffs, and dance grooves. The second track, “To You,” and the first dosage of pop melodies on the album, displays a pleasant view of hedonism. Or better, what to do to reach a person who has become wrapped up in the world of pleasures. The vocal’s plead in a soft voice to “Stick around a little bit longer/Mix it up a little bit stronger/ This is the best I ca do to get through to you.” The sentiment becomes reinforced with high end back up vocals reminiscent of Motown, and then[...]

Post Prom – Nothing Left for Us

June 24, 2019

Summer has officially hit in western New York and that means it’s time to dust off those songs to soundtrack your solstice. Luckily enough for you, Buffalo rockers Post Prom just dropped a new EP that captures that warm weather vibe, and epitomizes the phrase “windows down, music up.” The album Nothing Left For Us features six pop-punky songs that solidify the groups reputation as some of Buffalo’s premiere rockers. The record opens up with the energetic and hook-laden “Tunnel Vision”. That energy carries through “Tiger Beer,” where guitarist and vocalist Aidan Licker laments the loss of a friend who has moved to another city, while celebrating all the precious memories they have together. The nimble guitar work on this track is undeniable as well. Fast-forward to the mid-point of the record and we hit the poppy, moody “Hurt Somebody,” On this track, the band showcases their ability to slow things[...]

Slow Cooker – Do a Kickflip

June 17, 2019

Grab your board and get ready to shred with Buffalo four-piece, Slow Cooker, and their debut full length, Do a Kickflip, a post-hardcore tour de force that will leave your ears happy and bleeding. Since forming in 2015, old friends Ian McCrohan, Andy Krzystek, Joe McGrath and Adam Malchof have carved out a distinct and delightful calamity of sweaty garage rock injected with hardcore punk super serum. The results, as reflected in the hilariously off-putting cover art, are unapologetically unique, individualized and just plain awesome. You can call it “weird,” but the best and most interesting things in life usually are. Do a Kickflip opens with a big bang with the track, “Fix It.” Right off the bat, Slow Cooker pummels you with a one-two knockout punch of righteously avant-garde garage jams complemented perfectly by unmistakable vocals. Singer/guitarist McCrohan delivers resilient lyrics with a frantic flamboyancy and mood swing inflections[...]

Ian McCuen – Songs of Fleeting Permanence, Vol. II

June 10, 2019

Beware the quiet man. When others speak, he watches. When others act, he plans. When others rest, he strikes. Ian McCuen is our modern day quiet man. He began his journey almost a decade ago when he entered an intense six year period of self-reflection and discovery. The light at the end of that tunnel turned out to be an epic three volume set of indie-folk music entitled Songs of Fleeting Permanence. He recently released Vol. II. Volume II’s lead off track, “Drowning,” sets the emotionally heavy tone that serves as the release’s foundation. A vocal melody, reminiscent of a church choir in terms of depth and haunting feel, bolsters the melancholy lyrics. In a near-whisper, McCuen sings, “Keep your head up/treading water/keep your head up/just stay afloat.” “Facade,” the second track, gives the listener reason as to why one may find themselves struggling to not go under. In a[...]

No Glitter – The Old City

June 3, 2019

Rochester based outfit No Glitter released their album The Old City this past February. No Glitter is the solo project of drummer Billy Martin, best known for his work with The Ginger Faye Bakers and Vacation Daze. In 2018, Martin entered the studio after a visit to his hometown of Syracuse, NY. Aside from several guitar solos, Martin recorded all the music on the album. The result is a riff heavy 90s influenced alt-rock sound that deserves to be played loud. Throughout the record, Martin maintains a high energy and demonstrates his ability to write compelling hooks and anthemic choruses. A perfect example of this would be “Window Seat,” which builds a call and response structure throughout the verse and explodes into the chorus. There’s also a fair amount of brooding as well, such as “Ladybug | Little Squid” which drips with stoner metal sludge. A true standout is “Cherry[...]

Wild Once – Perennials

May 27, 2019

There’s something romantic about the concept of perennials. For those without a green thumb, a perennial is a flower that lives for more than two years – sticking around to poke their colorful heads out of the snow or blooming wildly throughout the summer before being murdered by the brutal Buffalo winter year after year. Wild Once knows a little something about rebirth – despite the death of their past projects (Rust Belt Lights, As Summer Dies), they’re still here and they’ve continued to create music. They’re a group of guys on the “wrong side of 30” (those are their words, not ours – see “Perennials”), but there’s a valuable, intangible kind of experience that comes with age. A vague punk influence still shines through here, but Wild Once’s music falls into a nebulous area between emo, pop-punk, and indie rock. Tinges of The Get Up Kids and Transit shine through as equally[...]

The Hamiltones – The Shape of Walter

May 20, 2019

Creeping out of the shadows for some fun in the sun are spooky surf rockers, The Hamiltones, with their tubular new instrumental EP, The Shape of Walter. Having risen out of the Buffalo party scene like a Chubbies-clad Dracula from his coffin, this cheerfully eerie trio has crafted a rad 4-track record that perfectly captures their upbeat and gothy surf rock sound. The release features three killer original tunes and a special cover of “Without You” from the Son of Dracula (1974) soundtrack, all courtesy of maestros Richard Reynolds on bass and organ, John Toohill (Science Man, Alpha Hopper, Radiation Risks, Night Slaves) on guitar and Chris Scamurra (Kharlos, Space Wolves) on drums. As soon as you drop the needle on this bad boy you’ll feel like you’re catching a wave with the Munsters on their summer vacation. Each vibrant track stands out with its own identity and is a[...]

Pink Guitars – Hand EP

May 13, 2019

“DIY or Die.” That phrase, created in the seventies by punks willing to put it all on the line, has grown into a mantra for the hardcore community. By the grace of god we are lucky enough to bare witness of that philosophy’s magnitude with the freshman release of Hand EP by Pink Guitars. Erected from the ashes of the past group, Supergoner, Pink Guitars’ creative force, Sean Wild, drew from his influences; Black Flag, The Germs, Sonic Youth, and No Wave bands Mars and DNA. The lead track establishes the tone for the entirety of the EP.. “On The Inside” begins with dissident feedback before the punch of the 1-2 driving punk drum beat, which had put Wild’s musical ingenuity to the test. Lacking a full drum-set for the recording, he employed the use of drum-hit samples to round out the bass, toms, and high hat percussion. Layered on top[...]

Coral Collapse – Don’t Wait to See Me Say Goodbye

May 6, 2019

Buffalo natives Coral Collapse have released their second album entitled Don’t Wait to See Me Say Goodbye. The effort showcases the bands ability to combine spaced-out guitars, clever and crafty drum-work as well as haunting-yet-mellow reverb-laden vocals to create an indie pop work of art that can sit comfortably next to Beach Fossils or Wild Nothing. There is a strong since of cohesiveness that unites these ten songs. The album opens up with “Nocturnal,” as it should. The beach/surf rock tune immediately catches your ear and buries itself into your brain with the jangly guitar riff and ensuing hi-hat beat that follows. The vocal rhythm and melody is the perfect counterbalance to the otherwise busy instrumentation in the track. The album flows seamlessly through “Atlantic”, “Never Go” and “ After Hours”. One of the highlights on Don’t Wait to See Me Say Goodbye come from the tracks “Mono”, where the band picks[...]

Johnny & the Man Kids – You Made Me Hurt

April 29, 2019

Buffalo indie garage rockers Johnny & The Man Kids are back with You Made Me Hurt, a brand new EP of downtown rock jams that will pleasingly transport you back to the pre financial meltdown glory days of the early to mid aughts. Yes, to hell with Generation X (we had it coming) and any notion of an overdue 90’s revival that we probably don’t really need, the Marciniak boys and crew have tightened up and expanded their rambunctious garage rock sound  to embrace a decidedly NYC vibe set forth by beloved bands like The Strokes and Vampire Weekend, and it works. Lead vocalist and guitarist Johnny Marciniak really goes for it, switching up that Rust Belt  post grunge wail and shred for something a little more urbane and jangly but no less rusted out overall. All over these five melodic and anthemic yet gritty jams the guy almost sounds like clean cut evangelist preacher man trying[...]