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Tonight: The Tins Tour Kickoff

October 1, 2016

Buffalo’s reigning psych-pop kings The Tins are celebrating the release of a new jam “Friday Afternoon” with a bunch of delightful friends at a delightful venue. This particular show is the kick off of The Tins’ upcoming fall tour. Fellow Buffalo dream pop heavyweights Applennium will be in tow, as well as Texan act Tele Novella and indie-soul act Jacob Peter. Tonight’s show is at Nietzsche’s at 9:00pm. Bring $10 if you want to get in the door. For the truest Tins experience, be sure to familiarize yourself with “Friday Afternoon” below.

Tonight: Lazlo Hollyfeld Performs Radiohead’s In Rainbows

May 20, 2016

It’s been good times/bad times lately for local Radiohead fans: good times because the legendary UK art rockers just released their 9th studio album A Moon Shaped Pool, bad times because as of right now the band hasn’t scheduled a show for Toronto, depriving us for now of our customary pilgrimage up the QEW to see them. Hopefully that will change; hopefully Radiohead isn’t put off from playing Toronto after that regrettable stage collapse five years ago. In any case the new album is great (and their darkest record to date), and Lazlo Hollyfeld and friends from Applennium will be all we need, with a special performance of the band’s 2007 classic In Rainbows tonight at Buffalo Iron Works. Unlike the album, the performance will not be  “pay what you will” (a strategy that only works for Radiohead… the brilliant buggers) and will instead feature an entirely reasonable $7 cover. Chameleon Project opens[...]

Tonight: The Leones with Applennium

November 20, 2015

Headlining their first show in Buffalo, local shoegaze/dream-pop band The Leones are a newly formed duo comprised of singer/songwriter Justin Bachulak and guitarist Dustin Lau, who met at show at Babeville’s 9th Ward while Bachulak was playing with Americana act Crows and Jays. Combining ethereal, contemplative guitar tones with jazzy keys and dark atmospherics, the pair plan to release their debut LP, Ghost In The City early next year after a string of regional tour dates to promote the new material. Tonight, the band will perform at the Studio at Waiting Room along with local indie rock acts Applennium and Hundred Plus Club. Tickets for the all ages show are $8 and can be purchased here. Music starts at 7pm.   [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/183040349″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Fourem Releases New Single, “Newspaper Cape”

November 3, 2015

From the cosmic harp motif that sets off his latest track, “Newspaper Cape,” Buffalo producer Fourem makes his inclinations toward a deeper, pensive sound apparent. Bringing to mind artists like Flying Lotus and Bonobo, the musician born Chris Groves (Applennium) creates an atmospheric build before letting a relaxed groove carry the majority of the track. Merging elements of funk, hip hop, and electronica, Fourem brings in glitchy, experimental sounds among the soulful percussion and bass line to make for an immersive cut that introduces just enough ideas to stay engaging while avoiding becoming overstimulating. With an ability to work with a wide array of compelling sounds, Groves is the kind of artist that can consistently defy listener’s expectations. Listen/download “Newspaper Cape” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/230418645″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: The Tins w/ Applennium

July 8, 2015

The rebirth of Larkinville over the past five years has been a beautiful thing to witness. The once desolate business park in Larkin Square has become a hub for life and culture, and has even inspired the birth of further restaurants and bars in the area. Adding to the life in Larkinville is this summer’s Live in Larkin concert series which has showcased a plethora of local talent throughout the summer. That said, I’d be remiss if I didn’t stress just how special tonight’s showcase is, featuring two of Buffalo’s best acts in Applennium and the Tins. If you haven’t been lucky enough to hear Applennium, then you’ve missed out on perhaps the most intriguing bands in Buffalo. The band’s songs are rich with layers and harmonies, inventive but still completely melodic. Applennium is one of those groups that’s garnered a lot of local praise despite its limited live appearances,[...]

Harvest Sum

June 19, 2015

For the second year in a row, Nietzsche’s will be the site for a Harvest Sum reunion as the widely influential collective of musicians and friends will come together for the label’s Herd Fest showcase. Since forming in 2004, HS has featured some of Buffalo’s finest bands, including the Old Sweethearts, Besnyo, Sleeping Kings of Iona, Roger Bryan & the Orphans, and more. As groups have called it quits, band members have come and gone, and children have arrived, HS shows have started become a rare occurrence. The temporary closing of Mohawk Place, the surrogate home to most of the bands’ members, certainly didn’t help either. But once or twice a year, a handful of the acts get together and remind you how special each of them still are to the city. For this year’s showcase, the label will feature performances from Roger Bryan, Applennium, Bearhunter, Strange Acres, and Jonny Nobody,[...]

Tonight: Lazlo Hollyfeld

May 15, 2015

Every once in a while Buffalonians get together for a true Harvestsum banger. Tonight is that night. Resident xylophone-toting instrumental rockers, Lazlo Hollyfeld, are going to be bringing it home tonight. Don’t forget the quiet crush of Applennium, the fuzzy garage pop of Johnny Nobody, or the intelligent musings of Alex Berkley & co. Mohawk Place is the place to be. 8:00pm is the magical hour – make sure you bring $5 for admission. Also, bring your friends. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175635118″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

March 28, 2015

Later tonight at Nietzsche’s, we return to the seen of the crime: our first birthday party. Looking back at the bill from that night, a lot has changed since then. Love Scenes and Arctic Death are no longer active. The birD day moved out to Portland, and the Tins just returned from SXSW. All week long, we have been spotlighting all of our birthday acts, a mix of both seasoned acts and fresh to the scene bands. In case you missed any, now is the time to catch up: Zak Ward M.A.G.S. Difficult Night Comfy Applennium Wooden Waves Music kicks off at 10pm sharp with a cover of $7. Thanks in advance for all of the support over years. We hope to see you all tonight.

Applennium

March 27, 2015

You might have noticed that we’re throwing a 5th birthday party for ourselves tomorrow evening at Nietzsche’s. You might also have noticed that Applennium is one of the bands playing. The oft-revered but rarely-spotted band only plays one or two shows a year; we consider ourselves very lucky to have secured them for our big day. Applennium specializes in simmering jams with perfect male/female harmonies. One might say they excel at creating moods instead of just plain old songs. We say it every time we cover them, but Applennium is one of Buffalo’s hidden gems. True talent shrouded in mystique. We’ll see you tomorrow at 10pm sharp. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175635118″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Just Announced: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

February 16, 2015

Just about four years ago, we threw our first birthday party at Nietzsche’s. We only had about six regular writers at the time, and none of us knew the first thing about putting on a show. Half of the musicians we asked to play were underage (something Curt still won’t let me live down), we were clueless on what to pay the  bands (we played them A LOT that night), and really had no idea if anyone would come. We even asked Lloyd Taco, this is before Chris and Pete had a fleet of trucks and were being given $250K by CNBC to open a restaurant, to park outside for food. We practically had to beg people to go out and get tacos. This was before the food trucks really took over Buffalo mind you. That birthday party ended up being amazing, still one of my favorite shows we have[...]

Tonight: Tiny Desk Concert Contest Concert

February 12, 2015

For years, the NPR Tiny Desk series has been home to many artists from T-Pain and Macklemore to Adele and Foster the People. Some of the biggest artists in music today have played in the small cramped studio that NPR calls home. And thanks to NPR’s extensive reach, the search for new fresh talent has made it’s way to Buffalo. Tonight at Mohawk Place, there will be a showcase for Buffalo’s entries in the contest which includes some of Buffalo’s best bands, both young and old, like Parade Chic, the Observers, Applennium and Tiny Rhymes. Will NPR offer a Buffalo band this amazing opportunity to extend its reach? We’ll have to wait to find out. But either way, tonight’s showcase should be an incredible show of Queen City talent. The show at Mohawk Place starts at 8pm and tickets are $5 at the door.

Applennium Submits “The Race” to Tiny Desk Concert Contest

January 12, 2015

We frequently say here at the blog office that Applennium may be the best band in Buffalo you haven’t heard of, or maybe even the best band in Buffalo period. The four piece – Chris Groves, Stacey Stoll, and Dave and Mike Calos – play maybe twice a year, if you are lucky, and premieres new music about as quietly as any band in Buffalo. They are one of the city’s true musical treasures, releasing stunner after stunner when you least expect. The band dropped a pleasant surprise online last night in the form of an entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert contest. First off, if you don’t watch Tiny Desk Concerts, get on that now. Recently, the lucky NPR staff has been treated to some fantastic performances from Angel Olsen, Tweedy, T-Pain, Beirut, and the National. As for the contest, the station/series is asking bands to submit one video of[...]

Guest Post: Chris Groves

November 30, 2014

For our Best of 2014 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the next installment in the guest series, Chris Groves, member of Applennium and Fourem, submitted his year end list.  This is by no means an ordered “Best Of” list of 2014 for me. Much of 2014 is actually a blur, a whirring jumble of things I can’t really put time stamps on. Maybe it’s a hard realization that I just don’t have any super defining moments (yet?). The last two months of 2013 may as well be the beginning of 2014 for all I care. When I was asked to put together this list, I thought it might be an afternoon and a beer type thing…I was mistaken. I’m sure there’s a bunch of things[...]

Tonight: Applennium, Strange Acres, Lazlo Hollyfeld

November 1, 2014

On what appears to be another one of the best local bills of the nearing winter season, three revered Buffalo acts will be taking over Mohawk Place this Saturday night. The all-too-elusive Applennium will be bringing their affecting, dreamy blend of indie folk to the stage, joined by symphonic mood-rockers Strange Acres and the cerebral instrumentals of Lazlo Hollyfeld. Each of these three talented Buffalo acts really pulls out all the stops to ensure that their live shows are not easily forgettable, so if you’re not in a candy coma from last night’s shenanigans, you better make sure you’re at Mohawk Place tonight. Yes, it might snow—but this is Buffalo. Don’t be a wuss. The ‘hawk will open its doors tonight at 8pm for this all-ages event, and admission through those doors will cost you five bucks—probably the best five bucks you’ll spend all weekend. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67736557″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″[...]

Applennium Releases “Old Maples”

August 29, 2014

So we may have let one slip under our radar. Earlier this year, local mood rockers Applennium stealthily dropped a new track on their Soundcloud page—a grooving song sounding like something off of Bombay Bicycle Club’s latest. The danceable track, titled “Old Maples,” is a bit of a stylistic departure for the band, leaving behind the dreamy folk twang of earlier material to capitalize on a peppy house-beat with a fat, juicy bassline. A rhythmically-played palm-muted riff and distant jangle-chords add a pleasing airy element to the track while the band’s chillingly good male/female harmonies round out the haunting number. Never a dull moment from this band—earlier this year they played a mind-blowingly good set for the Harvest Sum showcase of Herdfest, and wound up contributing a song to the label’s 2014 summer compilation, available here. Better six months late than never, enjoy Applennium’s “Old Maples” below. (You know, if[...]