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Tonight: Bryan Johnson and Family Release Show

November 6, 2014

Bryan Johnson and Family‘s upcoming release, Cool Your Jets, is shaping up to be maybe the best thing they’ve ever done. The two singles they’ve released, “Dead Fox” and “Cerulean Eyes,” take the elements of bands like Weezer, Vampire Weekend, and The Shins and, in their best moments, inject them with the intimacy of a campfire singalong. The rest of the tracks could be yours tonight as the Studio at the Waiting Room hosts the band’s release show. Ten bucks not only gets you into the show, but gets you a shiny new copy of the album as well. Filling out the bill: local emo superstars Del Paxton and superstar local punkfunkers Mallwalkers. Show kicks off at 8pm. FB event here.

Silo Sessions Debuts Latest Clip feat. Bryan Johnson

November 3, 2014

We like to check in with local video blog, Silo Sessions, every so often. Since mid summer, the site has been premiering a new session, filmed within the grain elevator walls, of mostly local musicians delivering stripped down performances on a weekly basis. The last few weeks have featured some great clips from Andrew Biggie, T.J. Borden, and Mink, to name a few. For the 20th installment of the series, Bryan Johnson, lead singer of Bryan Johnson & Family, performed selections from his band’s forthcoming EP, Cool Your Jets, set to drop next week via Admirable Traits. Watch the Bryan Johnson session below, and for past installments of the series, click here.

Bryan Johnson & Family Signs to Admirable Traits, Releases “Dead Fox” Single

October 8, 2014

Local lake-pop act, Bryan Johnson & Family, have announced that their new EP, Cool Your Jets, will be released next month via Admirable Traits, a record label with Buffalo and Brooklyn roots. The album’s first single, “Dead Fox,” just premiered this morning, and BJ & crew absolutely kill it. The guitar and vocals are pristine, the melody as bouncy as expected, and the production is wonderful. The song is a fantastic power-pop jam that refuses to let summer die. Bryan Johnson & Family will be celebrating the release of Cool Your Jets on Thursday, November 6th at the Waiting Room’s newly opened upstairs studio. The $10 cover includes a physcal copy of the EP. Mallwalkers and Del Paxton will be providing support. Listen to “Dead Fox” below.

Tonight: Cliffs

September 25, 2014

Buffalo Iron Works is sporting a formative bill of indie rock later on tonight, highlighted by Columbus duo, Cliffs. The pair is on night two of its first tour and Iron Works is as good of a place to keep the good times rolling. Cliff’s crunchy brand of garage pop and shouting vocals evoke bands like Jeff the Brotherhood, Free Energy and a touch of Japandroids. The local support is all over the place in terms of sounds. You have the manic, steamfolk Mr. Boneless, some looping singer/songwriter material from Matt Script, and the always pleasing peppy surf-rock from Bryan Johnson & Family, who just yesterday finally announced their long awaited, new EP. Music begins this evening at 8pm. Cover is probably $5.

Tonight: Bryan Johnson and Family

July 24, 2014

Thank goodness for Infringement today/tonight because without the festival, tonight’s best bet for music would be heading down to Canalside to catch Extreme. Yes, Extreme. If you do find yourself downtown near the water, and if you are, God bless you soul, then stick around after Extreme closes up shop with whatever power ballad they sing and head over to Buffalo Iron Works for a post-Canalside show featuring Bryan Johnson and Family. One of our original blog favs from way back in our early days, the surf pop trio turned quartet has cranked up the volume over the last year or so, and are finally getting ready to release their long awaited EP later this year. BJ and Fam are set to kick off just after 9pm, or whenever people stumble out of Canalside. Whatever comes first I suppose. Entry for tonight’s show is free.

Tonight: Miniature Tigers

July 14, 2014

Buffalo’s busy Monday night will be highlighted this evening with a visit from Brooklyn’s Miniature Tigers at the Waiting Room. The buzzing and bouncing synth-pop quartet is still riding high after the release of their summer ready album Cruel Runnings earlier last month. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with MT’s lead singer, Charlie Brand, to discuss the album, touring, and city specific music scenes. If you missed the interview, check it out here. Joining Miniature Tigers tonight will be Aussie buzz band the Grisworlds. If you caught Tokyo Police Club this past Friday at the Outer Harbor and liked what you heard, then this band could be for you. Local support will be provided by the always busy surf poppers Bryan Johnson & Family, who look to be finally releasing a proper EP last this summer. Keep an eye out. Music begins tonight at 8pm. Tickets are $14[...]

The Orwells

Tonight: The Orwells

April 23, 2014

The reason, I think, for people obsessing about The Orwells’ age is resentment. I’m only 23, and I resent anyone a day under 23 who is an iota more successful than me (which is a ton of people). This kind of feeling is especially common with people who write about music. You might be a musician yourself, and here you are, constantly writing about people who are out there actually making it. It can feel like you’re a Salieri in a room full of Mozarts. So most of the press about The Orwells makes mention of the fact that they are young kids, that they formed in high school, stuff like that. There’s even a cool/creepy moment from their set on Letterman where David calls for an encore from The Orwells and get one from the house band, with Paul Shaffer so jazzed about the kids in front of him[...]

Buffalo Porchfest Once Again Needs Bands, Porches

April 21, 2014

Early last fall, the Elmwood Village threw its inaugural Buffalo Porchfest. Sporting a pretty simple concept (you register your porch/balcony and a band plays on it), October’s event was nearly washed out after some nasty rain in the early morning hours. I hosted my own show and didn’t have power until about an hour before the band arrived. No matter. The rain held up and the fest was deemed a success. Porchfest will return for its spring installment next month on Saturday, May 17th. If you are a band/musician who wishes to play the fest, you can register here. If you want to donate your porch, you may register here. Keep an eye on Porchfest’s website the week leading up to the event for a full map of participating homes/apts and bands.

Sugar City Finds A New Home

March 20, 2014

Nearly two years after they closed up shop at the former Wadsworth location, Buffalo DIY collective Sugar City has found a new home. Located on the West Side at 1239 Niagara Street, the venue (pictured above) will continue to offer all ages, alcohol free events in various shapes and sizes under the art realm. Luckily, the group has not been dormant during their long search for a new space as their Ride the Metro, Queen City Music Lottery, and mainstay event, Soul Night, have gone on/continued despite not having a central hub. The art space, which should hold around 170 people, is currently under renovation and is projected to (hopefully) open sometime in the early summer.  Sugar City will be hosting an informal meeting at Niagara St. location on Thursday, March 27th at 6:30pm in hopes to recruit new volunteers, discuss community involvement, show off the new space, and maybe gain a[...]