Latest Posts

Arctic Death Re-Releases 2009 Demo

February 15, 2017

The year was 2009… A then 19-year-old me was excited to catch Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltisn at the Rathskellar, the on-campus bar at St. Bonaventure university. Little did I know, I would receive a local band’s demo that night, one full of still-relevant tracks with a fresh take on urgent indie rock. That band was Arctic Death, and the magical EP in choice was what they now refer to as DEMO 2009. My copy was burnt on a blank cd and hand-decorated with some abstract doodles and what I originally thought was the EP’s title… Tropical Life (Arctic Death/Tropical Life – it’s like opposite day). Don’t get me wrong, SSLYBY was great, but the true treat of the night was blazing this short and sweet EP over and over on the two hour drive home. Immediately, the plodding bassline of “Handprints?” had me hooked. Arctic Death specialized in angular rhythms, wonky guitar and bass[...]

Deadwolf Achieve Liftoff On Latest Single “Half A Man”

February 8, 2017

“Half A Man,” the latest single from Buffalo psych rockers, blew my mind straight up. If you haven’t already gotten this towering, epic jam into your ears, you really need to do so immediately. Anchored by drums that conjure seventies Genesis, spaced out, Drozdesque guitars, and glorious California folk rock vocal harmonies, “Half A Man” achieves celestial liftoff  and doesn’t come back, opting for sweet electronic oblivion instead. It’s B-side “To The Garden” is six minutes of nimble, psychedelic garage rock that simultaneously reminds me of Talking Heads and The Beach Boys and the American songbook these dudes are joyfully shredding on. Please check them out below and Deadwolf’s Bandcamp page for more goodness.

Wren Williams & The Sons of Luther – Venom & Sugar

February 6, 2017

Rochester native Wren Williams has been an active WNY musician since the early aughts, but has recently been making lots of waves in our lovely, Buffalo music scene… With the help of his backing band, a trio of cousins affectionately named “The Sons of Luther,” Williams dropped an ambitious full-length last month in the form of the 11-song Venom & Sugar.  Venom & Sugar is a telling title; the album starts out biting and menacing and gradually morphs into something sweet and pretty. Vitriolic songs “Inevitable Collapse” and “Conspiracy Theory” kick off the album with a one-two punch, introducing the listener to the band’s indie rock ‘n roll vibes with a hint of glam. The album has strong themes of duality and touches poignantly on issues of mental health, something the outspoken Williams should be proud of. Eventually the listener is greeted by the meat-and-potatoes triad of “Psycho Maniac,” “Out Of Touch,” and “Saving Grace.”[...]

M.A.G.S. Debuts New Side Project, KIN

February 2, 2017

Elliot (M.A.G.S.) Douglas is back with a rather exciting new project that’s been something very much missing from the Buffalo music scene up until now. Over the last decade indie music has seen an entire sub genre rise up of boy/girl bands: Beach House, Purity Ring, Sleigh Bells, Civil Wars (defunct), Best Coast, Phantogram, etc etc… a genre noticeably absent from these parts until KIN. Composed of Douglas and his wife Julia Douglas, KIN goes one better and gives us the husband/wife duo (ala Tennis or The Carpenters) we’ve been waiting for, kicking TV On The Radio styled surf rock jams that feel good in all the right ways. Check out KIN below and stay tuned for more from Mr. and Mrs. Douglas.

The Rust Belt Brigade Releases Debut EP

November 22, 2016

The Rust Belt Brigade is a new, acoustic folk-punk act from rust belt capital of the world, Buffalo, NY. The duo is Victor Castillo (ex-Lancer) and Trevor Jennings – utilizing only an acoustic guitar and a cajon, the duo create succinct, sing-songy anthems that fall somewhere on the spectrum between Against Me!, Frank Turner, and  Hot Water Music… or perhaps an infectiously fun song you would expect to hear at the end of a Jackass movie. Recorded at Flower House Studios, Castillo and Jennings’ focus on straightforward storytelling and brutal honesty. Their songs touch on themes of alcoholism, unbridled anger, anxiety, and more. Castillo’s gravely voice is distinct as ever and acts as a raucous rally cry for the downtrodden. Their three-song EP is available on Bandcamp for a “name your price” option. In the meantime, check out our fav track from the EP, “Fight the Fright.”

Cooler – Phantom Phuzz

November 21, 2016

Through being cool? Well try being Cooler. Buffalo’s emogaze-alternative all-stars return for round two with Phantom Phuzz, a six-track EP of regret, carbonated soft drinks, and that sweet, fuzzy thickness. The album’s carefully crafted tones compete vigorously with lyrical prowess and song structure for prominence, bringing relevant elements of juxtaposition to Cooler’s sophomore effort. Recorded with Jay Zubricky of GCR Audio and mastered by Anthony Delplato, Cooler’s Phantom Phuzz is our Album of the Week. Phantom Phuzz opens appropriately with quiet-loud sweller “Pave Age,” a wordless eruption of articulate guitar leads, volatile drum statements, and of course, the album’s principal element—the phantom phuzz itself. That’s just the thing about the album’s title, it perfectly encapsulates the overarching sonic theme—apparition-esque reverb paired with generous amounts of thick, fuzzy distortion. The resulting combination is largely impenetrable and pure ear candy for fans of early 90’s alternative and the shoegaze subgenre that reached[...]

Yellow House Debuts Single “Human Error”

October 25, 2016

With the drop of the first track on their upcoming tape, we get a peek into the mind of Yellow House, and man, is it a great sample.  The way the band blends shoegaze and punk leads to something totally unique within the Buffalo music scene, and is simply put, rockin’. The two standout elements of “Human Error” are the vocals and the drums, with a driving, layered, yelled and softly sung vocal melody pairing up perfectly with blasting drums, unrelenting from start to finish.  Things get even more interesting when you check out the lyrics for the track, surpassing the very surface level type lyrics I have come to expect from local bands, these are seriously interesting and require thought to begin to understand. Without a doubt, you need to check out Yellow House.  This is one of my favorite tracks dropped in Buffalo this year without question, and I can’t wait to hear the[...]

Father Glamor Drops New Album Bird Child

October 5, 2016

Bird Child, the debut album of Buffalo producer Father Glamor offers a wide array of emotive, synth-driven instrumentals that range from ambient to more pop leaning arrangements. The hook heavy “PFTRLN” leads the release off as a buoyant melody sits atop frenetic percussion. Beginning with a groove laden synth melody, “I Keep Hallucinating Bugs” builds to a mid tempo jam with an infectious, evolving rhythm. The latter portion of the album explores interesting synth textures as the producer delivers a notably cinematic synth atmosphere on tracks like “Expanse,” “Pit,” and “Forest Survey.” Whether by focusing on interesting textures or strong rhythmic elements, the tracks on Bird Child make for a thoughtful listen by way of the producer’s ability to create strong melodies consistently throughout the album. Listen to Bird Child below.

Tonight: Best Coast

August 7, 2016

In 2009, Bethany Cosentino burst onto the indie rock scene as one-half of Best Coast, a hauntingly romantic homage to all things heartbreak, weed and cats. Irony-free, Bethany’s heart-on-her-sleeve lyrics, coupled with the amazing instrumentation of Bobb Bruno, her partner in crime, led to one of 2010’s most unlikely success stories; the Crazy For You album, a record that seemed to excite just about everyone. Equal parts fun-in-the-sun and reverb-drenched Beach Boys melancholia, this was an album the underground and mainstream could both agree on and wrap their heads around. The songwriting was just that strong. Since that time, Best Coast has released two more albums, reputation firmly intact. Tonight, along with Sunflower Bean, an utterly fantastic psych-pop band with influences ranging from the Smiths to more recent (and fellow Brooklyn based) Diiv, Best Coast will be hitting up the Tralf (7pm, $24) for a night of sheer audio bliss.[...]

Ugly Sun Releases Debut Single “Mock Me Out”

August 5, 2016

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Arctic Death frontman John Crook. Since the band’s split in mid 2011, the members have held tenure in an impressive run of great Buffalo bands, including, but not limited to: Nelson-Type, Crooks, and Father Baron. Ugly Sun is Crook’s new project, rounded out by longtime collaborators Trey Hollowood and Harrison Crook. The trio released their debut EP, Cherokee, earlier this month. Recorded with Jay Zubricky at GCR, their new single, “Mock Me Out,” is a sunny and articulate take on alternative rock. The song highlights Crook’s distinctive drawl and the band’s use of big, beautiful guitars and lush harmonies. Ugly Sun is sure to be a fixture in the local scene this fall. You might also be able to catch them on tour throughout October. Till then, you can stream “Mock Me Out” below via Soundcloud. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/272590516″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Sparklebomb Releases New Batch of Spooky Singles

July 22, 2016

Spooky synth queen, Sparklebomb, has released a new batch of brooding ambient tracks. The Buffalo-transplant / Syracuse native, Angie Conte has been performing under the moniker for close to seven years, perfecting her atmospheric and dismal sound. As per the songwriter’s repertoire, the intro to “Right Along with Me” leads into the dialogue of an old-time audio of Murder Castle, a drama inspired by serial killer / madman, H.H. Holmes. The dialogue is spliced over ominous organs, eventually introducing a drum machine. The muffled interaction drops,  leaving almost mesmerizing synth loop meanwhile building your anxiety for something to happen, which is a tease because the track fades out much like how it faded in. If there ever was a musician to score a horror film, it would be Sparklebomb. Check out “Right Along with Me” below and explore the ‘bomb’s discography here.   [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/273362364″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Super American Releases New Lyric Video for “Congratulations”

July 8, 2016

The hyper-literate pop-punkers in Super American are at it again, this time with their new song “Congratulations.” By now, you probably recognize enigmatic frontman Matt Cox (ex-ringleader for other Buffalo favorites I Can See Mountains and Thick Winter Blud), who specializes in penning irresistibly upbeat emo anthems. You might also recognize the new addition of two members of ex-Buffalo expats Lovey. “Congratulations” reflects the influence of Super American’s new lineup – Cox joins the rest of his band for a surprisingly still sit down despite the group’s knack for fun, polished post-internet rock. “Congratulations” is below for your viewing pleasure. Photo and video credit: Andy DeLuca

Holland Purchase Releases Debut Single

July 1, 2016

Kevin Stuitje (of Tomoreaux fame) has just released a new single under the moniker Holland Purchase. His debut single, “Five Years” is sad, guitar rock about the realities of navigating relationships while also dealing with depression. The track has undeniable emo flavor (the good, passionate kind) while also nodding towards Tomoreaux’s ambient tendencies. “Five Years” both highlights and distorts Stuitje’s shoegaze-esque vocals that range from a quiet hum to passionate screams. Fun fact: Cody Morse (of Buffalo band Deadwolf) recorded the track, which also features Tom Burtless (Humble Braggers) on drums and Nate Ward on bass. Head over to Holland Purchase’s Bandcamp page – you can snag “Five Years” for a very affordable “pay what you want” rate.

dreambeaches Release New Single

March 15, 2016

Buffalo-based beach-y trio, dreambeaches, released their first single off their forthcoming album Habits. dreambeaches, lead by Corey Bzibizik sprang onto the local scene last year after splintering off from local synth-pop band,  Humble Braggers (and bringing Jacob Peter and Gabe Wells from said band along). Set for a late spring release, the summer-y lead single “Graduation Day” is a fuzzy-pop song that delves into casual frustrations – road rage, cocky college students, and watching a relationship fade away while you are still treading water. Put some shades on, drive with the windows down, blast “Graduation Day,” and care about nothing. Hakuna Matata.

Difficult Night – In a Blackhole at the Listening of Distant Harpers in the Dim Gloam of Evening

February 29, 2016

Difficult Night is somewhat of an anomaly.  An anomaly in the fact that the unique Buffalo quartet is fundamentally unclassifiable. The oft-coined “slacker rock” designation only goes so far, “indie rock” is an even broader cop out. Classifications (or lack thereof) aside, I can concretely say that the band does what they want, a project unburdened by the shackles of expectation. Their latest album, In a Blackhole at the Listening of Distant Harpers in the Dim Gloam of Evening (inhales), lays foundation on that sentiment, making the collection of songs deliciously raw and unapologetically soaked in truth. Blackhole seems to shine brightest in its elements of observation and introspection. “I used to believe in signs / before I knew how to read ‘em,” sings Shane Meyer on midtempo number “Turn My Back,” track two of the 9-track album. Many of the songs feel like face-to-face conversations with Meyer, an unfiltered[...]