Latest Posts

Hundred Plus Club Releases Debut EP

February 23, 2016

Local garage rockers Hundred Plus Club have just released their debut three-song EP, full of frantic, dance rock. This fresh-faced act recently recorded with Nick Borgosz at World of Noise Studios (Bryan Johnson & Family, M.A.G.S.). We recommend these guys if you would be interested in hearing what Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club) would sound like as front man of The Rapture or Interpol. You can check out our personal favorite track from Three Songs, “Reversed,” below.

Charles Bordeaux Releases Free Of.. EP

February 16, 2016

Buffalo producer/songwriter Charles Bordeaux, formerly known as REverb Rock, recently released a soulful four track EP titled Free Of.., which includes instrumental melodic synth jams as well as downtempo experimental pop with frenetic percussion and emotive vocals. The artist’s abstract style is notably compelling on tracks like “Temple” and “Youth”, where lush arrangements accompany the singer’s introspective lyrics along with immersive vocal samples. The casual instrumental jam “Wax & Wane” centers around an infectious synth progression, paired with static drums and a strong bass groove to make for a jazzy, contemplative feel. Listen to/download Free Of.. below.

Moody Cosmos Reveals New Single

February 9, 2016

Last week, Moody Cosmos–the neo-psyche garage project of Mooses frontman Peter Cahlstadt—dropped a new single, making our early spring a bit more exciting. The explosive track, titled “Old Sarge’s Drop Zone,” is a departure from the outfit’s first single, the soulful “Rocky” (which, unfortunately, has disappeared from the depths of the internet). The new track is a psyche-glam cornucopia of instrumentation, opening with a tonky piano riff that eventually explodes into a liberal serving of fuzz, organ, trumpets and sax, recommended for fans of Foxygen, Sleepy Jackson, and Supergrass. The whole track listens like a grand psychedelic rock opera–politically tinged, wild and huge. Worth a spin. Downloads are available here on the Moody Cosmos’ bandcamp page, and it’s worth mentioning that any proceeds made from the track will be donated to Charity:Water, which aims to provide clean water to developing nations. More info on that at charitywater.org. Check out “Old Sarge’s[...]

Faire Écho – Child of Rage

February 8, 2016

Before the break, I mentioned that going into the new year buffaBLOG would be keeping you up to date on every new and exciting voice in local music. So it’s after eagerly waiting 30 long days that I can finally share with you one of those voices; Faire Écho. Faire Écho is the electronic brainchild of Buffalo native and former Sleepy Haha’s bassist, Derek Sullivan. Now residing in Neu-Ulm, Germany; Sullivan has taken to producing music full-time and the first results are nothing short of breathtaking. Child of Rage is the name of his forthcoming work, a loose concept album based around the destructive power of childhood pain and fear. The album follows a haunting series of vocal samples that thematically ties the work together using what sounds like childhood therapy sessions and chilling eyewitness accounts. While the album itself is still awaiting a release, Sullivan has released a collection[...]

La Fiesta Lafayette Releases New EP

February 2, 2016

Mysterious lo-fi act La Fiesta Lafayette has just released a new three-song EP. Recorded on the cheap in in a run-down apartment with a gas leak, LFL has made efficient use of the surprisingly ideal bathroom acoustics. Capoed guitars and smooth mandolin tones lay the groundwork for LFL’s snarky, but fitting vocal delivery. What results is an impassioned acoustic effort in the same vein as Fevers and Mirrors-era Bright Eyes or Balance Problems. Check out “OpheliaOphelia” below.  

Herd Fest Accepting Applications for 2016

January 22, 2016

Yesterday afternoon, various Herd Fest social media accounts announced that the annual festival is now accepting applications for 2016’s event, which beings on Thursday, June 16, 2016 and ends Sunday, June 19, 2016 at an array of different venues. In the previous two years, Herd Fest had organizations curate their own showcases based on brand leanings, and although all our partners did an amazing job setting lineups, each year we’ve had the same gripes from bands wanting to get in on the action. “I wish we were knew about this,” “No one asked us to play,” and “Hey I’m in a super cool band coming through and have no contacts in Buffalo and we are playing North by North East in Toronto, Canada and we would like to be added to one of your shows 48 hours beforehand.” Unfortunately, while we cannot do much for traveling bands with poor tour planning skills,[...]

Peach releases new album The Fall of Rome

December 3, 2015

Buffalo production duo 桃 [peach] with only a pair of bandcamp releases to their name are responsible for one of the more unique sounds to come out of the local electronic scene. With their latest album The Fall of Rome, the artists explore sounds rooted in vaporwave, house, and electronica while adhering to the ancient Roman theme with track titles like “Julius Caesar,” “The Ides of March,” and “Fall of the Republic.” Opening with the downtempo, glitchy “Ode to a New Age,” Peach complements fiery drums with lush chords and dark atmospherics while the more house-oriented “Julius Caesar” brings to mind the work of Toronto duo Crystal Castles with its abrasive textures and frenetic synth leads. Their eclectic production skills lend themselves to more groove-based, mellow tracks as well with “Welcome to Rome” and “Crossing the Rubicon” providing a more subdued tone while maintaining the experimental, scatter-brained approach that characterizes Peach’s sound. Perhaps[...]

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” /]

Pentimento Shares New Song from I, No Longer

September 9, 2015

One of Buffalo’s shining stars is getting us all psyched for their new album. The emotive punks in Pentimento have just released “Sink or Swim,” one of two shared song’s from the band’s upcoming album I, No Longer (10/23). The track is an upbeat jam packed full of the cathartic lyrics we’ve come to love from this Buffalo four-piece. This time around, legendary emo-punk engineer Paul Leavitt (Yellowcard, Cute is What We Aim For, All Time Low) has left his mark on the project. Musically, Pentimento is staying true to form while vocally, singer Jeremiah Pauly has polished his trademark growl into a smooth croon. Fans of The Wonder Years or The Dangerous Summer are sure to be pleased. Check it out below.

“The Likeness of Being: Portraits by Philip Burke” at BPAC Ends 9/13

September 7, 2015

Buffalo artist Philip Burke’s excellent “The Likeness of Being,” a retrospective of celebrity portraits at the Burchfield Penney Arts Center at Buff State, ends this Sunday, September 13th, making this Friday’s Second Friday at BPAC your last chance to see it for free before it closes. Featuring works seen in national publications like Rolling Stone (when it was cool), Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, the exhibition spans Burke’s 30+ year career and vividly runs the gamut, from political satire to pop culture iconography to warm and fuzzy rock star hagiography. This Friday’s Second Friday at Burchfield Penney will also feature a book signing by Philip Burke himself as well as a performance by Buffalo double bassist Juini Booth (Chuck Mangione, McCoy Tyner) from 5:30pm – 7:30pm and a lighting ceremony and audio installation outside in the Front Yard at 8pm.

Cooler Releases Debut Track “Cringe”

August 28, 2015

Although Cooler is an infant in band years , the group is already well on it’s way to explode beyond Buffalo’s music walls. Composed of a blend of solo artist Aileen Yates, two members of Brother Keep (Nathan McDorman and Nick Sessanna), and rounded out by former Lancer drummer-turned-bassist Adam Cwynar, the band has hit the ground running, already landing a deal with emo upstart label, NDE Records. With an EP titled 1993 coming out September 22nd and another batch of studio sessions already completed, 2016 is set to be a breakout year for the fledgling four piece. This past week, Cooler’s grungy debut track “Cringe” hit the internet on esteemed scene blog CouchKing. Unsurprisingly, the song is all about looking back at all those things you regret doing in the past. Those moments that haunt you in the final minutes before falling asleep or the “on-repeat” moments you have when driving all alone. Fans of[...]

Tonight: Humble Braggers & Space Cubs

July 16, 2015

Buffalo born electronic musician Suzanne Bonifacio, aka Space Cubs, had one of the most intriguing local debut albums earlier this year with The Fire and The Things Forgotten. Her atmospheric soundscapes and experimental pop songwriting style made for a creative, personal record with a reflective tone. Tonight, the artist returns for her first local show since moving home at Allen Street Hardware. The free show will also feature Humble Braggers, whose EP Disposable Friends, along with Space Cubs’ debut, earned Album of The Week honors here at buffaBLOG. Also featured will be eclectic DJ sets from local selector Dante Velour all night. Music starts at 10pm in what is sure to be a blissful event recognizing emerging local creativity. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/209970221″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]   [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/202715178″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Passion in Constellation Releases Summer Anthem in “Tropical Love”

July 13, 2015

Alright, I am going to make a bold prediction. Passion in Constellation will be in the top ten for our annual end of the year top twenty countdown for songs coming out of Buffalo in 2015. For buffaBLOG top twenty historians, Passion in Constellation made a blip on our countdown last year at number sixteen with his collaboration with relatively undiscovered singer Cara Doyle. The pair reunited to strike gold once again, releasing the dance track “Tropical Love” this past weekend and it’s been on a 24-hour loop at the blog headquarters. Passion in Constellation is the production moniker for Buffalo-based electro-pop producer Chris Alan. Throughout the past two years under the Passion in Constellation name, Alan has progressively improved (but he started out awesome with the single “Sunlight,” so there was a bit of a lead start), proving the producer has a real ear for what translates. With Passion in[...]

Tonight: Against Me!

June 24, 2015

Gainesville powerhouse punk quartet, Against Me!, will be back at the Town Ballroom tonight for another highly anticipated show. The band will be performing hits as well as selections from its most recent album Transgender Dysphoria Blues. Laura Jane Grace has had one of the most iconic voices in punk rock for over a decade and a half, and the band backing her, despite a few changes over that time, has remained as strong as ever. If you haven’t dabbled in Against Me!, tonight would be a great way to get a first taste. The show starts at 7 pm and Against Me! will be joined by Frank Iero and the Cellebration.  Tickets are $23 at the door and with only two acts, the night shouldn’t go too late for any punk rock parents out there.  Expect tonight to be a good one.

Tonight: Jooklo Duo

June 9, 2015

Saxophonist Virginia Genta and drummer David Vanzan have been collaborating musically as Jooklo Duo since 2003. Since then, the pair have forged a visceral, impassioned sound that blends elements of free jazz and noise rock, making for chaotic spontaneous performances that continue the tradition of artists like Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane. Their avant-garde inclinations have also led them to collaborations with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Sonic Youth, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and Andrew Barker. Tonight, Jooklo Duo will perform at Buffalo’s 9th Ward at Babeville along with local jazz artists Bacz/Sack Duo, who have been creating improvised music for several years and have recently been collaborating live with drummer Jim Abrason. Music starts at 8pm, admission price has been listed as pay what you can, suggesting $6-10. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/181667019″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]