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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” /]

Space Cubs – The Fire And Things Forgotten

May 10, 2015

The Fire And Things Forgotten, the celestial debut full-length from Buffalo born electronic musician Suzanne Bonifacio (who records as Space Cubs), is the result of what the artist refers to as a “journey of creative reflection and change” that included a move to Chicago before settling in Charlotte, North Carolina. Drawing comparisons to experimental pop artists like Bjork, Grimes, and Jessy Lanza, Bonifacio’s strength as a songwriter lies in her ability to forge melodic, blissful sounds from underneath an uneasy, murky veil of reverb and restless percussion. Mostly recorded during a period where the artist found herself living in the middle of Pisgah National Forest, the album successfully conjures the remote, ruminative circumstances of its creation, as is apparent from the atmospheric opening cut, “Back Lies,” with its siren-like vocals and inviting melodic elements. The following track and lead single, “The Eye,” is perhaps the strongest display of Bonifacio’s classically trained vocal[...]

Tonight: BRC and RRC Present UNITY!

April 11, 2015

The Buffalo Rage Community and the Rochester Rave Community have joined forces to present a quarterly event of music and local talent that will encapsulate the title itself: Unity. Talent from the two cities will share stages at Waiting Room, with each community drawing a crowd of loyal followers. The last BRC event held at the venue was so full to capacity and was energetic beyond belief, there was a line winding out the door which is hard to come by for Buffalo events these days. The lineup for tonight is stacked and there will be a taste of any genre. For those that hoop, poi, glove, and any other visually stimulating trip trick toy, the BRC and RRC encourage you to bring them. Note: Just please be mindful and respectful of those around you. Sneak a peak at the time slots below. 8-9pm: MatKa B2B Chucks 9-10pm: Miosi B2B[...]

Dr. Ooo Releases Music Video For “Fuq Dr. Ooo”

April 3, 2015

Equality Knowledge and Light has been on a tear of late. The culture firm’s artists have released two great music videos in the last couple of weeks, and before that dropped an important love song to a couple of their favorite foods. The latest vid comes from EKL wordsmith Dr. Ooo, for the the ferociously flowy “Fuq Dr. Ooo.” A barrage of bars, the track  displays the Good Doctor’s smoothness on the mic, asserting that he really is “stupid for this one.” Paling around with Ooo is fellow EKL rapper Wza (who dropped a dope video himself just last week for his single “I Need That”) and Dr. Ooo’s Kinda Like Dreamin partner Sammy Doons. The video follows Ooo around snowy Buffalo as his sippin’ from his flask, dropping his heat, and pouring out 40s along the way. Treat yourself below.

EKL’s Wza Releases New Video For “I Need That”

March 27, 2015

Do you know what you need? Wza of Buffalo’s Equality, Knowledge and Light (and Radarada) crew sure knows his short list. It includes money, weed, food, music, and basketball, but a pretty cool chick is working her way into the picture, as described on his latest single, “I Need That.” Wza tells us all about her in an animated video that features the clipped-together rapper walking about as the scenery behind him is changed up. The editing gives the rapper something like the head of a GoldenEye character and the torso of Milwaukee Bucks’ player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wza is occasionally joined in the video by producer CUFK,  who crafted a perfectly playful beat for the rapper. “I Need That” comes off of EKL’s mixtape EKLephantz Vol. 2, and will appear on Wza’s upcoming solo EP DUCKPUPPY, later this year. Check out the video below.

Transfer in Jamaica Releases Speculative Dance Party Vol. 2

March 10, 2015

Known for eclectic, scatter-brained mixes and mashups, Buffalo artist, Transfer in Jamaica, brings together disparate tracks, shifting tempos and vocal pitches as well as placing club music side by side with more introspective genres like post-rock and ambient. The latest release from the artist, titled Speculative Dance Party Vol. 2: Too Drunk, continues this trend as an afro-beat intro leads to a track from Bow Wow and Ciara, creating an interesting juxtaposition to say the least, along with the sample of American composer Philip Glass which lays atop Flo Rida and T.Pain’s “Low.” The mix is separated into six parts each containing r&b and hip hop hits as well as more underground electronic productions from Caribou, Nicolas Jaar, Pantha Du Prince, and Burial. Transfer in Jamaica opens up a world of warped pop culture as a glitched-out track from pop singer Britney Spears begins one of the mix’s, blending hazily into[...]

Chauncey Tails Releases New Beat Collection

February 25, 2015

Gowanda producer Chauncey Tails has become known for his typically brief tracks that feature pitch-shifted vocals and hip hop samples alongside whimsical, lush sounds that create a smooth feel that often ranges from melancholy and introspective to soulful, club-inspired beats. The artist’s latest release, Collection IV, compiles nine tracks made over the last year and provides a comprehensive look at the sound he’s been able to cultivate in that time, with engaging vocal chops, recognizable samples, and visceral percussion and bass. Leading off with, “Only You,” a bouncing, bass-heavy cut, the collection opens with high-energy, ethereal beats before leading into the more melancholy progression on the aptly titled “I Feel Like Nothing But You Are Everything.” “Squirt” features uplifting piano stabs and various warm sounds reminiscent of Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth’s tracks.Perhaps the most impressive drums and bass sounds are found on “Young Drop Top Lexus” that places a fiery hip hop[...]

Rick James – “Below The Fun (Pass The J)”

February 25, 2015

Not to belabor the point, but yes it has been cold in Buffalo this year, for weeks on end with little or no let up for the last month (months?) or so. And yes, it’s been grating on people, gradually rending our social fabric in direct proportion to the narrowing of our snowbank lined streets. But people are persevering and dealing with the most Buffalo winter we’ve had in a while like we do, and frankly, you deserve a break to kick back, warm up, and get funky, and thanks to our patron saint, Rick James, here is the perfect anthem for Buffalo winters: “Below The Fun (Pass The J).” This deep cut from Rick’s 1981 album, Street Songs, isn’t strictly speaking a love letter to his hometown; in fact, it’s an unvarnished vision of life on the East Side that’s still applicable 34 years after it’s release. But it also offers[...]