Latest Posts

Tonight: Tribute to the Legendary Lance Diamond

January 9, 2015

My beginnings of seeing live music (and drinking while seeing said live music) will forever be intrinsically linked to the music and performances of Lance Diamond, and I doubt I am alone in this sentiment. While it was easy for me to get behind his James Brown-style groove mastery, almost all Buffalonians had a reason to see a Lance Diamond show, regardless of musical preference. The soul genre has always reached a higher level of expression from Lance, and his energy was infectious. His interactions with the crowd, especially one full of ladies, was always pure entertainment, and made the Elmwood Lounge (now Milkie’s) a spot of local heritage and funk for all our city to enjoy. And I haven’t even mentioned the costume changes! It would be admirable enough to wear sequined attire night after night, year after year, through all our Buffalo winters, but to also costume change,[...]

Tonight: The Tins

December 18, 2014

With the advent of 107.7’s Kerfuffle event becoming the start of a Buffalo tradition, so too is the local after-party that surrounds the event. These after-parties have been marked by bands much in-tune with indie/alt-pop sound of the Kerfuffle events themselves and often by artists who easily could be slated for the event itself. This season that after-party takes place at Buffalo Iron Works with local act, The Tins, headlining. The band has increasingly making a name for themselves with their brand of indie rock, gaining attention from major UK trendsetter, NME, and popular indie blog, PopMatters. The band have a tight-layered pop sound reminiscent of bands like The Shins and Peter, Bjorn, and John. The local act’s arrives on the strength of their highly-impressive new Young Blame EP, a hint of things to come from a Buffalo-based band well and truly on the rise. Doors at Iron Works open[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 10 – 1

December 18, 2014

We know we say this every year but Buffalo had an amazing year. We haven’t been around long enough to know whether or not these things are cyclical, or if we are just hyper aware of the local scene, but since we’ve been established in 2010, 2014 was the most impressive year for the local scene. In 2013, things were looking grim, but the local music, like the city of Buffalo, knows a little something about overcoming adversity. This year saw the (re)opening of Mohawk Place, the debut of the Studio at Waiting Room Studio, and finally gave the nomadic Sugar City a place to call their own after being baseless for close to two years. Over the last couple of days, we have been highlighting our favorite 25 songs from 2014. We had 66 different songs that went into consideration for our writers favorite tracks, not to mention the hundreds and[...]

Tonight: Bro Safari

December 16, 2014

Texas based producer Nick Weiller, better known as Bro Safari, has been producing trap, dubstep, and moombahton tracks since 2008 and has since become a mainstay in the American EDM scene with appearances on Mad Decent’s Jeffree’s imprint and BBC Radio 1’s Diplo and Friends mix show. With a versatile approach to production, Weiller is able to create sinister, stark sounding tracks with an underlying melodic sensibility that makes for a maximalist, relentless listening experience. Tonight, the DJ/producer with perform at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom along with Miami turntablist and DMC world champion DJ Craze. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Doors open at 8pm. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/73982474″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 20 – 11

December 16, 2014

We know we say this every year but Buffalo had an amazing year. We haven’t been around long enough to know whether or not these things are cyclical, or if we are just hyper aware of the local scene, but since we’ve been established in 2010, 2014 was the most impressive year for the local scene. In 2013, things were looking grim, but the local music, like the city of Buffalo, knows a little something about overcoming adversity. This year saw the (re)opening of Mohawk Place, the debut of the Studio at Waiting Room Studio, and finally gave the nomadic Sugar City a place to call their own after being baseless for close to two years. Over the next couple of days, we’ll be highlighting our favorite 25 songs from 2014. We had 66 different songs that went into consideration for our writers favorite tracks, not to mention the hundreds and hundreds[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: Five Close Calls

December 15, 2014

We know we say this every year but Buffalo had an amazing year. We haven’t been around long enough to know whether or not these things are cyclical, or if we are just hyper aware of the local scene, but since we’ve been established in 2010, 2014 was the most impressive year for the local scene. In 2013, things were looking grim, but the local music, like the city of Buffalo, knows a little something about overcoming adversity. This year saw the (re)opening of Mohawk Place, the debut of the Studio at Waiting Room Studio, and finally gave the nomadic Sugar City a place to call their own after being baseless for close to two years. In the next couple of days, we’ll be highlighting our favorite 25 songs from 2014. We had 66 different songs that went into consideration for our writers favorite tracks, not to mention the hundreds and hundreds[...]

Tonight: Stars

November 23, 2014

Over the better part of the last decade, Montreal has hosted something of an indie rock renaissance. While a lot of great bands have come from this city, from Arcade Fire to Tegan and Sara to Wolf Parade, there’s been one scene at the heart of Canada’s musical revival and that’s the Arts & Crafts scene. The label was co-created by Broken Social Scene co-founder Kevin Drew and quickly hosted a bevy of talented Canadian artists who would work together in Broken Social Scene while creating exciting works in their own bands. At the core of this scene was Stars, a band who often traded members with Broken Social Scene while producing memorable albums like Heart, In Our Bedroom After the War, and their 2004, masterpiece, Set Yourself on Fire. The band has been consistently turning out charming albums of their brand of theatrical hyper-literate pop ever since. Tonight, the Montreal 5-piece return to[...]

Tonight: Sloan

November 9, 2014

Sloan are no strangers to Buffalo. Returning for their fourth show in the past five years, the Canadian power-pop legends make their way back to The Tralf again tonight in support of their latest album, Commonwealth. The four-piece is famous for their shared songwriting credits and the latest double-album perhaps offers the clearest distillation of Sloan’s sound with all four band members offering a collection of songs. One can expect  plenty of new rockers from the storied Canadian band as well as classics from seminal albums like Twice Removed and Pretty Together. With recent (and upcoming( appearances from other Canadian Indie Rockers like Tokyo Police Club and Stars, Sloan’s appearance tonight is yet another chapter in the great Canadian/Buffalo musical tradition and one not to be missed. Doors at the Tralf open at 7:00 PM tonight and tickets are $24 at the door.

Tonight: RL Grime

November 8, 2014

Well, the show sold out a few days prior to tonight and people were in a frenzy trying to find tickets. Waiting Room will be packed to the legal capacity brim for three heavy-hitting DJs. RL Grime is headlining the evening. With the WEDIDIT Collective, he kick started his career in the electronic realm. Further releases gained him recognition from Fool’s Gold, Ministry of Sound, Boiler Room and more. On tour for Void, his most recent album release, his track “Core” had people losing their minds after the first listen.   [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/158827653″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]   Also playing will be Branchez and Tommy Kruise. Hailing from New York City, Branchez has become acclaimed for his productions and supported by names like Diplo and Skrillex as well as  touring with Zeds Dead, Paper Diamond and Giraffage. Tommy Kruise has been rising as a big talent within the pool of Quebecois[...]

Tonight: J.Phlip and Monty Luke

November 7, 2014

Dirtybird is not just a record label. The people that comprise dirtybird are your friends. Whether it is one of the dirtybird players performing solo, or all of them at their touring dirtybird BBQ, there is no doubt that you will have an experience. J.Phlip, the dirtybird duchess, returns to Buffalo again tonight. When not monikered she is known as Jessica Phillippe. Given her Chicago house influences from growing up in Champaign, Ill., the sounds of her sets and productions have a depth, complexity and smoothness to them, you might as well be drinking a well-aged scotch. J.Phlip has the ability to draw you in with sound and take you to another place. Don’t believe it? Just take a listen to her set closing down the Beatport stage at DEMF last year. Also on tour with her is Monty Luke. From Brooklyn, he made his way to the West Coast[...]

Garrett Klahn Returns Home with New Solo Project

November 4, 2014

Garrett Klahn hasn’t lived in Buffalo in nearly 20 years. “I just moved back at the end of the summer.” Klahn says. “My mother is here, so for the past 20 years I’d come home for at least two holidays every year, and for weddings, babies all that normal shit. So I was here a lot.” Klahn is best known for his involvement in a little band from New York City, Texas is the Reason, as well as a multitude of other projects. Klahn is now back in his native city of Buffalo calling the Elmwood Village and Allentown neighborhoods home, which do not resemble the humble districts they once were in his younger days. “The changes are black and white really.” He says of the now bustling Elmwood Village neighborhood. “I left in ’93, and then you didn’t really venture much past Lafayette.” So what brings Klahn back to[...]

Brass Pro and the Waterfront Revivalists Offer Try-Outs

November 2, 2014

Wanna join Brass Pro and the Waterfront Revivalists? They are having a “Try-out” PIZZA PARTY tonight  at 7:30pm at  at 1250 Niagara St. Are you asking yourself what Brass Pro and the Waterfront Revivalists are? Well, you can read the statement from the group below to find out the answers. In the words of the “walking rock band” themselves… “We have successfully played two gigs as a rag tag group and we are excited to keep this project going but we need members to really make a bang. If you are curious about joining or have a slight interest in how this group operates, please join us. It won’t be as much of an audition as a meet up to gain more members, talk about what our bands goals, what music we should cover, and what events we should crash. Bring an instrument if you have one. We know some possible rental opportunities and we have a few pieces of[...]

Tonight: Handsome Jack Album Release Show

October 24, 2014

With their Southern blues-rock sound, some might mistake Handsome Jack for one of the host of bands from the Nashville rock scene, but rather this talented four-piece hail from our very own Lockport, NY. The local retro-rockers will take the stage tonight at Mohawk Place to celebrate the release of their new album, Do What Comes Naturally. The album is already receiving early acclaim and even landed them a shout from Rolling Stone. Tonight offers a rare chance to hear the self-described “boogie-soul” band debut their latest record in an intimate venue while you still can. The band will also be joined by a local acts Bearhunter, JOHNS, and Pine Fever. Doors opens at Mohawk Place at 8pm and tickets are $7.

Stepfriends Releases New Album, All We’ve Got

October 22, 2014

The dudes (and dudettes) in Buffalo emo-pop collab-group Stepfriends have just digitally released their debut full-length album All We’ve Got. The eleven-track record, mostly recorded at The Square Studio in Syracuse, gives emo a little soul–think a jazzier Into It. Over It. with a dash of Circa Survive. Vocalist Johnny Lucas has a smooth and solid range, and his clear, handsome tenor takes the forefront in many of the songs. The tracks are expertly arranged; some of my favorite points on the record are the atmospheric bridges and breakdowns that give All We’ve Got it’s unique sound. Check out the angular riffs and crisp drumwork on track “Renovation” below, and go visit the band’s Bandcamp page for digital downloads and vinyl preorders.

Tonight: Brillz and SNAILS Twonkaholics Tour

September 30, 2014

If you happened to catch Brillz the last time he was in Buffalo, then you know that he knows how to throw down, and he throws down hard. Brillz and SNAILS are kicking off their Twonkaholics Tour tonight in Buffalo. Brillz, a moniker based on an abbreviation for “brilliant.” He has had releases on major labels like OWSLA, Mad Decent and Slow Roast Records, toured major cities and has played big name festival crowds. What started as a title for his album, “twonk” has clearly become it’s own defintion. What does TWONK mean? In an interview he did with Bass Collective, he said the word is all about it’s openness to interpretation. Twonk is whatever you want it to mean. “It’s about being weird, having fun and being creative,” he has said. Here’s a visual representation for you to form your own definition: Check out Brillz’s Instagram: @brillzbrillz [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/153059351″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false”[...]