Latest Posts

Carmen & Lizzy – Dissolving

January 16, 2025

For the better part of a decade, Buffalo folk-duo Carmen & Lizzy have quietly woven themselves into the fabric of Buffalo’s music scene, having built a following with their heart-on-your-sleeve songwriting, finely-tuned vocal harmonies, and a sound that blends folk intimacy with indie sensibilities. Now a recognized force, the duo–made up of cousins Carmen O’Keefe and Lizzy Bassler–has just released Dissolving, their first substantial offering of new music in over 5 years. This 6-song EP finds the duo gently pushing the boundaries of their established folk aesthetic for a sound that matures alongside their songwriting and keeps the mystifying qualities that put them on Buffalo’s map. Dissolving is our album of the week.   Dissolving widens the scope of Carmen & Lizzy’s discography. While their earlier work, like the 2019 full-length Climate, leaned into a starry-eyed folksy vulnerability, the new EP is a bit more enigmatic and exhibits growth in[...]

Carmen & Lizzy – “When It Ends”

February 17, 2022

Like a pair of voices from the clouds above, Carmen & Lizzy present a divine performance on their latest release, “When it Ends.” The acoustic duo from Buffalo bring out vocals and guitar riffs that are lighter than air and bright enough to pierce the soul. On “Ends,” about halfway through the track, there’s some sort of synthesizer floating hand-in-hand with an interstellar bassline, as if it weren’t beautifully spacey enough already. “When It Ends” is out now on Fredonia-based label Nonexistant Records – check it out below via Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify. When It Ends by Carmen & Lizzy

Tonight: Stay Gold at the Burchfield Penney Art Center

January 10, 2020

Art and music intersect brilliantly and beautifully tonight when the Burchfield Penney Art Center hosts their annual Stay Gold party featuring some of Western New York’s hottest artists. Throughout the Burchfield Penney, au courant artists will be displaying site specific installations alongside the museum’s current ongoing exhibitions and performances by a plethora of up to the minute local acts including heave, Carmen & Izzy, The Burkharts, Tough Old Bird, Cooler, TVMTN, Sydney Jeanne, and MEDUSA. Admission is free, there’s a cash bar, and the museum is open to 10pm with music starting at 4pm. East Gallery heave – 4:05pm- 4:50pm Carmen & Lizzy – 6:05pm – 6:40pm Tough Old Bird – 8:45pm – 9:30pm Reception Space The Burkharts – 5:00pm – 5:50pm TVMTN – 6:40pm – 7:25pm Cooler – 8:05pm – 8:40pm Margaret L. Wendt Gallery Sidney Jeanne– 5:15pm – 6:00pm MEDUSA – 8:05pm – 8:40pm ET by MEDUSA

Tonight: The Warp/The Weft

August 20, 2019

Tonight Poughkeepsie mythic folk rockers The Warp/The Weft bring their widescreen sensibilities to The Mohawk with local folk heroes Carmen & Lizzy and newbies Urban Planning. Straight up out of the depths of time and downstate, The Warp/The Weft is mindbending folk rock for a dark and stormy night at sea or the apocalypse, to such an extent that one can’t help but picture lead vocalist Shane Murphy belting out his epic shanties whilst lashed to the ship’s wheel during a gale or while holding a lantern, shrouded and pointing into misty darkness. It’s all pretty heady stuff and fun. Opening the show will be the exquisitely ethereal but always realer than real Carmen & Lizzy and left field but very laid back indie rockers Urban Planning. Doors are at 7pm, show’s at 8pm, and cover is $5. Dead Reckoning by The Warp/The Weft

Japanincolor Releases Debut EP, ‘Daydreams’

July 23, 2019

Japanincolor is the solo project from Hundred Plus Club bassist Rafi Bloomberg. Daydreams is a simple, four-song EP that finds the multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Bloomberg flexing his songwriter muscles via interesting collaborations with other Buffalo-based musicians. Intro track “The Theme” is a piano composition by Zekeriya Spoth. Bloomberg seems to revel in collaborations with other artists, using his own knowledge of music theory and musicianship to bolster their contributions. “The Theme” is short but sweet, a beautiful way to start this EP. Song two is “High Shelf,” which features vocals from Carmen & Lizzy’s Carmen O’Keefe. This might be the stand out track on the EP – O’Keefe’s vocals ride perfectly atop Bloomberg’s instrumentals, fleshed out tastefully with lush harmonies, jangly guitars, and a simple guitar solo. If you’ve ever seen Bloomberg perform live, you know how insanely talented he is… The simplicity of Daydreams points to how reserved he can be, resisting the temptation to fill these songs[...]

Carmen & Lizzy – Climate

July 23, 2019

Mother Nature’s daughters have come down from the clouds with an album of tender and heartfelt songs. Buffalo’s Carmen & Lizzy, cousins who grew up together singing and playing music have released their third effort in three years, 2019’s Climate. An introspective album about their past, present, and future, Climate polishes elements of folk to tackle an ever pressing dilemma: Our Environment. “Carry You,” a short lead off track, gently stirs the album to life with thick and warm acoustic pickings from Carmen, guitar and vocals. The message directly employs pathos with Lizzy, vocals, reassuring that the subject will always have an aid. Bridging seamlessly into the second song, “Shelter,” the album continues its message of protecting the most vulnerable. Lizzy and Carmen highlight their harmonious beauty throughout the entire track, which bolsters the compassionate lyrics, “Even if you want to hide/I’ll shelter you.” Pulling from their bag of magic,[...]

Carmen & Lizzy Release Folksy New Single “Runnin’ Away”

December 13, 2017

We’re excited to spotlight acoustic duo Carmen & Lizzy, who have been making lots of waves in the WNY music scene as of late. C&L (more specifically cousins Carmen O’Keefe and Lizzy Bassler) specialize in crafting a gentle brand of acoustic folk, reminiscent of acts like The Staves, Nickel Creek, or HAIM. We’re jazzed on their latest offering, “Runnin’ Away,” which features an emotion-filled guitar line and lush harmonies sure to warm even the coldest of hearts. Where Are We Now? is out now via Nonexistant Records. If you like what you hear, head over to Bandcamp for a digital download.