Latest Posts

Hop Hop Delivers Video For “Scratch”

October 2, 2018

Premier Buffalo MC Hop Hop has a video for her latest single “Scratch” that’s a perfect showcase for her art and skills, and the city itself. Shot and edited by producer and co-conspirator Brandon Schlia, “Scratch” is an earworm in video form and a clever bit of DIY guerrilla filmmaking , utilizing a whole lot of the important new public art that’s sprung up over the last few years all over the city, our newly re-purposed post industrial decay, and various tasteful West Side doorways and rooftops as backdrops for the irrepressible brilliance of Hop Hop, who will most definitely not be defined by an old white guy like me anyways, so I won’t even try it (not that I’d try it anyway). From “The Freedom Wall” on Michigan and East Ferry to the Betsy Casanas mural on Niagara Street and the trusty Elmwood Avenue 24 Hour Store, “Scratch” is an inclusive,[...]

Tonight: Harmonica Lewinski

September 21, 2018

Tonight Rochester Hell raising gang of malcontents Harmonica Lewinski make a welcome return to the Queen City opening for local legends The Irving Klaws and fellow Rochesteronians The Fox Sisters at Nietzsche’s. Frankly, this is a pretty bonkers lineup, featuring the aforementioned Rochester hellraisers, plus the hard charging, R&B party up fun of The Fox Sisters, as well as the raunchy and intense fun of The Irving Klaws, so this show might be exactly what you need after this extraordinarily wacky week. Also, this show is so not whitebread that the only suburban Millennial gentrifiers you’ll have to put up with are the ones you pass on Allen on your way to the show. Cover is $5 and doors are at 10pm. Lewinski Grind by Harmonica Lewinski

Welks Mice Release New Single “Your Heart is the Purple Sage”

September 18, 2018

Feel good vibraphone heroes Welks Mice dropped a new single “Your Heart is the Purple Sage” that, in true  Welks form,  is virtually indescribable yet deeply affecting. Maybe it’s the naked, searching purity of Max Weiss’s vocals and the distinct sense that’s he singing TO YOU or his poetic and philosophical lyrics that come at you fast and insistent; maybe it’s the Andre Welks vibraphone that seem to gradually harmonize with your soul, or the intimate immediacy of the lo-fi production. In any case “Your Heart is the Purple Sage” is a refreshingly cathartic balm for the soul that feels just right, and it’s definitely worth a listen. Your Heart is the Purple Sage by Welks Mice

Space Cubs Unveil New Video For “Shelves”

September 13, 2018

Space Cubs, one of the Buffalo’s most buzzed about local bands, is back with a new configuration, new music, and a video for their latest single “Shelves” that is almost reassuringly excellent in it’s completeness. Conjuring sensations of early aughts Radiohead and the ethereal vibes of Sigur Ros but with Suzanne Bonifacio seemingly holding the universe together with her searchingly primal and haunting vocals, “Shelves” as a single would’ve been enough, but the video by the band and Jeanette Chwan takes it all to another level. Beautifully shot and edited, it’s a flawless synthesis of vibes and visuals, and there’s something tremendous about seeing Bonifacio really lean into the role of buzz band frontwoman, taking all that on, and connecting with audiences. Definitely keep an eye out for them, playing in and around town and dropping new music, and be sure to check out Chance Operations, Space Cub Shawn Lewis’s first gallery show[...]

Tonight: Beach Slang

September 8, 2018

It’s been a pretty wild year of shows, and Robbie Takac has literally given us a genuine doozy, bringing indie band Beach Slang back to headline his Music Is Art festival, going down all day today at Buffalo Riverworks. After playing the area twice last year and creating much joy both times, the intense, exuberant, and frankly hilarious Philadelphia band released the achingly haunting Everything Matters But No One Is Listening, an affecting orchestral take on righteous cuts from the bands first few albums under the name Quiet Slang. But for tonight’s show they’re billed as Beach Slang so don’t expect an orchestra tonight… although that would be pretty sweet; instead you should probably expect an epic blowout of serious jams to get yer ya ya’s out to and then some. Music Is Art begins at 11am down at Riverworks, and as always it’s free, including Beach Slang, who play the main stage at 9:30pm.[...]

KOPPS Unleash New Video for “Hott”

August 20, 2018

Beloved blog favorites KOPPS are back with a deliciously evil video for “Hott” that lives up to it’s name and the trashy and sexy aesthetic you know and love from them. Yes, our friends from down the 90 have gone Hollywood on us… and it is good, hitting us with a super shiny video clip featuring Joywave’s Daniel Armbruster, a budget, some vaguely McLuhanesque media commentary, an international cast of dancing fans, and some demonic hoodoo that beats that spicy new Vice produced Gaspar Noe movie to the punch and confirms again that Mrs. Patti is truly a magnificent front woman and hellaciously good at leading us all into sin. Sure their masked drummer and that brown ABBA turtlenecks and powder blue trouser ensemble will haunt your dreams and possibly make you reevaluate your views on Swedish socialism and the works of Stieg Larsson, but at least those freaky dreams[...]

Handsome Jack Bust Out New Video For “Keep On”

August 16, 2018

Soulful Lockport rockers Handsome Jack got the van ready for a national tour, but before they go they’ve dropped a clip for “Keep On” that’s a tribute to white vans, dreaming about breaking out of the hoosegow, and the beloved Mohawk. Directed by Nate Chateaux, “Keep On” is some glorious old school rock’n’roll tomfoolery, with a little cheap Elvis, zonked out Monkees, and Dukes Of Hazzard disregard for the law DNA genespliced onto the jam’s seriously dank guitar riffs, bluesy swagger, sweet southern harmonies, and Jamison Passuite’s hard living and gritty lead vocals. Like being in the Pink during daylight hours (people do conduct business there, you know), it’s more than a little weird seeing the Mohawk Place load in/load out alley lit by actual sunlight, to such an extent that I didn’t even recognize it until the video cuts inside to the Mohawk Place stage we all know for some live band footage and a[...]

The Demos Release Video For “If You Only Knew”

August 7, 2018

Rochester power pop band The Demos have released a self directed video for “If You Only Knew” off their upcoming EP of the same name and it’s as ludicrously irresistible as the single itself. What’s up with this band, dropping such an insanely good video in the post video age for a song as exquisitely crafted as “If You Only Knew,” with Jason Milton’s Thomas Mars channeling vocals, sweet riffs, ear pleasing production values. and that chorus with the band swooping in “Wall Of Sound” style like a modern day, bittersweet Electric Light Orchestra? Then they do a music video for it that’s smart, funny, beautifully shot, and exceptionally edited for maximum wit and charm? I mean, that Super 8 bit over the bridge that calls to mind Talking Heads videos with an early 90’s psychedelic Flaming Lips aesthetic is above and beyond the call of duty, especially when elegantly yet[...]

Sea Planes Drop New Single “Magnetic Love”

August 3, 2018

Rochester spralling electro pop duo Sea Planes have returned with a new single “Magnetic Love” and it hits so many sweet spots that it could almost be deemed indecent by the fun police. Fans of M83, Sigur Ros and Polyphonic Spree (also, Queen) will all hear something they like on an instinctive, gut level in this one, with it’s soaring harmonies, built up tension/release, and grand, out-sized gestures that come at you with reckless, childlike abandon from the very first notes. Also, these guys sort of disappeared for a while so this is a pretty nice comeback move to be honest. Check it out.

Tonight: Prince Vs Bowie Dance Party

August 2, 2018

Dearly beloved and fellow pretty things, tonight we will be gathering to celebrate two of our greatest icons, Prince and David Bowie with one of the best dance parties of the year. Transmission Dance Party’s Bill Page and Xotec will be spinning all the hottest jams from both oeuvres for Americans young and old and the scary monsters (no super creeps, please), and with performances from Eddie Gomez, Seraphine DuMaul, Anatomy + Lady Zilla of the Hell’s Harlots, Stella Virgin and Fly Guy Shawn, the Mohawk will definitely be a rave unto the joy fantastic. In keeping with the ongoing theme of Buffalo dance parties raising money for righteous causes, proceeds from the Prince Vs Bowie Dance Party will be going to Planned Parenthood, and please note, any nonsense (fighting, inappropriate behavior, anything non consensual) will get you thrown out. Cover is only $5 and Mohawk’s doors are at 9pm. Remember,[...]

Tonight: Fleet Foxes

July 27, 2018

The western New York music lovers week of plenty continues tonight when beloved indie folk rock band Fleet Foxes brings their exceptional harmonies to Artpark with up and coming London indie heroine  Nilufer Yanya. After a five year hiatus the Seattle  band returned with last year’s Cracked Up, their third album and first with new drummer Neal Morgan, replacing that guy who played Canalside last night. Meanwhile, every note  jazzy and sweetly soulful London guitarist and vocalist Nilufer Yanya sings and plays floats effortlessly as if in a dream. Tickets for this dream show are still available for $41, doors open at 5pm, and show allegedly starts at 6:30pm.

Tonight: Father John Misty

July 26, 2018

The Earth, stars, and various festival touring schedules have aligned to bring us one of the most fascinating Thursday at Canalside shows in a few years when zeitgeist channeling troubadour Father John Misty returns to our area at last tonight. It’s been a few years since he last brought the Town Ballroom house down and even more since his now quasi-legendary performance opening for Youth Lagoon back in magical 2012, so tonight’s show has more than a little anticipation going on as the ever entertaining and incisive Mr. Tillman brings his festival set in support of his latest effort God’s Favorite Customer to our suds and summer concert series. Be sure to get to Canalside in time for the opener, Richmond, VA by way of Nashville indie heroine Lucy Dacus, whose expansive and evocative sophomore album Historian is currently burning it up on Matador Records. Nestled sweetly in between the Jenny[...]

Tonight: Big Huge

July 17, 2018

Super fun Brooklyn glam punks Big Huge make a welcome return to the Queen City tonight at the newly air conditioned Sugar City with Sofa Kingz, Party’s Over and DJ Fluffybody. Their show last August was a bonafide, life affirming gas, so you don’t want to miss this one, and with up and coming local indie pop outift The Sofa Kingz and Queen City Music Lottery survivors  Party’s Over representing for the area with some tight beats from DJ Fluffybody it’s going to be a good party. Doors open at 7pm and cover is $10. CRUEL WORLD by BIG HUGE

Tonight: The Messthetics

July 13, 2018

Tonight fans of beloved punk legends Fugazi will be congregating  in the 9th Ward to catch the intense power trio The Messthetics, which features Joe Lally and Brendan Canty, the late band’s rhythm section along with DC based jazz guitarist Anthony Pirog. The trio released their self titled debut back in March, a surprisingly proggy and psychedelic slab of intensely evocative rock that ought to sound real good in the perfect acoustic confines of that intimate concert space. Opening the show will be the ever delightful future punk of The Mallwalkers. Tickets are $12 and doors open at 8pm. The Messthetics by The Messthetics

Tonight: Robert Earl Thomas

July 5, 2018

Tonight chilled out and trippy indie folk rocker Robert Earl Thomas rolls through Mohawk Place with boffo opening support from local wunderkind Jacob Peter and Oats Holy Roller. Taking a break from psychedelic dream pop band Widowspeak, Robert Earl Thomas released his debut LP Another Age in February, a tight collection of woozy and slightly glammy 70’s AM gold American pop that’s groovy, real easy on the ear, and probably ideal for cooling it down on a hot and steamy summer night. Meanwhile, the virtuoso Jacob Peter, who is seemingly everywhere in the best way possible, will be there too, a good thing if you’re down with good music; and be sure to get there early for Oats Holy Roller, who will bare his soul and metaphorically set your hair on fire with only his voice and an acoustic guitar. Doors are at 7pm and cover is $5. Another Age by[...]