Latest Posts

WBNY’s Battle Of The Bands Accepting Submissions

January 28, 2015

Hot off a resurgent 2014, Buff State’s gift to Western New York music lovers WBNY 91.3 has announced they’re running a Battle of the Bands contest that culminates April 25th at Buffalo Iron Works . Between now and March 8th, prospective contestants can submit 3 ORIGINAL songs for consideration by a panel of august local luminaries including the News’ Jeff Meirs, the Public’s Corey Perla, and the Mohawk’s Marty Boratin, with six bands duking it out in the Cobblestone District this April for top prizes. 1st place wins 5 hours of studio time at Good Charamel Records and a gift certificate to Allentown Music, 2nd place gets $125 worth of screen printed shirts courtesy of Positive Approach and a $50 gift certificate to Spiral Scratch Records, and 3rd place receives a photo session with Photography By Nico and a $50 gift certificate to Black Dots. Original submissions will be accepted[...]

The Weeknd – “Earned It”

January 23, 2015

Apparently there’s this movie coming out in a few weeks that’s based on a series of erotic novels that you can buy at Target called Fifty Shades Of Grey, and it will be a huge hit because all of our neighbors who’ve bought the books at Target will bumrush theaters down the street from Target to see if the movie measures up. The soundtrack for 50 Shades Of Grey, also available at Target, will include sexed up contributions from artists like Beyonce, Sia,  Ellie Goulding, Jessie Ware, The Rolling Stones (yes! “Beast Of Burden!”), and Toronto’s very own The Weeknd, who’s featured in the first video off of that soundtrack, the mildly NSFW “Earned It.” Actually, The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) doesn’t need to sex up his music any more than it already is, and based on this clip featuring Grey lead actress Dakota Johnson, this could well be the[...]

St. Vincent – “Bad Believer”

January 21, 2015

In advance of the release of a deluxe edition of her eponymous 2014 album, St. Vincent aka Annie Clark, just dropped one of it’s four bonus tracks, “Bad Believer.” Soaring, accessible, and a tad victorious, “Bad Believer” makes for a fine coda to an incredibly successful 2014 for Annie, which included a critically acclaimed album and tour (including a memorable stop at Asbury Hall) and an excellent appearance on SNL. The deluxe edition of St. Vincent arrives in stores February 9, and Annie returns to Western New York March 5 for a show at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester.

Maybird Reveals “Down and Under” Video

January 20, 2015

The Netsky brothers have done it again with the video for “Down and Under,” the title track and album closer to Rochester indie band Maybird’s intense 2013 debut. Featuring the stark and plaintive vocals of Josh,  evocative direction, and heartbeat like drums from Adam, not to mention some fine pedal steel guitar from Kurt Johnson, “Down and Under” is pure upstate / downstate New York like the band itself now that they’ve since partially relocated to Brooklyn: walks in snowy woods in a red flannel jacket, art happenings, and listening to records in Christmas light lit city dwellings, all meditatively shot by brother Adam. The band is currently working on new tunes for the follow up to Down and Under, which can be listened to and purchased from Maybird’s Bandcamp page.

Purity Ring – “Begin Again”

January 14, 2015

Montreal electronica duo Purity Ring made a fairly huge splash a few years back with the groove heavy and hypnotic Shrines, and blew local minds when they played the Town Ballroom in 2013. On March 3rd, they’ll be back with the much anticipated sophomore effort, Another Eternity, ideal for the coming spring, and for taking your mind off of the inevitable Garth Brooks in Buffalo mania we’ll all be suffering. Purity Ring have also released the album’s second single, “Begin Again, included for your enjoyment, along with a pleasant flashback to their 2013 show at the Town Ballroom. “Begin Again” “Lofticries,” April 23rd, 2013 at the Town Ballroom.  

Passion in Constellation Releases Video for “Smash”

January 12, 2015

Passion in Constellation (aka Chris Alan) got 2015 started right releasing a dazzling clip for “Smash” at the end of last week that more than lives up to it’s name. Created by parties unknown and consisting of found footage and edited to the aggressive syncopation of Alan’s latest meditation on the EDM form, the clip calls to mind the Emergency Broadcast Network,  vintage MTV bumpers, and film class experiments out of UB’s Media Study Department. It’s also a bold visual step forward for this ambitious up and comer, and hopefully a sign of things to come.

Harmonica Lewinski Drops New Single, “King MTN”

January 8, 2015

Rochester surf punk delinquents Harmonica Lewinski dropped a new single last week on the brink of 2015 billed as a “hidden gem” on the single’s Bandcamp page, and they’re not lying. Clocking in at over 5 minutes long, “King MTN” takes on an almost epic feel in spite of it’s gloriously louche and trashy vibe, calling to mind David Lynch, vintage John Waters, and Link Wray. The ideal soundtrack for wreckless driving, smoking in the bathroom, and making out in the bushes, “King MTN” is free, nasty, and a fine way to get 2015 started off right. Enjoy.

Tonight: Aircraft Welcomes The Future

December 31, 2014

Tonight the future will be now when blog favorites Aircraft, The Tins, Equality Knowledge & Light (Dr. Ooo, Sleep Close Death, Goodman Brown, Truey V, WZA, and Whoizzy), and Lesionread polish off 2014 and ring in 2015 at Nietzsche’s. This all star line up will be transforming that well worn and venerable Allentown venue into a psychedelic starship that’s going to take us all into the future and showcase some of the finest and forward thinking acts in Buffalo. $5 gets you in the door, champagne at midnight, plus some of the best hip hop, psych-pop and future pop in the city. Music starts at 9:30. See you there.

Pleistocene

December 17, 2014

We’ve been doing it so long it’s not even mandatory when the blog’s party people book a Rochester band to a buffaBLOG party. It’s no secret that we love Rochester and the crazy on fire music scene it’s got going right now, and we love bringing some of it to you at our Allentown shindigs. This year’s Holiday extravaganza this Saturday at Duke’s will include one of Rochester’s next big things, fuzzed out surf pop shoegazers Pleistocene, in town to play some stoned out garage jams from their 2014 digital album Ontario Girls (included below for your enjoyment). Picking up wonderfully where Best Coast left off, Pleistocene has everything going for them, and their show this Saturday ought to be one of the highlights of the night.

Twin Shadow – “Turn Me Up”

December 10, 2014

When nobody was looking, Twin Shadow (aka George Lewis Jr.) dropped a new track “Turn Me Up” on his Soundcloud page, and whether it’s a prologue to or preview of his upcoming 2015 first major label release, either way it is sizzling. The smoldering, synth driven cut is all about restraint and release, and the sweet aching, yearning heart of Mr. Lewis himself. If it’s any indication, 2015 could be a big year for the recently signed Warner Brothers act. Keep an eye out for Twin Shadow’s third album in early 2015, and in the meantime, enjoy.

Sea Planes Return with “Waterfall” Single

December 7, 2014

Rochester indie electronica band, Sea Planes, dropped a new track last week and on “Waterfall,” the duo has upped the stakes considerably with arena sized grandeur and ambition. If previous tracks “Right Now” and “Young At Heart” alluded to French electronica powerhouse M83, “Waterfall” is full on Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, and the result is rousing and gorgeous. The lyrics also contribute to the euphoria in part due to their impassioned determination, and the delightfully post modern real time deconstruction of the song itself. It’s a heady and adrenaline charged brew, and more pure musical goodness from Western New York. Enjoy.

Tonight: Red Show

December 6, 2014

Dreamland, the new gallery/arts cooperative on Franklin near Edward, is taking Buffalo by storm. Located in an classic Buffalo building on the border of Allentown and downtown, it’s daring but welcoming ethos and welcome sense of mischief has made it a hub of avant-garde activity, and it’s glorious front room doubles as gallery and performance space that’s one of the most fun in Buffalo. The Terror Pigeon/Rich Aucoin/Lesionread show at Dreamland a few weeks back was an exuberant adventure in communal joy, and tonight, the good times continue with Sqajacuada Creeps, Lesionread, and Bryan Johnson & Family taking the front room over and painting it red. OK, not really, but they’ve swapped all the light bulbs for red ones, and everybody’s dressing in red (golden gold is also OK), including the audience, and those white walls are going to drink it up. Doors open at 7, bands start at 8,[...]

Tonight: Roz & the Rice Cakes

December 4, 2014

Tonight, the Hive plays host to Providence, RI’s instrument swapping, experimental pop trio, Roz & the Ricecakes. The three-some was recently featured in the debut installment of 1809 Studios new live session series recorded in Macedon, NY, right outside of Rochester. Check out the clip here. Masterminded by local label Steak & Cake Records, the bill also features a trio of blog favs, Newish Star, Mink, and Aircraft, all for the ridiculously low price of $5. Out of deference to the neighbors (to whom you should be cool if you’re going), the show starts at promptly 7pm.

JOYWAVE – “Tongues” (Giorgio Moroder Remix)

December 2, 2014

JOYWAVE’s meteoric rise just keeps going, and now it’s getting kind of weird. Now the Rochester NY indie electronica outfit, fresh off their invasion of Brooklyn’s Rough Trade Records, is slated to appear on Giorgio Moroder’s 2015 comeback album 74 Is The New 24. The Italian producer, who is best known for his collaborations with Donna Summer and last seen on Daft Punk’s 2013 blockbuster Random Access Memories, has remixed JW’s runaway hit “Tongues” (featuring another Rochester favorite KOPPS, also back from storming Brooklyn) into something darker and old world gothic. 74 Is The New 24 hits stores in January. Joywave and Kopps meanwhile are everywhere…

What I’m Thankful For 2014: A Resurgent WBNY 91.3 FM

November 26, 2014

It’s that time of year,  that time when we are called upon to be publicly thankful for things like family, God, country, capitalism, blah, blah, blah, and this year, outside of family, I’m fairly pessimistic about the rest… with the exception of a vital development in Buffalo’s radio scene. No I’m not talking about 107.7, which seems to have already plateaued in terms of musical direction with everything they play starting to sound the same (memo to Alt Buffalo: more indie, less corporate “indie” crap; maybe some Radiohead post 1997). I’m talking about a long running and venerable institution that’s found it’s mojo at precisely the right time for our area. This year, I’m thankful for Buffalo’s truest alternative radio station, the newly focused and resurgent WBNY 91.3 FM. It’s as if the folks at 91.3 remembered that people beyond Buff State and the Upper West Side listen to them,[...]