“Tough Old Bird was formed by songwriting brothers Matthew and Nathan Corrigan in a rural corner of Western New York. Since releasing ‘Gambling Days’ in 2016, the duo has taken their singular style of modern folk music to coffee shops, listening rooms, music clubs, dive bars, campgrounds and front porches across the United States. The band’s newly expanded lineup features Ricky Bechard on drums and Brendan O’Shea on bass.” – Tough Old Bird
French Polynesian experimental duo, Cantenac Dagar, create challenging instrumental music using banjo’s, cassette player’s, and human beatbox to achieve an often abrasive, drone-oriented sound. The pair’s latest release, a nearly thirty minute, one-track effort titled BUREC, develops slowly to reveal a raw, abrasive style with built around primal percussion. Tonight, the two will be performing at Mohawk Place where Cantenac Dagar will also play a set as the duo’s acoustic alter-ego, Fort Crèvecœur, which incorporates more traditional instrumentation with the same avant-garde inclinations as Cantenac Dagar. Also performing tonight are Buffalo experimental folk musician Lara Buckley, whose sparse acoustic arrangements combined with an other-worldly vocal delivery makes for a meditative take on the genre as well as local duo Double Memory. Show starts at 8pm. Admission is $5.
Last month, Ithaca based singer/songwriter, Brian Bishop, quietly released a startlingly intimate and powerful collection of original folk songs. Rock Songs for Slow Dancers covers a vast expanse of territory and each song seems to takes on a different mental landscape or setting, from the open and pastoral (“Meadow Love”) to the maze like surroundings of a library, “Library Love Song,” from the recesses of desire (“Wake Up”) to the detachment of an individual in a soundless glass elevator (“Like A Child”). Bishop’s penchant for songwriting and his impressive lyricism is heard throughout. Definitely an album to explore from start to finish, especially highlights “Wake Up” and “Flowers.”
Earlier this week, local folk troubadour, Andy Pothier, released the first single from this forthcoming, untitled album. The bare boned “Signs” is another lovely number from the Pine Fever drummer, sounding like hushed Conor Oberst or weary, stripped down Hiss Golden Messenger. Keep an eye out for future tracks from Pothier’s new album, and in the mean time, listen to “Signs” below.
Late last week, Rochester born folk act, Sunny Union (the moniker of Sunny Zaman), released the first track from his forthcoming album, Wollstonecraft II, the follow up to the January released Wollstonecraft. Titled “Wild Mountain Thyme,” the rustic number is full of gorgeous, Fleet Foxes harmonies, and contemplative acoustic plucking. The song was originally written by folk singer Francis McPeake and has been covered by White Antelope, the solo project of Robin Pecknold (speaking of Fleet Foxes). The now Brooklyn-based musician plans to release the full album sometime next month, so keep an eye out. Listen to Zaman’s take of “Wild Mountain Thyme” below.
Buffalo folk musician, Andy Pothier (Pine Fever, The Evil Things), just posted a simple video for the title track to his last EP, titled Castaway, released earlier this year. Taped for the River House Sessions series, the video finds Pothier (who has that Conor Oberst thing going on) and guitar delivering a hushed performance during a peaceful August afternoon. Check out the video for “Castaway” below and if you like what you hear, head over to Pothier’s bandcamp page to download the full Castaway EP for a couple bucks.
Since opening a year or so ago, the back room of Hardware has been a great space to host a variety of events/functions from dance parties to poetry readings to a couple showcases from our recent Herd Fest. Later this evening, the room is set to host a night of quiet contemplative folk music headed by the New Mexico based A.J. Woods, who vocally recalls John Samson of the Weakerthans or local singer/songwriter Alex Berkley. His most recent album, AdamWoods, was released via bandcamp in 2013 and can be listened to here. Providing local support will be folk musician Andy Pothier, who on other nights can be found behind the drum set of rollicking Pine Fever, and Helen, a suddenly rather busy project featuring Andrew Biggie of Bourbon & Coffee. Music kicks off around 8pm. Bring $5-$7 to support the touring acts.
Early last month, Rochester folk act, MD WOODS, released the first installment of a four-part series titled Young and Vain. Part 1, logically titled Young and Vain 1., is four tracks of sparse, haunting folk that fans of Bonnie Prince Billy, Amen Dunes, and the Low Anthem would be wise to check out. No word on when Part 2 will be released, but you can follow MD WOODS bandcamp page to keep an eye out. In the mean time, listen to Part 1 standout “Bird” below.
A lot can happen when a bunch of local songwriters and musicians happen across each other’s paths and subsequently decide to make some music. Sounds come together, voices fall into harmony, and direction begins to take form. Coming off their self-titled debut release, The Observers seem to have little else on their minds than following a road they have ardently begun to forge for themselves and busting out of Buffalo’s coddling grips. “The trajectory seems to be moving in a positive direction,” says Josh Gage, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the now seven-person ensemble. “Coming off the CD release, our goal is to get on the road as much as we can…and possibly do a house-concert tour along the 90 corridor.” It couldn’t be a more perfect regional introduction for an acoustic band that is just coming of age. “It’s kind of our bag. When we can forget about the[...]
The unfortunately named PigPen Theatre Co. is rolling through town tonight. After reading up on them through the group’s bandcamp page, it appears the band employs shadow puppets into its routine, which is, well, different. I suppose that is where the Theatre Co. part of the band name comes from. The music, though, reminds me more of acts like the Swell Season (good), despite the unavoidable comparisons to other acts like Mumford & Sons (bad). PigPen Theatre Co. will be playing tonight at Buffalo Iron Works, which is suddenly becoming quite diverse after hosting considerably non folk shows like the Misfits, Screaming Females, and Cloud Nothings over the last couple weeks. The show kicks off tonight at 8pm with a cover of $15.