Latest Posts

HitGRL – Are We Sure About This?

March 27, 2025

Fredonia-based HitGRL makes their formal introduction with the release of their debut EP, Are We Sure About This?, which landed as a self-released five-song set on March 1st. The first official outing from the band – comprising Sarah Burke (vocals), Katherine Wynn (cello, vocals), Ryan Terry (guitar), Michael Tumbaco (bass) and Gordon Hall (drums) – immediately signals a creative approach that resists easy categorization. While rooted in alternative rock, their sound readily pulls from the grit of grunge alongside the melodic and sometimes atmospheric leanings of indie rock, establishing a broad sonic canvas right from the start. Following the release of the single “BREAK U” in February, this collection serves as an initial exploration of the band’s dynamic range and emerging musical identity.   The EP establishes its stylistic range immediately through contrast. It opens with “Becoming Someone,” a track leaning into indie and beach rock sensibilities, carried by a[...]

Beach Tower – Another Beach Tower EP

October 25, 2024

Readers of buffaBLOG – by now, you should already know that when a Fredonia local band releases new music, it’s bound to be noteworthy. Coming off a short hiatus, Beach Tower has large shoes to fill (or should I say, fuzzy crocs), after their intriguing first album If We Make It To May. It’s safe to say that you should slip on some of your own fuzzy footwear and prepare yourself for a surfy, pop punk sensation with their long awaited follow up, simply and wonderfully titled, Another Beach Tower EP.    Before we even dive into this album, for fans of other Fredonia locals such as HitGRL and Ryan Terry Family Band, I suggest you drop everything and go listen to this latest release IMMEDIATELY!  Fun fact, Ryan Terry of Beach Tower is also in both bands making for an extremely recognizable sound that screams “this is Ryan Terry[...]

The Weather Might Say Otherwise – “Statue Of Frogs”

April 25, 2022

The Weather Might Say Otherwise found their way back on buffaBLOG with their latest offering, “Statue of Frogs.” Coming with a rough and rugged delivery, the Fredonia three-piece rages the faces off of their fans for three and a half short minutes. That being said, there is a really cool breakdown section a little over halfway through the track for all of those in the mosh to collect themselves properly before jumping right back in. To break down the inspiration behind “Statue Of Frogs” Singer Damian Brown talks vividly of his role with drugs and how he depends on them to pull him out of a depressive state, all the while pulling him further into his depressive state. Stream it on Spotify and Apple Music

superficial. – s/t

September 17, 2019

Speaking for myself a fair part of writing about local music is managing one’s enthusiasms and expectations to try to not get too carried away when something particularly tantalizing arrives via the inbox or emerges on the radar… or failing to do so entirely like I did after listening to Fredonia buzz band superficial.’s eponymous debut EP. Shimmering, mesmerizing, and completely compelling every second of it’s 15 minute running time, it bangs in a variety of ways from start to finish. Now ordinarily I’m not a stickler for rules but when it comes to putting out albums and EPs  there are a few as laid down by giants of bygone ages, and one of them is your first song better hit hard, unless you’re doing an intro in which case your second song has to or else, and superficial. satisfies with a flourish. All swirling synths and organs, “Intro” feels a little[...]

New Masons Release New Single “Black Feather”

March 27, 2017

Fredonia electro-pop band New Masons continue to build upon their expansive sound on their latest single, “Black Feather” Having previously hinted at a synth pop inspired sound on “Night Calls” and their debut EP Sorry, Jill, the band takes things in an atmospheric rock direction with “Black Feather”. Incorporating soulful guitar tones, evocative synth sounds and vigorous percussion, New Masons are able to create tension with both their vocals and instrumentation that leads to a compelling hook and melody. The track serves as the first episode in the WAVE series, a story written by the band which their upcoming material will reference. Listen to “Black Feather” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/309998833″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New Masons Release New Single

December 17, 2015

The end of December is always an awkward time to release music – most blogs are doing year-end compilations and best-ofs, music fans are checked out more concerned with visiting family and friends, and generally the atmosphere is not very inviting to new material. With that being said, we are usually too tied up with our own lists and people taking time off to invest time into new music, but after hearing New Masons‘ latest single we decided we had to share. The Fredonia-based band, New Masons, have released their newest single with newly ArcAtlas Records. a record label established only recently out of Fredonia’s Music Business Program. The single “Night Calls” is  an indie-pop gem, with soulful vocals, delicate guitars, an M83 Saturdays = Youth-esque breakdown, and retro Miami-vibes.  If you are a fan of St. Lucia, Ellie Goulding, or Blackbird Blackbird, then you would dig this up-and-coming act. It’s too bad Canary Birds called it[...]

Rebecca Ryskalczyk of Bethlehem Steel

July 20, 2015

Next week will see the return home of Rebecca Ryskalczyk, the front woman of the Brooklyn based, Fredonia bred indie trio Bethlehem Steel. The Buffalo born musician is currently on a solo tour that will bring her back to town for a pair of Infringement Festival dates. We recently caught up with the songwriter to discuss Buffalo and Brooklyn, her new label and upcoming EP, and her some of her favorite local music memories. buffaBLOG: Over the last couple years, we have seen some pretty great acts, including Zealot, Mr. Boneless, and Well Worn Boot, come out SUNY Fredonia and the surrounding town. What was the scene like when you were going to school there? Rebecca Ryskalczyk: There was a very tight knit DIY scene when I went to school there. I met all my current band-mates through the music scene there. Jon played in Longitude and Zephyr in Zona Mexicana. House shows[...]

Blue House

Blue House Records Live Session with Pizza Club Productions

April 14, 2015

It’s always encouraging to see creative channels come together in a DIY fashion to support one another. It’s the existence of this kinship that gives birth to cool collaborations and a robust local art scene. Fredonia is somewhat of a hatchery for this dynamic, which agreeably led Blue House, the solo project of Long Island native Danny Palladino, to team up with Fredonia based Pizza Club Productions in recent weeks to film their second Cool Little Music Session. Pizza Club Productions is the ongoing live music video series started by Joe Cardina, Cam Gordon, Chelsea Newton. and Eric Lemke. The group aims to unite music and visual fronts to showcase bands all over the area through well produced videos. Blue House, a fairly new endeavor, is one of the handful of artists to be featured so far. With subtle vocal embellishment, bare-boned arrangements, and quiet reflectiveness, Blue House comparatively calls[...]

Cool Little Music Sessions Premieres w/ Mooses

February 24, 2015

It was only a matter of time before another live video session series popped up in the WNY area. With 1809 Sessions, Wonk Sesh, Genesee Live, Quiet Country Audio, and Silo Sessions already in place, lets add Cool Little Music Sessions to that list. Based out of Fredonia’s Pizza Club Productions studios, the series hopes to film local and touring musicians rolling through the college town. For the first installment, the freshman series featured Fred town psych quartet, Mooses, who performed two songs from its debut EP Tales from the Elephant’s Nest:  “In Case They’re Wondering” and “Bette Davis,” the latter just so happened to be our second favorite song out of Buffalo in 2014. Sponsored by Cool Little Music Shop, the video was shot and edited by Joe Cardina, along with additional production contributions from Chelsea Newton, Cam Gordon, and Eric Lemke. You can watch the full clip below, which includes a[...]

Just Announced: Cloud Nothings

February 12, 2015

When you think of Fredonia’s BJ’s, you normally think of college bands, bands like Mooses and Zealot, playing to the loyal local audiences and co-eds. In fact, one of Plainsman’s many phallic objects is still probably lying around the bar from a past Well Worn Boot show. What you don’t think of when you think of BJ’s, at least not initially, is the band Cloud Nothings. This is one of the biggest acts in indie rock right now. But, just over a half an hour ago, the bar announced via FB and Twitter that the Cleveland three-piece will be playing the college town haunt on Friday, May 8th. The bar then channeled  Almost Famous with a follow up status of “ITS ALL HAPPENING.” The bar is clearly ending the semester on a high note. The now trio followed up its breakthrough album, Attack on Memory, with 2014’s equally impressive Here and Nowhere Else last[...]

Tonight: The Goods

May 28, 2014

Over the last few months, the eclectic musical exports of Fredonia have caught our attention with bands like fuzz-rock trio Zealot and psych-pop outfit Mooses being featured here at buffaBLOG. The latest addition to that growing list are funk-rock band The Goods, a three piece consisting of Nate Schwartz on guitar, vocals, and saxophone, Sam Pavlovich on Bass, and drummer Colin Gray. Having played regularly throughout the Fredonia area as well as a handful of appearances at the upstairs venue of Buffalo’s Mr. Goodbar, the trio brings their experimental, melodic blend of jazz, rock and funk to Allentown tonight for a headlining show at Nietzsche’s.  Their self-titled debut EP, released this past December, features four tracks ranging from guitar-driven pop-rock, to groove based funk and straightforward, riff-heavy rock. The record is currently available for download on Bandcamp along with a recently released update of the sprawling, sax-centric jam “Earthman“. Music starts at 10pm,[...]

Zealot Shares “Blanket Fort” Demo

May 13, 2014

For all of the talk this blog has give to Fredonia fuzz trio, Zealot, over the last few months, the band only has one track to its name, the very good debut single “Magic Eye.” The band doubled its catalog size today by releasing a fresh demo titled “Blanket Fort.” The welcome No Age comparisons are going nowhere on this reverb and shout heavy track. Word is the band will be releasing its debut EP some time this summer to keep an eye out. In the mean time, listen to “Blanket Fort” below.

Mooses – Tales From The Elephant’s Nest

May 5, 2014

There’s definitely something going on down the 90 in Fredonia. The proximity of Dave Fridmann’s Tarbox Road Studios in nearby Cassadaga, NY has contaminated the water or affected the electromagnetic fields emanating in that area in a way that wildness and psychedelia have become hallmarks of Fredonia’s music scene, which is of course a huge boon for WNY’s music scene. Case in point: Mooses, a young four piece from Fredonia who dropped itsdebut EP, Tales From The Elephant’s Nest, a tight and bold five song collection that sounds sweet in the ears and screams “POTENTIAL,” last week. Mooses get things started with the snarling, schadenfreude and 90’s drenched “Hypocrite’s Fall,” a slow burner that lures you in with restrained buildup before unleashing evocative new wave vocals reminiscent of Robert Smith and stirring Bends worthy guitars. The new wave swagger continues on the exuberant “Bette Davis,” a straight ahead rave up complete with[...]

Mooses Debut “In Case They’re Wonderin'” Single

April 17, 2014

Mooses have been on our radar for a little while now. The Fredonia based four-piece has only released a couple tracks over at their bandcamp page, but it wasn’t until they dropped the single “In Case They’re Wonderin’,” that we really stopped and took note. The track is a cut of 90s psychedelia, with a dash of Brit Rock thrown in for good measure. The reverb heavy song is a loose sprawling mess in the best use of those terms. Fans of Blind Melon, early Verve, the Black Angels, and Ty Segall should give the track a spin. The track can be found on the band’s upcoming EP, set to drop May 1st. In the mean time, listen to “In Case They’re Wonderin'” below.