Latest Posts

Skirts Premieres First Single from Upcoming Comfy Split EP

June 16, 2015

After another week already full of relentless show announcements (now Built to Spill?!), it seems fitting that we near the end of our day with a post about something else that just won’t quit—Rochester’s 2015 music scene. With excellent and promising releases from artists like OHS, Howlo, Pleistocene, and Harmonica Lewinski (among many others) having dropped or on the horizon for this year, we’re happy to premiere another track worthy of your attention. Rochester garage-pop darlings, Skirts, have just dropped their first track from their upcoming split with Utica-based Comfy (that’s all of them in the photo being friendly), the tape slated for release later this summer on Miscreant/Dadstache. The song, titled “Indian Premier League,” does not disappoint, channeling an upbeat island sound similar to something you might hear from Cults or a chilled-out Vampire Weekend. The progression is fun and catchy, percussion is flavorful, and the vocal harmonies are[...]

Howlo Announces Debut LP, Shares “Bleary”

June 15, 2015

We awoke this morning to the pleasant news that one of our favorite Rochester foursomes, Howlo, is prepping the release of its debut, self-titled LP for late July. Comprised of busy songwriter/producer Ben Morey, Justin Pulver (Europa and the Great Red Spot), Jane Bryant, and Christine Benincasa, the group shared a couple album teases over on its bandcamp page to keep us busy until next month. The first, the newly recorded “Blanka,” was on the band’s short and sweet Attic Tapes EP last spring. Howlo‘s second tease, though, comes in the form of the fantastically dreamy “Bleary,” the first new recording we have heard from the band in over a year. Led by the sweet and tender boy/girl vocals of Morey and Bryant, the song is a melancholy cut of 90’s jangle pop, recalling the likes of Polaris, Flake Music, and early Cloud Nothings. Simply put, “Bleary” is one of my[...]

Tonight: Northern Spies

June 11, 2015

Lately it seems like some of Rochester’s best and up-and-coming acts have been making frequent stops to Buffalo and the trend continues tonight as ROCH foursome, Northern Spies, will take the stage at Sugar City. The power pop group, which features members of KOPPS and Quarries, recalls acts like Elvis Costello, the Byrds, REM, and Stephen Malkmus. While the band only has a short EP to its name, the late 2014 released Nothing But Static, its spring released Genesee Live session should give a nice indication of what to expect later on from NS. Music begins this 8pm with a cover of $5. Indie rock trio turned quartet, Wolf, and Steak & Cake’s politically minded act, RED HEAT, will round out the bill. And please remember to leave the booze and drugs at home as Sugar City is a substance free space.

1809 Studios Premieres Latest Session feat. Hannah Weidner and the Doorway Talkers

June 9, 2015

We haven’t checked in with 1809 Sessions, the live video series from the Macedon, NY studio, for a few weeks, so it was very convenient timing (more on that below) to see that the studio’s latest session features Hannah Weidner and the Doorway Talkers. You may remember the Rochester singer/songwriter from back half of 2014 as we featured her  debut LP, Comfortable Existence, as our Album of the Week. Weidner later formed a backing band, featuring members of Secret Pizza and Passive Aggressives Anonymous, and filmed a session with Jon Lewis and Dave Drago at the studio, which just hit the interwebs this week. If you like what you see, then mark down July 25th on your calendar as Hannah Weidner and the Doorway Talkers, along with a cast of fellow Rochester acts, will invade Nietzsche’s as part of this year’s Infringement Festival. Full details on the event can be found here.[...]

Embers Release New Recordings

June 9, 2015

Last winter, Rochester’s Embers submitted a demo to our inbox that left an impression strong enough for me to listen to over and over again on a flight to Chicago. Embers had some bangers, but seemed to have a lot of different directions it was heading, still developing its sound. Yesterday, the band released a new set of improved live-studio recordings that were quite impressive after jumping back into the studio in late April to rerecord two songs previously released on the Singles demo, “Stop Motion” and “Embrace.” Produced and recorded by University at Rochester student project titled Penguin Records, the recording quality has dramatically improved, highlighting the bands noteworthy 90’s indiemo sound. Check out “Stop Motion” below.

Comfy – “Poetic”

June 9, 2015

Utica and Rochester BFFs, Comfy and Skirts, respectively, are set to drop a split EP later this summer on August 7th through Miscreant Records and Rochester tape label, Dadstache. While the first listen from Skirts’ half of the EP won’t come until next week (stay tuned…), the Comfy boys (who you may have caught at our firth birthday party last March) dropped a tease this morning through Impose in the form of the less-than-a-minute track, “Poetic.” With Cap’n Jazz like vocals and a touch of Tim Kinsella-esque depression, “Poetic” is a perfect little morsel of the Comfy world, one that appears to be changing a bit as the group goes through some line-up changes (drummer Zeno Pittarelli is exiting the group this summer). You can now pre-order the record over at Miscreant’s bandcamp page for the very fair price of $5. In the mean time, listen to “Poetic” below.

mdnt and YLXR Team Up for “Baptize”

June 5, 2015

The pairing of Rochester electronic R&B artist mdnt and Buffalo bass artist YLXR is almost too perfect. The two have a knack for creating music that evokes or comes from a place of darkness, and YLXR”s past production hints that he’d be a great compliment to someone with the vocal characteristics of mdnt. Both artists also use abbreviated names, so that’s pretty perfect too. On “Baptize,” the creative forces unite for a song that deserves any and all acclaim. The mystique of mdnt”s drowning falsetto is paired beautifully with the dips and drones of YLXR’s futurebass production. The imagery in mdnt’s songwriting also deserves specific recognition, as the “reborn” theme of the track puts the picture of something like a water phoenix in the brain.  “Baptize” is the lead single from mdnt’s forthcoming debut EP VII Labors, due out in August. Give it a listen below.

Jon Lewis Releases Lead Single for Panic Rock LP

June 4, 2015

Rochester singer/songwriter Jon Lewis (or Mr. Loops to our young readers) has announced his latest album, titled Panic Rock ( a nod to Watertown’s Black River), set to be released on July 14th. The album was recorded with Lewis’ 1809 Sessions partner, Dave Drago, at the Macedon studio, and features contributions from Rochester musicians Sam Snyder (OHS, Maybird), Mikaela Davis, John Valenti, and others. The album’s first single, “Right Now,” was released this morning. Backed by a care free melody and a 70’s singer/songwriter vibe (CSNY and Loudon Wainwright come to mind), the single is part of a collection of songs that act as a touching nod to Lewis’ close family. “Many of the songs have sentimental value and reflect on loved ones and experiences with my family, says Lewis of the album’s personal meaning. Listen to “Right Now” below (download here) and keep an eye out for Panic Rock to drop in[...]

Pleistocene Premieres First Track from Forthcoming 7″ Space Trap

June 3, 2015

Rochester’s fuzzy, female fronted indie rock act, Pleistocene, is prepping the release of its forthcoming 7″ Space Trap, released a music video “Pulp,” one of the four tracks featured on the record. The band plans to release a music video for each of the the concept album’s tracks. For those new to Pleistocene, think Alvvays, Beat Coast, and Speedy Ortiz. The clip for “Pulp” features the band performing in a bustling living room while a pretty serious game of musical chairs, only to be later taken down by one of the more dangerous paper airplanes you will come across. Keep an eye out for some cameos from members of Rochester’s emerging music scene throughout the party video. For those in the Rochester area this Saturday night, Space Trap will be available to pick up at Smugtown Mushrooms beginning at 7pm, while the digital version will be released next Tuesday, June 9th. Watch[...]

Maybird Releases New Single, Music Video For “Turning Into Water”

June 1, 2015

Rochester/Brooklyn psych rockers, Maybird, have released its first single in nearly two years and an accompanying music video to go long with it. The track, “Turning Into Water,” has some Tame Impala freak outs mixed with just a touch of early 90’s Brit Pop (think Supergrass), and is set to be included on the band’s forthcoming Turning Into Water EP, with a proper full length to follow. Directed by band member  Adam Netsky, the video for “Turning Into Water” features the band playing in front of some rather trippy green screens and backdrops as the projections wash over the members while performing. “‘Turning Into Water’ is about a melting feeling of being ignored by someone you admire, and the self consciousness and anxiety that accompany it. The video uses clips of rushing water to visualize that feeling, they start as projections and gradually take over the visual plane in superimposed layers[...]

Faux Leather Jacket’s Trevor Courneen Launches Audible Handshake Podcast

May 26, 2015

Late last month, Trevor Courneen, member of Rochester’s alt-country outfit, Faux Leather Jacket, launched a new podcast series titled Audible Handshake. The first two episodes featured interviews/chats with fellow Rochester musicians Katie Preston of Pleistocene and Howlo‘s Ben Morey. “I wanted to start the podcast because for the past few years that I’ve lived in Rochester, I’ve met a lot of cool people,” begins Courneen. “People in the music scene, the art scene, the food scene, etc., I consider many of them friends at this point, but the truth is, I know very little about them beyond what they do. Katie and Ben are exceptions to this obviously because I’ve been good friends with them for a few years (which is why they were the first two, I knew I’d be comfortable and it would get me used to the process).” The podcast is more than just friendly talk with musical friends, but[...]

Hania Yiska – The Beauty Within

May 25, 2015

You could be listening to one of two different artists if you’re giving our latest album of the week a spin. Well, kind of. One of Rochester’s primo electronica artists, Jeffery Hull, writes under a slew of various pseudonyms, his name contingent upon the style and mood under which he is writing. For the purpose of this article, which highlights his latest release The Beauty Within, I’ll be focusing on two: Hania Yiska, which explores his sonic creations with vocals layered on top, and Mad Hugs, which is the artist’s instrumental side of things. It should come as no surprise that Hania Yiska and Mad Hugs are actually very similar; both projects are brainchildren of the same brain. Yet, where there are obvious and innate similarities, there are also small differences that mark an interesting variety in Hull’s electronic craft. While Yiska delves into vocal territory with a pseudo-experimental fervor[...]

Genesee Live Premieres Latest Installment feat. Amateur Radio Club

May 22, 2015

Keeping with its recently steady pace, Rochester’s live session series, Genesee Live, released its latest installment yesterday, this time starring Amateur Radio Club, the solo project from former SPORTS keyboardist, Ian Egling. Featuring track’s from Egling’s debut LP, and our recent Album of the Week, The Laughing Vulcan and Her Dog, the bouncy session was filmed at Rochester’s WITR Radio studio. Watch the full session below and catch up on all of Genesee Live’s past installments here.

OHS – Long Legs

May 18, 2015

It stands to say that Sam Snyder is about as DIY as they come. The Rochester-based musician, commonly referred to as “Overhand Sam” on the local band circuit, is the emblematic jack-of-all-trades—writing, playing, recording, and engineering his own sonic outpourings. But his musicianship is not the only facet that defines him—Snyder also runs a local record label / production team hybrid called Turtle Phonic that records artists in his attic studio and subsequently promotes the shit out them. (Have a look at #turtlephonic on Instagram.) Snyder’s latest release under his OHS moniker—a “mini LP” titled Long Legs— is a stylistic potpourri, drawing influence from a grand multitude of artists and ultimately cohering into his most stimulating material to date. It’s tough to lay down an all-encompassing classification on such an eclectic bunch of tracks, though most of the songs share elements of psychedelia at its most basic of definitions. Sam[...]

Genesee Live Releases Latest Installment feat. the Absolutes

May 4, 2015

A couple weeks ago, Genesee Live, Rochester’s premiere live session video series, debuted its latest installment featuring the retro-rock trio, the Absolutes. We first caught the Absolutes at our Bug Jar invasion showcase back in November, and most recently played Buffalo at Nietzsche’s alongside of the Soft Love a couple months ago. The bluesy threesome recall British Invasion acts like the Rolling Stones, Cream, and the Beatles, and feature members of Talking Under Water and Mikeala Davis’ band Watch the full clip below, and if you want to catch up on Genesee Live’s 20+ plus sessions, you can view all of them here.