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Tonight: The Get Up Kids

March 8, 2020 Admin

Kansas City emo forefathers The Get Up Kids will make their biennial stop in Buffalo tonight to play Rec Room amid a North American tour in support of their latest release, Problems (2019) – their first full-length since 2011. Though they aren’t happy to associate themselves with the genre, The Get Up Kids were major players in the midwest emo scene in the ‘90s and continue to be hugely influential to both emo and pop punk bands today. Their second album Something to Write Home About (1999) garnered wide acclaim, launched them into worldwide fame, and eventually became a second-wave emo classic. In the 20+ years since then, The Get Up Kids grew into the alternative rock scene of the 2000s and 2010s, survived a temporary breakup, and bumped their full-length release count to six. Problems, a release that fell around the 20th anniversary of that beloved sophomore release, takes a step[...]

Shep Treasure – s/t

February 19, 2020 Admin

Sunday morning, a few hours after a long night out, I lay flat on my back in my new, sparsely furnished apartment, the snow-reflected Sunday light streaming through the windows – a big departure from the glass-block filtered sun of a previous basement apartment. I zoned out with my eyes glued to the wall above my bookcase, and “Nothing” by Shep Treasure was stuck in my head. The next night, wrapped up in a quilt, I once again found myself spacing out, this time toward a cat toy on the floor, and “Friday” was playing in my mind. Rochester indie pop trio Shep Treasure’s debut, self-titled EP is our Album of the Week, and it won’t leave me. Frontwoman Sabrina Nichols has been narrating my thoughts for a few years now. This is her second time landing Album of the Week, the former being in the days of a previous[...]

Cardiac Cassette Releases Three Song EPSnow Birds

February 3, 2020 Admin

Buffalo pop-punkers Cardiac Cassette dropped their first three-song single, Snow Birds. Made up of former members of local bands Go Glorious and Better Now, Cardiac Cassette has spent the past year playing shows and recording their first release with Orlando bands Our Escape and Audio Creep. Snow Birds has the hallmarks of a modern pop-punk release: catchy hooks, heavy power chords off-set by upbeat drumming, and relationship-centric lyrical themes. Cardiac Cassette is the kind of band that’ll reel in fans of mainstays like Saves the Day and The Story So Far, but they’re no carbon copy of what’s already been done. Frontman Pat Kerr’s vocals are resonant and full, with thoughtful, often poetic lyrics, and the guitars offer fresh, ear-pleasing chord progressions. Overall,Snow Birds is a promising first release from a fairly new band on the block. It’s available on all streaming platforms, and below, too. Check it out. Snow Birds by[...]

Nylon Otters – s/t

January 27, 2020 Admin

Nylon Otters have bid us all farewell with its newest – and final –, self-titled EP. Though pretty much everything they’ve put out has been noteworthy, this release is the most polished we’ve seen from the Buffalo indie act, and shows growth over the years that the Otters have been playing and recording together. While they often found themselves stamped with a well-intentioned yet reductive comparison to a certain nineties grunge band some of us love and others love to hate, Nylon Otters were unfettered by perceived similarities. On this newest EP, we hear the influence of musical movements across the 20th century – a little grunge, indie rock, jangle pop, maybe even some math. With all these sounds mashed together, a Nylon Otters song is supremely recognizable, whether you’ve heard it before or not – and their sound was built by the prowess of only three people: vocalist/guitarist Logan Ross, bassist[...]

Olmsted Debuts New Singles

January 6, 2020 Grace Trimper

Buffalo bedroom pop newcomers Olmsted have emerged onto the Buffalo DIY scene with their first single, “The Storm.” The duo, composed of bassist/vocalist Lydia Beinhauer and former Halo Nellie guitarist Nathaniel Miller, co-write dreamy, raw pop music with contemplative lyrics. “The Storm” is a building, ethereal waltz. It starts out simple, with a guitar track and Beinhauer’s lone voice. The song becomes more fleshed-out as it continues, with gossamer synth, a drum machine, experimental noise sampling, and vocals from Miller as well. Beinhauer and Miller’s pleasant voices complement each other, which we also see on the single’s B-side, “The Eye.” The songs are approachable and calming, even though the words suggest a little more unease. From both tracks, we get a good idea of what to expect from Olmsted in the future: relaxed, organic, and endearing lo-fi pop. Olmsted plays January 31st with Modest Mouse tribute act Pompous Rat on[...]

Tonight: Mal Blum

November 1, 2019 Grace Trimper

Downstate singer-songwriter Mal Blum is coming to the 9th Ward at Babeville tonight for the first of two headlining dates after their fall tour with Titus Andronicus. The New York-based artist is touring in support of the energetically confessional Pity Boy, which came out earlier this year. Mal Blum creates pop punk with an anti-folk backstory. The SUNY Purchase graduate began their career writing, releasing, and performing stripped-down, acoustic folk. After five self-released albums, Blum signed to Don Giovanni records in 2014, beginning a gradual transition from folk to folk punk, and eventually losing the folk sound altogether with their most recent release. The folk spirit of their earlier work never left despite this change, each lyrically honest, slice-of-life song telling a tale of personal growth. According to Blum, Pity Boy is mainly about the patterns of life and our attempts to break away from them. These mini-stories meld together[...]

The Tins Release New Single “Sooner or Later”

October 22, 2019 Grace Trimper

Buffalo music scene mainstays The Tins have had a pretty good summer – and you might’ve noticed during your morning commute and coffee run. Their spring single “City Lies II,” which we here at BuffaBLOG loved, landed on Starbucks’ retail playlist, playing in stores across North America. They also got some love on satellite radio, with their cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper” currently in rotation on SiriusXM. The Tins are riding that high into the fall with a minimalist, vaguely spooky new single “Sooner or Later.” “Sooner or Later” is a refreshing step in a new direction for The Tins. You can count the tracks on barely more than one hand – drums, a groovy bass line, rhythm and lead guitar, synth, layered vocals, and a shaker (which I hope is shaped like an egg) on the chorus –, and that’s all you need, really. Drummer Dave Muntner has[...]

Tonight: Wine Lips

October 4, 2019 Grace Trimper

North American neighbors and garage punk trio Wine Lips will headline Electric Avenue tonight, with a moniker that conjures images of a look I may or may not choose to sport later. The Toronto band is touring in support of their 2019 self-titled album. Wine Lips is a head-banging tribute to the blues and garage rock of decades past. Their new album Wine Lips (2019) serves soulful surf punk excellence, tying up a pretty package of catchy rhythm guitar, bluesy riffs, groovy bass lines, and gritty vocals. If you need another reason to come down, yesterday was drummer Aurora Evans’ birthday, and it’s my birthday today. It’s a certified Libra party, and a punk one at that. Also on this rockin’ bill are Woodstock’s The Bobby Lees and Buffalo bands Tony Rocky Horror and Facility Men. Doors for this 21+ show open at 9pm. $7 cover. Stressor by Wine Lips

False Pockets – s/t

September 30, 2019 Grace Trimper

Math rock band False Pockets has emerged onto the Rochester music scene with its debut, self-titled EP. False Pockets is a creative effort with a layered sound that blends math rock, post-rock, indie, and a dash of prog. The time signatures on the EP are varied enough to satisfy the mathiest of math enthusiasts, but the approach is gentle; even the uninitiated can enjoy every track, each having an interesting yet digestible structure. With charming titles resembling inside jokes and a sparing use of vocals, the EP relies on its instrumentation to tell a story. Each element is crucial, and each member of the band is indispensable to the overall sound. The reverberating guitars are somehow crunchy, clean, and ethereal all at once, the bass is both fuzzy and powerful, and the attacking drums seamlessly guide the songs throughout their varying times and tempos. When the vocals do come, they’re[...]

Tonight: Aweful Kanawful

September 13, 2019 Grace Trimper

With lineups so consistently solid that it’s hard to tell who the intended headliner is, Nietzsche’s has been the place to be on recent Friday nights. This weekend, that trend continues with local acts Ex-Pat, Aircraft, and VR Sunset, along with a special visit from Rochester’s Aweful Kanawful. Here’s what to expect from each, in two sentences or less. Ex-Pat’s lo-fi synth pop is so soothing, it might as well be a blood pressure medication. Upon hearing the reverberating, ethereal guitar, keys, and falsetto, your breathing will slow to the beat of the music, your sneakers will melt into the floor, and you’ll float into a blissful waking dream – trust me, I’ve been there. Aircraft is perfect for trying to surf on Lake Erie (good luck). Springy, yet sinuous guitars, deeply layered harmonies, and beach-y drums build a kaleidoscope of psychedelic surf-rock that’s so fun and consuming, it’s honestly[...]

Tonight: Boy Jr.

September 6, 2019 Grace Trimper

I don’t know about you, but to me this week feels like it crawled straight out of hell. The sun is shining, but the school buses clogging up Main St. are screaming, “Summer’s over!” We all need some good music to send the past few days whence they came. Luckily, Nietzsche’s is serving up the good stuff tonight. Boy Jr. is the musical brainchild of SUNY Purchase alum and current Rochestarian, Erica Allen-Lubman, a singer-songwriter with the know-how of a music school grad and the raw energy of a glam rocker. Her discography is a venture from soulful garage rock into sassy, glittery, guitar-driven pop, with one common, indispensable element – that voice. Allen-Lubman’s powerful vocals, cutting lyrics, and fun costumes combine to make Boy Jr. a meditation in self-expression – that is, if you can meditate and dance at the same time. Also on deck is Fredonia psych rock[...]

Chaz Hearne & the Dazzlers – Intelligence is Rising

August 19, 2019 Admin

Rochester folk-rock artist Chaz Hearne is back with another album – and this time, he brought friends. There’s strength in numbers in Intelligence is Rising, the musician’s latest release under his collaborative moniker Chaz Hearne & The Dazzlers. According to Hearne, the mantra “Intelligence is rising” came to him while he was visiting what may be the best thing this country has to offer: national parks. Nature is present on Intelligence is Rising, both lyrically and in its instrumentation. While the great outdoors is a recurring theme on the album, the sound has a natural quality to it as well, with a glowing openness and clarity that come from heartfelt songwriting and the innate skill of its personnel. With the opening title track, Hearne displays his signature banjo-picking finesse, but also brings the talent of a long list of other local musicians to round out his sound – including Susanna[...]

Kelli Bobbi Drops Second Single/Video “July Rush”

July 26, 2019 Admin

Buffalo label Steak & Cake Records is back with another summer single and video by pop act Kelli Bobbi. “July Rush,” directed by Brandon Schlia and starring singer Jazmine Frazier, epitomizes the youthful defiance of summer days and nights. Kelli Bobbi embodies 1980s revival. The name alone sounds like it belongs to an ‘80s pop icon, and the video for “July Rush” serves some fashion nostalgia with oversized jackets, bright high-waisted shorts, crew socks, smoky purple eyeshadow, neon shades, and denim – though you’d probably see these styles walking around the city right here in summer 2019. This then-meets-now aesthetic also comes through in the music, and it’s infectiously fun. The track has an instant, understated catchiness from the beginning; synth, a simple drum beat, and Frazier’s breezy vocals evoke the timeless feelings of optimism and excitement that come when the summer really starts to get going every year. The[...]

Tonight: SMUG

July 19, 2019 Admin

Dust off those earplugs. Nietzsche’s will be hosting an alt-rock blowout tonight as pop punk trio SMUG headlines its first show of the season, with support from Canetis and Hundred Plus Club. SMUG left its past life behind with the release of 2018’s Gorgeous, a high-energy album that takes the late ‘00s pop punk we all loved (come on, you know you did) and brings it to the present, blasting listeners with a fresh, memorable blend of bubbly punk rock. If that’s not reason enough to get yourself down to Allentown, this will be Buffalo alt babies Canetis’ first-ever show, fresh off the back of the release of their impressive first single “Warning Call.” Round that out with Hundred Plus Club’s powerful indie rock, and you’ve got yourselves a certifiable banger. Doors for this 21+ show open at 9pm. $5 cover. Gorgeous by SMUGWritten by Grace Trimper

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