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Tonight: Humble Braggers & Space Cubs

July 16, 2015

Buffalo born electronic musician Suzanne Bonifacio, aka Space Cubs, had one of the most intriguing local debut albums earlier this year with The Fire and The Things Forgotten. Her atmospheric soundscapes and experimental pop songwriting style made for a creative, personal record with a reflective tone. Tonight, the artist returns for her first local show since moving home at Allen Street Hardware. The free show will also feature Humble Braggers, whose EP Disposable Friends, along with Space Cubs’ debut, earned Album of The Week honors here at buffaBLOG. Also featured will be eclectic DJ sets from local selector Dante Velour all night. Music starts at 10pm in what is sure to be a blissful event recognizing emerging local creativity. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/209970221″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]   [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/202715178″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Humble Braggers – Disposable Friends

June 14, 2015

Buffalo’s summer album of jams might have arrived at this past Saturday’s release show for Disposable Friends, the latest EP from synth-pop darlings Humble Braggers, out now on Admirable Traits Records. With an abundance of delightful hooks, soaring vocals, a full bodied sound, and intensely listenable tunes, Disposable Friends is a terrific salvo from Tom Burtless and company, and an easy pick to be Album of the Week. The funky guitar licks, understated post new wave atmospherics, and the yearning vocals of Burtless gets everything started perfectly on “How It Starts,” the EP’s lead single. Immediately, the synthesis of the various elements and heavy hooks hit you upside the head via your aural system. The ear candy continues with “All Alone,” a plaintive ballad featuring spacey yet restrained synth lines and a clean, melodic guitar that holds it all together. The attention to detail is most impressive. Disposable Friends really lifts off,[...]

Tonight: Humble Braggers

June 13, 2015

After a dreary day of shopping for flower sprinklers and silhouette cut-outs at the Allentown Art Festival, you’d best find yourself at Mohawk Place this evening. Humble Braggers will be releasing their excellent new EP, Disposable Friends, full of lush synth-heavy tunes a la Passion Pit or Joywave. This release is the next strong contender to come from record label Admirable Traits. Rounding out the night are two newish Buffalo bands, the ex-ICSM led THICK WINTER BLUD and The National-esque Sixties Future, as well as the Rochester synthmasters in Sea Planes. All in all, tonight should be an incredible show. Doors are at 8:00pm and $8 gets you in – don’t forget, that admission price comes with a copy of Disposable Friends. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/202715178″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Humble Braggers Sign to Admirable Traits, Release “How It Starts” Single

April 27, 2015

Humble Braggers, the latest project from former Streamside front-man Tom Burtless, has signed on with the ever busy local label, Admirable Traits, to releases it’s debut EP, Disposable Friends. After ditching the pop-punk scene for synth pop, HB has been building a nice following over the past year while sharing bills with fellow local buzz acts like Made Violent, Bryan Johnson & Family, and M.A.G.S.. “How It Starts,” the huge, soaring first single from Disposable Friends, premiered this morning, and is the first listen to a new collection of tunes that just happen to be the band’s best yet (wait til you hear “Cold”). Humble Braggers would appeal to fans of acts like Tears for Fears, Passion Pit, the Temper Trap, and even Rochester’s rising Joywave. The band will celebrate the release of Disposable Friends at Mohawk Place on Saturday, June 13th, supported by a great cast of WNY acts[...]

Dreambeaches Premiere Debut Single, “Trademark”

March 13, 2015

Earlier this morning, Dreambeaches, the new project from Humble Braggers‘ bass player, Corey Bzibziak, released its debut single. Titled “Trademark,” the track ditches HB’s soaring vocals and synths for a burst of lo-fi, surf-rock. The song sounds like the product of Cloud Nothings and Beach Fossils entering the studio together and having a bit of fun. Expect to see Dreambeaches live in the near future, with a full EP dropping sometime this summer. Listen to “Trademark” below.

Tonight: Made Violent

March 6, 2015

Though the trio’s local appearances have been somewhat sparse, Made Violent is finally bringing their signature refined slack-rock sound to the Studio at Waiting Room tonight. The group’s recent self-titled EP release has been nothing short of well received, and is yet more tangible proof that these guys have carved themselves a comfortable spot in the upper echelon of bands on the rise. In addition to successfully managing to bust out of the Buffalo scene, they’ve already broken the U.S. seal in terms of touring, all while garnering attention from major music publications like NME. They have the essence of early Cage the Elephant paired with all the best Brit-pop big wigs like the Kooks and Arctic Monkeys. You can tell MV’s music is built for a live setting and a large crowd. The EP is chock full of raw, punchy grunge tunes that leave me amped for the prospects[...]

Tonight: The Public Presents

January 23, 2015

Kind of a slow night in Buffalo for music (unless you can still tolerate jam), so if you want to get your fix in, The Public will be throwing its first monthly showcase at Nietzsche’s to go along with the paper’s re-occurring Public School dance showcases across the street at Hardware. Headlining the evening, which is coined as “The Public Presents…,” will be buzzing Buffalo synth-pop act, Humble Braggers, fronted by Tom Burtless. The group dropped a couple solid EPs over the course of 2014, one that included a stellar cover of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” (listen below), so keep a look out for them tonight. Rounding out the eclectic bill will be local MC Mic Excel, electronic artist JeffRepeater, and Essential Vitamins Crew ring leader, Cove. Music kicks off this evening at 10pm with a cover of $5. Photo Credit – Brett Mikoll

Tonight: Bryan Johnson & Family

January 2, 2015

The folks over at Admirable Traits have put together a juicy bill for the first weekend of 2015, a line-up stacked with local greats to take place at Mr. Goodbar at 10pm. If you’re like me, come January 2nd, a serious break from the holidaze is needed. That’s exactly where Bryan Johnson & Family comes in. Armed to the teeth with energetic surf-pop songs, these kings-of-all-things-fun will clean your holiday slate and teleport your tired soul into that sweet, sweet summer breeze. I can almost smell the toxic waters of Lake Erie already. Also on tonight’s bill you’ll find the electro-pop stylings of ambient rockers Humble Braggers and the delicious raw-retro sounds of Rochester post-punk duo Buffalo Sex Change. First Friday of 2015 + Mr. Goodbar’s tantalizingly extensive beer selection + just a buck-a-band cover? Don’t be a fool.

Tonight: Terror Pigeon

November 12, 2014

Tonight, Buffalo’s newest arts space, Dreamland, is going to be pulsating with weirdness and wildness when local art electronica giant Lesionread and ambient rockers Humble Braggers collide with Nashville’s Terror Pigeon and Halifax Nova Scotia’s Rich Aucion. The pushing of limits will be the order of the night, with all acts on the bill being noted for their sonic adventurousness, and with Dreamland being a space with no rules. It could truly be a night to remember, especially with regards to an unfettered Lesionread (aka Sean Louis), currently in a social media “beef” with Sleepy Hahas’ Pat Butler, who will be in the Dreamland audience. Will he be more than an audience member? Will this critique of the War On Drugs vs Mark Kozalek feud boil over? We’ll find out tonight. There’s a $5 cover and the show starts at 8pm. And here’s a salvo from Lesionread at Sleepy Hahas.[...]

Tonight: Instead of Sleeping, Humble Braggers, and more

August 29, 2014

Pittsburgh, PA’s Instead of Sleeping has been through Buffalo three times already – and they always leave the stage having expelled more energy than one thought humanly possible. If that wasn’t enough convincing, there is also a stacked local lineup featuring Fredonia-fuzzmongers Zealot, the smooth piano pop of Darling Harbor, and the swimmy reverb of Humble Braggers. Tonight’s show is at the Ninth Ward. Tickets are $5 presale and $10 at the door. Be there for doors at 7:00pm. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/30317224″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Queen City Cartel’s Summer Melt

August 16, 2014

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Buffalo DJ enclave, Queen City Cartel. The group used to control the coolest dance parties and DJ most events throughout the majority of the scene. There was a time that if there was a legit DJ spinning at a Buffalo party, there was a 96% chance that DJ was a QCC member. With that being said, Queen City Cartel ventured beyond it’s DJing safety zone to throw a pretty notable party at DBGB’s tonight complete with live music acts. Featured on the bill are three bands that if you read the blog regularly, you know we are fans of. First on the bill is SMART HOUSE, a band that seldom plays, but every time they do, the crowd digs them. Like REALLY digs them. Fronted by Alek Ogadzhanov, the band is the perfect mix between JOYWAVE and Metronomy. Following SMART HOUSE is Humble Braggers, a[...]

Five Acts To See At Buffalo Porchfest

May 16, 2014

The Elmwood Village’s Buffalo Porchfest is back for its second installment tomorrow from 12pm to 6pm. After debuting in early October, the one-day festival has grown bigger and better, boasting an impressive collection of local talent performing on porches and balconies all over the village for its spring installment. As with most fests, deciding on what to check out is always the hardest part. While you can view the full map and schedule here, we thought we would make your life a bit easier and let you know the top five acts to check out tomorrow. Brimstone Blondes @ 586 Lafayette Ave (1pm-2pm) We’ve been a fan of the Blondes since we stumbled upon them a few years back while hesitantly scoping out the lineup for a high school battle of the bands competition. The four-piece is a best described as throwback B-52s meets Talking Heads-esque outfit centered around lead singer Matthew[...]

Humble Braggers Release New EP

March 25, 2014

Since being featured on one of our Album of the Week features last year, Humble Braggers have been quietly working on their live set. They’ve also been hard at work on some new material. The Say EP was released today and features three new songs that show that the Braggers have been working hard at honing their reverb-soaked indie rock. I’d like to call these songs “sharper” than their last release, but that wouldn’t be the right word… In fact, they specialize in swirly songs whose instruments seem to decay for days. The EP puts a spotlight on prominent bass, ambient guitars, and foggy synths. There is a distinct 80s vibe to some of these songs (most notably, the cover of Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”), but on songs like “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” the Braggers nail it with catchy, contemporary guitar lines.  Have a listen below.