Latest Posts

Must See Shows (4/16/25-4/22/25)

April 15, 2025

Wednesday, April 16th @ 7pm TV Star @ Area 54 Wednesday night has a certified ripper headlined by touring alt/psych act TV Star. Since forming in 2020, the band has been compared to The Jesus and Mary Chain and Mazzy Star, leading to much buzz in the Washington music scene. TV Star even managed some face time with famed KEXP DJ Cherlyl Waters and recorded a live session and interview with the outlet in 2023.   The lineup also features two Ontario power-pop acts with  Windsor’s Heavenly Sweetheart and Welland’s Big School. Fun fact, I had no idea Welland was so close to Buffalo until maybe a month ago. I had never even heard of the city, which is only 36 minutes from downtown Buffalo. After spending a weekend in Toronto recently, I discovered that many creatives have been moving to that area which seems quite promising for southern Ontario’s[...]

Must See Shows (4/2/25-4/8/25)

April 1, 2025

Thursday, April 3rd @ 8pm Stephen Babcock @ The Caz   Buffalo-based indie/singer-songwriter Stephen Babcock headlines a great bill at the Caz in South Buffalo Thursday evening with support from two additional bands we are excited about. The Caz (on Seneca St.) has been open to the public for just about six months now, with a variety of programming ranging from jam to jazz to cover shows. The venue has barely dipped it’s toe into the local indie scene, so Thursday’s showcase will undoubtedly be a testing ground for the genre.   Like many of the current artists we are jazzed about in Buffalo, Babcock found his footing in a post-COVID landscape, emerging into the scene in 2021 with his debut album Monroe. Babcock’s songwriting is vulnerable and has range, with the ability to channel a somber Paul Simon or James Taylor feel with indie-pop contemporaries such as Matt Pond PA[...]

Must See Shows (10/2/24-10/8/24)

October 1, 2024

Thursday, October 3rd @ 7pm Coral Moons w/ Johnny & the Man Kids & tuesday nite @ Buffalo Iron Works Boston-born turned upstate New York transplants, Coral Moons, bring their indie pop goodness to Buffalo this Thursday. Fronted by lead singer and primary songwriter, Carly Kraft, Coral Moons sound is reminiscent of Alvvays, Best Coast, or Melody’s Echo Chamber. Since forming in 2018, the project has continuously toured, filled, and headlined venues and festivals throughout the continental states. Also on bill are legit local indie acts Johnny & the Man Kids and tuesday nite. Looks like there’s nothing at the Keybank Center, so parking should be a breeze. Tickets are $20 summer of u by Coral Moons Friday, October 4th @ 8pm The Curls w/ Patchwrok & The Hartwell Hospice House Band @ Milkies The Curls return to the Buffalo this Friday with some support from the locals listed above.[...]

Johnny & The Man Kids – Home, Wherever That May Be

February 21, 2022

With only one track out of seven to be over three minutes, Home, Wherever That May Be (HWTMB) is very friendly to the masses. The songs are like perfect little cupcakes, baked fresh by Johnny & the Man Kids, that can be enjoyed by whoever, wherever, and whenever. In the Buffalo-based garage band’s words: “This album focuses on the central theme of meaningful change through self-reflection and a shifting perspective. It’s about finding a reason to laugh even if you don’t want to.” Johnny & the Man Kids provide a smorgasbord of vibes – there’s a bit of bedroom-pop and a hearty helping of early-aughts garage rock with one constant factor, psychedelia. The tasty licks from the guitar and the squiggly synth textures will take you on a hazy trip, all in your bedroom. You’ll find your walls breathing in and out like an accordion. Lights from within and a[...]

Tonight: M.A.G.S.

August 18, 2019

Tonight, Buffalo-native turned California rock and roller M.A.G.S. makes yet another long-awaited pilgrimage back to the Queen City to dazzle us with a night filled with incredible music. Starting in 2015, the mind behind M.A.G.S., Elliot Douglas, has been steadily writing and recording some of the most anthemic garage-rocky songs with no signs of slowing down or downturn in quality. Head on down to Milkie’s on Elmwood this evening and you will catch not only him, but some of the best indie-riffage that Buffalo has to offer. Supporting M.A.G.S. on stage tonight will be some of our favorites in local up-and-comers Johnny & the Man Kids as well as the grungy-yet-catchy Nylon Otters. Doors open at 7pm, cover is $8. Written by Mike Rakiecki

Tonight: Ugly Sun

June 6, 2019

Summer is almost here in Buffalo and that means it’s time to crank out the tasty jams. In order to get a head-start on those summer vibes, we suggest going down to Mohawk Place on this evening as Ugly Sun will celebrate the release of their self-titled album. In the previous weeks, the boys released two absolute bangers in “Little Fire” and “Bury My Soul in The Garden,” both of which are included on the album. If you haven’t already, you need to listen to these tracks and get ready to sing them back. Joining Ugly Sun for their release is Johnny and The Man Kids, who have recently released an album of their own in You Made Me Hurt, as well as Cheap Peach. 

Advanced tickets are available for $10. Doors are at 7pm. See you there. 
In the meantime, listen to Ugly Sun below. Little Fire by Ugly[...]

Johnny & the Man Kids – You Made Me Hurt

April 29, 2019

Buffalo indie garage rockers Johnny & The Man Kids are back with You Made Me Hurt, a brand new EP of downtown rock jams that will pleasingly transport you back to the pre financial meltdown glory days of the early to mid aughts. Yes, to hell with Generation X (we had it coming) and any notion of an overdue 90’s revival that we probably don’t really need, the Marciniak boys and crew have tightened up and expanded their rambunctious garage rock sound  to embrace a decidedly NYC vibe set forth by beloved bands like The Strokes and Vampire Weekend, and it works. Lead vocalist and guitarist Johnny Marciniak really goes for it, switching up that Rust Belt  post grunge wail and shred for something a little more urbane and jangly but no less rusted out overall. All over these five melodic and anthemic yet gritty jams the guy almost sounds like clean cut evangelist preacher man trying[...]

Tonight: Johnny & the Man Kids

April 12, 2019

Tonight Mohawk hosts a solid lineup of Buffalo indie rock when Johnny & The Man Kids celebrate the release of their new EP You Made Me Hurt with help from Passed Out, Award Show and Halo Nellie. People expecting some 90’s revivalism will have to look elsewhere  because Johnny & the Man Kids have entirely skipped that apparently misbegotten decade to embrace the glory of the first decade of the 21st century as embodied by NYC stalwarts The Strokes and Vampire Weekend with some of that early Killers goodness (before it all went wrong) via John Marciniak’s earnest and appealingly evocative vocals, and their EP is a celebration of youth and an era that almost seems bygone nowadays considering everything’s all went wrong, but hey. Opening the show will be raw as hell indie rockers Passed Out, lo-fi shoegazers Award Show, and newbies halo nellie, about which little is known so[...]

Johnny & The Man Kids Release Raucous New Single, “Before”

March 11, 2019

Buffalo lo-fi pop-rockers Johnny & The Man Kids are gearing up for a new release later this spring. In anticipation, they’ve just dropped the first single from their upcoming EP, You Made Me Hurt. “Before” is an energetic blast of overblown distortion, fleshed out with tastefully distorted vocals that sling earworm pop hooks. Fans of The Strokes, Twin Peaks, or Diarrhea Planet will find something to like here – be sure to check it out through the convenient widget below. Johnny & the Man Kids’ new EP, You Made Me Hurt, is due to be released on 4/12/19 via Admirable Traits Records.

Tonight: Matthew Danger Lippman

April 8, 2018

Matthew Danger Lippman returns to his hometown with some swagger headlining a seriously tight lineup tonight at the Mohawk. The former Brimstone Blondes frontman, current New Yorker, and eternal art rock spaceman is passing through on his way home to an undisclosed location in the Five Boroughs and will be playing selections from his tripped out but supremely soulful Refresh 2 Death EP. Opening the show will be The Get Money Squad’s Quinton Brock featuring Feverbox, slowcore mind shredders Award Show, and up and coming local indie darlings Johnny and the Man Kids, all for the tidy sum of $8. Doors open at 7pm. REFRESH 2 DEATH [EP] by Matthew Danger Lippman

Johnny & the Man Kids Release Single “I’m Just a Man”

October 31, 2017

Within the first 40 seconds of “I’m Just a Man” by Buffalo natives Johnny & the Man Kids, a grouping of instruments coalesce one by one—rollicking drums, chiming guitar, a buoyant bassline, a keyboard replicating a theremin, and intervening vocal calls of “1, 2, 3, 4.” Lead singer John Marciniak lyrically pleads with a love interest, tossing his pride to the curb while insisting on living each day to the fullest. The lines “now I / know that I’ll find / some peace of mind / knowing you’re fine” meet a thunderous instrumental barrage before falling back to that initial guitar line and, fittingly enough, a call to “slow down.” “I’m Just a Man” then reintroduces the remaining instruments only to wipe them all away again with exception of an ascending bassline and ethereal sound effects. After another build-up, the words enter, flipping the message to “don’t slow down” instead.[...]