Latest Posts

Pink Guitars – Hand EP

May 13, 2019

“DIY or Die.” That phrase, created in the seventies by punks willing to put it all on the line, has grown into a mantra for the hardcore community. By the grace of god we are lucky enough to bare witness of that philosophy’s magnitude with the freshman release of Hand EP by Pink Guitars. Erected from the ashes of the past group, Supergoner, Pink Guitars’ creative force, Sean Wild, drew from his influences; Black Flag, The Germs, Sonic Youth, and No Wave bands Mars and DNA. The lead track establishes the tone for the entirety of the EP.. “On The Inside” begins with dissident feedback before the punch of the 1-2 driving punk drum beat, which had put Wild’s musical ingenuity to the test. Lacking a full drum-set for the recording, he employed the use of drum-hit samples to round out the bass, toms, and high hat percussion. Layered on top[...]

Tonight: Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers

April 15, 2019

A long creative career is never a singular track. Different incarnations, both visually and sonically, are required for sustainability. Laura Jane Grace, the lead singer and guitarist for punk band Against Me!, started garnering underground fans with demos, eventually earning support from punk-purists NOFX and their label Fat Wreck Chords close to twenty years ago. Seven studio albums followed, along with success on the Billboard 100 chart, but that did not give Grace complacency. An AOL TV series about transgender lifestyle, multiple columns written for Noisey, and a full length confessional book allowed fans a direct look into her personal life. Now, the punk-rocker who wears many hats has a new side project, Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers tour their first album Bought to Rot. Containing songs Grace deemed not appropriate for Against Me!, the album still packs the hardcore punch and melodic rhythms that is her forte. Catch[...]

Hate Club – A Clear Mistake

April 9, 2019

Albany’s Hate Club are keeping their torches lit. Their latest effort, A Clear Mistake, marks their fourth release in only two years. Besides highlighting their admirable work ethic, A Clear Mistake presents a conceptual recording of a difficult aspect of the human condition; Mistakes and Regrets. The cover art, flames engulfing a home, signify the watershed moment of life irrevocably changing, and sets the stage for the aptly named first track, “Hot Take.” Chugging drums from Ian Kerr-Mace build throughout the verse, while Noah Bondy tells a hard truth, “Relationships sour, we count down the hours alone”. The chorus opens up in Nirvana-esq fashion, with an equally tough pill to swallow, but lubricated with harmonies by Bondy and Audrey Goodemote, “All your favorite bands have moved away.” Track two, “Earth Signs,” a structurally rich song with a 1/2 time signature intro and bare bones bassline verse from Alex Brooks then[...]

Tonight: Mikaela Davis

March 29, 2019

The best way to blaze your own trail is to learn all of the rules, and then throw them away. Rochester native Mikaela Davis studied orchestral harp for symphony playing in high school and college, and then she moved to Brooklyn to forge her own singer-songwriter career. This evening, she will bring her new album Delivery to the 9th Ward. Produced by Grammy Winner John Congleton, Delivery hands us beat and groove driven tracks such as “Get Gone” and “Do You Wanna Be Mine,” as well as beautifully sparse songs, “Emily” and “All I Do Is Disappear,” that proves Davis successfully forged her own harp centered singer-songwriter career. Also on the bill are rising Rochester rock act Dangerbyrd. Doors open at 7pm and there is a $12 cover. Written by Kevin Prentice

Tonight: Jose Gonzalez

March 19, 2019

Tonight the University at Buffalo Center for the Performing Arts will host Swedish singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez and The String Theory. Gonzalez’s indie style dates back to 2006 when he covered The Knife’s song “Heartbeats,” which immediately made college radio salivate. To prove himself worthy of the singer-songwriter moniker, Gonzalez continued to work on original material, releasing three solo albums within ten years. His latest effort is a live album, Jose Gonzalez & The String Theory. By creating the unlikely partnership with the avant-garde chamber orchestra, Gonzalez proves that he is not finished pushing the envelope of modern music, and that his ability to take risks keeps his fans fascinated. Doors open at 7:30pm and there is a $29 cover. Written by Kevin Prentice