Kevin Scoma will be playing tunes from his excellent Into The Weeping Sea EP, a deeply melodic and captivating fragment of dream folk pop that translates like a charm in a live setting, or at least it did last fall in the Cantina at Duende.

Opening the show will be Emily Finlan’s heave., who are currently preparing to go on tour behind the achingly sweet chamber folk of their 2019 debut full length LP Pike, and the sweet, soothing sounds of Koko Neetz, Andrew Kothen’s (guitarist for dreambeaches)  solo project. Doors are at 7pm, cover is $10, and a portion of the proceeds will be used to plant trees throughout Western New York.

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Enter Kevin Scoma, prolific Buffalo-based songwriter who has carved out a new niche for himself after over a decade of dedication to the craft. This fresh batch of songs comes along with a self-proclaimed spiritual awakening; whatever that enlightenment means to Scoma is clearly reflected in this beautiful and shimmering EP reminiscent of Elliot Smith, Bon Iver, and Radical Face.

Throughout his career, Scoma has truly cut his teeth across multiple genres – this time around, he seems to have finally found his true voice. Sea is full of haunting, acoustic-driven folk with subtle flourishes of electronics and left-field instrumentation, all of which suits his unique tenor. Opening track “I Was Never Afraid to Die” evolves from a simply strummed acoustic guitar into a surprisingly fuzzed-out guitar solo – a tactic he repeats on the equally stunning, banjo-tinged “Close to the Truth.” Other songs like “I’ll Be Around” take the opposite approach where Scoma opts for gauzy strings and cosmic arpeggios as his accompaniment.

EP highlight “Dream in the Daytime” is a re-imagining of an excellent song from one of Scoma’s previous projects. As a songwriter, sometimes a special song has a tendency to haunt you; even when it’s completed, it feels like it never got its fair share. Here, Scoma has given himself the chance to both breathe renewed life into “Daydreams,” and also finally put it to rest – giving it the sparkling, electronica-tinged folk treatment Scoma’s (probably) always had in mind. If that’s not a cathartic awakening, I don’t know what is.

Into the Weeping Sea  is the sound of a songwriter finding his way, and for that reason (and many more), it’s absolutely worth your time. It’s available now on Bandcamp, Spotify, and anywhere else you can find music.

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Full of lush harmony, gentle electronics and a deeply indie-folk vibe, Into The Dreaming Sea is an extremely strong showing from an already established songwriter. Scoma blends influences in a compelling way, especially on a track such as “I’ll Be Around,” a tranquil ballad that incorporates a lightly strummed guitar and banjo pattern accentuated with shimmering electronics. At the risk of comparing, the overall aesthetic of the EP fits neatly into Carrie & Lowell-era Sufjan Stevens.

Another standout track is “I Was Never Afraid to Die,” which gradually builds to a brief yet stirring guitar solo. Lyrically, the album is deeply introspective and pairs beautifully and at times heart-wrenchingly with the music. Scoma has created a deeply cathartic release, further highlighting his talent as a master songwriter. Fans of Sufjan Stevens, The Antlers, and Mount Eerie will want to make their way out the the silos.

Also on the bill will be Humble Braggers’ frontman Tom Burtless performing a solo set, as well as Art & Kraft, a new duo featuring Scoma’s producer Art Lakewood. Doors at 7pm, $5 cover.

Written by John Smigielski

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Scoma’s upcoming EP, Into the Weeping Sea will be out soon – until then, be sure to add “Dream in the Daytime” to your Spotify playlist or pick it up via Bandcamp.

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Right out of the gate the band has been smart about their presentation, from their band name to their hazy debut single, “Instant Gratification,” which was accompanied by a promo shot that shortened it to “IG”\.” Now the band are back again with “Always Thinking of You,” a straight-up new-wave inspired synth-pop jam, about falling for someone through the images and moments they share from their lives. The single shows the sheer versatility of the band as well, moving effortless from the more atmospheric sound of their first single to an infectious layered pop single. If these first two singles are any indication, Mutual Friends will continue to be one of the most exciting new bands to watch in 2016.

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Join us in nostalgia tonight at Milkie’s where we will be spinning the deep cuts from all your favorite bands from the era. We’re talking Taking Back Sunday, Saves the Day, Midtown all the way to some deep feelers like Hey Mercedes or American Football, sprinkled in with some must-have forefathers like Get Up Kids or Cap’n Jazz. It will all be there, folks.

Fun starts at about 10pm with DJ sets from local reformed emos Kevin Scoma (Mandy K), Jay Zubricky (producer over at GCR), and Dennis Ferry (of This is an Empire). $5 will get you past the door guy and a straight shot down memory lane. Tell all your friends.

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