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Guest Picks: Lesionread

December 28, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, pop artist Shawn Lewis, aka Lesionread, submitted his year end list. Earlier this year, the musician released Lesionread’s Greatest Hits Vol 1, a career spanning collection which includes remixes from Ay Fast, Jon Bap, Charles Bordeaux, and more. You can stream/download the album here. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. ​The year is now over, and so much has happened. Lesionread went on our first full USA 2-month-long tour (see #LESIONREAD_USA2015 for all instatweet videos and phone documentation before I gave up trying to capture all the fun) Listen to Me by Lesionread Anklepants brought his dick nose[...]

Staff Picks

December 22, 2015

To cap off our Best of 2015 coverage, we asked a handful of our staff writers to submit their favorite albums and songs of the year. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December Cliff Parks Favorite Album Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear I don’t want to go with this album, it was my Album of the Year So Far earlier this summer and I loved the latest from Tame Impala, CHVRCHES, and Neon Indian, but with America currently cracking up, Father John Misty’s sophomore album is album of 2015 now more than ever. Between the ascent of candidate Trump and our nation’s mounting multiple existential crises, Josh Tilman’s ode to love, manhood, and getting hitched to that special someone so you can ride out the American apocalypse together seems right on time, all the time lately. It[...]

Guest Picks: Brandon Schlia

December 18, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, Brandon Schlia, founder of local DIY label Steak and Cake Records, submitted his year end list. Earlier this month, S&C released its forth and final Christmas Meltdown compilation. Featuring holiday covers by Welks Mice, Beekeeper, RED HEAT, and more, the EP can be downloaded here. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. Thank you buffaBLOG for having me back for a third installment. Best Songs Homeshake – “Heat”* Don’t waste your time listening to this on laptop speakers. This is a headphone record. Peter Sagar shakes off the DeMarco skeletons and ends up sounding like a fever dream. And don’t forget about 2014’s[...]

Guest Picks: Rise Collaborative

December 17, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, Drew Brown and Kevin Heffernan of Rise Collaborative submitted their year end lists. Rise supports local businesses, artists, non profits, and advocacy groups. As a culmination of their shop local series this season, they’re throwing their first of many “Storefront Sessions” this Friday from 6pm-9pm at Renew Bath and Body on Elmwood. Free cocktails, food, and old school hip hop as well as all the gifts you need to finish off your shopping list. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. Drew Brown No matter the monumental or tiny shifts in my world – and 2015 was full[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 10-1

December 17, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. Earlier this week we posted our five close calls and our first half of the top 20.  I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined below are the blog’s favorite songs of 2015. 10. Tiny Rhymes – “Arrows” Tiny Rhymes‘ ”Arrows” is an incredibly cherishable tune. It approaches the listener with a coy but welcoming softness, making it feel like a delicate gem that only you are privy to. Atop prime musicianship, singer Sharon Mok’s[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 20-11

December 15, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar,  but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined blog’s favorite songs of 2015. Yesterday we posted our five songs that ALMOST made the cut.  Here is the top half of our annual top 20 countdown, 20-11. 20. Lesionread – “Addicted” Lesionread (Shawn Lewis) has had a big year. Between the release of the experimental artist’s excellent Greatest Hits! Volume 1, touring it across the country, and slew of local shows (one of which opening for[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 5 Close Calls

December 14, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined as the blog are our favorite songs of 2015. Here are five great songs ALMOST made our top 20. The Slums – “Plain Pine Box”  The Slums always deliver the perfect thrash song but “Plain Pine Box” might be the most perfect yet. “You can call me first and final nail in a plain pine box, I said I’d keep you separate but I guess[...]

Guest Picks: Alex Berkley

December 14, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the latest installment in the guest series, singer/songwriter Alex Berkley submitted his year end list. 2015 saw Berkley release the latest installment in his annual Fun-A-Day series, 28 Days of Fun: Shuffled, and later this week, he will be opening up for Parade Chic at Mohawk Place on December 17th. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. Hello buffaBLOGGERS! Boy, wasn’t 2015 one heckuva year? I’ll say! Great tunes, great buds, and other things! And the best is yet to come: a new non-Lucas Star Wars movie, a Lombardi trophy (you gotta Billieve), and a new President (congratulations in advance, Donald Trump, you fucking monster)! Look, I’m done talking about the future.[...]

Guest Picks: Jon Lewis

December 11, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the next installment in the guest series, Rochester singer/songwriter Jon Lewis submitted his year end list. Yesterday, under his Mr. Loops moniker, Lewis released his children’s music album Meet Mr Loops, which is currently available to order here. The musician will perform with this band this Saturday, December 12, at Small World Books. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. I was flattered and intimidated when asked to compile a “Best of 2015” list. I’m an outsider to most music and this year in particular, I only attended a handful of shows and stayed blissfully ignorant to many new releases. I am always gravitating to the saturated emotions[...]

Guest Picks: Sonny Baker

December 3, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the next installment in the guest series, Sonny Baker (Wooden Waves, A Hotel Nourishing, Lazlo Hollyfeld), submitted his year end list. Baker will be performing with his new trio this Friday, December 11th, at Mohawk Place. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December. The original list I compiled contained 12 shows, 15 albums, and 6 local albums. Here is my attempt at narrowing that list down, a list that contains my favorite musical moments from this year. I’m in no way saying that my opinion matters and/or that these are THE best musical moments. They’re just my favorite. Favorite Shows of 2015 Dave Rawlings Machine @ Babeville – 11/05/15 This[...]

Guest Picks: DJ LuLu

December 1, 2015

For our Best of 2015 coverage, we once again decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For the first installment in the guest series, Laura Robinson, better known as DJ LuLu, submitted her year end list. Make sure to follow all of the blog’s year in review coverage throughout the month of December.   Over the past year I have rotated different tracks on my playlist titled “bedroom dancing.” Made for myself but occasionally shared in the company of another, I created a list of songs that I have enjoy behind closed doors (think of every romantic comedy movie montage ever). This has truly has been the year of modern romance: swipe right, a/s/l, Netflix & chill, getting ghosted wtf?! and a whole mess of other millennial romantic woes. New Years Resolution: be[...]

buffaBLOG Halloween Playlist 2015

October 27, 2015

Halloween is a wonderful time of year. Parties, scary movies, inappropriate uses of black face, schizophrenic weather, sexy Donald Trump costumes, themed playlists… this time of year has it all, and we here at buffaBLOG have you covered for the first and last ones. David Bowie with Frank Black – “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” In honor of news that Sir David will be releasing a new album January 8, 2016 (his birthday), here’s a live clip from 1997 featuring Bowie and Black Francis performing the 1979 classic. Can’t believe this clip is almost 20 years old. The Flaming Lips – “The Terror” (live) The terror in question is more existential than diabolical. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds –  “Red Right Hand” This one is for The X-Files fans out there. Two more months to new episodes! Hopefully they live up to our expectations! Pink Floyd – “Careful With That[...]

Five Year Rewind: Staff Picks – Part 1

March 23, 2015

Since the blog debuted on March 28th, 2010, with a truly horrible post about a Passion Pit show (sorry Bill), our ever revolving staff of writers and contributors have spun hundreds of albums and songs, and attended more shows in and out of Buffalo than I dare to count. To commemorate our upcoming five year anniversary this Saturday night. we have assembled a cast blog writers from past and present, each discussing their favorite albums, songs, shows, and even some memories since the blog’s inception. Today is Part 1. – Mac McGuire Steven Gordon (Staff Writer) Favorite Album: Thee Oh Sees – Castlemania (2011) There are so many good things about Thee Oh Sees: an insane rate of musical output, notorious live performances, profoundly debauched aesthetics, and a propensity for gradual innovation despite inherent stylistic simplicity. The group started a decade or two ago as the artistic vehicle for guitarist/vocalist/flutist John Dwyer.[...]

Five Year Rewind: Staff Picks – Part 2

March 21, 2015

Since the blog debuted on March 28th, 2010, with a truly horrible post about a Passion Pit show (sorry Bill), our ever revolving staff of writers and contributors have spun hundreds of albums and songs, and attended more shows in and out of Buffalo than I dare to count. To commemorate our upcoming five year anniversary this Saturday night. we have assembled a cast blog writers from past and present, each discussing their favorite albums, songs, shows, and even some memories since the blog’s inception. Today is Part 2. – Mac McGuire Matt Moretti (Staff Writer) Favorite Album: Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) A masterpiece of a hip hop record, and probably my favorite of all time. The buildup included weeks of some of the best free music we’ve heard, in Kanye’s GOOD Friday series. It featured some of Kanye’s best songs of his career: his best rapping on “Gorgeous,” perhaps his[...]

Bisexual Awareness Week

September 23, 2014

It’s Bisexual Awareness Week! We live in a society that loves to compartmentalize sex, and because of that, non-monosexual individuals are up against low cognizance from the public and difficulty expressing themselves to the community, which translates into their private and intimate lives. There are many identities under the polysexual umbrella, like fluid, queer, pansexual—a helpful image is included below! According to Autostraddle, individuals who fall in identities under this love umbrella face very low rates of being “out” about their sexuality (28%) opposed to the rate among gay and lesbian individuals (70%). Autostraddle also has a badass-and-bi list of important things you can do this week! Here are forty super-hot, super-sensitive, sometimes-sad-sometimes-triumphant songs that are either by openly bisexual artists, or about fluid sexuality! Or both. Because you can be both. 1) “For Our Elegant Caste” – Of Montreal 2) “Lola” – The Raincoats 3) “Pink Matter” – Frank[...]