Latest Posts

Grits Drops Debut EP, Shimshamwhimwhamanditalwayswillbe

February 5, 2015

Between taking over lead female vocals in Mallwalkers and handling bass duties in Mink, Jaz Frazier apparently has working on ANOTHER new project named Grits, which just dropped its debut EP,  Shimshamwhimwhamanditalwayswillbe(yes that is the title), earlier this week. Since debuting her Inquiring Mind project in late 2013, Frazier has always displayed an impressive vocal range and flair on any project she has been involved in. As for Grits, the 5-track EP is full of fuzzy guitars and more spoken word type vocals from Frazier. Think Kitten Forever or Le Tigre and you have a good place to start. Stream the full EP here, and check out, “Thich Nhat Hahn,” the stand out, Pavement-esque track from Shimshamwhimwhamanditalwayswillbe below.

Alex Berkley Drops First Track from Latest Fun-a-Day Album

February 2, 2015

The start of February means the start of another month of Fun-a-Day. The now annual collective project, where people are asked to do something “fun,” normally artistically fun, every day over the course of our shortest, and at least in Buffalo, most miserable month (see outside currently), is a nice way to get through some winter blues. Curated by Sugar City, the finished products will be on display at the DIY headquarters on March 12th. In what is now becoming a yearly traditional, local singer/songwriter, Alex Berkley, has already begun his Fun-A Day project, following up last year’s ambitious Sick of the Sound of My Voice, and 2013’s 28 Days of Fun. While his 2015 project has yet to be titled, for this year’s album, Berkley has decided set his iTunes on shuffle, and whatever song comes up first, write an original tune about a memory said song conjures. Repeat[...]

MD WOODS Drops First Single From Young and Vain 2. EP

January 29, 2015

Winter usually kicks my seasonal folk obsession into high gear so I was pleased to see that stand out Rochester folkie, MD WOODS, dropped the first single from his forthcoming album, the sequel to his summer released Young and Vain 1. EP, earlier this week. On the passionate “Finally in Love,” WOODS’ pleading and somewhat broken down vocals recall Heartbreaker and Gold era Ryan Adams, so if that peaks your interest, give the song a spin. “Finally in Love,” which can be streamed below, will be featured on Young and Vain 2. in the near future.

2015 Buffalo Infringement Festival Poster Design Contest Open for Submissions

January 27, 2015

It may not look it outside, but the wheels are already in motion for year 11 of the Buffalo Infringement Festival (July 23rd – August 2nd), an 11 day spectacle centered around Allentown and behind that encompasses anything and everything under the performance arts umbrella, and even a bit more. One event simply served coffee a couple years ago. Anyways, venues are being locked down, musicians are submitting proposals, but before any of that, the festival needs a damn poster. So that’s where you, artists or non, come in. The organizers have opened submissions for the 2015 Infringement Festival Post Design Contest. Designs are being accepted through Sunday, February 15th, and the winner gets a cool $100. There are more technical requirements for the design so I will let the poster below do the rest of the talking. Good Luck.

Gaby and the Thurstones Contribute “Everything is Red” to Split Single

January 26, 2015

Over the weekend, a Rochester band that was new to my radar, although apparently not to the former host of the WBNY Local Show, dropped a solid single as part of the two-track Sport. Gaby and the Thurstones, a trio of singer/songwriters released a split single along with Little Alien, who I would assume to be another Roch act, but his FB page offers pretty much no info. Anyways, Gaby and the Thurstones’ contribution to the split, titled “Everything is Red,” is a pleasant cocktail of Fanfarlo, Local Natives, and Los Campesinos. It’s peppy, indie-folk with some chamber pop flair, and a bit of a ray of sun shine on an otherwise miserable winter day here in WNY. The full split single can be streamed here, and you can listen to “Everything is Red” below.

Just Announced: Horse Feathers

January 22, 2015

One of modern folk music’s most underrated and consistent acts, Horse Feathers, will return to Buffalo on Sunday, March 29th with an intimate engagement at the Tralf Music Hall. The Portland based band debuted in 2006 with its stunning debut effort, Words are Dead, and have been putting out quality album after album over the years. Horse Features will be on tour in support of its newest album, So It Is With Us. I remember catching the band a few years back in the Babeville basement and the performance still gives me the chills thinking about it. Tickets are currently on sale for $13 in advance, $15 day of.

Silo Sessions Premieres Latest Installment feat. Aaron Folmsbee

January 20, 2015

One of my favorite, although short lived, bands to emerge out of Buffalo over the last couple years was Marine Biologist, a emotional post-rock outfit that featured a revolving cast of musicians all based around singer/songwriter Aaron Folmsbee. Folmsbee, who also was a member of Bourbon & Coffee, recently moved out west for a year to serve as a musical apprentice (I think?), but before leaving town, managed to record a haunting clip for the Silo Sessions series, which has continued to release quality clip after clip on a weekly basis. Watch Folmsbee in the video below perform “Ballerina” while sitting on top of a ladder. P.S. Folmsbee recently hinted he may start recording some new Marine Biologist material so keep an eye out and fingers crossed. Silo Session 28 : Aaron Folmsbee from silosessions on Vimeo.

Just Announced: Weird Al

January 20, 2015

One of the more unexpected success stories of 2014 was the comeback of Weird Al Yankovic, who dropped his well received new album, Mandatory Fun, last summer, and surprisingly (or maybe not depending on how you feel about the guy) gained his first #1 album on the Billboard charts of his long career (watch the pretty touching reveal here). The artist, who for nearly 30 years now, has made a career of parodying acts from Michael Jackson to the Presidents of the United States of America to Lorde, in addition to dropping countless viral music videos, just announced a massive tour in support of the album, one that will include a stop in Buffalo later this summer. Yankovic will bring his “Mandatory Fun Tour” to the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts Mainstage Theatre on Wednesday, July 15th. Tickets will on sale on Friday, January 30th at 10am, for $49.50.

Tonight: The Soft Love

January 17, 2015

What the hell is The Soft Love? The band has no recorded material to its name, has never played a show (although that will end after tonight), and yet, at the time of this posting, has over 80 RSVPs to this evening’s event page. Well, we do know some info about the band. The four-piece is made up of members of the recently departed Son of the Sun and former Mohawk greats, The Thermidors, so the pedigree and benefit of the doubt is certainly on the band’s side. And according to member Jeremy Franklin, the quartet will be tapping into some of that darker garage sound ala Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, so he’s got me listening. You can find out what the hype is all about tonight at Nietzsche’s as The Soft Love will make its live debut supported by Rochester’s The Absolutes and DJ Lulu, so I suppose we can[...]

Made Violent Announces Debut EP, Premieres “On My Own” via Consequence of Sound

January 16, 2015

Between playing gigs in NYC and London over the better part of 2014, Buffalo trio Made Violent has been a bit quiet on the home front as of late. As it turns out, the three-some (which includes members of former Buffalo outfit Crush the Everlasting) has been working on its debut, self titled EP, set to drop on February 24th via StarTime International, an imprint of Columbia Records. Earlier today, Consequence of Sound debuted the EP’s first single, the brash “On My Own.” Lyrically, the song is pretty contemptuous, but the Made Violent way is all about fun. The single delivers the urgency while retaining that MV playfulness that makes them so fun to listen to in the first place. If this is your first encounter with Made Violent, think back to that neo Brit-Invasion a few years back that included bands like Kasabian meets the indie stylings of Drink Up Buttercup,[...]

M.A.G.S. Signs to Admirable Traits, Releases “My Love” Single

January 15, 2015

M.A.G.S., an indie-rock trio fronted by former Malones bass player, Elliott Douglas, has signed to the Buffalo/Brooklyn rooted label, Admirable Traits, to release its forthcoming EP, Cellophane. Douglas, who debuted his new project late last year with a quick two-song demo, evolved M.A.G.S. into a full time band after the self-recording of Cellophane, recruiting former Young Suns drummer (and former ex-pat turned born again Buffalonian) Adam Lilley and Andy Wesner of Mosaics to round out the live group. Today, the three-piece released the first single from Cellophane, titled “My Love,” which you can give a spin at the bottom of this post. Admirable Traits has been on a bit of a roll lately, ending the back half of 2014 on fire with quality releases from Brimstone Blondes and Bryan Johnson & Family, and is primed to start the new year strong with the release of Cellophane. M.A.G.S. will be celebrating the[...]

Symphonic Electronix Drops New Single, “Lila”

January 12, 2015

Electro-psych producer, Symphonic Electronix, has been dropping music on his bandcamp page since 2011, but it wasn’t until yesterday, after stumbling upon the new single “Lila,” that I started paying attention. The song itself is hard to peg. There is some Tame Impala, latter day Beatles, abstract Joy Division, maybe even some Tortoise all sprinkled in there. I’m still looking for a better comparison, but regardless, it’s a great tune, something that wouldn’t sound too out of place on a future Steak and Cake compilation. Anyways, take a listen to “Lila” for yourself below.

Applennium Submits “The Race” to Tiny Desk Concert Contest

January 12, 2015

We frequently say here at the blog office that Applennium may be the best band in Buffalo you haven’t heard of, or maybe even the best band in Buffalo period. The four piece – Chris Groves, Stacey Stoll, and Dave and Mike Calos – play maybe twice a year, if you are lucky, and premieres new music about as quietly as any band in Buffalo. They are one of the city’s true musical treasures, releasing stunner after stunner when you least expect. The band dropped a pleasant surprise online last night in the form of an entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert contest. First off, if you don’t watch Tiny Desk Concerts, get on that now. Recently, the lucky NPR staff has been treated to some fantastic performances from Angel Olsen, Tweedy, T-Pain, Beirut, and the National. As for the contest, the station/series is asking bands to submit one video of[...]

Tonight: buffaBLOG Holiday Party

December 20, 2014

Less than a week until Christmas and what better way to spend the evening with friends than to head down to Duke’s for our 4th annual holiday party. The place is always well decorated, bound to get even the biggest Scrooge into the festive spirit. If you missed any of our artist spotlights during the week, take a minute to brush up. The Slums Pleistocene Newish Star Radarada Plus, pizza loving DJ, Yung Zza, will be keeping the party going in between sets and all night long. Music kicks off at 10pm. $5, 21+

Day 1: DJ Pizza Pizza

December 14, 2014

Why do the 12 Days of Christmas start AFTER Christmas? Who wants to listen to holiday tunes after you open your gifts and the tree is becoming increasingly more pathetic looking? Here at the blog, we like to start our count down leading up to the big day, so from now until the 25th, we will be presenting you an original or standard holiday tune from the WNY area. For Day 1 of our countdown, our favorite pizza loving DJ, Yung Zza, delivers his own little Christmas miracle with “I Have To Make A Shitty Christmas Song,” which samples holiday standards like “Jingle Bells” and “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen.” You can listen below. The house DJ for our annual holiday party this coming Saturday, December 20th, at Duke’s, Zza may have a couple extra treats on hand so don’t miss it.