Latest Posts

Just Announced: Neutral Milk Hotel

December 10, 2014

Much celebrated indie-cult band, Neutral Milk Hotel, will be gracing the stage at Delaware Ave’s famed venue Asbury Hall this upcoming spring on Tuesday, April 21st. After staying out of the spotlight for years, front man Jeff Mangum recently began playing live again, including a Babeville date a couple years back. This past summer, the full band hit up the festival circuit to the pleasure of many. I caught them at the final night of TURF this past July. The set was as bizarre as it was nostalgic and magical, as many in the audience were treated to a set from a band that may never dreamed of seeing live until recently. The band has stated that this will be its last tour for the forceable future, which, if you know this band, could very well translate to BUY A TICKET OR ELSE YOU ARE SCREWED. Tickets will go on[...]

Tonight: Attack of the Vinyl Mondays – Malarchuk Edition

December 1, 2014

In what should be the start of a very busy couple weeks here in town, ease the month gently as Buffalo’s best vinyl night, Attack of the Vinyl  Mondays, is back in action at Essex St. Pub later this evening. Tonight, stoner rock trio, Malarchuk, will be setting up behind the tables to spin some of their favorite records. Vinyl Mondays’ ringmaster, Eric Kendall, will also be on hand as usual to play the best in garage, rock, punk, and more. The vinyl starts spinning tonight at 10pm. Cover is, as always, free.

Tonight: Alex Berkley

November 29, 2014

End your stuffed holiday weekend strong tonight as Elmwood village every man, Alex Berkley, takes the stage at the Gypsy Parlor over on Buffalo’s West Side. 2015 looks to be a busy year of projects for Berkley, between a hopeful full length with his backing band, the Atlanta Falcons, to a new solo album to some collaborations with fellow Queen City singer/songwriters, Damian and Sonny Baker. The latter pairing just released a couple demos earlier this week that you can listen to here. Music begins later this evening at 8pm. Folkfaces will also appear on the bill. Cover is $3 Photo Credit – Silo Sessions

Tonight: Public School

November 28, 2014

With the first month of The Public, Buffalo’s newest alternative publication, in the books, the paper is set to host its first party later this evening at Hardware. Titled Public School, and brought to you behind the minds of Artvoice’s Night Shift series, the monthly dance series will bring you a new collection of DJs and bands from WNY and beyond for each installment. Tonight’s showcase features sets from DJ Dovey, MAXY NY, and Rick Jameson. Cover will be $5 at the door, and the party gets started at 11pm.

YES YES Performs on BalconyTV

November 28, 2014

Eccentric Buffalo folk transplant, now Korean resident, YES YES (aka Michael Ersing), was recently featured on a Seoul roof top as part of BalconyTV, a daily online program featuring musicians and artists performing on balconies all over the world. Ersing, sounding rather Jeff Buckley, performed his pretty song, “Under An Umbrella With You,” under a sunny Korean sky. Bless the person working the subtitles for trying to keep up with the always fascinating Ersing while explaining his song to the eager host. Watch the live video for “Under An Umbrella With You” below.

Wooden Waves Premieres Music Video for “Big Wheel”

November 26, 2014

The long wait for Wooden Waves‘ Wilder Dreams is nearly over. The months (years?) in the making record, which saw the final pressings take a detour to somewhere in Europe earlier this spring, will culminate next week, Friday, December 5th, at Mohawk Place as the quintet will celebrate the release of Wilder Dreams (One Percent Press) along with Mallwalkers, Jack Toft, and more. Today, WW premiered the music video for “Big Wheel,” an early stand out track from the upcoming record. Shot by go to Queen City director, Malt Disney, the video finds the five-some exploring the late, great Super Flea grounds for relic video games, rims, and top-of-the-line snowboard gear. This marks the second clip shot at Super Flea this year. Earlier this summer, Malt directed Jack Toft roaming the Super Flea as well for MC’s “Beef on Weck” video. Who knew a place that sold bongs, samurai swords, and a[...]

Listen to New Tracks from Difficult Night, Fashion Expo 1990, and Damian

November 24, 2014

Last we saw Difficult Night, the slacker quartet was making the most of a soggy Porch Fest afternoon by delivering a set from a crowded Richmond Ave apt. One unknown song from that day, “Ex-Lover” premiered last night on the band’s soundcloud page. The song is led vocalist Shane Meyer’s typically desperate pleads. No word on whether the band is set on releasing stand alone singles or if an album is in the works, so keep an eye out. In Difficult Night related news, keyboardist Miles Kirsch continues to stay busy with his once dormant dance project, Fashion Expo 1990. Since resurfacing earlier this year, Kirsch has dropped a couple collections of 90’s acid/house inspired tracks n bandcamp, and late last week, released a couple tracks from Fashion Expo’s forthcoming album, Club Bleek. The first of the two tracks, “Thunder Coast,” features Fashion Expo’s trademark infectious keyboards and pumping beats.[...]

Tonight: buffaBLOG Rochester Showcase

November 22, 2014

With #Snowvember loosening its grip on the Buffalo area, we are busting out of the city for the night and zeroing in on the Bug Jar for the blog’s first Rochester showcase. For tonight’s show, we are flipping the script. Normally, we invite a Rochester act into town to with a join the stage with some of Buffalo’s best, but for this evening, we are bringing the 716’s punk funk army and one of the Queen City’s finest, Mallwalkers, along to join a bill of the cream of the crop of Rochester local music. If you missed any of our week long look at tonight’s bill, take a minute to catch up below: The Absolutes Buffalo Sex Change Mallwalkers Harmonica Lewinksi Also, keeping the party going in between sets will be DJ Tight Mike, host of our weekly buffaBLOG Podcast. Expect a nice mix of indie and electro, in addition[...]

Oxford Pennant Outfits Phish For Upcoming Tour

November 21, 2014

Buzzing Buffalo pennant company, Oxford Pennant, will be supplying long time jam band, Phish, with custom pennants exclusively for the Vermont act’s upcoming tour. The designs (see below) are inspired by two recent Phish songs, “555” and “Waiting All Night,” both found on the quartet’s latest release, Fuego. Since its inception in 2013, the company, originally inspired by classic American sports pennants, has been providing custom flags for various companies, restaurants, and bands in Rust Belt areas, in addition to creating some music-centric pieces for fans of Kanye West and Drake. Oxford Pennant’s Phish series will be available on tour with the band and at Dry Phish Goods, the band’s official merchandise store. To check out OP’s current catalog and custom order information, visit their official website here.

Just Announced: Cursive

November 20, 2014

Omaha heavyweights and indiemo staple, Cursive, is set to play Mohawk Place next year on Sunday, March 15th. The cult band will be touring in support of the expanded and deluxe reissue of its seminal, Saddle Creek released album, The Ugly Organ, a record that goes down as many a music elitists top 10, even top 5 releases of all time. The Ugly Organ was a catalyst for the emergence of indie rock, and Cursive would go on to become college radio legends. The upcoming tour will feature a variety of songs from the band’s seven album discography (we’re hoping more The Ugly Organ/Domestica select picks over Happy Hollow). I think we are good though, since the band states explicitly its are touring with a cellist. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 21st for $15 in advance, $17 day of at ticketmaster or at the Tralf Box Office. Exuent.

Hussalonia Releases Well Timed Holiday Benefit Tune, “Soft Drink”

November 20, 2014

Those hoping to catch Hussalonia’s the Founder in the flesh tonight will have to make other plans as the Lannie Flowers/Nude Beach show he was set to open for was the latest local show lost to #snowvember. Luckily for us, the Founder has a way of giving to those in need. Last night, Between the Snowflakes, the latest installment from the Robot Holiday collective, was released upon bandcamp. The reoccuring project, which features long time local musicians likes Dee Adams, Brandon Delmont, and the Founder himself, has been releasing holiday and winter themed proceeds albums for over a decade. “Soft Drink,” the Founder’s lead contribution to Between the Snowflakes, sounds like Britpop at a luau, and could be a nice alternative to Bing Crosby’s “Mele Kalikimaka” as Clark Griswold day dreams out of his window in Christmas Vacation. Giving what has been going on in the Buffalo area over the last[...]

Jackson Cavalier & The Fevertones Drop Devil’s Undertow EP

November 19, 2014

Quietly last night, rollicking Rochester folk outfit, Jackson Cavalier & The Fevertones, dropped its latest, two song EP, Devil’s Undertow, its first new material in nearly a year. The band has been pretty low key over the last year, working on new songs while keeping busy with live gigs. If you are new to the alt-country quartet, think Deer Tick and go from there. Locally, bands like Pine Fever and Mr. Boneless would pair nicely with the Fevertones. Also, listen carefully and tell me you don’t hear a touch of Iggy Pop’s “Passenger” in the EP’s title cut. Gravelly vocals, peppy harmonica and strings, and a toe tapping beat make “Devil’s Undertow” a very late edition to my list of favorite Rochester tracks of the year. Check it out below.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat

November 18, 2014

Hopefully they grabbed a couple parkas before hitting the road because New Orleans based act, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, will be dropping down on the winter wonderland that is Buffalo tonight. Made up of long time electronic musician, Quintron, and puppeteer (yep), Miss Pussycat, the pair have coined the term, “Swamp Tech,” a chaotic version of electronic dance music bred in the deep south for nearly 15 years. They even popped up on an episode of Treme, HBO’s love letter to the Crescent City’s eclectic neighborhood, a couple years back. Originally scheduled for Buffalo Iron Works, this show will now be taking place at the comfier confines of Mohawk Place. Buffalo punk-funk all-stars, Mallwalkers, the Queen City Lotto product, Scajaquada Creeps, are set to open. If you want to see something out there, fun, and original, this is the show for you. Plus, the city barely got hit with snow, so no excuses[...]

Just Announced: The Decemberists

November 17, 2014

Hyper literate folk outfit, the Decemberists, will make a return appearance to the Center for the Arts’ Mainstage Theatre at the UB North Campus on Wednesday, April 1st. The band is prepping the release of its latest album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, set to drop on January 20th. Check out the album’s strong first single, “Make You Better,” below. The show is a nice land for the CFA, a venue that had a nice run of indie-esque artists a few years back. Opening for the Decemerbists will be buzzing Toronto indie pop act, Alvvays. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 21st, at 10am for $33-$38.

Tonight: Attack of the Vinyl Mondays

November 17, 2014

Essex St. Pub has become my go to winter bar in town. During last year’s Polar Vortex, a small crew and I trekked down Richmond and found comfort in the establishment, donating as many quarters as we had to Essex’s legendary juke box. With the snow falling outside of my window as I type, tonight would be as good of a night as any to get comfy at the Rhode Island dive and hear some choice records as the bar’s Attack of the Vinyl Mondays is back tonight. The crew from Record Theatre will be behind the tables tonight, throwing a bizarro wrench into the normal programing. Except a variety of oddball selections this evening, covering everything from creepshow country to psyched out world music. The records start spinning around 10pm tonight. Entry is, as always, free.