With a lengthy US tour on the horizon, Rochester-raised harp player, Mikaela Davis, has released her latest single, “Out There Alone.” One of her poppiest numbers yet, the track features fluttering, sunny harps backing Davis’ whistful cooing that should put her the category of indie-pop contemporaries like Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor. Keep an eye out for Davis as she brings her tour through Buffalo on Friday, July 25th at Buffalo Iron Works.
Steak and Cake Records is to set to release the debut solo LP from James Rapp, whose primary band, The Rotaries, you may or may not remember was part of a SnC anniversary show a couple years back at the Vault. Titled Islander, the self-recorded album is set for release next Tuesday, July 8th, and features Rapp on every instrument. Lead off track and first single, “In Your Tomb,” sets the tone for the laid back affair: think Little Joy without the international flair or a less beat driven Islands. Islander is pleasant, summer soundtrack whether you are sweating out your Saturday Night at Bidwell Park or cooling off over at the harbor (pro tip: the best spot is behind the Outer Harbor stage). Keep an eye on Steak and Cake’s bandcamp page next week for the full album stream/download, and in the mean time, listen to “In Your Tomb” below.
From the brains behind Inquiring Mind comes Mink, a new three piece band featuring members of the former said band and Tony Rocky Horror. The trio’s debut EP, Point Break, a surf rock nod to the great(?) Patrick Swayze/Keanu Reeves vehicle, is a fun, yet tense collection of attitude filled vocals and playful bass lines. With a growing surf rock scene on Buffalo’s West Side (Aaron and the Burrs, the Hamiltones), Mink will be in good company. Surf’s up.
Shout out to frequent collaborative duo, Jackt Topht and Malt Disney, for giving Super Flea a proper eulogy. Yes, one of the only places in Buffalo where you could buy a live rabbit, a bong, and a samurai sword all from the same vendor closed up shop for good a few weeks ago, set to be demolished for ANOTHER Walmart. Super Flea held a really weird place in the hearts of many Buffalonians. The place was a dump, smelled awful, and sold some of the more useless items you have ever come across, yet I loved the place, and from the comments on FB during its final weekend, you all did too. So leave it to Buffalo spokesman and wordsmith Jack Topht to film a video for his Teen Wolf produced throw-back jam, “Beef on Weck,” on the Super Flea lot on its last weekend. The clip finds Topht and[...]
Only three days into summer 2014, the Tralf continues to flesh out its fall schedule, this time booking the Texas instrumental four-piece This Will Destroy You for a Wednesday, October 29th stop. Fans of fellow Texas post-rockers Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, or pretty much any band that is heavy on the emotions while saving on the vocals will want to catch this show. Expect the word “epic” to be used often. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 27th, at noon for $12 in advance, $14 day of.
Head down to the Glitter Box later to catch one of Buffalo’s best newish bands in Newish Star. Sounding like a mix of Pavement and Coyote Shivers, the group recently played our Herd Fest this past weekend as part of the Black Dots showcase and have been building some nice buzz around town since forming back in 2013. Also on the bill are blog regulars JOHNS and Aaron & the Burrs, along with Cleveland’s gruff punk rockers Cruelster. Music begins at 6pm prompt. Bring $6 to cover the touring acts.
Man did the Tralf ever strike gold when they booked Foster the People a few years back. Their mega single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” had just started to blow up, resulting in a sold-out (I think) show in 2011 that I imagined left the Tralf promoters feeling pretty, pretty good. Just today, the pop trio, along with Alt Buffalo, announced its impending return to Buffalo with a show scheduled for Canalside on Thursday, September 11th. Back when the Canalside lineup was announced, there was an open date which was rumored to be filled with a bigger name act, and as it turns, that act is Foster the People. Could have been worse I suppose. Tickets will be available to purchase from $15-$55, starting this Friday, June 27th, at noon. Those free Thursday shows aren’t looking all that bad now, are they?
This past Friday night, local DIY collective, Sugar City, took over the front and back rooms of Hardware as a part of our Herd Fest weekend. Kicking things off in the back room was Moverealfaststop, a new(er) group that features members of Cross Stitch and Lesionread. A product of the Queen City Music Lottery, the frantic three-piece helped lay an energetic groundwork for what turned out to be one of the best showcases over the long weekend. You can watch a clip from the band’s set, complete with some special guest spoken word and a gnome, below.
Day 1 of our inaugural Herd Fest is in the books, and if you happened to miss last night, or just wanted more, then you are in luck. Day 2 is bigger, and depending on your tastes, maybe even better. If you missed any of our spotlights on today/tonight’s showcases, lets once again get you up to speed: Black Dots Spiral Scratch Records Harvest Sum @ Nietzsche’s buffaBLOG @ Duke’s Only Comrades @ Allen Street Hardware Music kicks off earlier today at our first of two bonus record shop showcases. Black Dots will begin at 4pm, while Spiral Scratch gets things going at 6pm, then head back to Allen for another long night of music. All showcases today are $5. If you already bought a pre-sale bracelet, then you are all good.
After a year plus wait between Sea Planes’ debut single and its superior follow up, the Rochester synth-pop duo has dropped its third track in the anthemic “Right Now.” Similar to last month’s “Young At Heart,” the new track finds the pair sticking with the big 80s sounds of drum machines, arena ready guitar solos, and shouting choruses. Fans of the Killers and M83 should like what they hear, especially as those “oh oh ohs” take us through the bridge. Check out “Right Now” below and visit Sea Planes’ bandcamp page to listen to past singles.
I am not sure what more there is to say about Herd Fest tonight so I will give you the basics: 2 Days, 9 showcases, 43 acts, 1 city. We decided to go big this year for our summer party by bringing in the heavy hitters of the Buffalo music scene and work together to make something different, something special. If you missed any of our spotlights on tonight’s showcases, lets get you up to speed: Steak & Cake Records @ College Street Gallery The Good Neighborhood @ Nietzsche’s Quiet Country Audio @ Duke’s Sugar City @ Allen Street Hardware Steak & Cake kicks things off at 7pm tonight. Spolier: College Street is on the smaller side so get there early to get a spot. Music will be running all night long. Bounce around, find a new favorite band, and have fun. Thank you in advance for supporting this project.[...]
A couple years ago, we caught wind of Rochester songtress, Mikaela Davis, and her rendition of Sufjan Steven’s “Casimir Pulaski Day.” The cover was a hit of sorts on Youtube and firmly entrenched the talented harp player on the blog’s radar. The buzz around Davis has been building over the years through cross-country touring and a SXSW appearance, all while becoming one of WNY’s best and most promising artists. In recent Davis news, she tackled another Stevens’ track, his breakthrough “Chicago,” this time rearranging the tune for the Crane Harp Ensemble out of SUNY Potsdam (Davis’ alma mater). The song is already getting some good burn on Soundcloud and you can listen for yourself below. Those wanting to catch Davis live in Buffalo should head down to Buffalo Iron Works on July 25th to see the real deal in person.
Back in 2006, I really didn’t know much at all about Buffalo’s local music scene. I just graduated from college and returned home to figure out my next move. While working part time at UB, my boss turned me on to this band he liked from this local label. He told me a guy he went to high school with played guitar in it and I should check it out. Said it had some poppy Wilco vibes going on. He burned me a copy of the Old Sweethearts’ Arms of the Town and I was hooked. I didn’t know there was local music that could affect me like those bigger bands that stopped in our city once in a blue moon, if we are lucky. I wanted to find more acts like this. I started visiting Mohawk Place on a semi-regular basis. Being from Amherst, I never went into the[...]
We here at buffaBLOG have teamed up with local videographer Lesionread to present a new video series titled Wonk Sesh. The series is set to capture live performances from some off-beat, possibly off-the-radar acts that come through our city in hopes of placing them onto your radar. The debut videos in the Wonk Sesh series were both filmed at the Northrup House on Sunday, June 8th and features Boston electro-pop artist Couples Counseling, along with tour mates PARI∀H. Keep an eye out for future “seshes” on the blog, or follow Lesionread’s Youtube page. Check out the Wonk Sesh videos from Couples Counseling and PARI∀H below.
Earlier today, long time San Diego indie act, Pinback, announced a tour to commemorate 10th anniversary of the release of their Summer in Abandon album, and luckily for us, the tour is set to include a stop at Buffalo Iron Works on Tuesday, September 16th. Led by Rob Crow, Pinback’s bass-heavy groove has been soothing their listeners for over 15 years. Their arrival in Buffalo should put a nice cap on an already packed WNY summer season. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 20th, at noon for $16. Tera Melos will be providing support.