Latest Posts

Motherhouse Drops Early Demo

July 23, 2015

Things have been a little quiet with new music lately as Buffalo paces through summer’s humid dog days, but last night, an intriguing new project hit bandcamp. Motherhouse, a collaborative duo featuring current and past members of acts like the Mordant Sisters, the Actors, and Cross Stitch, dropped a 3-track demo dubbed Sessions during Wednesday’s waning hours. The early material from the band is a haunting, yet soothing collection of ambient no-wave that should appeal to fans of Orenda Fink or Buffalo’s Space Cubs. The pair promises that more music will soon come, so enjoy this appetizer and keep an eye out for additional material in the near future. Listen to “Strong” below.

Just Announced: Blitzen Trapper

July 22, 2015

With local shows at the Tralf, Mohawk Place, and Babeville already under its belt, Portland’s Blitzen Trapper will be once again back in Buffalo this fall, this time set for a performance at Town Ballroom on Saturday, October 10th. The former freak-folk Sub Pop act has gradually transitioned into a more classic rock/country-folk outfit over the years, and will see its latest album, All Across This Land, drop this September on Vagrant Records. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, July 24th, at noon for $16 in advance, $19 at the door.

Hieronymus Bogs Releases First Single from The Angel

July 21, 2015

Man what is in the water in the Genesee River lately? We have been doing this blog for over five years now, and over last couple, expanding our focus past just Buffalo and into other areas of WNY. With that said, I have never seen such a run of quality new music than we have out of Rochester over these last few months (and more is on the way). One of those acts, which until now has sadly flown under our radar, is folk musician Alex Bogs, who performs under the moniker of Hieronymus Bogs. Yesterday, Bogs released the startling first single from his upcoming new album The Angel. “I Wonder” is a wonderfully haunting mix of Devandre Banhart freak folk, subtle touches of Antony and the Johnsons’ theatricality, and the vulnerability of Buffalo’s own Andy Pothier. The Angel should be a nice addition to what is shaping up to be[...]

Just Announced: Sufjan Stevens

July 21, 2015

After a run of somewhat gimmicky releases – the electro 180 turn of The Age of Adz, a second round of Christmas albums, an experimental ode to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway – Sufjan Stevens returned in prime form earlier this year with the stark and devastating Carrie & Lowell, a front runner for album of the year and what could be a personal best in the singer/songwriter’s eccentric catalog. This fall, he will once again take Carrie & Lowell on the road, this time including Buffalo on his latest itinerary. On Friday, Ocotober 30th, Stevens will perform in the Mainstage Theater at UB’s Center for the Arts, his first area performance since his magically bonkers holiday show at Asbury Hall a couple years back. Tickets will go on sale Friday, July 24th at 10am for $43.50. A portion of all ticket sales will go towards Stevens’ Plus One charity organization.

Rebecca Ryskalczyk of Bethlehem Steel

July 20, 2015

Next week will see the return home of Rebecca Ryskalczyk, the front woman of the Brooklyn based, Fredonia bred indie trio Bethlehem Steel. The Buffalo born musician is currently on a solo tour that will bring her back to town for a pair of Infringement Festival dates. We recently caught up with the songwriter to discuss Buffalo and Brooklyn, her new label and upcoming EP, and her some of her favorite local music memories. buffaBLOG: Over the last couple years, we have seen some pretty great acts, including Zealot, Mr. Boneless, and Well Worn Boot, come out SUNY Fredonia and the surrounding town. What was the scene like when you were going to school there? Rebecca Ryskalczyk: There was a very tight knit DIY scene when I went to school there. I met all my current band-mates through the music scene there. Jon played in Longitude and Zephyr in Zona Mexicana. House shows[...]

Mr. Boneless Premieres Mammoth Studio Clip

July 16, 2015

Mr. Boneless is back this morning after premiering a live performance video shot at Mammoth Recording Studio. The Fredonia bred, folk-punk foursome dropped by the studios to perform the woozy “Fall Risk,” which was captured on film by the Bumrush Booking crew. The Mr. Boneless clip is the second installment from Bumrush at Mammoth Studio, having previously filmed an Aircraft performance back at the end of 2013. Watch the video below.

The Huckleberry Fins Return with New Single and Video

July 13, 2015

We got pretty hyped back at the end of 2013 when we came across the Rochester surf trio, The Huckleberry Fins. The group’s French Kiss flavored “Wild Blue Yonder” was like fire over at the blog office (ranking #10 on our favorite Rochester songs of the year), and we couldn’t wait to here what would come next from the threesome. After flying under the radar for what was quickly approaching two years, the band is back with a great new single and an accompanying music video for the track “The Sun is Setting.” The song could easily be included on a future Captured Tracks compilation as it brings to mind early Beach Fossils, while the video find the Huckleberry boys showing off some skate boarding moves through the streets and parking garages of Rochester. “The Sun is Setting” is the first single on the band’s upcoming 11-track LP, Pipe Dreams,[...]

The Color Waves Drops Debut Singles

July 9, 2015

The Color Waves is cross Atlantic collaboration between fellows Scots Gary Hoggan (formerly of Butcher Boy) and Alison Eales. Hoggan moved to Buffalo a few years back, while Eales still calls Scotland home. Yesterday, the dreamy, jangle-pop pair released two tracks from its upcoming 7′ Chirology. Both songs, in particular the co-lead “Rose,” are darkly beautiful, and fans of Low, Belle & Sebastian, The Sleepy Jackson, and The Radio Dept should give the songs a spin. Keep an eye out soon for physical release of Chirology through Cloudberry Records (pre-orders are currently on sale here), and in the mean time, listen to the intimacy exploring title track below.

Just Announced: The Dodos

July 8, 2015

While starting blankly at the walls in the blog office today, our Songkick app woke us up with the news that the Dodos will be making a stop at Mohawk Place on Thursday, October 8th. The energetic, San Francisco psych folk act has been quietly building a pretty solid and consistent catalog over the years since dropping Visitor in 2008, and will add recently added to its discography in early 2015 with the well received Individ. Songkick failed to give us any further show details, as it so does, so keep an eye out in the very near future for on sale dates and ticket prices on the show’s event page.

Tonight: Curly’s Grand Re-Opening

July 8, 2015

The West Side’s newest basement venue is set to reopen its doors. Over the last couple months, Curly’s, the home base to Steak and Cake Records, was forced to relocate a handful of shows and go dark due to some residential conflicts, but now that matters have sorted themselves out, the DIY space will celebrate a grand re-opening this evening and smoother sailing for here on out. Tonight’s show will include the debut performance from Sonny Baker’s new trio. The group premiered its first single from the upcoming Flesh It Out EP on Monday, and is set to break in some of the new tunes for the eager audience. This evening will also feature the regrouping Queen City Lotto band Beast Coast, the return of basement super group Hot Tip, and the welcoming of Halifax’s psych pop act Walrus. Doors open at 6pm with a cover of $5. Music kicks[...]

Just Announced: Lower Dens

July 6, 2015

Following a jam packed September for music fans in Buffalo, this fall will keep the good times rolling as the 80’s tinged Baltimore-based pop act, Lower Dens, will visit Mohawk Place on Thursday, October 1st. Earlier this spring, the band released its latest album, Escape From Evil (think Beach House recording in Twin Peaks), a high point in an already intriguing catalog. Ticket prices and on-sale dates have yet to be announced, but stay plugged up to date on the event page for further updates.

Teenage Satan Drops Video for Cheerful Medley

July 2, 2015

Speaking of new local music videos, experimental folk act, Teenage Satan, has just released an accompanying clip for its latest EP, Cheerful Medley. The bedroom project of Kimmy’s Dan Bauer added to its steadily growing catalog near the back end of June with the 2-track release, and just yesterday, paired the songs with a John Heim produced video featuring cuts from old home videos and films. The frequent pensive and worried looks match well with Teenage Satan’s off-kilter pop sounds. You can stream the two tracks at Teenage Satan’s bandcamp page here. Watch the video for Cheerful Medley below.

Oxford Pennant Designs 20th Anniversary Wilco Flag

July 1, 2015

If you have caught Wilco on tour over the last couple months, most recently at this past weekend’s Solid Sound Festival in Mass., you may have noticed an eye catching item at the band’s merchandise table courtesy of Oxford Pennant. The Buffalo based pennant company was contracted to custom design a flag (pictured above) for the Illinois born act in honor of its 20th anniversary. The green wool pennant is currently on the road with Wilco as the band makes it way across the United States. Oxford Pennant is no stranger to music related items. The company’s catalog includes designs inspired by Kayne West and Drake, and prior to Wilco, OP created a custom pennant for a recent Phish tour as well. While Wilco normally includes a Buffalo or Rochester date on its frequent tour itineraries, it looks like the closest Jeff Tweedy and crew will get to WNY this[...]

Victory For Poland Re-emerges with “Summer Solace”

June 30, 2015

Its been a minute since we heard from former high school all-stars Victory For Poland. A couple summers back, V4P, along with fellow underage acts like Brimstone Blondes and the Cascos, seemed like the next wave of great Buffalo bands. Then college happened. Since then, front man Tylor Colby put out a solo album on LIPS Records and future V4p material seemed less and less of a possibility. That is until late last month. The band announced a self-titled LP was in the works and teased that a single would soon be released. That single, “Summer Solace,” was just dropped last night. First of all, the song is bouncy as hell, and as for Colby, he seems to have developed a snarl similar to that of Joseph D’Agostino (Cymbals Eat Guitars). Plus, those horns give it just a touch of a ska vibe. Give “Summer Solace” a listen below and keep[...]

The Get Money Squad Drops Follow Up Single “Pillow Talk”

June 30, 2015

One of our favorite releases from last summer came from the Get Money Squad. Featuring Quinton Brock and Jon Bap of Network, the act’s short, self-coined “urban surf” EP was the perfect blend of off beat Mac DeMarco meets Shuggie Otis/Bill Withers lo-fi vibes. The group went on to open for Girl Talk at Canalside, but since then have been pretty quiet. With the release of Money Squad’s latest single “Pillow Talk,” though, Brock and crew are back to once again to help soundtrack our latest rust-belt summer. The rather sensual “Pillow Talk,” a track the band describes as a “song for summer lovers,” appears to be the first single off of the Get Money Squad’s forthcoming EP, titled Ruff Buff, and while the group has maintained its lo-fi sounds, Brock now appears to be vocally channeling the Beach Boys and even the soulful side My Morning Jacket (those falsettos[...]