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Space Cubs Shares New Song via Unspeakable Records Comp

June 29, 2015

Former Buffalo ex-pat Space Cubs made her recent return to Buffalo count with the release of her solid debut LP, The Fire and Things Forgotten, early this spring. And just last week, the electro musician dropped her latest tune, the haunting “Pearls,” which is included on the new compilation from her Unspeakable Records label, Unspeakable Records Vol. Two. The comp features contributions from fellow UR artists like BATHHOUSE, Christal Sarah, and Astronautica, and can be listened in full here. Make sure to catch Space Cubs live as she joins Humble Braggers at Hardware next month on Thursday, the 16th, and in the mean time, listen to “Pearls” below ,

Jon Lewis Drops Music Video for “Let It Slide”

June 25, 2015

Rochester singer/songwriter Jon Lewis has released the music video for his new song “Let It Slide.” The highlight of the three shared tracks (so far) from his upcoming album, Panic Rock, “Let It Slide” finds the musician sounding rather Gibbard-esque on the mid-tempo number. Lewis paired the track with clips from Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, a cartoon I don’t remember being quite as eerie until just now. Panic Rock is set to drop in mid July. You can stream the album’s first three tracks here and watch the video to “Let It Slide” below. Jon Lewis – Let it Slide from Jon Lewis on Vimeo.

Just Announced: Joywave

June 24, 2015

After opening up for the Kooks last night at the Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls, Rochester’s next great hope, Joywave, will return to Buffalo in a headlining role set for Friday, October 9th at Waiting Room. The band has been on absolute fire this year, dropping its debut LP, How Do You Feel Now, earlier this spring, making an appearance at the ESPN studios, chillin with Tony Hawk, and touring with Brandon Flowers. I haven’t caught the band for a while, but I hope it’s still mixing in some cuts from its fantastic EP, Koda Vista, into its live sets. Anyways, you can grab a ticket for Joywave’s latest WNY homecoming gig starting this Friday, June 26th, at 10am for $15 in advance, and if there are any left, $17 at the doors.

Tomoreaux Releases “Bennington” Single

June 23, 2015

Tomoreaux first caught our interest last year while performing under the name of Yesterday vs. Tomorrow. The pair has just released its latest in the Mark Rothko E.P., a collection of anthemic Muse meets Taking Back Sunday tunes. Since then, the band has grown to a quartet while renaming itself to Tomoreaux. Late last week, the four piece dropped the first single from its yet to be titled album. “Bennington” sticks with the group’s penchant for the grandiose, but now has honed in on an emotive, Explosions in the Sky-esque post rock sound. The band is set to open for Spoon and July Talk at Canalside this Thursday, so if you like what you hear, head down to the water early. In the mean time, check out “Bennington” below.

Sugar City

June 21, 2015

Ease into your Herd Fest comedown today as Sugar City is set to close out the festival with a pair of much needed relaxing events. Those looking for that last minute Father’s Day gift should head down to the Niagara St. space’s record fair starting at 1pm to grab some vinyl to add to the big guy’s collection. Over 1,000 records will be for sale from various local shops and distros, so leaving empty handed is not an option. Later on this evening, a local music video showcase will run, featuring clips from Alpha Hopper, Every Time I Die, Mink, Orations, Healer, and more, plus the debut of a brand new music video from grunge trio Kharlos. The screenings will begin at 7pm and are set to be hosted by comedy pair Dan Firestorm and John Toohill (JOHNS, Alpha Hopper). Both events are free of charge so feel free to remove[...]

Michael Mulley’s “People That Rock”

June 19, 2015

With night one of Herd Fest 2015 in the books, we next turn out attention to Niagara Street, where Sugar City will host the opening of Michel Mulley’s “People That Rock” exhibit. For the last 25 years, he has been shooting everywhere from festivals to basements, while capturing everyone from Dee Dee Ramone to Social Distortion to Henry Rollins. His massive collection of photos, each with its own great story, will be presented to the public later this evening and open for sale beginning Sunday at 1pm. Mulley, who last year hosted the Steak and Cake showcase at his former College Street Gallery, has since relocated to the Market Arcade building to display his impressive portfolio. The opening exhibit will be one of three special presentations from Sugar City during Herd Fest, the latter two will come on Sunday in the form of a record fair and local music video[...]

buffaBLOG Opening Ceremony

June 18, 2015

Even before last year’s inaugural Herd Fest was complete, we were already starting to think about what we wanted to do differently for year two. Shuffling up some showcases and venues were near the top of the list, but the first priority was to expand. And that’s exactly what we did, taking a two day, seven showcase festival and pretty much doubling it. In doing so, we were able to feature more acts, different genres, and team up with some of the most creative minds in the Buffalo music scene. Tonight at Mohawk Place, we will kick the festival off with our “opening ceremony,” the blog’s featured showcase. As with all of ours shows, we like to mix local and out of town acts on the bill, so joining local lake-poppers, Bryan Johnson & Family, will be Rochester’s Attic Abasement and a late add to the festival, Pleistocene. And we[...]

Just Announced: Built to Spill

June 17, 2015

Some acts seem to make an annual appearance in Buffalo, including the Queen City on its routing any time it hits the road. of Montreal, The Hip, and recently Diarrhea Planet all seem like safe bets to make a visit to the city if and when a tour is announced. I think Built to Spill has reached that status too. The influential 90’s rockers out of Boise will return to the Town Ballroom (one of the venue’s many 10th anniversary related shows) during the final days of summer on Monday, September 21st, this time running through town in support of its April release and eighth studio album, Untethered Moon. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday, June 19th, at noon for $22 in advance, $25 at the door.

Tiny Rhymes Announces A Kinder History EP, Releases “Arrows” Single

June 17, 2015

Our first introduction to Buffalo chamber-folk outfit Tiny Rhymes was a clip of the band performing its wonderful song “Arrows” over at the Unitarian Universalist Church last fall. And now, the band has officially released the song as the lead off single to its upcoming debut EP, A Kinder History. The newly recorded version of “Arrows” is Andrew Bird-esque, full of rich harmonies, lush strings, and whimsical percussion. The 4-track EP (which is currently streaming via Exclaim!) will be available to purchase/download beginning on June 23rd, and you can join the band later next month on Saturday, July 18th, to celebrate the EP’s release over at Pausa Art House on the Allen/Wadsworth bend. Listen to “Arrows” below.

Tonight: Zak Ward

June 17, 2015

One of Buffalo’s newer summer music traditions, Larkinville’s Live at Larkin series, kicks off this evening down at the revitalized business neighborhood. Niagara Falls singer/songwriter and former Son of the Sun front man, Zak Ward, will be opening the night for long time Buffalo folk outfit, John & Mary & the Valkyries. John Lombardo, the “John” of John & Mary, is a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs, by the way, while “Mary,” that is Mary Ramsey, replaced Maniacs’ singer Natalie Merchant two decades ago. The more you know… Ward will be joined by fellow SOTS band mate and current Soft Love member, Jeremy Franklin, plus a backing band, and (hopefully) will be tackling tunes from his most recent release, the stellar, 2014 EP, That’s What You Get. Make sure to head right down to the Square as soon as you punch out this afternoon. Ward and Franklin kick the evening off[...]

Just Announced: Sleater-Kinney

June 16, 2015

As we marvel at the ridiculous amount of fantastic acts visiting the Buffalo area this summer and early fall, winter has just called its shot with the first must see show of the season as Sleater-Kinney will help end Babeville’s year on a high note with a performance at Asbury Hall on Thursday, December 10th. After parting ways nearly 10 years ago, the Olympia, WA trio returned earlier this year with well received No Cities To Love and will take the album on a short December tour that will hit a handful of East-Coast and Mid-West cities. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 19th, at 10am for $28 each.

Just Announced: Bully

June 15, 2015

After receiving some serious buzz throughout the blogosphere for its debut LP, Feels Like, the Nashville quartet of Bully is set to ride said buzz into Mohawk Place this fall on Saturday, September 26th. Referred to as a female fronted Cloud Nothings by some, the band’s debut record is a collection of anthemic punk-pop filled with angst and aggression, so the comparison seems apt. While Feels Like does not drop until June 23rd, its currently streaming in full over on NPR’s First Listen. While ticket prices have yet to be announced, you can grab one for the fall engagement starting this Friday.

Howlo Announces Debut LP, Shares “Bleary”

June 15, 2015

We awoke this morning to the pleasant news that one of our favorite Rochester foursomes, Howlo, is prepping the release of its debut, self-titled LP for late July. Comprised of busy songwriter/producer Ben Morey, Justin Pulver (Europa and the Great Red Spot), Jane Bryant, and Christine Benincasa, the group shared a couple album teases over on its bandcamp page to keep us busy until next month. The first, the newly recorded “Blanka,” was on the band’s short and sweet Attic Tapes EP last spring. Howlo‘s second tease, though, comes in the form of the fantastically dreamy “Bleary,” the first new recording we have heard from the band in over a year. Led by the sweet and tender boy/girl vocals of Morey and Bryant, the song is a melancholy cut of 90’s jangle pop, recalling the likes of Polaris, Flake Music, and early Cloud Nothings. Simply put, “Bleary” is one of my[...]

Tonight: Pattern is Movement

June 14, 2015

Philadelphia indie duo, Pattern is Movement, is going on one last run before throwing in the towel this summer. After nearly fifteen years and five studio albums, the band will come to an end this coming Saturday in the pair’s Phily hometown, but not before making a stop in Buffalo this evening at Mohawk Place. The genre shifting duo, which over the years has incorporated elements of math rock, r&b, hip hop, neo-soul, and gospel into its cerebral catalog over the years, dropped its ultimately final album, Pattern is Movement, last year. The self titled swan song should appeal to fans of Dirty Projectors, Gayngs, Volcano Choir, and TV on the Radio. Opening for Pattern is Movement is Buffalo’s experimental drum duo, CCDS (Death Squad). Music kicks off this evening at 8pm with a cover of $10.

Tonight: Northern Spies

June 11, 2015

Lately it seems like some of Rochester’s best and up-and-coming acts have been making frequent stops to Buffalo and the trend continues tonight as ROCH foursome, Northern Spies, will take the stage at Sugar City. The power pop group, which features members of KOPPS and Quarries, recalls acts like Elvis Costello, the Byrds, REM, and Stephen Malkmus. While the band only has a short EP to its name, the late 2014 released Nothing But Static, its spring released Genesee Live session should give a nice indication of what to expect later on from NS. Music begins this 8pm with a cover of $5. Indie rock trio turned quartet, Wolf, and Steak & Cake’s politically minded act, RED HEAT, will round out the bill. And please remember to leave the booze and drugs at home as Sugar City is a substance free space.