Latest Posts

Tonight: Baio

April 8, 2016

While we wait patiently for the next offering from Vampire Weekend, their bass player Chris Baio (performing under the stage name Baio) is testing the waters of a solo career. For fans of the indie-rock group, his stop at the Waiting Room tonight is not to be missed. 2015 saw the release of Baio’s solid debut solo record The Names, featuring the catchy and danceable lead single “Sister of Pearl.” The album sees him stepping away from the familiarity of Vampire Weekend, finding his own unique voice and a sound that is all his own. Joining the lineup will be a pair of local Buffalo bands. Energetic indie-rockers M.A.G.S. and  kicking off the night is indie-pop act Parade Chic. For those hoping to score a last minute ticket, the show unfortunately is sold out. For everyone lucky enough to grab one, doors are at 7pm at the Waiting Room.

Shows We Shot in January

February 2, 2016

While buffaBLOG was on break the past month, blog photographer Brendan O’Connor was out there doing what he does best: taking pictures of bands. While he didn’t have a chance to shoot any major national touring acts, he took the time to photograph some local Buffalo acts, and went out on a little weekend tour with local post- rock outfit Tomoreaux. On tour, he caught some incredible acts such as Albany’s existential goth poppers Slowshine,  Rochester lo-fi duo Buffalo Sex Change, and the stellar up-and-coming pop punk young guns Prince Daddy and the Hyena. In addition, Brendan made a couple trips out to Fredonia where he also had the chance to shoot buffaBLOG favorites, M.A.G.S. and Sixties Future, as well as Fredonia psych-rockers Mooses. To kick the post off, though, we’ll start off with one of Yace Booking’s best events to date, which served as Tomoreaux’s album release party, featuring Cooler, Passed Out, and Brimstone Blondes.  You can click HERE for a[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 5 Close Calls

December 14, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined as the blog are our favorite songs of 2015. Here are five great songs ALMOST made our top 20. The Slums – “Plain Pine Box”  The Slums always deliver the perfect thrash song but “Plain Pine Box” might be the most perfect yet. “You can call me first and final nail in a plain pine box, I said I’d keep you separate but I guess[...]

Tonight: Sleepy Hahas

September 25, 2015

Buffalo psych rock band Sleepy Hahas has continued to expand on its fuzzy brand of indie rock since releasing the album of the week-earning 2014 LP Dull Days. Back in June, the band put out a single “Deep River,” showing off a slightly more noisy, experimental sound that sits somewhere between the Black Keys blues rock and Tame Impala’s more recent electronic explorations. Tonight, the band will perform at Nietzsche’s, marking the beginning of a two week East Coast tour for the band that includes shows in Brooklyn, Boston, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. Also performing tonight are local indie band M.A.G.S., whose impressive Cellophane debut caught our attention back in February and Buffalo-based garage rockers The Tins, as well as the debut performance from the revamped blues-rockers, Deadwolf. Music starts at 9:30pm. ;

Tonight: Roz and the Rice Cakes

June 27, 2015

No, we’re not talking about the delicious and health-conscious snack – in fact, one of Rhode Island’s best is gracing Buffalo tonight (need proof? click here). Roz and the Rice Cakes is a tight three-piece that sound like the brainchild of Warpaint and Phantogram. The trio has been on tour supporting its latest release, a double A-side out now on Team Love Records. What a perfect dreary Saturday for show-going! Support tonight comes from garage-poppers M.A.G.S., Thee Oh Seas meets Primus-fuzz Kharlos, and the mysterious Alien Three. Ask a punk where the Glitterbox is and make sure you bring a donation for the touring band. Doors open at 6pm and doors close at 10pm sharp.

Quiet Country Audio

June 20, 2015

For the second year in a row, our buddies over at Quiet Country Audio have curated a wonderful showcase for our Herd Fest festivities… They have handpicked a collection of acts that have worked in or recorded with QCA. Tonight’s show will feature the garage-pop of MAGS and their close, albeit hardcore-influenced buddies in The Slums. Rounding out the evening are the grungemen in The Soft Love, the alt-rockers The Naturalists, and American Low. Just like the rest of Herd Fest, entrance is free with an official Herd Fest wristband. Otherwise, DBGB’s will be collecting a reasonable $5 for your entrance fee. Tonight’s showcase starts at 10:00pm. See you on Allen.

Tonight: M.A.G.S.

April 18, 2015

Tonight may be a contender for one of the busiest music days in Buffalo in recent memory. Adding to an already bloated 4/18 is a showcase at Nietzche’s. Scheduled to play is pop-punk trio, American Low, Brooklyn’s psych-pop outfit The Midnight Hollow, indie rockers M.A.G.S., and the surfy Bryan Johnson and Family. Doors are at 9pm with a $5 cover.

Tonight: Made Violent

March 6, 2015

Though the trio’s local appearances have been somewhat sparse, Made Violent is finally bringing their signature refined slack-rock sound to the Studio at Waiting Room tonight. The group’s recent self-titled EP release has been nothing short of well received, and is yet more tangible proof that these guys have carved themselves a comfortable spot in the upper echelon of bands on the rise. In addition to successfully managing to bust out of the Buffalo scene, they’ve already broken the U.S. seal in terms of touring, all while garnering attention from major music publications like NME. They have the essence of early Cage the Elephant paired with all the best Brit-pop big wigs like the Kooks and Arctic Monkeys. You can tell MV’s music is built for a live setting and a large crowd. The EP is chock full of raw, punchy grunge tunes that leave me amped for the prospects[...]

Just Announced: buffaBLOG 5th Birthday Party

February 16, 2015

Just about four years ago, we threw our first birthday party at Nietzsche’s. We only had about six regular writers at the time, and none of us knew the first thing about putting on a show. Half of the musicians we asked to play were underage (something Curt still won’t let me live down), we were clueless on what to pay the  bands (we played them A LOT that night), and really had no idea if anyone would come. We even asked Lloyd Taco, this is before Chris and Pete had a fleet of trucks and were being given $250K by CNBC to open a restaurant, to park outside for food. We practically had to beg people to go out and get tacos. This was before the food trucks really took over Buffalo mind you. That birthday party ended up being amazing, still one of my favorite shows we have[...]

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[...]

Mags Drops Debut Singles

September 26, 2014

A couple weeks ago, we wrote about The Slums EP, a new group led by The Malones ex-frontman, Steven Floyd. He is not the only former member with the creative bug brewing. Former Malones bassist, Elliott Douglas, formed a new solo project of his own under the moniker, Mags. Unlike the Slums harder, more aggressive sound, Mags continues the crunchy catchiness that the Malones left off with last year. Mixed and mastered with Paul Besch of Quiet Country Audio, “I Won’t Talk,” is an indie rock jam, easily syncable for your fall playlist.