Latest Posts

10 Acts to Catch Music is Art 2024

September 19, 2024

Music is Art is a dream come true for Buffalo music fans looking to Kobayashi the local scene in 12 hours. The list of local talents playing this year can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for, so we put together a compilation of ten bands to add to your must-see list this weekend. If you’re a blog-reading regular, you may notice we aren’t writing about the many established local acts that are great and we’ve covered ad hoc. There are dozens of bands playing that we won’t discuss today, as we’ve already exhausted hundreds of adverbs over the past ten-plus years via album reviews and show previews. The purpose of this article is to add some newer bands to your knowledge base and expand everyone’s horizons. Should you see bands that aren’t on this list? For sure. One of the best aspects of this[...]

The Molice – “Moving”

November 4, 2019

The Molice are a funky, post-punky trio from Tokyo, Japan who have been resident Buffalonians for quite some time now. Their new music video for “Moving” is a montage of their time here thus far, culminating in a big performance for the Music is Art Festival. You might also recognize footage from Mohawk Place, Nietzsche’s, and a bunch of other cool Buffalo locations, all tied together with beautiful Buffalo-based cinematography captured by Lance Claypool (Pentimento). Beyond the video – “Moving” is a jittery and angular blend of funky indie-rock energy with a sugary chorus sure to get stuck in your head. If you dig The Molice, add them to your Spotify playlist or consider donating to their GoFundMe.

Tonight: Beach Slang

September 8, 2018

It’s been a pretty wild year of shows, and Robbie Takac has literally given us a genuine doozy, bringing indie band Beach Slang back to headline his Music Is Art festival, going down all day today at Buffalo Riverworks. After playing the area twice last year and creating much joy both times, the intense, exuberant, and frankly hilarious Philadelphia band released the achingly haunting Everything Matters But No One Is Listening, an affecting orchestral take on righteous cuts from the bands first few albums under the name Quiet Slang. But for tonight’s show they’re billed as Beach Slang so don’t expect an orchestra tonight… although that would be pretty sweet; instead you should probably expect an epic blowout of serious jams to get yer ya ya’s out to and then some. Music Is Art begins at 11am down at Riverworks, and as always it’s free, including Beach Slang, who play the main stage at 9:30pm.[...]

Tonight: Igloo Unofficial MIA After Party

September 12, 2015

If you haven’t learned by now, the masterminds of Igloo Music refuse to let the party end before we’ve had a healthy dose of their old school vibes. Saturday night will be no different at their Music is Art after party, held at the ever-intimate Gypsy Parlor. The usual suspects (though not to be downplayed) of John Patrick and Rufus Gibson will be joined by an impressive lineup including Brandon Chase, Dharma Doctor, Xotec, and Swivel. Dharma Doctor, who is Chris B. of Dharma Lab, will be opening the evening from 10-11 p.m., bringing some psychedelic flavor to the dance floor. I assure you, his set is one you don’t want to miss. Next up, from 11 p.m.-midnight, Igloo resident Rufus Gibson will serve up some Chicago-inspired house music that’s sure to put you in the mood. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/214580651″ params=”color=000000&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] From midnight-1 a.m., Igloo co-founder Brandon Chase takes[...]

Music is Art Readies for Year 13

September 11, 2015

A stage devoted to beat poets. An elaborate performance artist who adorned her set-piece in shiny blank CDs. A guitar-maker whose primary material is old cigar boxes. A bearded bluegrass quartet performing not 100 yards from an EDM DJ. These are just a few of the sights and sounds that I recall from past incarnations of Music is Art – Buffalo’s 12-year-old celebration of everything music and art, including many acts that creatively meld visual and sonic forms of expression. This means the festival is appropriately varied (as you have surely already inferred), with more than 100 artists taking six band stages, six DJ stages and two dance stages. Hell, there’s even a stage for the children – the Kid’s Village Stage. And while the festival may lack the big-name appeal of the other music fest taking place Saturday – Edgefest, at Canalside – there is no better time to check[...]

Tonight: Shonen Knife

June 1, 2015

Legendary Osaka, Japan garage rockers, Shonen Knife, return to the Queen City to kick off their North American tour at a special benefit show tonight at Waiting Room for beloved community enterprise Music Is Art. Local punkers and post-punkers Healer, Lost Elysium, and Orations will open the show with Tokyo’s DJ Sashimi spinning records throughout the evening. With the Music Is Art Festival only a few months away on September 12th, this is a mightily good cause to get behind, in addition to a terrific bill featuring a band with a long history playing our city. Tickets are $15 at the doors and show will kick off at 7pm.