Latest Posts

Newish Star Shares New Single, “Magnetic Personality”

January 22, 2015

It’s rare that the buffaBLOG office comes to an absolute consensus. Our most recent agreement came when we all were blown away by last December’s Newish Star performance at Duke’s as part of our annual holiday showcase/party.  With that being said, we were delighted late yesterday when we received word that Newish Star released its new single, “Magnetic Personality,” off of a forthcoming full-length, set to be released “soon.” “Magnetic Personality” is a catchy 90’s pop-punk spliced Archers of Loaf-esque diddy about having a persona that people flock to. It also reinforces what everyone knows, north means up, south means down. Duh. Newish Star has a gift for putting together a song that makes you want to listen to it over and over again, even if it’s just over a minute.

Tonight: buffaBLOG Holiday Party

December 20, 2014

Less than a week until Christmas and what better way to spend the evening with friends than to head down to Duke’s for our 4th annual holiday party. The place is always well decorated, bound to get even the biggest Scrooge into the festive spirit. If you missed any of our artist spotlights during the week, take a minute to brush up. The Slums Pleistocene Newish Star Radarada Plus, pizza loving DJ, Yung Zza, will be keeping the party going in between sets and all night long. Music kicks off at 10pm. $5, 21+

Newish Star

December 18, 2014

Every time I see Newish Star, I’m sort of entranced. This is mostly because of the way they careen through their set, packing 15 songs into half an hour with minimal bullshitting. You might get a “Double Super Jackpot” out of Jordan Nittoli before the band launches into the song of the same name, but for the most part, they just kind of barrel through and rip. You come out of the set in kind of a daze, but a good one. And if you’re smart, you pick up their tape, Look Both Ways. And when you actually sit down with it, you realize how good all those songs you just got pummeled with actually are. They’re clever, they’re catchy, they’re simple but superbly written. There are hyper-complex songs out there in the Buffalo scene, there are very interesting songs, but there aren’t many that flow as well as tracks[...]

Tonight: Roz & the Rice Cakes

December 4, 2014

Tonight, the Hive plays host to Providence, RI’s instrument swapping, experimental pop trio, Roz & the Ricecakes. The three-some was recently featured in the debut installment of 1809 Studios new live session series recorded in Macedon, NY, right outside of Rochester. Check out the clip here. Masterminded by local label Steak & Cake Records, the bill also features a trio of blog favs, Newish Star, Mink, and Aircraft, all for the ridiculously low price of $5. Out of deference to the neighbors (to whom you should be cool if you’re going), the show starts at promptly 7pm.

Just Announced: buffaBLOG Holiday Party

November 24, 2014

And just like that, the holidays have arrived. After the pummeling South Buffalo and the south towns took from #snowvember last week, and the unfortunate flooding that comes from 80 inches of snow getting hit with 60 degree weather, people could use a little pick me up around here, and for some, the holiday season could not have come at a better time So, as things start to get back to normal in the Buffalo area,  we are happy to announce the latest edition of our buffaBLOG Holiday Party. This time around, our eclectic cast of WNY acts will include Radarada, Newish Star, Pleistocene, The Slums, and DJ Pizza Pizza, all ready to help ring in the holiday spirit on Allen Street. The party will go down at our holiday home base of Duke’s on Saturday, December 20th. Music will kick off at 10pm and run all night long. Cover[...]

Tonight: Cheap Girls

October 13, 2014

Mohawk Place is a venue with more than a lot of history for Buffalonians and since it reopen last month, many bands will add to the esteemed venue’s history. That said, few bands better reflect both where the venue has been and where it is going than the showcase of bands gracing it’s stage tonight. That starts with Cheap Girls, a trio hailing from Lansing, Michigan with a sound that reflects everyone from The Replacements to Gin Blossoms to the Gaslight Anthem. They’ll be hitting our fair city in support of their latest album, Famous Graves.  The band has been quietly been making a name for themselves among retro-rock enthusiasts for awhile and with their realist blue-collar lyrics, catchy pop hooks, and classic guitar riffs, should put on quite the show. And speaking of bands of the future working off the past, Beach Slang will bring their brand of 90s-inspired[...]

Newish Star Shares Previously Unreleased Track, “Food Chain”

October 8, 2014

After a fairly busy morning, we thought this today’s content would be suffice enough to take the afternoon off to go grab a Chippy Sandwich down in South Buffalo. Turns out, Newish Star debuted to the internet an unreleased b-side from their original Look Both Ways recording sessions and we decided we couldn’t sleep on it.  Titled “Food Chain,” the track is slowed down a bit from the band’s usually upbeat repertoire, but the crunchy, menacing chords should let the track fit in quite nicely among some of your favorite college rock tunes. Listen to “Food Chain” below.

Tonight: Potty Mouth

September 13, 2014

This may be a bit last minute, but hey, it’s a punk show. Sugar City is hosting an eclectic mix of punk acts from all over the East Coast tonight, starting at 6pm. Potty Mouth, an all-female punk quartet from Northhampton, MA will be headlining tonight’s gig with touring support coming from DIY queercore charmers Aye Nako, of Brooklyn. Throw weirdo-punks Secret Tombs (Pittsburgh) into the mix, and it’s a party. Buffalo’s Softlines and Newish Star will be bringing the local support, making tonight’s Sugar City punk-stravaganza a total no-brainer. Bring a good attitude. Sugar City, 6pm, $7, Alcohol free. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/78871318″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Peterwalkee Records Fest – Day Two

September 6, 2014

Day Two is underway for Buffalo’s most talked about independent record showcase, featuring some of the city’s best DIY artists. Peterwalkee Records has put together a great lineup featuring a who’s who of interesting and creatively “free” acts, including hometown heroes, Lemuria, buffaBLOG favorites Space Wolves and Mallwalkers, as well as up and comers Cross Stitch and Newish Star and a host of several others. In addition to the music (doors at 6, first band at 7), the American Legion 1041 (533 Amherst St), will also feature an art show, including art from band members playing the fest. You can expect big sales, vendors from local record shops and all the best food and music this side of the border. If you appreciate the DIY ethic, or are just looking to hear some rad bands, make it down the Legion tonight and celebrate with the best of em.

Tonight: Newish Star, Difficult Night, and more

August 14, 2014

Unfortunately, New Jersey’s Brick Mower could not make it to this wonderful showcase at one of our favorite local record stores, Spiral Scratch… But there is some good news. On the bright side, tonight’s show is now free! Newish Star and Difficult Night, acts that both contain was distinct, yet different 90s influences, round out tonight’s impressive local bill, with a debut performance from Technochronic and an opening set by Space is Haunted. Doors are at 6:00pm tonight and music will start promptly at 7:00pm.

Tonight: The Vonneguts

July 26, 2014

I know you folks like crying, but there’s nothing quite like a real actual rock ‘n roll show, which is exactly what The Vonneguts are bringing to town tonight. These grisly fellas hail from Detroit, and they’re an increasingly rare breed: a band that plays unhyphenated rock that isn’t overblown, willfully stupid or a White Stripes ripoff. It’s good, it’s catchy and it’s easy to like. They’ll be joined by locals that, if you ask me, possess similar purity of intention: stoner rockers Second Trip, pop rockers Victory for Poland and rock rockers Newish Star. You’ll like it. I’m not at liberty to divulge the address openly, but if you’re inclined to go, head on over to the Facebook event and ask an admin. Unless you have a reputation for tearing down light fixtures in other people’s homes, chances are they’ll tell you. Five bucks at the door, starts at[...]

Tonight: Swimsuit Addition

July 14, 2014

Like they probably say in all those journalism classes I didn’t take: lead with the big news. Punk time is dead, be on time to the Glitterbox, and catch Chicago’s Swimsuit Addition tonight, supported by Newish Star, Mink and newbies Dildon’t. Doors open at 6pm, music starts at 7pm and will assuredly be over by 10 pm (shove that in the face of whiny friends/traitors who complain they can’t see a show on a school night). Swimsuit Addition makes me want to do this, but with full knowledge that if I stopped dancing they’d feed me to their pet spiders. Surfy, poppy and maybe rotten to the core: it’s telling that one of their tags on Bandcamp is “hellokittywithitseyegougedout.” Newish Star I love, and not simply because last time I caught them, they set the local record for most uses of the term “school shooting” on stage. It’s because they write[...]

Tonight: Newish Star

June 24, 2014

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.

Newish Star Releases Look Both Ways

June 12, 2014

I didn’t know what to expect when I dove into Look Both Ways, the early-June release from fresh Buffalo act, Newish Star. As I examined their bandcamp page, I noticed there isn’t a track on Look that touches the two-minute mark, so the moments before that initial listen-through were saturated with a nervous curiosity. Safe to say the songs—frenetic Dinosaur Jr-style explosions of noisy energy—warrant the quickness. It works. The opening track, “Super Double Jackpot,” touches on the all-too-familiar feeling of helplessness with lyrics like “So you tried, and you gave it your all / but the only thing that matters is the control of it all”, as the song races to the finish line, raucous and proud. Other highlights include the 36-second-long punk number “No Way Out”, the satiating riff-work of “Newbody,” and the whistle solo (yes, whistle solo) a midst the bumbling chug of “Runnin’ Rich.” Although proclaimed[...]

Tonight: Del Paxton Vinyl Release Show

May 17, 2014

Today is a busy day!  Between Porch Fest, graduations, and what seems like a billion other shows at your disposal, this one might take the cake. Del Paxton is releasing their fantastic EP, Worst. Summer. Ever., on vinyl and is throwing a show to celebrate.  I don’t know about you, but those mint green records/t-shirts are calling my name. Backing up the Paxt tonight will be their buds in Living Room, Real People, and Newish Star. Ask a punk where the Glitterbox is and get there by 6:00pm.