Latest Posts

Tonight: Holy White Hounds

May 6, 2016

It’s not rare that Buffalo hosts an album release party for our city’s finest, but marking the release of their debut here tonight is the sons of Des Moines, Iowa – Holy White Hounds. The band is one of the fastest rising bands in the alt-rock scene and just dropped their album, Sparkle Sparkle this morning. The band will be sure to play plenty of new material to mark the occasion, with their signature blues-y anthemic rock sounds. They’re not alone though, as they’re joined by local slacker rock greats, The Naturalists, and pop-punks, Debt to Nature. Will Buffalo mark a pivitol moment in Holy White Hounds young career? Tune in tonight to find out. Doors are at 6:30 at The Waiting Room and tickets are $10 at the door.

Tonight: The Mountain Goats

April 6, 2016

Officially celebrating 25 years together as a band, 2016 marks an important landmark for The Mountain Goats. The band originally arrived with a wave of similar mid-90s lo-fi folk rock bands but became bonafied legends for John Darnielle’s unique gift as a storyteller. Darnielle has always has a unique approach to songwriting by investing in different concepts from album to album and finding humanity in it, whether it’s religion, addiction, mental health, or as in their latest release, professional wrestling. Beat the Champ, continues in the tradition of the band’s long lineage but finds Darnielle and company operating in a slightly more playful and adventerous space then recent efforts. Tonight’s show at Asbury Hall marks the first show the indie rock legends have played in our fair city in 5 years and it’ll be interesting to see how new material melds with their classics. If the band’s live show is[...]

Column 36: The Performance of Pablo

February 18, 2016

In Screened Plays I normally write about the relationship of film/television and music, that’s exactly what today’s article was originally intended to be, before this all got a bit bigger. Last week I had the pleasure of being part of the Yeezy Season 3 theater experience which was beamed into theaters in eighty cities across the world (including our very own Regal Elmwood) which would debut Kanye West’s new album and fashion line. While the show itself was rather unspectacular, essentially a glorified listening party with Kanye passing the aux cable around like a 2am Curb ride. The album itself and it’s rollout however, have been far more fascinating. To the point where this week’s Screened Play will be looking at a far different performance, the one of Kanye’s release. Which is to say, do we now think there’s a chance this entire release has been performance art? Kanye has[...]

Northern Spies Drop Do/Postcard

February 10, 2016

Today’s delightful bit of new music comes from Rochester’s indie rockers, Northern Spies. The band hasn’t given us new music to cherish in sometime since their 3-track EP in 2014, but with a recent Christmas single and two new tracks, it seems these guys are gearing up for something. The first single is “Do” a playful and energetic rocker that has a distinctly 90s alt rock sound. It’s an infectious little jam that easily worms it’s way inside your earholes and doesn’t seem to want to leave. Following that is “Postcard,” a track that seems to find it’s roots in the indie rock tradition of bands like Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, it’s this lovely meandering jam that shows a different side to the band and makes me excited for what’s to come. Let’s hope these two tracks are just the beginning of what’s to come for us from[...]

Nylon Otters Reveal Debut Demos

December 16, 2015

At buffaBLOG, we try to make it our duty to keep an ear to the ground for the newest and most exciting in local music. We do this so that when we come across a band with an exciting sound and unique voice we can bring them to you first; Nylon Otters are just such a band. Nylon Otters is a Buffalo-based garage rock band with a distinctly lo-fi 90’s sound and has just released a series of demos. Being a series of demos, the songs have an obvious rawness to them, but across all eight tracks, Nylon Otters demonstrate a real fire and energy to their sound. Tracks like the blistering opener “Parrots” demonstrate their more playful side while “Down Drained” shows a shaggier improvisational side to their sound. The band’s sound can be compared to the trend of recent grungy garage rock from artists like Cloud Nothings or[...]

The Wombats

November 25, 2015

It was eight years ago the Wombats burst onto the scene, just fresh-faced youngsters at the time armed with roaring guitars, hooks galore, and a cheeky sense of humor to them. Since then, the band’s sound and popularity have only grown, with the group experimenting with electronics, approaching darker subject matter, and thrilling crowds at some of the world’s biggest music festivals from Glastonbury to Coachella. Earlier this year, the band released their latest album Glitterbug, which saw the Wombats’ new electro-pop sound flourish. The band has become famous for it’s raucous live show (a sweaty dance party of back to back singalongs), and tonight, brings that show to Buffalo. Prior to their set tonight at Waiting Room, I had the chance to chat with drummer Dan Haggis about the band’s changing sound and upcoming show. buffaBLOG: So the band’s sound seems to have change over the years, with your first record, A[...]

Orations Share New EP, Incantation

November 24, 2015

With two back-to-back weekends of 80’s dance parties and recent shows from Joy Division, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Replacements cover bands, it’s fair to say that the spirit of the decade is alive and well in Buffalo. So if you miss the pulsating bass lines of New Order’s Peter Hook or the shimmering jangle pop guitar of the Smiths’ Johnny Marr, then Buffalo’s Orations should have you covered. The band just released its sophomore EP/7″, Incantation, and it’s four tracks of invigorating, post-punk gems. Orations show their immense range on Incantation, generating an ability to seamlessly transfer from the dreamy pop sounds of opening number, “Curses,” to the more nocturnal punk sounds of tracks like “Nosedive.” This is no imitation, though. While Orations dig from a plethora of 80’s sounds, there’s no particular band they seem to sounds like. Rather, Incantation is the sound of a band who grew up loving[...]

Tonight: 80’s Party for the Food Bank

November 20, 2015

It’s that time of year. As the holidays approach, families and friends are getting together to celebrate the season and each others’ company. But obviously, for many stricken by poverty, this is a difficult season. So while sharing good will with your loved ones, it’s important to remember to help those who need it, and thankfully, the Food Bank of WNY is putting on a fantastic benefit event tonight to do just that. DJs Rick Vallone and Sal Sciandra will be spinning the best in 80’s music for one hell of a dance party, with cuts including the new wave sounds of Talking Heads and Blondie, the pop classics of Madonna and Whitney Houston, and the origins of hip-hop from N.W.A. and Rakim. Handlebar will also be featuring 80’s-inspired drinks specials and be showing the best (or worst) in 80’s movie goodness. So prepare to bust out the leg warmers[...]

Tonight: Sidewalking Plays Psychocandy

November 18, 2015

Today marks the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest and most influential pop records of all-time: The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy. Arriving on the scene in the mid-80s, quibbling Scottish brothers Jim and William Reid took the beautiful harmonies of 60’s pop bands like The Beach Boys and The Velvet Underground and bathed them in an unholy mess of noise and feedback to craft a unique sound unheard before. Over the course of 14 tracks, the brothers would set a precedent not just for future artists, but for future genres as well. Whether it’s noise rock, dreampop, or shoegaze, all owe a great debt to Psychocandy. And while the band have not been back since their infamous 2012 Canalside show that sent clueless plebs away in droves complaining about the noise and sounds, tonight offers a great experience for the diehards. Buffalo’s one and one elite JAMC cover[...]

Tonight: Depeche Mode vs New Order Dance Party

November 14, 2015

Mohawk Place has played host to a lot of Bill Page’s dance parties over the years, from the infamous Transmission series to decade themed parties to the classic annual Smiths and Cure throw down. But tonight, Page will team up with Aaron Andrews to pay tribute to two different bands of the 80’s: the original heroes of synth pop, Depeche Mode and New Order. Everything from the groups’ biggest anthems like “Personal Jesus” and “Temptation” to deeper cuts like “Vanishing Point” and “Halo” will get a spin. These “vs” parties have always been one of the most fun nights in Buffalo and again, selections have been spot on. It’s the classic London/Manchester rivalry played out on sonic scale, so tune in tonight to see who comes out victorious. Cover is $5 at the door and music kicks off at Mohawk at 10:30pm.

Column 35: Ranking the Beats of Bond

November 13, 2015

James Bond is inarguably one of the most famous characters in the history of cinema. And while each entry into the well-known franchise has given us a new tale in the classic spy series, it’s also provided us with a new definitive pop theme. It’s interesting to look at the change over the years as the themes not only reflect the changes in the series but the evolution of pop music. From Louis Armstrong to Madonna, Paul McCartney to Sheryl Crow, and A-ha to Sam Smith, singer of Bond’s most recent theme from Spectre, the series themes almost read as interesting timeline of pop culture itself. But which theme is the absolute best? 5. “A View to Kill” – Duran Duran (1985) Over the years, there have been many attempts to create a more modern or original Bond theme, one less classical and more in fitting with the times, and of all those[...]

Tonight: Sufjan Stevens

October 30, 2015

It’s rare enough for an artist to produce an album revered as a masterpiece once in their career. And to do it twice is nothing short of remarkable. But that’s exactly the kind of artist Buffalo will welcome to tonight as eclectic singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens will take the stage at the UB’s Center for the Arts. While Sufjan already had a host of great releases behind him (including 2004’s excellent Seven Swans), it wasn’t until 2005, with the release of Illinois, the second album in his now defunct “50 States Project,” that he truly broke through. The album was a sweeping baroque pop masterpiece, a stunning humanist collage built from history, folklore, and personal experience. It rightly received mass acclaim and produced a chart entry by way of lead single, “Chicago.” And while Stevens has continued to produce beautiful work over the years, including The BQE, his inspired Christmas double album, Silver &[...]

Column 34: Shaun of the Dead‘s Harmonious Relationship with Pop Music

October 29, 2015

Annnnd we’re back. After a long hiatus, we’ve returned with the latest installment of Screened Plays, the place where cinema and pop music collide. And just in time for Halloween, our good friends at North Park Theatre are showing one of my all-time favorite comedies: Shaun of the Dead. While many directors (Quentin Tarantino, Danny Boyle, Martin Scorsese) have a famously close relationship with pop music, I would argue perhaps no filmmaker has ever had quite as harmonious a relationship as Edgar Wright. Even going back to his early days with Spaced, his comedies looked different, moved different, and definitely sounded different from anything else on television. This is because Wright’s approach to filmmaking much more unique than that of most comedy directors. While many comedy films rest on the strength of either their writing or lead stars, Wright’s comedies are notably more visual. Perhaps the greatest weapon in his comedic arsenal is[...]

Tonight: Young Empires

October 24, 2015

Buffalo plays host to our Canadian neighbors with the synth-pop jams of Toronto’s Young Empires this evening. The trio has made waves in Canada in recent years with its unique blend of indie rock, synthpop, and Latin American percussion. The band found further success when lead single, “Rain of Gold,” was included in FIFA 13 leading to a UK chart run. Nw fresh off the release of the eagerly-awaited debut album, The Gates, the three piece has arrived in Buffalo with a fresh batch of funky jams. Young Empires have earned much acclaim for their sensational live shows and should provide tonight’s Waiting Room crowd with nothing short of one hell of a dance party. And Joining Young Empires will be  Wild Things, American Low, and Humble Braggers so be sure to get down there early. Tickets are $12 and doors to Waiting Room’s Studio open at 6pm.

Tonight: In The Valley Below

October 20, 2015

Buffalo will be greeted with the first solo show from popular LA pop act In the Valley Below this evening at the Tralf. The duo previously visited town for both Kerfuffle and UB’s Springfest, but are now back to the city that’s shown them so much love over the past year. The band is made up of the mid-western pair of Jeffrey Jacob Mendel and Angela Gail Mattson who met while playing in the Los Angeles to form In the Valley Below. You can hear the duo’s history in its music as their specific brand of pop music effortlessly blends the more twangy sounds of the group’s Americana and blues origins with the hazy synth-pop of the LA music scene. ITVB shot from relative obscurity to mass popularity seemingly overnight off the strength of the winningly romantic single, “Peaches.” The song’s breezy nature and subtle sensuality found the duo a plethora of new fans[...]