Sleepy Soul is a mysterious duo who mixes a bit of soul, a bit of funk, and a touch of indie into their electronic jams. We’ve been jamming on “Still Can’t Dance,” which is a really cool song on its own (think Sylvan Esso or Phantogram), but it’s truly set off by its inspirational music video… It’s a familiar story, one where a young man learns to dance like a true champion. Stick around till the end for a surprise twist.
Montreal act Bodywash slid their washy brand of indie rock directly into our inboxes… And it worked out for them. “Reverie” starts out with a Radiohead-esque riff layered thick with synth pads but quickly adds a buoyant bass riff and tight drums to give it a feel of their own. This one is a happy juxtaposition of indie pop and mesmerizing soundscape – check it out below or give them some support via Bandcamp.
Jejune Stars ain’t just a Bright Eyes song anymore – it’s actually a gauzy, shoegazy indie rock act from San Antonio, whose “Concrete Bedsheets” has been rubbing us in all the right ways. Pair off-in-the-distance vocals with warbly, swirly guitars; washy drums; a smattering of keyboard; and an omnipresent bass thump. The vaguely lo-fi approach here is what really sends this one into the stratosphere – check it out via Bandcamp. Jejune Stars by Jejune Stars
Indie electropop is the bees knees – especially when it plays with funky time signatures. Halfloves is a quintet from Iowa, and their latest jam, “Small Hours,” kicks right off with a 10 beat rhythm. Beyond that ear-catching switch up in feel, the song is a pulsating, indie rock/synth pop hybrid, pairing a hooky chorus with lots of juicy and crunchy synth tones. The best part – they jam it all in beneath the three minute mark. Check it out below.
There’s something to be said about genuine music made in the comfort and solitude of a bedroom – case in point Neon Guava and the lo-fi chillfest that is “Cloud9.” Neon Guava is actually a 20-year-old broke accountant trying to do something great (aren’t we all?); “Cloud9” is his simple but v-vibey love song about feeling divine while sharing a kiss with that special someone. Fans of Neon Indian, Washed Out, or Still Corners will like his style. Neighborhood Sounds by Neon Guava
There’s something inherently infectious about New Jersey indie rockers The Vaughns and their catchy brand of indie pop. Our suggestion: check out the vibrant bounce of “50%,” which caught our ears with its bubbly, plucky guitar riff and singer Anna Lies’ lilting vocals. If you like what you hear, make sure you check The Vaughns out when they blow through Buffalo on June 18th (with some excellent local support). Till then, be sure to add “50%” to your Spotify playlist so you know the words!
EMAN8 sent us over the infectious vibes of “Stir” and we couldn’t help but share. “Stir” is an inspirational jam about getting out of that proverbial funk – “If you’re stuck in the same place, stir it up, stir it up!” He sends out his uplifting message over funky, urban pop vibes full of hammered piano chords and bounding basslines. Attn fans of Chance The Rapper, Anderson.Paak, or Andy Grammer: put this one on if you want to turn your day around.
Local indie-pop-punkers Post Prom recently debuted a brand new single titled “Hurt Somebody.” The band gave the song the full GCR treatment, working with local engineer/mastermind Jay Zubricky to bring it to life. On “Hurt Somebody,” the quintet has continued to refine their brand of emotive vocals with a triad of impressively nimble guitar (yes, there’s three of them!) and bass work. Check it out below or add it to your Spotify playlist. ICYMI, Post Prom will soon be playing a veritable Buffalo supershow, featuring Pentimento, I Can See Mountains, and Young English. It’s at Town Ballroom this July – don’t miss it! Hurt Somebody (Single) by Post Prom
There’s something romantic about the concept of perennials. For those without a green thumb, a perennial is a flower that lives for more than two years – sticking around to poke their colorful heads out of the snow or blooming wildly throughout the summer before being murdered by the brutal Buffalo winter year after year. Wild Once knows a little something about rebirth – despite the death of their past projects (Rust Belt Lights, As Summer Dies), they’re still here and they’ve continued to create music. They’re a group of guys on the “wrong side of 30” (those are their words, not ours – see “Perennials”), but there’s a valuable, intangible kind of experience that comes with age. A vague punk influence still shines through here, but Wild Once’s music falls into a nebulous area between emo, pop-punk, and indie rock. Tinges of The Get Up Kids and Transit shine through as equally[...]
Batavia native Colin Berardini is a lifelong musician that has recently embarked on a song-a-month solo project with his new songwriting vehicle, Ever Onward. He specializes in instrumental post-rock epics; lyricless soundscapes meant to inspire daydreams and to encourage the listener to find their own thoughts to take away. His most recent effort is “Hindsight,” a sprawling, six-minute composition full of sparkling guitars, swelling synths, and an overwhelming sense of atmosphere. Fans of Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros, or Lights & Motion will enjoy Berardini’s work. Berardini is already hard at work on his next release, due out in early June. Until then, you can listen to Ever Onward via most platforms – check it out on Bandcamp and add it to your Spotify playlist. Hindsight by Ever Onward
Looking for something to do tonight? Perhaps you should spend your Saturday night checking out some heartfelt indie and rock music. Buffalonian mainstays Nylon Otters (warbly feel-good indie rock) and Passed Out (heartfelt and blistering indie-emos) are anchoring the show, featuring a very special set from Ithaca’s Wildflwr. Rounding out the evening is an ambient opening set from Depression Quilts. Tonight’s show is at 9pm at Milkie’s on Elmwood. Bring $5. Demo #1 by Wildflwr
Fans of 00s Drive-Thru-era pop-punk rejoice! The Movielife is making their way through Buffalo tonight for a very special set… They’re playing two of their most celebrated albums in full – Forty Hour Train Back To Penn and The Movielife Has A Gambling Problem. Joining The Movielife tonight is fellow 00s royalty, Travis Shettel, of Piebald fame. Tonight’s show is at the Rec Room on Chippewa. Tickets are $20 in advance and doors are at 7pm.
Newly-minted Buffalonian indie rockers Wild Once are due to release their debut EP later this spring. Until then, they’ve come out swinging with the brooding title-track, “Perennials.” The quartet shows off a decidedly mature and atmospheric guitar-driven sound, while not straying too far from their emotional and punk rock roots – think The National meets The Get Up Kids with a hint of The Killers. Perennials is due out this spring via Admirable Traits records. Make sure you catch Wild Once’s EP release – it’s at Mohawk Place on May 10th. Perennials by Wild Once
Buffalo lo-fi pop-rockers Johnny & The Man Kids are gearing up for a new release later this spring. In anticipation, they’ve just dropped the first single from their upcoming EP, You Made Me Hurt. “Before” is an energetic blast of overblown distortion, fleshed out with tastefully distorted vocals that sling earworm pop hooks. Fans of The Strokes, Twin Peaks, or Diarrhea Planet will find something to like here – be sure to check it out through the convenient widget below. Johnny & the Man Kids’ new EP, You Made Me Hurt, is due to be released on 4/12/19 via Admirable Traits Records.
Any musician knows the trials and tribulations of being in a band, perhaps no one better than the remaining two members of Albany psych-folk act Bruiser & Bicycle. Their latest album, Woods Come Find Me, is a transition of sorts. It’s a step away from their full-fledged rock band roots. They are a duo now, and they have accepted their fate as a two-piece. Sure, only having two band members certainly brings its own set of limitations… But the opportunity has come for co-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Nick Whittemore and Keegan Graziane to spread their wings – they’ve used this chance to reinvent themselves, and in doing so, explore themes of existentialism, transitional disorientation, and restless spirits. Say what you will about the current state of indie rock – but Woods Come Find Me, with all its exploration of suspended animation and arrested development, exists in a sort of time warp. Imagine it’s 2005 again –[...]