Beloved Melbourne quintet DIET. sent over the effervescent “Game Plan” and we’ve been hooked ever since. Finding a nice balance between the fervent punk of Cloud Nothings and a vague 80s Smiths vibe, “Game Plan” pairs frantic drums with equally peppy guitar riffs and airy synth flourishes. Have a listen for yourself via the Bandcamp widget below. “Game Plan” is on Spotify – add it to the playlist of your choice. Sundown EP by DIET
The 1984 Draft tugged on our heartstrings with the frank, figurative thank you note of “Honest.” Driven by good-old-fashioned guitars and heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics, “Honest” finds singer/songwriter Joe Anderl thanking his audience for giving him a reason to go on. It’s a touching tribute to the reason musicians exist in the first place… Fans of Beach Slang, The Appleseed Cast, or The Gaslight Anthem will find common ground here. Makes Good Choices is available now via Poptek Records. Check it out here.
Catnip Cloud is a Norwegian artist whose “Buried in the Snow” caught our ears in just the right way. Anyone from Buffalo knows how brutal our winters can be, so this one will surely strike a nerve with some of our locals. About the song, Catnip says, “I made it in my bedroom in Norway on a dark winter night, something that was a crucial factor for the song’s emotion and atmosphere.” We can’t help but agree – dig into the delicious arpeggios and open-throated guitar and bass tones via the widget below. Catnip Cloud is on Spotify. Add it to your playlist here.
Emily Afton mysteriously reached out to us with her latest single, “Back In San Francisco.” We think it speaks for itself, so now we’re sharing it with all of you. Its sparse guitar arrangement, fuzzy bass contributions, and tight drum sound are reminiscent of “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn, & John while still being very much its own song. This one is a lovely, simple indie rock ditty powered by Afton’s dusky vocals, check it out below. Emily’s stuff is on Spotify – add her to your library if you know what’s good for you.
Bearhunter is celebrating the release of their new album, Nothing Further Beyond, tonight at Mohawk Place. The trio has been writing tasteful and nuanced indie rock for over a decade, and their newest release promises to be just as excellent as what we’ve come to expect. Local support tonight is also very strong, and comes from local mainstays dreambeaches, The Tins, and Coral Collapse. Tonight’s show is at Mohawk Place. Doors are at 8pm and admission is $10. A copy of Bearhunter’s new release, Nothing Further Beyond, is included with the door.
Ohio “shoegayzers” Queer Kevin are swinging through Buffalo tonight, bringing their simmering indie rock vibes and haunting melodies in tow. They’re bringing Northampton punks Dump Him along for the ride, in what promises to be a night of beautiful punk-esque noise. Local support tonight comes from the ever-sad indie rockers in honey COMA and a slow, ambient set from scene vet Kay Stuitje. Tonight’s show is a very affordable $5. Be at Sugar City at 7pm – music starts at 7:30pm. A friendly reminder that Sugar City is a drug and alcohol free, all-ages venue. all dykes go to heaven (demo) by Queer Kevin
Los Angeles-based electro act Opāru has made a triumphant return with her latest song, “Ghost To Follow.” “Ghost” is a poignant and resplendent single that finds Opāru waxing existential about the innate human experience of yearning to belong, finding a sense of purpose, and being accepted. Driven by passionate piano chords and Opāru’s (aka Dianna St. Hilaire) ethereal vocals, “Ghost To Follow” (produced by Josh Stevens of LMFAO, Jennifer Lopez, and Pitbull fame) is dark and dreamy, falling somewhere on the spectrum between Lana Del Ray and classic 90s pop. We’ve posted a lyrical video below for you to follow along. If you’re interested in learning more about Opāru, check out her website, drop her a like on Facebook, or stay posted via Twitter.
Fuzzy, buzzing indie pop act Dentist will be visiting Buffalo tonight. Their unique, surf-punk-tinged, indie-pop aesthetic is driven by the ethereal vocals of singer Emily Bornemann, coupled with smart drums and California-esque guitar crunch. Having recently been named by SXSW as one of “2018’s top 10 bands,” they’ve just released their third LP, Night Swimming, earlier this year. Joining them are the poppy punky goodness of Chicago act Jupiter Styles and New Orleans act Treadles, and Buffalo’s very own honey COMA. Tonight’s show is at 9pm at Electric Avenue. Bring $5 for admission. Night Swimming by Dentist
Harrison‘s “Atmosphere” is the second single off of his upcoming LP. The song features fellow Canadian and frequent collaborator Daniela Andrade. We dig the tasteful layering of vocals into the track, mixed with Harrison’s interesting ear for percussion. Sit back and let the swelling synths and stuttering drum work wash over you. If you want to know more about Harrison, do it while playing the cool flash game on his website.
Here’s some fresh nu-disco for you to wind down the dog days of summer – “Primordial” is another banger collaboration between hit machine Satin Jackets and singer Niya Wells. Pairing smooth disco beats with Niya’s even-smoother vocal delivery, “Primordial” gets it all right. We’re sure you’ll want to tap into your inner-most desires and let loose with this one thumping through your speakers – check it out below. “Primordial” is available everywhere.
Last time we checked in with the curiously-named The Band Ice Cream, we were waxing poetic about the spastic, upbeat indie rock of “Sand Dunes.” This time around, we’re digging “Your Guy.” It seems here that the Ice Creamers have refined their sound ever-so-slightly… They retain the rough edges of their earlier material while wrapping their songwriting into a neat little indie rock package full of blistering guitar riffs and howling vox. Fans of The Growlers or a more-raw GIRLS will dig this one. Like what you hear? Add it to your Spotify playlist.
Bokito have just released their fourth and most charming single to date – “How Dare You” is a groovy, indie-rock jam laced with synths and tropical flourishes. About the song, Bokito explains, “[‘How Dare You’ is] a celebration of finding someone that matches your madness, the insecurities and concerns that come into building a relationship and the ever growing feeling that these thoughts may be pushing the other person away… But ultimately, the comfort in knowing that someone has those same uncertainties in relation to you!” “How Dare You” is consumable via many platforms – check them all out here.
Beerwine King is an interestingly-named Oakland act whose jarring “Shot in the Head” is certainly worth a listen. Taking notes from discordant kings Pile (as well as a healthy dose of Pixies style art-rock), “Shot in the Head” is the perfect mix of angst and start/stop instrumentation. Most notable here are Beerwine King’s throaty, sardonic vocals. Give it a listen via the widget below.
Pink Skies songs were never even meant to be heard… Keep that in mind while you groove along to the synthy-indie sentiment embedded in “Passing Me By.” Inspired by his tenure in indie and punk bands, coupled with little bit of vintage psych rock and r&b influences, Arieh Berl got himself creatively inspired and dusted off his old home recordings. What resulted is the elegant lo-fi on debut EP Does it Really Matter?. Fans of Tame Impala, Foster The People, and Washed Out will dig this one – check it out below.
LA-based rapper Rozlin sold us hard with the phat, quirky flow on her latest offering, “The Hole.” Featuring an equally-kitschy music video, Rozlin spitfire-raps about the joys of living in the moment. Fans of Kreyshawn or Nicki Minaj will definitely find some common ground here, especially with Rozlin’s penchant for deadpan delivery. Caution: this one bangs HARD – check out the video below and see for yourself. Learn more about Rozlin via her website.