Latest Posts

Solid Goold – “I Can See You Clearly”

December 22, 2024

Solid Goold, led by none other than titular keyboardist/songwriter/composer Albert Goold, just put out the indie-jazz explosion of “I Can See You Clearly.” With equal tinges of 1980s new wave, jazz fusion, and indie pop showing up in his work, Goold smashes interesting chord shapes and wild key changes into this upbeat and jaunty tune. Expect a breakneck and cerebral lyrical delivery with plenty of chorus-soaked keyboard goodness that will appeal to fans of Huey Lewis, Billy Joel, or even Motion City Soundtrack.   Check out the vintage-themed music video for “I Can See You Clearly” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify playlists.  

Urge Surfer – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

December 18, 2024

Buffalo electro-pop duo Urge Surfer are back with their take on a holiday mainstay, the John Lennon & Yoko Ono classic “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” Featuring singer Chelsea O’Donnell’s distinctive voice in the forefront; bandmate Jordan Smith’s tasteful backups; and a bevy of modular synths and percussion; this particular version of “Happy Xmas” is a delightfully fresh take on a well-worn standard. Born out of the innocent desire to just put out a Christmas cover, the duo pumped this out in just about a week, harnessing the ramshackle and jangly energy of the original and giving it a fun, electronic spin.   You can purchase Urge Surfer’s version of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” via bandcamp (below) for a very reasonable “name your price” rate.   Happy Xmas (War is Over) by Urge Surfer

Photo Credit:: Gabe Becerra

Jordan Buckley of Better Lovers

December 6, 2024

We recently caught up with legendary Buffalo-born guitarist Jordan Buckley to talk about Better Lover‘s new album Highly Irresponsible; making hundreds of pounds of chicken wings at Warped Tour; what Blissmas means to Buffalo; and buying a bar on Chippewa.   Tickets for Blissmas ’24 can be purchased here.   Highly Irresponsible is out now via Sharptone records. Check out our review here.   *This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.   buffaBLOG: Better Lovers has just released their debut album Highly Irresponsible. What was the influence behind the name of the album and how do you think the songs play into the overall concept?   Jordan Buckley: Greg came up with the name – it’s one of those things that felt like “it has a nice ring to it” and looks good on a t-shirt *laughs*. But I like when names are open to interpretation – not[...]

Society of Beggars – Levitator

November 30, 2024

Society of Beggars is a Melbourne-based act who just released their latest album, Levitator, a ten-song offering full of dark and brooding rock tunes. Inspired by a period of grief due to the loss of frontman Yianni and brother Jim Michalopoulos’ father, the band holed up in Birdland Studios with over thirty (!) demos to choose from. They whittled the tracks down into the ten songs you hear on Levitator, and the deep emotions attached shine through in the final product. Here’s a little more from Yianni about what Levitator means to the band:   “When you’re feeling that manic energy that comes with grief, it can be all-consuming… Our drummer Dibi and bassist Zoë Alexa’s friendship and musical connection provided the foundation we needed to create.”   The title-track and intro to the album, “Levitator,” feels like the perfect way to kick off this album. A punctuated guitar riff pounds out[...]

Tents – “Light Breaks in the Middle of the Night”

November 29, 2024

Portland-based act Tents delivers a delightful slice of indie-pop with their latest offering, “Light Breaks in the Middle of the Night.” Lush harmonies, bouncing bass rhythms, and washes of guitar power this one forward, providing a perfect backbone for the sweet and slightly somber lyrical presence. The best thing about Tents, particularly in this song, is the way they effortlessly combine upbeat energy with an underlying melancholy… Perfect for those pensive, music-listening moods where you don’t want to wallow.   Check out “Light Breaks” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.  

Sir Jay – Running From Yourself

November 25, 2024

Sir Jay is a Helsinki-based musician who has been gearing up for the release of his latest album, Running From Yourself (RFY), since the pandemic. With that much time to tweak, tweez, and polish your magnum opus, it’s borderline ironic that RFY sounds so effortless. Taking queues from electronica, soft rock, and psychedelic rock, Sir Jay’s nine latest songs are a group of whirring gems – stuffed with nuance and texture in a way that makes it perfect listening-music for many moods.   Jay was smart to start the album with the swirling ambiance of “Box Animal.” A slow-burning start introduces the listener to Jay’s sonic palate – expect gauzy bleats of synth, simmering string accompaniments, and drums that percolate at a pleasant, reserved pace. “Box” inspires feelings of being underwater – whether it’s Jay’s all-encompassing instrumentals or a poolside vibe is up to the listener to decide. Throughout its three[...]

Love Ghost – Love Ghost x Skold

November 22, 2024

LA-based act Love Ghost is one of the most perfectly-named acts I’ve ever come across. Colloquially known as Finnegan Seeker Bell, he’s been making music since he was barely double-digits, cutting his teeth (and probably losing them simultaneously) at backyard gigs, small venues, and anywhere else that would have him. It’s led to this point in his journey – a collaborative, 13-song LP called Love Ghost x Skold (LGXS). Full of dark alt rock that slaps heavily of mid-aughts emo, Bell, alongside Tim Skold (who co-wrote all the songs and music on the album), tackles heavy topics, like death, witchcraft, and war with a dagger-wielding hand that cuts straight to the bone.   LGXS opens with a mysterious intro before launching into “Nightshade and Cocaine” – here, we’re first introduced to the hallmarks of LGXS’ sound. A tape-aged piano taps out haunting chords before a trap-inspired smattering of electronics creep out[...]

Elemantra – “The Problem”

November 18, 2024

Perpetually-whirring Buffalo shoegazers Elemantra are back with a fresh new single, “The Problem.” Their impeccable pedalboard curation is on full display here, ranging everywhere from ghostly clean guitars to monstrous blasts of fuzz. Elemantra’s patented brand of all-consuming ambiance is on full display here, lush with nimble basslines, tight drumming, and those far-off vocals that make your favorite ‘gazers sound so mysterious – think Slowdive or MBV. Fans of all waves of emo, anywhere from Appleseed Cast to Citizen, will also enjoy “The Problem,” for its excellent execution of somber emotions and quiet/loud dynamics.   You can find “The Problem” via Bandcamp below, or, stream it via your preferred listening service – Spotify or Apple Music. The Problem (single) by elemantra

Idaho Green – Gems of the High Plains

November 10, 2024

As purveyors of predominantly WNY-based music, it makes complete sense that we’d review a double LP from Montana-born, Brooklyn-based act Idaho Green (IG). Sarcasm aside, Idaho Green is one of those wacky bands that we would champion over here at buffaBLOG – we’re not intimately familiar with the group, but they seem like the type of loud, lightly-wacky act that pumps out good, passionate songs at a frighteningly efficient pace. Full disclosure, Idaho Green reminds me of a few beloved local acts (see here, or here), and I find that endearing. Buffalo is a secondary market (much like Billings, Montana I’d imagine), so we usually have to create our own fun. A place like Brooklyn seems like an obvious home for a quartet like this, but thinking about IG dressing up in stage outfits and getting wild in some dive bar in Montana makes me smile.   The double album[...]

Aberrant Kingdom – AK

November 10, 2024

Sure, as bloggers, we’re supposed to be the wordsmiths. But Pittsburgh-adjacent-based stoner sludge act Aberrant Kingdom seem to have hit the nail on the head:   “We play loud, heavy, strange songs in sweaty rooms.”   One listen through their latest album, the 10-song AK (ostensibly, short for Aberrant Kingdom) and you’ll see what they mean… This hard hitting trio of James May (guitar/vocals), Ian Tepper (drums), and Pat Herron (bass) craft the kind of music that seems tailor-made for sweaty basement venues and sweltering attic shows. Falling somewhere on an intangible spectrum between Black Sabbath, early Nirvana, and Primus, AK is full of quirky compositions delivered through a prog-rock lens with a dash of that wild, Les Claypool energy… And of course soaked in a grunged-out, Big Muff (TM) style fuzz.   The album opens with an eerie whirring of feedback as Herron starts hammering out a sludgy bass line. Soon the[...]

Carter Brady – Shopping Cart

November 3, 2024

Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and the 90s influenced music coming from Carter Brady harkens back to those halcyon days of JNCO jeans and Pogs. His latest offering is the 13 song Shopping Cart, a guitar-forward LP full of upbeat and sunny-dispositioned songs that are reminiscent of simpler times. When the topic of 90s rock comes up, dark and moody grunge-era bands typically come to mind – think Alice in Chains or Nirvana… But Brady doubles down on that sunshine-y, late-90s sound (think Third Eye Blind, Weezer, or lighter Foo Fighters fare) that thrives in its four-chord simplicity, allowing for earworm melodies and rhythms to develop. Expect Brady’s music to go down real easy – the kind of songs that you’d hear at a dive bar on a Friday night, when you’re a few drinks deep and ready to dance.   Brady kicks things off with “We’re Talking” – a great[...]

Walter The Producer – “Little Lies”

October 31, 2024

Walter The Producer is on his way to being a frequent buffaBLOG feature – we’re digging his latest offering too, the indie-psych daze found on “Little Lies.” Walter (or Reid as he’s colloquially known as) has a perfect tenor, crushing this lyric-forward jam with his eclectic and energetic delivery. The song itself is wild – expect ear-catching guitar riffs, a rock solid bassline, and a groovy beat that never lets up.  This sounds like Tame Impala, Foster the People, and Portugal. The Man got together to write a tail-end-of-summer hit – one that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and because of that, is effortlessly cool.   “Little Lies” is available now – check it out via Soundcloud (below); the music video on YouTube; or Spotify/Apple Music.   Walter The Producer · Little Lies

georgia, georgia – “things you do”

October 31, 2024

georgia, georgia jangles her way through a love song on latest offering, “things you do.” Brightly-strummed guitar, atmospheric synths, and georgia x2’s heartfelt vocals power this one forward with an impossibly sunny disposition, bringing to mind The Sundays with a hint of mid-00s power-pop energy. The drums here smash with a surprising intensity, giving the song a bombastic feel that takes “things” from lovey-dovey to fist-pumping. Be sure to keep your ears peeled for the nimble bassline that worms its way through the choruses here… *chefs kiss*   You can find “things you do” on Soundcloud (below), or Spotify. georgia, georgia · things you do

Better Lovers – Highly Irresponsible

October 31, 2024

Jordan Buckley is verified Buffalo royalty… And Steve Micciche… AND Goose (aka Clayton Holyoak). Together, with vocalist Greg Puciato and guitarist Will Putney, they’re Better Lovers – a certified supergroup, most notably (for us Buffalonians), one that rose from the ashes of legendary hardcore act Every Time I Die, who ruled Buffalo hardcore with an iron fist for 20+ years. With Puciato hailing from Dillinger Escape Plan and Putney coming from Fit for an Autopsy, the band’s experience and pedigree speak for themselves. After rave reviews for debut single “30 under 13” and follow-up EP, God Made Me An Animal, as well as a bevy of sold out tour dates, they’ve finally buckled (semi-pun intended) down to write and release their debut full length. They’ve titled it Highly Irresponsible, and it’s full of brutal hardcore, a strong sense of melody, and that “still partying at 4am” energy that we’ve come[...]

Shutter – Above Us All

October 30, 2024

Emo isn’t dead, and New Jersey quartet Shutter is living proof. Every few years, a new wave of emo cascades through the airwaves – bringing heartfelt lyrics, dark vibes, and a new generation of emotionally-in-tune kids who turn to this poignant genre of music as a way to define themselves. Whether you’re a late 90s aficionado, a mid-aughts holdout, a Midwest fan, or anything in between, there’s a part of this genre that sticks with you for life. Shutter is a great band in a line of great bands who are making great music – Their latest EP is the five-song Above Us All, a “kinda rock” offering of cathartic, guitar-forward songs. Fans of the heavier variety of emo that flirts with hard rock and grunge – think Citizen, Balance and Composure, and/or Superheaven – will find lots to sink their teeth into here.   Above Us All kicks off with[...]