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Tonight: Orations

March 29, 2019

Tonight, get on down to Mohawk Place to catch an electrifying lineup that is sure to start your weekend off right. 

Buffalo-based shoegaze act Orations will be performing tonight in celebration of the release of their new LP Receiver, which is dripping in subdued, moody, post-punk goodness. The band has generously dropped two new tracks: “All The Honey” and “False Face,” on their Bandcamp to hold you over until tonight. Trust us, you’re not going to want to miss this one. Sharing the stage with them is local fuzzed-out emo heartthrobs Cooler, and the unassuming-yet-thrilling Nylon Otters. There will also be solo performances by Dave Allison and Bill Nehill. Doors open at 8pm with a $7 cover. 

In the meantime, you can check out Orations’ “All The Honey” right here. Receiver by OrationsWritten by Mike Rakiecki

Tonight: Orations

March 2, 2018

Buffalo’s Mr. Goodbar (Upstairs) is showing off the local goods tonight with a can’t-miss show featuring different shades of punk supplied by Buffalo’s finest. The stellar line-up includes the supremely talented, Orations, who will be performing their fantastic post-punk head nodders and toe-tappers. Expect an earful of jangling guitar riffs, punk-driven drums and Jess Collins’s beautifully resonant, mockingbird vocals. If you haven’t had the pleasure of listening to Orations, see them live tonight and walk away their biggest fan. Also taking the stage, the floor, the walls, the ceiling and your personal space, are punk rockers, Gun Candy. With a rough and tumble sound backed up by a rowdy performance this mixed 4-piece will get in your face for what promises to be a hell of a set. Rounding out the bill are schizophrenic anti-genre, Soul Butchers, and indie grungers Nylon Otters. This is a Buffalo show through and through,[...]

Tonight: Beach Slang

September 15, 2017

Tonight Mohawk Place is the spot for a total rager that’s descending onto Buffalo when Philly’s Beach Slang come into town.  Beach Slang are dropping a new EP titled, We Were Babies & We Were Dirtbags, which is a tonal shift for the ear-splitting post-punk group. The new EP features cellos and pianos and an all together, gentler sound. The shift shows a marked evolution for the band. Their first and second records are brash, energetic and  make their statement on the decaying nature of youth.  It’s going to be wild to see how they incorporate pieces from the EP into their typically loud punk shows. Sharing the night with Beach Slang will be *repeat repeat, a surf/garage rock outfit hailing from Nashville, TN, and Buffalo’s own post-punk act Orations. Doors are at 7pm, $17 at the door.

Tonight: Decorum

April 6, 2017

Brooklyn’s three piece outfit Decorum takes a hold of the post-punk revitalization movement and makes it their own. The often jangly, spindly guitars that are found throughout the genre are vacant, as Decorum consists of a dual bass set-up and drums. Taking the various flavors the low end has in post-punk and playing both at the same time creates atmospheric textures while still staying true to the genre. Swirling around, in almost a cyclical nature Decorum incorporates a dark, moody sound that’s strung out and made thin, wisp like, on top of which are early shoegaze, breath-like vocals. Supporting Decorum  at Dreamland will be locals, Orations, who are just coming off their stellar post-punk LP, Wych Elm, along with Slow Mutants who always seem to bring a ton of energy to their shows, and post-punk trio, The Patterns. This is a post-punk night not to miss. Show at 7pm. $6 to[...]

Orations – Wych Elm

April 3, 2017

Following up on their previous EP, Incantation, Buffalo quartet, Orations, have released their debut 12” LP, Wych Elm on March 17, through Custom Made Music. Showcasing the variance in 80’s post-punk, Orations’ debut is in part a look back, a revivalist endeavor so to speak, while also being a record that stands on its own merits. Orations is Jess Collins on vocals, Paul Morin on guitar, Jason Draper on bass and melodica, Matt Chavanne on drums and percussion, with additional help from Aaron Ratajczak and Rick Wright. Present on Wych Elm are some of the various iconic sounds that made up a chunk of the post-punk sonic aesthetic from the 80s. Like the jangly, sometimes airy and dreamy guitar, the dark, low, rhythmic bass, and the often brooding, dour vocal delivery. The reproduction of the genre is flawless and the band really wears their influences on their sleeves, including bands[...]

Tonight: Orations Release Party

April 1, 2017

College Rock isn’t just for the kids anymore. If you’re feeling nostalgic and are “jonesin” for some  80’s post-punk  jams then the Tralf may just be your pusher man. The Main Street venue will be hosting three Buffalo bands tonight that will most definitely fill your pre-alternative void. Slotted to play will be Orations, who will be celebrating the release of their new record Wych Elm. The album is Orations’ fourth release and first on US label Custom Made Music. Also on the bill will experimental noise punk outfit Alpha Hopper and late 90s emo revivalists Honey Coma. Punk time is null and void. It’s $7 at the door which opens at 9:15pm, music at 9:45 and a strict end by midnight. Wych Elm will be available for purchase on Cassette, CD and LP, as well as super sweet new T-shirts, because after all who doesn’t need another t-Shirt?

Tonight: The Leones

October 15, 2016

Tonight Buffalo’s Leones celebrate the release of their Halloween album Ghost In The City at the Mohawk with Twin Speak, Orations, and Award Show. Bold and ambitious, Ghost In The City features excellent atmosphere, vocals reminiscent of Richard Ashcroft, and some serious class. Utica psychedelic doom rockers Twin Speak will opening the show with Buffalo goth romantics Orations, Award Show, a lo-fi acoustic bedroom folk project from Jesse Kaufman and Nate Ward, and 80’s horror movies on VHS in between sets. The bands request donations of Halloween masks and child friendly costumes to benefit underprivileged children through the NPO Gateway Longview, which serves 3600 children throughout Western New York. Doors are 7:30pm, show starts at 8pm, and cover is $5. Fire Walk With Me by The Leonesr

Tonight: See Through Dresses

August 13, 2016

If you have been finding yourself listening to Verucca Salt, The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr., Blake Babies, and other great 90’s “alternative” bands lately, then the lineup tonight at Tudor Lounge can help you scratch that itch. Touring Omahans See Through Dress blends elements from all your favorite bands that Matt Pinfield used to play on 120 Minutes, with a sound that ranges from indie rock to shoegaze to dream pop. Also on the lineup are 80’s gothrock act Orations and raw garage punk band with riot grrrl influences, Trinkit. Doors are at 9pm with a $5 cover. Written by Derek Neuland

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 10-1

December 17, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. Earlier this week we posted our five close calls and our first half of the top 20.  I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined below are the blog’s favorite songs of 2015. 10. Tiny Rhymes – “Arrows” Tiny Rhymes‘ ”Arrows” is an incredibly cherishable tune. It approaches the listener with a coy but welcoming softness, making it feel like a delicate gem that only you are privy to. Atop prime musicianship, singer Sharon Mok’s[...]

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: Halloween Tribute Party

October 31, 2015

Cover shows are hands down my favorite Halloween tradition. When else can you see all your favorite classic punk bands on the same stage? One year, I got to see Slayer, SSD, the Misfits, and the Ramones together on the same stage and Lifetime, the Lawrence Arms, NOFX, and Descendents in the same weekend. This Halloween at Mohawk Place, you can see the Naturalists as Pavement, Wolf as the Replacements, members of Orations, A House Safe for Tigers and TMMC as Joy Division, and a Governess’ rendition of Turbonegro. The Halloween tribute is $5 if you wear a costume because why wouldn’t you. The punk imposters go on at 8pm. CC Death Squad will play creepily in between sets. Don’t miss your probably only chance to see Pavement and the Replacements.

Tonight: Strange Acres & Orations

July 2, 2015

Anyone looking to get a head start on their holiday weekend should find themselves at Allen St. Hardware Café tonight. In Queen City Cartel’s third installment of their bi-weekly Thursday series, Orations and Strange Acres will be taking over the intimate confines of Hardware’s back room. Orations’ brooding post-punk has a pumping heart similar to that of Joy Division or Siouxsie and the Banshees, while the chilling arrangements and emotional outpourings of Strange Acres will have you laying horizontal on the floor in a contemplative tizzy. For those of you who haven’t seen one (or both) of these dark local heavyweights, tonight is your night. The best part about this show? Well, the bands (along with Dante Velour spinning tracks in the gaps). But the second best thing? It won’t cost you a thing. Unless you plan on getting sauced, in which case you should bring some cash. Just tell[...]

Tonight: Shonen Knife

June 1, 2015

Legendary Osaka, Japan garage rockers, Shonen Knife, return to the Queen City to kick off their North American tour at a special benefit show tonight at Waiting Room for beloved community enterprise Music Is Art. Local punkers and post-punkers Healer, Lost Elysium, and Orations will open the show with Tokyo’s DJ Sashimi spinning records throughout the evening. With the Music Is Art Festival only a few months away on September 12th, this is a mightily good cause to get behind, in addition to a terrific bill featuring a band with a long history playing our city. Tickets are $15 at the doors and show will kick off at 7pm.

Tonight: Boyharsher

April 1, 2015

Wednesday seems like a good night for music on the darker side, which is good as Dreamland will be host to 3 excellent acts. Tonight’s Boyharsher show is a great fit for those looking brooding, moody music that is at times danceable. Boyharsher fills out the danceable card, performing minimal wave songs with an industrial edge. Combining sparse synths with droning vocals, the Georgia based duo is sure to put on an excellent show. Local post-punks, Orations, offer a guitar driven counterpoint playing music reminiscent of Bauhaus and early Cure. Heart Brains are billed as “thoughtful’ noise-drones. Oddly enough, they are the harshest sounding band in a show featuring another band with ‘harsh’ in their name. For only a $5 donation to the awesome space at Dreamland, this is a great way to spend a Wednesday or any day really. Show begins at 8pm.

Tonight: Alpha Hopper, Orations, & Soul Butchers

January 30, 2015

As we all know, January is seemingly endless string of cold, dark days, the never melting coating of snow a reminder of our own growing despondency and claustrophobia. Shame it only comes but once a year. To help celebrate the coming end of this month, Mohawk Place has a pretty solid bill of local bands beginning at 8pm for only $5 later on tonight. Starting things off will be Alpha Hopper, a band quickly building momentum for their debut LP, set to be released this Summer. Abrasive garage rock anchored by amazing vocals, this is definitely a band to watch. From there we move on to the brooding post punk of Orations. Whose ep from last year was a definite highlight. Fans of Joy Division, Bauhaus, and early Cure do not want to miss this performance. Finally, rounding things out is the frantic and wholly entertaining punk of Soul Butchers. So really,[...]