Latest Posts

Mallwalkers Debut Video for New Single

October 18, 2016

The first time I saw Mallwalkers, my cheeks hurt. I must’ve been smiling for a half hour straight. Not that their performance was comical, just incredibly infectious. There were about nine people on the stage (including horns, my favorite part of any ensemble), all seemingly under a moonstruck, punk-driven craze. Mallwalkers have this riotous ability to rally all the energy in the room, in their own bodies, and throw it all on the floor. By the sounds of “Dial ‘M’ For…”, that’s exactly where the new album is headed, too. The music video for the new tune, directed by FLATSITTER and choreographed by Michelle Merlo, is just as amusing. It features the band’s two main vocalists, Daniel Carosa and Jaz Frazier, cavorting around the city. There’s this flashy, desaturated overlay throughout the entire video that lends itself to the gritty, abrasive nature of the song. The band’s new album, which[...]

Tonight: Queen City Music Lottery #2 Showcase

June 6, 2015

The Queen City Music Lottery is an exciting experiment  that tests some of the myths we hang onto about bands, such as that they are made up of organically formed people who share deep personal bonds. Obviously, we know this isn’t actually the case but on some level, I think we unconsciously subscribe to this. This is why the Lottery sounds so intriguing. What happens if you assemble bands via lottery, what kind of random combinations of people does it create and what kind of music can they make in a short time? As I mentioned, the Queen City Music Lottery is Sugar City’s annual event where bands are assembled by drawing names out of a hat. These bands can be made up of long time musicians or people who have never picked up an instrument in their life, the bands are assembled and given a few months to coalesce.[...]

JOHNS – Grift Marks

March 30, 2015

The melodic dissonance of JOHNS’ new album, Grift Marks (released this past Saturday via Peterwalkee Records), comes from a dark, post-industrialized corner of the world. Imagine Joy Division’s Ian Curtis growing up in the rust belt. Still, every track, every note on the newest release demonstrates a high level of precision. JOHNS may conduct a pathos of unbridled terror, but it is with great care, rather than sloppy angst, that quintet does this. Multiple guitars from John Toohill and Nick Gordon leave their trademark scrape on the surface of every song, but with delicate harmony rather than chaotic noise. The dueling leads in “Wasteland,” for instance, intertwine to create a pallet for the track’s chanting, gang vocals. The guitar and bass hits in the chorus of “Erase Them” hit so hard because of the band’s attention to melody and countermelody. While uniform in mood and composition, each track employs a[...]

JOHNS Begin Grift Marks Pre-Sale, Debut Music Video for “Thrust”

March 12, 2015

Buffalo’s resident dark garage rockers, JOHNS, are prepping the release of their full length debut, Grift Marks, set to drop on March 28th through local imprint, Peterwalkee Records. The album is now available for a limited edition pre-sale (you can purchase here), and is set to include some pretty nice incentives for dropping your money ahead of time. $20 snags you a pristine white vinyl copy of the record (only 50 have been printed) with a digital download for that one friend who still doesn’t have a player. Also included is a copy of the band’s bonus 5-track EP, House of No Lungs, a JOHNS t-shirt, poster, sticker, and a button. Now that is how you spend $20. In addition, the band premiered its latest music for the track “Thrust,” yesterday afternoon. Shot by Frank Napolski and Jeff Mace in the old Kitchen Distribution basement, the clip features some very[...]

Queen City Music Lottery Returns For Round Two

January 7, 2015

One of the more interesting projects that came out of the Buffalo music scene last year was the Queen City Music Lottery. A collaborative project headed by Sugar City and Peterwalkee Records, the lotto basically brought in local music vets and relative amateurs to make a cast of new musical acts. At the two drawings hosted early in 2014 at Spiral Scratch and Black Dots, participants threw their names in to a hat, were randomly selected, and basically, became a band. It didn’t matter what genre you came from, what instrument you may or may not have played, those four-five people were now a collective unit assigned to make music. It was pretty cool. Bands were asked to rehearse, put together a short set, and ultimately make their debuts later a couple months later at the Foundry. From punk to electro-dance to folk, there were some valient to great efforts[...]

JOHNS Drop Exclusive New Track

September 8, 2014

Buffalo trash rockers, JOHNS, have just dropped a new single on their Bandcamp page. The song, titled “Palace of Ill Control,” offers the first taste of the band’s forthcoming LP Grift Marks. The new album has an anticipated winter release via Peterwalkee Records, the label responsible for Mallwalkers’ Shake the Rust Off. (It has also been rumored that PW is to have a hand in cross stitch’s new 7 inch—fingers crossed.) JOHNS’ new single hits pretty hard and sounds like something you might hear if you decided to bust out an old Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game—a driving punk rock number fit to grind the tops of buildings to. The cryptically charged lyrics are sung with an urgency that brings stampedes and landslides to mind. Better be along for the ride. Check it out below.

Tonight: Peterwalkee Records Fest – Day Two

September 6, 2014

Day Two is underway for Buffalo’s most talked about independent record showcase, featuring some of the city’s best DIY artists. Peterwalkee Records has put together a great lineup featuring a who’s who of interesting and creatively “free” acts, including hometown heroes, Lemuria, buffaBLOG favorites Space Wolves and Mallwalkers, as well as up and comers Cross Stitch and Newish Star and a host of several others. In addition to the music (doors at 6, first band at 7), the American Legion 1041 (533 Amherst St), will also feature an art show, including art from band members playing the fest. You can expect big sales, vendors from local record shops and all the best food and music this side of the border. If you appreciate the DIY ethic, or are just looking to hear some rad bands, make it down the Legion tonight and celebrate with the best of em.