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Raybees – Seed Funding from the Federal Government

September 10, 2026

It’s Raybees, baybee. Live from the dungeon? Live from the sunroom? Who even knows how songs like these originate? There are only a few things that we do know: 1.) Buffalo-based songwriter Jacob Smolinski is at it again – Raybees is another vehicle for his uber-prolific musical output. 2.) This six-song EP doesn’t even breach six (6) minutes in length. 3.) These songs are weird as hell.   Ok fair enough – here’s a little background. Consider Seed Funding from the Federal Government a palate cleanser, if you will. Smolinski made a conscientious effort this time around to put out some music that felt a little less meticulously crafted than, say, Reaper, Take My Life For Free!. Being a songwriter is hard when you’re also a full time IT guy or insurance adjuster or human resources assistant, so off the clock, Smolinski turned to creating these noisy nugs as a way[...]

The Ten Best Songs from Buffalo in 2025

February 2, 2026

As we start getting back to into the swing of things at the blog in 2026, it’s necessary to reflect and share what our favorite songs from 2025 were. It was a great year for the Buffalo music scene, and we can’t wait to see where 2026 brings us. Here’s our favorite ten songs out of Buffalo in 2025 – with a Spotify playlist to listen along.   10. The Burkharts – “Tell Me”   The tail-end of 2025 saw the return of beloved surf-pop scenesters, The Burkharts, with a new single “Tell Me.” The new track stays in the realm of their 60s-soaked beachiness with their usual inspirations of The Beach Boys and The Beatles. No longer the youngsters on the block, The Burkharts continue to evolve their sound while masterfully creating melodies and multi-part harmonies that stick to your ribs. – Ron Walczyk     9. Science Man[...]

Raybees – Reaper, Take My Life For Free!

January 9, 2025

It’s a new year, and what better way to shed that holiday lethargy than with a blast of sonic mayhem? Buffalo’s own basement psych-rockers Raybees are here to deliver just that with their sophomore EP, Reaper, Take My Life For Free!, out January 3rd. This self-released, self-recorded, six-track onslaught picks up where their debut left off, but cranks the intensity and noise up by a good margin. If you’re a fan of the noisy, psychedelic punk rock of bands like Osees and The Jesus Lizard, then buckle up. Reaper, Take My Life For Free! is our album of the week.   Raybees is led by the core duo of Jacob Smolinski (guitar/vocals) and Dan Keegan (who replaced the drum machine of the project’s debut), along with featured players Matthew Danger Lippman (guitar), Kam Plotner (synth), and Brandon Schlia (bass). Something of a star-studded side project, Raybees showcases a completely different[...]