Latest Posts

Garden of Evil Doers – retaW ni tuB ,retaW fo edaM

March 12, 2026

Everyone can get behind a good concept album, right? Rochester act Garden of Evil Doers‘s latest album, the enigmatically-named retaW ni tuB ,retaW fo edaM (RNBRFE), certainly falls into that camp. It’s a nine song collection of folk, rock, and noises that meld together fluidly – Almost like its namesake. Astute readers will notice that this album title, read backwards, reveals a hidden message – “Made of Water, But in Water.” These songs are inspired by water as a holistic entity – from the way it flows to its use as the base of a healing broth for you and your loved ones (which I want to think is a tongue-in-cheek reference to project mastermind Leaphe Ferm’s time as drummer of perpetual buffaBLOG favorite Kitchen, but I digress). Ferm explains a bit more:   First, the band name:   “Garden in the mysterious, cultivated, thinking of the future, delicious, full of[...]

Alex Northrup – “Golden Child (pt. I)”

March 10, 2026

Alex Northrup is at it again, creating his hyper-unique brand of electro chamber pop with a brand new single, “Golden Child (pt. I).” Northrup has a very unique retro-meets-contemporary style that utilizes Beatles-esque instrumentation, Supertramp jauntiness, and modern-day ideation to create something just left-field of timeless, at least in the sense that it doesn’t sound quite like anything else. Plinking harpsichords and “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime” type synths give this a truly vintage feel, but Alex’s eclectic style keeps this rooted in 2026-type magic. Beyond all that, where are all my fellow gifted-kid-burnouts at? This one is for you, especially lyrically.   “Golden Child (pt. I)” is available now on bandcamp (embedded below).   Golden Child (pt. I) by Alex Northrup

Shep Treasure – Blanket

February 12, 2026

The Rochester music scene has a knack for producing artists that turn ‘DIY’ on its head, churning out albums that feel vast and cinematic despite the studio-less approach. Shep Treasure, the long-running project of Sabrina Nichols, has spent the last several years refining a sound that bridges the gap between intimate bedroom pop and the explosive world of fuzz folk. With the release of their latest album, Blanket, Nichols–alongside partner and collaborator James Keegan–has delivered a record that feels like an organic detour from their 2018 origins, trading some of that early bedroom pop sheen for a deeply textured blend of freak folk and fuzzy, atmospheric slowcore.   Released on February 6th, Blanket arrives as our Album of the Week for its ability to feel both incredibly small and remarkably large at the same time. Recorded at home and mastered by Ben Morey at Rochester’s Submarine Sounds Studio, the album[...]

Bugcatcher – Big Field

December 11, 2025

Rochester’s Jake Denning has been quietly chipping away at his distinct sound as Bugcatcher since the early days of the pandemic, crafting slowcore indie folk that’s always been hazy, quiet, and a little existential. On his latest full-length, Big Field, released November 5th on Raincoated Records, he leans fully into that genre blend—it feels like a slowed-down collision between Midwest emo introspection and twangy alt-country sadness, but done with a minimalistic approach that gets impressively lush at times. Think Hovvdy meets Pinegrove meets Wednesday and you’re pretty much right there, save for Bugcatcher’s proprietary secret ingredient–this ethereal stillness that permeates the whole thing. I’m calling it “lush hush.” Big Field is our album of the week.   There’s a clear evolution in the production this time around. While Denning has proved himself as a lo-fi artist on previous releases, Big Field steps away from some of the charmingly ragged edges[...]

Luxury Suite – Sparrows / Starry Eyes (Evalina)

November 24, 2025

Luxury Suite might be a fresh addition to the Rochester marquee, but the DNA here is strictly local royalty. Featuring alumni from previous blog favorites SPORTS and Cottage Jefferson, the new group feels like a logical, sonic handshake between those two previous projects. They manage to fuse the angular, dancey post-punk rhythms of the former with the distinct jangle-pop sensibilities of the latter. It’s a sound that nods respectfully to New Wave titans—think the rhythmic elasticity of Talking Heads meeting the melodic jangle of The Smiths—while keeping a power-pop edge that recalls early Elvis Costello. After a summer of tightening up the set on stage, they’ve finally dropped their debut studio efforts, produced and engineered by fellow Rochester staples Josh Netsky and Sam Snyder of Maybird.   “Sparrows” serves as the high-energy introduction. It’s got a kinetic, upbeat drive where the guitars do a lot of the heavy lifting, chiming[...]

bugcatcher – “Hurry”

October 3, 2025

bugcatcher is one of our favorite local acts (check out our AOTW feature on Slacker here), so it’s a no-brainer that we’d feature new single, “Hurry.” Jake Denning does it again, nailing this hazy, indie-folk-emo-slacker hybrid with aplomb. Plodding acoustic guitars are layered thick, boosted by tapped drums and a foggy atmosphere, leaving just enough room for Denning’s emotive voice to peek through in a delightfully low register. This one won’t blow your shorts off with sweaty dive bar energy, but it will surely make you question your existence in the way that only a great bedroom-folk song can… And by now, you should know that’s a good thing, as we’re all insufferably existential in our own ways.   “Hurry” is available now on Raincoated Records. You can purchase via Bandcamp (below), or, on Spotify and Apple Music.   Hurry by Bugactcher

Boy Jr. – I Hate Getting Dumped!

August 14, 2025

Boy Jr., the musical alter-ego of Rochester native Ariel Allen-Lubman, is the kind of artist that doesn’t let the grass grow under their feet. Their latest six-track EP, I Hate Getting Dumped!, released July 25th, serves as the spiritual successor to last year’s full-length album, I Love Getting Dumped. It follows in the same synth-heavy electropunk vein, but as the title suggests, this outing is less bright, a little darker, and more serious. The dichotomy is impressive and obviously intentional; the two releases feel like siblings in spirit, a point underscored by their respective album covers. The vibrant birthday party scene of I Love is replaced by the darker, sepia-toned art for I Hate, which features Boy Jr. in a full fencing uniform, standing stoically beside a tablet-distracted angel. Is this new EP a collection of I Love Getting Dumped! B-sides or is it a deliberate continuation? Either way, it’s our[...]

Home Videos – Home Taping is Killing Music

July 10, 2025

For a band that first introduced themselves with quiet, acoustic whispers, Rochester’s Home Videos is making a hell of a lot of noise on their debut full-length, Home Taping is Killing Music. Arriving a full six years after their initial EP, the album is the sound of that same band plugging in and turning everything up. The tentative, lo-fi beginnings have been traded for ringing guitars and crashing crescendos, marking a powerful and deliberate evolution from where they started. Home Taping is Killing Music is our album of the week.   The title feels like an inside joke for a band that lives and breathes DIY. According to their Bandcamp, Home Taping… was recorded “slowly 2023 – 2025 by us on a 4-track cassette in a basement in Rochester, NY.” You wouldn’t guess it from the sound, which punches well above its weight. It’s a far cry from the lo-fi hiss of their first[...]

Jerry Big’s World Famous Band – JBWFB

May 29, 2025

If the walls of Rochester’s music venues could talk, they’d likely be buzzing–quite literally–about Jerry Big’s World Famous Band. This trio–Jared Effman on bass and backup vocals, Yassir Ahmed on guitar, and Max Wakeling handling drums and lead vocals–might be a newer name on the scene, but the word spreading about their super-tight garage punk and explosive live shows is well and truly deserved. Their new self-titled EP, JBWFB, which hit the streets on April 25th, is a four-song affirmation of this burgeoning reputation, delivering a sound that’s far bigger than the sum of its three parts. JBWFB is our album of the week.   Right from the start, JBWFB makes it clear that this isn’t background music. It’s a full-frontal assault of garage punk grit and melodic hardcore urgency. The production feels immediate and raw, capturing the kind of live-wire intensity you’d expect in a packed, sweaty club. Ahmed’s guitar work is a thrilling[...]

Bug Day – Six-Legs Inexperience

May 8, 2025

Rochester’s Bug Day has unofficially entered the album arena with Six-Legs Inexperience, a unique debut that landed earlier this month. The record sees the noise rock group expanding on the intriguing avant-garde leanings of last year’s UFOs by the Lake EP, now lacing their sound with a sharper post-punk edge. It’s an interesting release, structured more like an EP-and-a-half, with six original pieces paving the way for three distinctive cover tunes that tip the band’s proverbial hat to a fairly diverse range of influences. Six-Legs Inexperience is our album of the week.   One of the most striking qualities of the new album is Bug Day’s ability to shift dynamics on a dime. The band navigates changes in intensity with an almost deceptive ease, often within the confines of a single song. “The Best Excuse” showcases this early in the tracklist, patiently drawing listeners in with a slow burn before[...]

Milo – Valve/Whatever

April 28, 2025

Newly minted Rochester-based act Milo has just released a debut, two-song EP called Valve/Whatever. Inspired by raw and emotive music (think Buffalo greats Lemuria or the late ’90s/early ’00s output from Rainer Maria or Rilo Kiley), their music is largely guitar driven with raw-but-endearing vocals. Their poetic and nuanced lyrics focus heavily on storytelling with a hint of attitude; so much so that these songs, especially their charming production value, will make you want to dust off your thick, black rimmed glasses and pull out your ratty Get Up Kids track jacket like you’re discovering your favorite 2nd wave emo bands all over again.   You can catch Milo live at their next show on June 13th at the Psychic Garden in Rochester. Until then, get acquainted with Valve/Whatever (April 18th, 2025) – available now via bandcamp (embedded below), or, via Spotify or Apple Music.   Valve/Whatever by Milo

Bad Bloom – pepper

April 17, 2025

If you’ve been keeping tabs on the Rochester scene, you likely know Bad Bloom. The band just dropped their latest EP called pepper on April 11th, finding a home on Boston’s Candlepin Records tape label. The four-track EP delves into the hazy, mood-driven sound the band has all but trademarked – a space where shoegaze fluidity meets dream pop’s shimmer, accented by rougher, grungy edges. For the four-piece, originally formed in Queens before relocating to WNY, pepper continues to build on a sound that has earned them a following that spans the width of the state and beyond.   Recorded locally at Wicked Squid Studios, pepper finds the band leaning more intently into the core principles of shoegaze, resulting in a sound notably thicker and fuzzier than that found on Bad Bloom’s 2023 self-titled EP. At the heart of the band are songwriters Kate Rogers (bass, vocals) and Jay Trovato (guitar),[...]

Kitchen – Blue Heeler in Ugly Snowlight, Grey on Gray on Gray on White

April 10, 2025

Since 2016, James Keegan’s buzzing musical project, Kitchen, has steadily carved out a distinct space in Rochester with its consistent output of introspective lo-fi folk. Now, Kitchen delivers its most substantial chapter yet with the arrival of Blue Heeler in Ugly Snowlight, Grey on Gray on Gray on White, the recording project’s sixth full-length album, comfortably venturing into double album territory across 20 diverse tracks. The sprawling and remarkably cohesive collection explores the corners of Keegan’s sonic range and unique songwriting styles.   The album primarily operates within a spectrum bookended by hushed, intimate acoustic pieces and more fleshed-out, full-band indie rock arrangements. The lo-fi aesthetic, a hallmark of Kitchen’s work, remains central, lending an air of closeness and immediacy to the recordings. Whether it’s a solitary acoustic guitar and Keegan’s refreshingly unvarnished vocals or a more layered composition, the production often feels like a private performance. This intimacy gets[...]

Alex Northrup – “Mutually Assured Distraction”

April 7, 2025

Listen, we’re no strangers to unique genres here at the blog, but “bargain-basement psych” is a new one for us… At least that’s the self-described qualifier that Rochester singer/songwriter Alex Northrup gives to his unique brand of chamber pop. “Mutually Assured Distraction” is the first single from Northrup’s upcoming LP, Victory Lapse, and it’s a great highlight of what we can expect from this eclectic songwriter. Tweaked harpsichord madness powers this retro-coded tune, fleshed out with strange organ tones, vintage drum machines, and Northrup’s pleasant tenor. Certainly sounding like a mashup of Goodwill-sourced instruments (in a good way!), “Mutually Assured Distraction” feels like a harbinger of a wildly inventive album to come.   “Mutually Assured Distractionis” out now via Raincoated Records. Check it out via bandcamp below.   Mutually Assured Distraction by Alex Northrup

Foothands – Off of the Roof

April 3, 2025

Buffalo-based songwriter Erik Happ, operating under the solo moniker Foothands, recently unveiled his third EP, Off of the Roof. Self-released on March 10th, this six-song EP follows 2021’s Gentle but Firm and 2023’s Year of the Year, further developing the project Happ launched after his time in groups like False Pockets and Pomelo. The release continues the trajectory of his distinctive brand of intricate acoustic math rock and snags our album of the week.   The defining characteristic of Off of the Roof is its intricate density. Happ masterfully layers acoustic guitar lines, creating complex rhythmic patterns and rich textures that often feel like output from a fully-kitted band. Comparisons could be drawn to the rhythmic propulsion of The Dodos, the textural layering of early Animal Collective, and the melodic acoustic sensibilities of Owen, yet the combination feels distinct, especially for the WNY region.   Listeners familiar with Foothands’ earlier[...]