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SPEIRS Releases Debut Single, “Headwarm”

January 26, 2015

Despite the “buffa” in our name, we definitely have a soft spot for our neighbors in Rochester. One of the sister city’s newest offerings comes from SPEIRS, a female-fronted post-rock group a la The Appleseed Cast. The group’s debut single, titled “Headwarm,” is a five-minute sweller, full of effected guitars (coming from some really tasty looking gear) and chill out vibes. According to the band’s facebook page, we can expect the rest of their EP in a few weeks. Until then, click the widget below to enjoy “Headwarm…” After all, the Northeast could use some extra warmth today.

St. Vincent – “Bad Believer”

January 21, 2015

In advance of the release of a deluxe edition of her eponymous 2014 album, St. Vincent aka Annie Clark, just dropped one of it’s four bonus tracks, “Bad Believer.” Soaring, accessible, and a tad victorious, “Bad Believer” makes for a fine coda to an incredibly successful 2014 for Annie, which included a critically acclaimed album and tour (including a memorable stop at Asbury Hall) and an excellent appearance on SNL. The deluxe edition of St. Vincent arrives in stores February 9, and Annie returns to Western New York March 5 for a show at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester.

Maybird Reveals “Down and Under” Video

January 20, 2015

The Netsky brothers have done it again with the video for “Down and Under,” the title track and album closer to Rochester indie band Maybird’s intense 2013 debut. Featuring the stark and plaintive vocals of Josh,  evocative direction, and heartbeat like drums from Adam, not to mention some fine pedal steel guitar from Kurt Johnson, “Down and Under” is pure upstate / downstate New York like the band itself now that they’ve since partially relocated to Brooklyn: walks in snowy woods in a red flannel jacket, art happenings, and listening to records in Christmas light lit city dwellings, all meditatively shot by brother Adam. The band is currently working on new tunes for the follow up to Down and Under, which can be listened to and purchased from Maybird’s Bandcamp page.

ice bar – ante meridiem

January 19, 2015

There is something to be said about the type of songwriting that doesn’t require a full band to make it work. Making use of just an acoustic guitar and her voice, Rochester singer songwriter Camille Tharp, or ice bar, as she is so endearingly known, has put out ante meridiem, a collection of wonderfully emotional acoustic songs recommended for those who enjoy the likes of Sharon Von Etten or Daughter. Despite their simplicity, each of the EP’s five tracks channel a strong element of genuineness that makes it abundantly clear that a lot more went into ante meridiem than what initially meets the ear. It is that emotional authenticity that makes these songs such heavy-hitters, and with that, I welcome you to our Album of the Week. ante meridiem, in living up to its name, really capitalizes on the mellow vibes of early morning with delicately-plucked acoustic guitar progressions that would[...]

KOPPS Debuts New Single, “Dumb”

January 19, 2015

It’s been a minute since we’ve last heard from Rochester-based electro-pop quartet, KOPPS, although they have been sharing the radio waves (specifically the infectious scat from lead singer Patricia Petrone) with Rochester breakout act, JOYWAVE, with the 2014 breakout single of the 2013 single “Tongues.” If you have been following KOPPS on social media, then you should not be surprised to find a new single debuting this morning. Titled “Dumb,” the track is a brief, 90’s club banger with hushed paranoid backing vocals from co-member Kyle O’Hara. The single is currently streaming via Soundcloud below.

1809 Studios Premieres Latest Session feat. Big Fred

January 16, 2015

Its been a minute since we caught up with Macedon’s 1809 Studios and its still fresh video session series, 1809 Sessions. Located just outside of Rochester, the studio has already hosted and filmed some great acts out of the 585 including buzz band Secret Pizza, crooner Jon Valenti, and harpist Mikaela Davis. The studio’s latest installment, the #9 from the young series, comes from a Rochester band called Big Fred. The band does have a Wild Beasts type feel to it though so you are a fan, then maybe Big Fred is up your alley. Check out the clip, produced and filmed/edited as always by studio engineer, Dave Drago, and Roch-singer/songwriter, Jon Lewis, below.

Passive Aggressives Anonymous Drops New EP

January 13, 2015

In yet another installment of buffaBLOG’s ‘we missed a lot of good music over holiday break and now we’re playing catch up’ series of posts, I find myself unabashedly swooning over the satirical croon-rock songs on Passive Aggressives Anonymous’ new EP, Not so long songs of longing. For those of you unfamiliar with the Rochester quartet, think the tongue-in-cheek lyrical prowess of Father John Misty meets the charming sounds of Yo La Tengo. There, somewhere in the middle (and probably off-center a bit), you’ll find Passive Aggressives Anonymous. The five songs on Not so long songs of longing are all full of finely-tuned nuances that one may miss out on upon first listen. Singer John Valenti’s theatrical baritone is easily appreciated over the smoothness of the lounge-like instrumentation, but an attentional listen-through reveals an enjoyable irony in the music’s romantic nature. Take “Grinding” for example: “Let’s spend the night grinding…[...]

Harmonica Lewinski Drops New Single, “King MTN”

January 8, 2015

Rochester surf punk delinquents Harmonica Lewinski dropped a new single last week on the brink of 2015 billed as a “hidden gem” on the single’s Bandcamp page, and they’re not lying. Clocking in at over 5 minutes long, “King MTN” takes on an almost epic feel in spite of it’s gloriously louche and trashy vibe, calling to mind David Lynch, vintage John Waters, and Link Wray. The ideal soundtrack for wreckless driving, smoking in the bathroom, and making out in the bushes, “King MTN” is free, nasty, and a fine way to get 2015 started off right. Enjoy.

Genesee Live Releases Latest Installment feat. Jon Lewis

January 7, 2015

Catch up week continues here at the blog with the first session from Genesee Live of this young year. For the Rochester based video series’ latest installment, GL caught up with charming and introspective singer/songwriter, Jon Lewis. We introduced you to Lewis back in October with his music video “Tomorrow.” In addition, Lewis has been involved in the OTHER Rochester related video session series, 1809 Sessions, filmed at 1809 Studios in Macedon, NY. Fans of Jens Lekman and stripped down Belle and Sebastian may find Lewis right up their alley. Check out his Genesee Live installment below, which was recorded in the attic of Maybird/OHS member Sam Snyder, and to catch up on past clips, visit the site’s tumblr here.

Northern Spies Debut Material

January 6, 2015

If you can’t tell by now, this week is going to be a catch up week for all of the super cool stuff that has come out during the end of the year whirlwind. Today’s “Oh man I should have posted about this three weeks ago” song comes from Rochester’s Northern Spies. Formerly performing under the name Blankets, the quartet hasn’t been around for very long, only forming as a band in spring of 2014. In mid-December, Northern Spies got around to sharing their debut three song EP titled Nothing But Static. The just over twelve minute EP is full of soft-spoken hesitant indie rock with power pop hooks that make it stay in your head and never leave. Check out “No Time To Lose,” and stick around for the other two songs.

Donny Murakami Premieres First Track Off Debut Project

December 17, 2014

Everyone has had a moment where they wish they were someone else, and Rochester rapper/producer Donny Murakami is exploring that feeling in his latest music. “Shock Therapy” plays off of that theme, serving as the lead track on Murakami’s forthcoming project Escapism. Over some driving drums, Donny fantasizes about being a rockstar, porn star, and dope boy, before admitting to himself that he’s a just a broke asshole. Although self-loathing at times, there’s a hunger in Murakami’s voice that shines through confidently amid all the daydreaming. Thematic verses and a catchy hook make for an impressive debut from the Rochesterian. He wishes to be a rock star, but a talented hip hop artist will have to do for now. Stay tuned for more from Donny and be on the lookout for Escapism, slated to drop February 11th.

Pleistocene

December 17, 2014

We’ve been doing it so long it’s not even mandatory when the blog’s party people book a Rochester band to a buffaBLOG party. It’s no secret that we love Rochester and the crazy on fire music scene it’s got going right now, and we love bringing some of it to you at our Allentown shindigs. This year’s Holiday extravaganza this Saturday at Duke’s will include one of Rochester’s next big things, fuzzed out surf pop shoegazers Pleistocene, in town to play some stoned out garage jams from their 2014 digital album Ontario Girls (included below for your enjoyment). Picking up wonderfully where Best Coast left off, Pleistocene has everything going for them, and their show this Saturday ought to be one of the highlights of the night.

Day 3: Small Signals

December 16, 2014

The third day of our 12 Days of Christmas series sees our first Rochester tune in the mix. Small Signals, the new solo project from Taking Under Water and Pleistocene drummer Stephen Roessner, released a two track holiday covers EP last week. Christmas 2014 EP includes an angsty rendition of “White Christmas” and a take on “Taking Down the Tree,” a holiday original from slow core heroes, Low. The full EP can be streamed here, and you can listen to Small Signals cover of Low’s “Taking Down the Tree” below.

Sea Planes Return with “Waterfall” Single

December 7, 2014

Rochester indie electronica band, Sea Planes, dropped a new track last week and on “Waterfall,” the duo has upped the stakes considerably with arena sized grandeur and ambition. If previous tracks “Right Now” and “Young At Heart” alluded to French electronica powerhouse M83, “Waterfall” is full on Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, and the result is rousing and gorgeous. The lyrics also contribute to the euphoria in part due to their impassioned determination, and the delightfully post modern real time deconstruction of the song itself. It’s a heady and adrenaline charged brew, and more pure musical goodness from Western New York. Enjoy.

Top 20 Rochester Tracks: 10 – 1

November 26, 2014

One of the blog’s major goals for 2014 was to cover more material out of our neighbors to the east in Rochester. In the past two years, we had done a top ten songs out of the 585, but this year, we decided to double our recognition to top 20 songs out of Rochester. Honestly, we could have probably done a top 30, but we decided to contain it to 20 so we didn’t lose you in our droning on about how awesome Rochester’s music scene is. Without further ado, here are buffaBLOG’s top 10 tracks out of Rochester in 2014. 10. Europa & the Great Red Spot – “Din” Europa & the Great Red Spot have a reputation for releasing high-quality indie rock with a bedroom recording vibe. This year’s Inside Voices was no exception; it included “Din,” a four-and-a-half minute slow-burner that channels The National and Built to[...]