Latest Posts

The Wonder Years at Anthology in Rochester (10/16/16)

October 19, 2016

This past Sunday, Anthology was packed to the brim for a sold out show featuring some of the biggest active pop punk bands.  Headlined by The Wonder Years, the stacked lineup also featured Seaway, Moose Blood, Knuckle Puck, and Real Friends.  The show was absolutely wild from start to finish, with audience participation through the roof.  Check out some photos from the insane night below, and click HERE for a full gallery. Seaway Moose Blood Knuckle Puck Real Friends The Wonder Years  

Northern Spies – Autumn Chapter

August 8, 2016

Rochester-based indie rockers Northern Spies, a project featuring members of several other prominent Rochester bands, have been on the circuit for a few years now. Last year’s Nothing But Static EP wasn’t quite what the effort’s title suggested. The EP, with an armful of power pop hooks, soft spoken vocal harmonies, and a tinge of roots rock influence got the ball rolling for the 4 piece, and earned them some well-deserved local buzz. Fast forward to 2016, and we have the Spies’ debut full(ish) length, Autumn Chapter, out now via Dadstache Records. Everything we loved about the first EP is all here, the band having polished their sonic formula into something inherently unique for this day and age. Northern Spies’ sprawling list of influences knows no bounds. Harnessing the jangly charm of 60’s power pop bands like The Byrds and Donovan, the Spies use harmony to their advantage, sparking a[...]

The Branch Davidians – Sex, Death, and Things Less Boring

August 3, 2016

The Branch Davidians have released their EP Sex, Death, and Things Less Boring. Based in Rochester, the band began as an indie folk duo, before lead man Ben Stephanus expanded both the size of the group and the scope of its sound. Their five-song release is full of fuzz and shoegazey vibes. The lead guitar’s grimy buzz is a consistent force throughout the EP. They fuse throwback ‘90s tendencies with noise-rock elements to achieve a dissonant pop sound. Stephanus’ vocals are trippy with a dash of reverb, and reminiscent of melodies from underground ‘60s rock. The groovy “Bridges of Madison County” sounds like it could be a pop tune from The Zombies fed through the lens of a Tame Impala rocker. The lead guitar riff on “Your Sex Wants You Dead” is textbook pop punk, but with much more distortion. It’s not until the final track, “Blessed Water,” that the[...]

Pleistocene Shares Track from Forthcoming LP Spear

July 18, 2016

Pleistocene rises! Rochester’s coolest named-after-a-geological-epoch surf-punk outfit has dropped a new single off of the band’s forthcoming LP Spear, due out on Pleisto-tour cassette via Casual Punks on 7/22 (and beyond, if you happen to catch the 5-piece on their midsummer East Coast tour), with a full-fledged digital release slated for early August. Spear marks the band’s first full length since 2014’s Ontario Girls. The new single, “Your New Life,” is the third to be shared from the new record, and it basks unabashedly in all things Pleisto—reverb-laden ocean leads over a bass tone sludgier than sludge itself. Singer Katie Preston’s unphased vocals deliver the sweet nostalgia of an old friend, offering a perfect contrast to the song’s surrounding fuzz. The chilled-out new track seems to contradict what might have otherwise been considered a reinvention of the traditionally jangly Pleisto-sound, judging from the first two album spoilers (the exceptionally explosive[...]

Jon Lewis – Out of Lunch

July 18, 2016

Named by 585 Magazine as an “Artist to Follow” in 2016, Jon Lewis fronts a John Ralston-like musical style begging for local, perhaps even statewide attention. Lewis partakes in a practiced indie rock act from Rochester coming at us as both a solo performer and as a full band. This time around, Lewis (guitar and lead vocals) and his band – Dave Drago (vocals and bass), Shawn Brogan (guitar), and Jacob Walsh (drums) – gift us a delicate EP entitled Out to Lunch. The six-song release is chock-full of solid alternative folk compositions, lush mixes, a general warm but lost feel. “Everyone Wants to Know,” Song 1, opens the release with tremolo guitar and soft group vocals. “Left his job, left for dead – no one heard what he said,” tells Lewis of the song’s protagonist. One should wonder if Lewis is cooing about his own endeavors. This tune is relatively simple.[...]

Joywave Remixes Maybird’s Single

June 29, 2016

Rochester-raised psych-rockers Maybird have released the first single and title track off their debut EP, Turning Into Water, in late February. The song recently underwent a facelift by getting remixed by fellow breakout Rochester synth-rockers Joywave. “Turning Into Water” is transformed from vintage spaced out psychedelia into a riot of loops, drums simultaneously from the future and the past, discordant keyboards, and the clear, otherworldly tenor of Josh Netsky. Now based in Brooklyn and signed to Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records, who released their debut EP last month, Maybird are yet another band  to the east that are breaking to the next level (see: KOPPS, Mikaela Davis). Check out the reworking below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/269635543″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Attic Abasement – Dream News

June 14, 2016

So yeah, we slept on this one for a bit. But anticipation has an strange way of making things better—and that was just the case for Dream News, Attic Abasement’s first full-length since 2010’s Dancing Is Depressing. A project once unabashedly saturated in lo-fi singularity, Attic Abasement takes a more polished approach on Dream News; the Rochesterian trio shipped off to New Paltz to record this one in an honest-to-goodness studio this time around. I know what you’re thinking: “Uh oh, lo-fi project in a professional studio?” Well fret not, the bedroom production quality is the only attribute traded—the top-shelf songwriting, puzzle-piece riffage, and the magnetic vocal rawness of frontman Mike Rheinheimer remains in full effect. With that said, it’s nothing short of impressive what the band has done with this record. Now rounded out with a full-time bassist and drummer (Keith Parkins and Joe Parker, respectively), AA’s sonic aesthetic[...]

1809 Studios Releases New Session ft. Sleepy Hahas

June 8, 2016

The wait for Sleepy Hahas’ forthcoming full length, From the Bottom of a Warm Lake, has been a long one, but at the very least we can get by on the handful of singles that have been dropped in the past year. The band took to 1809 Studios this past fall to lay down a live rendition of “En Passant,” a track that’s anticipated to be on the new album. It’s a psych-rock ballad of sorts, complete with lead vocalist Pat Butler’s expressive croon and mesmerizing instrumentals from all fronts. The just-under-10-minute jam is telling, in that with the impressive spread of gear, the precision of every note uttered and how enveloped each member seems in their own playing, it shows that the group really cares about their delivery. Here’s to eagerly awaiting the full collection of recorded jams! Check the video out below. Photo by Jackson Zimmerman Photography

Jon Lewis Releases Video for “Everyone Wants to Know”

June 2, 2016

Jon Lewis‘ newest single and video for “Everyone Wants to Know” comes in preparation for his forthcoming EP, Out to Lunch, which is set to drop next week. The Rochester native’s brand of indie rock is injected with a bit of quirk, though it’s hard to pinpoint what the “quirk” actually is. Maybe it’s the choral harmonies that cut through like moments of clarity in this particular song, or it could be the super subdued lead vocals that are accompanied by a surprisingly gleaming tone. Whatever the origin may be, the music video seems to encapsulate the personality of this band pretty damn well. Between the unique blend of psychedelic rock and Americana, the hypnotic kaleidoscope visuals and singing severed heads, it’s hard not to let the video magnetize you for its duration. See for yourself below and keep your ears open for Jon Lewis’ EP release in the coming[...]

midnight Premieres Single Feat. The Internet

June 2, 2016

Rochester singer midnight returns his electric-soul sound to us by way of his new single “Native America.” In his controlled falsetto, midnight gently navigates through the bounding synths and kicks of the beat. “Native America” is driven upon the sin and dishonesty that resulted in the foundation of our country. The title and track reference both the atrocities committed against the indigenous people of the Americas, and how how the normalcy of violence and stubbornness is engrained in our being. “We’re in Native America,” midnight sings “where the lies are infamous, but the truth, it lives in us.” It is charged and sharp while remaining beautiful and delicate. The track features production from the Internet, well-known for rising up with the hip hop collective Odd Future and receiving acclaim for their 2015 album Ego Death .“Native America” comes ahead of the midnight’s July 1st release of his EP 0:00. midnight describes the project[...]

Secret Pizza – Nothing Needs to Happen

May 29, 2016

Rochester’s Secret Pizza doesn’t sound cheesy like their name might imply. Instead, they embody badassitude, something the sweet, old lady with sunglasses on the black and white cover of SP’s upcoming release, Nothing Needs to Happen, carries. Nothing Needs to Happen is the group’s first proper LP, wrangling in tracks from previously released EPs and sessions, and man does it hit home. The albums starts of with “Where do we go from here?” a roaring, feedback-filled swarm of music. “No, I’m not that steady,” sings Phil Shaw, admitting to a feeling many know well. The song continues by raveling you into a fuzzy blanket of guitars, keeping you awake with a kickass bassline. “Where do we go from here?” is answered by, “Anywhere!” The screams and fighting of the instruments turn the listener into a well-understood pile of mush. “Oh my my,” is hushed at first, at least before Secret Pizza[...]

Harmonica Lewinski Releases Video for “The Slug”

April 19, 2016

Rochester garage-rock group Harmonica Lewinski has released a strange new video, on par with the act’s established demeanor. Harmonica Lewinski has made a name for itself with this aesthetic of lo-fi and trippy rock ‘n’ roll. Their latest single ‘The Slug” is the first taste of their forthcoming album Head Honcho, and their newest material since last year’s Naked Brunch. It calls to mind the sounds of the underground surf rock of the sixties combining it with modern garage punk influences. The single’s video companion really helps bring to life the slimy, DIY nature of the tune. Sure to be a hit at your next sleazy basement party, check out the video below.

The Demos – Paramount Clouds EP

April 4, 2016

Making music is not an effortless endeavor. But Rochester’s The Demos sure make it seem that way. Their polished blend of indie powerpop is unabashedly catchy and clean, and the music just seems to flow from them. It’s been a hot minute since we’ve heard a collection of tracks from this outfit (their last release was 2011’s LP Lovely), but the band is still slinging hooks. Their new EP Paramount Clouds builds on the same indie rock foundation as their 2011 effort, refining the formula and smoothing the edges of their craft. The EP starts as you may expect, a pronounced drumbeat drives a backdrop of synth strings on “I Don’t Mind.” Bass drops in soon after that, but not before vocalist Jason Milton lays a smooth croon down. By the time the chorus hits, you’re left fumbling for the year—the whole package conjures early 2000’s indie rock a la[...]

The Loner(s) / Drive Me Home Please Release Split

March 29, 2016

Rochester’s The Loner(s), Drive Me Home Please, and label, Bangkok Blend combined efforts to release a split last Friday, aptly titled the loner(s)/ drive me home please. For new listeners, The Loner(s) is a more lo-fi, sometimes strictly instrumental version of All-Time Quarterback or Secret Stars, while Drive Me Home Please combines simple synth pop mixes with depressed, Jordan Dreyer-like (La Dispute), self-conscious spoken word poetry. The mixing of the two artists proves fruitful, displaying the bands’ likenesses and potentials for further opportunity in the music industry. Stand out track from The Loner(s)  is “How To,” a song driven by the lonely despair that accompanies all loners. A kind acoustic guitar riff supporting a two-note analog synth flourish provides a chill environment. Unfortunately, the singer’s low coo croons of unrequited, incommunicable love – “I like you, but I don’t know how to.” “Drive Me Home Please” by Drive Me Home Please is[...]

Tonight: Unearth

March 18, 2016

In the metalcore sphere, bands are a dime a dozen. One here, one there; most of whom are indecipherable from one another. Formula;  intro, fast part, chorus, fast part, scream, breakdown to fade. Unearth, pioneers of the movement and stylistic shred wizards are the exception to that rule. Since their inception in the late 90’s they have continually upped the game with a series of transcendent hardcore-influenced metal albums, equal parts mosh and melody. Nobody can rip a lead quite like Buz, or Ken for that matter. And nobody wails quite like Trevor. Ear shredding vocals, thunderous breakdowns and traces of tasty Pantera-like groove, make Unearth one of the most dynamic and interesting bands in the genre today. Still riding high off of their excellent 2014 release, Watchers of Rule, Unearth will be calling Montage Music Hall in Rochester home, if just for the night (doors at 7:30, $20). Also[...]