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Cottage Jefferson – B-Side

September 1, 2014

So, all good things must come to an end. Damn you, Chaucer—right again. Cottage Jefferson, Rochester’s favorite fuzz band, played what they announced to have been their final show back in May. Thankfully, that hasn’t stopped the quartet from tying up loose ends and putting out one last hurrah of an album. Titled B-Side, the exceptionally nostalgic 10-track album is a warm embrace, a phantom limb, a fist in the air. The songs have a good range of feeling and style without sounding scattered, sitting contentedly between the twinkly mood-jams of Built to Spill and the lethargic thickness of Dinosaur Jr. The record opens with “One Verse, No Chorus,” a gleeful three-chord jam with noodle guitar breakdowns, crunchy chords, and (despite what the title describes) what I consider to be a very catchy chorus. The song has a very casual feel to it and no shortage of hooks. For most,[...]

Applennium Releases “Old Maples”

August 29, 2014

So we may have let one slip under our radar. Earlier this year, local mood rockers Applennium stealthily dropped a new track on their Soundcloud page—a grooving song sounding like something off of Bombay Bicycle Club’s latest. The danceable track, titled “Old Maples,” is a bit of a stylistic departure for the band, leaving behind the dreamy folk twang of earlier material to capitalize on a peppy house-beat with a fat, juicy bassline. A rhythmically-played palm-muted riff and distant jangle-chords add a pleasing airy element to the track while the band’s chillingly good male/female harmonies round out the haunting number. Never a dull moment from this band—earlier this year they played a mind-blowingly good set for the Harvest Sum showcase of Herdfest, and wound up contributing a song to the label’s 2014 summer compilation, available here. Better six months late than never, enjoy Applennium’s “Old Maples” below. (You know, if[...]

Tonight: You Me & Apollo

August 28, 2014

After Dark Entertainment is serving up a solid variety of musical talent at The Waiting Room tonight. Fresh off the May release of their debut full-length Sweet Honey, Colorado-based headliners You Me & Apollo (think Alabama Shakes) will bring their soulful brand of blues rock to the Buffalo venue, joined by newish lo-fi locals Parade Chic and folksy fusioneers Hokan & Friends of the Sun, also from Buffalo. With such a diverse (and notably ampersand-heavy) lineup, there should be a little something for everyone tonight.  Look alive! Doors are at 7pm with a $12 cover $10 presale (*cough* ask one of the local bands *cough*)

Tonight: Brimstone Blondes AGE OF CONSENT Release Party

August 21, 2014

Buffalo Iron Works is where you want to be tonight. Lively garage-rockers Brimstone Blondes will be releasing their debut album, AGE OF CONSENT, tomorrow via Admirable Traits Records, and tonight they will be ripping a righteous release party in celebration of the new record. The Buffalo 4-piece has already dropped the first (chronologically, not sequentially) of the album’s seven tracks, “Social Smokers”—a spastic punch-in-the-gut of a song inspired by “the Coalition of a Smoke-Free City” according to their Facebook page. Tonight’s release show should be pretty wild if the riotous vitality of “Social Smokers” is of any foreshadowing. But wait, there’s more! Joining the Blondes tonight will be local indie monarchs Wooden Waves and Rochester garage punks Harmonica Lewinski, both bands also having teased fresh new material this year. Poised with one of the summer’s best lineups, tonight’s showcase will not disappoint. 18+, doors at 7pm, $10. As an added[...]

Edgefest at the Outer Harbor (8/10/14)

August 11, 2014

Whoever is setting up the dates for the Outer Harbor concerts deserves a round of applause, or at the very least a well-excecuted high five. We really couldn’t have asked for a better day/night combo for Sunday’s Edgefest 2014, presented by 103.3 The Edge.  Well, it probably could have been a bit cooler during the day, but temperatures dropped as the night’s “supermoon” replaced the unforgiving sun, serving as a perfect backdrop to Sunday’s festivities. (Anyone remember last month’s City and Colour show? Think “Supermoon Strikes Back.”) The lineup could easily be considered one of the year’s best, featuring headliners Weezer and Brand New with support from The Sheila Divine, Pentimento, and Dirty Smile. Edgefest was undeniably the best deal of the summer, especially for those of you lucky enough to snag the $25 early bird tickets before they sold out. I’m just going to go ahead and say it—Weezer’s[...]

Today: Buffalo DIY Fest II

August 9, 2014

The Buffalo DIY Fest returns to Buffalo River Fest Park today, making this year two for the do-it-yourself oriented music and arts festival. The festivities start at 4pm, and feature a wide array of things to look forward to, including live music, art vendors, and food trucks. buffaBLOG got to pick the brain of festival organizer Cam Rogers, who answered a few questions we had about the event and the DIY community. buffaBLOG: So what exactly is DIY fest? Cam Rogers: To me, the DIY Fest is a gathering of people to celebrate the DIY spirit and culture in Buffalo. It involves people that make things, whether that is art, crafts, metals, paints, music, or noise, and celebrates creation. bB: What inspired you to organize the festival? CR: I guess what inspired me to organize the festival was the desire to bring people together. It’s tough to bring all the[...]

Facility Men Release New Four Song Collection, Futility Men

July 31, 2014

It really goes without saying that Buffalo’s punk / hardcore scene has been, and still is, one of the best around. From hardcore vets Snapcase and trailblazers Every Time I Die to the raw sounds of newer bands like Pentimento and The Traditional, B-town is home to some pretty talented acts. Maybe there’s something in the water. Local garage punks, Facility Men, a quartet including current and past members of White Whale and the Orphans, have just put out Futility Men, an energetic 4-song EP that fits in well with that Buffalo standard. The EP, recorded at Hi/Lo studios, sits somewhere between the old school punk vibe of Dead Boys and the discordant energy of The Vines. The songs all riff pretty hard and are surely capable of inducing some good whiplash at higher volumes. Check out the bass-driven hook of highlight “Strange Places” below, and head over the bandcamp[...]

Tonight: Weatherbox

July 22, 2014

San Diego’s Weatherbox will bring their cosmic brand of punk rock to The Waiting Room tonight in support of their most straightforward record yet, Flies In All Directions. The 13-track album covers a lot of ground, containing songs written as far back as 2006. Fellow buffaBLOGGER Nick Sessanna had an interesting conversation on the subject with the creative force behind the box, frontman Brian Warren. Check out the article here. Joining the flock of Weatherboxes on tour are the spacey emo mavens of Florida band Dikembe. Their newest LP Mediumship is set to drop August 1st, and it sounds promising based on the three songs the band is currently streaming on their bandcamp page. Local support comes from dedicated indie rockers Brother Keep, who have also just finished up recording some fresh material (keep your ears open!), and Del Paxton—a band you should know by now if you’re a fan[...]

Mac DeMarco at the Tralf Music Hall (7/18/14)

July 21, 2014

Before Friday, I had no idea how to describe Mac DeMarco. Well, I still don’t. It suffices to say that the guy is a complete anomaly; his music obviously speaks to people if his draw at Friday’s show at the Tralf is of any consideration. The place was packed with DeMarco look-alikes—a throng of carefree kids embracing the “I don’t give a shit” lifestyle. Unfortunately DeMarco was void of any backing musicians that night, but he was somehow still able to transform the packed venue into a wild party with just a guitar and his arsenal of caustic little anecdotes. Mac DeMarco is the party. I guess I can describe him after all. Opening support came from local electro whizkid Shawn Lewis of Lesionread, who got things started with his eclectic mix of experimental electronica. The music, comparable to that of Death Grips or Flying Lotus, certainly had a few[...]

City and Colour, Tokyo Police Club, & Young The Giant at Outer Harbor (7/11/14)

July 12, 2014

This year’s summer season has seen no shortage of rain. June saw the Canalside concert site become a giant mud pit after the skies opened up and down-poured on the concertgoers of Shaggy’s summer kickoff. With all the incredible acts playing outdoor shows this year in the queen city, all we can do is remain hopeful for nice weather, and that’s exactly what we got for Friday night’s show at the Outer Harbor featuring City and Colour, Young the Giant, Tokyo Police Club, and Clear Plastic Masks. The lineup was stacked, the skies were clear, the beer was flowing, and the vibes put smiles on just about every face that walked through those gates. Hailing from St. Catharines, Canadian singer-songwriter Dallas Green (who performs under clever alias City & Colour) can obviously pull a crowd, and his draw is no gimmick. His songs, often thematically centered on love and loss,[...]

Miniature Tigers

July 10, 2014

The guys of Miniature Tigers just can’t sit still. Originally from Phoenix, Charlie Brand, the lead singer of the indie-pop outfit, has called home to a number of places- including Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Austin. Safe to say that the band’s musical style changes roughly as much as their home base, and that’s not a bad thing. Their latest album, Cruel Runnings – a confident summer record stuffed with solid synthpop songs that WILL get stuck in your head— paints an entirely different picture than that of their 2008 debut Tell It To The Volcano, but no matter how drastic the stylistic departure may be from album to album, Miniature Tigers always seem to wind up with songs worth grooving to. buffaBLOG was able to get a few questions in just before the band left for an extensive full US tour with The Griswolds. Brand discusses recording in the tropics, going[...]

The Get Money Squad – Nothing’s Wrong

July 7, 2014

A spanking-new collaboration from Network’s Quinton Brock and producer Jon Bap keeps it fresh and brings forth a batch of songs with an unexpected new sound. Dubbed The Get Money Squad, the duo gets summery with their debut EP titled Nothing’s Wrong. Think the carefree attitude of Mac DeMarco meets the poetic softness of Shuggie Otis. Bap’s jangly guitar riffs compliment Brock’s smooth vocals nicely, and the combination is cooler than John Stamos double-fisting a pair of large Slurpees. Damn, that’s cool. Nothing’s Wrong is our Album of the Week. “Bohemia” introduces the EP with a quick minute of dialogue before melting away into a hypnotic instrumental section that I wish was much longer. The opener bleeds right into “June666” (my favorite of the five tracks), which chronicles a relationship between the devil and his significant other while a simple drumbeat and a fun bass line carry the song through[...]

Staff Picks: Favorite Albums & Songs (so far) – Part 1

June 26, 2014

With 2014 at its mid way point, the staff here at buffaBLOG has gone over the first six months of the year and picked our favorite tracks and albums. Variety is always nice on lists like this; it shows that we have been blessed with a rich and diverse year of new music, and for the most point, it is reflected on today and tomorrow’s Part 2 lists. Bill Wright Album: Liars – Mess For 15 years, Liars have been tweaking, reworking, and pivoting their sound.  But if there is one thing that has remained constant over the years, it’s that they have always been a little weird. Their front man is even named Angus ,which is a weird name if I’ve ever heard one (apologizes to all the readers out there named Angus). This year, Liars put out their “electronic” album, a record that takes all the beeps and boops they[...]

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Only Run

June 3, 2014

“How can I open up?” asks Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s Alec Ounsworth on “As Always”- the opening track of the band’s latest release. He seems to have answered his own question, as the song- a cosmic cascade of phaser synths and Ounsworth’s signature howl- introduces the soaring, synthetic atmosphere of Only Run– the band’s first LP since 2011’s Hysterical. CYHSY has come a long way since their humble beginnings as a DIY-oriented indie band, but the overly electronic Only Run seems to lack that idiosyncratic energy that made them so buzzworthy in the first place. 2012 marked the departure of guitarist/keyboardist Robbie Guertin and bassist Tyler Sargent, which could offer explanation to such a wild reinvention of their sound. Lineup changes aside, the new album lacks substance, and left my appetite for classic Clap Your Hands hooks completely intact. However, Only Run does not come without its merits. “Impossible[...]