Latest Posts

Slumbers – Come Over

December 12, 2016

I drove home in the snow tonight (Sunday). And no, not just a dusting, Buffalo’s first semi-legitimate accumulation this December. The roads were mostly awful; it took me about double the amount of time it normally does to get home from work. But amongst all the fishtailing, wheel spinning, and “am I even on the road right now?” moments, I was strangely calm and collected. With Rochester’s Slumbers keeping me company through my Ford Taurus’ surprisingly decent speakers, my commute was less of a treacherous nightmare, and more of a snow-covered field of dreams. Slumbers’ debut release Come Over is our Album of the Week. Slumbers fills an interesting niche in the Rochester music scene. Their simmering blend of dreamy indie rock is soft without the malleability of other low-volume projects. Vocal duties are expressly shared, and the harmonies are swirling and plentiful. Members Claire McClusky (bass), Sabrina Nichols (guitar),[...]

Evan Meulemans – Lilac Drive

December 5, 2016

Evan Meulenmans crafts songs for people who hold optimism to a high standard. His music seems to be an effortless offering—a mere extension of his obvious inner positivity. The Wisconsin-bred, Rochester-based folk musician’s latest release, Lilac Drive, combines acoustic folk with easy-listening island vibes to arrive at a crossroad both inviting and uplifting. And loaded with support from more than a handful of prominent Rochester musicians, Lilac Drive is our album of the week. Opening track “Wisconsin” introduces the album with a thematic anomaly; the lyrical content details Meulenmans’ home state, while his rhythmic finger-style calls to mind a Hawaiian warmth not unlike fan-favorite Jack Johnson. This island influence find its way into most of the record, most notably “Open Road Lullaby” and the reggae-tinged clincher “Mo’ Bettah.” Yet, solitarily reducing the album’s influence to coconuts and tidal waves would be a glaring injustice, as Meulenmans’ fusion of island folk[...]

Cooler – Phantom Phuzz

November 21, 2016

Through being cool? Well try being Cooler. Buffalo’s emogaze-alternative all-stars return for round two with Phantom Phuzz, a six-track EP of regret, carbonated soft drinks, and that sweet, fuzzy thickness. The album’s carefully crafted tones compete vigorously with lyrical prowess and song structure for prominence, bringing relevant elements of juxtaposition to Cooler’s sophomore effort. Recorded with Jay Zubricky of GCR Audio and mastered by Anthony Delplato, Cooler’s Phantom Phuzz is our Album of the Week. Phantom Phuzz opens appropriately with quiet-loud sweller “Pave Age,” a wordless eruption of articulate guitar leads, volatile drum statements, and of course, the album’s principal element—the phantom phuzz itself. That’s just the thing about the album’s title, it perfectly encapsulates the overarching sonic theme—apparition-esque reverb paired with generous amounts of thick, fuzzy distortion. The resulting combination is largely impenetrable and pure ear candy for fans of early 90’s alternative and the shoegaze subgenre that reached[...]

honey COMA – 7 Songs

November 14, 2016

With such an active, buzzing music scene, collaboration between Buffalo’s local artists is practically unavoidable. Once you take into account the sheer amount of comradery, diversity, and artistry within our fine city, you’re left with nothing but unbridled potential. With that said, it should come as no surprise that Buffalo’s latest local supergroup—honey COMA—has hit the ground full-sprint with their debut effort 7 Songs. Recorded and mixed by Elliott Douglas at Old Bear Studios and mastered by Paul Besch at Quiet Country Audo, honey COMA’s 7 Songs is our Album of the Week. Safe to say I didn’t expect for a second that the sum of equal parts Norelle Christiani (Mallwalkers), Bryan Johnson (Bryan Johnson & Family), and Tom Burtless (Humble Braggers) would end up being a dreary blend of postrock, tense emo-alternative, and slowcore. I mean, take Mallwalkers—an unapologetically raucous dance punk group, toss in BryJo’s fun beach pop[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

Tonight: Bethlehem Steel

June 4, 2016

Following a tour van mishap that led the band to cancel its most recent hometown appearance, Brooklyn-based trio Bethlehem Steel will finally make it back to its origin city of (as their bandname may suggest) Buffalo tonight. Sharing cues from Rochester-based fuzz rock contemporaries Pleistocene, the BFF bands are the local(ish) pioneers of their crafted genres. Have a listen to a track from B-Steel’s excellent Docking EP below, released in November via Miscreant Records. Tonight’s NY-centric bill at Mohawk Place includes Bethlehem Steel, lo-fi punk locals Space is Haunted, Slowcooker, and B-Steel citymates Stringer. Get there right around 8pm to catch them all–these bands are bringing more than just volume. $7.

Tonight: Atsuko Chiba

April 11, 2016

Is your Monday in need of a little color? These gray skies have a stranglehold on your morale, you say? Well I’ve got your remedy right here: Atsuko Chiba. The Montreal outfit specializes in dark and gripping experimental prog rock similar to what you’d hear from a collaboration between Mogwai, Balance & Composure, and Pink Floyd, and the quintet is hitting Buffalo’s Dreamland tonight to clear up your Monday blues. Not only will Chiba make your ears happy, but they’ll satisfy your eyes with their live show, which “aims to create immersive sensorial environments by combining sound-based creative practices and live visuals,” according to their bandcamp. Check out the live studio session below and see for yourself. Rounding out tonight’s bill: post-rock tourmates Au Revoir, and locals Elemantra, Slow Cooker, and LA Times. Show starts promptly at 7:30pm with a suggested donation of $5.

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[...]

Tonight: Sheer Mag

April 3, 2016

Philadelphia punk rockers Sheer Mag are more than a fresh voice to the scene. Their freshness precedes them—the 80’s tinged beefy riff slinging, frontwoman Christina Halladay’s Joan Jett-ish tigress growl, exceptionally grooveable rhythms, all of this coalesces into one of today’s hardest hitting punk rock bands still able to churn a dance floor. The quintet is in for a snowy surprise when they make their way to Mohawk Place later tonight (welcome to Buffalo) in support of their latest 4-track release, III, so let’s show them a warm, queen city welcome. Their electrifying live show comes highly recommended. Tourmates Laffing Gas, and locals Radiation Risks and Uniform (OPR) are all set to bring the heat before the Mag, so get there early. Or when the doors open, which is scheduled for 7pm. Presale tickets were $10, so if you plan on getting one at the door, bring some extra cash[...]

Plain Brown Envelopes – Love In A Plain Brown Envelope

March 21, 2016

Alright Buffalo, let’s slow it down a bit. This week’s AOTW comes from a fresh collaboration between songwriter Bill Nehill (TMMC, Poison Arrows) and arranger Katie Quider (Space Is Haunted, The Patterns). The new project, titled Plain Brown Envelopes, channels low-tempo dark folk vibes, Nehill’s brooding songwriting conjuring Jeff Mangum in his darker moments and at a significantly lessened BPM. Quider’s backup vocals and arrangements provide a ghostly edge to the gothic-tinged folk project, whose eight-track debut Love In A Plain Brown Envelope offers a deceptively powerful collection of tracks perfect for the last gasp of a long winter. At the core of Plain Brown Envelopes sits the enduring songwriting of Bill Nehill. The craft is juxtaposed nicely with elements of both stoicism and desperation, tonalities spread throughout the album like a hand of fanned-out playing cards. The strange thing about this album is the fact that it was recorded[...]

BIG FRED Shares Single Off <3pals<3

March 16, 2016

Incoming! It’s no secret that Rochester’s local music scene is teeming with top-qual bands of all genres (personally, I like to call Roc city the “indie rock capital of the state”); best make room for one more. Meet BIG FRED, one of the scene’s fresher additions. Composed of Conor McCann (guitar/bass/vox) and Dylan Vaisey (drums), the duo’s fuzzy, spastic sonic creations are nothing short of interesting. Lead single “Worm” mixes a Pedro the Lion-like lyrical longing with an explosiveness akin to the ever-inventive Wolf Parade. It sounds like throwing a firecracker at a beehive and the subsequent ‘get-the-fuck-outta-there’ that follows—fun-and-games right into life-or-death. The rest of the five-track debut, titled <3pals<3, follows suit with intermittent blasts of sludgy fuzz (the band’s self-coined “trash pop” classification makes almost too much sense), spastic and creative rhythms, and healthy portions of wonderfully janky riffage throughout. Cassettes are available here via the Poughkeepsie-based Sad[...]

Tonight: Marian McLaughlin

March 3, 2016

Equal parts chamber-folk songstress and classically-charged eccentric, DC musician Marian McLaughlin will make her way to Buffalo’s Ninth Ward at Babeville tonight for the first stop on her string of East Coast tour dates. The thing about Marian is—unless you’re already familiar with her unique musicianship—chances are slim that I’ll be able to accurately describe her craft with words alone. Think… Joanna Newsom-esque vocal explorations over a backdrop of intricate classical guitar pickings and orchestra-tinged string arrangements (by collaborator and double bassist Ethan Foote). Her cathedral folk offerings are already entrancing to begin with, but in the intimate confines of the Ninth Ward? A rare treat. A wildly suitable match is found in Buffalo’s buzzing indie folk quintet Tiny Rhymes (whose Katie Weissman doubles as McLaughlin’s touring cellist) to open tonight’s show. Doors open at 7pm with a $10 admission, storytelling vibes in full force.

Difficult Night – In a Blackhole at the Listening of Distant Harpers in the Dim Gloam of Evening

February 29, 2016

Difficult Night is somewhat of an anomaly.  An anomaly in the fact that the unique Buffalo quartet is fundamentally unclassifiable. The oft-coined “slacker rock” designation only goes so far, “indie rock” is an even broader cop out. Classifications (or lack thereof) aside, I can concretely say that the band does what they want, a project unburdened by the shackles of expectation. Their latest album, In a Blackhole at the Listening of Distant Harpers in the Dim Gloam of Evening (inhales), lays foundation on that sentiment, making the collection of songs deliciously raw and unapologetically soaked in truth. Blackhole seems to shine brightest in its elements of observation and introspection. “I used to believe in signs / before I knew how to read ‘em,” sings Shane Meyer on midtempo number “Turn My Back,” track two of the 9-track album. Many of the songs feel like face-to-face conversations with Meyer, an unfiltered[...]