Latest Posts

Sufjan Stevens – “No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross”

February 16, 2015

Sufjan Stevens fans rejoice! Earlier this morning, we were given a taste of the prolific songwriter’s new album, Carrie & Lowell, in the form of the deliciously dark folk morsel “No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross.” It’s been a while since we’ve heard Steven’s folksier side, and this first single returns to those roots, paralleling the romantic aspirations of his earlier material, namely Seven Swans. The angelic harmonies and delicately cascading acoustic melodies lay a nice foundation that contrasts the darker subject matter this time around. Have a listen below; Carrie & Lowell drops 3/31 on Asthmatic Kitty. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190647487″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”160″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Busman’s Holiday

February 16, 2015

What better way to escape the subzeroes than to warm up with Busman’s Holiday? The brotherly duo of Bloomington, Indiana craft wonderfully charming chamber pop ballads, and will bring that craft to Buffalo tonight. The show takes place at Ocean Garden Oriental Foods, next to Sugar City and across from Resurgence Brewing Co, for those of you who have yet to have the pleasure of seeing a good ol’ rock show there before. Local support on the bill includes a solo performance from Nick Gordon of JOHNS; his solo stuff channeling a slacker-y Lou Reed vibe, and CCDS (Death Squad), a drum duo (yes, drum duo) that is best witnessed with your own eyes and ears. Doors open at 7pm with a $6 cover

the gifted children – my museum pieces

February 9, 2015

For a band that’s been around for almost 20 years, it’s commendable that the gifted children are still on their A-game. The Rochester art-rock collective is fresh off the release of my museum pieces, a genre-spanning full length that channels the likes of The Decemberists and self-referential influences Guided By Voices. Highlighted by swirling instrumentation, rich harmonies, and the eclectic  songwriting style the band is known for, my museum pieces is not only a noteworthy collection of songs, but a captivating story record that has more than earned buffaBLOG’s Album of the Week. Taking a look at the roster/credits for the album on the band’s bandcamp page is dizzying to say the least; an impressive seventeen musicians contributed in some way to the album’s eleven diverse tracks. Much in the spirit of Broken Social Scene, the gifted children have a perpetually rotating cast of musicians that varies from record to[...]

Cookie Drops Debut EP, Tell it to the fudge

February 3, 2015

In the essence of Spring newness (we’re getting there) and spontaneity, Cookie, the fresh punk project of Jordan Nittoli (Newish Star, Dream Journal) and Dave Dluga (Softlines, White Whale, Mapmaker) has dropped its debut EP, Tell it to the Fudge. The three tracks listen like a Japandroids / Built to Spill combo– sometimes fast, sometimes brash, but always on point. “Recording these songs was a pleasant surprise” notes Nittoli when asked about the project. “We had messed around with the riff for ‘Research and Development’ a few weeks earlier… thought it would be cool to write a couple more songs, and here we are.” While you shouldn’t expect to catch Cookie live any time soon, new songs may still be on the horizon. “It may continue to be a recording project,” adds Nittoli. “More or less to solidify some floating ideas.” I particularly enjoy the hearty stroll of  “Rule the Universe,” definitely[...]

Concreatures – Pretending to Swim

January 28, 2015

It truly goes without saying that the 90’s was an incredible decade for alternative music. Some would say it was the only decade for alternative music. The Brooklyn sludge rockers in Concreatures may have a thing or two to say about that. Their self-released debut album, Pretending to Swim, flows thick with 90’s influence but is not without its moments of contemporary bloom. The eight-track album hits hard, loud, and confident in all the right places; no doubt a modern alt-rock release to write home about. The album opener and single “White Noise” is a straight punch to the chest. In a hats-off to heavy gaze bands like Hum or Smashing Pumpkins, the song is thick and distortion-heavy, but also pleasantly melodic in the verses. It’s moments like this that give some of the album’s songs a good sense of dynamicity–the leads may be straight-up screaming, but that’s not to say the[...]

Zach Miller of Dr. Dog

January 21, 2015

Touring the US in support of their first live album, Live at Flamingo Hotel, Dr. Dog will bring their high-spirited folk rock to Buffalo again this year at the venerable Town Ballroom. After eight albums and a truckload of tours, the boys have undoubtedly hit a comfortable stride, and show no signs of slowing their roll. It seems fitting that Dr. Dog finally put out a live album; their electrifying live performances generate nothing but good vibes and an undying respect among their cult-like die-hards, first time attendees, and everyone in between. buffaBLOG caught up with keyboardist Zach Miller and talked touring tips, special memories, and the conception of their new live album, out now via Anti Records. buffaBLOG: Dr. Dog is about to hit the road for tour… Besides your gear and good attitudes, what are some essential items you bring along with you? Zach Miller: Folding bicycle, barbecue grill, DVDs,[...]

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[...]

Wolf Drops First Full-Band Single, “Infectious”

January 16, 2015

2015 is going to be a good year for Buffalo music. And I don’t need to be Don Paul to make a claim like that—between all the incredible shows coming up and forthcoming local releases, what other proof is needed? Just yesterday, local indie rock outfit Wolf dropped a fresh single off of their upcoming EP, It’s Electric, due March 21st via Steak and Cake Records. The song is called “Infectious,” and it’s, well, exactly that. The song’s 90’s-tinged summer-rock sensibilities channel a K’s Choice / Wheatus vibe, perfect for those who yearn for those sweet, sweet days of 3D Doritos and JNCO jeans. Singer / guitarist Chelsea O’Donnell sings flavorfully over the song’s bouncy progression and catchy choruses, and the result will have your toes tapping. Steak and Cake renaissance man Brandon Schlia, who recorded and produced the track, brings an understated charm to the jam in the form of subtle[...]

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…[...]

Teenage Satan – Teenage Satan II

January 5, 2015

After a brief holiday hiatus, buffaBLOG’s Album of the Week feature is back in business. For the first time since the distant days of 2014, we have selected a local (or quasi-local) album, EP, or collection of songs that we find to be worthy of merit, and posted it up here for your listening pleasure. This week, for the first week of the new year, our collective ears were caught by the lo-fi bedroom folk songs on Teenage Satan’s second self-titled EP. Teenage Satan (aka Dan Bauer) doesn’t fully abandon the electronic nature of his first effort earlier last year, but he does take a bit of a departure on Teenage Satan II in the sense that he unplugs and picks up an acoustic guitar. The result is a little experimental, a little electronic, but decidedly folk-tinged this time around. Favoring humble organ tones over unearthly synths, Teenage Satan II[...]

Tonight: Bryan Johnson & Family

January 2, 2015

The folks over at Admirable Traits have put together a juicy bill for the first weekend of 2015, a line-up stacked with local greats to take place at Mr. Goodbar at 10pm. If you’re like me, come January 2nd, a serious break from the holidaze is needed. That’s exactly where Bryan Johnson & Family comes in. Armed to the teeth with energetic surf-pop songs, these kings-of-all-things-fun will clean your holiday slate and teleport your tired soul into that sweet, sweet summer breeze. I can almost smell the toxic waters of Lake Erie already. Also on tonight’s bill you’ll find the electro-pop stylings of ambient rockers Humble Braggers and the delicious raw-retro sounds of Rochester post-punk duo Buffalo Sex Change. First Friday of 2015 + Mr. Goodbar’s tantalizingly extensive beer selection + just a buck-a-band cover? Don’t be a fool.

Tonight: Brimstone Blondes w/ The Demos

December 22, 2014

Are you sick of shopping malls yet?  I’ll bet you’re not sick of  abandoned Asian food markets and rock and roll! And if you’re saying to yourself “But I am sick of rock and roll…,” then why are you even reading this? I digress. Brimstone Blondes will be kicking off their “Red White & Blonde” Christmas tour tonight with a Chanukah bonanza at Ocean Garden Oriental Foods (1233 Niagara St.). If you didn’t catch them at their release party at Iron Works a few months back, now is your chance to catch their signature blend of charismatic post-punk for yourself. If you did make the release party, you probably know enough not to miss out. You know what they say: go Blonde or go home! (They don’t actually say that.) Two other bands share the bill with The Blondes tonight– Rochester’s power pop pros The Demos will be bringing it along with[...]

The Slums

December 16, 2014

In the spirit of keeping things fresh, this year’s holiday party will play host to a band formed just this year. Though not a baby band by any stretch of the definition, Buffalo post-punk revivalists The Slums have only been around a few months, already having generated some noteworthy buzz around our fair city. The band’s four members are no strangers to the local music scene either, having come from a variety of different musical backgrounds including the likes of The Malones, Scales,  A Boy and His Machine, and Strangers. The amalgamation makes for a pretty satisfying blend of both hook and grit–a Thermals-esque urgency meets a hardcore fierceness that, at times, conjures influence from fellow Buffalo boys Every Time I Die. Rock. And. Roll. The Slums’ well-rounded three track EP (recorded by Paul Besch of Quiet Country Audio) is available for free download on their bandcamp page; check it[...]

Tonight: Centro-matic

December 14, 2014

After 17 impressive years of relentless touring and songwriting, alt-country kings, Centro-matic, will be bringing their craft to Buffalo for the last time tonight as part of their 2014 Farewell Tour. “This time feels as good a note as ever to go out on and I feel safe in saying that Mark, Matt, Scott, and I would like for this tour and for these shows to be a celebration of our work and time together,” notes singer/songwriter Will Johnson on Centro-matic’s website. This particular gathering of friends (as the prolific Johnson suggests the shows on this tour should be) will take place at the Sportsmen’s Tavern (326 Amherst St.) with local support provided by long-time Buffalo favorites Roger Bryan and the Orphans. As aforementioned, this is last call for Centro-matic, I repeat: last call. Don’t miss out on this. Show starts at 7pm, tickets are $15 at the door, 21+.

Lesionread Drops New Tracks

December 8, 2014

Earlier this week, local experi-tronic (experimental electronic, duh) artist Lesionread dropped two fresh tracks on his Soundcloud page. The first, a Jon Bap remix of “Neutron Bomb” (appropriately re-titled “Nutron Bomb”), switches it up with a bumbling bass line and Bap’s signature whammed-out jangle guitar chords before slamming into fuzz city during the latter half. This is the first of two Bap remixes that will appear on Lesionread’s upcoming remix tape, slated for a February release. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/179736448″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] The second track, “Addicted…,” is packing strings, featuring samples of Joe Isom ripping it up on cello. The track’s danceable house(ish) beat and distant synth sounds remind me of something off the soundtrack for Bomberman Hero on N64 (anyone?), and when paired with the cello samples, makes for a flavorful groove. “If I hate it, then why do I keep doing it?” asks Lewis paradoxically, before answering his[...]