Latest Posts

The Ten Best Songs from Buffalo in 2025

February 2, 2026

As we start getting back to into the swing of things at the blog in 2026, it’s necessary to reflect and share what our favorite songs from 2025 were. It was a great year for the Buffalo music scene, and we can’t wait to see where 2026 brings us. Here’s our favorite ten songs out of Buffalo in 2025 – with a Spotify playlist to listen along.   10. The Burkharts – “Tell Me”   The tail-end of 2025 saw the return of beloved surf-pop scenesters, The Burkharts, with a new single “Tell Me.” The new track stays in the realm of their 60s-soaked beachiness with their usual inspirations of The Beach Boys and The Beatles. No longer the youngsters on the block, The Burkharts continue to evolve their sound while masterfully creating melodies and multi-part harmonies that stick to your ribs. – Ron Walczyk     9. Science Man[...]

Wylie Something – Up Through the Rust

September 4, 2025

If you ask Buffalo songwriter Jacob Smolinski, the creative force behind Wylie Something, his music is tied directly to the calendar. “Everything is seasonal to me, revolving around periods of time in our quad seasons of B-LO, NY,” he explains, comparing the seasonal vibes of previous Wylie releases. “Dimes was early Spring. Picnic? Summer. But sometimes… you get something evergreen.” His latest EP, Up Through the Rust, released August 29th, is one of those evergreen moments, but one that feels perfectly suited for the here and now. “It just sounds like early Fall to me,” Smolinski says, and he’s right. The five-song collection is a hazy, scrappy, and distinctly satisfying slice of slacker rock that feels like that first truly crispy day after a long, hot summer. Bust out those denim jackets, folks. Up Through the Rust is our album of the week.   This release, his 14th in 11[...]

Must See Shows (4/16/25-4/22/25)

April 15, 2025

Wednesday, April 16th @ 7pm TV Star @ Area 54 Wednesday night has a certified ripper headlined by touring alt/psych act TV Star. Since forming in 2020, the band has been compared to The Jesus and Mary Chain and Mazzy Star, leading to much buzz in the Washington music scene. TV Star even managed some face time with famed KEXP DJ Cherlyl Waters and recorded a live session and interview with the outlet in 2023.   The lineup also features two Ontario power-pop acts with  Windsor’s Heavenly Sweetheart and Welland’s Big School. Fun fact, I had no idea Welland was so close to Buffalo until maybe a month ago. I had never even heard of the city, which is only 36 minutes from downtown Buffalo. After spending a weekend in Toronto recently, I discovered that many creatives have been moving to that area which seems quite promising for southern Ontario’s[...]

Wylie Something – Picnic

November 4, 2024

Buffalo local, Wylie Something, the songwriting vehicle for musician Jacob Smolinksi, is inviting you to a BBQ of freshly grilled tunes for the soul, with an all new record titled Picnic.   For an appetizer, we’re served our first track “Feel Like Jake.” For listeners looking for a classic taste, they may find that the jam-band like vibes of this song call back to the sounds of The Grateful Dead or the bluesy swing of Bob Dylan, while more modern-day listeners might enjoy the heavy indie-psych influence. “Jake” listens like a blue sky with whisky clouds on a slow day, where the smiles are warm and drinks are iced cold. This feeling is captured perfectly in the slow swaying guitar strums, the woozy bongo blips, and Jake’s soulful baritone belting – feeling like a hazy meditation without a care in the world.   This feeling continues into track two, “Stuck[...]

Tonight: Steak & Cake Records 9th Anniversary

February 15, 2020

The brainchild of local musician, producer and budding impresario Brandon Schlia, Steak & Cake Records has been a vital to the Buffalo music scene, and tonight area record label Steak & Cake Records celebrates nine years at Curly’s with a killer lineup of acts from their troupe of artists and an album release from Buffalo by way of Philadelphia grunge rockers Wylie Something. Spacey and pleasingly gnarly, Wylie Something is the latest project from Jacob Smolinski, previously of Cascos and Local Onlys, and he’s back in town to celebrate the release of his sophomore LP Welcome? which arrives today for your listening pleasure. Tonight’s lineup also features indie pop duo Olmsted, indie power pop duo Patchwork (one half of which is the boss Schlia himself), budding rock heroes Johnny & the Man Kids, garage punks Personal Style, and soulful art rocker outfit The Best Strangers will also be on hand to[...]

Wylie Something – untitled, unfinished, yet mastered?

May 2, 2016

The latest offering from Wylie Something is a compilation called untitled, unfinished, yet mastered?, presumably a take on Kendrick Lamar’s untitled/unmastered. Wylie Something is the moniker for Buffalo-native turned Philadelphia-based college student, Jacob Smolinski. If you have been exposed to Smolinski’s other works (The Cascos, or most recently Local Onlys), then you know the musician is keen to writing features catchy and danceable indie rock. Released through local label Steak & Cake Records, it consists of songs he wrote over the past few years but didn’t know what to do with, assembled and mastered by producer Brandon Schila. Schila’s work extends beyond the production. He lends a hand on the compositions as well, taking on the role of bassist and drummer. Also present are backing vocals from Maggie Maloney. These contributions help round out the songs and bring Wylie’s tunes to life. Virtually every song is tight and compact, with[...]