by Mike Torsell | Mar 9, 2015 | Album of the Week
There is something honestly comforting about Nick Reynolds’ guitar playing. It suggests an alternate world of infinitely catchy pop rock where everyone is walking down a sun filled street whistling Space Wolves. Given that Reynolds’ lyrics are as angst...
by Mike Torsell | Feb 14, 2015 | Preview
Let’s start with a brief mental exercise, run through all the possibilities one has for a Valentine’s Day activity, with a partner or with friends…Pretty cliche, pretty ‘done-to’death’ right? Well, tonight at The Foundry Lounge,...
by Mike Torsell | Feb 2, 2015 | Album of the Week
Last year, I was taken aback by just how haunted I was with Funeral Beats, the debut cassette from Sparklebomb, the alias of Angie Conte, one of the city’s more unique and intriguing electronic musicians. Mixing synth beats and textures with samples from found...
![Tonight: Well Rounded People’s Party [no. 3]](https://buffablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Roller-Party-Buffalo-NY-1.jpg)
by Mike Torsell | Nov 26, 2014 | Preview
The night before Thanksgiving is sometimes thought of as one of the biggest party nights of the year as people goad themselves for the coming onslaught of awkward family interactions. Well, instead of the usual bar crawl or at least before the usual bar crawl why not...
by Mike Torsell | Nov 20, 2014 | Rochester Showcase Artist Spotlight
The only Buffalo band on the bill for this week’s roadtrip/showcase, Mallwalkers, may have to be airdropped into Rochester. Luckily blog editor, Mac McGuire, is a licensed pilot* and master of the skies.* That said, Mallwalkers will be rounding out this lineup...
by Mike Torsell | Nov 10, 2014 | Album of the Week
Local cult leader, Bryan Johnson (that is why he calls his band ‘Family,’ right?) is one of the hardest working musicians in the city. His band has been a mainstay at local shows for years and with good reason, they are jittery, poppy crowd pleasers. And...
by Mike Torsell | Nov 6, 2014 | Preview
The recently resurrected Mohawk Place is certainly back with a strong lineup of shows to cement its reopening. Tonight, you can catch Zammuto, the latest project from one of the founding members of The Books, Nick Zammuto. While Nick Zammuto has been busy releasing...
by Mike Torsell | Oct 19, 2014 | Preview
There is something in San Francisco’s water supply that seems to enable a seemingly endless stream of musicians to release an equally endless stream of amazing psychedelic garage rock. Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees spring to mind first but you should not forget the...
by Michael Torsell | Jul 14, 2014 | Album of the Week
There is a fantastic moment right in the beginning of the Tins’ latest EP, Young Blame, where a synth kicks in and the chorus brings an immediate smile to your face. It is that often sought after moment where a new song hits you in just the right way. This is the...
by Mike Torsell | Jun 8, 2014 | Preview
Tonight is a rare opportunity to catch the international free jazz icons, Brötzmann/Parker/Drake Trio, at Hallwalls. Formerly a quartet, the trio is comprised of Peter Brötzmann (saxophone), William Parker (double bass) and Hamid Blake (percussion). The performance...
by Mike Torsell | May 28, 2014 | Preview
Continuing their series of excellent and innovative music documentaries that I seem to always be out of town for, Squeaky Wheel will be showing Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell tonight. The movie focuses on the life of the avant garde fixture who died of...
by Mike Torsell | May 5, 2014 | Preview
Everyone has their cultural/musical touchstones and if I were to point to one of my earlier ones (we are talking late 90s’) I would have to point to the Aquabats. In Middle School, I found very little to identify with in the alternative music that circulated...
by Mike Torsell | Apr 22, 2014 | Interview
Hello and welcome to the first in what I hope to become an ongoing series where we check in with various local bands to ask that question that pops into our head from time to time, “what are they up to” these days. It has been a little while since we last...
by Mike Torsell | Apr 14, 2014 | Record Store Day
By now, it is almost a cliche to point out that, with the rise of digital media consumption, there has been a parallel rise in older formats rooted in its physical existence. For every E-Book reader, you will find another person loudly decrying the value of books. So...
by Mike Torsell | Apr 13, 2014 | Preview
To get to the point, The War on Drugs’ most recent record, Lost in the Dream, is one of the most universally likeable rock records to come out in awhile. It is an early contender for album of the year and will definitely make many top 10 lists barring some sort...
