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Face the Music
INDIE/PUNK
1. HEAD NORTH
They may be a young, but they don’t sound it. Head North hits home with huge raunchy guitar lines, aggressive drumming and an emotional complexity behind raspy vocals. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Pentimento 2. The Traditional 3. Cedar Kites |
POP/ROCK
2. WILD THINGS
Wild Things formed with a goal to create a sound that’s both energetic and poppy. After listening to their single “Little Ships,” which was released on New Year’s Day 2015, you’ll be tempted to tap your foot and dance along. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Royal Tongues 2. Parade Chic 3. Smart House |
INDIE/GRUNGE/ROCK
3. AMERICAN LOW
Vocalist/lead songwriter Mike Brady isn’t afraid to name names. His lyrics are honest and his music is loud. American Low sounds like an early 90s emo band with grungy guitar tones and hard hitting drums. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Made Violent 2. Humble Braggers 3. Pitch Black |
HIP-HOP
4. DEAN CATHAM
He’s sleek, smooth and still in college. Dean Chartham is Buffalo’s newest addition to hip-hop scene and he’s not going anywhere. Some of his beats are mellow and laid back, but his attitude is energetic and in your face. This is the type of artist you listen to while cruising down Elmwood on a sunny summer day. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Chae Hawk 2. Mic Excel 3. Quinton Brock |
ALTERNATIVE/EXPERIMENTAL/MATH ROCK
5. A HOTEL NOURISHING
Drummer Cam Rogers and Guitarist/vocalist Sonny Baker push the boundaries for the alternative/experimental genre. Comprised of only two members, A Hotel Nourishment is musical duo that mixes elements of post-punk, math rock and jazz to create a sound that’s complex and unique. If Fugazi had a baby with Frank Zappa, this group would be the result. |
DJ
6. SPOOKY STEPHEN
If you enjoy going out on Allen or dropping into Epic Lounge on a Saturday night, chances are you’ve experienced a set by Spooky Stephen. He’s known to always keep the party going with his current top 40 mix of house, dance and hip hop. He’ll even throw on some classic jock jams to ensure you never stop dancing. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Josh Yourmoms 2. Dovey 3. DJ CROP TOP |
ALTERNATIVE/POST-HARDCORE
7. THE SLUMS
These four guys are no strangers to the music scene in Buffalo. Having come from various musical backgrounds over the past years, the Slums deliver a sound that’s intense, ferocious and full of screeching vocal hooks to remind you that rock n’ roll is far from dead. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Disgrace 2. Handsome Jack 3. Every Time I Die |
JAZZ/FUNK/LATIN
8. ELLEN PIERONI QUARTET
One of Buffalo’s youngest and most talented jazz projects, EPQ consists of alto saxophonist Elle Pieroni, pianist Harry Graser, drummer Colin Sperrazza, and bassists Anthony Henry. They play many different genres such as smooth jazz, funk, and Latin around the city and they always deliver a great performance. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Taylor Made Jazz 2. Erica Wolfling 3. Vitamin D |
ELECTRO/POP
9. LESIONREAD
Lesionread began as a experimental electronic music/performance art project by Shawn Lewis. The performances are both aesthetically pleasing and intriguing and the experience is just as much of an art piece as it is a musical composition YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Breach 2. Sparklebomb 3. Space Cubs |
ALTERNATIVE/POP
10. WOLF
Singer/guitarist Chelsea O’Donnell started Wolf as a solo project with just her acoustic guitar and powerful voice. It wasn’t until teaming up with Benjamin Randall and Bill O’Connor that they started to create an edgy alternative sound that can be compared to late 90s alternative rock. The three-piece released thee single “infectious,” earlier this year and continue to climb the ranks of Buffalo’s alt/rock scene. |
ELECTRONIC/PUNK/FOLK
11. JACK TOPHT
When you listen to Jack Toft for this first time, you won’t really know what just happened. You might not be sure whether to classify him as hip-hop, folk, electronic, indie or just plain weird. But you know what? It works. He experiments with multiple genres and writes unconventional songs about girls smoking E-cigs and whatever seems to enter his mind at any given time. |
ELECTRO/DANCE/DISCO
12. SOLIDISCO
dJs Dstar and Biacco already had solid followings in buffalo, but after pairing up to form Solidisco, they’ve become one of the fastest growing names in the disco house scene both locally and regionally. They modernize dance music’s timeless notions to create an opportunity for new listeners to appreciate disco’s classic style. |
METAL/HARDCORE
13. BURN BOOK
Buffalo has always been good at producing some great hardcore bands. Burn Book is no exception. They’ve only been a band for a little over a year, but they are one of the heaviest groups out there. These guys will melt your faces off with their ‘heavy as hell’ guitars and fast tempos. We’ll see you in the mosh pit for this one. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Homewrecker 2. It dies Today 3. Diceros |
HIP-HOP/EXPERIMENTAL
14. BREACH, THE BELOVED
Formed as side project by the instrumental/experimental hip-hop producer, Romello, Breach, The Beloved takes on a more indie/jazz sound. Loaded with spacey reverb sounds, mellow vocal echoes and electric beats, BTB has a perfect summery that can be enjoyed for the months to come. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. Common Purpose 2. Mile High Muzik 3. Dr. Ooo |
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
15. TINY RHYMES
Some people like to write songs while others tell stories. Vocalist/guitarist, Sharon Mok tells her audience a story. Her voice floats beautifully above the acoustic sounds of her “chamber-folk” band only to be matched with the soothing sounds of cello and violin. Tiny Rhymes offers listeners tranquility and leisure and it’s clear they’re here to stay. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 1. The Albrights 2. Pine Fever 3. Folkfaces |
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