In the time between 2014’s “I Will Not Be Afraid” and “LONER,” which came out this year, Caroline Rose went through a transformation. The singer-songwriter has always excelled at crafting whip-smart, energy-packed tunes. But the earlier album was rooted in Americana, while “LONER,” – out on New West Records – explores a wider, zanier pop […]
Katie Preston
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INDIE POP| Evil Hearted You
Evil Hearted You is a dazzling combination of old-timey jazz and modern dream-pop. Singer-songwriter and pianist Amber Tracy, along with guitarist Shane Durgee, play thoughtful and melodic anthems with an intangible, dark beauty. The duo is reminiscent of Regina Spektor, if Regina were a specter who lovingly haunted her songs. Turnip Heart and Boy Jr. […]
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Album review: ‘Delivery’
Mikaela Davis “Delivery” Rounder Records mikaeladavis.com It’s all about delivery, according to harpist and singer-songwriter Mikaela Davis. Her band’s new album, aptly titled “Delivery,” out on Rounder Records, is filled with all things dark and venerated. You get the sense through Davis’s songwriting that whatever this record is, it’s as much a gift to herself […]
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Japanese Breakfast rolls back through Bug Jar
Michelle Zauner has a distinct vision and Japanese Breakfast is the vessel. The indie hero got her start in the band Post Post before fronting Philadelphia’s much-loved Little Big League. But when a difficult time hit, Japanese Breakfast became Zauner’s solo outlet, bringing together both melancholy and upbeat pop elements. Japanese Breakfast’s first album, “Psychopomp” […]
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Album review: ‘Between The Banners, Beneath the Floors’
Forevers “Between The Banners, Beneath the Floors” Dadstache Records dadstacherecords.com “Between the Banners, Beneath the Floors,” the debut full-length from Rochester band Forevers, opens in a fury of ponderous guitars before settling into a 90’s alt-rock groove that changes and contorts but nevertheless remains consistent through the album’s 11 songs. This album could be described […]
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Queer Rock Camp amplifies voices of LGBTQ and gender expansive youth
Girls Rock! Rochester has been running music camps every summer since 2012, and in August, the group will start a new session: Queer Rock Camp.
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SOUL | Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics
There’s plenty to sing the blues about these days, but chances are, the blues never made you feel this good. Ruby Velle and her Atlanta-based band, The Soulphonics, are the modern riposte to a long neglected, vintage Motown sound. Velle’s velvet pipes sit snug between the caterwaul of the tenor sax and the sweet lament […]
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EXPERIMENTAL | Tigue
If you’re looking for music that feels like discovering a sixth sense, Tigue has unique powers and might just be the answer. You’ll be hard pressed to be able to compare the Brooklyn-based band (and Eastman School alums) to anyone else. Tigue is a trio of percussionists creating music that is abstract, minimalistic, and easy […]
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EMO | Mineral Girls
Riding on the new wave of emo music, Charlotte, North Carolina’s Mineral Girls carries the tradition of the genre’s complex chord structures and earnest, wailing vocals while still managing to feel new. This is a band that contains lo-fi punk elements, mixed with the darker sides of rock ‘n’ roll, giving them a Saddle Creek […]
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Album review: ‘Coming Home’
A Girl Named Genny “Coming Home” Self-released agirlnamedgenny.com A Girl Named Genny’s first full-length album, “Coming Home,” feels a lot like getting behind the wheel on the first spring day. It’s a joyride. Shifting between bluegrass, Southern rock, folk, and everything in between, the album is like taking a twisting backroad, jumping from scene to […]
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BLUES | JJ Grey and Mofro
Part band, part creature from the murky Florida swamp, JJ Grey & Mofro has been laying down salty grooves for more than 20 years. Complete with chunky horns and dense harmonies, Grey and his band are known for leaving their audience feeling like their ears just had a hearty meal. Grey’s powerful voice is only […]
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TRADITIONAL | Leah Ou and the Janus Duo
For the last 10 years, the Rochester Guitar Club has focused on bringing unique talent to its members and to the Rochester community as a whole. The club’s upcoming two-part concert features three phenomenal musicians currently living in Rochester. Leah Ou, who moved here from China, has a story to tell. Having been trained classically […]
