LEAH CREARY

Rochester-based band Wisdom Kids combine a love of several different genres and artists to create its own sophisticated approach to music-making. The band is highly influenced by both 90’s grunge and lo-fi with hints of bright, acoustic folk scattered throughout its discography. Rather than simply becoming a straight-forward grunge band, Wisdom Kids chose to surprise […]

Since The Felice Brothers formed back in 2006 — with its members hailing from the upstate New York area — the band has continued to evolve, coming to embrace a Dylan-meets-bluegrass aesthetic, presenting listeners with a rustic sort of charm. The band’s humble, back-woods beginnings can be heard in each and every song, through a […]

Folk band Mutual Benefit produces unique, laid-back tunes using a wide variety of instrumentation and sounds. Lead by Jordan Lee, the band employs the use of lush strings and found sounds to create full, rich arrangements that perfectly encapsulate its leader’s vulnerable lyrics. In October 2013, the band released its first full-length album, “Love’s Crushing […]

Punk band Hank Wood and the Hammerheads describes itself as being, “NYC garage mutants.”  The band clearly draws influences from early punk bands like The Stooges, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols — embracing the rough, oftentimes imperfect, sound that defined such bands.  However, Hank Wood makes this sound its own by combining that 70’s […]

Buffalo-based band Del Paxton labels its music as being both “alternative” and “emo” — two titles that certainly fit the mood of the music the band creates. The band cites acts like American Football and Third Eye Blind as being major influences, thus resurrecting an emo, math-rock sound that has been mostly neglected by bands […]

Coming all the way from France, Aqua Nebula Oscillator creates atmospheric, unpredictable music with a psychedelic edge. The band states that it is inspired by many different forms of art, including horror and cult movies — an influence that can be heard clearly through its penchant for creating music with an otherworldly, ominous sense to […]

Rochester’s own The Younger Gang describes itself as being, “based in the traditions of Old-Time Appalachia and classic Americana,” while seeking “new interpretations of old music without losing touch with its roots.” The Younger Gang combines the soulful lead vocals of Michelle Younger, of Windsor Folk Family, and a mix of traditional bluegrass instrumentation with […]

Philadelphia-based band The Weaks has an affinity for combining catchy, bubbly melodies, noisy punk-influenced accompaniment, and lyrics full of self-loathing. The band released their first EP, “The World Is A Terrible Place and I Hate Myself and I Want To Die” in February, containing six tracks that are clearly inspired by punk-influenced bands of the […]

New York-based artist Lily Virginia names her genre of music as being “her own brand of alternative folk-pop.” She draws influences from fellow folk and pop artists such as Bon Iver, Fleetwood Mac, and Florence + The Machine, embracing the vulnerability and confessional nature of their music. Virginia’s music is raw and honest, brought to […]

Jim Avett is perhaps best known for being the father of Seth and Scott Avett, of the popular folk band The Avett Brothers. However, in recent years, Jim has earned much-deserved attention for his own music, releasing his first solo album, “Tribes,” in 2010. Jim creates a traditional brand of folk music, infused with country, […]

The Fevertones is a local folk band that is inspired by such artists as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Jack White. The band began as a blues group, but soon after transitioned to a bluegrass-inspired, alternative-folk sound. Fevertones uses a wide range of instrumentation, including trombone, upright bass, mandolin, and violin, to create a sound […]