Under the name Growl Bear, singer-songwriter Jeremy Button strings together 11 folksy vignettes into an endearing collection of Americana.
Folk Rock
Posted inMusic
The Mountain Goats’ Peter Hughes tours the world but calls Rochester home
Bassist Peter Hughes is a member of The Mountain Goats, a popular indie rock band with a cult following. But he’s also a proud Rochesterian.
Posted inMusic
The Painted Birds perform sunny, thought-provoking tunes at Jurassic Farms
The Painted Birds’ eclectic pop-soul tracks provide a needed respite from the summer heat at Jurassic Farms’ riverside oasis on Friday.
Posted inMusic
Bellwether Breaks, Ryan Sutherland bring eclectic rock to Photo City Music Hall Thursday
The soulful retro rock of Bellwether Breaks and Ryan Sutherland’s adventurous folk rock make a great pair in Photo City’s June 24 show.
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Live from New York City’
Chris Bethmann ‘Live from New York City’ Self-released chrisbethmann.com Rochester singer-songwriter Chris Bethmann’s EP “Live from New York City” is a realistic snapshot of today’s working musician, hustling to share their music with a new audience, in hopes that the feelings behind the songs will resonate. This self-produced, seven-song collection was recording during Bethmann’s June […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Lemon Sucker’
Whirlin’ Jack Dervy ‘Lemon Sucker’ Self-released whirlinjackdervy.bandcamp.com Local singer-guitarist Nick Schaefer, better known as Whirlin’ Jack Dervy, has been fixated on songwriting since learning to play guitar at age 11. With a deep curiosity for the cohesion between lyrics and chord structures, he’s released four solo EP’s since 2015. Schaefer now performs with his backing […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Doomed to Bloom’
Justin Roeland ‘Doomed to Bloom’ Self-released roeland.bandcamp.com With the release of his third full-length album “Doomed to Bloom”- out on January 18 – Ithaca multi-instrumentalist Justin Roeland has delivered a dazzling collection of folk rock gems that also satisfy the trend in indie music toward psychedelic pop. “Doomed to Bloom” is filled with slow-burning songs […]
Posted inMusic
Pandafan takes indie rock down to its roots
When Hurricane Sandy in 2012 caused blackouts on Long Island, Grace Denatale and Delaney Hafener resorted to old-timey entertainment with their friends. They grabbed a guitar and started singing. The lights eventually came back on, and Denatale and Hafener kept playing together and developed Pandafan. Combining indie rock songwriting and folk instrumentation, Pandafan paints a […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Half Moon’
Jackson Cavalier “Half Moon” Self-released jacksoncavalier.bandcamp.com This album is nothing short of beautiful. One-man-band Jackson Cavalier is a study in bittersweet juxtaposition as he and his lonesome guitar come steamrolling out in this rollicking, folk-rock display called “Half Moon.” The opening track, “Dead Bird,” is a happy finger-picked ode with Cavalier’s guitar style keeping it […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Polka Dot Swing’
Yarms “Polka Dot Swing” Self-released yarms.bandcamp.com On his new solo album, “Polka Dot Swing,” Ryan “Yarms” Yarmel comes across less as a singer-songwriter and more as a straight-up storyteller. And that’s a good thing. Rather than cling to the conventions of indie folk, Yarmel reaches back into the archives of American music, drawing from jazz, […]
Posted inMusic
There’s no language barrier for Swamp Trotter
To dig a band or the song it’s laying down, you don’t necessarily need to understand the words. And in some cases, the lack of lyrical comprehension can better serve the song. The melody is more streamlined and unfettered by narrative. We’re not talking “na na hey hey” here, but rather a different language all […]
Posted inMusic
Deliver the Vetiver
The principle ingredients in Vetiver’s mix complement and counter one another, creating a splendid sparkle. It’s a tonal blend of simple pop sugar over a more serious folk-rock stock. By definition, that kind of puts the San Francisco band on the crowded indie shelf in the hip aisle. But Vetiver extends into its own territory […]
