The Plague “Hope for the Future” Recover Records theplagueofficial.com If there was one word to describe The Plague’s new CD, “Hope For The Future,” it would be “dichotomy.” It’s hard and heavy the first minute; swift and slick the next. And the vocals come in two different shades as well: growling guttural and sung sweet. […]
Rochester music
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Album review: ‘Floating at the Bottom’
Haewa “Floating at the Bottom” Self-released haewamusic.net Sometimes psychedelic music can come on a little strong, where listening to it — and understanding it — winds up being a bit daunting. But Rochester-based psych supergroup Haewa opens up “Floating at the Bottom” with a splendid flourish of listener-friendly color you can practically taste and see. […]
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That’s the song
The Demos is truly a well-oiled, melody-driven, music machine. Mixing some Merseybeat with a little nice and poppy rock ‘n’ roll, the band is a sing-a-long personified. After releasing the Mikey James-produced EP “Paramount Clouds” in 2016, The Demos took a little downtime and went through some lineup changes. “Now we’re in full throttle mode, […]
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The F Word: If it’s too loud, you’re not old enough
The F Word. An online column for Frank De Blase to pontificate, ruminate, placate, and salivate. We’ll have reviews and previews, we’ll discuss trends in local and national music scenes, and we’ll try to do it as reverently as possible. Yup. Let’s get started. Going out to see all these shows is taking its toll […]
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Multibird is the word
Seth Faergolzia is a whimsical wrangler of beautiful chaos. He is essentially genre-less and hard to categorize. Even he is beguiled by his open-minded, multi-pronged attack. The leader of 23 Psaegz, a loop painter (recording vocal loops while painting at the same time), a solo artist, and a disciple of the profoundly odd, Faergolzia added […]
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Album review: ‘A Chorus to Carry Us Home’
Endangered Youth “A Chorus to Carry Us Home” Porchinit Tapes porchinit.bandcamp.com After some hellacious radio noise for an opening track, the music commences: Endangered Youth’s release of its entire discography, “A Chorus to Carry Us Home,” is a howling, hardcore harrang with tight, tight, tight segues. I mean, whoever produced this had to have used […]
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Album review: ‘Repeater’
King Buffalo “Repeater” Self-released kingbuffalo.bandcamp.com Before you start complaining that this is only a three-song EP, just check the run time on the first cut and title track to King Buffalo’s “Repeater.” It’s almost 14 minutes long. Of course it builds as it gets further into itself, but in this case it’s more of a […]
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Fresh Cut: ‘Faberge’ by Vacation Daze
Some bands spell out their influences on their sleeves, but Vacation Daze sounds like a grand composite of different genres. It’s evident on the band’s new track, “Faberge.”
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Rochester’s folk community isn’t easy to pin down
The Rochester area is a hotbed for folk music — even if it’s difficult to define what ‘folk’ means.
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Krooks full of hooks
On its rockin’ debut EP, “Steal the Show,” The Krooks blend some unlikely sounds that tug ears in multiple directions. There are subtle, and not-so subtle, influences flying about the band’s rock ‘n’ roll soundscape. The consistency lies in singer Sara Passamonte’s vocals — vocals that exude mood and myriad tones that come sailing out […]
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Album review: ‘The Early Riser’
Doug Stone / Josiah Williams “The Early Riser” Self-released dougstonejazz.com; jdeanwilliams.com Over the last decade, artists like Robert Glasper and Q-Tip have explored the intersection of jazz and hip-hop. But the jazz side of that equation has usually consisted of pretty light grooves. Local saxophonist extraordinaire Doug Stone has teamed up with Peoria, Illinois, rapper […]
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Album review: ‘Begin Again’
Better Angels “Begin Again” Self-released Guitarist and singer Bob Snow calls his project Better Angels, and Better Angels has a new album it calls “Begin Again.” The album’s opening track, “Desert Country Living,” plays out like a Jimmy Buffett song lost in a rural setting. The album picks up next with a gentle rock groove […]
