Buffalo Rose is a modern folk/Americana band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Buffalo Rose
Buffalo Rose live at The Palace Theatre - Greensburg, PA
Buffalo Rose live at The Palace Theatre in 2021
Background information
OriginPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresAmericana, American folk music, modern folk music
Years active2016 (2016)–present
LabelsMisra Records
MembersShane McLaughlin
Lucy Clabby
Margot Jezerc
Mac Inglis
Bryce Rabideau
Jason Rafalak
Past membersMariko Reid
Rosanna Spindler
Websitebuffalorosemusic.com

The current lineup includes singers Lucy Clabby, Margot Jezerc, and Shane McLaughlin (who also plays acoustic guitar), Malcolm "Mac" Inglis on dobro, Bryce Rabideau on mandolin, and Jason Rafalak on upright bass. Past members include singers Mariko Reid and Rosanna Spindler.

The band's style has been compared to The Lumineers and First Aid Kit,[1] and the band has shared stages with acts such as The Infamous Stringdusters, Pokey LaFarge, and Tyler Childers.[2] Group members have also cited influences including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Punch Brothers, and Joni Mitchell.[3]

History

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The band originally formed when singers Shane McLaughlin, Lucy Clabby, and Mariko Reid joined with dobro player Mac Inglis to perform a rendition of the song “Momma Have Mercy” for the FoundSound Songwriter Series.[4][5] The success of that performance led to the creation of a permanent group, subsequently rounded out by Bryce Rabideau and Jason Rafalak.[6] They released their debut EP, Red Wagon, just six months later in November 2016.[7] The response was enthusiastic, and the group was encouraged enough to start work on a full-length record.[8] The resulting album, The Soil and the Seed, was released in March 2018 and was later named one of the top local albums of the decade.[9] The album resulted the group being featured on radio stations 91.3 WYEP,[10] 102.5 WDVE,[11] and the "Friday Night Rocks" series on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh Pirates home games.

With Rosanna Spindler replacing Mariko Reid (who left to join blues-rock group The Commonheart) in the fall of 2018, the band began to move in a more pop-informed direction with their single "Rocketship" released in March 2019.[12]  Soon after, the band was featured on NPR Music's All Songs Considered for their Tiny Desk Concerts submission of the song "Born",[13] and also began work on recording what would become the Big Stampede EP before signing to Misra Records in the fall of 2019.[14] Big Stampede was released November 2019 by Misra, and the song "I Feel So Good" from the EP went on to reach number one at 91.3 WYEP in March 2020.[15]

The band announced a follow-up record, Borrowed & Blue: Live Around One Microphone, which was released in May 2020.[16][17] The six-song EP received positive reviews throughout the American folk community, with Bluegrass Today writing, “Anyone who has tried recording live knows how that process exposes imperfections, and doing so with a lone microphone requires tremendous preparation and careful attention to your performance within the band setting. But this young sextet is up to the task.”[18] American Songwriter called it "light, delicate, poised, and calming,"[19] while Americana Highways warned readers, “Don’t be surprised if the vocals give you goosebumps.”[20] Music Mecca summed up many responses by describing it as "a must-listen for everyone with ears."[2]

In the summer of 2020, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Spindler left the group, replaced by singer Margot Jezerc to create the band's final lineup. Jezerc first appeared on the 2021 single "I Can See Clearly Now", a cover of the Johnny Nash classic featuring R&B singer INEZ (later named one of the best songs of the year by WYEP).[21]

Concurrently, while performing at the 2020 Folk Alliance International conference in New Orleans, the band was introduced to folk music legend Tom Paxton. Through their booking agent Stephanie Coronado (who was a mutual acquaintance), the band later reconnected with Paxton and began co-writing songs together.[22] The first of these songs to be made public appeared on the EP Rabbit, credited to both Paxton and Buffalo Rose.[23] Ahead of its release in February 2022, lead single "I Give You the Morning" reached number one on the FAI Folk Charts.[24]

Following completion of Rabbit, the band announced that they had also finished recording their second full-length album, to be released at a later date.[25]

Awards, honors, and nominations

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Awards

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  • Overall Grand Prize Winner - 18th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards)[26][27][28][29]

Honors

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Discography

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Albums

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  • The Soil and the Seed (self-released, 2018)[33]
  • Again, Again, Again (Misra Records, 2022)[25]
  • Red Wagon (self-released, 2016)
  • Big Stampede (Misra Records, 2019)[34][35]
  • Borrowed & Blue: Live Around One Microphone (Misra Records, 2020)[36]
  • Rabbit (Misra Records, 2022) - with Tom Paxton[23]

Singles

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  • The Last One (self-released, 2017)
  • Rocketship (self-released, 2019)[37]
  • Rocketship (Chalk Dinosaur Remix) (Misra Records, 2020)
  • The Cosmos and the Canyon (Misra Records, 2020)
  • I Can See Clearly Now (featuring INEZ) (Misra Records, 2021)

References

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  1. ^ "Trail Mix - December 2019". Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  2. ^ a b Howard, Paul (2020-04-29). "Pittsburgh's Americana & Folk Favorites Buffalo Rose Release Unique Cover & Music Video Honoring Madonna's 'Borderline'". Music Mecca. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  3. ^ Ross, Gary (2018-06-21). "5 local bands you shouldn't miss (& where to see them for free this summer) - Page 2 of 2". NEXTpittsburgh. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  4. ^ "VIDEOS". FoundSound Music. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  5. ^ Ross, Gary (2018-06-21). "5 local bands you shouldn't miss (& where to see them for free this summer) - Page 2 of 2". NEXTpittsburgh. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  6. ^ "ABOUT". Buffalo Rose. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  7. ^ "Album Review: Buffalo Rose - Red Wagon EP". FoundSound Music. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  8. ^ "Buffalo Rose on LiveMusicPGH". LiveMusicPGH. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  9. ^ "Sound Scene Express | The Best Pittsburgh Music of the Decade: An Introduction". Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  10. ^ "The Local 913: Buffalo Rose". 91.3FM WYEP. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  11. ^ "Buffalo Rose | 102.5 WDVE | DVE Coffee House". 102.5 WDVE. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  12. ^ "The Local 913: Buffalo Rose". 91.3FM WYEP. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  13. ^ "Watch More Tiny Desk Contest Entries We Love". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  14. ^ "Buffalo Rose on Instagram: "We are so excited to announce that we have signed with @misrarecords ! Our next two releases will be internationally distributed by Misra,…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  15. ^ "Buffalo Rose". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  16. ^ "Borrowed & Blue: Live Around One Microphone, by Buffalo Rose". Misra Records. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  17. ^ Deitch, Charlie (2020-04-07). "Album Review, Buffalo Rose, 'Borrowed and Blue: Live Around One Microphone". Pittsburgh Current. Retrieved 2021-01-16.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Buffalo Rose goes Live Around One Microphone". Bluegrass Today. 2020-05-07. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  19. ^ "Buffalo Rose Explains Why "Momma Have Mercy" Had To Be Written « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. 2020-05-07. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  20. ^ "Review: "Borrowed and Blue: Live Around One Microphone" by Buffalo Rose is an impressive display • Americana Highways". Americana Highways. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  21. ^ a b "The Best Songs of 2021 – WYEP". Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  22. ^ "Rabbit, by Buffalo Rose & Tom Paxton". Buffalo Rose. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  23. ^ a b Major, Michael. "Buffalo Rose & Tom Paxton Announce Collaborative 'Rabbit' EP". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  24. ^ a b c d "January 2022". The Folk Chart. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  25. ^ a b "Releases". Misra Records. Retrieved 2022-03-15.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ Iama (2018-06-04). "Musician". Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  27. ^ "Buffalo Rose Wins Top Honors at Acoustic Music Awards". Music Connection Magazine. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  28. ^ "Buffalo Rose Wins Top Honors in 18th Annual Acoustic Music Awards". Recording Magazine. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  29. ^ "Buffalo Rose Wins Top Honors in 18th Annual Acoustic Music Awards". Grateful Web. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  30. ^ "2021". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  31. ^ "Buffalo Rose". SXSW 2022 Schedule. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  32. ^ "Buffalo Rose". Folk Alliance International. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  33. ^ Fair, Meg. "Buffalo Rose releases eclectic The Soil and The Seed". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  34. ^ "Local Scene: The Hawkeyes rock out and Pittsburgh gets ready to Ramble". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  35. ^ Snowden, Jordan. "Catch release shows from Hemlock for Socrates, Buffalo Rose, Kiwano Sour, and The Hawkeyes this weekend". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  36. ^ "Buffalo Rose". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  37. ^ Snowden, Jordan. "Buffalo Rose moves in a new sonic direction". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
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