Buffalo has a tendency to secretly pump out unknown artists and catapult them into the big time behind the back of the local scene. Case in point: Brian Wheat.
After years of unsung work, he is finally dropping his first album "Where Have You Been" this month with his band Groggy Darlin'.
The creative, earthy album jacket perfectly resembles his music and his vibe. The 12 tracks of smooth melodious rhythms unite to tell a single, distinct story.
Wheat's inspiration comes from musicians like Cake, Iron and Wine, and Neil Young. With this amalgam of influences, his tunes hold years of travel and experience in them.
Wheat has preformed all over the world, from Morocco to Spain, and Fiji to Australia. His music is a combination of impressive guitar skills along with harmonica and banjo. He shows a wide range of talent, which is something that most new music has lacked over and over again.
Track one is titled "If Memory Serves," and the lyrics - coupled with easily accessible, melodic chords - are compatible with almost any listener.
"We left our homes so long ago/ So secure we thought we'd be, in greener pastures/ We invented to secure ourselves of a future we could not yet imagine/ And so we carry it over the mountains and wind up empty handed."
The singer's gentle voice comforts the listener like a lullaby on songs like "Restlessness," and "Setting Soon," sags and sways like an indie sea chantey.
Wheat's creative personality shines through his album artwork and into his lyrics. The lyrics are even printed on what looks like an off-white, recycled paper, augmenting the album's earthy feel.
Another track, titled "Bird Song," goes beyond the words and has deeper meaning than what is on the surface.
"There's one more bird left in the yard/ You'll find him there with broken arms/ And love him with vines instead of yarn/ He'll wrestle with your instruments, so shiny and new."
Brian Wheat's music far surpasses the homefront and his good value of knowing his roots will shine through and make him a modest singer throughout his career. True talent starts at the heart and never runs dry; Brian Wheat will never fall short of this virtue.
