Great White Buffalo

Don't search for a song from Great White Buffalo to play first bro. I'll give you the song that will take you from "meh, not bad" to "DON'T WATCH MY RIGHT WRIST JANGLE JANGLE BRO, DON'T JUDGE ME FOR STARTING THIS SONG OVER AS SOON AS IT ENDS AND IT AIN'T EVEN 1:30 INTO THE SONG BRO, I'M JUST CALLING IT NOW SO WHEN THIS SONG DOES END I'LL BE PREPARED TO QUICK FLIP IT BACK A TRACK."

Play the song Likely Story.

Great White Buffalo sound like one of those rare bands that can just show the Fuck up and wreck shop. Turning casual music fans into diehard stalkers with the bend of a guitar string. Hell, I even know the combined body weight of the entire band soaking wet and I've only been skypestalking them for a few weeks bro. I also know their collective favorite color is mauve bro.

There aren't any frou frou digital effects or synthesizers bro, this shit is just pure let's each drink three more and then have one for the road rock.

Each song sounds like it has a story to accompany it, but I almost feel dumb for asking what the Fuck Teeth is about. It's a highway jam for sure, but then it strangely turns into a Kings of Leon jammer but without all the stylists and amazingly adorable photos bro. (I LOVE YOU JARED FOLLOWILLZ!) Great White Buffalo tickle the sounds of the aforementioned KoL, but there's a geeky Buckcherry without all the yayo thing going on that I just love to pieces. Yes, love to pieces. I'm a dad bro, I can say shit like that and get away with it. You finna go nigh nigh? Want some milko? Awww, wanna watch Team Umizoomi?

I AIN'T SCRRD!

Great White Buffalo might be the best random "who the hell is this and why do I want to wear one of their tshirts to school bro?" music interaction I've had in a long time.

I encourage you to buy this and then put the songs in mixtapes you burn for your girlfriend who doesn't exist yet. She might thank you with her feelings bro montana. - SYFFAL

It has often felt as if sincerity and personal conviction were run out of rock n’ roll in exchange for a tepid and demure approach to song writing, analogous to the music industry’s apprehension of change.

Great White Buffalo, however, appear and sound determined to reintroduce and inject that emotional intelligence back into the veins of rock music, starting with an indie sensibility. The band has been garnering attention and for good reason. Their recent self-titled debut release, which they recorded with Grammy award-winning producer Philip Allen (Adele, Aerosmith) this past year, kicks up reminders of big sounds, challenging metaphors, and hooks that will make you & yours randy.

With comparisons abounding, this L.A. quartet is set to make a splash onto the airwaves. Check out this track “Thanks for Nothing” and do yourself a solid by grabbing their record. It’s surely a wondrous way to welcome spring back into your life. - Indie Shuffle

“Sometimes a song comes together in a perfect amalgamation of creative ideas from everyone in the band — this isn’t that song. We paid a homeless guy $2 to write it for us.” — Guitarist Stephen Johnson describing GWB’s new hit “Thanks for Nothing” to Spinner.com

Ralph Barbieri, former co-host on the legendary Bay Area sports talk radio show “The Razor and Mr. T”, used to close ever show with the same quote, every time. “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.”

In Barbieri’s case, who was “relieved of his duties” last year after a long and distinguished career on the airwaves, the quote seemed to serve as a reminder or ethos that he aspired to follow himself, but not without struggle. Great White Buffalo, on the other hand, appear to have the whole flying because you’re taking yourself lightly concept in spades. And by the looks of it, it’s starting to pay off.

45 minutes prior to last weekend’s show at The Independent in San Francisco, I found myself backstage in the Green Room with GWB and to be sure, no one was taking themselves too seriously. Sure, I may have forced Great White Buffalo’s iconic looking lead guitarist, Stephen Johnson, to admit this was the band’s biggest show to date, but nobody seemed too phased by the whole ordeal.

Beside showing the visible strain of dealing with pressing issues like an empty Green Room beer fridge or the pain-in-the-ass of making a half decent set list, you could have fooled me into thinking I was in Stephen’s Orinda garage, getting ready to cover another Zeppelin track before moving straight into another Foo Fighters ballad.

For Johnson, who quickly bagged the idea of playing piano when he approached the six foot mark and started draining three pointers with girls in the stands, the whole idea of being a rockstar in Los Angeles is still a novel concept. It wasn’t until college that he strummed his first guitar in earnest and, to steal his words, it took him two years to stop sucking.

After reuniting with a former high school buddy and fellow 925 Native, Graham Bockmiller, the two eventually moved to West Hollywood (or “WeHo”) and started running down Tom Petty’s proverbial dream.

“This is probably the biggest show we’ve played since starting the band in 2011,” explained Johnson moments before stepping on stage to rock for a hometown crowd. “If you asked us a year ago if we thought we’d be playing The Independent soon, I would’ve laughed at you. But a month ago, the idea seemed very real to us. Next month we play at SXSW, it all just builds on one another.”


GRockmiller at The Indy

For as much as Johnson’s quick wit and carefree attitude do for GWB’s rapid rise to success, the efforts of Bockmiller, the lead singer, cannot be overstated. In similar fashion to Johnson, Bockmiller himself did not blaze your typical path to becoming an indie-rocker. A nationally ranked pole vaulter by trade, “Rockmiller” as he is known in some circles didn’t scratch his musical itch until late into his college years.

Said Bockmiller in a recent “off the record” interview, “You know I’ve always loved music, you know, a lot. I always dreamed of being a musician as a kid, or whatever, but I didn’t think it was possible. I could play guitar, but I couldn’t really sing. But once my track career was over, I started listening and playing more music. I started kinda writing stuff and seriously, well not seriously, but spending more time at it.”

Despite the fact that he’s steering the ship of an emerging LA rock outfit, nothing seems too serious about Bockmiller, and his who-gives-a-shit-things-will-work-out attitude seems to reverberate positively throughout the rest of the four man band.

Of course, maybe some of Rockmiller’s rosy outlook on GWB’s chances of sticking on the rock scene can be attributed to the band’s relationship with producer/engineer Phil Allen who has a Grammy in his trophy case, not to mention experience working with Aerosmith, Adele and the like. Perhaps Allen is wise to be betting on Great White Buffalo, an upstart band who still has a long way to go before realizing their full potential.

As far as the music Great White Buffalo is currently turning out, well go see for yourself. If you compared them to Japandroids, The Strokes, Kings of Leon or The National you wouldn’t be too far off. With a plethora of catchy, upbeat sonic treats in his quiver, Bockmiller and co. have more than enough ammo to sustain a great live show.

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival is what’s next on the docket for GWB. The venerable music festival held in Austin, TX will be the band’s biggest stage yet, but as they embark on their latest journey, it’s doubtful they’ll forget their 925 roots. Just watch the band’s signature video, “(You Gotta A) Pretty Mouth“, if you were ever concerned… - Section 925

The lean and mean riff that announces “Thanks for Nothing,” the opening song on Great White Buffalo’s new self-titled EP, could be the answer to that question Black Rebel Motorcycle Club posed way back when. Part first-album Kings of Leon, a little bit Surfer Blood and recalling Canadian indie-rockers the Stills, Great White Buffalo follows up last year’s four-song “Tightrope” EP with a half dozen taut rockers made with producer Phil Allen. If the L.A. quartet of singer-guitarist Graham Bockmiller, lead guitarist Stephen Johnson, bassist Paul Hiller and drummer Rich Carrillo have designs on making noise in the just-raw-enough, muscular fashion your alt-rock favorites of the past did, they are off to a very good start. Play loud. - See more at: http://buzzbands.la/2013/02/25/ears-wide-open-great-white-buffalo/#sthash.7ldf5km2.dpuf - Buzz Bands LA

Both frontman Graham Bockmiller and lead guitarist Stephen Johnson hail from just East of the Caldecott Tunnel. They formed GWB in 2011 in Los Angeles, and this week they’ll get two chances to showoff their hard work to a hometown audience. Rounding out the band in the rhythm section are drummer Rich Carillo and bassist Paul Hiller.

In the two years since the band’s inception, they’ve been recording and gigging non-stop, killing it in iconic LA rooms like El Cid & The Viper Room. SoCal is taking notice, recently including GWB in a list of 10 LA Bands You Should Know, in fast company with Father John Misty and Lord Huron.

GWB just released a self-titled EP and are getting on the road to share what they’ve done. The end of February will give them two opportunities to showcase their new material in the Bay. First, they’ll play in support of the New Orleans rock group The Revivalists at The Independent. The following Wednesday will find them at Bender’s Bar playing a happy hour party hosted by San Franpsycho as a part of the 21st annual Noise Pop Festival.
Link to “10 LA bands you should know”: http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2013/02/10-los-angeles-bands-you-should-know/s/123076/
Link to hear their new EP: http://music.gwb.la/album/great-white-buffalo - Broke Ass Stuart's

In Their Words: "Sometimes a song comes together in a perfect amalgamation of creative ideas from everyone in the band -- this isn't that song. We paid a homeless guy $2 to write it for us." -- Guitarist Stephen Johnson - Spinner

In Their Words: "We don't think too hard about the music we write. One of us comes up with an idea on our respective instrument and we go from there. The idea for 'Russian Satellite' came to Graham (singer) in a dream, others in a drunken, debaucherous jammin' rampage, and the rest spawn from the brilliant mind of our guitar player Stephen. We don't use a click unless we absolutely have to and we f--- up. A lot." -- Drummer Rich Carrillo - Spinner

Great White Buffalo weren’t afraid to get loud. Their sharp palette, plodding-to-finesse rhythm and striking guitar melodies provided guttural, mid-fi, take-it-or-leave-it soundtracks for looking to the sunrise horizon. The Los Angeles quatro had a flair for layered arrangements, modulating misdirections, and heavy, heavy grooves. Great White Buffalo boasted robust vocal parity between frontman Graham Bockmiller’s gruff timbre and lead guitarist Stephen Johnson’s mellow serenity as well as tremendous drum-guitar interplay. Coy and brooding in terrific nonchalance, the band made sure to balance deft musicianship and tongue-in-cheek sentiments (often to past lovers). While clearly modern, the band dipped into sonic territories unheard since the Clinton-era, adding an overall amorphous timelessness to the reverberant, atmospheric billow. - Spinning Platters

Great White Buffalo is probably the least known on this list. If early Kings Of Leon (i.e. the Aha Shake Heartbreakera) had a bunch of little brothers who knew their way around a rock song, that would be Great White Buffalo (dare I say, Princes Of Leon?). Their debut EP is available for a price of your choice, so head to Bandcamp and download now. The song included, "Burn," is like good sex; it starts slow but builds in intensity and by the end you feel like you need a cigarette. - Pigeons and Planes

What does Great White Buffalo have in common with Adele? Both enlisted producer/engineer Phil Allen to work on their latest albums. Yes, the Hollywood renegades have unleashed a new EP titled Tightrope. Following up their debut album All At Once (June 2011) the boys haven't wasted any time delivering another dose of roaring rock anthems. The resounding "Russian Satellite" in particular, opens with ascending drums and guitar before Graham Bockmiller's blistering vocals take over on this fervent track. In the same vein is the dynamic "(You Gotta A) Pretty Mouth" which sounds playful, but isn't quite as flattering as the name suggests. On the title track, Great White Buffalo changes pace on this hazy slowed-down number, while on the heady "Sinking In" the band tries to avoid just that as Bockmiller laments, "you only miss me when I'm gone."

Tread carefully, because once you give Great White Buffalo a listen, you might find yourself "sinking in" as well.

Stream the full EP here:
http://music.gwb.la/album/tightrope - Sound Dessert NYC

N/A - Kings of A&R

California rockers Great White Buffalo are creating a big buzz with the release of their EP ‘Tightrope’ which was co-produced by Grammy Winner Phil Allen (Adele 21). After spending time with the tracks you will hear the influences which include The Verve, Queens of the Stone Age and The Strokes. You can expect a heavy industry turn out at their June 28th show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. - Kings of A&R

The four members of Great White Buffalo ambled into Thee Parkside last Thursday, a few hours before their headlining show down the street at Bottom of the Hill. After trying to order drinks and hamburgers in the mostly empty, pre-happy hour bar and complaining about the surly dude in the kitchen, the up-and-coming rock 'n' rollers dug into their French fries and launched a frenetic discussion about their music, time-traveling, and jacuzzis, among other things.

It's been a big couple months for the members of Great White Buffalo. They just finished a new EP, which was engineered by Phil Allen, who recently won a Grammy for his work on Adele's 21. (GWB's singer and rhythm guitarist Graham Bockmiller went to college with Allen, who works at a studio down the street from his apartment in West Hollywood.) Last month, the band got extra exposure thanks to an appearance on Spinner, an AOL music blog.

That was an adrenaline shot for the two founding members, Stephen Johnson and Bockmiller, who both grew up in Orinda and relocated to Los Angeles. Though they were raised in the same town, Bockmiller and Johnson didn't know each other that well until forming Great White Buffalo about two and a half years ago. At that time, it consisted entirely of Orindans, all of them alumni of Miramonte High School. Eventually they replaced original drummer Russ Hardy with Angelino Rich Carrillo, who showed up to meet the band on a motorcycle. Johnson joked that Carrillo looked so cool rolling up on his vintage Honda that he wasn't sure if he wanted Carrillo in the band, or if he wanted to date him.


Original bassist Colin Regan left earlier this year, and now Blake La Grange, an audio engineer who recorded the band's original EP, plays bass with them live; with his long curly hair, La Grange is an obvious, albeit hipper, doppelgänger for Blake on the TV show Workaholics, a fact he unhappily acknowledges. Judging by the band members' conversations, it's easy to tell they've spent a lot of time together. Their rapid-fire back-and-forth isn't as much a finishing of each other's sentences as it is a series of interruptions. More importantly, they know how to banter. Asked how the group came up with its name, Johnson replied, "We kicked around a bunch of names in the beginning. Graham's sister suggested [Great White Buffalo]; she did not tell us it was in Hot Tub Time Machine."

"Which I still haven't seen," Bockmiller said.


Besides their easy rapport, the guys are also a solid, well-rehearsed rock band. Their music is crisp, tight, and consistently catchy. At Thursday's show, Great White Buffalo cranked out an hour-long set that could garner comparisons to a variety of hugely successful modern rockers: Kings of Leon, The Strokes, and Foo Fighters, for starters. Bockmiller sings in an oddly soothing baritone that the band's press materials described as "aching." I would go further and say his voice and lyrics have a late-night, drunken, half-asleep, melancholy quality that seems to be constantly yearning for something better.

The whole band plays hard, sincerely, and convincingly. The songs are concise, but the quartet knows when to kick up the volume and distortion before a tune becomes monotonous. After a few numbers, a bunch of girls started dancing in front of the stage. They didn't stop until the show ended.

Johnson is probably the most fun to watch. He simply looks like the lead guitarist in a rock 'n' roll band. He's tall and lanky. He has shaggy brown hair and an unkempt beard. He's clearly having fun, and he never stops boogying around the stage, even though he has a torn ACL, which will consign the band to the recording studio for most of August. On one song he played a quick solo using a beer bottle as a slide. On another, a new tune called "Sinking In," he laid on spacious layering reminiscent of old-school U2.

At this point, Great White Buffalo is definitely considered a Los Angeles band, which some people might find offensive, even though they shouldn't. These guys look like a band you would see playing an arena, and that's not a bad thing. They played a legit cover of The Strokes' "Hard to Explain." And they owned a slow, dirty version of Queens of the Stone Age's "Make It Wit Chu" that beat the snot out of the original. La Grange only learned the song that day, he said, but he still managed to work in some of his best fills of the show.

Bockmiller and Johnson say they are still single, defying expectations and providing a small glimmer of hope for the women who trailed them in hot pursuit. Johnson had to keep moving when he strutted across the club, because every time he planted his feet, he was basically accosted by fans.

To be honest, though, who could blame them? - East Bay Express

In celebration of the nearing release of Great White Buffalo’s new EP, Fangs (available October 14), we have got the exclusive sneak peek of forthcoming track "Detroit."

The LA-based alt-rockers aim to rejuvenate rock music which, they feel, seems to have lost its depth somewhere between industry standards and corporate compromises. It was this very purpose that drove them in creating Fangs, and pushed them into unfamiliar dimensions.

Stream the first track “Detroit” right here on Culture Collide. We're mesmerized by the lyrical and melodic richness — with its driving vocals and satisfying hooks, think The National, back when they were just coming up. Great White Buffalo guitarist Graham Bockmiller tells us that the name of the track came to them haphazardly, “We wanted to name a song after a city and one day our bassist Paul showed up with a Detroit shirt on and we realized it just kinda fit perfectly with the lyrics in a weird way.” He concludes, “we’re really happy with the way 'Detroit' came out because it’s really authentic to how we play it live.” Well, Great White Buffalo, we are happy with the way it came out, too.

Listen to “Detroit” now! - Culture Collide