Buffalo hardcore up-and-comers JEWELTONE were previously covered here on No Echo three years ago via the site's New Hardcore Band Spotlight series. Back then, they were still finding themselves and refining their sound.
Three years and two EPs later, they’re starting to make a name for themselves. On August 29, they even opened a show for a tiny little band you might have heard of: Helmet.
I caught up with guitarist Christian to find out what Jeweltone has been up to over the past three years, this year's Love Too Great EP, and where they might be headed next.
No Echo first covered you in 2023. What’s been going on with JEWELTONE since then?
We’ve had a couple of releases since then, our most recent being Love Too Great. We’re currently working on dates for the end of the year and into 2027, and we’ve continued writing new tunes. This year, we’re excited to be part of a compilation via Triple Hammer Records, which will feature a ton of great Buffalo bands.
Looking back at the band’s earlier material and Love Too Great, what do you think has evolved the most—musically, lyrically, or even just in terms of mindset?
Overall, I think we’ve evolved by widening the scope of what we’re willing to try in songwriting. We like to get weird; we aim to write songs that we haven’t already written, all while keeping this constant: keep it simple and effective.
Tell me about connecting with Triple Hammer Records and how the Buffalo hardcore community has been supporting JEWELTONE.
Yeah, so the Triple Hammer team has been with us from day one, and it’s really cool to see the way it has grown. They’re super supportive, and we’re fortunate to collaborate with them. The label is currently organizing a compilation which will feature a ton of amazing artists from Buffalo. It’s on track to be released this year, and we’ll contribute an unreleased song.
As for the support we’ve received from our community, it’s hard to find the words to describe it. I never expected people to connect with it the way that they do. When we started, we just wanted to be playing music, so we wrote some songs and started a band. Now we get to be a part of something special.
Over the past three years, have you been compared with any other bands? Especially major ones?
Someone once mentioned that we remind them of Rage Against the Machine. I thought that was an interesting and valid comparison. Also Pain of Truth. Not sure if this one is valid, but shoutout.
Do you ever see Jeweltone going big? For example, signing to a major record label?
We’re not really thinking about that stuff at the moment. It would be great to team up with a company that could elevate us, but right now we’re just trying to do what we can on our own: booking dates, writing, etc.
Recently, on August 29, you opened for Helmet on their tour, which is a pretty prestigious band to open for! How’d you get their attention?
Honestly, we just got an email asking if we’d be down to play. It was a lot of fun, and we were stoked to do it, especially since it was our first time playing Town Ballroom.
What other new bands in the hardcore scene have you been listening to since 2023? Any recommendations?
We have a ton of great bands here in Buffalo. Shoutout to Do Crime, Bile Study, Autoignition, Numbskull, Spaced, Hold Out, Selfish Act, Robbery Club, and Pilot Field.
Also, shoutout to our homies from Canada: Bad Bet, Sold Short, Gods Last Wish, Rust, Qwan, Spirit of Vengeance, Heat, Souled Out, and Rockpyle.
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Love Too Great is available on cassette via Triple Hammer Records.
JEWELTONE on social media: Instagram
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