At the Nickel City Blend, the crowd size isn't the most important aspect. Beat beautification and promotion is the goal. Inside the brightly lit garage tucked away on Colvin Avenue you'll find a few seats, some professional camera equipment, and a padded wall sprinkled in sharpie graffiti to your right. To your left is a wall covered entirely in records. Sounds like the perfect backdrop for a Pitchfork TV-inspired hip hop documentary, doesn't it? All that's missing is the cast, and this Buffalo crew is anything but ordinary. As they filter in one by one, the blend's creators, Ian Cochran and Nicholas Anderson, hype everyone up for what they anticipate to be an epic sixth session.

Just as Pitchfork TV is dedicated to "documenting independent music as it happens," the Nickel City Blend sessions were created in an effort to not only showcase the duo's personal fortes(Ian with his sound engineering and Nick with his video editing), but to promote local music and bring more exposure to artists yearning to shine through interview-styled recordings and performances. "We had the idea to do interviews and other things and Nick was talking about the old BBC Sessions. Jimi Hendrix and a lot of other famous artists would come and do a studio recording. They would talk about their songs and play something out, just to get the live vibe," Ian said, who goes by the emcee name "sparKmatiK." The project began not too long ago with its first garage session in January. Since receiving a positive reception online and in the streets from local area artists, it was evident that word quickly got around. Nick didn't mind lending out his garage every couple Saturday nights, and Ian didn't mind networking and corralling what fine talent he could find in the city, and so the sessions became a ritual production. A handful of groups have already come through to record, such as Orginality Lies Within, The Greys (sparKmatiK and Tre Ochoa), Mic Excel and Legal the Lifesaver of Essential Vitamins Crew, KamiKaze LTD, and hip hop collective Blackbelt Jones (emcee Spec-ill K, beat master Cove Blackbelt and DJ Optimus Prime of EVC).

The blend session experience is like no other. Expect a heap of absurdities and a lot of laughter. But don't ask too many questions. Well, at least to certain people, anyway. The mysteriously magnetic emcee Spec-ill K made his presence known in his signature black ski mask, which he claims he won't take off for anybody, not even for the cops. "I'm an anti-establishment dude," he said while huddled around the backyard bonfire before the blend commenced. This much is clear. But don't let the blase attitude fool you; the man has a sensitive side. Spec-ill K performed two sets with Blackbelt Jones at this past session held in the beginning of April, one as himself and another as his second persona, "Melancholy," which happens to be the name of his next album, set for release in July. It's also named in memory of his deceased border collie Mickey, who he adored with endless devotion. The cast list, complete with entertaining stories, doesn't end there. You'll run into some even more perplexing but strangely fascinating Nickel City Blend frequenters, like emcee Lelton Marsh, christened "Bagel Jesus" by his hungry and holy disciples for his spiritual journeys up and down Elmwood and Ashland distributing bagels to the needy. "People flock to Bagel Jesus...It's the free bagels, probably," Ian laughed. "I got cream cheese sometimes too," Bagel Jesus added matter-of-factly.

Muhammad Furqan, better known as DJ Optimus Prime, came to do business as usual, but stopped by the fire for a few minutes to chat about the latest Blackbelt Jones album he's working on and how he juggles the standard 9 to 5 job (He works at Tops as a receiving accountant). He puts in at least 50 more hours a week into mixing and scratching tracks for countless artists. Tunnel vision could be detected in the eyes of Cove Blackbelt, who said a few soft-spoken "heys" and headed straight for the garage to set up. Alhough a man of few words, Cove does an excellent job of letting the music speak for itself, and it did just that Saturday night. Friends were welcomed with a "Crispy" introduction from Spec-ill K, followed by some Godzilla city reppin' in "Gojira," a little Kung Fu action in "Ginsu Technique," and a special shout out in "F*ck the World." Spec-ill K packed each verse with ballsy punchlines and riotous party mantras. DJ Optimus Prime brought impeccable turntablism as he always does, and Cove dropped some wickedly crafted, heavy underground beats.

For Nick, that's what the blend's all about. Bringing people together for the sake of making good music. "This originally started out as a mechanism to try to get his (Ian's group The Greys) music heard," Nick said, who recently shot a music video for metal group Low Road Revival. "We decided that we wanted to invite more people in and get more people heard." Nick and Ian haven't got any complaints so far, including from their neighbors. The plan is to continue to soak up the positive feedback and expand the blend into a bigger and better production within the next few months, starting with the seventh Nickel City Blend session on May 4th with Koolie High. Check out the Youtube channel before you come and get a taste of the blend. Come party with this cluster of crazy characters at 612 Colvin Avenue at 9:30 pm. It's free for all, but donations are welcome.