Our previews of interesting/fun local happenings.
Be ThereAnnual 2012
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12/13/12Yelp's Holiday De-Stress PartyNeed some help with your holiday shopping, gift wrapping, and general cheer? Yelp is offering a "Holiday De-Stress Party" on Saturday at Ashker's Juice Bar and Cafe on Elmwood Avenue. The Yelpers will wrap gifts from 2 to 5 p.m. and collect tips, which will go to Buffalo First––and Yelp's matching their tip winnings up to $1,000. Complimentary chair massages will be included, and guests will be serenaded with Christmas carols by an opera singer. What better way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday weekend shopping? Check out the event page for details. |
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12/07/12Buffalo Cask Ale Festival 2012One of winter’s best beer events, the Cask Ale Festival hosted by Cole’s and Mr. Goodbar (conveniently located side-by-side near the corner of Elmwood and Forest), kicks off today and lasts through the weekend, offering several specialty beers from New York and beyond served in the traditional “real ale” style. Cask ale––so called because it is stored in a cask rather than a keg––is unfiltered and unpasteurized beer that gets its carbonation from fermentation rather than carbon dioxide, so it’s got a gentler, smoother fizz factor that tends to let elements like hop character and roast shine through with more grace and balance than they would otherwise. Furthermore, cask ale is served at cellar temperature (about... |
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12/05/12Holiday Live at Larkin 2012Buffalo’s coolest new hangout, Larkin Square, is throwing a holiday bash this Friday from 4:30 to 8 p.m. featuring live music, food, drink, and celebration for all ages. Nearly twenty Buffalo musicians will perform, collaborating as Robot Holiday, for a night of non-traditional holiday music that spans folk, rock, country, and other genres. The Filling Station, The Grill, and Square 1 Sandwiches will feature seasonal specialty offerings such as chili and soup, “adult” hot chocolate and cider, mulled wine, and winter craft beers. A percentage of all food and drink sales, along with those of vendors in the Larkin Square Marketplace will support the Food Bank of WNY. Celebrating a decade of collaboration and building on the past two years of December concerts that... |
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11/19/12It's Queen City Roller Girl tryout timeTake your best shot on December 9. |
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11/16/12Woodcock Brothers Brewery Opening This SaturdayIn addition to sixteen wineries, beautiful Lake Ontario, and multiple farms and restaurants, there's now one more reason to visit Niagara County: its first brewery. Woodcock Brothers Brewing Company opens this weekend with a great lineup of original craft beers, a beautiful full-service restaurant, and hip seating area with a view of the brewing facilities. Small touches reflecting the building's history as an apple storage facility––door frames, walls, and other items taken right from the original building––give the place a homey feel and show off Mark and Tim Woodcock's flair for stylish construction. Co-owner Mark Woodcock makes last-minute adjustments behind the bar. "It's been a long road!" says Mark Woodcock,... Posted at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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11/14/12Eat Like a MonsterIf “eating like a monster” means chugging local craft beer with pub food from all over the city, then call me a monster. This Saturday, Flying Bison Brewing Company and musical group The S. B. Reeves Outfit will host Eat Like a Monster, a party for S. B. Reeves’s project Monsters for Peace on Earth, which seeks to spread peace through music and art. Local restaurants will duke it out for the title of “Best Place to Eat Like a Monster,” chosen by attendees, and the $10 ticket includes all-you-can-eat food, music by The S. B. Reeves Outfit, and t-shirt from the Monsters for Peace clothing line. “The S. B. Reeves Outfit no longer sell their music as they think music should be shared freely with all––and that it leads to... |
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11/06/12Silent Bob speaks: Kevin Smith at UB's CFAThe man behind Clerks hits town for a lecture and Q-and-A session. |
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11/02/12How I'm Running the NYC MarathonShowing solidarity without further depleting an overburdened city. |
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10/29/12Seeking Election Night asylum? Hit Rust Belt BooksThree hours of performances, games of chance, open-mic rants, and more. |
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10/18/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: SloanAs an impressionable teen living in Western New York in the 90s, I was lucky to find Canadian radio stations on my parent’s stereo. At the very same time, Canadian bands truly flourished and music critics began taking notice of the talent north of our border. One such band from this period is Sloan, who is appearing at the Tralf on Friday, October 19 to perform its critically acclaimed 1994 release “Twice Removed” in its entirety, in addition to a set of classic hits and fan favorites. This is a must see event for any Sloan fan, as well as anyone who wishes to relive the nostalgic and the rise of Canadian alternative music. While the idea of watching a band perform an album in its entirety may be considered dull to a more laid-back fan, I suggest you... |
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10/10/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: PropagandhiIt has been three years since Propagandhi’s last album. That’s not too long considering the Canadian punk rock group has been playing shows and speaking their mind for nearly twenty years. In support of Failed States, their seventh full length and first on Epitaph, they’ll be making a stop in Buffalo at the Town Ballroom on Thursday. Known for their clear political views as much as their bracing mix of skate punk and thrash rock, guitarist Chris Hannah, drummer Jord Samolesky, guitarist David Guillas, and bassist Todd Kowalski have lost none of their energy over the last couple of decades. Their raging guitars and equally aggressive lyrics have gained some nuance over the years, most evident on the new album. Failed States brings the fire and activism fans... |
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10/09/12A Green Tour: WNY's Energy-Efficient BuildingsCurious about solar energy in Western New York? The Western New York Sustainable Energy Association (WNYSEA) will hold its annual Solar & Green Building Tour, exposing 1,500 people from across the region to over twenty-five sites exhibiting solar and geothermal energy, green roofs, LEED bulidings, and reuse of historic structures. WNYSEA holds this event with the aim of establishing a need and demand for green jobs across the region. “Last year we had the largest tour in all of New York State, and this year we plan to go even bigger,” says Bernice Radle, co-chair of the 2012 tour. “We have confirmed the NFTA Living Roof Bus Shelter, CIR Electric’s moving solar array that moves with the sun to optimize sunlight, Singer Farm Naturals in Wilson... |
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10/08/12A Friend in Need: Events to Benefit the Oles Farm/Promised Land CSADan and Jane Oles (pictured above), owners of Oles Farm and the Promised Land CSA, have been farming sustainably and sharing their knowledge and passion with chefs, writers, and customers in Corfu, New York, for over twenty years. Their amazing produce graces the menus of some of the finest restaurants in town, while their bountiful CSA shares, lovingly packed with recipes and a newsletter by Jane and handed out personally by Dan, feed families all over Western New York. They have provided the secret ingredient... |
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10/08/12Finger Lakes Restaurant WeekIf you’ve been thinking a trip to Finger Lakes Wine Country is long overdue, I suggest planning a visit the week of October 22 through 29, when Finger Lakes Restaurant Week will take place for the second time. Restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries will feature special menus and offerings emphasizing the region’s amazing local bounty: its wonderful wines; its local farms producing cheeses, meat, and produce; and, increasingly, its impressive beers and spirits. “We want to celebrate our wonderful chefs and restaurants, and also showcase the amazing local farms that we have here,” said Morgen McLaughlin, CEO of... |
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10/04/12Movie Screening Ticket Giveaway: ArgoSpree offers a chance to see Ben Affleck's new film. |
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10/04/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: Ben Folds FiveJust over one year ago, I chatted with Ben Folds, and we discussed a new Ben Folds Five album. On September 18th, that album “The Sound of the Life of the Mind” was released and gave a reunited Ben Folds Five (and Ben Folds) their highest Billboard charting at #10. Friday, the band comes to Kleinhans Music Hall in support of the record. Playing their unmistakable mix of piano pop rock, Folds, drummer Darren Jessee, and bassist Robert Sledge still have the chops they left us with over a decade ago. The new album is filled with songs that sound like they have been transported form the 90’s, as well as a number of cuts that spotlight the growth they’ve achieved working with other collaborators. “Do It Anyway” was chosen as the first... |
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09/24/12A snap-happy contest focuses on National Register sites—and we have an advantageLast call to enter the Wiki monument contest |
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09/21/12Illuminating 150 Years of the Albright-KnoxSince its founding as the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy in December of 1862, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery has always been a proponent of juxtaposing the old with the new. It’s apparent before you even step foot inside. A sculpture of about 60 tangled, aluminum canoes––among other modern pieces––is delightfully overwhelming in front of the building’s classical columns. And then, once inside, you’ll pass seamlessly from masterpieces to contemporary works. During a celebration of its 150th anniversary year, the Gallery plans to continue this tradition by staging Western New York’s first large-scale 3D video projection mapping project, Illuminate AK. Innovative technology will bring the 1905 Albright Building to life... |
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09/21/12IN Celebrates the Art and History of Foie Gras - UpdatedWhen Chef Mike Andrzejewski and Feed Your Soul founder Christa Glennie Seychew (Spree's food editor) announced to a room full of chefs, food writers, and other industry professionals that their next industry night (IN, a bimonthly event hosted by Seychew and Andrzejewski at SeaBar) will celebrate foie gras, applause erupts and cheers of support echoed into the street. Poeticized by Anthony Bourdain and beloved by foodies everywhere, but often misunderstood and controversial, foie gras is as divisive as it is decadent. “It’s one of my favorite things to eat, and this event will be a lot of fun for people who care about food,” says Andrzejewski, owner of Seabar, Cantina Loco, and Mike A @ Lafayette Hotel and a proud foie gras advocate. “I... |
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09/20/12TEDxBuffalo: Buffalo-born ideas worth spreadingIt’s one of the serendipities of life in Buffalo that great ideas seem to come right from our own backyards––we hear of some new and wonderful local movement and discover it was started by a neighbor, a coworker, a local bartender, a former teacher. The world-renowned TED talks were conceived to help share “ideas worth spreading,” and TEDxBuffalo, an independently organized TED event, will give several Western New Yorkers with exciting ideas a chance to share them with the community. On October 9th at the Montante Cultural Center at Canisius College, speakers have 18 minutes to share their idea before an audience; the filmed talk will then be released to the public for screening. “I'm excited about this year because I believe we are... |
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09/19/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: Two GallantsFive years is a long time between albums, but for a band like Two Gallants, it is well worth the wait. The duo released their fourth studio album in early September, and touring in support of The Bloom and the Blight brings them to the Ninth Ward at Asbury Hall tomorrow, September 20. Adam Stephens (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Tyson Vogel (drums, vocals) provide a lot of what fans would expect on this new album: blues tinged rock steeped as much in folk as grunge influences. Their songs strive to reach the arena rock heights of The Black Keys, but Two Gallants differ with their ability to remain intimate with their listeners whether they’re whispering or belting out their well-crafted lyrics. In "Halcyon Days", the opener of the new album, these skills are on... |
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09/19/12Nick Lowe plays tonightAshbury Hall at Babeville welcomes storied singer-songwriter Nick Lowe tonight, September 19 as he tours in support of his latest album, The Old Magic, released in 2011. Like fine wine, this musician just gets better with age and this is a unique opportunity for the Buffalo music aficionado to see such a legend in our own backyard. While the name Nick Lowe may escape a more casual music lover, his hits “Cruel to be Kind” and "(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" (the latter made famous when covered by Elvis Costello) are well known to many. In fact, one can easily make the case that his songs are better known than he is. Celebrated throughout his lengthy career by critics for his brilliant songwriting and musicianship, Lowe has... |
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09/17/12Preservation Plus: Evolving the DiscussionA week-long conference beginning September 24 will take on the hot topic of preservation in Buffalo in the context of sustainability, urban planning, and community revitalization. Preservation Plus, hosted by Preservation Buffalo Niagara, boasts an ambitious lineup of events and speakers, as well as hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and field visits. “We’re following up on the momentum of last year’s National Preservation Conference, but with a smaller audience––we want to draw local residents and make it a regional conference,” says Preservation Buffalo Niagara Director of Operations Jason Wilson. “The scope of content covered is much broader. The idea is that we have a firm belief at Preservation Buffalo Niagara that all of... |
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09/12/12Ballpark Brew BashNow in its third year, Ballpark Brew Bash, hosted by the Buffalo Bisons and sponsored by Consumer’s Beverages, is positioned to take the lead as one of Western New York’s most highly regarded beer events. The event takes place on September 15 this year from 4 to 8 p.m.; for $25 attendees have access to over 60 breweries (admission includes 20 tasting tickets; additional tastes are $1.00 each). For $60, a VIP experience, complete with food and over 20 hard-to-find beers in addition to the festival’s regular offerings, is available. Ticket proceeds will benefit Team Cure of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. "We’re looking to make this a really unique event, focused on bringing in hard-to-find beers that you may not see at other... |
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09/12/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: An Interview with California Wives.On Tuesday September 18, The Ninth Ward at Babeville welcomes up-and-coming indie-rockers California Wives as they tour in support of their critically acclaimed debut release Art History. For those of you who missed the California Wives’ most recent stop in Buffalo, this show is a definite must-see. Music isn’t easily defined and many critics have found it difficult to pin down California Wives’ musical style, a fact which does not bother the band, according to lead vocalist/guitarist Jayson Kramer who says, “It’s exciting we can’t be defined. We’re not necessarily following a formula, so that means we must be doing something right.” The band understood, considering their influences, they would be compared to the 80s and... |
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09/07/12Secrets revealedIt doesn’t take more than a stroll through Allentown to see why it’s Buffalo’s most cherished (and most photographed) neighborhood: from wonderful restaurants, bars, and shops to stunning historical properties and individual homes bursting with character, all amid trees and gardens in every direction, Allentown is the perfect blend of Buffalo old and new. Yet even the area’s regulars and residents may occasionally take their lovely setting for granted. Secrets of Allentown is the perfect opportunity to glimpse several rarely toured buildings and private homes, and learn the history behind the neighborhood’s finest architectural and cultural treasures. This popular tour gives guests the chance to view the interior of at least ten historical... |
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09/07/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: Mount EerieThe haunting yet beautiful-sounding Mount Eerie will be at Ninth Ward at Babeville on Sunday, September 9th as he releases his second album of 2012, Ocean Roar, a companion piece to the Clear Moon LP released in March 2012. While some may find Mount Eerie to be moody and depressing, others are delighted by the hidden beauty behind the guitar as it weaves mystically through the crescendos and decrescendos in each song. Mount Eerie cleverly offers listeners the two extremes of the all-encompassing “indie rock/lo-fi” genre: the soft, almost whimsical folk and chamber-influenced rock (exemplified by bands such as The National and the Decemberists) and its antithesis, black metal (which we listened to in order to scare our parents). The latter style is more prevalent... |
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09/06/12Mad About StyleIt's officia, Buffalo is mad ... about style! the Clean Air Coalition is taking us on a nostalgic trip back to the early 60s, when bespoke suiting, pocket squares, sheath dresses, and structured handbags reigned supreme. It’s a salute to a time when clothing was sophisticated and elegant, and we took our cues from style icons such as Jackie Kennedy. Let me tell you, with the way fashion has derailed into such a casual affair, it really doesn’t get any better than well-dressed men and women, just saying. Tonight the Clean Air Coalition is hosting “Mad About Health”, a brilliantly themed fundraiser (and name I might add). Just as Don Draper racks his brain about creative ideas in the advertising world, the Clean Air Coalition works around the... |
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08/16/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: Girl TalkOn Thursday, August 23, Buffalo Place welcomes Girl Talk to the Outer Harbor. Some music critics are quick to dismiss Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) as mash-up musical nonsense that takes advantage of “fair use” with sampling practices, but others appreciate the ingenuity in the way little hooks, riffs, and the distinct beats of well-known songs are employed to create something completely fresh. One thing is for sure though, this show will be one hell of a good party! No band is off limits to Girl Talk. Using only a computer, Girl Talk layers melodies from notable 80s hits with rap beats, throwing in heavy metal riffs for good measure to whip the crowd into a dancing frenzy. In the same song, he’ll use pieces of songs from Kelly Clarkson to Nine Inch Nails, from... |
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08/15/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: Neon TreesThe first national attention given to Neon Trees was in support of The Killers, and now a couple albums later, they are headlining their own shows. Neon Trees makes their way to Buffalo Wednesday, in support of their newest album, Picture Show. Tyler Glenn (lead vocals/keyboards), Chris Allen (guitars), Branden Campbell (bass), and Elaine Bradley (drums/vocals) combine to write inescapable hooks embedded into songs that almost define pop music, back when it was synonymous with rock. Their accessible, unchallenging synth pop, with easy harmonies and aggressive, melodic guitars, bristle with energy that nudges listeners towards the dance floor. I’m thinking a hit machine for sure. Their single “Everybody Talks” off of Picture Show demonstrates the heights of... |
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08/09/12A house party with Carolyn MarkThe Canadian singer-songwriter performs an intimate show in Eden. |
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08/07/12Chalk art takes over WNY this weekendOne weekend, two chalk art events. |
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07/24/12Celebrating the pure fun of skateboardingA skating zine celebrates twenty-two years. |
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07/20/12Spree Theater with Darwin McPherson: Who is Adam Carolla?After his radio show was cancelled, Adam Carolla went from being the guy best known for co-hosting Loveline with the now-ubiquitous Dr. Drew Pinsky to one of the most powerful people on the Internet. His Adam Carolla Show podcast is the one of the most downloaded programs on iTunes, as are many other offerings of the ACE Broadcasting Network, Carolla’s burgeoning online empire. So how did Carolla get so popular? Since Loveline’s MTV days (1996-2000), he’s been a familiar face on the basic cable scene. On Loveline, Carolla’s quick wit, mixed with rough hewn common sense, complemented Dr. Drew’s clinical reasoning. Carolla took his macho side to the next level with The Man Show, where he and partner Jimmy Kimmel produced comedy skits and bits from a... |
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07/19/12Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village: New name, new eventsThe former Amherst Museum has a busy month planned. |
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07/18/12Neil E. Garvey’s Midsummer Night’s DreamNeil E. Garvey had a dream—perhaps a midsummer night’s dream—of a renowned and prosperous theater community in Buffalo and all of Western New York. As a fervent patron of the arts throughout his lifetime, he saw to it that this dream became a reality. After his untimely passing at the age fifty-six in February of this year, friends and family of Mr. Garvey wanted to ensure that his legacy lives on even if he’s not around to oversee it. Thus, the Neil E. Garvey Foundation for the Arts was born. The Foundation shares the same mission Mr. Garvey had during his lifetime: “to empower and financially assist artists across all disciplines and, thereby, to promote the betterment and cultural growth of Western New York.” Though the man may be... |
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07/18/12Green Wednesdays at UB SouthThe popular UB on the Green returns today and next week. |
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07/13/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: FeistOn Sunday, July 15, Buffalo Place will welcome Canadian singer/songwriter Feist. This show will be a sweet summer treat at a concert venue that is quickly becoming the place to be for music during Buffalo’s summer concert season. Most know Feist for her hit “1234”, featured in the iPod Nano commercial in 2007. While the charming hit gained Feist a larger audience in the U.S., her influence was widely felt within the Toronto indie music scene as early as the late 90s with Canadian cult favorites By Divine Right and Broken Social Scene. Many consider Feist an indie pop artist, but she explores other musical genres with the jazzy and sensual song “My Man, My Moon” and what I would classify as “country with French flair” in the... |
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06/29/12The sights of the Stiletto RunPutting on the heels for a great cause. |
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06/25/12Raising a mug to Buffalo Brewfest 2012The annual fundraiser is set for August 10. |
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06/22/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: The Albrights play the HarborIt’s been quite a year for The Albrights. Since interviewing them last June as they were releasing their first album, Ask, Tell, they have performed at SXSW, worked with MusicalFare on the production of Oliver!, experienced a line-up change, gone from being a local buzz band to a premier Buffalo act, and received several awards, including Buffalo Spree’s Best Local Music Act and 2011 Concert in a Small Venue (with Aqueous at Nietzsche’s), and Artvoice’s Best Original Music Act award. Now, to top it all off, they will be playing Thursday at the Harbor on June 28 with Fountains of Wayne. For those of you who haven’t been able to catch this talented act, this is a one fantastic opportunity to see them. When asked about the past year, the Albrights are... |
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06/21/12Spree Theater with Darwin McPherson: Richard III’s Tim Newell SpeaksTim Newell, who stars in the title role of Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s Richard III (which opens tonight), was selected as “Favorite Actor” in Spree’s “Best of WNY” poll last year. Between that victory and his current part, Newell has appeared in two vastly different roles in Jewish Repertory’s double feature of Brecht’s The Jewish Wife and Mamet’s The Duck Variations and made his way to Chicago for his first role working outside of Buffalo. In May, he appeared in the Shattered Globe Theatre (SGT) production of Her Naked Skin by Rebecca Lenkiewicz at Stage 773. Newell received the opportunity after meeting SGT artistic director Roger Smart while on vacation in Chicago. “Having seen my resume, he asked me in to... |
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06/12/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: BowerbirdsAfter spending the better part of a decade living in Raleigh, North Carolina, it’s become like a second home. Despite a lack of hockey knowledge and strange love of all things ACC basketball and religion, there were plenty of North Carolina residents who expressed the same neighborly spirit that we do here in Buffalo. And similar to Buffalo, with its abundance of amazing musical acts, Raleigh boosts a plethora of up-and-comers such as the Bowerbirds, who are performing at the Tralf on Thursday, June 14 in support of their most recent release The Clearing. The Bowerbirds’ refreshing blend of harmonies and sweet folk guitar melodies are a perfect disguise for the deeper, purposeful message within their songs. Their latest album seems to be birthed out of crisis. Between... |
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05/31/12Uncle Junior takes the stage at Kavinoky“If you can’t get your friends jobs, what’s the purpose of attaining success?” asked Dominic Chianese as Uncle Junior in the hit HBO series The Sopranos. Five years after the show went off the air, Chianese is still living by these words, joining with fellow actor and friend Joey Giambra on the latter’s ambitious Bread and Onions, coming to the Kavinoky Theatre for two special performances in mid-June. The play, written by the multi-talented Giambra, shines a light on a forgotten time in America. It follows the daily life of immigrant families who traveled far in search of a better life and created Buffalo’s Little Italy on the lower West Side where they settled. Audiences will witness a piece of history as the neighborhood attempts to build a... |
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05/24/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: Alan DoyleGreat Big Sea frontman, Alan Doyle, will make a solo appearance at Town Ballroom on Friday, June 1 in support of his first solo album, Boy on Bridge. Known for his energetic and engaging performances, Doyle is sure to provide a show guaranteed to please both old fans and new fans as he begins this new musical journey. While his latest effort will not alienate fans who have followed Doyle throughout his 19-year-career with Great Big Sea, it may very well attract the attention of music fans from other genres. A fan of classic rock and country, Doyle uses his latest release as a canvas on which to explore these loves. With songs "Light the Way" and "I’ve Seen a Little", the album’s first single, Doyle’s signature gritty vocal is displayed,... |
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05/18/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: Pearl and the BeardOn April 22nd, Ani DiFranco played to a sold out crowd in Asbury Hall, and by the time she took the stage, the audience had already been treated to a heck of a performance. The opening band, Pearl and the Beard, had put on an impressive and fun set of Americana and gospel influenced pop, which engaged a chatty and still growing crowd. They were fun, energetic, and thrillingly catchy with their energy, harmonies, and handclaps. The trio from Brooklyn (Jocelyn Mackenzie, Emily Hope Price, and Jeremy Styles), were so entertaining and energetic, that I rushed to their merchandise table before Ani’s (always wonderful) set in order to pick up their most recent record, Killing the Darlings. Made up of guitar, cello, and percussion supplemented by a myriad of other instruments,... |
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05/07/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: Steve KimockSteve Kimock, a man who could be defined as a guitarist’s guitarist, is coming to the Tralf on Wednesday, May 16. From traditional rock to jazz and blues, from funk to world fusion or improvisational, gypsy, and psychedelic rock, Steve Kimock gives you a little something of everything as he weaves a colorful and mystifying tapestry of sound catering to a wide array of musical tastes. Kimock brings along with him keyboardist Bernie Worrell (founding member of Parliament Funkadelic, Talking Heads), drummer Wally Ingram, and bassists Andy Hess and Reed Mathis. This show will certainly prove to be well worth the ticket price. Kimock, a four-decade veteran of the music business, began his musical journey in the 1970s with the California-based band The Goodman Brothers. He... |
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04/26/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: Johnny WinterJohnny Winter doesn’t say much when we’re on the phone. He’s straightforward and direct with his thoughtful answers to each question amidst the rumble of his tour bus. While he may have said very little during his phone interview, it will not matter this weekend when he hits the stage at The Tralf. His inimitable guitar playing and articulation of the blues through his Gibson Firebird speaks volumes, earning him legendary status amongst musicians, and packed venues wherever he plays. “People pretty much know what they need to,” Winter explained, “as long as they enjoy my music, I don’t think they care about my personal life.” Born in 1944 in Beaumont, Texas, Winter’s recording career began when he was fifteen. In 1968 he... |
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04/25/12Spree Music with E. Lovira: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub SquadOn April 27, the Tralf will welcome Rochester’s Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad as they tour to support their first electric studio album in six years, In These Times. The band’s gracious attitude toward their fans and tireless commitment to creating a show that sticks with you well beyond their closing song could win over any fan, young or old. Defined in the past by their artfully crafted live performances, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad uses a light show to complement their psychedelic, whimsical sound. While one could easily fall into the trap of assuming the group is just another reggae jam band, the band layers their songs with hints of country and a dash of Americana, creating something much more than your typical jam-like show. Opening for GPGDS is local... |
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04/20/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: CultsThe story of Cults begins with the assertion that they came out of nowhere at the tail end of 2010. As the months accumulated in 2011, it was learned that the duo hails from a couple of places where a number of bands are known to reside: New York City and 60s-era pop and rock. Cults articulate mixture of these places is what makes them so enthralling to hear, and so unique when compared to groups with similar influences. On their full length, self-titled debut, Madeline Follin and guitarist Brian Oblivion assembled eight new songs and the three tunes that set the internet ablaze in late 2011. Delivering on the promise of those early songs, Cults presents just over half an hour of melodic pop which is what I imagine Elvis Costello would call the Other Side of Summer. Follin sings... Posted at 08:52 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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04/19/12Spree Theater with Darwin McPherson: Miscellaneous Don’t MissAside from the “big name” theaters, a number of smaller, independent companies and individuals produce fine performance pieces throughout Western New York. Quite a few are occurring in late April and early May, so let’s have a quick look. 420: The Musical - April 20-May 5 The Francis Bacon Experiment, a local improv comedy group, has established a theater company with the same name. Their first theatrical production is 420: The Musical, written by FBE founder John Kehoe with an original score by Laura Lonski. According to their press release, “420 is a light hearted adult comedy that travels through the mind of a young man confused about his place in the world and where his life is headed.” The musical is staged at The Vault, an art... |
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04/06/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: ReptarNothing causes me to take notice more than random cultural references from my youth. When I heard there was a band called Reptar (yes, taken from the Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats) coming to town, I decided it might be worth my while to check them out. After some quick research I realized that if the quirky, danceable tunes fail to draw you in, the band’s subtle sense of humor certainly will. From Athens, GA, Reptar (made up of Andrew McFarland on drums, Ryan Engelberger on bass, and William Kennedy on analog keyboards) explore their musical interests by creating a veritable melting pot of sound, including specific techniques from disparate genres, such as African beats, post-punk riffs, and a psyche-pop vibe. If Foster the People procreated with MGMT in space, you... |
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03/29/12A Sherlock double featureA screening of Basil Rathbone's final two takes on Sherlock Homes. |
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03/20/12Books fit to eatHave you ever found a book so wonderful, so deliciously well-written, that you wished you could ingest it? Perhaps not, but now you’re thinking about it, aren’t you? Voracious readers will soon have their chance. The Western New York Book Arts Center will participate in the fourth annual International Edible Book Festival on April 1, where scrumptious, aromatic, and creatively assembled edible books submitted by local artists will be displayed, photographed, and then consumed to determine winners in the following categories: “Best Book,” “Best Tasting,” and “Most Creative.” This year’s celebrity judges will include Peter Cimino of Lloyd’s Taco Truck and John Gardon of Sterling Place Tavern. Admission is $5 and all... |
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03/15/12Spree Music with J. DiDomizio: John K. SamsonLyric writing is an interesting art, with some artists preferring to abstract the lyrics in nonsensical words, and others crafting pieces that work more like short stories. John K. Samson, best known in the U.S. as the lead singer for The Weakerthans, is a songwriter from the latter camp, for sure. He admits to being as much in a recent interview with The A.V. Club, and even calls himself a “thwarted short-story writer,” who has merely figured out how to cram a story into a “three-minute pop song.” Samson has had a lot of experience in crafting his songs, from solo EPs in the late 90s, to a role as bassist with Propagandhi, and in work with his wife singer-songwriter Christine Fellows. Samson is currently touring in support of his first full-length solo... |
03/08/12PBN to hold public meeting on TricoHere's your chance to ask both state and local experts about the future of Trico Plant #1. Posted at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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02/10/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: Arkells/Hollerado/WildlifeIt’s going to be a celebration of all things Canadian as the Town Ballroom presents the Arkells with special guests Hollerado and Wildlife on Saturday, February 18. This bill boasts some of the best up-and-coming bands from our neighbor to the north. The Arkells formed in Hamilton, ON, and since being signed in 2006, they have toured relentlessly. It has paid off as their efforts helped them to gain both a significant fan base and approval from critics. The Arkells won both the fan-selected CASBY Award for Favorite New Artist in 2009 and the 2010 Juno Award for New Group of the Year. The band’s third release, Michigan Left, is a return to their well-loved no-nonsense rock stylings. Keeping it interesting, lead singer Max Kerman’s melodic voice effortlessly... |
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02/07/12Month-long snowman contest warms up winter weekendsSnow is entrancing, especially when you create a smiling face on a snowman and wrap a scarf around its frosty neck. The BlueCross BlueShield Snowman Making Challenge begins February 5 and will continue each consecutive Sunday during the month. The event will take place at several locations throughout WNY—with or without fresh snow fall. Friends, family, and neighbors are encouraged to get outside and build together. Building a snowman is not only fun, it is a great way to participate in healthy exercise. Supplies for building a snowman will be provided and everyone will enjoy complimentary refreshments. Participants are able to pre-register for each event online. There will be exciting prizes and The Healthy Zone Cruiser will present and provide entertaining activities. Buffalo... |
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01/11/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: JAMuaryThis year, I recommend you resolve to get to know your Buffalo music scene just a bit better. You can begin your musical exploration by attending the Tralf’s JAMuary shoow on Saturday, January 14. This local musical celebration will showcase Free Henry!, Slip Madigan, Funktional Flow, and The MGKs . Since being named “Best Original Rock Act” at the Buffalo Music Awards in 2009, Free Henry! has been delighting audiences in the Western New York region with its clever mix of jazz, blues, and jam rock. The band has recently released its second album, “Ethereal Gust” which demonstrates the band's ability to integrate other music styles into their set list without losing their own unique vibe. Songs like “Introspection”, show a bit of... |
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01/04/12Spree Music with E. Lovria: Langhorne SlimAfraid those post-holiday blues are going to get you down? Worried that you may very well succumb to mid-winter boredom now that all the big parties are over? Be it prevention or cure, one of the many good shows coming to the area this winter is Langhorne Slim at The Ninth Ward at Babeville on Wednesday, January 11. His sweet melodies are sure to melt away any boredom or depression you may feel this time of year. Born Sean Scolnick, Langhorne Slim hails from Langhorne, PA and began his touring career with the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. Critics took notice of this musician in 2004 with his song “Electric Love Letter” from his album of the same name, and Rolling Stone named it one of its top ten critics picks. Slim continues to impress with his latest... |
