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Investigative Post: Mayor Brown's Lead Problem

Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein said the other day that lead poisoning is the biggest health risk facing young children in the city. She’s been saying for some time that her department could use help in dealing with the problem, which data suggests might be getting worse in Buffalo’s inner-city.

Mayor Byron Brown responded last week by saying she should not count on City Hall for any additional help. He effectively said, “It’s not our job.”

Bleak Street

[FILM] “The golden age has passed us all by,” says one past-her-peak streetwalker to another in what qualifies as the cinematic understatement of the year. They are among the downtrodden, dispossessed and dissolute characters who inhabit Bleak Street, a reasonable enough translation of this Mexican film’s original title, La calle de la amargura (“The Street of Bitterness”).

John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band

[COUNTRY] Formerly of the Desert Rose Band, formed with Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers-founding member Chris Hillman, John Jorgenson is considered a country-rock institution and somewhat of a bluegrass virtuoso. With fellow Desert Rose alumnus Herb Pederson on banjo, Jorgenson’s current outfit (which also includes Jon Randall and Mark Fain) is a musicianly treat for anyone mesmerized by string-instrument chops, not to mention a historical insight into the evolution of alt-country and americana genres.

American Aquarium

[ROCK] Raleigh-based alt-country faves American Aquarium planned to bow out after 2012’s Jason Isbell-produced Burn. Flicker. Die., an album that dwelt on the bitter pill of realizing success and sustainability are sometimes two very different things. Ironically, the ensuing accolades and enthusiasm kept the flicker going, and 2015’s crowd-funded Wolves, recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, signals a sonic shift: less twang, more rawk.

Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers

[PUNK] I​n true punk rock glory, Laura Jane Grace’s very natural, cards-on-the-table transition from Against Me!’s front man to front woman has come off with understated simplicity, and the band has attracted a new faction to its fan base. These shows, dubbed as Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers, are somewhat of a mystery—who are the Devouring Mothers? Is this a side project? Against Me! in disguise? Longtime fans, fear not: the setlists thus far have been almost entirely comprised of Against Me!

Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tourament

[SPORTS] All of the teams are registered, the only thing left to do is battle it out. Dozens of teams, separated by skill level and selected via random drawing, will compete in the 9th annual Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tourament. The tourny will take place this Friday, February 19 through Sunday, February 21 at the Buffalo RiverWorks entertainment complex, which features six ice rinks. Teams will hit the ice on Friday and will play two of three days, with playoffs taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Judge

[HARDCORE] Catch New York City’s Judge—a band with a hyper-focused M.O.— at the Waiting Room this Thursday.

Fusion Friday: Tribute to A Tribe Called Quest

[HIP HOP] Buffalo musicians Toney Rhodes, Tone Cummings, and Flute will pay tribute to Golden Age hip hop legends A Tribe Called Quest at a special Fusion Fridays event hosted by Noble Salvaje at the Cobblestone bar on Friday, February 19. The show will also feature DJ Milk, who will spin classic A Tribe Called Quest jams and a live painting tribute by artist Vinny Alejandro. The painting will be raffled off at the event. 

Excision

[DUBSTEP] Excision drops beats so big they require a two-night stand. The ace dubstep producer returns to Buffalo for two shows at the Town Ballroom, this Sunday, February 21 and Monday, February 22. Monday’s show is sold out but it’s not too late to grab tickets for Excision’s performance on Sunday. As usual, the Canadian DJ will bring along some extra sound to boost his gigantic drops. He’ll bring along “Monster of Drumstep” Josh Gard a.k.a.

All Hands on Deck!

[CHILL] The tunes will be as crispy as the pints being pulled when Steve Francisco and Jolly Wailer tap their own brew of laid-back funk, smoky dub, and downtempo vibes this Wednesday night. Known for their weekly DJ show on Wax Museum Radio, Francisco and Wailer’s sets are eclectic and musically-minded.

Gaelic Storm

[ROCK] Gaelic Storm’s lyrics often err towards satire, but their musicianship is dead serious – every guitar, whistle, mandolin, fiddle, bagpipe and others are crystal clear and skillfully handled by a group of phenomenal musicians. While the five-piece plays Celtic music that hearkens back to the traditional Irish tune, they’re firmly planted in the present, injecting modern influences from American rock, pop and styles from around the world. Catch Gaelic Storm at the Tralf Music Hall on Sunday, February 21.

Tyler Perry’s Madea On The Run

[THEATRE] Fraught with the scars of abuse and poverty from his childhood, Tyler Perry found the faith, strength, and perseverance that would become the heart of his critically acclaimed plays, films, books and television shows. Comic relief is the backbone of a Tyler Perry Show. Perry’s 1998 I Know I’ve Been Changed told the story of a young boy who fell victim to child molestation. It was met with rave reviews. The Washington Post declared it unparalleled within its genre.

Lil Duval

[COMEDY] Born Ronald Powell, Lil Duval is a principal commentator on MTV2’s “Guy Code” and “Hip Hop Squares,” and the host of “Ain’t That America.” He’s a clever comic with a flair for stringing together a series of jokes for one giant punch line. More impressive is that unlike far too many comedians, no two Lil Duval shows are ever the same.

Pussy Riot: A Conversation and Q&A

[DISCUSSION] “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, banish Putin. Banish Putin, Banish Putin! Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Become a feminist, we pray thee!” were the words that Russian punk activists Pussy Riot sang at a flash protest outside of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow in 2012, a month before Vladimir Putin was elected to his third term as president of Russia.

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