[ROCK] For most, the sounds of reggae music take them to a warm place, washing away worries. Here in Buffalo, not only do we severely lack a large presence of those bands, but were hit by a brutal winter. Luckily for everyone, Buffalo’s sister city, Rochester, birthed one of the best reggae bands in recent years in Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. The group has been at it now for over 10 years, and in the process has amassed a large and loyal following.
[ELECTRONIC/DANCE] Electronic music has long been folded into the typical bass, guitar, and drums arrangement, but it hasn’t been until recently that the two have coexisted in such an organic way in a live setting. As the late 1990s gave way to the early 2000’s, bands began experimenting with different electronic equipment on stage during live shows. Employing the use of standard instruments and introducing things like drum machines and synthesizers, bands began to bridge the gap and go off in directions previously unexplored.
[COUNTRY] Country music duo, Dan + Shay—Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney—burst onto the scene last year with a deliciously catchy single, “19 You + Me”. Dripping with charm and honeyed harmonies, it quickly topped country charts. Their debut album, Where It All Began, solidified their flair for penning heartfelt lyrics over infectious melodies. Shay’s springy vocals soar along Dan’s polished guitar lines. That chemistry shoots them down a promising route on the country pop map.
[ELECTRONIC/DANCE] A model and acclaimed “fashionista,” Helena has become a well-known name in the EDM world. Born in the United Kingdom, raised in Australia and now based in Los Angeles, she is currently on an April tour and will be making a stop in Buffalo at LiFT Nightclub on Friday, April 10.
[NOISE ROCK] The last time Brian Chippendale, singer and drummer of noise-rock band Lightning Bolt, came to Buffalo, it was in a raw, downtown warehouse space under his solo moniker, Black Pus. With a stack of amplifiers behind him and donning a fearsome mask equipped with a microphone, Chippendale played one of the most spastic, captivating, and loudest shows I’ve ever been to.
[ART] Through her investigations of the “naturual” seen in our contemporary landscapes, Roberley Bell creates slick, brightly colored sculptures that initiate a dialogue between the interior and exterior. During the run of the show at BT&C Gallery, which begins Thursday, April 9, the artist will be at residence in the summer home/studio and gardens at Chesterwood, a site run by American sculptor Daniel Chester French.
[ART] For those that are interested in checking out something new in Buffalo, you will not want to miss this opening. CEPA Gallery is presenting the first major gallery survey of Brooklyn-based multimedia artist Rachel Rampleman on Saturday, April 11. She will be the inaugural artist in Squeaky Wheel’s new Storefront Gallery that will be viewable 24/7 and her work will also be found inside Squeaky Wheel’s micro cinema during public viewing hours.
[INDIE] The Wood Brothers are a band who symbolizes all that is right with music. The organic approach this threesome takes on Americana music is a deep history lesson in blues, jazz, bluegrass, soul, and overall songwriting at its best. Brothers Chris and Oliver Wood formed the band and run vocal harmonies amidst their upright bass and guitar roles. The pair are joined by multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix who typically plays a percussion-based role.
[DANCE] RIOULT Dance NY will be welcomed to the stage at University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 11 at 8pm. The modern dance company was first founded in 1994 by husband-and-wife duo Pascal Rioult and Joyce Herring in their New York City apartment. Over the years the company has grown and gained a strong following in the dance world, known for displaying sensual, articulate, and exquisitely musical works.
[INDIE] This Brooklyn-based five piece is a stunning example of the good things that can happen when pushing at the confines of alt-country and letting convention take a back seat. On the surface, Wilder Maker seems entirely familiar, echoing bits of Whiskeytown and Bon Iver with the more classic tones of the Band and Neil Young.