[HIP HOP] Four talented Buffalo-based beat producers and DJs will come together for the second edition of Got Beats at Mohawk Place. The monthly showcase, which focuses on emerging and veteran hip hop producers, will feature Jace Beats, Sparkmatik, Shuteyes, and DeBug, and is hosted by Program. The showcase takes place this Thursday, January 19.
[DANCE] Looking to get into something new? How about salsa? We’re not talking about the world’s most popular condiment, but instead one of the world’s most popular dance styles. If you’re thinking of taking up salsa dancing, Pasión on Elmwood makes it easy, as each Saturday the popular Latin fusion restaurant hosts free salsa lessons.
[COMEDY] Comedian Steve Treviño may not be a household name, but hardcore comedy fans have been paying attention to his career. Treviño is a writer first and foremost, having worked on comedy shows such as Mind of Mencia with Carlos Mencia, so you can bet that his on-stage material has been meticulously crafted and stage-tested.
[COMEDY] Cut it out! [Does hand gestures every 1990s kid memorized.] Dave Coulier, the comedian best known for his role as Joey on the 1990s sitcom Full House, was perfect for the all-too-wholesome role, but still knows how to bring a standup crowd to its knees with his so-called clean material.
[FUNK] On a given night, Ithaca’s Big Mean Sound Machine could have up to 13 musicians on stage. Hence the name. From synthesizers to conga drums, trumpets to guitars, the band uses their strength in numbers to craft some wild dance music that covers everything from Afrobeat to funk and jazz. Big Mean Sound Machine comes to Buffalo Iron Works for a show on Saturday, January 21.
[RALLY] In solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, the WNY Peace Center has organized a local march. The No Hate, No Mandate march and rally will begin at Babeville’s 9th Ward at 12:30pm on Saturday, January 21 and march to Niagara Square, where they’ll arrive at 1pm for a rally. Their motto: “We champion equality and justice for all the people who make up the beautiful, diverse WNY community.”
[JAZZ] It helps to understand the rules in order to make the most of breaking them, and percussionist John Bacon has spent a chunk of his career passing down his knowledge to music students at SUNY Fredonia and UB. When he’s not teaching, Bacon’s musical vision comes alive in multiple formats that have kept him playing out quite regularly in Western New York for 30 years.
[INDIE] Canadian indie-pop quintet Kasador are making the leap over the border to try and catch some Stateside love, headlining at the Tralf Music Hall on Thursday, January 19. Three years in, they just released a self-titled EP last September, which was recorded at the Tragically Hip’s studio, and the most recent single, “Neighbourhood,” shows off their infectious chops.
[DANCE PARTY] The self-proclaimed “hipster dance party,” Dance Yrself Clean, returns to Milkie’s this Saturday, January 21. On the eve of one of the most controversial presidential inaugurations in recent memory, the theme of this party, naturally, is World War III.
[HIP HOP] For many people, Houston-based rapper Riff Raff came into focus after actor James Franco portrayed the character Alien in the 2012 Harmony Korine film Spring Breakers. Franco’s character, like Riff Raff, sported a jumble of tattoos, light brown braids, oversized sunglasses, and a metallic grill—an uncanny resemblance to the then underground rapper. In an interview at the time, Riff Raff said “That’s like if Denzel Washington was playing the role of O.J. Simpson,” of the casting choice, which both Franco and Kroine claim wasn’t really based on Riff Raff.