[POP] Vermont-based five piece Madaila makes uber-catchy electro-soul-pop that’s topped off by frontman Mark Daly’s falsetto, creating a sound that reminds of artists like Passion Pit, Jamie Lidell, !!, and Breakbot. While that accounts for much of the material on 2015’s The Dance, they spread out in a live setting, bringing a more progressive element into the mix and allowing them to display the musicianly chops that their tidy studio work only hints at.
[ROCK] For those of you who planned on attending the ZZ Top with Greg Allman concert at Darien Lake on Tuesday, August 23, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you that, due to health issues, Greg Allman has canceled all of his appearances until October 2016. Allman will be missed, but luckily, ZZ Top possesses the kind of spry tenacity for their live shows to leave the audiences’ heads spinning for days. After 45 years, ZZ Top is still on top of their game.
[COMEDY] They call him the African King of Comedy, but Michael Blackson’s hilarity transcends all races. The nickname comes from the comic’s strong West African accent, which flavors his bits quite nicely. Inspired by the work of Eddie Murphy, Blackson cut his teeth on the less-than-sunny audiences that pack the comedy clubs of Philadelphia. His comedic appeal grew from his appearances in movies, like Next Friday, and on BET’s ComicView series and HBO’s Def Comedy Jam.
[ROCK] On their latest tour run in support of their eleventh and latest album, Boxes, Buffalo’s pride and joy, the Goo Goo Dolls, return to their hometown. It’s been nearly 20 years since the Goo Goo Dolls gave us “Iris” and “Slide” – two of the early millennium’s most inviting sing along songs – off of their first fan-drawing album, Dizzy Up the Girl. This and subsequent collections boasted their staple anthemic pop rock lined with tight, yet relaxed instrumentals and heartfelt lyrics.
[COUNTRY] From heartfelt ballads like “We Danced” to lighthearted jams like “I’m Gonna Miss Her,” Brad Paisley boasts consistently good music. One of Nashville’s most innovative—albeit, occasionally racy—songwriters and one of the genre’s finest guitar players, Paisley’s catchy hits celebrate the American melting pot with mentions of figures that range from Stetson to Obama. He’s established himself as one of the greats.
[HIP HOP] Many folks may have noticed that the original act planned for Thursday, August 18 at Canalside was Coolio, but after a scheduling conflict, Coolio was forced to cancel and was replaced with Florida, based rap star T-Pain.
[ROCK] When Boz Scaggs hit the top 40 in 1976 with “Lowdown,” he may have seemed like an overnight success to a lot of the audiences who locked into its insistently infectious groove. But the singer-guitarist had been a fixture on the San Francisco scene for a decade, first with the Steve Miller Band and later as a solo artist working with the likes of Duane Allman and the Muscle Shoals rhythm section. The influences he absorbed came together in a soulful R&B style that made Silk Degrees one of the best selling albums of the decade.
[CELEBRATION] In May, Gord Downie, the singer of the highly influential Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, announced that he had been diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer. The cancer, known as glioblastoma multiforme, is an extremely aggressive tumor—though his doctors have stated that it should not affect his singing ability. By the time of the announcement, the singer had already undergone surgery, several weeks of chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
[BENEFIT] In June, musician and promoter Bud Redding, a veteran of the Buffalo music scene, was attacked outside of a bar on Elmwood while working a show. His injuries were extensive, including a shoulder injury which required emergency surgery. The perpetrator was apprehended by the police following the crime, but Redding is still healing from the physical effects of the encounter. On Friday, August 19 a benefit show will be held for Bud at the Town Ballroom’s Leopard Lounge.
Wal-Mart. Save Money. Live Better. Underwrite school privatization efforts.
The mailers reached Republican homes in the 60th Senate District Shitshow this week, and were paid for by “Campaign for a Fair New York”. I had never heard of it before. So, I looked it up. Here’s the back side of that mailer shown above:
The Campaign for a Fair New York is, hilariously enough, based out of Connecticut.