[ROCK] The Neighbourhood exploded onto the indie rock scene in 2013 with their smash hit, “Sweater Weather” from their major label debut, I Love You. Anchored by expressive lyricism and rich layers of textured sounds, the collection of songs echoed the warm and sunny vibes that the title suggests. Their recent sophomore effort, Wiped Out! finds the SoCal outfit’s arrangements more buoyant with an icy chill, but no less enjoyable.
[WORLD] Outer Circle Orchestra (OCO) brings its out-of-this-world beat (Afro-Caribbean, to ballpark it) back to Live at Larkin.
[COMEDY] Turning 60 this year after nearly 40 years in comedy, Emo Philips is a little long in the tooth, but he’s spry. Known for his kooky wardrobe and the bizarre cadence of his voice when delivering his oddball musings, Philips is a rare bird in comedy. While his outfit and delivery set him apart from his contemporaries, his comedy doesn’t hinge on either; rather, it’s the Chicago native’s long-time flair for penning offbeat yet clever one-liners that are as funny on paper as they are on-stage.
[COUNTRY] A young, fresh face in the country music scene, Dylan Jakobsen is taking the genre by storm. The Seattle native’s five-song EP and subsequent debut album, “From Where I Begin” shows the ambitious storyteller coming into a sound that’s familiar, yet unique, while also showcasing his prowess on a variety of instruments.
[SOUL] It’s no secret that soul singer Charles Bradley has lived a hard life, but that’s part of what makes his music so authentic. Bounced around as a child, he eventually became a homeless runaway, often sleeping in subway cars. A fascination with James Brown got him some gigs as a Brown impersonator, but he remained below the radar until a return to Brooklyn in the 1990s got him noticed. Performing his James Brown shtick under the name Black Velvet, he was eventually recruited to record for Sharon Jones’ soul revivalist Daptone label.
[COUNTRY] It hardly seems possible, but Dolly Parton hasn’t done a major tour of the United States and Canada in 25 years. Which isn’t to say she hasn’t been active—at 70, she remains admirably busy. But a lack of heavy chart play in the states has kept Parton focused on cultivating her fan base in other territories (Europe and Australia, primarily), with just a handful of stateside dates to go along each time. And it’s paid off: 2014’s Blue Smoke was a huge success overseas, becoming her biggest selling U.K. release ever.
The Execrable Donn Esmonde, the Buffalo News’ retired, detestable anti-suburbs, anti-public school ersatz-columnist, has finally stumbled upon a building he’d like to demolish. In a column hilarious for its blatant hypocrisy, Mr. Preservation, Mr.
[COMICS] Like some meek yet brilliant scientist caught in a blast of gamma radiation, incredible changes have occurred for the Niagara Falls Comic Con (NFCC) in a very short period of time.