Now you know that the whole anti-corruption thing was just an act. Now you know that the Moreland Commission was a joke. In July of last year, I called it “Cuomo’s Betrayal”.
On the Fourth day of Preetsmas, I wrote this about Gene Caccamise, the Rochester-based former head of the Bricklayer’s Local 3:
[COMEDY] “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness has never worn BOSE noise canceling headphones near a crying baby,” tweeted comedian Jamie Lissow before tuning out all of his haters to the sounds of his favorite Adam Sandler album.
[FESTIVAL] This Friday, July 3 marks the kickoff of the 24th annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival. This year the festival features a packed lineup including Donna the Buffalo, the Town Pants, Jimkata, Big Mean Sound Machine, Big Leg Emma, Los Straitjackets, Driftwood and many more. Come ready to camp, as this popular festival runs July 3 through July 5.
[FUN] Even Buffalo’s go-to off-the-grid art space, Dreamland can’t pay its electricity bill (yet) with ideals alone! This Friday, the dreamers are inviting all to come down and help kick in some cabbage to keep the place and its programming up and running. There’ll be music from Ahavaraba, Different Planets, Hooked on Casiophonics, Armageddon Party, and Orcsmear with drinks and food trucks on hand as Dreamland unveils its Gallery B.
[ELECTRONIC/DANCE] DJ Christopher Lawrence has been delivering engrossing trance music for almost long as the genre has existed. Not only is he considered one of the best progressive trance DJs in the world, but many know him by his high-energy, high-quality productions like “Rush Hour” and “24/7.” Let loose with Lawrence when he comes to Sky Bar on Friday, July 3 presented by Factory Nightlife.
[ROCK] You’d be hard-pressed to find a better under-the-radar outfit than the four-piece known as Difficult Night. Though the band has been together just over a year, lead man Shane Meyer and bassist Damian Weber have been making music together for over 10 years and somewhere along the line, David Hooper picked up the drums and joined forces with keyboardist Miles Kirsch.
[FUN] The Live at Larkin Summer Concert Series, presented by First Niagara and sponsored by Independent Health, continues this Wednesday, July 1 from 5-8:30pm. David Michael Miller & the Other Sinners ft. Zuri will kick-start your holiday weekend early to the tune of high-power bluesy R&B/soul. Free music, parking and cheap (but very good) eats courtesy of local food truck vendors make for an enjoyable, affordable evening in downtown Buffalo.
[BATTLE] The Canalside Battle of the Bands plays on this week. This Friday, July 3, local alternative rock bands will battle for the opportunity to open for Iron & Wine when they play a free show at Canalside on July 30. Bands will be judged by a panel of local professionals on performance quality, stage presence, and audience engagement. Each participating band receives a $100 stipend just to compete. If you’re in a local “girl power” band, it’s not too late to sign up for next week’s battle for the chance to open for En Vogue on August 20.
[COUNTRY] An old-school gem amid the tide of commercial country bilge clogging the airwaves and winning TV contests of late, Dale Watson is mighty refreshing with his high white pompadour and silver-tongued baritone. A local celebrity in Austin, Texas, Watson isn’t a newcomer, though his career has gained momentum in recent years thanks to the increased popularity of Americana and a degree of backlash in response to the genre’s diluted bastardization.
[ROCK] The fifth disc from California’s Ceremony, The L-Shaped Man (Matador Records), just dropped in May and it’s a heavy affair. Focused on a recent breakup endured by frontman Ross Farrar, the collection employs a minimal musical approach that’s much less high-energy-hardcore and more bare-bones intensity—a conscious choice to mimic the loss inherent in the menacing, pain-drenched narratives.
Editor’s note: The Sheepdogs have canceled due to “travel logistics” issues.
[GAMING] Local gaming enthusiast should seize on this opportunity to nerd out with fellow gamers: A new gamers’ paradise graces the streets of Buffalo with the bi-weekly event, Arcade Night. Hosted by Buffalo Game Space, Arcade Night features mainstream and locally made games that are put on display for everyone to play. The event is normally held on Fridays, but will instead happen this Thursday due to the holiday weekend.
[ROCK] John Lombardo was an influential member and chief songwriter of a fledgling 10,000 Maniacs. Mary Ramsey provided back-up vocals before replacing a departed Natalie Merchant. The duo known as John & Mary bring their own eclectic folk-rock sound to Bidwell Parkway on Tuesday, July 7 at 7pm.
[ROCK] Traditionally, Americans are slow to accept Canadian music. Please note: This lag is rarely associated with a band’s talent. Case in point: Marianas Trench—a great Canadian pop band that didn’t break into the American market until their fourth studio release, Ever After. Frontman Josh Ramsay’s vocals are so sugary sweet they could put you into diabetic shock. Their songs feature sticky choruses and infectious verses, underpinned by pristine production. Their music videos are quirky and ironic.
[POP] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, New Kids On The Block were the “bad boys” of hip-hop, donning ripped jeans and leather and spitting freestyle hip-hop with a pop sheen. Throughout the 1990s, TLC pioneered hip-hop for young women with their brand of self-confident,
[AMERICANA] Frequently hailed as one of the “great American song-writers,” Steve Earle’s longevity as an artist can be attributed to his ability to juggle eclectic subjects within his songs—from political observations to brilliant confessionary lyrics. It was his debut album Guitar Town in 1986 that marked his claim to fame and the folk artist has been unstoppable ever since—releasing 14 albums within three decades, as well as a novel and a collection of short stories. Regarding his immense output, Earle remarked to Mother Jones: ”What else would I do?