Artvoice: Buffalo's #1 Newsweekly
Home Blogs Web Features Calendar Listings Artvoice TV Real Estate Classifieds Contact
Previous story: Film Now Playing
Next story: The Thirsty Dudes: Beverage Reviewers

See You There!

Artvoice's weekly round-up of featured events, including our editor's pick for the week: American dubstep pioneer, Eskmo, performing at Soundlab on Saturday, January 22.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our new and improved events calendar on-line for complete event listings, a location guide to find your way about the city, restaurant reviews, and more.

Eskmo

Saturday, January 22

Dubstep is still a relatively new style of music. The underground genre, a stuttering, bass-heavy fusion of techno and drum’n’bass, can only be traced back to the late 1990’s when it began in London. So it is pretty exciting when an artist like Eskmo, a pioneer of American dubstep, makes his way to our neck of the woods. Eskmo is Brendan Angelides, a San Francisco based electronic music producer who has been making dubstep music since the beginning, performing under the moniker since 1999. Like many electronic producers, Eskmo spends a lot of his time spinning DJ mixes that often include music by well known artists like Flying Lotus, Four Tet, Aphex Twin, and even orchestral post-rockers like Jaga Jazzist. But Angelides won’t be spinning discs when he comes to Soundlab on Saturday (Jan 22), he’ll be laying down his own giant beats. With the turn of a knob Eskmo can send a massive wobbling bassline through the ether before he flicks a switch and morphs that throbbing bass into a crackling and grinding rhythm, like on his track “Cloudlight,” from his latest self-titled album. “Become Matter Soon, For You,” another stand-out track from the self-titled 2010 Ninja Tune release, even approaches a pop structure, with thick and wavy electronic notes, strategically placed blips, and a chorus that repeats the song’s title in robotic, vocoded tones. The West Coast beat-maker will be joined on Saturday by DBGB staple, Stuntman, downtempo mixer, Mark Kloud, and Buffalo’s resident dubstep expert Big Basha. —cory perla

9:30pm. Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (440-5907 / www.bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab). $15.

Friday, January 21

Lisa Lampanelli

Lisa Lampanelli has been called a cross between Don Rickles and Archie Bunker, but in fairness to Lisa, she’s got a much younger looking penis,” said David Letterman sidekick, Paul Shaffer, while introducing comedian Lisa Lampanelli at the Comedy Central Roast of Chevy Chase. Although this may seem like a harsh introduction, Lampanelli, the 49 year old stand-up and insult comic from Trumbull, Connecticut, has certainly thrown around her fair share of biting, yet hilarious insults, earning her the nickname “the Queen of Mean.” Lampanelli is known for her no holds barred appearances on the Comedy Central Roast series, roasting comedy personalities like Chevy Chase, David Hasselhoff, and William Shatner with her style of over-the-edge comedy. When she doesn’t have a washed up celebrity to roast she likes to turn her fire spitting mouth toward the audience, which can at times cause the hecklers to come out, but Lampanelli comes prepared. “I got heckled once early in my career. I spent the whole next six months writing heckler put-downs and lines in case people yelled this or that,” Lampanelli said in an interview with the San Luis Obispo Tribune earlier this year. Lampanelli will perform her taboo stand up act at the UB Center For The Arts on Friday (Jan 21). —cory perla

8pm. UB Center for the Arts, 103 Center For The Arts (654-ARTS / www.ubcfa.org). $37.75

Friday, January 21

Eddie Cain Irvin

At the intersection of melody and metaphor, rhythm and rhyme, the spirited piano pop-rock of musician and songwriter Eddie Cain Irvin collides with colorful poetry and leaves all emotions on the observation table. The vivid imagery embedded within the Buffalo based artist’s lyrics provokes listeners to examine the most ordinary, mundane aspects of everyday life through an unobstructed lens. Irvin openly embraces the beautiful constancy of nature in relation to human emotions and the changes that we experience throughout our lives. On Friday (Jan 21), Irvin will be performing at the Tralf to celebrate the release of his newest album, Eight Minutes Before Dawn Breaks, which originates from the concept that it takes sunlight eight minutes to reach earth, and thus we see the sun as it appeared eight minutes ago. Irvin uses this concept to address more complex issues of truth and temporality, and conducts his songwriting in much the same way. His performance will be preceded by performances from i.am.angelo, Brad Bialy, Keeping Quiet and indie pop rock band the Breathing Tree. To accompany Irvin’s unique artistry, works inspired by his lyrics and created by local artist Chrissy Drake will be on display and available for purchase. —amber gerrity

6 pm. Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com). $12 presale, $14 day of show.

Saturday, January 22

Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers Record Release Show

Though they hail from New York City, it seems like Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers would feel more at home in some obscure bar in the middle of nowhere, somewhere like the bar that Quentin Tarantino and George Clooney visit in From Dusk Til Dawn, just before they are torn to shreds by vampires. That is not to say that the four piece indie blues-rockers haven’t spent much time in bars lately. Since their formation in 2009, front-woman Shilpa Ray has led the Happy Hookers to bars and lounges around the country to perform their fiery brand of indie-punk rock. Now, less than a year since the release of their debut, self-financed full-length album, A Fish Hook, An Open Eye, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers have hooked up with Knitting Factory Records to release an acclaimed follow-up titled Teenage and Torture. The new album is a fast paced and schizophrenic joy ride, one moment scratching through fuzzed out blues guitar riffs, the next soaring with bouncing Johnny Marr-like chords, while Shilpa bangs on her woozy, accordion-like harmonium throughout. “Hookers,” the opening track on the album, is a red-light district anthem with an invitation to “click on me, boy, click on me,” words that Ray belts out with a passionate shriek. If Black Rebel Motorcycle Club pulled up to a sleazy burlesque house, this is the music that would be playing inside. Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers will pull into Mohawk Place on Saturday (Jan 22) to celebrate the release of their new record with openers Handsome Jack, Arctic Death, and the Mordaunt Sisters. —cory perla

8pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (465-2368 / www.themohawkplace.com). $10

Saturday, January 22

Dude, Where's Brownmans's Car? A Benefit for a Stolen Ride

On Friday, December 10th, Toronto-based modern jazz outfit Brownman Electryc Trio was taking the stage for their monthly gig at Allen Street Hardware, with lead trumpeter Brownman Ali at the helm. When the show was over, Brownman discovered that someone had stolen his car on Hudson Ave. just around the corner. “To walk out of such a great gig and to realize my car has been stolen – with everything in it, leaving me with only the clothes on my back to get home – was shattering,” said Brownman. His friends and fellow musicians knew that something had to be done for Brownman, who has played and collaborated with countless musicians over the years, earning the respect and love of the entire Buffalo music community. And it’s the Buffalo music community that is coming to Brownman’s rescue this Saturday (Jan 22) as Nietzsche’s plays host to a benefit show to help offset the cost of a new vehicle. The show will be split up into four sets, each showcasing Brownman’s talents on trumpet with the musicians and friends who know him best. Kicking off the show is the Buffalo version of the Brownman Electryc Trio, with bassist Rodney Applebee and drummer Aaron Staebell. Their modern jazz style deeply rooted in the sounds Miles Davis’ electric period, which turned the jazz world on its head with classics like Bitches Brew and In a Silent Way. After Brownman is a new local group, the Chilharmonic Orchestra, followed by hip-hop/jazz duo Type Relevant, DJ Cutler, and emcee Mad Dukes. Let’s show Brownman we’re still the City of Good Neighbors, and get him back in his ride. —jon wheelock

9pm. Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / www.nietzsches.com). $8.

Wednesday, January 26

Jesse Malin & The St. Mark's Social

Though Jesse Malin may have made a name for himself in glam punk with D Generation, his solo work for nearly a decade has revealed his broader roots-rock sensibilities. Receiving deserved comparisons to alternative country darling Ryan Adams (who produced Malin’s debut record), the New York City based singer/songwriter brings his own confident brand of tuneful country rock to Mohawk Place on Wednesday (Jan 26). Having performed with Bruce Springsteen and Jakob Dylan, and toured with the Gaslight Anthem and Gogol Bordello as well as extensively with Ryan Adams, Malin has long proved his Americana chops and is sure to demonstrate them with zeal in his welcome return to Buffalo. Backed enthusiastically by the St. Mark’s Social, Malin will also joined by local post-punks the Viva Noir. If an upbeat evening of rousing rock n’ roll is what you crave, Jesse Malin & The St. Mark’s Social and their guests will gladly fill your ears with a healthy helping. —ryan wolf

8pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (855-3931 / www.mohawkplace.com). $12.

Thursday, January 27

Snoop Dogg

It’s probably not as hard being Snoop Dogg as Mr. Doggy Dogg makes it out to be. From gangsta-rap ringmaster to campy host of “Girls Gone Wild Doggy-Style” to a sort of lovable, if not creally cuddly, parody/pimp, Snoop Dogg never ceases to entertain. His blaxploits are legendary, he hosts reality and wrestling shows, he’s been a movie star, and he keeps the hits rolling out. Originally a Dr. Dre protégée, he initially exceeded his mentor’s fame after appearing on Dre’s 1992 debut the Chronic, helping that album to achieve greatness by lending his laid-back style. Making hard lyrics accessible through his easy, drawling delivery, Snoop became an icon of gangsta rap and the personification of its improbable popularity (“Gin and Juice,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot.”). This spring he plans to release Doggumentary, his 11th studio album. Snoop Dogg will be live at the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls on Thursday (Jan 27). Here is to hoping the bar at the Rapids will be well stocked with gin and OJ. —alan victor

6pm. Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls. (205-8925 / www.rapidstheatre.com). $32.50 presale, $35 day of show.