The B-52s

Friday, August 5th

Love them or hate them, the B-52s have withstood the test of time (with the help of either a working time machine or a talented cosmetic surgeon). With a full blown revival of new wave music currently underway, the Athens, Georgia based band are on the road again, set to perform at Lockport’s free Molson Canal Concert Series on Friday (Aug 5). The post-punk band, who formed in 1976, created a distinct style early on in their career; instantly recognizable to their fans for the speak-singing and guy vs. girl vocal style of singers Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson, on songs like “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster.” Originally a five-piece, guitarist Ricky Wilson passed away in 1985, devastating the band just before the release of their fourth full-length album Bouncing Off The Satellites. It would be three years until the band recovered enough to release another album, 1989’s Cosmic Thing, what would become their greatest commercial achievement, with drummer Keith Strickland taking over on guitar. This original line up returns for an all out party this weekend. The Caitlin and Jamie Moses Band, with new guitarist Ron LoCurto and their own collection of party rock originals will also perform, as well as dark, Dylan-esque Americana three-piece the Evil Things. —cory perla

5:30-11pm. Molson Canal Concert Series, Ulrich City Courtyard, 80 Main St., Lockport (canalconcerts.com). Free.

Friday, August 5th

Buffalo Brewfest

This Friday (Aug 5) two full floors of the HSBC Arena atrium and the Arena courtyard will be filled with brewers offering over 100 special craft brews. Since last year, Buffalo Brewfest has expanded in size to increase options and decrease wait times. Some exciting breweries that will participate are Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown (try the Rare Vos), Brooklyn Brewery, Harpoon Brewery of Boston, Ithaca Beer Co. (try the Apricot Wheat), Konig Ludwig of Germany, Magic Hat Brewing Co. of South Burlington, Vermont, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co of Chico, California. Local favorites Buffalo Brew Pub, Flying Bison Brewing Co., Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, and Pizza Plant will also be present. Acting judges will be Drew Cerza of the Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival, Elizabeth Carey and Patrick Taney of WKBW-TV channel 7, Chris Jamele of WBFO, Nick Mendola of WECK-AM, and more. To further please your palate a special menu of beer-inspired food items will be offered. Adding to the ambiance will be Buffalo’s own Black Widow Band. Proceeds benefit the Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center Foundation. Admission to the event includes a souvenir sampling glass and 20 tickets to taste and enjoy the variety of microbrews. Additional tasting tickets are $1 each (you know you’ll want more!) Tickets can be purchased at all Consumers Beverages locations, the HSBC Arena Box Office, and tickets.com. Designated Drivers are admitted free and must be 21 years of age. For more information visit buffalobrewfest.com. —jill greenberg

5:30-9:30pm. HSBC Arena, (1 Seymour H. Knox III Plaza, 855-4100). $25 advance, $35 day of event.

Saturday, August 6th

Blue Bullet Skater Reunion Show

At this time of year, most of us dread our upcoming reunions. Whether it’s our 10th, 20th or 50th (if we’re lucky) high school reunion, it always comes with a lot of added pressure. Fortunately, on Saturday (Aug 6), the Mohawk Place is housing a reunion you won’t want to miss. Buffalo’s early 2000s rockers Blue Bullet Skater are finally coming together again to put on a nostalgic reunion show after being absentia for nearly a decade. If you were on the music scene 10 years ago, you most likely remember these folks—vocalist and guitarist Erin Roberts, drummer Jeff Schaller, guitarist Tim Patterson, and Blaine Toney on bass. They were on a winning streak for some time- entertaining crowds all over the Queen City with cohesive stealth-pop/rock juxtaposed by Robert’s lovely vocal melodies. WBNY crowned them 2001 “Big Battle of the Bands” champions, and shortly after, they were the proud opening act for Pat Benatar at what was Thursday at the Square’s most highly attended event. But to their fans’ disappointment, only a year later, WBNY awarded them once again, this time with the “Most Dissapointing Breakup” award. “The brighter the light shines the more uncomfortable the heat gets,” said Jeff Schaller about the bands surprising split. “We had a good run, left a mark and moved on.” Now, after 10 years spent pursuing other musical projects (Here Come the Comets, Last Days of Radio, Grand National, Juliet Dagger, the Pavers), they’ve decided it’s time to reunite and play old hits from their EPs ‘Little’ (2000) and ‘New Skate Record,’ (2000) along with a few fresh surprises. Special guests include Eric Tuberdyke (Single Grave Ticket, Pavers), Hunger Anthem and the Pillagers. —emilie hagen

8pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. (465-2368 / themohawkplace.com). $5.

Sunday, August 7th

Music is Art Festival Fundraiser: Grace Strumberg with The Brass Monkeez

Created to connect local communities with art and culture, Music is Art, founded by Goo Goo Dolls bassist, Robby Takac, is rocking out at the Ninth Ward this Sunday (Aug 7) to raise money for the non-profit organization. Grace Stumberg, who released an impressive debut pop-rock album last year, and the winner of the MiA Battle of the Bands, the Brass Monkeez, will be putting on an electrifying show. MiA has been a force behind the exploration and reshaping of what music is to culture, society, and education in Western New York and have created a lively line-up of festivals featuring local talent as well as renowned artists. Robby Takac describes his foundation as “based on the basic belief that everyone should have the opportunity to find their musical voice.” Thanks to MiA, communities throughout Western New York have been able to experience music in a variety of ways. —michael koh

5pm. Babeville’s Ninth Ward, 341 Delaware Ave. (852-3835 / babevillebuffalo.com) $13 advance, $17 day of show.

Sunday August 7th & Sunday August 14th

Pine Grill Jazz Reunion

Music has a language of it’s own, and Jazz is merely a dialect. To try and contextualize Jazz music using modern English is asinine, so instead, why not check out the Pine Grill Jazz Reunion, running the next two Sundays (Aug 7 and 14), for a healthy portion of trumpet noodling, bass meandering and hi-hat chiming. Held in dedication to the countless jazz legends that have adorned the Pine Grill stage in the past, this year’s reunion, presented by the African American Cultural Center of Buffalo, seeks to continue its mission of bringing quality jazz entertainment to the people of Buffalo. August 7th’s performances include Houston Person, Akiko Tsuruga, Melba Joyce, and Winard Harper. August 14th’s features concerts by Denzell Ward and Cool Company, CMB, Danny and the Blues Revue, the Kenny Woo Band, and GLVT Love Extreme. Though the event is supported by corporate sponsors and vendor’s fees, the African American Cultural Center relies on the contribution of it’s community, so for a donation of $25 or more, you can have your name printed on the back of the annual Pine Grill Jazz Reunion T-shirt. The Pine Grill Jazz Reunion runs from 4pm to 9pm in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. —brett perla

4pm. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Best & Fillmore. Free.

Wednesday August 10th & Thursday August 11th

48 Hour Film Project

Your chances of seeing a film crew shooting around the city are above average this weekend. That’s because it’s time for the 48 Hour Film Challenge, the yearly event in which local filmmakers compete to see who can make the best film in a single weekend. The event kicks off on Friday (Aug 5), when 19 local teams meet to receive their instructions. In order to prohibit pre-preparation, the organizers will assign a character, a prop and a line of dialogue that has to appear in every film; a genre will also be randomly selected. The finished films must run between four and seven minutes, and are due by 7:30 pm Sunday. The results will be publically screened next Wednesday (Aug 10) and Thursday (Aug 11) when a panel of local judges will pick winners in several categories to go on to the national competition. As one of those judges, I am not immune to the sway of an enthusiastic audience, so show up to express your opinion. Remember, there is grace under pressure! —m. faust

7pm to 10pm. Dipson Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, 639 Main St. (855-3022 / dipsontheatres.com).

Thursday, August 11th

Hoodie Allen

Two parts Asher Roth, one part Slim Shady, and a pinch of Das Racist; no, I’m not describing the background music for the final minute of a naked frat guy’s epic keg stand, but rather the formula for New York City MC Hoodie Allen. Blending the makeshift genres of hipster-hop, weed-rap, and brocore, Allen delivers a potent dose of each on Leap Year, the his latest mixtape, creating his own genre I like to call bro-mo-sexual rave rap. Born Steven Markowitz (or the whitest name conceivable by man) this frat dude, turned rap dude, has a knack for spitting college educated witticism over a finely trimmed field of afro-approved beats. Though difficult to shake the connotations typically associated with being a white rapper, Allen does a good job of showcasing his talent in an appealing and distinguishable way, enough so to earn him a nomination for the “Best Music on Campus Award” at MTVU’s Woodie Awards in 2009. With song and album titles like “Party at the Beach House,” “Pep Rally,” and “#WhiteGirlProblems”, he captures the trials and tribulations that only a middle class suburbanite could relate to. Fortunately for Allen, that’s the majority of the population. Hoodie, joined by rap duo Fortune Family, hits Broadway Joe’s next Thursday (Aug 11) to perform his chant inducing summertime anthems. —brett perla

7pm. Broadway Joe’s Bar & Grill, 3051 Main St. (837-3650 / bjoes.net). $12 advance, $14 day of show.

Thursday, August 11th

Blink 182 with My Chemical Romance

What’s their age again? Oh yeah, 39, 35, and 35. These are the respective ages of Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker. The legendary, West Coast pop-punks certainly aren’t teenagers anymore, but that doesn’t stop them from stepping onto the stage and reminiscing over their crude high school days all over again. The trio reunited in 2009 after a four-year hiatus, which spawned new projects from each member like Barker and Hoppus’ +44, and DeLonge’s Angels & Airwaves. In July the band released the very un-Blink-182 like single “Up All Night” from their forthcoming album Neighborhoods, their first album in eight years, which is to be released in September. Catch them at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center this Thursday (Aug 11) for their Honda Civic Tour, while they’re still playing classic tunes like “Adam’s Song” and “Dammit.” Joining them on stage will be gothic, glam rock quartet My Chemical Romance and indie rockers Manchester Orchestra. —cory perla

7pm. Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Center. $25-$69 at LiveNation.com or 800-745-3000.