araabMUZIK

Friday, August 29

They call him the MVP of the MPC. Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island Abraham Orellana goes by araabMUZIK, and that nickname couldn’t be more correct. A revolutionary talent, by tapping the pads of the piece of equipment and making loops, he paints an electronic and hip-hop inspired masterpiece-of-sound with his fingers. To say he has quick digits would be an understatement. Recently, he has wrapped up tours with Sleigh Bells, Baauer and Zeds Dead and collaborated with highly influential artists such as Cam’ron, Styles P, Swizz Beatz, A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown. The samples that form araabMUZIK’s beats are pulled from a diverse range of artists from Oceanlab, Kaskade, the Who, Jay Z, the Supremes, Lana Del Rey and so many more. In essence, performing a remix live, araabMUZIK has mastered one of the most creative ways to present electronic music, entitling him to the rightful title of MVP of the MPC. Currently on tour for his latest album release For Professional Use Only 2, araabMuzik will come to the Waiting Room on Friday (Aug 29), presented by MNM Presents. Support will be provided by Buffalo’s own Eyes Everywhere, who are currently climbing the Beatport charts for the their latest EP release on Anabatic Records.

- alicia greco

9pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $15 advance, $17 day of show

Thursday, August 28

Field Day

In a celebration of Buffalo’s Olmstead park, Delaware Park’s newest residents the Meadow Cafe and Ashker’s Juice Bar will host a day of fitness and fun. On Thursday (tonight!) come down to Delaware Park for Field Day. At 5:15pm Campus WheelWorks will lead an all ages ride around Delaware Park. At 5:45 Animal Outfitters pet shop will host a dog walk, while Feel Feet leads a non-competitive human walk, and UB Law School hosts a competitive 3.5 mile run (public can register online or at the park). Finally at 6:30pm to 8pm Power Yoga Buffalo will lead a class on Vinyasa yoga, a breathing-based yoga style. There will also be activities like hula hooping, drumming, lawn games, poetry readings, dancing, fitness demonstrations, a free fitness class, and jugglers. Ashker’s Juice Bar will provide a free open juice bar and the Meadow Cafe will be handing out free food samples. “We wanted to have an end of the summer party where people can bring their families and have a good time,” says Sarah Nasca of Ashker’s Juice Bar. “We just want to thank you to everyone who has supported us.”

- cory perla

5pm-8pm Delaware Park, Nottingham at Meadow Drive, free

Friday, August 29

EMC featuring Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Punchline & Stricklin

Revered rapper Masta Ace and his EMC crew return to Buffalo this Friday (Aug 29) for a show at Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar. Though the rap supergroup, made up of New York rappers Masta Ace, Punchline, and Wordsworth, and Milwaukee based rapper Stricklin has been together since the late 1990s, they put out their first collaborative record in 2008. That record is The Show, a solid set of 16 tracks that bear the mark of veteran rappers. These guys have racked up a lot of years in the rap game and it’s obvious by their patented flows and honest lyrics that tend to lean away from arrogant, boastful lines. Earlier this year the group put out an EP, The Turing Point (a rather extended EP at 12 tracks, though about half are skits or interludes less than two minutes long). The cinematic record features the highlight, “Charlie Murphie” which twists a sample of the nursery rhyme “Three Blind Mice” into an anthem for the group, fit with witty yet aggressive lyrics. Buffalo MCs Kool Taj the Gr8 and HBiz will host EMC’s Disposable Arts Tour, with special guests Kids and resident DJs LoPro and Charlie the Butcher, presented by Deep Think Records.

- cory perla

10pm Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St. (240-9359 / dtr45.com) $10 advance

Friday & Saturday, August 29 & 30

Wild Wild Fest

Just when you thought Summer was quietly slipping through the exit, it suddenly turns around to make one final appearance. An ultimate, shameless hoorah. Like the last round of “Cotton-Eyed Joe” at your middle school dance: valorous, sweaty, and downright savage by the end. That’s Wild Wild Fest in a nutshell: two days and two nights of revelry and music in the great outdoors, Friday (Aug 29) through Saturday (Aug 30). It’s right around the corner, bringing promises of vibes, camping, adventure, food, and drink. And yes, considering the two stages, the scenic location of Willow Creek Winery, and the lineup that has been secured, it will deliver. Set to play are a handful of the most exciting outfits emerging from this city including Whiskey Reverb, Aircraft, Mr. Boneless, Lazlo Hollyfeld, Jack Topht, and Fredtown Stompers to name a few, as well as a few out-of-towners like Baby Gramps. Furthermore, the music festival will serve as your last chance to witness the debauchery of Well Worn Boot before a radical shift in their roster. Altogether, all the arrangements have been made for you to cap your summer off with a bang. Grab your tent, load your gas-tank and head west to Silver Creek this weekend.

- jeanette chin

6pm Friday to Sunday 11am, Willow Creek Winery, 2627 Chapin Rd., Silver Creek, $25 advance, $30 at the gate.

Sunday, August 30

Buffalo Sketch Comedy Showcase

With bits about relationships, political satire, and office humor, Buffalo Sketch Comedy will have you laughing with a performance “cram packed” with skits, and vignettes presented through various media. The local improvisational sketch comedy crew will present a sketch comedy showcase this Saturday (Aug 30) at their home base, the Comedy Sportz Arena (4476 Main St. in Amherst) that promises witty characters and satirical humor (think Key and Peele, Kids in the Hall, or Saturday Night Live). The comedy troupe, comprised of Chris Sherr, Anthony Mangano, Pete Stercheck, Emma Marioles O’Connor, Will Excel, and Samantha Hoy is one of the few troupes in town dedicated to sketch comedy. For a taste of what Buffalo Sketch Comedy has to offer, check out their Youtube page (youtube.com/buffalosketchcome) full of fast-paced comedy bits similar to Tosh.0’s “Viewer Video of the Week” segment. After you get a taste for bits like “Peach’s Cream,” head over to buffalocsz.com to grab some tickets for the troupe’s showcase on Saturday.

- cory perla

9:30pm ComedySportz Arena, 4476 Main St. in Amherst (buffalocsz.com) $10

Wednesday, September 3

The New Mastersounds

British funk revivalists, the New Mastersounds, are invading the United States. More importantly, they’re invading the Tralf Music Hall on Wednesday (Sept 3). Hailing from Leeds, England, they’re born performers with a proven ability to get their audience grooving. However, upon seeing them live, many are left scratching their heads, wondering how a group of skinny, (mostly) pasty-faced northerners play the dusty funk grooves of the early 1970s with such mastery. The answer is simple: who cares. They just do. They play a tight, smooth blend of fusion chops with a vintage soul/funk aesthetic— synchronized, syncopated and undeniably danceable. Their ninth studio album, Therapy, was released earlier this year and was met with rave reviews. Not just “rooted” in funk, like so many bands that are jack-of-all-trades but masters of none, each track stays within the realm of funk, while incorporating different styles that play together smoothly. For example, “I Want You To Stay” has a moderate disco feel, but with soulful, wailing vocals. The aim of the New Mastersounds’ music isn’t to be groundbreaking, but rather to satisfy the current unquenchable thirst for heavy funk, in the days of ultra conformist pop and faceless dance music.

- kellie powell

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $18 advance, $23 day of show

Thursday, September 4

Mark Sultan

Mark Sultan is stuck in the year 1963 and that’s alright by him. Sitting in front of half a drum set, finger strumming an electric guitar and wearing a poorly wrapped turban, Sultan delivers low-fi, at times comedic, yet always passionate garage rock tunes. Some might know Sultan as half of Montreal based garage rock duo King Khan & BBQ Show (he’s BBQ)—who have released a few LPs and a handful of 7” singles and splits, including one with American garage-rock band the Black Lips—or from his 1990s punk band Spaceshits, but he really shines as a one-man solo act, belting out lyrics like “we’re sinking but I don’t really care cause’ I love you” through a storm of sleighbells and fuzzed out, drunkenly strummed guitar chords. The garage rock revivalist will deliver his raw, psychedelic shit show to a room full of freaks when he comes to Allen Street Hardware’s Back Room on Thursday (Sept 4) with support from Buffalo punk mainstays the Mallwalkers, Fleshy Mounds, and Dudes, presented by Shaken Stylus.

- cory perla

10pm Allen Street Hardware Café, 245 Allen St (882-8843 / allenstreethardware.com) $8