Jeremy Hotz
Thursday 3/5: 8pm / Friday 3/6: 7:30pm & 10pm / Saturday 3/7: 7:30pm & 10pm Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St. (853-1211 / heliumcomedy.com) $15- $52
Jeremy Hotz might have the most unique style of stand-up in the industry today. The Canadian comedian is known for his observational humor and catch phrase “what a miserable...” which he has used for everything from the opening line of his acts to the naming of his tours and comedy specials. He is a mastery of misery suffering from an existential comedic crisis. Hotz received his first big break when he performed at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal in 1997. Since then, he has appeared at festivals all over the word and has gone on to act in various TV shows, movies, and stand-up specials. Hotz is also a staff writer and performer on the critically acclaimed “The Jon Stewart Show”, and received a Gemini nomination for “Best Writing in Comedy of Variety Show or Series” for his half hour comedy special, “What Happened to Jeremy Hotz?” If you want to witness a different breed of comedy, be prepared to come down to Helium Comedy Club this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
> Jeff Czum
3/5 -3/7
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SAT 3/7
Kevin Morby
5:30pm The Studio @ Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $10-$12
When Kevin Morby isn’t busy touring with the Brooklyn indie group The Woods or the rock outfit The Babies, he’s making his way across the country as a solo artist. On Saturday night (3/7 @7pm), Morby will be making his way into Buffalo to perform at Mohawk Place. He’ll be supporting his second solo album Still Life, which was released in October. The name of his album was inspired by a piece by Maynard Monrow titled “Still Life with the Rejects from the Land of Misfit Toys.” Saying the album’s title represents the lifestyle changes he’s endured over the past 3 years. His singing and vocal phrasing is similar to music from over 40 years ago, like the classic albums of Leonard Cohen and Dylan. Morby has attitude and gravity to his voice, especially when he opts to push out lower registers (comparable to Matt Berninger of The National). The music is set at comfortable mid-tempo grooves, with echo-heavy guitars and perfect backing vocal harmonies. Ryley Walker and Buffalo Sex Change are set to open the show before Morby takes the stage this weekend.
> Jeff Czum
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The Albrights
10pm Dinosaur BBQ, 301 Franklin St. (880-1677 / dinosaurbarbque.com) Free
The Albrights is a band that any Buffalo music fan can appreciate. Voted The Best Original Music Act for Artvoice’s 2014 Best of Buffalo Awards. They just released self-titled full-length album in July and have since received great reviews, increasing their popularity among music lovers. Before heading out on The Great Northeaster Tour later this month, The Albrights will be kicking it off at Dinosaur BBQ, Saturday night (3/7 @10pm). Watch the band exceed expectations with their hard-hitting energetic set. Singer/pianist Joe Donahue will lead the group with his catchy vocal melodies and compelling chords and riffs that blend the sounds of classical, jazz and soul. Brandon Barry brings the rock element to life with his guitar leads, while Matthew Crane tightly holds it down on bass, locking in perfectly with drummer Dustin Herzberger. Each member has something to bring to the table to showcase their individual talents. Perfect harmonies and smooth pop-rock vibes will set the tone of the night.
> Jeff Czum
SAT 3/7
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TUE 3/10
Diana Krall
7:30pm UB Center for the Arts, 103 Center For The Arts (645-6259 / ubcfa.org) $64.50-$84.50
Diana Krall is a gifted jazz pianist whose nimble playing perfectly compliments her equally talented singing. But the Canadian grammy winner has surprised fans with the release of her 12th studio album Wallflower. It’s a pop album, not a jazz album. That shocked her fans and jazz listeners all over. The recording is produced by pop guru David Foster who happens to be both the new Chairman of the Verve Music Group and quoted in Rolling Stone Magazine as the master of the “Chicago-Journey-Toto school of bombastic pop kitsch.” In the past, Foster has worked with artists like Celine Dion, Michael Buble, and Josh Groban earning him an impressive repuation. Krall still manages to showcase her jazz influences and talent throughout the LP with her interpretations of songs that topped the pop charts when she was growing up. Tracks like “California Dreamin’”, “Desperado”, and “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word” (a song by Elton John), set the tone for Wallflower, and any fan of early pop will not be disappointed. Listeners can expect a phenomenal performance as she gracefully sings over the sounds of her piano, Tuesday night (3/10 @7:30pm) at UB Center For The Arts.
> Jeff Czum
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An Irish Evening w/ BPO Musicians
8pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) Free
To celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day, BPO musicians Brett Shurtliffe and Amy Licata will be presenting an evening of Irish music at Nietzsche’s on Wednesday night (3/11 @8pm). The two have formed a bass/violin duo devoted to the music of the Emerald Isle. Together, they have performed with Buffalo Chambers Players, the Buffalo Philharmonic, and Irish groups, Cherish the Ladies as well as The Cheiftains. Shurtliffe joined the BPO bass section in 2007 and has appeared in concerts all across US and Canada. Licata began playing the fiddle at five years old and joined the BPO in 1998 where she is often featured in fiddling solos in scores she’s arranged herself. There will be plenty of Guiness and Jameson to go with the sounds of Traditional Irish music and American fiddling. All arrangements will be original to showcase the amazing talent of these two musicians. All you Irish drinkers and music lovers won’t want to miss out on this event.
> Jeff Czum
WED 3/11
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WED 3/11
Gang of Thieves
9pm Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. (200-1893 / buffaloironworks.com) Free
The upbeat “party-funk rock n’ roll” group, Gang of Thieves formed in Burlington, Vermont back in 2009. They’ve been awarded “Best Band in State” by the New England Music Awards and have performed all over the United States on a ride of DIY tours. From SXSW showcases in Austin, TX to the Hard Rock Café Battle of the Bands in San Francisco, GoT aims to win the attention and support of every audience they perform in front of. Vocalist Mike Reit’s ability to motivate a crowd with his wild stage banter and excellent vocal range is matched by his band mates’ talent and musicianship. GoT released their debut album, Thunderfunk last year and has since become one of the most popular bands to come from Vermont (there aren’t a lot of bands from Vermont, but it still counts...). The album’s danceable, hook-heavy fusion of funk, punk and hard rock would fit nicely on rock-radio playlists between Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The single, “Sexy Star Circus,” is a funk party anthem with a chorus that will have you singing along before the song is finished. Tracks like “Ambition” and “Kind In Deed” show what this band is capable of and it’s clear they have the talent to become a notable name in the funk/rock scene. If you want to dance, party and even head bang along to catchy rhythmic grooves provided by the gang, come down to Iron Works on Wednesday night (3/11 @9pm).
> Jeff Czum
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