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See You There!

See you There?

Lawyers for the Arts

2-6pm. Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main Street (tralfmusichall.com/852-2860) $22

The fifth-year anniversary of the Lawyers for the Arts fundraiser is taking its act to the Tralf. A surprising cast of lawyer-musicians will trade their brief cases for guitar pics, trombones and piano keys. This musical performance features ten bands where all band members are lawyers. Who knew? Besides exercising their creative talents, the legal community is making a unified statement that the arts are important. Bravo! According to event chair Sandy Cassidy, the goal of Lawyers for the Arts this year is to raise $30,000. If you can’t make the event but still want to support the arts you can donate at giveforgreatness.org/events or by calling Cassidy at 803-9727 or simply mail a check payable to Arts Services Initiative to 95 Perry Street Suite 402 Buffalo NY 14203. Note that it’s for G4G. The ten bands’ musician–attorneys include vocalist and trial attorney Sandy Cassidy; Joe Nicastro who opened for Paul McCartney in London; business lawyer Ken Africano, a professional jazz/blues pianist; keyboardist Dave Reitz; Jim Peterson; Mike Scinta; Stu Shapiro; Judge Tim Franczyk; trombonist Justice Fred Marshall and many others. New musicians include Chris Belling from the Erie County DA’s office; Loren Bommer; Jay Organek and singer Kelly Vacco who will perform a show biz set with Lucy Dadd. The event will again feature a display of fine art and an auction of works by local artist lawyers including Giles Mathias; Sandy Cassidy; Leroi Johnson and real estate attorney Keri Callocchia. The money raised from the last event was given to 30 different cultural organizations whose work included dance, opera, orchestra, art, ethnic heritage, theatre and more. Last year Lawyers for the Arts sold out so tickets will go fast. Tickets are just $22 and can be purchased by calling the Tralf Box office at 852-2860.

> Jamie Moses

Pussy Riot

7:30pm. Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave. (babevillebuffalo.com/852-3835) $25

Pailing from Palenville, NY, the Felice Brothers formed in 2006 before any of them knew how to play an instrument. After building some chops busking in NYC subway stations, their primitive sound began to take shape. They’ve since gone on to become favorites at various festivals, as well as landing some cool opening slots for major headliners like the Dave Matthews Band, when not bouncing around the country in their short bus performing for an ever widening circle of fans at their own headlining gigs. Their primal Americana sound has been compared to a cross between The Band and Nirvana—although decidedly goofier than either—making for a foot-stomping good time live. Catch them hollering out their gang vocal choruses when they swing through town Friday night at the Tralf Music Hall.

> AV STAFF

Cannibal Corpse

6pm. Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., (www.townballroom.com/852-3900), $25/$30

Death Metal band Cannibal Corpse returns to their old stomping grounds this weekend. Formed in 1988, the band originated here in Buffalo. After the release of 91’s Butchered At Birth and 92’s Tomb Of The Mutilated, they gained a cult following which has grown and catapulted them into the realm of international stardom. 2009’s Evisceration Plague and 2012’s Torture have garnered global acclaim and their most recent album, Skeletal Remains, hit the Billboard Top 40 upon its release. A Metal Hammer UK article in 2009 even declared: “Cannibal Corpse are the biggest death metal band in the world”. And rightfully so, as they happen to be the top-selling death metal band of all time, based on total sales calculated in 2015. Known for their graphic album cover art and brutal lyrics, controversy has swirled around the band for years. Their music has been banned in Australia and Germany, protested by Christian activists in Russia for “inciting religious division”, and blamed for “undermining the national character of the United States” by Bob Dole back in 1995. Although not for the squeamish, (obviously), with song titles like “Stripped, Raped, and Strangled” and “F**ed With A Knife”, members George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher (vocals), Rob Barrett (guitar), Pat O’Brien (guitar), founders Alex Webster (bass), and Paul Mazurkiewicz (drums) are guaranteed to put on a stellar show this Friday night at Town Ballroom. They’ll be joined by an equally impressive lineup: Obituary, Cryptopsy, and Abysmal Dawn.

> AV Staff

Cirque De La Lune

7pm. DNIPRO Ukrainian Center, 562 Genesee Street. (856-4476) $10

The Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo (ELAB) will present Cirque de la Lune, an art circus featuring talented local dancers, acrobats, and performance artists this Saturday night at The DNIPRO Center. This a full-on two floor party with basement bar and two separate dance floors, including a fantastic ballroom. There’s endless fun to be had. Check out the open photo booths, participatory art installations, live model sketching, a freak show, and fortunetellers in circus tents lining the ballroom. There will be local bands, jesters, aerialists, acrobats, fire dancers, burlesque dancing and drag performances. This year’s theme is Film Noir and there will even be an interactive mystery for you to participate in. Cotton candy, popcorn, and cash bar will be available. Proceeds go toward future programs by the Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo.

> AV STAFF

THE JOHN JORGENSON BLUEGRASS BAND

5pm. Sportsmen’s Tavern, 326 Amherst Street (sportsmenstavern.com/874-7734) $25/$30 day of show

Some bluegrass heavy hitters make a swing through town when the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band hits the stage on Sunday at the Sportsmen’s Tavern. Jorgenson’s sizzling guitar and mandolin work have earned him the worldwide respect of music fans and artists like Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, and Bob Dylan—all of whom have welcomed him aboard as a collaborator. If that weren’t enough, his band includes legendary picker Herb Pedersen—an original member of the Desert Rose Band who has also collaborated with a long list of musical luminaries. For good measure, there’s guitarist/songwriter Jon Randall, who gained attention playing with Emmylou Harris’ Nash Ramblers and co-wrote the 2005 CMA Song of the Year “Whiskey Lullaby,” as well as bassist Mark Fain—who toured with Ricky Skaggs for 13 years and has also worked with Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, and Dwight Yoakam. This is the kind of show that provokes lesser musicians to go home and throw their instruments into the fireplace. Don’t miss it.

> Buck Quigley

Gaelic Storm

7pm. Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main Street (tralfmusichall.com/852-2860) $23/$25 day of show

Fans of jigs and hornpipes need look no further than The Tralf to catch this unique blend of rock, bluegrass and African influences, sitting on top of a fiery Celtic foundation. Although they consider themselves primarily a touring band, they have released 10 studio albums over the last 20 years. Song titles such as “Another Stupid Drinking Song,” “Whiskeyed Up and Womaned Out,” and “The Narwhaling Cheesehead,” tie Gaelic Storm to the Celtic musical tradition of hilarious song titles and amazing music. Having played over 3,000 live shows spanning a career of two decades, Gaelic Storm prefers to “push the envelope, then reel it back in, then push it again,” says band member Patrick Murphy. Catch this amazing Celtic band live at The Tralf Music Hall this Sunday at 8pm.

> AV Staff

Naughty by Nature

7pm. The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Avenue (waitingroombuffalo.com/893-2900) $20-$25

One of the hippest of the hip-hop artists of the 90s will be coming to the Waiting Room on Wednesday, February 24. Grammy Award winning Naughty By Nature was one of the first rap acts to have a major crossover hit with “O.P.P.” Not surprising the song was such a hit. The rap was delivered with machine gun precision and built on the music bed of the infectious beat of the Jackson 5’s hit “ABC.” And the lyrics pretty much told the world it was not only okay to cheat on your partner, it was practically your duty. People loved it. Tee shirts popped up everywhere emblazoned with “I’m Down With O.P.P.” Naughty By Nature videos were also the coolest out there at the time–“Hip Hip Hooray” directed by the talented Spike Lee. Naughty By Nature videos brought the ghetto into your living room at a time when people weren’t used to seeing hundreds of authentic ghetto boys and babes dancing in the streets of the slums. Today these ghetto shots are made glamorous. Back then they were just dirty, gritty, poor people getting down with the music. This is not a show to miss if you’re a hip-hop fan. “Who’s down with OPP? (Every last homie)”

> AV STAFF