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Current Issue: Artvoice v7n47, week of Thursday November 20 » back issues

Artist of the Week

Mark Constantino

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

On the surface, Mark Constantino appears an average, mild mannered, happy-go-lucky sort of guy... then you watch him explode onstage. Sweating, screaming and flailing he seemingly channels Bad Brain’s vocalist HR and a snake-handling preacher bent on some twisted salvation. With The Exit Strategy, Constantino’s adrenaline-filled, pounding vocals act as a crucial counterpoint to the taut, precision dynamics and sonic intricacies of guitarist Steven Kabza, bassist Tony Flamia and drummer Tim Turcotte. (It’s also worth mentioning that Constantino does a performance 180 singing pretty melodies in the keen indie pop collective Amateur Thief.)

It might surprise the average face in the crowd at an Exit Strategy show that the guy out at front and center stage will be keeping the Queen City safe the next day. Who would suspect the singer from a post punk band would also don a blue uniform for the Buffalo Police Department? You’re still just beginning to know the man behind the booming holler.

Upcoming show: The Exit Strategy celebrates the release of its eponymous, first full length CD (on the Art of the Underground imprint) with a show this Saturday (Nov. 12) at Mohawk Place with guests Laser Awesome, Lemuria and Tracy Morrow.

Who inspires you? “My mother and father have been the biggest influence on my life. I’ve been extremely lucky to have two parents that have always loved and supported me even when I’ve made some questionable decisions. I’m unbelievably fortunate, they always attended any events I had as a child and they still come to almost every show. You’ll hear my mother, she’s always the loudest. Another big influence on me has been T.C. Smith. He was one of my first supervisors at my place of employment and he taught me a ton about the real world. Also my girlfriend, Molly, has been very supportive and understanding about the fact that so much of my free time is spent practicing with the band.

Musically speaking, my hero has always been Ian MacKaye from Fugazi and Dischord Records. He’s a true revolutionary in my opinion.”

Speaking of Ian MacKaye, The Exit Strategy often gets compared to Fugazi and other Dischord bands but what are your other musical influences? “We do get compared to Fugazi a lot which is a unbelievable honor and they have influenced us as musicians. After a recent show we played in New Paltz a bunch of people compared us to Les Savy Fav. I think we are influenced by The Jesus Lizard and The Gang Of Four a bit. It’s tough because at the same time one of our goals is to stay as original and unique as possible. It can be extremely difficult at times; so much has been done and redone, musically speaking. You also can’t be offended when your band draws comparisons to some or your favorite artists.”

The core of TES (yourself and drummer Tim Turcotte) were previously in Sonic Boom Project. What is the difference between the two bands? “It’s difficult to compare them actually. I don’t really consider Tim and myself as the core of The Exit Strategy just because we were part of The Sonic Boom Project. I think the core of The Exit Strategy is the four of us creating together. It gives me goose bumps sometimes because we click so well together. The bands are also very different as far as goals and expectations. The Sonic Boom Project was started as purely fun and The Exit Strategy is taking on a more serious tone. So it really is difficult to compare the two. Musically though the Sonic Boom Project had more of a straight-up rock sound ... The Exit Strategy has more of an angular/jagged thing going on. It’s noisier but there’s a lot of breathing room within the songs as well ... I guess you would call us more of a post-punk band.”

Tell me about the new album. What was the process of writing and recording it? “When we started the band we immediately started writing. We were unbelievably prolific and still are. All these ideas basically started flowing out of us like pent up aggression. Steve, our guitarist, would come in and just start playing these great guitar parts and everyone would jump on them like wild animals. It was beautiful to be a part of.

We would rehearse for sometimes up to five hours picking at every detail. Going over things time and time again until we got every song exactly the way we wanted. When we wrote bunch of songs that we were proud of we decided it was time to record. We pitched the idea to Mark Nosowicz who runs Harvest Studio. We like everything we’ve heard from him and he understood what we were doing so we decided to do the record there. Recording was great, Mark’s an excellent engineer and a good person so everything went pretty smooth. He also came up with some really cool ideas that adds to the record so were extremely happy.”

The Exit Strategy is a powerful live combo. What’s your idea of a perfect gig? “We are really making a big effort to play out of town more. We’re on a label called Art Of The Underground and we know the only way we’re going to sell records is if we play more shows out of Buffalo. So I guess right now the perfect gig for us would be anywhere that hasn’t heard us, preferably in front of people and with Tracy Morrow on the bill!”


Artvoice Blog Headlines

Who Goes Where When Hillary Goes to State?

posted November 19, 12:04 pm on Artvoice Daily

City Hall News has flow_chart that tracks who might replace who, from Hillary’s Senate seat on down (click to expand or follow the link—it’s an awkward shape):

It’s Robert Rich Sr. All High Stadium

posted November 14, 5:05 pm on Artvoice Daily

These new signs properly label the structure. We’ve been reading recent stories in the Buffalo News about sportswriter Tom Borrelli’s terrible fall last week at the old All High Stadium. He’s currently battling life-threatening injuries... (more)

CWM Fined for Violations

posted November 14, 2:41 pm on Artvoice Daily

This week Chemical Waste Management was fined $175,000 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for violating its permits and the state’s hazardous waste laws. I don’t have much to say about that, except it doesn’t seem to me like too much money... (more)

Musical Chairs

posted November 14, 12:51 pm on Artvoice Daily

The AP reports that Hillary Clinton met with Barack Obama in Chicago yesterday, adding fuel to speculation that she might be Obama’s choice for secretary of state. If that happens, it has long been rumored that Brian Higgins would be appointed to her Senate seat... (more)

Paint the Town

posted November 14, 11:06 am on Artvoice Daily

Late last night, at the tail end of one of the few weeks in the past year in which we did not publish anything snarky about anybody, someone threw two gallons of paint on our front doors. Seems a waste; we hadn’t even earned it. Nonetheless, we were cleaning up all morning... (more)

Old Editions Book Shop

posted November 13, 1:58 pm on Artvoice Daily

AV videographer Matt Quinn tours Old Editions, an often overlooked treasure at the corner of Oak and Huron Streets downtown: show enclosure (video/x-flv; 21.29 MB)

This Is Not Today’s News

posted November 12, 9:37 am on Artvoice Daily

But it would be nice if it were. Via the Data Stream, by way of Jon Winet.

This Just In…

posted November 11, 3:28 pm on Artvoice Daily

Always in the vanguard, researchers of the University at Buffalo’s Center of Human Capital have reached a bold conclusion, according to a statement disseminated this afternoon: Although no official determination has been made about whether New York State or the U... (more)

Silver Lining: Edwards Remains a Good Guy

posted November 11, 11:17 am on Artvoice Daily

Marshawn Lynch Amid the anguished finger-pointing, plaintive wailing and resigned head-shaking sweeping the region following the Buffalo Bills’ third straight defeat, Season Ticket would like to apportion a minute sliver of credit. Quarterback Trent Edwards, by most quantitative and qualitative standards, failed miserably at New England on Sunday (not coincidentally, this was also his third consecutive regressive outing)... (more)

Mazzariello’s Ristorante & Martini Bar

posted November 7, 4:30 pm on Chew on This

  Photo taken by Rose Mattrey From Antipasti to Primi to Secondi, Mazzariello’s (114 Bloomfield Ave, Lancaster, 206.0561) has conquered the map of Italian cooking. Your palate will be exposed to an array of spices, herbs, and ingredients indigenous to Northern & Southern Italy... (more)

Post Election Bits & Bytes

posted November 7, 12:02 am on Tech Voice

Election ‘08 is now in the history books - so I figured it’s time to take a look backward, and a look forward at some relevant headlines. Hacking Democracy First, we’ll take a look at one of the best kept secrets of the campaign season, from both sides, care of a Newsweek article published just today... (more)

BNMC Open Meeting Tonight

posted November 6, 1:19 pm on Artvoice Daily

Tonight at 6pm in the auditorium of the downtown library, everyone is invited to attend a public hearing on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus—North End Projects. Among the projects planned are a 300,000 square foot Medical Office Building to be owned and operated by Ciminelli Development Company, Inc... (more)

That Pigeon Won’t Fly

posted November 6, 10:05 am on Artvoice Daily

Steve Pigeon Here’s another example, this one two years old, of the way Steve Pigeon’s political committees are alleged to steer money to candidates illegally. On September 15, 2006, the Pigeon-controlled PAC Citizens for Fiscal Integrity paid “RUR Strategy Group” $9,000 in consulting fees, according to CFI’s campaign finance disclosure forms... (more)

SeaBar’s Social Calendar

posted November 5, 12:44 pm on Chew on This

SeaBar will host live jazz and sushi nights starting Friday, November 21st at 8 p.m. (5235 Main Street, Wmsvl, 204.5283). A Cave Springs Riesling Tasting Event will take place at SeaBar’s suburban location on Wednesday, November 9th at 7 p.m... (more)

Artvoice TV: Latest Additions » more on AVTV

Neslon Starr Band w/Jeff Miers

posted November 23, 09:49 am on channel Music

On Saturday night there was a double bill with Bread Gone Wry and Nelson Starr Band at Nietzsche's. Sitting in with Nelson Starr for a couple of tunes was former bandmate and Buffalo News music critic Jeff Miers, featured here.

Bread Gone Wry

posted November 23, 08:04 am on channel Music

We haven't seen Bread Gone Wry for quite some time but they haven't lost their charm. The happy crowd cheered on every song.

Dr. Riyaz Hassanali: The effect Smoking has on your Skin

posted November 21, 4:50 pm on channel Local Interest

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Riyaz Hassanali sat down with Buffalo actress and television host Lorraine O'Donnell for the first in our series of interviews with area medical experts. Today's subject is the effects of smoking on your skin and appearance. Dr. Hassanali, of Williamsville (626-1593) is a well respected cosmetic surgeon who works internationally, as well as locally. This is the first of six segments from Dr...

Twilight

posted November 19, 1:09 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for Twilight, in theaters November 21. Read M. Faust's review of the film here.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

posted November 19, 1:06 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, in theaters now. Click here to read George Sax's review of the film.

Avi Takes Artvoice Shopping for the holidays @ Lexington food Co-op

posted November 19, 11:52 am on channel Food

I met up with Avi of Obviously Avi Catering to learn about classic ways to spruce up some great thanksgiving dishes and some more contemporary ideas for this years holiday season.. Also check out the Co-op this weekend Saturday the 22nd to sample some of the fresh turkeys that u can pick up for your family!

TRAIN DAY! @ the Buffalo Historical Society

posted November 17, 3:07 pm on channel Local Interest

I met with Peter Burakowski from the Buffalo Histroical Society to check out their fantastic train exhibit.. Now I have to be honest I was kinda embarrassed to tell Peter that I Hadn't been to the museum since I was about six years old... But the place looks great and has a lot going on for the holiday season. Check out this clip then head on down to the Buffalo Historical Society!

Mass Appeal: Elmwood Fashion Event

posted November 15, 10:19 pm on channel Events

On Friday night the Elmwood Village Association packed the Lafayette Presbyterian Church with a sold out "Mass Appeal: An Elmwood Fashion Event." The atmosphere was electric in the brightly lit church as models strutted down the catwalk to lively deejay beats.

Buffalo Contemporay Dance

posted November 15, 6:43 pm on channel Events

This weekend we stopped at Alt Theatre, 255 Great Arrow, to check Buffalo Contemporary Dance's 10th Anniversary performance. The little black box theatre in the Great Arrow Industrial Center is exceptionally intimate and provides a that up close experience you won't get at larger venues. Dancers and choreographers Amy Taravella and Leslie Wexler put together a lovely set of dance pieces with a variety of musical styles and an enthusiastic group of dancers...

Old Editions Book Shop

posted November 13, 11:42 am on channel Local Interest

I had a chance to check out the Old Editions Book Shop & Café at 74 East Huron Street, Buffalo.... WOW i was blown away at how any cool things they had on display there....Not just the thousands of books on everything from local authors to rare leather-bounds, but hundreds of maps, prints and other artwork. If you havent been down to the corner of Oak and Huron to check it out i suggest you do!

Off Stage: Conversations with Anthony Chase

posted November 12, 4:50 pm on channel Theater

This week, Artvoice and TAB present Part II of the interview with Road Less Traveled founder, Scott Behrand. This is the second installment of "Off Stage", a series of conversations with the Buffalo theatre community and AV Theatre Editor Anthony Chase.

Happy Go Lucky

posted November 12, 2:08 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for Happy Go Lucky, in theaters now. Read M. Faust's review of the film here.

Quantum of Solace

posted November 12, 2:01 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for Quantum of Solace, in theaters November 14th. Read George Sax's review of the film here.

Flash Party at Essex St.

posted November 9, 10:59 am on channel Events

The annual Flash Party-Griffis Sculpture Park fundraiser at the Essex St. art complex was the raucous gathering of music and art it's always been. With live music by the Ifs, plenty of art and free beer what else would you expect?

Lakeview Effect at Nietzsche's

posted November 8, 4:54 pm on channel Music

When Lakeview Effect crowded into the front bar at Nietzsche's with their keyboards, drums, two guitars, bass and percussion, there wasn't much room left. Nevertheless, people space to jam in and groove to the interesting and often unpredictable tunes. Some even found room to dance.



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