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Fall Arts Preview

Curtain Up! 2006

by Anthony Chase

Art in Autumn

by Geoff Kelly

Dropping Like Leaves

by Donny Kutzbach

Moving Pictures

by Geoff Kelly

Letters to Artvoice

I was glad to read the many replies to Walter Simpson’s letter of August 31, 2006, regarding WBFO’s bias and claims toward “balance” (“Letters to AV,” Artvoice v5n35) A few months ago I submitted a listener comment online in response to one of Dan Leonard’s more insufferable commentaries. I find Leonard utterly infuriating at the best of times (not just because of what he says, which is generally biased while claiming to be objective, but because of his tone, which is always patronizing, self-righteous, and has that “listen-to-me-while-I-tell-you-how-things-really-are” quality about it). I received in response a thoroughly vitriolic reply from Mark Scott, severely reprimanding me for being unable to tolerate opinions that are contrary to mine.

Free Will Astrology

by Rob Brezsny

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): There was one main reason why America’s founding fathers gave Thomas Jefferson, not Benjamin Franklin, the job of composing the Declaration of Independence in 1776. They were afraid that Franklin, a compulsive teaser and trickster, would slip jokes into the document. In my opinion, we Americans would have been better served if Franklin had been chosen and allowed to mess around. After all, even the most profound commitments and weighty situations benefit from the leavening power of humor. Keep that in mind during the oh-so-serious games that are ahead for you, Virgo.

News of the Weird

by Chuck Shepherd

■ Just before the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, John M. Lyons Jr. filed a lawsuit in New Orleans against Mark Morice, who admits to commandeering Lyons’ 18-foot pleasure boat during the chaos after Katrina hit in order to rescue more than 200 people (according to his count), including a 93-year-old dialysis patient whose wife praised Morice for a Times-Picayune story. Nonetheless, said Lyons, Morice (who voluntarily identified himself to Lyons for taking the boat) didn’t have permission to use it, and since it was ultimately lost (Morice said he abandoned it for other rescuers to use), and insurance covered less than half of its replacement, Lyons says Morice should pay him $12,000.

Getting a Grip

The Path to Reelection

by Michael I. Niman

In what appears to be the end times for the Bush junta, nothing is sacred as Team Bush rallies all of its resources for a full-court press to maintain control of Congress in the upcoming mid-term elections. Predictably, and right on schedule, the all-9/11, all-the-time presidency is shamelessly playing the only card it ever had in its deck. For the fifth anniversary of the attacks that officially ushered in an age of security states and perpetual war, the Republicans launched a coordinated campaign of speeches, flag-draped ads and a Disney/ABC propaganda film, The Path to 9/11, whitewashing otherwise well documented Bush administration incompetence and criminal indifference leading up to the attacks while tarring Democrats as soft on terrorism.

Casino Chronicles

Andy SanFilippo Can't Count

by Bruce Jackson

It is difficult to tell if Buffalo Comptroller Andrew SanFilippo, who has written two Buffalo News “Another Voice” columns urging Mayor Byron Brown and the Common Council to roll over for the Seneca Gaming Corporation, is stupid, ensorcelled, or merely paying back his patron Carl Paladino, whose money made it possible for SanFilippo to be Comptroller, hence in a position to get these two perfectly imbecilic pieces taken seriously by the Buffalo News editorial board.

News

Una Voz

by Peter Koch

If you walk down Prospect Avenue between Pennsylvania Street and Porter Avenue, you might not notice much difference between the east and west sides of the street. Both are part of the lower West Side, both are populated by mostly lower-income Hispanics whose salsa and raggaeton music pours from their cars and windows. The scent of arroz con pollo drifts from the Niagara Cafe and Spanish conversation carries on the breeze. Ask anyone on either side of the street and they’ll tell you where you are: el barrio. This is smack in the center of Buffalo’s fastest-growing community—the Hispanic community.

In the Margins

Literary Buffalo Gets Literarier

by Mike Kelleher

Since I met with a group of literary curators a little over a year ago to create Literary Buffalo, the number of literary events happening in this town seems to have multiplied. Or maybe I am simply more aware because all of them get sent to me for inclusion in the calendar. Whatever the case, this fall’s schedule of literary happenings is long on quality and quantity. What follows is a snapshot of what’s happening in Literary Buffalo between Curtain Up! and Christmas Break.

The Dalai Watch

by Buck Quigley

The time is finally upon us when the 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and secular leader in absentia of Tibet, makes his visit to the University at Buffalo for a series of events promoting peace across borders through education. As Bill Murray’s character Carl Spackler famously remarks upon His Holiness’s golf game in the cinematic masterpiece Caddyshack: “He’s a big hitter, the Dalai. Long.” This is a big deal for UB, and for Western New York in general. For a complete and serious list of all the events at the university, visit www.buffalo.edu/dalai_lama.

Theaterweek

A Man of No Importance

by Anthony Chase

A Man of No Importance reminds us what a powerful vehicle for expression American musicals can be, and as importantly, how the intimate stages of Buffalo’s independent professional theaters can sometimes ignite bursts of electrifying magic with plays that barely even glowed elsewhere. With a script by Terrence McNally, one of the most important American playwrights of our time; music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, the songwriting team that also created Once on this Island and Ragtime, A Man of No Importance attracted a great deal of interest when it opened off-Broadway in 2002. Though the original cast recording sounds thrilling, to be honest, the actual experience of seeing A Man of No Importance at Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center was surprisingly low-key, more cerebral than emotional, and often disappointing.

You Auto Know

Will Small Be the Next Big?

by Jim Corbran

For years now many American motorists have decided that they just had to have off-road capabilities in their everyday ride. And let’s face it, most of those all- and four-wheel drive vehicles out there never leave the pavement. At least not intentionally.

Design Matters

Feichang Jianzhu

by Albert Chao

In October 2005, Buffalo witnessed The Wall, the largest Chinese contemporary art exhibition to travel outside of China. With more than 50 artists and work across three major galleries, the exhibition stirred the imagination to consider the extraordinary growth of China.

Good Eats

Eat at Joe's

by Bridget Kelly

Joe’s Deli is a result of a confluence of events. Two great local restaurants had run their course: The owner of Mastman’s decided that it was time to hang up the meat slicer and retire, and the Park Lane likewise started to wrap things up. This left the busy corner of Hertel and Colvin with a deli-shaped hole in its heart, and left Joe Lyons, the former head of the Park Lane’s catering facility, looking for a new gig.

Film Clips

Once in a Lifetime

Half Nelson

Film Reviews

From Divine to De Sica?

Purple Noir

Music

Worth the Weight

by Buck Quigley

Fans of the electric guitar—especially lovers of that unique species known as the Fender Telecaster—are familiar with the signature sound of Woodstock, New York native Jim Weider. He’s played with an impressive list of artists including Bob Dylan, Graham Parker, Los Lobos, Doctor John, Taj Mahal, Paul Butterfield, Scotty Moore, Keith Richards, Hot Tuna and Bob Weir & Rat Dog. He was already a Nashville studio cat when he got the call from Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel to step into Robbie Robertson’s shoes as the lead guitarist of Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame members The Band when they reformed in 1985—nearly a decade after their farewell show that was captured by Martin Scorsese in his landmark rock documentary The Last Waltz. Weider immediately went from studio whiz to playing with his favorite band at 20,000-seat venues on a tour with Crosby, Stills & Nash. These days, Weider shows no signs of slowing down. He comes to Buffalo for a show at the Buffalo Icon on September 21 at 8pm with his new band, in support of a blistering new instrumental album. Artvoice recently caught up with him in his Woodstock home, just as he was heading down to New York City at the invitation of another guitar great, Jeff Beck.

See You There

The Zombies at Little Steven's Underground Garage

by Joe Sweeney

Rhys Chatham's Essentialist w/ Bare Flames

by Greg Gannon

Theodore Bikel: The Disputation

by Geoff Kelly

10 Questions for the Dalai Lama

by M. Faust

Left of the Dial

Bernard Fanning: Tea & Sympathy

by Donny Kutzbach

Peaches: Impeach My Bush

by Joe Sweeney

Calendar Spotlight

Knife Crazy

Lance Diamond & The 24K-Diamond Band

Asobi Seksu

Secrets of Allentown

by Lisa Cialfa

Kayo Dot

Guitar Shorty

by Lisa Cialfa