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Artvoice Weekly Edition » Issue v5n39 (09/28/2006) » Section: Calendar Spotlight


Tale Me More

This weekend, Tysheka "Spoken" Long will be hosting the spoken word concert Tale Me More, along with the Njozi Poets. Performers Black Magic, Howard Smith, Priscilla Parker-Hill, Lonnie Harrell, Ntare Ali Gault, Wise Mecca, and Rain Bethel-Cooper will all also take part (Smith and Gault were among the winners of the recent Buffalo Poetry Slam). According to Long, who has been very active in the city’s poetry scene for the past five years, this is not the usual literary event: “This night will challenge your definition of a poetry reading." Tale Me More will be presented at Hallwalls on Friday (Sept.29) at 8pm. Advance tickets are available at Locust Street Art Classes and at the Allen Street Connection



Subterranean Puppet Show

For those of you not interested in a typical night out on Chippewa – or even a typical night, for that matter – Club Diablo has been offering a spate of alternative entertainment, a trend that continues with Terry Sullivan and David Kane’s new project— the Subterranean Puppet Show. The title itself arouses an assortment of images: the Crypt Keeper, the Muppets on crack, the creepy clown from the “Saw” movies, or even a haunted version of “Fraggle Rock,” and none of this would be out of line for the show’s creators. As this atmospheric cabaret noir makes its debut performance on Saturday (Sept. 30), expect a sprinkling of the same verve expressed by Kane and Sullivan’s former group, the Celibates, but most importantly, expect the unexpected. Doors open at 9pm.



Blue Ox

Long before alt.country and Americana became the buzzwords of choice for a generation of music writers, WNY had its very own roots scene, centered at a venue in Colden called the Belle Star Saloon. A legendary place that was lost to fire, the Belle Star often played host to an equally legendaryband by the name of Blue Ox. The veteran musicians pictured here—Charlie O’Neill, Ron Davis, Norris Lewis, Willie Schoellkopf and Dennis Mike—are putting the band back together for a reunion that’s been over 30 years in the making. The free show, starting at 5:30pm on Sunday (Oct. 1) at the Sportsmen’s Tavern, is an ideal way to wrap up the weekend.



Betty Serveert

Dutch rock band Betty Serveert had a big break in 1992 with their debut album Palomine, but anybody who watches Fox’s teen melodrama “The O.C.” is more likely to recognize them for their recent cover of Bright Eyes’ “Lover I Don’t Have to Love,” which appeared in last season’s finale. These veteran musicians are touring in support of their latest release, Bare, Stripped Naked, a record that is exactly as the title implies: low-key yet still evocative. The CD features primarily spare instrumentation and subdued performances, which should translate well into a live show. Check them out when they come to the Buffalo Icon on Tuesday (Oct. 3) at 7pm. Also playing are Slumber Party and Lakeside Fall.



Akron/Family

Hailing from Brooklyn, freak-folk foursome Akron/Family have a sound somewhere between the New Christy Minstrels and Sun Ra’s Arkestra. Freeform is almost too narrow a term to describe tracks like “Blessing Force,” from their current release Meek Warrior (Young God Records). “Love and Space” finds the group’s joyous vocals tracing a gospel melody, while “The Rider (Dolphin Song)" is propelled by aggressive guitar strumming reminiscent of early—yes, here it comes—Bob Dylan. But their 8pm show on Wednesday (Oct. 4) at Nietzsche’s is likely to seem more like seeing Dylan at Newport while peaking on good psychedelics. Throw in openers like Tara Jane O’Neill and local art school rockers Besnyo, and you’ve got a night to move your body and brain.



Peter Case

Peter Case has become an institution in the folk music scene over the past 30 years. Leaving Buffalo in his teens, Case thrived on the west coast punk scene in the late 1970s. After disbanding his band the Plimsouls, Case struck out on his own and began recording more acoustic based material that mirrored his time as a street musician in Los Angeles. Invoking the spirits of Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly and Mississippi John Hurt, Case has garnered a cult following and acclaim from such legends as Bruce Springsteen and Roger McGuinn. To show how infulential he has been, this year brought the release of A Case For Case, a tribute CD which features covers of his songs by John Prine, Susan Cowsill and Amy Rigby. Peter Case performs at Mohawk Place on Thursday (Oct. 5) at 8pm. Opening is Jon Dee Graham.





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