Current Issue: Artvoice v7n48, week of Thursday November 27 » back issues
AV Best of Buffalo |
Music |
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By today’s pedestrian music fan, Buffalo is often referred to as the hometown of the Goo Goo Dolls, Ani DiFranco, 10,000 Maniacs (sort of) and the late Rick James. While these great talents serve as handy ambassadors due to their widespread popular success and fame, they represent only a sliver of the rich musical heritage of a city that’s been home to songwriters ranging back from Harold Arlen (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” sung by Judy Garland) to “Dyke” Arlester Christian (“Funky Broadway,” sung by Wilson Pickett). The cultural and musical variety is rich here, and the roots run very deep.
Today, the city is teeming with bands and performers of every stripe, and it’s much easier than it has ever been before for a local act to get some press and airplay. There’s more networking among performers, thanks to Web sites dedicated to local music, and also more small, home studios in which to make quality digital recordings. There’s also MySpace, which makes it easier to reach the world and/or easier to get lost in the crowd.
By the time it becomes common knowledge that a city outside the traditional music hubs of London, New York, Nashville and LA has a great local scene going, the phenomenon is usually past. What you get then are the wannabes who arrive from everywhere, like weeds, and choke out the native species as they struggle for gigs. Labels, radio DJs, music journalists and the like can try to milk it for a decade or more after that, and they often succeed in convincing people that there must be something in the water in Seattle, or Portland—or Glasgow for crying out loud. But the fact is, it doesn’t come from the water.
All it really takes are talented, creative musicians, good venues and supportive fans to make a vibrant music scene. Right here, right now, we have all that and more. If you wait to be told about our scene through the mainstream media, chances are you will have missed the peak of it. So get out and support the venues, performers and bands our readers have nominated. It encourages them all to put out their best. And when they do, we all shine a little brighter. At least until Rolling Stone magazine finds out about it.
—buck quigley
If You Had a Band, You'd Call It ___ and Play ___:
■ I’d play knobs, sliders, buttons and found instruments in a band called Black Tie Weenie Roast.
■ I would play jazzy and clever adaptations of classic novels and call myself Cliff’s Notes.
■ Lily Vanilly and the Ike Dykes”—the triangle.
■ The Character Assassins. We would wear red coats and sing completely false songs about Buffalo.
■ Skeleton Jim and the Get-Fresh Hymns. I’d play an oscillating ukulele hooked up to a beatbox.
■ Napoleon’s Infamous Member. We would be a speed metal band that played songs about pop-culture phenoms.
■ Helen Highwater and the Undertow, I’d play a Hammond B-3.
■ I would carry Conor Oberst on my back and call it Bright Eyes on My Back, and sing only Gerard Way songs. We would dye our hair white and stop drinking. Well, forget that part about the drinking.
■ I’d call it Polaroid Shark, and I’d play guitar.
■ I would call my band “Skiing in Jeans” and play all ’80s alternative, based on what I know and loved back in the day when I skied totally drunk on Sun Country Wine Coolers, in jeans at Kissing Bridge in high school.
■ Giggle Blitz. We would play spaz rock that would sound like a swarm of bees in a huge glass case of hanging wind chimes.
■ Buffalo’s Worst Band. We’d only play songs by artists with geographic names (Boston, Europe, Chicago, John Denver)
■ The Poop McGoo’s. Comedy
best rock act
Every Time I Die
Strictly Hip
Jackdaw
Goo Goo Dolls
Lemuria
best blues act
Mick Hayes Band
Kate Engler
Mark Winsick
Jony James Band
Willie and the Reinharts
best country act
Old Sweethearts
Steam Donkeys
Stone Country
Bareback Jack
90 West
best acoustic act
Brian Wheat
Babik
Tom Stahl
Bob Zielonka
Ani DiFranco
best hip-hop act
Gr&d Phee
and Rhyson Hall
Pseudo Slang
Noble Truth and DJ Star
Constant Climax
Ebola Virus
best jazz act
Latin Jazz Project
Babik
David Kane
Macy Favor Big Band
Gamalon
best genre-defying act
Lance Diamond
Lazlo Hollyfeld
Babik
Skiffle Minstrels
Jackdaw
best individual vocalist
Tom Stahl
Alison Pipitone
David Moore
Ani DiFranco
Lance Diamond
best vocal ensemble
Vocalis
Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus
Buffalo Gateway Chorus
Choral Arts Society
Boys of Summer
best musician
Doug Yeomans
Ani DiFranco
David Moore
Adam Zadok
Tom Stahl
best club dj
DJ Anthony
DJ Cutler
DJ Lil Joe
DJ Lady Atram
DJ Julia
king or queen
of charisma
Jen Parker
Jamie Cudney
David Moore
Paul Todaro
Lance Diamond
buffalo music’s best friend
Joe Rubino/Nietzsche’s
Dwane Hall/Sportsmen’s Tavern
Robbie Takac/Music Is Art
Pete Perrone/Mohawk Place
Ani DiFranco
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Issue Navigation> Issue Index > v6n16: Best of Buffalo (4/19/07) > AV Best of Buffalo > Music This Week's Issue • Artvoice Daily • Events Calendar • Classifieds |
Artvoice Blog Headlines
West Side Neighborhood Housing Servicesposted November 28, 3:44 pm on Artvoice DailyAs promised in this article, the membership list for West Side Neighborhood Housing Services is right here. Highlighted in yellow are city employees who report to the mayor or their relatives; highlighted in pink are other city employees. Most of the highlighted names (though not all) are new members, who joined just in time to vote at last Thursday’s annual members meeting, when Harvey Garrett was voted off WSNHS’s board... (more) |
On the Waterfrontposted November 26, 2:00 pm on Artvoice DailySo you think Buffalo has a hard time figuring out what to do with its waterfront, do ya? Mad that we can’t just build a signature bridge, huh? Madder still that we can’t just knock the Skyway bridge down? Furious with obstructionists who don’t want a Bass Pro Shop? Livid about the ice boom? And don’t even get you started about all the blind, misguided fools who can’t see that a huge casino downtown will turn our city around? Yes, my friend, you do in fact have all the answers... (more) |
Chow Chocolat welcomes Denise Sperry’s Watercolor Exhibition…posted November 26, 12:46 pm on Chew on ThisWatercolor Painting by Denise Sperry Merging the fine arts with gastronomic art, Chow Chocolat (731 Main Street, Buffalo, 843.4388) is now featuring a watercolor exhibition by Denise Sperry. A reception commencing Sperry’s works will take place on December 5th, 2008 (6-9 PM)... (more) |
GRILLE 620 (Wine… Down the Weekend)posted November 26, 11:34 am on Chew on ThisIf you haven’t already checked out “Wine… Down the Weekend” at Grille 620, (620 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, 886.2121) GO! This has to be one of the best deals in the city of Buffalo. Every Friday & Saturday, patrons can choose a complimentary bottle from the bistro’s extensive wine list to accompany any 2 entrees... (more) |
Another Voiceposted November 26, 10:11 am on Artvoice DailyHere’s something that drives me crazy about the Buffalo News: the “Another Voice” column on the editorial page. It would be a nice idea, were it not that so often it is not given over to “another” voice. It is given, rather, to the same old voices: to people who are frequently quoted as sources in articles, who are in positions of political or economic power, to folks whose job is to push agendas—to people, in other words, who have no difficulty making their voices heard... (more) |
Who Goes Where When Hillary Goes to State?posted November 19, 12:04 pm on Artvoice DailyCity 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 Stadiumposted November 14, 5:05 pm on Artvoice DailyThese 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 Violationsposted November 14, 2:41 pm on Artvoice DailyThis 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 Chairsposted November 14, 12:51 pm on Artvoice DailyThe 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 Townposted November 14, 11:06 am on Artvoice DailyLate 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 Shopposted November 13, 1:58 pm on Artvoice DailyAV 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 Newsposted November 12, 9:37 am on Artvoice DailyBut 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 DailyAlways 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 Guyposted November 11, 11:17 am on Artvoice DailyMarshawn 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) |
Artvoice TV: Latest Additions » more on AVTV
Ani DiFranco at Babevilleposted December 1, 2:55 pm on channel Music
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Peanut Brittle Satellite with Jeff Mcleod of Lazlo Holyfieldposted November 29, 1:44 pm on channel Music
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Artisans Bazaar on Elmwoodposted November 29, 1:16 pm on channel Art
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City Mission: Food for the Needyposted November 28, 08:47 am on channel Local Interest
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Turkey Trot: Buffalo's 113thposted November 27, 5:57 pm on channel Events
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Dr. Riyaz Hassanali: Talks about BOTOXposted November 26, 5:46 pm on channel Health
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Viva Vivaldi Festival @ The First Presbyterian Churchposted November 23, 3:48 pm on channel Music
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The Burchfield-Penney Opensposted November 23, 2:33 pm on channel Art
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Synecdoche, New Yorkposted November 23, 12:24 am on channel Movie Trailers
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One Day You'll Understandposted November 23, 12:12 am on channel Movie Trailers
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Four Christmasesposted November 23, 11:53 am on channel Movie Trailers
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Australiaposted November 23, 11:46 am on channel Movie Trailers
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The Alphabet Killerposted November 23, 11:39 am on channel Movie Trailers
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Nelson Starr Band w/Jeff Miersposted November 23, 09:49 am on channel Music
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Bread Gone Wryposted November 23, 08:04 am on channel Music
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