Frank Turner

Wednesday, July 1st

London singer/songwriter Frank Turner isn’t afraid to take it to the street. After being cut short during on an evening showcase during 2009’s SXSW, he let everyone know he was going to go finish up in the middle of Austin’s 6th Street. He leapt from the stage and was quickly followed en masse by those caught under the grip of his set. Turner has a rare gift for sloganeering between politics and personal on a bigger social scale along with the subtle but infectious hooks that are at the heart of nearly every one of his songs. Matching this with his straight-ahead, unabashedly English-accented delivery has drawn lazy comparisons to Billy Bragg. In truth, if Turner draws from Bragg it’s only in as much as he does from Ronnie Lane’s laid back pastoral charm, Henry Rollins “take no prisoners” ethos or Springsteen’s storytelling gift of turning small moments into utter epics. Whatever the case, 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year for the once frontman of hardcore outfit Million Dead turned folk-punk singer/songwriter. On the back of 2008’s Love Ire and Song – a near perfect album from the anthemic “rising up” missive “I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous ” to the stirring ode to a dying friend “Long Live The Queen”—he’s recently inked a US deal with Epitaph Records for a new release due within the year and has an enviable opening slot on a summer tour with Offspring and Dropkick Murphys. Fitting local support come from solo sets by Chris Malachowski—usually standing in front of Buffalo punks Wolf Tickets—along with Exit Strategy/Fences Make Good Neighbors singer Mark Constantino.

—donny kutzbach

8pm; Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mowhawk St. (855-3931 / www.mohawkplace.com)

Friday, June 26th

Exile on Allen 2

This is ARTVOICE’s second annual tribute to the Rolling Stones, an event named after the band’s 1972 double LP Exile on Main Street. The album occasioned the debut of such classics as “Rocks Off,” “Rip This Joint,” “Loving Cup,” and “Tumbling Dice” and ranked number seven on Rolling Stones’ 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. But there will be much, much more than just tracks off of Exile at Friday (June 26) night’s event. Covers by local bands Forever Green, Spirit Chief, Cowboys of Scotland, the Painkillers, Handsome Girls, Fredmannscurve, Quintana, Duke/James, Matt Surowiec, the Questionnaires, the Jim Cream Band, Knives, Theresa Quinn, Raunchy Sex, Thirsty Blues Band, the Ignitors, Charr Savage & Riff Raff, Concubine, and Jim McLaughlin have already been spoken for. Visit www.ARTVOICE.com to see the full line-up of bands and their playlists.

—av

9pm. Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / www.nietzsches.com)

Friday, June 26th

All About Eve

BUA will present a radio version of All About Eve on Friday (June 26) at the BUA Theater as a fundraiser for the company. All About Eve is on everyone’s list of favorite American films of all time. The screenplay for the 1950 classic was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, based on the short story The Wisdom of Eve, by Mary Orr. The film starred Bette Davis as Margo Channing, an aging Broadway star who is stalked by cunning Eve Harrington, an aspiring actress who poses as a devoted fan in order to insinuate herself into Channing’s life. In her sociopathic efforts to seize Broadway stardom for herself, Eve attempts to undermine both Margo’s career and her personal relationships. Eve was played by Anne Baxter. The film was nominated for 14 Academy Awards (a record at the time) and won six of them, including Best Picture. For the BUA reading, Jimmy Janowski will play Margo Channing and Kelly Ferguson will play Eve. The reading will also feature Brian Riggs and Darryl Hart, with Mary Loftus in the Thelma Ritter role, Lisa Ludwig in the Celeste Holm role, and Ludwig’s daughter, Cydney Kramer as Miss Caswell, the first important role created by Marilyn Monroe. Miss Kramer’s appearance marks her first performance with BUA since she starred as murderous Tina Penmark, opposite Jimmy Janowski in The Bad Seed, when she was still a child. This writer will play “noted theater critic Addison Dewitt.”—anthony chase

7:30pm. BUA Theater, 119 Chippewa (886-9239).$25.

Saturday, June 27th

Pseudo Slang Album Release Party

The new album We’ll Keep Looking is essentially a debut release for Pseudo Slang on the international heavyweight status which Fat Beats Records commands, and the buzz is already pinning the meters across the globe. An exclusive version of the album also was released in Japan in April 2009, so in short We’ll Keep Looking is a landmark album for Buffalo. To bring in the occasion of We’ll Keep Looking finally being released, we’ve kept looking for new spaces to bring you great events at, and we’ve found Burnwood Studios located at the corner of Niagara & Massachusetts Ave on Buffalo’s West Side. Eric Walker (PUSH) will be getting up to say a few words about current community initiatives and issues we should be aware of. It is also Lauren De Carlo’s birthday around the show, so bring her a gift (or at least a drink!) This event is a Benefit for PUSH (People United for Sustainable Housing) and PPG (Partnership for the Public Good) and it will feature Flying Bison’s magnificent “Rusty Chain,” sales of which benefit GO (Green Options) Buffalo. Pseudo Slang is Emcee Sick & Tone Atlas with DJ Cutler and Nick Zero. Dj LoPro, Ajent O, Loki da Trixta, and others make guest appearances at the show on Saturday (June 27).

—geoff kelly

Programs begin at 9am both days. Only selected events are open to the public. Visit www.buffalostate.edu or Buffalo State’s Bulger Communication Center (1300 Elmood Ave) for a conference schedule.

Sunday, June 27th

Jama Jama (Tree of Life)

On Saturday (June 27) at Merlins, Master drummer M’baye Diagne will bring his group Jama Jama (Tree Of Life) to perform at 8pm. M’baye is from Senegal and brings the culture of West Africa to everyone he meets. As a performer, artist, and teacher, he has toured the world from Trinidad to Disneyland. He has had art residencies at Muntu Dance center in Chicago and Arts in the Hood in Miami, amongst others. M’baye says his drumming has the power to heal (and lord knows Merlin’s can use some of that.) The band includes Jabriiil Carpenter on trumpet, Oscar Alston on bass, Marlowe Wright on drums, John Victor on guitar, Gaga on keys and of course M’baye on Vocals and djembe. It’s not often Merlin’s gets this caliber of an act so take advantage. It’s an all star line up. Jama Jama will have you jammin’. One love.

—baron von schtüpin

8pm. Merlin’s (727 Elmwood Ave, 886-9270)

Saturday, June 28th

Tibetan Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery

If you are looking for a spiritual road trip this weekend, head to Lily Dale. This Saturday (June 28) marks the start of a four-day visit by the Tibetan Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery. The monks will be holding several workshops highlighting their sacred rituals and traditions. The opening ceremony on Saturday morning will be a visually and acoustically striking event where the monks will consecrate the site where they will create a sand Mandala. For three days they will painstakingly paint intricate designs with millions of grains of colored sand. It is an amazing process to watch. In the closing ceremony on Tuesday (June 30), it will all be swept away, symbolizing the impermanence of all that exists. The colorful sand will then be carried in a procession to a flowing body of water where it is poured to disperse healing energies. On Saturday evening there will be an opportunity to experience sacred dance and music. The monks are renowned for their multiphonic chanting. Robed in magnificent costumes, they will also perform ancient temple music and dancing for world healing. Events have varying admissions fees. Opening and closing ceremonies have limited space, so advance reservations are suggested.

—rose mattrey

Lily Dale Assembly, 5 Melrose Park, Lily Dale, NY (www.lilydaleassembly.com / 595-8721)

Sunday, June 29th

The Germs

You’ve heard the expression “art imitates life”, but in the case of the Germs, art can also become life. In the biographical film, What We Do Is Secret, actor Shane West was cast in the roll of former Germs front man Darby Crash. By the following year, West found himself as the new lead singer in the re-formed version of the legendary LA punk band. The Germs were huge on the LA punk scene back in the late seventies, and even though they only released one studio album, they influenced many alternative bands to come. The band broke up shortly before Darby Crash’s suicide by heroin overdose in 1980—an act which cemented Crash as a rock legend but which was largely eclipsed by the murder of John Lennon on the following day. Crash managed to bring the band back together for one last show four days before his death. Many called it the best show they ever played. Later, Germs guitarist Pat Smear would go on to join Nirvana and then the Foo Fighters.T he re-formed Germs, with Shane West have been touring since 2006. This Sunday (June 28) they will perform at Mohawk Place along with Krum Bums and The Rabies.

—rose mattrey

9pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk Pl. (855-3931 / www.mohawkplace.com). $16/advance at Tickmaster or Spiral Scratch Records.