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See You There!

Artvoice's weekly round-up of events to watch out for the week, including our editor's pick: Lee Harvey Osmond, playing the Sportsmen's Tavern on Thursday, February 11th.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our new and improved events calendar on-line for complete event listings, a location guide to find your way about the city, restaurant reviews, and more.

Lee Harvey Osmond

Thursday, February 11

On Thursday (Feb. 11), Tom Wilson and his musical outfit Lee Harvey Osmond will bring their brand of “acid folk” to the Sportsmen’s Tavern. The Hamilton, Ontario band plays desert border music, recalling late-career Dylan mixed with Nick Cave and a sprinkle of Johnny Cash, with steamy saxophones and wailing harmonica to boot. Wilson, a former member of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings and Junkhouse, sings in a hushed rasp—as if he might be thrown out of the bar for singing any louder. Lee Harvey Osmond was also founded by Wilson, Josh Finlayson (Skydiggers) and Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies). Their debut, A Quiet Evil, a concept album about the assassination of JFK, was recorded in five days and released in 2009 (Latent Records). The live band features Ray Farrugia, Cam Malcolm, Brent Titcomb, and Aaron Goldstein. This show is part of the Blue Light Border Cross Concert Series celebrating the musical bond between Canadian artists and the Queen City. Proceeds go to Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers, which promotes the preservation and protection of the Niagara river region. (Also in the series this week: Melting Pot at Pearl Street on Tuesday (Feb. 9) and the Waxbills at the Croc on Wednesday (Feb. 10).) Wilson will surely be in fine form at the Sportsmen’s: a blend of Charlie Manson and the devil, full of “tin can beer and liquor made with blue.”

—peter vullo

8pm. Sportsmen's Tavern, 326 Amherst St. (874-7734 / sportsmenstavern.com). $10

Friday, February 5

JFK/MSTRKRFT

JFK, half of the techno dance-punk duo MSTRKRFT, will be spinning records and crafting beats this Friday (Feb. 5), at Pure Nightclub on Chippewa. MSTRKRFT is the current creative outlet for former Death From Above 1979 bassist Jesse Keeler (a.k.a. JFK). After the demise of that band, Keeler combined with DFA1979 producer Alex Puodziukas—also known as AL-P—to create the dance party entity that is MSTRKRFT. In 2006 the duo released their first album, The Looks (Last Gang), which was full of thick modulating synth lines and Daft Punk-influenced vocoder vocalizations. Their 2009 followup, Fist of God (Dim Mak), stayed the course with similar tones and sounds, including plenty of phased-out guitar solos, and more cameos by artists such as John Legend and Ghostface Killah. Most casual listeners might recognize MSTRKRFT for their countless remixes—arranged in three volumes—of songs by bands including Wolfmother, Bloc Party, , Chromeo, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Locall Factory Nightlife DJs Kyle Moody, Jesse Aaron, and Lil’ Joe will warm up the crowd for what should be a wild and sweaty dance party in the middle of frosty Buffalo.

—cory perla

10pm. Pure Nightclub, 75 W. Chippewa (853-5555). $15-$18. Ages 18+

Sunday, February 7

Benefit For Haiti

Even before the earthquake in Haiti compounded and highlighted that country’s problems, there were people and organizations working hard to address the needs of poor Haitians. And those people and organizations will continue to work hard and long after the international community has turned its attention elsewhere. On Sunday (Feb. 7), El Buen Amigo hosts a benefit for one such organization: a health clinic 80 miles outside of Port au Prince that has been providing care, medicine, and food to earthquake survivors. The benefit—which runs 1-5pm, well before Super Bowl kickoff—featires music by Allassane Sarr, the Days Park Hot 5, John Gorman, Nelson Rivera, and more. Food will be provided by Lagniappes and the Niagara Cafe. One quarter of all sales at El Buen Amigo that day will be donated to earthquake relief. This is an easy—and fun—way to help those who are helping people in desperate need.

—geoff kelly

1-5pm. El Buen Amigo/Latin American Cultural Association, 114 Elmwood Ave (885-6343)

Monday, February 8

Ani Difranco with Gaby Moreno

Righteous Babe Records recording artist Ani DiFranco—who needs no introduction here—is returning to her home at Babeville for a performance on Monday (Feb 8, and she’s bringing with her singer Gaby Moreno. Moreno, who sings in both Spanish and English, plays the guitar as well. “My mom bought me this really cheap nylon string guitar when I was 14, and somehow I started figuring out Jimi Hendrix songs with it,” she says. Moreno, who hails from Guatemala, wrote the theme song to Parks and Recreation, which airs on NBC. Her song “Greenhorne Man” was featured on MTV’s The Hills and ABC’s Lincoln Heights and Ghost Whisperer. Moreno also won the 2006 Maxwell Song of the Year as part of the John Lennon songwriting contest for the song “Escondidos.” She originally toured with DiFranco in November and was so well received that DiFranco invited her back to tour again during the months of January and February.

samantha mcdonnell

7pm (doors). Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware (852-3835 / babevillebuffalo.com). $33.50 in advance/$38 at the door at Babeville box office, Tickets.com/888-223-6000, and Tops Markets

Wednesday, February 10

Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm: The Juke Joint Duo

If, indeed, the South will rise again, let it be musically and in the spirit of this biracial Ol’ Miss blues duo (born and raised in Mississippi and Missouri, respectively). Now based inf Mississippi, the Juke Joint Duo consists of drummer/vocalist Cedric Burnside, grandson of the late, great R.L Burnside, and guitarist Lightnin’ Malcolm. On their accurately titled album 2 Man Wrecking Crew (Delta Groove), it’s clear what makes this band so magnificent: They’ve managed to take traditional blues genres (hill-country, blue-moon, juke-joint, gut-bucket) and make it funky and refreshing without taking anything away from the music’s gritty roots. Audiences lucky enough to witness the band live will get a taste of the rhythmic and powerful sounds of classic Southern blues, then get hit with a punch of funk, a kick of hip-hop, and a whole lotta soul. The sound comes together perfectly, served in a grooving gumbo that hits you like a Mack truck. Lightnin’ and Burnside will be playing at the Lafayette Tap Room on Wednesday (Feb. 10).

—jeremy lee

8pm. Lafayette Tap Room, 391 Washington (854-2466 / lafayettetaproombbq.com)

Thursday, February 11

International Women's Film Festival

The 14th edition of the International Women’s Film Festival opens in fine form next Thursday (Feb. 11) with a revival of Daughters of the Dust, Julie Dash’s lovely, lyrical tone poem about an extended African-American family on one day in 1903. Descendants of slaves, they have lived for many years on an island off the coast of Georgia, an insulated place that has allowed them to retain their African traditions. Now they are preparing to leave for the mainland, a decision that confronts their memories with the possibility (and fears) of change. Lushy photographed in glowing colors, Daughters of the Dust will be projected from a 35mm print, so it’s well worth reviewing if you’ve only seen it on video. It will be accompanied by the animated short “Hair Piece: A Film for Nappy Headed People,” which examines how African-American women respond to Western standards of beauty through their hairstyles. Other films in the series, which runs Thursday evenings through March 25, include Samira Mahkmalbaf’s The Apple, the Mohawk film Club Native, XXY from Argentina, and the documentary The Heretics, presented by filmmaker Joan Braderman.

—m. faust

7pm, Feb 11-March 25. Market Arcade Film & Arts Center, 639 Main St. (genderin.buffalo.edu/filmfest.php). $9/general admission; $5 students, seniors, Hallwalls members.

Thursday, February 11

Dykes of Hazard Variety Show

Comedian Kristen Becker, in addition to “Doin’ Time” at the weekly Tuesday night comedy series at Nietzsche’s, for the past three years has been driving her Dykes of Hazard (DOH) comedy tour all over the country gathering audiences from Buffalo to Berkeley and everywhere in between. From big theaters to small bars, the Dykes of Hazard can entertain in any type of venue, in nearly any part of the country (well…within reason). Starting in 2010 Becker will reunite with former cohorts Ava La Fey, Jenny Wilson, and Karine Amato in a monthly variety show which is at once a blend of sketch comedy, standup, burlesque, and social satire. From local gossip to international headlines and political issues, the DOH is an intelligent mockery that skewers social taboos in a blend of humor and sexuality. It’s a provocative show, but hilarious and should become a quick hit. Each month will feature a musical guest, and this week brings local band the Manipulators.

—frances boots

8pm. Ninth Ward at Babeville, 431 Delaware Ave. (852-3835 / babevillebuffalo.com). $10