Pride Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, June 6th & 7th

Pride Weekend is upon us, and this year’s theme—“Out Is In”—is as timely as the day’s headlines: In Albany this week, the governor and Democrats in the State senate are pushing to bring same-sex marriage to a vote before the legislative session ends this month. A whole slate of LGBT-friendly legislation is creeping forward in New York, even as Californians regress. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, it’s Pride weekend: time to march. The rainbow flag will be raised in Niagara Square on Friday morning; the dykes sally forth from Elmwood and Utica at 7:30pm Saturday (lineup at 7:15pm); and the main event, the full-fledged Pride Parade, sets out from the parking lot of Belmont Shelter, at Main and Dodge Streets, at 1pm (lineup at 11am). Scholar and activist Madeline Davis—a founding member of both the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier and Lesbians Uniting—serves as grand marshal this year. The all-day festival on Bidwell Parkway features performances by (among others) Doria Roberts, Tom Goss, KeKe Valasquez Lord, Fanta-see Island, Vanity Vogue, Judith Ayers, and the Stamplickers. Loraine O’Donnell and John Borsa return as emcees. There’s good guide to Pride-related events around town at www.outcomebuffalo.com. Get out there, Buffalo.

—geoff kelly

7pm Friday; 11 am Saturday. Various locations. Contact 559-3800 or www.pride-buffalo.org

Friday, June 5th

Grant Hart

As one third of Hüsker Dü— the ‘80s most important and ever-influential acts— Grant Hart was something of a triple threat: a killer drummer who ably shouldered half of the songwriting and singing duties with his guitar-playing foil Bob Mould. Friday is a rare chance to see Hart up close and acoustic as his spring tour makes a local stop at an unlikely venue. Mixing old favorites from the Hüsker days, the all too short-lived Nova Mob, and his solo work, Hart will be playing songs from his forthcoming album Hot Wax (Con D’or Records) due out this month. Almost as intriguing as the chance to see Hart is the setting for the show. Marty Boratin and his wife Susan Tanner are practically omnipresent in the Buffalo music scene. Boratin has been hosting bands and putting on shows for years while hard-earning a reputation as the “known-it-all” record store guy. Tanner is a seasoned music business vet, including over a decade here in the Queen City helping to guide Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records. Now the pair are opening up their lovely spread in Hamburg for intimate shows set across a woodsy backdrop. In addition to this Friday’s show (June 5) with Hart, they have a date scheduled with celebrated American Music Club singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel on July 24, among others.

—donny kutzbach

For more info, contact Marty Boratin at 716-812-4671

Friday, June 5th

Psycho Beach Party

It’s Stripteasers frontwoman Madina Madis’ Dirty 30th Birthday Party this Friday (June 5), and the ‘Teasers are celebrating it with a “Psycho Beach Party” at Nietzsche’s, along with special guests the Irving Klaws and the Stamplickers (you’re all invited, too). They may not be trucking in any sand or sunshine, but rest assured there will be bikinis (or otherwise scantily-clad females), burlesque, and all kinds of birthday fun. Plus the usual comedy, music, subversive theater, and hilarious shock-treatment we expect from Buffalo’s favorite Burlesque troupe. The addition of the Irving Klaws (“a trio of psychotic, hard rocking maniacs”) and the Stamplickers should round out this murder-mystery/birthday bash extravaganza quite well.

10pm. Nietszche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / www.nietzsches.com)

Sunday, June 7th

Meat Puppets

Is it really possible that the Meat Puppets have been around for nearly 30 years? Yes, there have been a couple extended breaks, but Curt and Cris, the Kirkwood brothers, are currently carrying on the legacy of one of America’s most influential underground acts with a tour in support of their brand new release Sewn Together (Megaforce). During their storied career, the legendary SST band gained a legion of fans ranging from Kurt Cobain to Stone Temple Pilots, in large part due to their iconoclastic approach and refusal to settle into a neatly defined genre. Quickly tired of the hardcore scene, the group branched off in the direction of country and Byrdsian folk rock with a dose of psychedelia tucked boldly in cheek. Commercially, the band peaked with 1994’s Too High to Die, which earned them gold record status with sales of over 500,000. Having survived awesome chapters of substance abuse that claimed the lives of some of their inner circle, the ‘Pups are something of a miracle to behold, and listening to their great new tunes one gets the sense that their creativity is still somehow happily on an upward trajectory. Don’t miss this rare chance to catch them on Sunday (June 7) in the intimate setting of Buffalo’s staunchest independent music venue, with cool opening act the Gospel Retribution Choir.

—buck quigley

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

Sunday, June 7th

Superjam 2009

This Sunday the WNY Blues Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to unite, educate, promote, and inform the blues community of Western New York, will hold its annual Superjam fundraiser. The event includes eight hours packed with great blues music, food, and booze. This years line up will include great local artists such as The Rod Nickson Project (pictured), Barbara St. Clair, Mark Winsick, Beautiful Bones, Dr. Z, Harmonica Dean & Jukebox Scales, Patti Parks Blues Band, Flyin Blind, Shaky Ray, Speedy Parker Blues Band, Tas Cru, Earl Foster & Jeff Lindner, Danny Gambino, Ray Barry, Boneshakers Blues Band, the Bravuras, and the Paulie Blues Band. This event will occur rain or shine and is sure to provide great fun for those who only dabble in the blues and dedicated fans alike.

—justin sondel

1pm. Creekside Grove, William & Union Sts., Cheektowaga $12/advance (www.wnyblues.org) or 415 at door.

Tuesday, June 9th

Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad

Let’s hear it for Nice Jewish girls Gone Bad (NJGGB), an all-female comedy ensemble formed just 5 years ago, that, in their own words, “has been schticking it to the man since 2003.” A no holds-barred revue, the show is a mix of music, comedy, spoken-word, performance art, and burlesque which boast members who’ve appeared on Comedy Central, HBO, and Late Night TV. Combining Jewish tradition with progressive and transgressive humor, this is a special treat for Nietszche’s Tuesday nights, which have been devoted to comedy with a feminist bent since Kristin Becker started hosting them years ago. They call this “Faster, Pussycat in the Borscht Belt.” Take that as you will.

8pm Nietzsche’s (248 Allen St. / www.nietzsches.com). $10 advance at www.brownpapertickets.com or $12 at door

Tuesday, June 9th

Trampled by Turtles

If you’ve ever witnessed a Trampled By Turtles performance, chances are that you have never forgotten the experience. Hailing from Duluth, Minnesotta, Trampled By Turtles are a hellraising bluegrass band that adheres to the genre’s traditons while simutaneously breaking them. While they list the common bluegrass legends as influences on their music, they also add artists as diverse as Townes Van Zant, Wu-Tang Clan, and Talking Heads. Either way, it is true, honest ,and sincere music that is unlike anything else. Trampled By Turtles truly excel in a live setting. They’ll have you hootin’ and hollerin’ during one song and cryin’ in your beer the next. And by their own admission, the more whiskey they drink, the faster they play. They’ll performon Tuesday, (June 9), with Flatbed opening the show.

—eric boucher

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