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The
Best time to
be in WNY is:
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Feature
Web Site
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ELLICOTT
MANOR
16 Ellicott Place
Depew, New York 14043
(716) 684-5404
A Family owned and operated restaurant
serving the WNY area with pride since
1967.
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Featured
Buffalo
Bars
& Night Clubs
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The
Tralf Music Hall
622 Main Street
Buffalo
& WNY's top music venue featuring the best
bands & entertainment around. |
CLUB
PARADISE
3950
McKinley Parkway Inside the Clarion
Hotel Formerly the McKinley Park Inn
Buffalo and WNY's Number One Music and Dance Night
Club |
ELLICOTT
MANOR
16 Ellicott Place
Depew, New York 14043
(716) 684-5404
A Family owned and operated restaurant serving
the WNY area with pride since 1967.
|
THE
SUNSET GRILLE
3 O'Connell Island Wilson, NY
One of
the finest restaurants in WNY offering harbor
side dining. |
GRIFFINS
IRISH PUB
81 Abbott Rd
The Emerld
on Abbott Road. The place to hang out with good
friends in a great atmosphere. |
|
TUDOR
LOUNGE
335 Franklin St.
Proud
Supporter of Buffalo's Independent Bands &
Music
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THE
SPORTSMAN
RESTAURANT
located on Alleghany Rd. Sunset
Bay NY/U.S.A.
The best
Chicken Wings around can be found at the one and
only Sportsman Restaurant. |
SPORTSMENS
TAVERN
One of the
best places to see live music in WNY. |
MOHAWK
PLACE
check out some of the upcoming
shows at the Mohawk Place. |
THE
LAFAYETTE TAP ROOM
Bringing you the finest local and
national Blues acts. |
BROADWAY
JOE'S
3051 Main St. |
.
Best of WNY Gear Click
Here
Best of WNY.com
T shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, steins, mouse pads,
shorts, hats and more...
Best
of WNY |
BUFFALO/WNY
MOVIE TIMES AND THEATERS
|
WNY EVENTS, FAIRS AND
FESTIVALS
|
Allentown
Art Festival
June
14-15, 2008
11:00am - 6:00pm
Historic
Allentown District
886-4269 |
Attica
Rodeo
50th
Annual Rodeo
August
1-3 2008 |
Buffalo
Irish Festival
August
22-24,
2008
The
Grove at the Hamburg Fairgrounds |
Buffalo
Niagara Guitar
Festival
Various
sites throughout Buffalo Niagara
845-7156 |
|
Buffalo
River Fest
Jun
20-21 2007
Father Conway Park
Between Ohio & Louisiana Streets
|
Canalfest
July
13-20, 2008
Erie
Canal Banks, NT
692-3292 |
Children
First Festival
August
16- 17, 2008
Ellicottville, NU
1-888-856-9298 |
Eden
Corn Festival
July
31 - August 3, 2008
Eden
Legion Grounds
992-9141 |
Ellicottville
Jazz Festival
August
1 - 3, 2008
Throughout the Village
Ellicottville, NY 14731 |
Elmwood
Ave. Festival of the Arts
August
23-24
2008
Elmwood
Ave. (between West Ferry & Lafayette)
830-2484 |
Erie
County Fair
August
6-17 2008
Hamburg Fair Grounds
5600
McKinley Parkway
649-3900 |
Friendship
Festival
July
2-6 , 2008
Riverside
Park, Buffalo |
Genesee
County Fair
July
15 - 19, 2008
Batavia,
New York |
Gus
Macker Tournament
Jun
21 - 22, 2008
Niagara Square, Buffalo |
Hellenic
Festival
June
6 - 8, 2008
Hellenic
Church of Annunciation |
Historic
Lewiston Jazz Festival
August
22 - 24, 2008
476
Center St. Lewiston
754-9500 |
Italian
Food & Heritage Festival
Jul
17 - 20, 2008
Hertel
Ave. Buffalo
874-6133 |
Juneteenth
Festival
Jun
8 - 15, 2008
Martin
Luther King Jr. Park
Best
& Fillmore, Buffalo
845-7156 |
Kingdom
Bound Christian Music Festival
August
3 - 6, 2008
Six
Flags Darien Lake Theme Park
1-800-461-4485 |
Letchworth
Arts & Crafts Show & Sale
October
11, 12 & 13, 2008
Highbanks
Recreation Area Letchworth State Park |
Lewiston
Artfest
August
9 - 10, 2008
Church
Street, Lewiston |
Music
is Art Festival
Erie
County Fair Grounds |
|
National
Buffalo Wing Festival
August
30 - 31, 2008
Dunn Tire Park
275
Washington St. Bflo.
565-4141
|
Orleans
County 4-H Fair
July
21 - 26, 2008 |
Pirate
Fest
JULY
26 & 27, 2008
EVANGOLA STATE PARK, OLD LAKE SHORE RD., BRANT,
NY |
Polish-American
Festival
Cheektowaga
Town Park
Harlem
Rd. Cheektowaga
668-3938 |
Polish
Heritage Festival
May
30, 31 & June 1, 2008
Hamburg Fairgrounds |
6TH
ANNUAL RALLY IN THE VALLEY
August
15th-17th, 2008
Bradner Stadium, Olean, NY |
ROYCROFT
SUMMER FESTIVAL
Roycroft Campus, Main St., East Aurora |
Scottish
Festival & Highland Games
August
16, 2008
3755
Tonawanda Creek Rd.
Amherst
689-1440 |
Shakespeare
in Delaware Park
Delaware
Park, Buffalo
515-3960 |
Sterling
Renaissance Festival
July
12 - August 17, 2008
10:00am - 7:00pm
Located 1 hour north of Syracuse in Sterling,
NY |
Summer
Festival of the Arts
Jul 3 - 6, 2008
Village
of Ellicottville and
Holiday Valley Resort
1-800-349-9099 |
Taste
of Buffalo
July
12 - 13, 2008
Main
Street, DT Buffalo
1-866-562-0134 |
|
Taste
of Ellicottville
Aug
9 - 10, 2008
Throughout the Villiage
Ellicottville, NY
|
Thursday
at the Square
Lafayette
Square
Main
& Court St. Buffalo
856-3150 |
Toyfest
East
Aurora, NY
687-5151 |
Williamsville
Old Home Days
July
8 - 11, 2008 |
Quaker Arts
Festival
Orchard
Park Middle School
West
Quaker Rd. & Lincoln St. Orchard Park
677-ARTS |
Register
Your Domain
|
Entertainment
In WNY
Tralf Music Hall - 622 Main St. - 716-852-2860
ext.1#
|
Willie
Nile
-The Tralf-Buffalo, NY
6-13-09-
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Concert
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
All
though he now resides in New York City and his
music has taken him literally all over the world
Willie Nile remains a Buffalonian at heart.
His hometown concerts have turned into triumphant
celebrations of family, friends and fans. His
most recent appearance at The Tralf in Downtown
Buffalo on June 13th, 2009 was no different.
His now regular band for these home town shows
is The Brothers Band a collection of Nile's
family and outstanding local musicians consisting
of Tim Noonan, Tom Noonan, Chris Knab, Eric
Apen, Steve Barik and John Honan. Special guests
joining the band for a couple of numbers this
evening were Bob Fera and Don Tomasula. The
nearly sold out crowd were treated to a number
of new tunes from Nile's outstanding new CD
House of a Thousand Guitars. Kicking off the
show with the title cut from the new disc the
band steered right into "Run" also
from the new CD. Next were three favorites from
the Nile canon "Asking Annie Out",
"She's So Cold" and his early masterpiece
"Vagabond Moon". A cover of the Who's
"Substitute" got the crowd going as
did "Give Me Tomorrow" and a swaggering
"Doomsday Dance" the latter two tracks
from the new disc. "Golden Down" a
brilliant composition from his early oeuvre
but seldom played in his regular sets came next.
The song appears to be a regular only for hometown
gigs as he
has played it at previous shows. Nile took a
seat at the piano for a couple of acoustic numbers
"The Crossing" from the Martin Scorsese
movie Gangs of New York and "Yesterday's
Dreams" from his disc Places I Have Never
Been. The one two punch of "Hard Times
in America" and "Cell Phones Ringing"
came next followed by "You Gotta Be a Buddha"
and "Heaven Help the Lonely" before
closing the set with "Magdalena" another
outstanding song from the new CD. Nile and the
band returned for an encore to thunderous applause
from the crowd and tore thru a medley of "Blitzkrieg
Bop", "California Sun" and "Sheena
Is A Punk Rocker" before calling it a night
with "Little Light" and "Police
on My Back". Nile a member of the Buffalo
Music Hall of Fame is the consummate rock performer
and truly Buffalo's prodigal son. For more information
about Willie Nile go to www.willienile.com and
for more information about the great lineup
of upcoming shows at The Tralf go to www.tralfmusichall.com.
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Tragically
Hip
-Artpark- Lewiston, NY
June 2nd, 4th, 5th & 6th, 2009-
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Concert
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com

The
Tragically Hip laid siege to Artpark in
Lewiston, NY for a four night stand on June
2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th. A favorite venue of the
band they have played there more than a half
dozen shows in the last three years. All four
of these shows sold out almost instantly necessitating
the opening of lawn seats for the Friday and
Saturday night shows. The band is currently
touring behind their brilliant new release We
Are The Same and all four shows were unique
in song selection and performance. Here is a
recap of each night's show.
-Tuesday
June 2nd-
The large doors are closed that open to the
lawn seating creating a somewhat intimate setting
as the band kicks off the first set with a rousing
"The Depression Suite" from the new
CD before ripping into "Family Band"
and "Gift Shop". The band seems tentative
however and plays rushed versions of "New
Orleans is Sinking" and "Lonely End
of the Rink". The second set opening acoustic
numbers include a beautiful run thru "Fiddler's
Green" and "Ahead by a Century".
Highlights from the second set include a stunning
"Nautical Disaster", "Morning
Moon" and "Grace Too". The two
song encore features "The Dark Canuck"
and "Little Bones".
-Thursday
June 4th-
The doors remain closed tonight also and the
band seems to be settling in to the comforts
of Artpark. Again tonight and for the entire
four night stand the highlight will be the material
from the new CD. The triple shot opening of
"Love is a First", "The Drop
Off" and "Courage" nearly blow
the doors open. A rarely played "Daredevil"
shows up in homage of the proximity to Niagara
Falls. While "Frozen in My Tracks"
and "Morning Moon" show the strength
of the new material. The band nails "Fifty
Mission Cap" to close the first set. Tonight's
acoustic set features the crowd favorite "Bobcaygeon".
Once again "The Depression Suite"
sounds great and the band deals out killer versions
of "Poets" and "Fully Completely"
before closing with "Locked in the Trunk
of a Car". Tonight's encores are "It's
a Good Life if You Don't Weaken" and "Blow
at High Dough".
-Friday
June 5th-
The doors to the lawn are opened and the large
crowd is bursting with anticipation as the band
hits the stage. Gord Downie acknowledges the
lawn crowd and the now open spacious venue.
The entire first set is simply jaw dropping.
They kick off with "Honey, Please"
from the new CD and continue with "Yer
Not The Ocean", "Gift Shop",
"Morning Moon" and "Ahead by
a Century" before coming up for air. Gord
dedicates the next number "The Dire Wolf"
to local music legend Bruce Moser who missed
the shows due to health concerns. They follow
that with "Speed River" and finally
bust out "At the Hundredth Meridian"
to the crowds frenzied response. "Love
is a First" and "In View" follow
before a first set closing "The Depression
Suite". Second set includes acoustic versions
of "Boots or Hearts", "Flamenco"
and "Scared". A blistering "Poets",
"Pigeon Camera", "Courage"
and "Grace Too" prove to be second
set crowd pleasers as well. "My Music at
Work" closes the set and the two song encore
is "Now the Struggle Has a Name" and
"New Orleans is Sinking". Except for
the idiot who managed to get on stage during
the first set, Friday night's show was far and
away the best of the four night stand. Oh and
the idiot who jumped on stage? He was tackled
from the stage to the floor of the crowd by
the band's guitar tech and the security crew
promptly put a head lock on him and escorted
him from the venue. What a jerk he missed a
great show.
-Saturday
June 6th-
The band wraps up the four night stand with
a somewhat subdued performance. The lawn doors
are open again and the large crowd seems to
enjoy the beautiful evening. The new material
will again be the highlight of the show as the
band opens with "The Last Recluse".
"Coffee Girl", "Morning Moon"
and "Love is a First" from the first
set stand out also. Other first set highlights
include "Twist My Arm", "It Can't
Be Nashville Every Night", "At the
Hundredth Meridian" and "Bobcaygeon"
before closing with "Tiger the Lion".
The second set acoustic numbers include "The
Bear", "Fireworks" and "Wheat
Kings". Other songs of note from the second
set include "Yawning and Snarling",
"The Inevitability of Death", "Nautical
Disaster", "Springtime in Vienna"
and "Little Bones" Tonight's encores
are "Frozen in My Tracks" and "Blow
at High Dough".
Truly
the Tragically Hip's four night stand at Artpark
will go down as one of the more memorable concert
experiences in the annals of Western New York
music history. Lots of thanks to go around here
including Jenn and Bernie at Bernie Breen Management,
Mark Vreeken from The Hip for the set lists
and hospitality, Donnie and Artie at Funtime
and of course Bruce Moser. For more on the Tragically
Hip check out www.thehip.com
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A
Conversation with
Tony Levin
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By
Rich Kallay
rich@bowny.com
Massachusetts
born bass player extraordinaire Tony Levin and
his band Stick Men will take the stage on June
20th at the Tralfamadore Cafe. I recently had
the pleasure to talk with Tony after returning
home from Europe and gearing up for the States.
RK-
How would you describe your band Stick Men?
TL- Stick
Men is a fun band for us, and quite an unusual
one. First, of course, there is the unusual
and versatile instrument, the Chapman Stick.
Pretty rare to have two in one group - then
add in Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson's drummer)
and his electronic looping and percussion in
addition to the regular kit - and you have a
lot of options that are different from what
bands usually do. Pat and I, having been together
in King Crimson for the last 15 years, have
a tight bond together and similar approach to
making our music progressive - always trying
new approaches. And Michael Bernier, a Kingston
based Stick player, has a very different approach
to the instrument than any of the world's Stick
community - playing it with bow, and other techniques
he's developed on his own.
We do a variety of
music in the live show - some brand new (from
our upcoming cd) some from my last release ("Stick
Man") and of course, some Crimson material.
Many nights we try some improvs too.
We've just come back
from 26 shows in Europe, so we're playing tight
and I think we have our own sound and approach.
Hopefully makes for an exciting, unique night
of music.
RK-Who or what
inspired you to take up the upright bass at
age 10?
TL- Don't really
know what it is about the bass that appealed
to me, but I liked it at a very young age, and
amazingly after many years, I still really enjoy
just playing the bass.
RK- Who are
you listening to these days?
TL- Sleeptime
Gorilla Museum is my favorite group, and quite
a large influence lately. Listening to Stravinsky
a lot, because I want to record a few movements
of the Firebird Ballet Suite for the upcoming
Stick Men CD.
RK- Are there
any difference's between Europe and the United
States when it comes to touring?
TL- Tons of
difference. First of all, touring with a big
act (like Peter Gabriel, or to some extent King
Crimson) is very different than touring with
Stick Men, or my band, or the California Guitar
Trio, whom I join a lot on the road. The difference
is between van travel and planes or band bus.
And the venue is where you'll spend a lot of
your day - big difference between a rock club
and an arena with more food backstage than we
have in our houses.
But to get to your
point, my small projects are better attended
in Europe than in the States, especially in
Italy and Germany. That means I can do more
shows, closer together, than here. It's partly
the following but partly the economics of clubs,
and what they need to do to stay in business
- so they pay us less here in the States, and
the distances (van and gas costs) are bigger
- I'd love to do the old 6 weeks tours across
the country, but alas, it's become more practical
to do one region at a time.
Check
out Tony's web site http://tonylevin.com.
He keeps a great road diary as well as photo's,
video, music, tour dates and a link to Papa
Bear Records where you can purchase any Tony
Levin merchandise and music.
And make sure you pick
up your tickets to see Tony Levin with Stick
Men at the Tralf on June 20th. A true American
music icon..
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Van
Der Graaf Generator
The Tralf - June 29th
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Concert
Preview - By Rich Kallay
rich@bowny.com
Just
when I thought that the summer concert schedule
was going to be a bust, I see the Tralf's June
lineup with the unpredictable and very progressive
English band Van Der Graaf Generator. Here is
the band that started it all and implanted that
progressive rock nerve in most of us from that
era. They were the 1st prog rock band to sign
with Charisma records back in 1968. They were
at the forefront of the progressive music scene
along with King Crimson and Pink Floyd.
After re-uniting
in 2005, the current line up consists of Peter
Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans. They have
not played the States as a group since New York
City in October of 1976. They achieved most
of their success in Europe and never had the
proper record company backing to make it in
the States.
I saw them at
Massey Hall in Toronto that same month and still
have them on my list of best concerts ever....
This is a show that should not be missed simply
for their achievements in progressive music.
Open with the Strawbs and you have one very
interesting evening of music. Also check out
Tony Levin's Stickmen on June 20th. Great job
over at The
Tralf booking these two great shows.
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LOCAL
CD REVIEWS
By
Bob Silvestri
|
|
The
Headers
-Don't Be Talkin' Smack-
|
CD
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
One
of the area's premier bands, The Headers, has
released a new CD Don't Be Talkin' Smack a twelve
song collection of vintage rockabilly style music
with a modern update. An amalgam of rock, blues
and jazz the band (Bobby Lebell-guitars, Scott
Freilich- upright bass and Dan Stoll-drums) redefines
the style of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and others
from the early days of rock and roll. All band
members are consummate musicians, Lebell and Freilich
are members of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame
and Lebell was recently honored as the top notch
guitarist he is when Gretsch Guitars named him
one of their endorsed guitarists a prestigious
and deserving honor for him. That endorsement
obviously inspired him to write the leadoff track
from the disc "Brand New Gretsch Guitar"
where he shows off those guitar chops. "Ragtop
Daddy", the title cut "Don't Be Talkin'
Smack", the Elvis inspired "Crazy, Crazy,
Crazy", a choice cover of the classic "Sandman"
and the jaunty ode to love "You Lift Me Up"
are all outstanding tracks. Special guest Ray
Hangen adds drums to "Bun in the Oven"
and "Offa My Mind". Check out www.theheaders.com
for more information about the band and their
new release Don't Be Talkin' Smack. |
|
WBFO
Gives Me The Blues -Volume 6-
|
|
CD
Review - By Bob
Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Volume
six in the continuing series titled WBFO Gives
Me The Blues has been released from the folks
at WBFO. Always big supporters of the local
music scene this disc serves up ten cuts from
some of the outstanding blues bands grinding
it out on the local music scene. Buffalo Music
Hall of Fame members John Brady and Doug Yeomans
turn in "Cold-Hearted Woman" and "Restless
Man" respectively. Two of the areas most
respected guitar players Maria Aurigema and
Mark Winsick also contributed on this one, Aurigema's
"Love is Like" and "Grew Up Lonely"
from Winsick. Other tracks of note include "Leavin'
Time' from Rod Nickson and "Battle-Ax"
from Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars. For
more info go to www.wbfo.org/blues
|
WBFO
On The Border-Volume 1-
|
CD
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
A
nice nineteen song compilation from the highly
regarded live On The Border concert series from
WBFO 88.7 FM has been released featuring some
of the outstanding talent in Western New York.
Dee and the Housecats does an outstanding "Pennsylvania"
and Brian Wheat is spot on with the track "If
Memory Serves" The incredible Noa Bursie
does a beautiful rendition of "Sweet William"
and The Skiffle Minstrels kick up some dust with
"All Night Diner". Other keepers here
include "BSF" from the always adventurous
Sleeping Kings of Iona, "Days Go By"
from Floozie and Here Come The Comets with "Problems".
For more information about WBFO's On The Border
series go to www.wbfo.org/border
|
|
Inlite
-Canpous-
|
CD
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Hailing
from Grand Island the band Inlite has been making
a buzz for themselves in the last year and has
capped it off with their new EP Canopus. The band,
Lee Becker-keyboards/vocals, Griffin Smith-guitar/vocals,
Jordan Dixon-vocals/guitar, Josh Little-drums/vocals
and Nick Kelly-bass/vocals, have played at many
Battle of the Bands and live shows that earned
them a performance at last summer's Music is Art
Festival that wowed the crowd. With an affinity
for skinny ties and 80's British synth pop music
and vocals the band should have a bright future.
All five tracks, "Brightest Star", "Cascade",
"Cut and Dried", "Your Place"
and "Love We Send" are all finely crafted
smart songs. Be sure to check out www.myspace.com/Inlite
for more information. |
Mayday
-Crash Landing-
|
CD
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Here
is a young band that realizes the value and importance
of writing a good song filled with hooks, meaningful
lyrics and memorable melodies. Mayday whose members
are Loren Kelley (Guitar) Michael Wolcott (Vocals,
Guitar) Mike Wach (Bass) Brian Theobalds (Drums)
fuse elements of pop, blues, a touch of metal
and alternative, a little British Invasion along
with some swagger for pleasant results. "Quicksand"
starts the seven song disc with a nice guitar
intro, hook and catchy chorus; "Everything
to Everyone" has a hard Nirvana guitar riff
melded with the pop chops of the Goo Goo Dolls.
The band shows their tender side with a couple
of nice acoustic numbers "Captain" and
"Square One". With a little more polish
Mayday could be one of the better up and coming
local bands on the scene. Check them out at www.myspace.com/maydaybuffalo
|
P.J.
Lorenzo
-Bittersweet-
|
CD
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Ex-Skyhigh
member P.J. Lorenzo has released another solo
disc this one titled Bittersweet. The disc has
a classic rock feel with obvious Beatles and Beach
Boys influences and was recorded by Lorenzo over
the last two years at Select Sound Studios. He
also handled most of the instruments with help
from Mike Lorenzo on bass and Doug Field on drums
and a few guests as well. No slouch on the fret
board, Lorenzo can soar like David Gilmore, play
cool licks ala Clapton or get slinky like Mark
Knopfler. Check out the instrumental track "But
I Still Got My Guitar", the Coldplay like
"An Apology For a Princess" with some
nice piano from Matt Young and Big Star's "I'm
in Love With a Girl" originally written by
Alex Chilton with a rewrite from Lorenzo. Other
tracks to consider include "An Open Letter
To Me", "8 of Swords" and "Drowned".
You can find out more about P. J. Lorenzo by going
to www.pjlorenzo.com |
Willie
May
-Alone - Solo Acoustic-
|
CD
Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Longtime
veteran of the local blues scene Willie May has
returned with another disc this titled Alone-Solo
Acous | |