Buffalo NY Best of WNY Band, Music and Entertainment Event News

We return on Saturday May 21, 2011 for a fundraiser event in which you are all invited to come out and help the cause. Proceeds of this event go to help "WINGS Flights of Hope", Lackawanna D.A.R.E. and local charities. This is event is sponsored by the South Shore Rotary Club of Blasdell Lackawanna. The event is a Chinese Auction, a $25 donation is required for admission and that will include food, beer and wine. Call Kevin Georger at 716.848.3823 or Gene Paolini 716.824.7078 for ticket information. The event will be held at The Matthew Glab Post, 1965 Abbott Rd, Lackawanna, NY 14218 from 7pm to 11pm.

Please visit www.BackBeat64.com for up to date information.

NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Seneca Casinos will deliver an unprecedented level of excitement this summer to the Western New York, Southern Ontario, and Northern Pennsylvania and Ohio regions with “Summer Rush” – a package of world-class entertainment, promotions and special events during June through August.

Summer Rush takes place at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo and the new Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston. Just some of the many offerings include blockbuster concerts by Daughtry, Steve Miller Band, Melissa Etheridge, Martina McBride and more; expanded hours at the casino restaurants; and eye-opening promotions such as a cruise-a-day giveaway in August.

“The phrase ‘Summer Rush’ captures the compelling combination of activities throughout the Seneca properties,” said Jim Wise, senior vice president of marketing, Seneca Gaming Corporation. “We are the place to be for entertainment, action and excitement in the region, and I think we have a lineup that matches the fun of the summer months and will get people talking.”

- Entertainment -
Summer Rush features more than two dozen performances at the Events Center and Bear’s Den Showroom at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls as well as the Events Center at the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca.

Summer Rush debuts with Aretha Franklin’s return to the stage on Memorial Day weekend at the Seneca Niagara Events Center. Additional star-studded performers at the venue include Daughtry, Steve Miller Band, Paul Rodgers, Martina McBride and Jeff Foxworthy (two shows). The excitement also takes place at the Seneca Allegany Events Center this summer with The Guess Who, Kenny Rogers, Tom Arnold, Melissa Etheridge, Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson, and Ronnie Dunn. Each Events Center location seats up to 2,400 people with no seat further than 100 feet of the stage.

Entertainers at the Bear’s Den Showroom include Patti Austin, Tonic, Oh What a Night – A Tribute to Frankie Valli (two shows), Ninety Miles, Dave Mason, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, John McDermott, Daryl Stuermer Band, Leon Russell, The Association and Johnny Winter. The intimate venue seats up to 440 people with no seat further than 40 feet of the stage.

Tickets for shows at Niagara go on sale at 10 AM on April 28 (June shows), May 5 (July shows) and May 12 (August shows), while tickets for shows at Allegany go on sale at 10 AM on April 29 (June shows), May 6 (July shows) and May 13 (August shows). Starting prices for seats range from $20 to $65. Tickets will be available at all Seneca Casino box offices, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

- Promotions and Events -
Promotions during June include a boat and trailer giveaway at Seneca Allegany Casino, a $50,000 summer slot tournament with a $10,000 grand prize at Seneca Niagara Casino, and the Seneca Summer Shopping Spree at both casinos – offering guests the opportunity to purchase some of the summer’s hottest items and new technology using gaming points.

To kick off July, Seneca Allegany will host its extravagant fireworks display on Friday, July 1. The following evening, an equally-spectacular fireworks display will take place at Seneca Niagara. In addition, Seneca Niagara Casino will host a backyard makeover promotion with $30,000 in prizes throughout the month, such as patio sets, grills and Home Depot gift cards. On July 30, the Seneca Allegany Casino will offer a giveaway for two Sea-Doo watercrafts and a trailer. And throughout the month at all Seneca Casino properties, baseball fans will have opportunities to win fun promotional items and tickets to see games in Buffalo, New York and Boston.

The month of August features an unprecedented promotion throughout all three casinos: cruise giveaways. There will be a winner each day at Seneca Allegany and Seneca Niagara; a winner will be drawn each Sunday at Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.

- Special Offerings -
To match the expected high demand of food during Summer Rush, the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel will operate its new Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery co-branded dining outlet 24 hours a day, and its popular Asian restaurant Koi will be open for dinner seven days a week instead of five.

Golf fans who want to stay overnight at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel and play at Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course can enjoy a new package with discounted hotel rates. The course is enjoying its first full season of golf and was recently ranked No. 6 Best New Public Course in the U.S. by Golf magazine. Golfers will enjoy a just-opened clubhouse and restaurant.

Fans of Summer Rush should be on the lookout for an upcoming coupon book with $200 of savings toward retail, dining, golf and spa services. In addition, Seneca Casinos will be rolling out a partnership with nearby hotels throughout the regions that will provide hotel guests with casino vouchers, as well as a new savings card for use at Seneca Casino retail shops and at the Fashion Outlets in Niagara Falls.

And finally, amidst the adrenaline of Summer Rush, the 26-story hotel tower at Seneca Niagara Casino will quietly undergo its first renovation since opening on December 31, 2006. Each of the nearly 594 AAA Four Diamond Award-winning deluxe guest rooms and corner suites will receive a full cosmetic makeover with rich, warm and colorful contemporary accents for improved presentation, as well as new furniture and amenities. Construction will take place two floors at a time beginning in July and is slated for completion at the end of the year.

About Seneca Gaming Corporation
Seneca Gaming Corporation operates Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, NY, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, NY and Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston, NY on behalf of the Seneca Nation of Indians. Since opening Seneca Niagara Casino in 2002, Seneca Gaming Corporation has grown to employ more than 3,500 people at its three casino operations. The company operates world-class facilities offering more than 6,500 slot machines, 140 table games, 800 AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel rooms, a championship golf course and other related amenities. For more information, visit http://www.senecacasinos.com/.

SUMMER RUSH CONCERT SERIES AT THE SENECA CASINOS

Previously Announced

• Aretha Franklin - May 28th - 8:00PM - SNC Events Center SOLD OUT


• Patti Austin - June 4th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $50


• Dave Mason* - July 2nd - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $35
  *rescheduled from March 11

On Sale April 22 at Noon

• The Guess Who - June 4th - 7:00PM - SAC Events Center Starting at $20

On Sale April 28 at 10 AM

• Tonic - June 10th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $45


• Oh What a Night! June 18th - 3:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $25
  A Tribute to Frankie Valli


• Oh What a Night! June 18th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $25


• Daughtry June 23rd - 8:00PM - SNC Events Center Starting at $65


• Ninety Miles June 25th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $25

On Sale April 29 at 10 AM

• Kenny Rogers - June 19th - 5:00PM - SAC Events Center Starting at $25

On Sale May 5 at 10 AM

• Steve Miller Band - July 9th - 8:00PM - SNC Events Center Starting at $65


• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy July 16th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $35


• Paul Rodgers July 22nd - 8:00PM - SNC Events Center Starting at $35


• John McDermott July 23rd - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $40


• Daryl Stuermer Band July 29th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $35

On Sale May 6 at 10 AM

• Tom Arnold July 2nd - 7:00PM - SAC Events Center Starting at $20


• Melissa Etheridge July 16th - 7:00PM - SAC Events Center Starting at $30

On Sale May 12 at 10 AM

• Leon Russell Aug. 6th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $50


• The Association Aug. 13th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $45


• Martina McBride Aug. 19th - 8:00PM - SNC Events Center Starting at $65


• Johnny Winter Aug. 20th - 8:00PM - SNC Bear’s Den Starting at $35


• Jeff Foxworthy Aug. 27th - 7:00PM - SNC Events Center Starting at $30


• Jeff Foxworthy Aug. 27th - 10:00PM - SNC Events Center Starting at $30

On Sale May 13 at 10 AM

• Big & Rich Aug. 6th - 7:00PM - SAC Events Center Starting at $65
  with Gretchen Wilson


• Ronnie Dunn Aug. 28th - 5:00PM - SAC Events Center Starting at $35
  

Tickets are available at all Seneca Casino box offices, http://www.ticketmaster.com/, all Ticketmaster locations, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

First-Of-Its-Kind Contemporary Art Fair in Buffalo, NY To Be Held At Buffalo’s Central Terminal Buffalo, NY, April 13, 2011: echo: Art Fair, a new juried contemporary art event focused on emerging artists, is now accepting applications from galleries, nonprofits, and artists without gallery representation. The Art Fair will take place on July 9th, 2011 in Buffalo’s historic New York Central Terminal, an architecturally significant building that dates to 1929. Submission guidelines are available on the echo website, www.echoartfair.com/submission-guidelines.html. The deadline is midnight on Friday, May 13th and acceptances will be sent out by June 10, 2011. The mission of echo: Art Fair is to connect both first time and experienced art collectors with artists and galleries from Buffalo and beyond. The event will feature a wide selection of painting, photography, sculpture, print, works on paper, video and combined-media work. All works will be priced below $3,000. echo: Art Fair will be curated by a team of art experts and scholars, including: Cori Wolff, curator from Buffalo Arts Studio, Louis Grachos, Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Nina Freudenheim of Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Steven Biltekoff, collector, Sean Donaher, Executive Director & Curator of CEPA Gallery, Gerald Mead, collector and Frits Abell, founder of the Buffalo Expat Network (BEN). echo will be marketed to artists and art lovers alike living in Buffalo and neighboring cities such as Cleveland, Toronto, Rochester and Pittsburgh, as well as to those in New York City. Guests will be invited back for a dance party at the Terminal. The coordinators of echo: Art Fair include the Buffalo Expat Network (BEN), The Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo (ELAB), HandsOn Greater Buffalo and Hallwalls. Proceeds from the event will benefit the organizers of echo and the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation. “Buffalo is an amazing city with deep roots in the fine arts. The organizers of echo are excited to bring additional commercial opportunities to artists from Buffalo and beyond, and to provide a pioneering event for those who love fine art” said Frits Abell, founder of echo. “This will be a truly unique event.” echo: Art Fair seeks sponsors and partners for this event. For more information on echo: Art Fair, visit www.echoartfair.com or echo: Art Fair on Facebook.

"Christine" is our newest Lewis and Klark video from the studio. Featuring Bob Luterek on a Taylor T5 using a Roland Synth and Rich Kallay on a Martin steel string guitar. Visit http://www.lewisandklark.com/ for more music samples.

Venue: The Tralf Music Hall Venue address: 622 Main Street Buffalo NY Date: Thursday April 28th Time: doors at 7:00 p.m. / show at 8:00 p.m. Ticket price: $20.00 advance / $23.00 day of show On sale date: Available Now Tickets available at: www.ticketmaster.com 1-800-745-300, all ticketmaster locations, The Tralf Box office 852-2860 Venue website: www.tralfmusichall.com / www.esievents.com Reverend Horton Heat Recently, the Reverend Horton Heat, aka Jim Heath, had something along the lines of what he calls an epiphany. He's a little tired of being taken so seriously-well, maybe not seriously, exactly, but you get the idea-and lately he's noticed that some of his funnier, country-tinged songs were his biggest crowd pleasers. Besides, being entertaining is what this is all about, right? So, ladies and gents, roll your smokes up in your sleeve and hold on to your cowboy hats, it's time to take a trip back to a time before slick, over-produced country became the norm-a time when outlaws wrote songs about being without a pot to piss in-or at least about psycho exboyfriends and deadbeat girlfriends that spend your paycheck faster than you can say Lone Star. Welcome to Laughin' and Cryin' with the Reverend Horton Heat a record full of country-heavy tunes about bad habits, well-meaning but clueless husbands, ever-expanding beer-guts and, well, Texas. It wouldn't be a Reverend Horton Heat record without a song or-in this case, two-about the Lone Star State. And, while Laughin' and Cryin' marks a detour from the hard driving punkabilly of the Rev's last record, 2004's Revival, this time tending toward honk, there's still some shit-kickers ["Death Metal Guys"] to let you know that Heath and crew still mean business. "I really wanted to capture the feelings of recordings of the late '50s, early '60s," Heath said of the songs on the new record. Exhibit A: Beer Holder, a honky-tonker about a guy who finds the table by his chair a bit too far of a stretch-so he opts for a new "beer holder," his growing gut. While this guy finds his solution genius, his woman thinks otherwise. The problem once they got in the studio, however, "we wouldn't get that far because the guys were just laughing so hard. It was really kind of ridiculous." Without a doubt, the mighty Reverend has won a cult following around the world these past 20+ years with a nearly endless touring ethic and musical style that's equally as rooted in tradition as it is in breaking it. He's one of the lynchpins of the neoroots movement and responsible for moving the genre forward and garnering it a whole new generation of fans. Mix that with a mythic stage presence and you've got a live act that turns rock clubs into psychobilly tent revivals across the country 300 days a year. Heath, who personally loves good old, mid-20th century country music, cautions that the record was not born out of a desire to introduce his audience to a new set of influences-it's just meant to have a little fun. Besides, he warns, his next record may just be a set of "avant-garde versions of Swahili folk songs done on homemade instruments." "Never say never," Heath said. The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band may technically only be comprised of three people, but their name is no misnomer. Although the family-based act—which is comprised of fingerstyle guitarist Reverend Peyton, his wife and washboard player Breezy Peyton and drummer/brother Jayme Peyton—have only been around for three years, in that time period these country-blues aficionados from rural Indiana have played more than 250 shows annually and logged more miles on their van than most acts who have been around for a decade. “We end up playing with a lot of punk rock bands and any kind of roots acts from bluegrass to alt-country to rockabilly to you name it,” the Reverend himself answers when asked what a typical Big Damn Band performance is like, “we’ll play with anyone, really.” “His playing style melded the delicate elements of Mississippi John Hurt’s music, the vocal anguish and slash-and-burn acoustic slide styles of Charley Patton and Son House, the rebelliousness and everyman storytelling of folk icon Woody Guthrie, and a hint of Americana rock of the kind performed by Scarecrow era John Mellencamp, also an Indiana native.” -Will Romano, BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE While many bands in the country and traditional genres like to talk about their authenticity, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band have proved it by sacrificing everything in order to make the group a success. “We sold everything we owned in a big yard sale and just hit the road,” Peyton explains in his deep Hoosier drawl when asked how the band got rolling. “We started out doing just local stuff, then it started growing before we knew it, we’d sold five thousand copies of our demo record just out of our van,” he continues. “Then we made [2006’s] Big Damn Nation and thought, ‘Hell, let’s just do it and start traveling and see what happens’… and it’s been working. It’s a hard way to go, but I think that in this day and age it’s the way you gotta get your music out to people. Radio ain’t going to be playing us, you know what I mean?” Ironically, despite the fact that the Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band are influenced by country blues legends like Son House and Furry Lewis, they got a big break when the Irish rock act Flogging Molly decided to take them out on the road. “We played with Flogging Molly at a festival and they liked our set and told us they wanted to take us out on tour. I thought, ‘Oh man, they’re probably just pulling our leg or being nice to us,’ but they ended up taking us out with them. They said that they do to Celtic roots music the same thing that we do to old country blues: Write songs about things that are happening now and people we know, but kind of kick it up a little bit, you know?” This analogy is evident when listening to the band’s new full-length The Whole Fam Damnily, which was recorded at a church in Bloomington, Indiana, just down the road from where the band live. From the rowdy and rancorous opener “Can’t Pay The Bill” to melodic, slide-guitar-driven barnburner “Walmart Killed The Country Store” and heartfelt fingerstyle ballad “What’s Mine Is Yours,” the album is a timeless collection of songs that defies age and era—and pays homage to the band’s influences without imitating them. “We come from the same tradition that Charley Patton and Furry Lewis came from; they just took off with their instruments and went out into the world to see what would stick,” Peyton elaborates. “They sang about what they were going through in their time and we’re doing the same thing in ours.” Lyrically, The Reverend Peyton isn’t big on metaphor and symbolism, preferring to let people know exactly how he feels, whether he’s singing about being too poor to afford health insurance of just missing Mama Peyton’s fried potatoes. “All the songs I write are 100 percent true, I don’t make stuff up and I never have,” Peyton explains. (For instance, “Your Cousin’s On Cops” is about Breezy’s cousin being arrested near the Indianapolis 500.) “I feel like I got to directly be involved in a song,” he adds. “Maybe if I played a different genre of music I’d feel like I could get away with [making stuff up], but this style of music is too honest; you can’t lie to people because they’ll see right through it.” However above all, the stripped-down songs on The Whole Fam Damnily are meant to be performed live—and the band’s raucous shows have become the stuff of legend, with Breezy wearing clean through stainless steel washboards, the Reverend furiously picking like his strings are on fire and Jayme firing up the tempos with his kick and snare drum. “When folks go to see a band perform, they want to come out to see a show and that’s nothing new,” Peyton explains. “Charley Patton was playing with his teeth and behind his head in 1930; now people say that’s punk rock, but they’ve been doing that for a hundred years,” he summarizes. “I think country blues was the first punk rock if you ask me.”

THE TRALF MUSIC HALL 4/8 - 8pm - Greg Brown 4/9 - 6pm - UB's Spectacle of Sound THE BUCK (Formerly Buckin Buffalo) 4/8 -10pm - Jeremy Hoyle & The Strictly Hip 4/9 -10pm - Jeremy Hoyle & The Strictly Hip THE NINTH WARD (BABEVILLE, Lower Level) 4/7 - 8pm - Yukon Blonde 4/10 - 8pm - Morning Teleportation w/ The Tins CREEKVIEW RESTAURANT 4/9 - 830pm - Steve Padin 4/16 - 830pm - Vinnie DeRosa CENTER STREET SMOKEHOUSE 4/8 - 930pm - Steve Padin GLENN PARK TAVERN 4/10 - 3pm - Gretchen Schulz 4/17 - 2pm - The Doyle Brothers (of More Than Me) HARD ROCK CAFE 4/8 - 10pm - SuckerPunch MACAROONS 4/9 - 10pm - Suckerpunch SHENNANIGANS 4/9 - 10pm - Murphy's Law CRAZY JAKES 4/9 - 9pm - The A-List Band TABOO 4/8 - 10pm - Carl Motyka Band