This week in concerts features a slew of interesting and iconic artists – there’s something for everyone. If huge stadium concerts aren’t appealing, then check out rapper K Camp or indie rockers Surfer Blood, playing at smaller, more intimate venues. And if music in general isn’t really your “thing,” then you can check out two comedians, Bianca Del Rio and Gabriel Iglesias, making their Buffalo debuts this week. Grab a friend, make some plans, buy tickets and get out to a show. Stevie Wonder is in town, there shouldn’t be any explanation necessary.
Monday, Nov. 16
Bianca Del Rio – 710 Main Street
The first concert on this list isn’t a musician, rather, a stage actor and comedian. Bianca Del Rio, a well-known drag queen, will be performing his comedy routine at 710 Main St on Monday. The comedian, primarily dealing with insult comedy, was crowned the winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2014, the first Hispanic winner of the series.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
K Camp – Town Ballroom
This up-and-coming Atlanta, Georgia rapper premiered on 2015’s XXL Freshman Class. Interscope Records released his music debut Only Way Is Up on Sept. 4. The rapper is not new to the industry, however. He has released 10 popular mixtapes, a primary reason he made XXL’s yearly up-and-coming list. K Camp, sure to explode in popularity over the next few years, will be a great show to see in Buffalo before he gains any more fame. Town Ballroom is always a treat, allowing the audience to get face-to-face with the artists performing.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Dopapod and the Nth Power – Tralf Music Hall
Dopapod, a jam band from Boston, and The Nth Power, a crooning soul band, will both be performing at the Tralf on Wednesday. Dopapod’s music is a combination of progressive rock and dance music, modernizing every one of their rock songs with hard bass and easily danceable grooves. The Nth Power is a groovy, jazzy band with raspy vocal choruses, lush guitar riffs and rhythmic percussions. A definite dance-the-night-away kind of concert, come out to see both bands perform mid-week.
Thursday, Nov. 19
Stevie Wonder – First Niagara Center
Stevland Hardaway Morris, known as Stevie Wonder, is one of the most famous musicians still alive today. He has received over 25 Grammy Awards for his pop music hits such as “Superstition,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Higher Ground.” Tickets, already sold-out for the Thursday show, were highly coveted, a rare, one-and-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Friday, Nov. 20
Papadosio – Town Ballroom
Athens, Ohio band Papadosio is a fusion of orchestra, electronic, psychedelic and acoustic – an odd mix of sonic ambience overlaid on top of the regular guitar-drum-bass combination. Its most recent album Extras In A Movie was funded through the crowd-sourcing site Kickstarter and released on Oct. 2. The band has stated on its website that it wishes for the album to be “enchanting” to listeners, able to give people music they can connect to. The group will be performing at the Town Ballroom on Friday.
Saturday, Nov. 21
Nate Ruess and Surfer Blood – Town Ballroom
The lead singer of fun. Nate Ruess will be coming to Town Ballroom alongside Surfer Blood on his tour as a solo artist. Ruess, who split from fun. in February 2015, said that he wanted to explore his own sound. His solo album Grand Romantic was released June 16, peaking at seventh on the Billboard charts. Surfer Blood, an alt-rock band from West Palm Beach, is accompanying the fun. lead singer on tour and bringing its own band of easy-going, reverbed-out surf rock to Buffalo. Both Ruess and Surfer Blood, pop and alt rock musicians on the verge of breaking into their respective mainstream music scenes, will be showing off their stuff on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Town Ballroom. The concert is for sure to satisfy any pop, indie or rock fans alike.
The Jacksons – Center for the Arts
The Jackson 5 is one of music’s most beloved pop super groups. The Jacksons will be performing at UB’s Center for the Arts as part of a Ronald McDonald charity concert on Saturday. Four of the original members – Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito – will be featured in the concert, which also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the family’s super group, as well as some Michael Jackson tribute songs. Don’t miss this chance to see another legendary musical group as they come through Buffalo this week.
Sunday, Nov. 22
Gabriel Iglesias – Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Comedy genius Gabriel Iglesias, also known by his stage name “Fluffy,” will be bringing his stand-up routine to Shea’s Performing Arts Center on Sunday. The comedian, born in San Diego, California, has led an industrious career in the TV world with his features on Nickelodeon and “Family Guy,” as well as his Comedy Central show “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution,” a showcase of up-and-coming comedians with Iglesias as host. Come out for a night of laughs at Shea’s on Sunday.
Brian Windschitl is the senior arts editor and can be reached at brian.windschitl@ubspectrum.com.
