"Fake Problems, Real Music"
There are two foolproof ways to beat the frigid Buffalo winter: Florida sunshine and punk music. Fake Problems combines both of these cures and delivers it directly to the listener's ear buds.
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There are two foolproof ways to beat the frigid Buffalo winter: Florida sunshine and punk music. Fake Problems combines both of these cures and delivers it directly to the listener's ear buds.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, so make sure you have plenty of money or else the spirit of Christmas might be lost on you.
Artist: Kid Cudi
Channel: TBS
The floors of HSBC Arena were covered in Natty Ice cans, Birkenstocks and Kan Jam discs on Tuesday night as fans waited in anticipation for the "bro-gods," the Dave Matthews Band.
There aren't too many reasons why a place would ever want to be compared to New Jersey. Case in point: last week's episode of South Park. But like New Jersey, Buffalo has a knack for producing great musicians.
The set lights are set up perfectly, the instruments are tuned, and the iconic Hall and Oates record is propped up on the amp. The Gaslight Anthem is ready to take the stage.
Am I the only one that is bored with this polarization in politics?
Artist: Fake Problems
Grade: B+
Channel: FX
In the City of Angels, where guys with acoustic guitars are more abundant than Yankees hats on Long Island, one man has clawed his way out of the sea of mediocrity and has started to garner some well-deserved recognition.
Artist: Anberlin
Artist: Terrible Things
Trash, smoke and rhymes were abundant in the air outside of Alumni Arena as the kid from Cleveland put on one of the best live shows that has come to UB in years.
Music has always been my safety net. When most people would have turned to their family or friends to help get a few things off their chests, I turned to my headphones.
The fresh smell of freedom is just around the corner. No more books, no more papers; summer time is a time to kick your feet up and relax. Every legendary summer always has a great soundtrack, so here are some of the best albums that are sure to be in your CD player for months.
Grade: A Turning a comic book into a movie is harder than it looks. Hollywood puts out more busts than hits when it comes to transforming ink to film. Christopher Nolan set the bar pretty high when The Dark Knight was released and many comic book movies have fallen flat since. That was until Kick-Ass. The title of this movie is the perfect way to describe the flick. This isn't much of a shock since Matthew Vaughn (Stardust)- who directed the trendy gangster thriller, Layer Cake- helmed the lens for Kick-Ass. The film follows the story of average teenager, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson, Nowhere Boy), who after much contemplating decides to start a career as a super hero. Add a wetsuit, Timberlands and an ambitious teen and what results is Kick-Ass. Although he may not be a black belt or a kung-fu master, Dave just wants to help the human race. Until his first endeavor doesn't go nearly as planned. However in his second attempt at crime fighting he is caught on camera and becomes an Internet sensation. The want to be hero catches the attention of a father/daughter duo that happens to be much more efficient at stopping the bad guys. The mysterious Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Year One) seeks out Kick-Ass to become his sidekick. But being the son of gangster Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong, Sherlock Holmes) his motives are questionable. Strong has become accustomed to playing the villain, and he plays the cold-blooded D'Amico impeccably. Not only is Strong a creepy villain, he delivers the snappy quips that show off his comedic side. The actor seems to have as much fun on screen as the audience does watching him. Kick-Ass is one of the best-written comic book movies of all time. The one-liners between Dave and his best friends, Marty (Clark Duke, Hot Tub Time Machine) and Todd (Evan Peters, Never Back Down) are the same crude comments that one would expect high schoolers to sling at one another. Even Dave's love interest, Katie (Lyndsy Fonseca, How I Met Your Mother) provides some knee slappers. But the two best characters are undoubtedly the father/daughter duo of Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage, Astro Boy) and Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz, (500) Days of Summer) who massacre wrong doers during their conquest to take down D'Amico. Moretz shows off her great potential, as her sarcastic and cynical character is by far the best in the movie. Not only does her quick wit dominate every scene Hit Girl is in, but Moretz also does an incredible job during the high-octane action scenes. Cage returns to his form in Kick-Ass as he lays the beat down as Big Daddy. Drawing from his massive arsenal hidden in his apartment, Big Daddy provides a big punch that quickly draws the attention of his nemesis, D'Amico. One thing that Kick-Ass does that most comic book movies doesn't is make the audience care for the characters. Unlike other comic book flicks the action takes the back seat to the story, making the audience fall in love with each character. Vaughn does a great job mixing the action and the emotional storyline. Each member of the audience feels every punch that Kick Ass receives, and Hit Girl's story could make even the most cold-hearted audience member want to cry. The stylized action is beautiful and makes watching the fight scenes fun and engaging. The fast pace of the slicing and dicing makes watching thugs get slaughtered more fun than ever. That being said, the movie is not for someone with a weak stomach. There is a decent amount of gore, but it isn't over done. And let's be honest, its not good action with out some gore. Kick-Ass incorporates almost every comic book movie stereotype; while creating something that has never been done before. From the cheesy costumes to the dozens of Batman references, Kick-Ass pays tribute to the comic book world throughout. Vaughn and company have created one of the best comic book movies of all time. And with an obvious set up for a sequel, there should be more to come very soon. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Groin thrusts, dancing and outlandish facial hair were abundant as Foxy Shazam nearly tore down the walls at Mohawk Place Tuesday night. Hundreds of bands pop up every day with the same goal: to become the next big thing. Many have attempted this somewhat impossible task with very few actually succeeding. After their visit to WRUB Day, Foxy Shazam got ready to put on a show that Buffalo will not soon forget. Foxy, who is well known for their on-stage antics, headlined one of the best tours to stop in Buffalo in quite some time. The band's five-year experience was evident, as every member of Foxy knew how to dazzle the crowd. From stellar dance moves to amazing balancing acts, the band's show made sure that nobody will be forgetting Foxy Shazam. Leading the on-stage frolics was front man Eric Nally, whose performance knows no bounds. Hanging from the pipes upside down and rolling around on the ground is just the tip of the iceberg for Nally. Right from the opening chords, Foxy had the crowd eating from their hands. The band quickly moved through fan favorites like "Yes! Yes! Yes!" while also getting into new material like "Count Me Out." Although Nally may be one of the most extravagant singers, the supporting cast of Foxy didn't let him steal the spotlight. Every member of Foxy Shazam had their own style for entertaining the crowd. Classically trained pianist Sky White is as eccentric as the beard that rests on his face. White jammed out on the piano while lying down, face underneath the bottom of the keyboard and didn't miss a note. The brass section might not be Foxy's most prominent feature, but Alex Nauth sported some ridiculous dance moves that complimented Nally's antics about as well as anyone could, and added some glass shattering backup vocals. As Foxy stormed through their itinerary, they did a great job mixing the fan favorites with material from their upcoming self-titled album. The crowd erupted as Foxy played "Introducing Foxy" and "The Rocketeer." The pinnacle of the show was when Nally started to smoke four cigarettes at once. He must have decided that he didn't like cowboy killers since a couple of drags in, Nally turned the death sticks around and started eating all four at once. It may have been unconventional, but the crowd ate it up. To end their tenure at Mohawk Place, Foxy Shazam played the cult classic "No, Don't Shoot." The crowd exploded into a massive mosh pit, and as Nally ended the show he pulled out all the tricks. Head banging, dangling from the ceiling, and brutal breakdowns left the crowd begging for more Foxy. Before Foxy Shazam took the stage, Bad Rabbits, hailing from Boston, got the crowd moving with their unique style. Combining rock and funk, the band had the crowd dancing as soon as they took the stage. Their high-energy show is unmatched by many in the music industry. The only people having more fun than the crowd during Bad Rabbits were the actual members of Bad Rabbits. The deeper Bad Rabbits got into their set, the deeper the audience fell in love with the band's sound. There is no way that Bad Rabbits will not blow up. Their unique style and energetic live show puts them a head above the rest. In between the two sets, The Young Veins took the stage. Riding on the fame they garnered from Panic! At The Disco, The Young Veins serenaded their preteen Twilight fans with a bad Beatles knockoff. Opening the evening was the local band Raspberry Infernos. Their trippy grunge rock sound was the perfect way to start the night. When the lights faded to black, the crowd knew that they had just witnessed one of the best shows that will come through Buffalo for a while. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Everybody get up. It's time to slam … again. Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes are putting their kicks back on and taking it to a court for a second time in Space Jam 2: Monstarz Ball. After being tied to the rocket that had been his prison for 13 years, Mr. Swackhammer (Danny Devito, Solitary Man) has a little bit more than a bone to pick with his unfaithful Monstarz. In retaliation for their disobedience and their blossoming friendship with the Looney Tunes, Swackhammer designs a flawless plan – to kidnap Michael Jordan. When the Looney Tunes discover that their good friend has gone missing, Swackhammer appears and presents them with a proposition: a re-match against his new team, "The Monstarz." Left with no other option, Bugs Bunny (himself, Bah Humduck!: A Looney Tunes Christmas) accepts the deal, not knowing what Swackhammer has in store for them. Using a more cunning tactic than the first time around, Swackhammer steals the talent of five NBA superstars: Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson. As game day approaches, the Looney Toons show their lack of practice over the past 13 years, and since the Monstarz no longer have the talent they once possessed, Bugs Bunny knows they are in trouble. After disguising themselves as Shaq, Bugs and Daffy Duck (himself, Bah Humduck!: A Looney Tunes Christmas) break into the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room to recruit the help of King James himself. Reluctant at first, LeBron waits till the day of the big match to help the Looney Tunes, getting there in the nick of time. Right from tip-off, it is clear that the Looney Tunes are outmatched. Their lack of practice and Porky Pig's (himself, Bah, Humduck!: A Looney Tunes Christmas) ever-apparent drug use shines as the Monstarz take the early lead. In response to a tear-jerking speech LeBron gives at the end of the first quarter, the Looney Tunes cut the deficit to four by halftime. Tensions started to boil over in the Monstarz locker room at halftime, so Swackhammer gives his team what he calls his "happy pills." The Monstarz feel a second wind almost immediately and are determined to take out all the Looney Tunes … permanently. Learning about the opposing team's evil plan, LeBron informs the Looney Tunes, who start dodging the attacks and establish a big lead by the end of the third quarter. Frustrated and tired, the Monstarz become irritated with each other and the tension climaxes as the Monstar that stole Gilbert Arenas's abilities pulls a gun on his teammates, primarily the Nate Robinson Monstar. Claiming that Nate Robinson was too selfish with the ball and talked too much smack about his own teammates, Arenas blasts Robinson away. Immediately after, the cops bust into the gym and take down Arenas. During his questioning, Arenas is forced to take a drug test. When the test results return, Arenas is questioned about steroids. When Arenas clearly doesn't know anything about it, the rest of the Monstarz are tested and questioned. After a 45-minute Law and Order-esque investigation, Swackhammer is arrested for giving his players steroids and physically abusing his players, and is sentenced to three years at Club Gitmo. The acting in Space Jam 2: Monstarz Ball is nothing short of Oscar-worthy. Bugs Bunny does an amazing job portraying the fear of having your good friend abducted by aliens. One moment he has you slapping your knee, the next he has you grabbing some tissues. This role is by far the best performance in his long and vibrant career. Along with the high-caliber acting, the movie uses groundbreaking 4-D technology, which literally puts the audience on the sidelines. It's so lifelike that you can even get refreshments from vendors walking up and down the aisles. Space Jam 2: Monstarz Ball is destined to become another American classic. Some critics have even compared it to Citizen Kane and The Wizard of Oz. The $25 ticket is more than worth it to see the exquisite acting and the mind-blowing 4-D technology. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity, as Space Jam 2: Monstarz Ball has a limited theatrical release that runs from April 2 to April 20. E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com