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(04/16/10 4:00am)
In February, The Fall of Troy announced that their spring tour would end the band's eight year run. In response, music lovers of all shapes, genders, sizes and fashions flocked to Mohawk Place in Buffalo on Wednesday to give the group a truly memorable send off.
(04/11/10 4:00am)
Nations engaged in a bloody war, witches and wizards cursing each other and, to top it all off, brain-craving zombies running amok. Who knew all of this could happen at UB?
The 21st annual UBCON kicked off last Friday and ran nonstop until Sunday. With hundreds of fans in attendance, dozens of events taking place and violent battles fought throughout, this year's UBCON was an impressive sight to behold.
For those who put so much time and effort into this event, nothing was more important than providing the fans and attendees with the best weekend that they possibly could.
"This is a big thing ... [Strategies and Role Players Association] and Anime Club, all together to give all these people here a really fun weekend. There's a reason why people stay here all weekend without getting a single hour of sleep," said Christopher Wood, a first year graduate student.
There was no shortage of interests at UBCON over the weekend. The staff went out of its way to arrange enough events to cover a wide and varied range of personal tastes. This way there was plenty to see and do for everyone in attendance.
"There's a lot of magic playing, there's LARP [Live Action Role Playing], people play board games, people play video games. It's a fun place," said Wood.
Though the card games, board games and costumes were as striking as they were numerous, for many it was the infamous Nerf war that drew them to UBCON.
For both Friday and Saturday night, UB's Student Union played host to one of the largest Nerf wars in North America, according to UBCON's Web site. The game lasted over six hours and was comprised of over 100 players. However, there was more to the war than just point and shoot.
"They choose ten people to start off as zombies. Literally everyone else, which is almost 100 people, has to kill them. But if you get killed by a zombie once … then you turn into one. There's also a team death match, which is self-explanatory, and capture the flag, which is also self-explanatory," said Ben Fox, 18, Amherst.
But even if attendees did not come prepared to play, UBCON had them covered with the Dealer's Room. Inside SU 145, attendees could find a marketplace brimming with everything any anime or gaming fan could ever want or need.
One wall had dozens of board games for sale. Another boasted a collection of various jewelry and clothing. Also for sale were cards, drawings, weapons, action figures and assorted candy from across the globe. The Dealer's Room was a conglomeration of everything that brought UBCON fans together.
Even more impressive than the amount of items for sale inside the Dealer's Room, however, was the everlasting battle for glory taking place on the field right outside of the Student Union.
Dozens of warriors from all over had gathered to battle one another in the full-contact sport of Dagorhir on North Campus.
"There are groups of us all over the country that do this," said Ben Jackson, a senior Spanish education major from Buffalo State. "Basically, it's a full-contact combat simulation sport … We try to be as realistic as we can while still being safe."
The battlefield was filled with players garbed in multicolored uniforms and armors, brandishing weapons. While the weapons themselves were harmless and created out of foam, the armor was as real as could be.
"You're allowed to wear armor, which has to be authentic, meaning that it has to be made out of real materials that historically people made armor out of … If you wear armor, you feel it. It's a lot heavier; its limits your mobility. But it gives you an additional shot in any portion of your body that's wearing it," said Jackson.
For fans of cards, board games, anime or just beating up someone else, this year's UBCON had something for just about anyone. UBCON will return next year, but it'll take some magic to make it better than this year's event.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
(04/09/10 4:00am)
Grade: C+
(04/01/10 4:00am)
Where is your Fall Out Boy tonight? The answer may surprise you.
When Fall Out Boy released their third album, From Under The Cork Tree, the band stepped out from the underground into the MTV-filled spotlight. Since then, the band has put out two better-received albums and its fan base has continued to grow. It seemed like nothing could stand in the group's way – except for itself.
In November of last year, the boys announced that the band would be going on an indefinite hiatus. Everyone believed the world had seen the last of the infamous group.
Since going on an indefinite hiatus, lead singer Patrick Stump began working on his solo project. Production began in January and the album is expected to hit shelves sometime later this year.
However, despite the hype generated by this announcement, fans have since turned against the idea. Stump debuted his work on March 19 at the SXSW festival in Austin. Immediately following the show, Stump realized he needed Fall Out Boy if he wanted to continue in the music industry.
Former guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley formed the heavy metal act The Damned Things alongside Every Time I Die front man Keith Buckley, Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano from Anthrax and bassist David Karon.
As for Pete Wentz, he's resigned himself to family life for the time being with his wife, Ashley Simpson, and his son, Bronx.
It appears, however, that these newfound projects are not enough for the former "Fall Out Boys." On Tuesday, the band announced that it plans to reunite within the next couple of months and have its latest album out by the end of summer.
The band has stated that it believes its latest records have taken a turn for the worse. In an effort to appease their long-standing and loyal fans, the members have decided to go back to their roots and strive for the sound they so eloquently captured on Take This To Your Grave.
The title of the album is going to be The Empty Relief. Rumored to be appearing on the album are several guest vocals, including Ke$ha, Justin Timberlake and Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit.
In order to promote the release, the band is set to begin a headlining tour in September and plans to continue for eight-straight months. The first stop for the newly reunited group is the Town Ballroom in downtown Buffalo.
Whether or not this reunion is a good idea remains to be seen. But with promises of several guest vocals and a return to their original sound, Fall Out Boy is sure to spread some hype.
Be sure to keep you eyes and ears open over the next couple months for the group's latest work, 'cause sugar, they're going down swinging.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
(03/25/10 4:00am)
From Fear Factor to UFC, Joe Rogan has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. This Saturday, Rogan returns to his roots with the premiere of his standup special, Joe Rogan: Talking Monkeys In Space on Comedy Central.
For Rogan, being a standup comedian is more than just another job. To him, comedy is life.
"Even though [the UFC's] a really cool job, I mean, I'm just a fan of the mixed martial arts. I could easily just remain a fan and not do it for a living. Whereas standup comedy, I feel like if I lost that … I would lose my voice," Rogan said.
In his eyes, comedy is so much more than just telling jokes. There's a deeper meaning behind the show that few people are aware of or can even grasp without experiencing it for themselves.
"Part of … standup comedy is your own personal quest to figure things out – to answer your own questions and sort of present these questions and these answers to the audience," Rogan said.
Though Rogan has finally found his niche within the world, it was not an easy road. Had only a few things gone differently, Rogan may have never graced the comedic scene with his presence.
"When I was 21 years old, I was thinking about doing standup comedy and at the time, what I was doing was competing in martial arts tournaments," Rogan said. "I used to get headaches after a long night of training … I would be laying in my bed and my head would hurt and I was like, ‘What the f*** am I doing? I'm hurting my brain here. I'm damaging my brain for a sport that pays no money.' It was very scary."
Thankfully for Rogan, he had his friends to guide him along his path. Without them, there's no telling where Rogan may have ended up.
"My friend Ed and my friend Steve, who I owe a huge debt of gratitude to, to this day … They talked me into going to an open mic night … So then I sat down and I wrote some stuff out. I thought about it for about five or six months and then I finally did it," Rogan said.
Despite finally taking the plunge, it was anything but smooth sailing from there on out.
"In the beginning I was terrible, absolutely terrible. Everybody is … You know when you're 21 you don't have any children, you don't have any expenses other than food and rent … That's the time to take a crazy chance and that's what I did. It took a long time. It took many, many years to put together some semblance of an act … It was pretty fascinating and it's been a fascinating ride," Rogan said.
Despite the large role comedy plays in Rogan's life, he can hardly consider many things a joke. One such issue is the recent occurrence of the Winter Olympics.
"In order to compete at the highest level, it has to be your entire life," Rogan said. "If people are paying to see it, the athletes should be compensated. [The Olympics are] this gross scam that everybody has got set up under the guise of nationalism and pride and all this jazz and that these people get to pump their hard work out and then other people get to profit from it in the tune of billions and billions of dollars."
This isn't the only thing that gets Rogan wound up, though. Issues dealing with illegal narcotics are a very big deal for him.
"I'm a strong advocate for legalization of anything that doesn't hurt other people. I think we live in a really f***ed up society where people can tell you what you can and can't do to your own body," Rogan said.
To Rogan, the idea of a drug such as marijuana being illegal is ridiculous. Even more so, it's a heinous crime.
"It's very difficult to take our government and authorities seriously when we have such horrible injustices in place, like people being locked in cages for a giant chunk of their life because they possessed a plant that makes you silly … By locking people in jail for marijuana, you are committing a crime against nature and against humanity," Rogan said.
Joe Rogan is a man who is more than just a comedian or a TV show host. He is someone who isn't afraid to speak out against injustices and think for himself.
Tune into his special this Saturday on Comedy Central to see Rogan present his questions – and his own answers – to you in his unique comedic way.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
(03/17/10 4:00am)
Grade: A-
(03/05/10 5:00am)
Everyone's had the thought that maybe they want to shed a few pounds or tighten things up a bit. Now of course, there are many ways to go about this. Start exercising more, eating right, etc. But one way no one should ever, and I mean ever, try to lose weight is by going on a Taco Bell diet.
(03/01/10 5:00am)
(02/22/10 5:00am)
(02/15/10 5:00am)
Grade: C
(02/12/10 5:00am)
Being a music fan is an extremely fun lifestyle to lead. Unfortunately, it's also a very expensive one. And thanks to a recent merger in the business world, things are about to get worse.
(02/10/10 5:00am)
The king of awkwardly hilarious comedy has returned with his second season of sketch comedy with Important Things with Demetri Martin on Comedy Central.
(02/10/10 5:00am)
It's no secret that Buffalo has a strong music scene. With bands like Every Time I Die and The Goo Goo Dolls spreading their words across the nation, it's becoming more and more evident that this town has a lot to offer.
(01/29/10 5:00am)
With threats such as the 2012 prophecy, global warming, the Democrats losing the Massachusetts election and Jersey Shore looming over our heads, the apocalypse is looking more and more real each day.
(01/29/10 5:00am)
When most people think of talented musicians, they forget to look right in their own backyards – which is exactly where you will find the up and coming pop-punksters of The Mixtape.
(01/27/10 5:00am)
Grade: C
(01/22/10 5:00am)
Title: Aliens vs. Predator
(01/20/10 5:00am)
As I pop off the cap to what may very well be my thousandth beer and promptly begin to pour its contents down my throat, I can't help but notice a change. Maybe it's the nine percent alcohol-by-volume, but it's more than likely the fact that I celebrated my 21st birthday this week.
There's nothing like turning 21 years old and buying alcohol for your first time. You stop to take a look back at where you came from, but also to the future and where you're headed.
Five years ago, I had just turned 16 years old and was a sophomore at Ballston Spa High School. At the time, I couldn't wait to get out of town and go on to live my life. Looking back now, though, I realize that I was lucky to have grown up in that town.
It's not the town itself that I often find myself longing to see, but the people I left behind who still live there. My closest friends growing up are still there and spend almost every day together.
I told myself that when I left for Buffalo, things wouldn't change between us. They would forever be the people I could always count on. While my core group of friends still falls under that category, I can't help but think of all the people that I used to see every week and who I now haven't communicated with in years.
As much as I hate growing apart from the people who made growing up so much fun for me, I know that part of my life is over and I have to move on. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
I was alone when I came to Buffalo for my freshman year. Since I was born, I had lived in Ballston Spa and had spent every day with the same people for 18 years. This put me at a disadvantage; I realized that until that moment, I never had to go out and make new friends.
Fortunately for me, though, I was placed on the third floor of Goodyear Hall. No other spot on campus means as much to me as that floor. It was there, during a rather intense session of hallway dodgeball, that I met the people I'm happy to call my housemates and best friends.
They, along with everyone else I have become friends with over the past two years, are responsible for making UB more fun then I could've ever imagined, and for that I am forever in their debt.
It's with them that the next year-and-a-half of my life will be spent, and I can hardly wait to see what trouble we can get ourselves into. But once those 18 months are up, it's over. From that point, the path becomes blurred.
My college career is more than halfway over and my aspirations for life are still shrouded in mystery even from myself. I know I would like to work in journalism for the rest of my life, but that's the extent of it.
Maybe I will head to Cleveland where my favorite magazine is based. Or maybe even farther, to the West Coast. I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm going to make the absolute best of my remaining time here and make sure I have no regrets.
E-mail: james.twigg@ubspectrum.com
(01/20/10 5:00am)
Guns, car chases, hookers and a complete lack of respect for anyone or anything: welcome to the life of international spy Sterling Archer.
FX's new comedy series Archer takes the viewer inside the dysfunctional and eccentric world of the espionage agency ISIS's employees. From the unapologetic protagonist Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin, Family Guy) to his insane ex-girlfriend Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler, Bedtime Stories), Archer is one comedy that isn't afraid to insult.
With only two episodes under its belt, Archer is quickly showing that there is no topic too offensive. Dead hookers, immigrants and Dane Cook's lack of talent have all become the brunt of hilariously over the top jokes. Of course, with Adam Reed, the creator of Sealab 2021, Frisky Dingo and Space Ghost Coast to Coast, penning the script, nothing less is to be expected.
As incredibly hilarious and absurd as the situations that arise in this show are, it's the characters that truly bring the show to life.
Archer is a series brimming with an all-star comedic cast, including Benjamin, an actor who is no stranger to crude animated humor. His various acting roles include spots on both Family Guy and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Jessica Walter (Arrested Development) does a fantastic job as the manipulative Malory Archer, Archer's mother and boss. Walter shows her willingness to push the envelope in this role with scenes including Russian phone sex and an unrelenting stream of offensive quips.
In addition to both Benjamin and Walter is the quirky Chris Parnell (30 Rock). Parnell is the voice of ISIS comptroller Cyril Figgis, the nerdy anti-Archer who becomes the boyfriend of Archer's ex.
The series premiered its first two sidesplitting episodes on FX Thursday night. Both episodes were equally hilarious and the plots were similarly ridiculous. If the show is able to keep up the pace that it has set, Archer is likely to become an instant classic.
The first episode, 'Training Day,' doesn't ease you into the show, but rather tosses you into the deep end headfirst. The episode centers around Archer attempting to turn bookworm Cyril into a deadly field agent just like himself, while Kane attempts to unfold what, exactly, is going on.
Archer goes about this in his own unique way. The accomplished spy loads up the ill-equipped Cyril with a poison pen and underwear gun before giving him any proper instruction.
From there, Cyril is trained in Archer's ways by shooting at his butler and dancing with a call girl, whose occupational title is switched to hooker after a tragic accident.
The second episode, 'Mole Hunt,' continues to delve deep into the outrageous lifestyle of the extravagant Archer, this time focusing in on his financial expenses.
After Malory explains to him that he is spending far too much and that 'ISIS doesn't just exist so that you can jet off to whore island,' Archer places the blame on a fictional mole and sets out to change his financial records.
Employing fat jokes and outlandish statements, the episode is guaranteed to have viewers laughing throughout while simultaneously feeling slightly ashamed of themselves – and that's exactly what makes it great.
Despite only having aired two episodes, Archer has already shown a large amount of potential and raised the bar for today's animated comedies. The show is raunchy, obnoxious and every bit as funny as anything else currently on air.
Archer is a must see original that does anything but disappoint. The series takes shots at anyone and anything and refuses to make excuses for it. Don't be surprised to see Archer in it for the long haul and making a name for itself up there with the likes of Family Guy and South Park.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
(01/12/10 5:00am)
Grade: B