While 1,300 students picked up tickets for this year’s first Fall Fest Concert Series show, roughly half of the students attended the concert.
Robby Takac sees excitement at home in Buffalo. The Goo Goo Dolls, Takac’s band, are set to embark on an anniversary tour in support of “Dizzy Up the Girl.” The 1998 record is responsible for hits like “Slide” and “Black Balloon,” and projected the Goo Goo Dolls to the forefront of the mainstream. The album set the stage for a multitude of hit singles and albums throughout the ‘00s, cementing the Goo Goo Dolls as a fan favorite across the country. But the Goo Goo Dolls always come home.
Heavy riffs, thick bass, hammering drums and shrieking vocals. It’s all there for Greta Van Fleet, a group of post-adolescent rockers looking to inject a new breath into rock. Citing an array of influences ranging from singer-songwriter virtuosos like Neil Young and John Denver to legends like Led Zeppelin, Greta Van Fleet has personified the hard rock sound that drove the ‘70s.
Despite a change of scenery, the Student Association’s annual Fall Fest found an unlikely and comfortable home in the Center for the Arts on Friday. Roughly 600 undergraduate students attended the first of three Fall Fest concerts. Friday’s show focused on rap and R&B performances, headlined by West Coast rapper Vince Staples. The show received support from opening acts Blaise Moore, an alternative R&B act, and Taylor Bennett, a Chicago genre-fluid rapper.
When Paul Scanlan, CEO and co-founder of Legion M Productions, set out to create a new production company, he intended to end the assumption that Hollywood has to be run solely as a business. By taking advantage of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups [JOBS] Act, Legion M uses equity crowd-funding in exchange for stock in the company. This structure allows everyday movie fans to work with and be a part of high-budget film projects and the community. Unlike traditional Hollywood production companies, Legion M begins its investment at $100. This is how the company draws in the average moviegoer.
Chris D’Elia doesn’t care if he offends anyone, and he’s certainly not afraid of Ludacris. He’ll roast the world’s most prominent pop stars, impersonate your favorite rapper and, if you talk back on Twitter, he’ll take you on too.
Elton John hardly had a reason to let go of his smile. Over the course of a three-hour set, the legendary singer and pianist ignited the KeyBank Center on Saturday night, presenting a two-part set consisting of 22 songs. The concert is the fourth of John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, a massive three-year world tour signifying the end of Elton John’s touring years.
For Slee Hall concert manager Philip Rehard, the new year is an opportunity to showcase what’s new for UB’s music department.
On the first few notes of “Egypt Station,” Paul McCartney makes his intentions clear. The former Beatle has no intention of revisiting a lifetime’s worth of work in one album. Rather, McCartney wants fans and onlookers alike to know that he’s still making music, pushing for hits and catchy loops that rival the deepest tracks of his solo catalog.
Rapper Mac Miller was found dead on Friday afternoon after a suspected overdose, as first reported by TMZ. Reports of Miller’s death came Friday afternoon, as fans and peers quickly took to social media to express their grief at the loss of the rapper. The Pittsburgh rapper rose to prominence with 2011’s “Blue Slide Park,” forging a massive following culminating in the release of five studio albums.
From trap to conscious rap, a versatile mix of rappers hit the stage during Buffalo’s annual Anti-Venue Tour on Saturday night. The tour, now in its fourth year, featured headlining MCs Conway The Machine and Boogie, alongside its yearly assortment of the Queen City’s premier rhymers.
Following the SA Fall Fest Concert Series lineup announcement, the Student Association has received a wave of backlash with regard to the performing artists and performance dates.
The Student Association announced its Fall Fest Concert Series on Friday, with three separate shows held at the Center for the Arts throughout the semester. Vince Staples will headline the Sept. 21 hip-hop event, with support from openers Taylor Bennett and Blaise Moore. The Oct. 6 concert will feature alternative rock artists American Authors and duo Matt and Kim at the CFA, with the final Nov. 10 concert bringing headliner Ashanti, as well as supporting acts Tinashe and Queen Naija.
Losing Layne Staley was never the plan for Alice in Chains. The iconic grunge singer’s overdose shook the band to its core in 2002, resulting in a a lasting hiatus that would plague any future releases. For years, it was a mystery if Alice in Chains could ever replace Layne Staley. Until William DuVall entered the picture.
Last year, Waiting Room owner Chris Ring closed his popular music club. The venue owner was forced to relocate over 40 shows and say goodbye to Waiting Room’s four years of prominence in the Buffalo music scene. One year later, Ring’s new venue is continuing traditions and marking a “new beginning” for the club owner. The new venue, Rec Room, officially opens its doors in September, bringing both local and international acts to Buffalo.
Johnny Marr isn’t weary of a change of pace. Thirty years after the dissolution of the Smiths, Marr went from acts like the Cribs and Modest Mouse to session work.
The film season between August and September sits comfortably between summer blockbusters and Halloween releases.
Based on the beloved Disney animated film from 1992, the “Aladdin” musical kept some of the film’s charm despite production flaws. The Broadway musical took center stage at Shea’s Performing Arts Center from Aug. 8 to Aug. 19 for a two-week run at the popular local venue. The musical’s Middle Eastern style production and costume design paralleled the extravagant beauty within Shea’s Theater. The costume and set designs contrasted between the constant golden imagery with rich colors and fabric.
Vince Staples will perform at the Center for the Arts on Friday, Sept. 21 according to the rapper’s website. The Center for the Arts has not yet announced the show on social media. A CFA box office employee couldn’t confirm the show, referring The Spectrum to the Student Association.
Last August, Waiting Room owner Chris Ring closed the doors to his popular Buffalo venue after four years in the business.
Solutions by The State News
