Arts - The Spectrum

ARTS

Monsieur Periné rocks UB Center for the Arts

By MATTHEW IAN DOYLE | Apr. 20, 2017

Monsieur Periné performed two consecutive shows at the Center for the Arts on Tuesday night in its first-ever Buffalo show. The band, which won the 2015 “Best New Artist” category at the Latin Grammys, is notable for its on-stage quirkiness along with its ability to communicate with the audience. The band mesmerized fans and newcomers alike with a fresh approach to jazz.

Zara Larsson is just one of this year’s Spring Fest performers. The singer recently released her second full-length album "So Good" in March.

ARTS

UB Spring Fest playlist

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 20, 2017

Opinions may vary on this year’s Spring Fest lineup, but the only way to really know what to expect is to listen for yourself. Before the lights go down in Alumni Arena on April 28, it’s best to know the lyrics instead of pretending to. This playlist is a good start.

Kendrick Lamar dropped his fourth studio album DAMN. on Friday. The 14-track LP exhibits Lamar's range of pop and dark rap numbers.

ARTS

Kendrick Lamar's new album is 'DAMN.' good

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Apr. 17, 2017

Lamar’s 14-track full-length LP, released on Friday, exhibits his range of pop and dark rap numbers. From broken crooning to reversal rapping, Lamar intelligently attempts to balance his joys and his pains throughout.

ARTS

The Grapevine

Apr. 17, 2017

As the semester begins to wind down, many great shows will be stopping by the area. Make sure to check out this week’s gigs before schoolwork starts piling up.

ARTS

UB Spring Fest ticket registration opens

Apr. 17, 2017

UB’s Student Association opened Spring Fest ticket registration for all undergraduate students this morning at 10 a.m. More than 2,500 students registered for concert tickets by 11 a.m. The website slowed down considerably because of students logging on to the website, but it never crashed, according to SA president Matt Rivera.

Wiz Khalifa performs at a past concert. Khalifa will headline this year’s Spring Fest alongside Zara Larsson and Hippie Sabotage.

ARTS

UB students react to Spring Fest lineup of Wiz Khalfia, Zara Larsson and Hippie Sabotage

By MAX KALNITZ | Apr. 13, 2017

On Tuesday afternoon, SA announced Wiz Khalifa would headline this year’s Spring Fest scheduled for April 28 in Alumni Arena. Swedish singer Zara Larsson and EDM duo Hippie Sabotage – comprised of brothers Kevin and Jeff Saurer – will accompany Khalifa on stage.

ARTS

Q&A with Jamaican-born artist Ebony G. Patterson

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Apr. 12, 2017

Earlier this year, Jamaican artist Ebony G. Patterson’s exhibit Dead Treez came to the UB Art Gallery at the Center for the Arts. The exhibit is currently on display in CFA until May 13.

Wiz Khalifa performs at a past concert. Khalifa will headline UB's Spring Fest alongside Zara Larsson and Hippie Sabotage.

ARTS

UB Spring Fest 2017 lineup features Wiz Khalifa, Zara Larsson, Hippie Sabotage

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Apr. 11, 2017

Rapper Wiz Khalifa will be headlining this year’s Spring Fest, according to Student Association.

Joey Basa$$’s second studio album All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ released Friday April 7. The album includes features from rappers including Schoolboy Q and J Cole.

ARTS

Joey Bada$$ is a serious contender for rap album of the year

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Apr. 10, 2017

When Joey Bada$$ released the lead single to his new albumon Inauguration Day earlier this year, it was obvious what direction he would take on his sophomore album.

Thursday night the CFA hosted the first annual UB on Stage talent show. Students showcased various talents including singing, dancing and comedy. Pictured: Kristie Norton & Company

ARTS

UB’s got talent

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 10, 2017

UB on Stage gave talented students the chance to capture that feeling on three separate stages Thursday night at the Center for the Arts (CFA) during the first ever UB on Stage talent show.

Charles Joseph Augustin, a sophomore communication major, released a book of poems he wrote while struggling with being an engineering student.

ARTS

Creating a new path: UB student poet turns academic difficulties to triumph with new book

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 9, 2017

Charles Joseph Augustin anticipated a future in engineering. But when Joseph was struck by a speeding car that ran a red light, he didn’t expect to have a future at all.

Dom Toretto does the unthinkable and turns on his family in the latest addition to the “The Fast and the Furious” saga.

ARTS

April movie guide

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Apr. 7, 2017

What this month lacks in quantity of notable film releases, it more than makes up for in sheer quality of the movies coming to theaters in the next few weeks.

UB students packed into Alumni Arena for last year's Spring Fest. SA has not released the lineup for this year’s Spring Fest.

ARTS

Late Spring Fest announcement has UB students worried

By MAX KALNITZ | Apr. 5, 2017

Last year, students knew the Spring Fest lineup a week after spring break. But with three and a half weeks until this year’s show, students are still waiting for Student Association to announce the lineup.

Corey Harper will be opening for Marc Scibilia at Buffalo Iron Works on April 18. The singer has opened up for performers including Justin Bieber, helping launching his solo career.

ARTS

A conversation with Corey Harper

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Apr. 4, 2017

Corey Harper may only be 22 years old, but his acoustic bluesy sound is turning plenty of heads in the music industry. The singer/songwriter recently talked over the phone with The Spectrum to discuss his upcoming tour, opening for Bieber and his next steps.

Courtney Chiappone stands with her father Jack Chiappone, a police and fire dispatcher in the Town of Hamburg. Chiappone’s film “Suspicion” was one of the top entries in Sunday’s film festival.

ARTS

WNY Muslims presents Collective International Film Festival at UB

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Apr. 2, 2017

Courtney Chiappone, a local high school student, wanted to present police officers in a positive light after seeing them portrayed as “bad people” due to recent shootings. In November, she began directing “Suspicion” – a film starring local dispatchers from the Town of Hamburg. She submitted the picture earlier this year for the Collective International Film Festival (CIFF) presented by WNY Muslims.

After a ten-year TV hiatus, Dave Chapelle has returned with a new set of Netflix specials.

ARTS

Dave Chappelle returns to the stage in new Netflix specials

By MOLLY DIETZ | Apr. 2, 2017

Title: “The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live at The Hollywood Palladium” Release Date: March 21 Studio: Netflix Grade: B Dave Chappelle stunned the world when he walked away from a $50 million contract with Comedy Central.

ARTS

The Grapevine: Your weekly collection of Buffalo's sonic selections

By JAKE HEFFEZ | Mar. 30, 2017

Buffalo is gearing up for spring with a packed lineup of performances, ranging from shows at Mohawk Place to the iconic Town Ballroom.

Vince Biondi, maintenance assistant with the Ellicott maintenance staff, takes a Sawzall tool out of a tool cage. Biondi and other maintenance workers deal with student concerns in all the Ellicott Complex dorm buildings.

ARTS

UB Ellicott Complex Maintenance staff discusses the joys of the job

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Mar. 30, 2017

Be it finger-painting, toilet troubles or an insect infestation, the maintenance staff located within the Ellicott Complex is equipped to handle any emergency or non-emergency matters in dorms. Ellicott Complex Maintenance is composed of expert tradesmen who are on call 24 hours a day for students via the work order system, which is serviced on the Campus Living website.

Senior Leah Berst talks about what it takes to play a leading role in a university musical.

ARTS

Leading lady: UB senior Leah Berst juggles academics and acting

By MOLLY DIETZ | Mar. 30, 2017

Leah Berst grew up watching Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn play the role of Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady.” Berst, a senior music theater major, is now fulfilling the same role as two of her biggest inspirations as Doolittle in UB’s spring production of “My Fair Lady.” “I’ve watched Audrey Hepburn’s performance in the ‘My Fair Lady’ movie since I was a child,” Berst said.

Personal turmoil is a recurring theme on Phil Elverum’s most recent album. A Crow Looked at Me, released March 24, is an 11-song reflection on loss, grief and raising a daughter in the wake of tragedy.

ARTS

Phil Elverum releases his best album in almost a decade

By NICK CIERI | Mar. 30, 2017

In the midst of listening to this record, I almost began to feel wrong for reviewing it. I felt as though I learned something about someone else, something that I wasn’t supposed to know.