Arts - The Spectrum

Released Oct. 27, Halo 5: Guardians is the most recent game to arrive out of the Halo franchise. Developed by 343 Industries and published by Microsoft, the latest Halo game has been trending among gamers the past week. The game seemingly falls flat for its campaign play, but more than makes up for it with its massive online play.

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Halo 5: Guardians doesn’t disappoint

By KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS | Nov. 1, 2015

To the joy of many fanboys and gamers, Halo 5: Guardians finally hit stores last Tuesday and did not disappoint.

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The grapevine

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Nov. 1, 2015

The Spectrum's weekly collection of Buffalo’s sonic selections

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Sufjan Stevens and his bittersweet homily come to UB

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Nov. 1, 2015

On Friday, the Detroit singer-songwriter performed at the Center for the Arts (CFA) for a near sell-out crowd to promote his newest album Carrie & Lowell. The studio album, Stevens’ seventh, was released from Asthmatic Kitty Records on Jan. 12.

Deerhunter has quietly been making some of the most consistently quality music in the indie rock scene. Their 7th studio album, Fading Frontier, was released Oct. 16 through 4AD. The album, a crisscross of crisp indie rock and foggy psychedelia, is a testament to the band’s immense diversity and 14 years of music-making experience.

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Deerhunter’s seventh album enchants

By Luke Heuskin | Oct. 29, 2015

On its seventh full-length release Fading Frontier, the American indie-rocker band called Deerhunter brings listeners to a dreamy world of psychedelic-tinged pop-rock.

Frightworld is a month-long entertaining and creepy production, and Buffalo's No. 1 haunted attraction.

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Frightworld gives new meaning to theatre

By Alexandra Saleh | Oct. 29, 2015

Frightworld is a month-long production with a full cast and crew, dedicated to entertaining thrill-seekers and shocking the timid. Although the premise is the same, each year has its own unique assembly of story lines and scene selections. Some might think it takes as little effort as flipping the light switch, revealing a display of creepy clown masks and gory remains in the exact spots as the previous year. But, similar to theatre and film productions, haunted houses require long periods of planning and construction.

The rapidly-building hype of the new Star Wars release is evident, especially among college students preparing for the Dec. 18 theatrical release. Many people attempted to purchase their tickets beforehand during pre-sale, the mass ticket sales crashing the ticket-hosting website, Fandango, and quickly selling out the first few showings of the movie in theatres.

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UB students excited for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

By Tomas Olivier | Oct. 29, 2015

The new film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,”premieres on Dec. 18 with many of the cast members returning from original trilogy. The film shattered presale ticket records, with fans purchasing $6.5 million in IMAX tickets just days after the film’s trailer debuted during halftime of Monday Night Football on Oct. 17. The new movie has created a buzz amongst fans, including those at UB, as it is expected to be one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.

The latest episode of “The Walking Dead” finds one of the show’s most selfless characters in fight for his life. Many theorize that the character didn’t actually die in the episode - rather, just escaped in the midst of the panic.

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Expectations and reactions to latest “The Walking Dead” episode: A proper ending for Glen

By KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS | Oct. 27, 2015

Like a herd of shuffling zombies, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has infected the hearts and minds of the American viewer. What started as a comic has blown up into a TV brand unlike any other – with spin-off TV shows, mini-series and video games, “The Walking Dead” has become an epidemic.

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New MFA student Morgan Arnett is ready to leave her mark on Buffalo

By Gabriela Ortiz | Oct. 27, 2015

Before this summer, 24-year-old Master of Fine Arts (MFA) student Morgan Arnett had never been anywhere outside of her hometown of Pensacola, Florida. Arnett, whose work was displayed during the Center for the Art’s “Say Hello to our New MFAs” exhibit in August and September and is currently centered in Studio 214B in the CFA, is one of ten current MFAs studying at UB.

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"Fargo" Review: In “Myth of Sisyphus,” knowledge is power

By DAN MCKEON | Oct. 27, 2015

In the Greek myth of Sisyphus, a cursed man is tasked to push a boulder up a hill only have it fall back down – for eternity. In “Fargo’s” “The Myth of Sisyphus,” Lou Solverson (Patrick Wilson) pushes both the Gerhardts and the Kansas City gang for answers only to have his attempts seem just as futile as the Greek legend.

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The grapevine

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Oct. 25, 2015

As per usual, Buffalo’s has a wide-ranging set of concert options this week. If you feel sad and want to get lost in your feelings for a night, Surfan Stevens makes great music to cry to. If you want get funky and dance all night, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is playing at the Tralf this week. If you are feeling nostalgic for some middle school 2000s pop hits, the Plain White T’s are coming to town. Pick what you want and go for it.

In 2008, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” premiered, covering more mature topics such as teenage pregnancy, sex and sexual identity.“ In January, ABC Family will become FreeForm, reflecting the more serious and adult content the channel now broadcasts.

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As ABC Family becomes Freeform, more mature audience targeted

By Alexandra Saleh | Oct. 25, 2015

In January, ABC Family will change its 15-year-old name to FreeForm to reflect its current not-so-family-oriented content.

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“Before the Law” keeps the plot moving for a strong start to season two of 'Fargo'

By DAN MCKEON | Oct. 23, 2015

While the first episode, “Waiting for Dutch,” featured a shakedown gone horribly wrong, Monday night’s episode focused on the cleanup, the investigation and the Gerhardts hanging on to their criminal empire.

The 42nd season of Zodiaque dance company’s fall showcase has continued its strong showing. Showcasing varying abilities, styles and athleticism, the company never fails to captivate its audience.

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Zodiaque stuns with consecutive shows at UB CFA

By Gabriela Ortiz | Oct. 22, 2015

UB’s performing company, Zodiaque, opened its 42nd season with a performance at the Center for the Arts (CFA).

Buffalo-based sneaker boutique Sole High is trying to change how sneakerheads think of Buffalo. With some incredibly rare sneakers in their collection, the store has been rapidly creating a fanbase within Buffalo.

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Sneaker shop Sole High looks to increase Buffalo 'sneakerhead' community

By KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS | Oct. 22, 2015

When it comes to sneaker culture, Buffalo isn’t a city that is on a sneakerhead’s mind. The type of ‘steez’ that an exclusive or OG pair of kicks can add to an ‘alphet’ is heavily slept on in Western New York. Now, this isn’t to say that the entire region is sneaker ignorant.

Kurtlyn Cunningham, owner of Love, Light & Magick, shows off some of her store’s goods. Love Light & Magick is one of many spiritual specialty stores scattered around Buffalo, alongside Strange Brew in Kenmore and Spiritually Rooted in North Tonawanda, which form the core of Buffalo’s metaphysical community, often offering tarot readings, psychic development workshops and henna drawings.

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Pagans, witches and wiccans – oh my

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Oct. 21, 2015

Love Light & Magick is one of many spiritual specialty stores scattered around Buffalo, alongside Strange Brew in Kenmore and Spiritually Rooted in North Tonawanda. These stores form the core of Buffalo’s metaphysical community, often offering tarot readings, psychic development workshops and henna drawings. Pagan and Wicca communities, often misunderstood as “black magic” groups, are some of the most open-minded, accepting and peace-loving people around.

A group of cosplayers consisting of a Joker, a Harley Quinn and a Captain Jack Sparrow enjoys Buffalo Comic Con, which moved this year to the Buffalo Convention Center as part of a two-day event Oct. 17-18. The event was hugely popular, with multiple different events held each day including meet-and-greets with different comic artists, cosplay contests and more.

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Age of the comic con: Buffalo Comic Con swells in popularity

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Oct. 18, 2015

Though still nowhere near the size of the convention that takes place in San Diego, California each July, Buffalo’s very own Comic Con is certainly gaining traction. In previous years the convention was held for an afternoon in a gymnasium-sized ballroom at the Buffalo Marriott Niagara, but this year the Buffalo Comic Con made the leap to the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center as a two-day affair with readings, panels and appearances from different comics.

David Sedaris speaks at a reading in 2007. An author, comedian, radio contributor and humorist, Sedaris performed at UB’s CFA Mainstage this Saturday. Sedaris, first gaining notoriety in 1993 for his essay Santaland Diaries which was broadcasted on NPR, has found a niche in pop culture with his high-brow, gutter-minded humor.

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David Sedaris at UB: Humor at the speed of life

By KENNETH KASHIF THOMAS | Oct. 18, 2015

An author, comedian, radio contributor and humorist, David Sedaris makes us see the humorous beauty in everyday life situations.

Sculpture by Jacob Schupbach, entitled Now Back To

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From the trash pile to the gallery

By Luke Heuskin | Oct. 18, 2015

Think twice before you throw out that dusty old computer keyboard – you just might be discarding a work of art. This idea was what inspired Natalie Fleming, art resource curator and supervisor for the Lower Gallery at the Center for the Arts, to start the Cradle to Grave: Re-Appropriation, Obsolescence, and the Arts exhibition.

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The grapevine

By BRIAN WINDSCHITL | Oct. 18, 2015

Buffalo always has a few surprising shows from week to week. This week, legendary musician and former-Beatle Paul McCartney is coming to play a sold-out show at First Niagara Center and 2000s pop punk Mayday Parade will play at Town Ballroom. With midterms wrapping up, get out and enjoy the Queen City and all that it has to offer.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, The Latin Dance Company, Baila Salsa and the Latin American Student Association (LASA) will be hosting dance lessons and events until Oct. 15.

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Buffalo does the salsa

By GIOVANNI GAGLIANESE | Oct. 15, 2015

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, The Latin Dance Company, Baila Salsa and the Latin American Student Association (LASA) has hosted dance lessons and events until Oct. 15. As an integral part of Latin cultural expression, dance serves as an interactive art and creative outlet. Even though Buffalo is not a renowned Latin dance community, like New York City or Los Angeles, it still has a quality impact on the area. A Buffalo Latin-themed dance attracts a diverse group of people and is a social experience that differs from typical nightlife.