Arts - The Spectrum

SHAED will perform in Buffalo on Sept. 28.

ARTS

Throwing SHAED: Budding group SHAED discusses rise to fame and Buffalo show in exclusive interview

By REILLY MULLEN | Sep. 25, 2019

SHAED hasn’t quite hit household name recognition yet, but that may not last much longer. The D.C.-based electro-pop group’s new single, “Trampoline,” overtook Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend” for the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Alternative Radio chart this summer. With a musical style that BlackBook described as “infectious, magnetic charisma,” the group’s elaborate sound design, whimsical tone and deeply meaningful lyrics leave listeners craving more.

The UB Gospel Choir rehearses the song Perfect Praise by Walt Whitman.

ARTS

Soulful sounds

By JULIANNA TRACEY | Sep. 22, 2019

Temara Cross, the vice president of UB Gospel Choir, says she believes gospel music is not exclusive to a specific race. And she doesn’t think it’s exclusive to a set of skills or someone’s faith, either.

From “Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat” to Zodiaque Dance Company, The Spectrum compiled a list of on-campus performances that students shouldn’t miss.

ARTS

UB’s fall performance radar

By JULIANNA TRACEY | Sep. 22, 2019

At the beginning of the semester, it’s hard to know all of the entertainment opportunities the Buffalo area can offer. And for some students, it can be difficult to make it downtown to enjoy a play or musical performance. But excellent performances may be closer than students think.

Country singer Eric Van Houten grew up in Buffalo with no initial plan to move to Nashville.

ARTS

Nashville-bound: Buffalo-native Eric Van Houten chases his country music dream

By BRITTANY GORNY | Sep. 22, 2019

Country singer Eric Van Houton didn’t always want to play country music. It wasn’t until he was asked to play country one day –– and went home to listen to Ketih Urban’s 2002 record “Golden Road” for four days straight –– that he realized his passion.

ARTS

Haley Reinhart talks Anderson .Paak, “Lo-Fi Soul” and October show

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Sep. 22, 2019

There’s something magical about Haley Reinhart’s aura. It’s in her ‘60s appeal, it’s in her free-spirited live shows and it’s in her band, which once included the now Grammy-winning hip-hop heavyweight Anderson .Paak. Reinhart, quite like her former drummer-turned-performer extraordinaire, has evolved her sound over her career. Her new record, “Lo-Fi Soul,” is a coverless call to the ‘60s, full of organs, lovely backing harmonies and vocal effects that carry the record throughout. Unlike her previous effort, “What’s That Sound,” Reinhart’s originals run her latest and feel straight out of The Monkees’ or The Doors’ organ-heavy catalog. It’s vintage, but it’s her.

Drag Queens performing at Sheas Smith Theatre Friday night. From left to right Nicki Monroe, Cece Vergara, Sasha Storm, Keke Valasquez-Lord, Winter Storm, Chyna Dior, Bebe Bvlgari and Armani.

ARTS

Say ‘More w--re:’ A celebration of feminine expression

By VINDHYA BURUGUPALLI | Sep. 22, 2019

The crowd chanted “more w--re” and dropped dollar bills as Keke Valasquez-Lord entertained the audience to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer. Club Marcella held “Curtain Up’s a Drag” in collaboration with Shea’s Performing Arts Center at the Smith Theatre Friday night. The 237-seat Black Box Theater was nearly full –– surprisingly with an older audience. It featured individual performances from Sasha Storm, Cece Vergara, Chyna Dior, Nicky Monroe, Valasquez-Lord, Winter Storm, Bebe Bvlgari and Armani, along with a group act at the end. Reigning Miss Gay Buffalo Icon Valasquez-Lord –– an entertainer in the Buffalo drag community for the past 13 years –– hosted the show.

ARTS

What would the odd say: A conversation with Guerilla Toss’ Kassie Carlson

By ALEX WHETHAM | Sep. 22, 2019

A backdrop of old VHS tapes and psychedelic visuals set the stage as wild synth patterns clash with violins. NYC band Guerilla Toss has covered everything from ear-splitting punk to ‘80s synthpop. Its gradual evolution has created a satisfying career arc, but one consistent appeal of the group is vocalist Kassie Carlson. Her singing ranges from high-pitched screams to melodic anthem cries, but she always remains the heart and soul of the band’s personality.

ARTS

When Mr. West woke up the fest

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Sep. 22, 2019

Kanye West wasn’t a big fan of presidents in 2005 and he probably never expected to dap one up when he visited Alumni Arena on Oct. 21 of that year. But Dela Yador –– the 2005 Student Association president –– thinks about his encounter with West often.

Stills from the production of Hairspray now showing at The Kavinoky Theatre.

ARTS

“Hairspray” brings the ‘60s back to Buffalo

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 18, 2019

Buffalo’s production of “Hairspray” brings something to the musical that professional performances don’t typically see. A student-filled cast. “Hairspray,” despite the uncharacteristically young team, radiated an exuberant energy between the cast and audience that resonated throughout the house.

Emily Quartley poses with her life-sized drawing.

ARTS

Paying for portraits

By JULIANNA TRACEY | Sep. 18, 2019

Marysia Paradis began making art as soon as she could hold a pencil. Her mother encouraged her to draw and paint and she soon found that she especially had a skill and love for drawing animals.

Audience members light up their phones as they sing along to Kranium.

ARTS

Pop Smoke brings hip-hop flair to Afro-Caribbean themed Fall Fest

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA and JULIANNA TRACEY | Sep. 16, 2019

Students started their Saturday morning hoping to catch a glimpse of Afro-Caribbean artists Kranium, Koffee and Burna Boy at Fall Fest.

ARTS

Koffee talks travel, ‘Rapture’ and Kranium

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 15, 2019

Koffee didn’t need any coffee to help her pull off her Fall Fest performance Saturday night. Instead, the artist –– who had the flu –– leaned on and harnessed her Buffalonian fans’ positive energy. Koffee, born Mikayla Simpson, performed at the Center for the Arts during the Student Association’s first of three Fall Fest shows, where she announced her sickness on stage.

Portraits of comedian Gilbert Gottfried. Gottfried will take the stage at the Helium Comedy Club in November.

ARTS

Gilbert Gottfried talks residuals, ‘Ren and Stimpy’ and forgetting his roles

By BRENTON J. BLANCHET | Sep. 11, 2019

Gilbert Gottfried could have played an important role in your childhood. But he probably won’t remember if you ask him. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, the comedian lent his voice to films like “Aladdin,” cartoons like “The Fairly Odd Parents,” video games like “Kingdom Hearts” and over 160 other projects. While he doesn’t always recall each of his gigs, he still rakes in the residual checks for them –– even the ones worth $.01.

ARTS

UB’s fall musical leads share their audition experiences

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 8, 2019

While audiences won’t see the finished product until later this fall, performers in UB’s upcoming musical have been hard at work since the beginning of May. Even though the actors are students, they receive the same treatment as professionals, and are expected to work just as hard.

Buffalo rapper Billie Essco poses with a bicycle.

ARTS

Billie Essco says new album is his ‘musical peak’

By JULIAN ROBERTS-GRMELA | Sep. 4, 2019

Billie Essco remembers the day he saw his creative idol live. The Buffalo rapper decided to drive down to New York City and go see Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 show. After the life-changing show, which featured Young Thug and Kid Cudi, Essco left the city to go stay at his friend’s place in Washington, D.C.

A student waits outside the Media Studies' equipment room.

ARTS

Department of Media Studies puts class cap on lab fee charges for semester, looks into changing fee

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Sep. 4, 2019

Students who have taken a media study production class know the department requires an extra $125 lab fee. Students have had to pay this fee for each production class they take –– regardless of how often the course uses the resources.

The single cover to Lil Pump's "Gucci Gang."

ARTS

Bankable beats

By JULIANNA TRACEY | Sep. 4, 2019

When asked to describe college students, most people’s first response is “broke.” Students have to pay for tuition, meals, gas, rent, books and so much more, so it gets hard to hold on to extra cash.But if you listen to this playlist of rich rhythms, you can feel richer, even while eating ramen noodles out of a coffee mug.

Indie group Young the Giant is set to return to the UB stage for the first time since 2015.

ARTS

Burna Boy, Young The Giant, Gunna and DaBaby headline Fall Fest Concert Series

By JULIANNA TRACEY | Sep. 4, 2019

Burna Boy, Young the Giant, Gunna and DaBaby will headline the Student Association’s 2019 Fall Fest Concert Series.

ARTS

On 'Lover,' Taylor Swift shows tremendous artistic growth

By MADDY FOWLER | Sep. 1, 2019

Swift has spent her whole career trying to describe true love in her songwriting. In the liner notes for "Red" she muses,“real love shines golden like starlight, and doesn’t fade or spontaneously combust. Maybe I’ll write a whole album about that kind of love if I ever find it.” And with "Lover," she achieves that. In a call-back to "Red," Swift sings “I once believed love would be burning red/but it’s golden like daylight.”

Comedian Jim Norton will return to Buffalo to perform at Helium Comedy Club from Sept. 5-7.

ARTS

Jim Norton brings his honesty to the Buffalo comedy scene

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Aug. 28, 2019

Jim Norton became interested in stand-up comedy when he was 12 years old. Now, Norton performs at sold-out shows across the country and runs a radio show on weekday mornings. He has also created several podcasts, appeared in a few comedy shows, published two books and may have a small role in the upcoming Netflix feature film “The Irishman.”