Rod Coronado: Freedom for Fur Animals

Wednesday, February 26

There are a lot of animals in this world that should be thankful for activist Rod Coronado’s existence. Law enforcement officials are certainly not, though. Since he was a teenager Coronado has been upsetting the fur and whaling trades with his by-any-means-necessary tactics. As part of activist crews like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Animal Liberation Front, Coronado has risked his life and liberty to save endangered and over-hunted animals. In 1992 Coronado was sentenced to nearly five years in prison in connection to an arson attack on an animal research facility at Michigan State University. He was ordered to pay $2 million dollars in restitution. In 2005 he was found guilty of disrupting a mountain lion hunt by dismantling a lion trap, a felony. In 2010 he was sentenced to four months in federal prison for violating probation by friending a former Earth First! member on Facebook. These are just a fraction of the many arrests and convictions the 47-year old Native American of the Pascua Yaqui tribe has endured in the name of species preservation. He has recently been released of legal restrictions that have kept him from engaging in activism. One of his first engagements back will be a speech at Burning Books in Buffalo this Wednesday (Feb 26) where he’ll discuss his latest campaign to defend the wolves and his lifetime of struggle.

- cory perla

7pm Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St. (881-0791 / burningbooksbuffalo.com) | Free (donations accepted)

Friday, February 21

Get Weird

Buffalo is long overdue for a large-scale tattoo art exhibit. Although we’ve had a few art shows showcasing local tattoo artists, Get Weird will exhibit work from over 30 tattoo artists from across the US and Canada this Friday (Feb 21). And what better venue for a tattoo show of this magnitude than the back room of Allen Street Hardware? The event is being organized by Holy Ground Tattoo artists Donny Arthur, Mark Sinsel, Seth Grahm, and Josh H., all inspired by shows they had seen advertised online and at conventions in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas. The exhibit will celebrate all things strange and unusual. “We wanted to come up with a theme that had a cohesive idea behind it, but still encouraged creativity and a variety of subject matter,” says Arthur. “The art on display will have a range of tattoo styles—from traditional tattoo flash art to modern realistic and abstract art.” All pieces on display have been priced by artists and will be for sale at the show. Artists’ contact information will also be provided to anyone interested in their work.

- jonny moran

10pm The Back Room at Allen St. Hardware Café. (882-8843 / allenstreethardware.com) $3 cover starting at 11pm

Friday, February 21

Lettuce

Buffalo has been hit pretty hard this winter with crushing amounts of snow and brutal temperatures, but nothing has prepared the city for what’s about to hit this Friday. Lettuce is a funk powerhouse hailing from New York City and they’re coming to unleash their rhythmically expressive and neurologically consuming form of amped up funk. The band has never made a stop in the Queen City, but they’ve committed to touring more this year and hitting markets they haven’t had the time to touch in the past. It only takes one listen to quickly get swept away and hooked on their infectious sound. The band has just three albums to date, with the most recent being Fly from 2012, but each is jammed from start to finish with some of the funkiest music ever produced. Between the driving drum lines of Adam Deitch, the smooth and expressive bass of Erick Coomes and the funky and jazz inspired melodies from the rest of the band, their sound is simply an unstoppable force live. The band has been around for the better part of two decades now, but it hasn’t been until recently that people have caught on to what they’re doing. Wrapping up their Winter Tour, the guys will make a stop at the Tralf this Friday (Feb 21) before finishing up in Toronto the following day. Guitarist Eric Krasno will open the night, performing as DJ Kraz. Friday will be far different from a normal concert and there’s no doubt that you’ll want to set aside some time Saturday to completely recover from what’s about to go down.

- jeremiah shea

7pm The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St. (852-2860 / tralfmusichall.com) $18 advance, $20 day of show

Friday, February 21

BPO: A Love Letter to Buffalo

Since 1940, Symphony Circle, specifically Kleinhans Music Hall, has been home to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra’s presence at 3 Symphony Circle has been an important part of Allentown’s cultural and artistic diversity. At the same time the First Presbyterian Church, just around the bend at 1 Symphony Circle has been one of Buffalo’s many architectural gems. Now, the BPO is stepping up to preserve the iconic tower and support the neighborhood that has supported this wonderful orchestra for nearly 80 years. In need of restoration, the First Presbyterian Church, founded in 1812 and home to the city’s first religious congregation, will be on the benefiting end of a special BPO performance titled “A Love Letter to Buffalo.” Distinguished local conductor Paul Ferington will conduct the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the E.B. Green First Presbyterian Church building for this one-of-a-kind Save The Tower benefit show on Friday (Feb 21).

- cory perla

8pm First Presbyterian Chruch, 1 Symphony Circle (bpo.org) $40 general admission

Friday, February 21

Bear Hands

In 2035, when we reminisce about the early 21st century Indie genre, we’ll remember Bear Hands as a cornerstone. They’ve pioneered their own subculture in the indie genre, rather than blindly follow their predecessors. Bear Hands sticky chorus scheme conveys all of the best characteristics of bands like MGMT, Passion Pit and Vampire Weekend, but with even more oomph. Their tracks, despite peppy notes, have an underlying punk ethos that radiates from well-planned, abstract lyrics. On their first album, Burning Bush Supper Club (2010) they established themselves as true musical artists, able to craft songs that sharpen reverb-laden psych-rock into tightly focused anthems loaded with bold experimentation. Their sophomore album, Distraction, reveals that even in their infantile stage, their music is mature, yet invincibly progressive. Marked by its pop sensibility, enlightened motif, rhythmic drive, and descriptive narratives, Distraction was held in high esteem before it dropped on February 18. “Agora,” may be the best song about a crippling phobia ever written. It’s as if the music itself has bipolar disorder, charged with a manic strain of energy that vacillates layers of echoing effects and the reedy cooing of vocalist, Dylan Rau. Whether they play fervent tracks like, “Agora” or dance floor anthems with dynamic blends of heavy percussion and chiming guitar riffs, they play with unparalleled conviction. Shrugging off any inkling of second album jitters, Bear Hands kick off their tour at the Waiting Room on Friday (Feb 21).

- kellie powell

6pm The Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave (852-3900 / waitingroombuffalo.com) $5

Wednesday, February 26

White Lies

Lies are bad, unless they’re White Lies, then they’re just good to dance to. The UK indie-pop band formed back in 2007, and have been producing the confusing combination of dark yet uplifting melodies ever since. Deep, moving vocals from singer Harry McVeigh are paired with a more subtle electronic and instrumental presence, letting his voice steal the show. White Lies have undoubtedly grown since their inception, especially very recently. Time off allowed them to reflect on who they are and the path ahead. Reinvention stems from perceived stagnancy, and these 20-somethings clearly needed to grow. While their sound hasn’t changed dramatically, the 1980s influence is hard to ignore. Their lyrical content has matured to writing about the present: love and the trials of young people coming into their own. But there’s something different about these guys that’s not easy to put your finger on. With their Killers-esque aura and multidimensional darkness, they seem to effortlessly produce helplessly catchy songs. If you listen, the sound and lyrical weight pushes in, taking you over, and just as you start to sink into the depths of your own mind, reflecting on your own position in life, the chorus hooks you back to reality. Time to dance. White lies will be nothing but honest at Town Ballroom this Wednesday (Feb 26).

- samantha wulff

7pm Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / townballroom.com) $18 advance, $23 day of show

Thursday, February 27

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds

Funk and soul might be Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds’ forte, but the Brooklyn band isn’t afraid to gamble on a musical deviation. Earlier this month the collective of musicians performed Led Zeppelin’s classic album IV in its entirety in front of a sold out crowd at the Brooklyn Bowl in New York. The album was chosen after the band conducted an online poll and fans voiced their love for Led. The night went off without a hitch but it was a departure for a band that is more used to working with pop aficionados like former American Idol judge Randy Jackson, who produced the band’s recent Fight EP, than imitating legendary rock stars. After releasing their debut, self-titled album in 2010 the band quickly gained steam by touring extensively and hitting the festival circuit. They followed that up with 2012’s Pound of Dirt which pushed a more live sounding style of production. Now, Fight has singer Arleigh Kincheloe channelling a combination of Joan Jett and Tina Turner, while the band sticks to a fast-paced funk-rock style. Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds come to Nietzsche’s, as part of their mid-west tour, on Thursday (Feb 27).

- cory perla

8pm Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / nietzsches.com) $10 advance, $12 day of show