Buffalo/Niagara Film Festival

opening Friday, May 1

Now in its third year, the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival will spend the next week bringing new movies and events to locations around Western New York. The festival opens on Friday (May 1) with a 35th anniversary tribute to American Grafitti, including a classic car show, an appearance by co-star Cindy Williams, and screenings of the film and its 1978 sequel, More American Grafitti.

Other special events include a Veterans Day program featuring Armed Forces-themed movies and documentaries on Sunday (May 3), and a day-long Tribute to the “Old West” on the following Saturday (May 9), at Lockport’s Freedom Run Winery.

As for the movies, the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival has scheduled 30 feature films along with programs of shorts, student films, and music videos. There will also be panels with industry professionals on such topics as publicity, marketing, and distribution; legal, business and film financing; animation and special effects; and student film production. Screenings and events will take place at North Tonawanda’s Riviera Theater and the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, with closing night ceremonies at the Mansion on Delaware on Sunday (May 10). Advance tickets for single events and series passes are available at the Riviera and Market Arcade box offices, and at TicketLeap.com. For a schedule and more information about the films visit www.buffaloniagarafilmfestival.com.

—m. faust.

Thursday, April 30 - Saturday, May 2

Muse

This weekend (Thursday, April 30, Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2), the Leanne Schmidt and Company dance group will be performing Muse, their multi-faceted show at the Alt Theatre. While the dance group hails from Brooklyn, Schmidt is a Buffalo native. Joining Leanne Schmidt and Company will be local dance artist and ALT THeatre founder Amy Taravella, who will be playing the lead role in this dark comedy that deals with a woman faced with the difficult decisions ahead of her and the effect that past decisions have had on her life. During the course of the action this troubled character calls upon her “muses” to aid her in making, and feeling comfortable with, life altering decisions. Showtimes are each evening, Thursday through Saturday, at 8pm. Doors open at 7:30pm.

—justin sondel

8pm. ALT Theatre, 255 Great Arrow Ave. (868-6847 / www.alttheatre.com). $10/general admission or $7/students

Friday, May 1

Chuck Mangione, Flight 3407 Benefit Concert

Two members of Chuck Mangione’s band perished in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 on February 13. Mangione’s appearance with the BPO that night was canceled, but the famed jazz musician returns to play Kleinhans this Friday (May 1) instead. And he’s helping to foot the cost of a post-concert fundraiser to benefit the Clarence Town Flight 3407 Memorial Fund. Following Mangione’s 8pm concert with the BPO, the action shifts to Kleinhan’s Mary Seaton Room, which will be lavishly supplied with food and drink. (Donations for food and drink benefit the fund.) The entertainment will include a performance of the song “Love Knows No Boundaries,” featuring Noa Bursie, Gretchen Schulz, Bass Reeves, Jerry Livingston, Ken Kaufman, Emile Latimer, and Ella Robinson & the New Beginnings Gospel Choir. Vocalist Ben Baia will perform a set of popular standards. The event is free and open to the public.

—geoff kelly

10pm. Mary Seaton Room, Kleinhans Music Hall, 1 Symphony Circle (www.loveknowsnoboundaries.org). FREE

Friday, May 1

Electro-Respect II: A Tribute to Mark Freeland

I reckon this officially makes the Freeland tribute an annual event. Last May Day, Nietzsche’s hosted a lineup of 10 bands whose musicians tipped their hats to the late Freeland, one of the most recognizable, energetic, and creative figures on the city’s arts and music scene for at least four decades, from his high school days in Kenmore in the early 1970s to his death in 2007. This year, they’re at it again: David Kane, Michael Wagner, Anal Peanut Pudding Satellite (some elsion of bands there), Ed Kobain, Emile Latimer, Maria Sebastian, Kent Weber, and Cowboys of Scotland are just a few of the acts that take the stage at Nietzsche’s on Friday to remember Freeland. I guess one could say Freeland’s influence continues.

—geoff kelly

10pm. Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / www.nietzsches.com)

Saturday, May 2

The Thermals

An indie pop-punk power trio from Portland, Oregon, the Thermals blew crowds away at the last SXSW Music Festival and are riding that wave across the country on this most recent tour. The band was snapped up by Sub Pop records in 2003 after playing only a hanfdful of shows. After two releases on Sub Pop (2004’s Fuckin’ A and 2006’s The Body, The Blood, The Machine), the Thermals left that label for Kill Rock Stars to record their latest, 2009’s Now We Can See. With this kind of career momentum and the band’s hi-fi energy and fun attitude (which is immediately evident in the music and the lyrics), this can only be what they call “a band to watch.” Seize this chance to watch them on the small stage at Soundlab on Saturday (May 2). Chances are low we’ll get another opportunity like this.

—k. o’day

9pm. Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (www.bigorbit.org/soundlab). $12/advance (at www.Ticketweb.com) or $14/day of show

Monday, May 4

Best of Buffalo 2009

Its time again for Artvoice’s Annual Best of Buffalo Bash at the Town Ballroom! This year’s event will be held on Monday (May 4) from 6-9pm. In attendance are always throngs of nominees and their friends and relatives from the top five winners in each category (we printed the names last week, in no particular order, of course). The party is a celebration for all of those nominated, and the number one vote-getter for each category will be announced during the party by our celebrity MCs, Artvoice Theater Editor Anthony Chase and last year’s Best Actress winner Lisa Ludwig. Performances by the Stripteasers, nominated for Best Weekly Live Act @ Roxy’s (those are the Roxy’s girls pictured above, at last year’s Best of Buffalo Bash), Lana & Hund (Lana nominated for Best Female Vocalist and both of them nominated for Best Rock Band for their other project, Black Widow), and music by DJ L’il Joe (nominated for Best Club DJ) are on the bill for the entertainment, and delicious samples provided by nominees is the food category will, we hope, be plentiful.

—av

6-9pm. The Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. (852-3900 / www.townballroom.com) FREE & open to the public

Tuesday, May 7

Mogwai

Tuesday (May 5) Buffalo will be hosting the sounds of Mogwai (yes, the band is named after a Gremlin). Like how the name rolls off your tongue? You’ll love how the beat invades your ears and plays to your thoughts. Not having any lyrics in their latest album The Hawk Is Howling, Mogwai’s instrumental styling fills the void of no words. Their sound will likewise leave you speechless...as they say on the band’s Myspace page “Mogwai paint pictures in sound; no words needed.” Coming all the way from Glasgow, Scotland, Mogwai is just setting out on their North American tour starting from Canada and bashing it all the way out to Los Angeles. Mogwai will be painting the walls of the Tralf Music Hall starting at 8pm with opening act, Twilight Sad, also from Scotland. The show should be unforgettable, so come early enough to catch both acts

—josh figueroa

8pm. Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St, Buffalo. (852-2860 / www.tralfmusichall.com) $20 presale/$24 day of show at Ticketmaster

Thursday, May 7

Diplo

Beat guru, Spin’s 2005 DJ of the Year, and Temple University grad (what?), DJ Diplo is making his way up to Buffalo. Hitting Soundlab, he plans to weave his turntable magic next Thursday (May 7), bringing joy to all the rave girls and boys. This isn’t your standard Darude fair, however, as Diplo is one of the decade’s prominent trip-hop figures. He and his buddy DJ Low Budget— under the moniker Hollertronix—pretty much started their own club scene in Philly during the early 2000’s. And Diplo is also credited with introducing a little British/Sri-Lankan named M.I.A. to the states-side of the pond. Like M.I.A., this former Florida swamp rat is know for throwing a prism–like spectrum of music into hip-hop —skimming Reggie, jazz, electronica, and rock over drum and bass. But since he is a DJ, his live shows are strictly for the dance-minded. So anyone into adventurous electronica and hip-hop should go get silly at Soundlab, and maintain a little composure with some seriously clever beats.

—geoff anstey

9 pm. Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (883-3209/ www.bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab). $10

Thursday, May 7

Orange Tulip Conspiracy

Last year, freak rockers Secret Chiefs 3 and Estradashpere had a baby and named it Orange Tulip Conspiracy. Including members from both experimental vets, OTC is coming to Nietzsche’s next Thursday (May 7) and promises to blow minds with some staggering virtuosity, providing a self-described “musician’s show.” People who know the origins of this band won’t be surprised that their music is a boiling pot of genres mixing jazz, funk, metal, lounge, gypsy, and god knows what else. As bloated as their mix of styles are, the compositions are kept tight with songs that are fast in both pace and movement, keeping little fat on the bone. There isn’t much meandering, but the band is anything but straight forward, and their weird instrumental antics may not appeal to the masses. But anyone associated with a certain Mr. Bungle will find some refuge here and will be pleased to see that Trey Spruance is among the already stellar group members. And to add a spice of mysticism, Buffalo’s Casperous Vine will be opening with their brand of gypsy folk.

—geoff anstey

9pm. Nietzsche’s. 248 Allen St. (886-8539 / www.nietzsches.com)

Thursday, May 7

Jennifer Batten

Guitar goddess Jennifer Batten will be at Broadway Joe’s next Thursday (May 7). Batten, who visited Broadway Joe’s last October, is currently touring in support of her new CD/DVD Whatever. Watch in awe as Batten performs uncanny guitar solos that will leave the most experienced Guitar Hero enthusiast jaw-dropped. Batten, who has toured with Michael Jackson (several times) and Jeff Beck, among others, has been around the world shredding for millions of people. When Jackson played the half-time show for Super Bowl XXVII he once again selected her as his guitarist. Over one and a half billion people viewed that performance. Batten has a lot of versatility too, as is evident in the fact that she was simultaneously in six different bands at one point, with styles ranging from rock to funk to metal fusion. If you are a guitar enthusiast or just love face-melting solos you should do yourself a favor and head to Broadway Joe’s to see this show. Schmeidler O’Connell Syndrome opens the show

—justin sondel

7pm. Broadway Joe’s Bar & Grill, 3051 Main St. (837-3650 / www.bjoes.com)