Few tickets remain to Friday night Billy Talent show at Rapids Theatre

NIAGARA FALLS -- Tickets still remain -- though not many -- for Friday night's Billy Talent show at the Rapids Theatre. In fact, Rapids Theatre General Manager Marc Violino said this afternoon that if the show doesn't sell out, the number of tickets remaining is likely to only be in double digits.

The Canadian rock band enjoys added popularity in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls market thanks to its heavy rotation on Canadian and Buffalo alternative radio stations. Front man Benjamin Kowalewicz is a former DJ on CFNY in Toronto, which couldn't have hurt when the band was looking for airplay.

Doors open for the show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 pre-sale or $30 at the door -- if it doesn't sell out. They're available at The Rapids Theatre box office, 1711 Main St. or online at www.ticketfly.com. Los Angeles-based BadFlower will open the show.

Following the Niagara Falls show, the band heads to New York City, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Michigan and Illinois before heading to Europe on Oct. 12.

Photo courtesy of Billy Talent / Dustin Rabin.

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PODCAST: ThinkSoJoe Show for Sept. 7, 2016

All WNY Radio's ThinkSoJoe Show hosts ThinkSoJoe and Muller showcased bands who are playing at the Music is Art Festival this Saturday, including The Rifts, Poindexter, Billy Draws Two, and Kill The Clock.

The pair also discussed the controversial statements made by Cute Is What We Aim For" front man Shaant Hacikyan, who said "rape culture" in America doesn't exist, getting rather heated about the Buffalo singer's posts to social media.

NOTE: All WNY Radio does not condone punching people in the jaw ... even if they do say something dumb. We assume ThinkSoJoe was being hyperbolic.

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'Cute' lead singer causes social media, radio uproar

BUFFALO -- "ThinkSoJoe Show" hosts Joe Kent and Brian Muller spent a large portion of their All WNY Radio show tonight devoted to the topic of rape culture -- and particularly the statements of "Cute Is What We Aim For" front man Shaant Hacikyan, who said it doesn't exist.

The radio talk show hosts, responding to an Aux.tv story forwarded them from a listener, ended up on a 30-plus minute rant about American rape culture from their unique points of view, talking at length -- and with colorful language -- about the Brock Turner case in which the Stanford student received a six-month sentence for raping a girl behind a dumpster, which was later reduced to three months for "good behavior."

Hacikyan, the only member of the Buffalo-based group who has been with the outfit since its 2005 debut, had posted about the Turner case on Facebook, stating:

Rape culture isn't a thing. For real. Playing the victim seems to fit the narrative. In my 29 years I've yet to encounter a human who is looking to rape someone. Everyone loves sex but I have never met a dude who is going out into the world to commit rape. There may be horrible humans out there who are predators but to say there is a culture of rape is short sighted & aggressive. Look into the actual statistics & get back to me.

Hacikyan later recanted, stating -- again on Facebook:

I'm sorry, I was wrong. I regret my words. I am steadfast in my appreciation to have so many people who know more than I on this topic to take the time to educate me & broaden my perspective. Truly sorry & truly thankful.

Hacikyan and Cute Is What We Aim For will play at 8:15 p.m. Saturday as part of the Music Is Art festival at Delaware Park.

Photo courtesy of Shaant Hacikyan / Facebook.

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GURNETT: Conscious has strong start in hip-hop scene

With only one year as a rapper under his belt, 21-year-old Conscious is a surprisingly adept, emerging player in the local hip-hop scene. His debut mix tape, "Waking Up the Neighbors," offers interesting rhymes, honest lyrics and a smooth flow that speak to his inspiration by artists like Drake. As with most debuts, there's room for improvement, but it's definitely a promising start.

The opening track “The Come Up” is a great showpiece for Conscious's Macklemore-like lyrics:

It's like we feed of negativity to function/
I feel purified when I'm away from it all/
If wasn't for this music/
There would be holes in the wall

The lyrics feel honest, the flow is tight and the hook --

No one said it will be easy/
People stay some people leave me/
But I will never/
No I will never lose my mind

-- is all sorts of catchy. That said, the track does have some production flaws. The beat is repetitive and only changes mildly during the hook. The backing lacks a certain inspiration, like someone just pressed the 'on' button on a drum machine. And while Conscious adequately handles singing the hook (with the aid of auto-tune), it would have been more interesting to hear another voice on the track. Some pretty female vocals could have made the song stand out more.

Similarly, “Notice Me” is a decent track but not terribly memorable. Another singer would pump up the hook and really reel listeners in. It's the addition of extra embellishments like this that could take several tracks on this album to a higher level.

Tracks like “Mario Andretti” take the mood from honest to boastful, which doesn't create as strong of an impact. The keyboards are infectious and the hook (while a little cheesy) is catchy, but this brief track has its production issues as well; the backing vocals on the hook sound like a first-take attempt missing any effects that might have made it more interesting.

“Back On” featuring Jake Lilly is the standout of the mix tape. Where some tracks sound like they were rushed in the studio, this song arrives radio-ready. It'll make you bob your head, tap your feet or whatever it is you do when you get into your groove. Conscious sounds great on this track and flows well, and Jake Lilly completely owns his verse. I love the hook, I love the groove, I love the track, period.

The final track, “Latly”(sic), highlights the best of what Conscious does: upfront, personal lyrics. Another ready-to-air track, its production is slick and well thought-out. Conscious handles the hook adeptly and the lyrics ring sincere. This is a song that many people can relate to

Lately I've been searching for a purpose/
Lately I've been feeling worthless

Overall, the seven-track "Waking Up the Neighbors" is a strong start for Conscious. At just 21, if he keeps improving like he has in his debut year, he could be a standout in Buffalo and beyond. Some fixable production complaints aside, his tracks have a strong flow and sense of rhythm, and when the production hits its sweet spot, the sound is polished with hooks that'll stay in your head and beats that'll make you move. If you're into honest, slice-of-life hip-hop, you should check out this mix tape. The future looks promising for Conscious.

For more on Conscious, check out his Facebook and Twitter.

Ryan Gurnett is a local musician with an appreciation for other local music. Email him at never_really_been@hotmail.com or find him on Twitter @SirWilliamIdol.

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Central Terminal jazz series concludes Sept. 14

BUFFALO -- Buffalo’s Historic Central Terminal will conclude its Terminal Jazz Series featuring musicians from the Colored Musicians Club at 6 p.m. Sept. 14.

Featured will be Jazz/R&B recording artist E-Life 7, comprised of the talent of Buffalo Music Hall of Fame members Michael Pennick on bass and Ron Walker on guitar, supported by keyboardists Charlie Crymes and Rodney Spears, as well as Tim Webb on drums.

E-Life 7 will entertain at the historic location, playing R&B, jazz classics and songs from their E-Life 7 “Miked Up” CD. E-Life 7, also known as EL7, stands for "Enjoy Life 7 days a week."

Admission to the event is $5. Food and beverage will also be available for purchase.

Image of Michael Pennick courtesy of E-Life 7.

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HEaRD in WNY: Top shows for the week of Sept. 5 - 11

It's time for this year's Music Is Art Festival coming up Saturday, September 10th, when Delaware Park sprawls out into the biggest celebration of local music this side of the Erie Canal. With more stages than your favorite "big name" festival showcasing music from the area all day alongside hundreds of vendors, art performances, and of course plenty of food and drinks to go around.

Bring the kids, your grandparents, and any outcasts or free thinkers you may know to this uniquely Buffalo event. Because the 716 music scene thrives in our city thanks to all of you who continue to come out and support it!

/// other shows ///

Firestarter: 6 p.m. tonight at Mohawk Place
Rapper Big Pooh (of Little Brother): 6 p.m. Wednesday at Evening Star Concert Hall
Musicians For Peace: 6 p.m. Thursday at Buffalo Iron Works
Atomic Aggressor: 8 p.m. Thursday at Rockin' Buffalo
Slyfest 11: Noon Friday through 6 p.m. Sunday at the Heron
Immaculate Mafia: 6 p.m. Friday at Evening Star Concert Hall
Hell On The Hill 6: 2 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton Hill (Cuba)
Polterabend / A Stag Party for Andrew & Allana: 8 p.m. Saturday at Mohawk Place
Super American: 9 p.m. Saturday at Nietzsche's

Greg Burt is a Concert Promoter/Sound Guy/Music Supporter/Keyboardist/etc. He can be reached at Greg@FTMPEvents.com. For the full FTMP show calendar, visit www.FTMPEvents.com.

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PODCAST: The ThinkSoJoe Show for Aug. 31, 2016

After a one-week absense, the ThinkSoJoe Show returned to the airwaves Wednesday evening with special guest co-host JT of BoredWrestlingFan.com.

The show's music was provided by The Abruptors, The Barksdales, Wolf Tickets, Trinkit, and The Rabies.

The ThinkSoJoe Show broadcasts live every Wednesday from 6 - 8 p.m. only on All WNY Radio.

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