Comedian Barry Crimmins helped jumpstart the Boston standup scene in the 80’s after he founded the comedy clubs The Ding Ho and Stitches, which gave Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Denis Leary, and so many other comedians their start. A truth-teller and political satirist — he has a book out called “Never Shake Hands […]
Jake Clapp
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AMERICANA | Folkfaces
Yeah, “folk” is in the name, but Buffalo’s Folkfaces draws from every original American genre and adds a healthy dose of acoustic punk to seal in the cracks. There’s blues and jazz; bluegrass, jug-band, and ragtime; and kazoos and washboards. Folkfaces is just a team of young musicians interpreting old styles with original cuts. Folkfaces […]
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COMEDY | “‘Twas the Night After Christmas”
And somewhere in town, a few comics were stirring with a laughable sound. And that’s as far as we go with the poetry. After the bustle of Christmas day has been settled, The Comedy Club will continue the good cheer with a night of area comedians. Marianne Sierk — the co-host of The Wease Show […]
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SPECIAL EVENT | “Snowkus Pocus”
While the prospects of a white Christmas in Rochester are looking slim — a good or bad thing depending on who you ask — Cirque-tacular Entertainment will create its own winter wonderland with its show “Snowkus Pocus.” The winter-themed circus and variety show will feature aerial acrobatics and feats, dance, comedy, and visual storytelling, like […]
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HIP-HOP | G Herbo
G Herbo’s voice carries the weight of a man well past his years. The 20-year-old rapper grew up in a violent part of Chicago’s East Side — an area horrifically nicknamed Terror Town — and well, they say write what you know. Herbo’s music can be called drill — a Chicago hip-hop subgenre that uses […]
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CLASSICAL | RPO’s Gala Holiday Pops
In its 22nd year, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gala Holiday Pops performance is likely a well-known tradition for a lot of Rochester families celebrating the season — but it’s still worth highlighting for the orchestra’s engaging and beautiful performance. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik will lead the performance, which will feature the Festival High School […]
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Rochester Fringe Festival announces 2016 dates
The Rochester Fringe Festival today announced the dates for its 2016 event. The 10-day Fringe will take place Thursday, September 15, through Saturday, September 24 — a similar time frame as the 2014 and 2015 Fringes. The Fringe also announced that it has also been recommended for a $20,000 Art Works award from the National […]
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CLASSICAL | RPO plays “Home Alone”
“Home Alone” — that 1990 holiday season classic that taught kids how all you really need to protect your home are some clever booby traps — really has a charming score that can still stand alone from the movie during the snowy months. The score was composed by John Williams (just a year after his […]
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CAJUN | C’est Bon
C’est Bon’s Facebook page says its “hard-rockin, foot-stompin, girl-powered Cajun dancehall music,” and I don’t know how to put that any better. The five-woman band formed in 2010 and has been consistently hitting the road along the East Coast since. If your band from New York State can get a Cajun old-schooler like Jesse Lege […]
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METAL | Battlecross
You don’t want to pigeonhole Battlecross — just know that these guys play fast. Really fast. The Michigan-based metal band tosses thrash, melodic death, and a pinch of modern metalcore into a blender and hits the “liquefy” button. Battlecross is out on tour now for its third studio album, “Rise to Power.” Havok, Nekrogoblikon, and […]
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Seasonal greetings
You should have some fun this holiday season. It’s so easy to get wrapped up (no pun intended) in gift giving, party planning, and frantic family events that you forget to relax and enjoy the time with friends and family. Keep in mind that this is a season for celebrating. There should be good food […]
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METAL | Castle
This is no frills, hit you with a brick, doom-tinged metal. Castle keeps things heavy and simple as a trio — vocalist and bassist Liz Blackwell; guitarist Mat Davis; and drummer Al McCartney — with a focus on powerful, immovable songwriting. Some righteous heavy metal and rock influences drag themselves up from the 70’s, but […]
