Cover Story
Art and tech collide in W. Michelle Harris’s socially charged work
The digital-media artist tackles social and political issues by using racist historic imagery, self-portraiture, and audience interaction
The F Word: Blown cover
There are some songs you just shouldn’t touch
City files suit against Thurston Road Realty
The City of Rochester has filed suit against landlord Peter Hungerford’s company, Thurston Road Realty. Several properties owned by Hungerford have racked up dozens of outstanding city code violations, including 447 Thurston Road, which still has more than 68 outstanding violations — down from 72 just last week. “Landlords and property managers have an obligation…
Mayor Warren proposes slight budget increase for 2018-2019
Mayor Lovely Warren is proposing a budget of $539.6 million budget for 2018-19, a 2.4 percent increase over last year’s budget and an increase of $43.37 in taxes and fees for the typical city homeowner. The budget, which she released this morning, would fund public infrastructure work, new neighborhood police offices, additional staffing for the…
Fresh Cut: ‘Little Girl’ by Sam Nitsch
“Little Girl,” the first single off Sam Nitsch’s “Conscience,” is an innocent love-ballad for a teenage crush
JAZZ | Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio emerged from the Rochester scene in the early 1980’s to become one of the leading groups in the smooth jazz and fusion genre. When the group hits the stage at Anthology, with original founding member Curtis Kendrick and vocalist Becca Feder, it will pay tribute to two of the greatest acts of the…
JAZZ | Duck Baker
If you admire the ingenuity, complexity, and brilliance of Thelonious Monk’s compositions played on the piano, imagine what it would take to figure them out on a guitar. That’s just what Duck Baker has done using his dazzling finger picking technique and harmonic sensibility. Over the past five decades, Baker has earned a reputation in…
CLASSICAL | ‘Wunderhorn’
As Mahlerians know, a Wunderhorn is a Magic Horn, and that charmed instrument, as performed by RPO Principal Wunderhorn W. Peter Kurau, takes center stage at the final Society for Chamber Music concert of the season. No Mahler is included, but you will hear trios including the horn by two German Romantic-era composers whose paths…
CLASSICAL/KIDS | ‘Beethoven Lives Upstairs’
“Beethoven Lives Upstairs” takes a familiar situation — a family is short of money and takes in a boarder — and gives it a musical twist: the new boarder happens to be a great composer, with a bad temper and worse hair. Herr Beethoven is a noisy, irascible tenant, but he eventually proves to be,…
METAL | Sumo Cyco
With throaty vocals mixed with Beyoncé choreography mixed with Avenged Sevenfold’s structured drive, Sumo Cyco flat out rocks. Since 2011, this Hamilton, Ontario, quartet has delivered the bruises. It’s relentless nu-metal, but it’s punk, too. You’re going to wanna catch Sumo Cyco’s set opening for Butcher Babies, another female-fronted blast from the now. Sumo Cyco…
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Diana Chittester
Cleveland guitarist Diana Chittester is a capably casual vocalist, copping to bursts of energy when lyrically deemed appropriate. The real drama, however, is in her aggressive slap, pluck, and twang approach to the acoustic guitar. Just when you were getting comfortable, she lets fly with the strings and chords. Her new album, “Paradox,” is out…
PSYCHOBILLY | Grease Creepers
One of few psychobilly bands in Rochester, Grease Creepers gives a fun, high-energy zombie-rock experience, from hauntingly raucous playing to ghostly face makeup. Unborn in 2016, the members of Grease Creepers felt as though all the great rock n’ roll gods, garage rock heartthrobs, and true punk rockers were gone. The band has a mission…
TRADITIONAL | Leah Ou and the Janus Duo
For the last 10 years, the Rochester Guitar Club has focused on bringing unique talent to its members and to the Rochester community as a whole. The club’s upcoming two-part concert features three phenomenal musicians currently living in Rochester. Leah Ou, who moved here from China, has a story to tell. Having been trained classically…
Feedback 5/16
We welcome your comments. Send them to themail@rochester-citynews.com, or post them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com, our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed, @roccitynews. For our print edition, we select comments from all three sources; those of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit selections for publication in…
Urban Action 5/16
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Film links guns, politics, and money ROC the Possibilities and several activist groups opposed to gun violence will show the documentary film “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA” on Sunday, May…
THEATER | ‘Rhinoceros’
As part of their 2018-19 season, longstanding community theater company Bread & Water will present Eugene Ionesco’s oft-studied, rarely performed “Rhinoceros.” The 1959 avant-garde drama tells the story of a small town in provincial France where the citizens are slowly transforming into rhinoceroses, and a sole inhabitant, Bérenger, is left observing as the town’s social…
Rundel’s renovations highlight the river
Rundel Library’s terrace is undergoing a nearly $7 million restoration that will showcase the city’s past and help improve the area around Broad Street, South Avenue, and Court Street.
DANCE | ‘Stravinsky/Bowie’
The Rochester City Ballet will close the 2017-18 season with “Stravinsky/Bowie,” a melding of “Rite of Spring” and “Under the Moonlight,” two differing programs developed by RCB artistic director David Palmer. This will be the first time “Rite of Spring” has been performed in Rochester (it was originally developed by Palmer and co-choreographer Yanis Pikieris…
Rochester plans suit against landlord Peter Hungerford
The city plans to to sue Peter Hungerford in City Court over outstanding code violations at several apartment buildings he owns.
THEATER | ‘No Struggle, No Progress’
Sonnenberg Gardens will join the yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass with “No Struggle, No Progress,” a multimedia performance production, on Sunday, May 20. The event — which is included with a discounted park admission that day — will feature visual images, dance, music, and the words of Frederick…
‘Authentic’ is a fine word for The Wood Brothers
Oliver Wood’s voice has a Levon Helm quality to it, a plaintive howl, and the songs fit that rural landscape. As does the groove laid down by Chris Wood on his upright bass and percussionist Jano Rix.
FILM | ‘Lake of Betrayal’
Through August, Friends of Ganondagan’s spring and summer programming lineup includes activities, screenings, exhibits, storytelling, and the annual Native American Music & Dance Festival. This weekend a screening of ‘Lake of Betrayal’ will be held at the Seneca Art & Culture Center, followed by a discussion with filmmaker Paul Lamont, writer and producer Scott Sackett,…
Album review: ‘Candy Isle’
Candy Isle “Channel Surfing” Self-released candyisle.bandcamp.com I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard Sleater-Kinney sing a madrigal, but I know what it might sound like: the Rochester acoustic duo Candy Isle. Topic-wise, “Channel Surfing” is a concept record about, well, channel surfing and the joy of landing on your favorite shows. It’s fairly light-hearted stuff…
ART | ‘Eric Bellmann: Just This’
Rochester native Eric Bellmann’s first solo show in 20 years is currently on view at the Out Alliance’s Gallery Q. “Just This: Watercolors, Drawings, etc, 40 years, 40+ works” features Bellmann’s rarely-exhibited male nudes, ranging from elegantly-rendered casual poses and expert gestural sketches, to hyper-real portraits of expressive, tattooed arms. “Just This” continues through Thursday,…
Album review: ‘Get Wild Somewhere’
Jon Lewis Band “Get Wild Somewhere” Self-released whoisjonlewis.com With a throwback talkbox-soaked cascade and crush, the Jon Lewis Band hits the sky running with its brand new CD, “Get Wild Somewhere.” It’s a cool, cool album that beautifully shows off Lewis’s teeter-totter dynamics as a songwriter and as a performer. Just dig the Lloyd Cole-esque…
ART | Folk Art Guild Open Studios
We’re getting some lovely daytrip-worthy weather lately, and there are lots of great options all around us for dipping outta dodge. Last weekend The Folk Art Guild artisans kicked off the 2018 craft season with the first stretch of their open studios, which concludes this weekend. Visitors to the guild’s East Hill Farm can peek…
BLACK METAL | Pillorian
While a hyper-introverted genre like blackened folk metal rarely, if ever, gives rise to controversial public figures, John Haughm has consistently proven to be an exception to the rule. As if being the front-man and creative genesis behind Agalloch, one of this century’s most beloved and critically acclaimed metal bands, wasn’t enough, Haughm’s highly controversial…
A Starbucks grande plan for reducing racism
The notion of hidden bias, and the need to recognize it and change it, has been widely embraced in the business world. But while self-analysis may help change employees, it may not help change the company.
Review: ‘The Bridges of Madison County, the Musical’
A small but mighty cast presents the adapted tale of a Midwestern whirlwind affair, with a range of soaring ballads, gospel, and honky-tonk.
Democratic candidates line up for Morelle’s Assembly seat
Democrats are headed toward a likely primary for the 136th Assembly District seat. The office is up for grabs because Joe Morelle, who currently holds it, is instead running for the House seat left vacant after the death of longtime Representative Louise Slaughter. On Saturday, Monroe County Democratic Committee chair Jamie Romeo announced her candidacy.…
Iron Smoke Distillery’s spirited new venue
A three-day celebration this week will mark the opening of the distillery’s new World Famous Spirit Factory, Watering Room and Side Show.
Film review: ‘Life of the Party’
The formulaic film aspires to be both a raucous college comedy and a sweet story about a middle-aged woman learning to get her groove back. Neither thread is entirely satisfying, but what works does so because of Melissa McCarthy’s immensely likable presence.
Film review: ‘Racer and the Jailbird’
Michaël R. Roskam’s film tries to blend a flashy crime-thriller with somber romantic drama as it tracks the relationship between an affluent race car driver and a career criminal with a heart of gold named. But it fails.
BIODANCE celebrates 12 years in the art of humanity
Rochester’s repertory dance company will present a series of collaborative concerts at Geva in celebration of its 12th year.
