OLP headlines Molson Canal Concert Series on Friday
by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, June 26, 2009
Our Lady Peace performs Friday in Lockport. (photo by Dustin Rabin)
For Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida, status quo is simply unacceptable.
“I think some bands, they … it’s easy to phone it in these days,” he said in a recent phone interview. “When you have a solid fan base and you go out there, it’s easy to just play the songs and it will be fine. But this band is not about it being fine. It’s about really, really … tapping into that magical place.”
When Our Lady Peace performs Friday, July 3, as part of the Molson Canal Concert Series in Lockport, fans can expect plenty of passion and energy, Maida said.
To that end, the Canadian alt-rock band will unveil new songs from “Burn, Burn.” In stores July 21, OLP’s seventh studio album was crafted to sound and feel like a concert performance.
“This record that we just made was really based on the premise of performing live,” Maida said. “That was really kept at the forefront when I was producing it, in terms of keeping it stripped down – making sure that whatever recording and writing is going on (feels) like watching us live.”
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Niagara Frontier Publications, June 23, 2009
James Purefoy stars as Teddy Rist on “The Philanthropist.” (NBC Photo: Kelly Walsh)
In the premiere episode of NBC’s “The Philanthropist” (Wednesday, 10/9 Central), billionaire Teddy Rist (James Purefoy) comes to a moment in life where he just has to stop, drop everything, and do something. In what back-story we’re given, that something would normally revolve around being a playboy or securing a business deal. But, something has changed in Teddy’s life, and he’s driven – obsessed even – to help those in desperate need of food, shelter and medical supplies.
For series creator Tom Fontana (“Oz,” “Homicide: Life on the Street”), the inspiration for Teddy Rist came from an encounter with a real life do-gooder.
“The role that James is playing is inspired by an actual philanthropist, a man named Bobby Sager, who was a businessman, earned a lot of money, and at one point decided that he was going to go all over the world and try to fix things,” Fontana told “Behind the Screens.” “And the character that James plays isn’t actually Bobby. We obviously fictionalized the circumstances of his life. But the heart of what Bobby believes and Teddy Rist believes is that the solution to the world’s – a lot of the world’s problems have to do with generating for people who are living, you know, below standards, that they should have a certain sense of dignity about their lives.
“And that’s the best way for them to have dignity about their lives, is through them creating a situation where they can either create a business or have jobs that generate income and also, you know, benefit the others.”
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Niagara Frontier Publications, June 22, 2009
In recent years, we’ve seen a plethora of King Arthur and Merlin types – everything from cartoons to Sean Connery to some crazy, face-painted woods dweller. Generally, the one who pulls the sword from the stone, and the man who serves as his mentor, are bona fide adults.
That’s not the case with NBC’s “Merlin” (Sunday, 8/9 Central). In this series, both the swashbuckling Arthur (Bradley James) and the enchanting Merlin (Colin Morgan) are teenagers. Moreover, they grow up together, with their destinies intertwined (so says a captured talking dragon).
Among a cast of relative unknowns, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Anthony Head (Giles) portrays Arthur’s father, King Uther Pendragon.
The English actor says the period piece (think Camelot) has all of the elements of a winning show. |
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Anthony Head is King Uther Pendragon on “NBC’s Merlin.” (NBC Photo: Mike Hogan)
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“To be honest, there's not actually that much of this kind of era been done,” he said. “I mean, one of the things about this show is it's one of those shows that you ask yourself why the hell it hasn't been done before, because it kind of basically has a little bit of everything. It has romance. It has thrills. It has spills. It has beautiful photography. It has stunning sets, beautiful costumes and it's a great thing to watch. And you do kind of wonder why it hasn't been done before.”
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New album, local date for Better Than Ezra
Band headlines 'Thursday at the Square' June 18
Preview by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, June 12, 2009
Kevin Griffin, center, and Better Than Ezra. |
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When a band travels to Western New York, oftentimes its members look forward to seeing Niagara Falls, taking in the local shops and reconnecting with fans.
Better Than Ezra? The southern trio is excited about dining on chicken wings upon returning to Buffalo on June 18.
"Honestly, it's going to sound so mundane," lead singer Kevin Griffin says. "We've played (in Western New York) a lot. One time we played there, we did this outdoor show out in this park area – it was really pretty. And somebody brought us these Buffalo wings, that were supposed to be from the original place that started them, and they came in these big, brown paper bags. And, I don't know where they were from, but we destroyed those wings! And we always wanted somebody to bring them again to a show." |
Griffin says BTE is also looking forward to some cooler temperatures. The band will be coming off some Deep South dates when it headlines "Thursday at the Square" next week.
For the Buffalo concert, the temperature is projected to be about 70 degrees when BTE takes the stage.
"We're looking forward to some cool summer weather," Griffin says. "Last night, we were in Mobile (Ala). Tonight, we're in Atlanta. Tomorrow, we're in Miami. It's hot, hot, hot and humid. We want some nice, cool, summer weather. Roll up our sleeves, have a good show and eat some Buffalo wings!"
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No 'Quiet Night' with Krall
Sultry jazz singer wows Artpark crowd
 Review by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, June 11, 2009
What a difference a day makes. Or a week for that matter.
On Wednesday, the beers, Frisbees and flip-flops that checkered the Artpark grounds one week prior were replaced with glasses of wine, white linen table clothes and sweater vests.
The occasion was a live performance by crooner extraordinaire Diana Krall and her four-piece band.
Krall, of course, presents herself as a classy performer. As such, those attending her Lewiston show dressed and acted in a slightly different manner than those attending the previous week's Tragically Hip concerts.
Though the atmosphere was overstated, the singer was anything but. At about 10 minutes past 8, with the stage decked out in delicate blue light, Krall walked out in a simple (yet elegant) black, knee-length dress and strappy high-healed shoes, accompanied by her business-casual-clad backing band.
Krall, who calls Vancouver home, is touring in support of "Quiet Nights," her 2009 release. In recent interviews, the singer and pianist has expressed excitement over this collection of new songs. No sooner did she take to the keys, than the audience expressed its collective excitement, transfixed on the singer and mother of twin boys.
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'It's a psychobilly freakout!'
Niagara Frontier Publications, June 11, 2009
Dressed like a used car salesman (or a television version of the devil), Jim Heath, also known as the Reverend Horton Heat, launched this summer's "Tuesday in the Park" concert series at Artpark in Lewiston. In a bright red suit with gray flames, a black shirt and black pants, the Texas-based Reverend – and his band of the same name – aggressively pounded out 90 minutes of rockabilly-punkabilly-psychobilly tunes, including "Jimbo Song" "Ain't No Swirl in Texas," "Psychobilly Freakout," "It's Martini Time," "400 Bucks" and "In Your Wildest Dreams." The longhaired Chylde opened the show, offering a steady diet of lingering, fuzzy rock songs. (photos by Joshua Maloni)
•For more on the Reverend Horton Heat, or to purchase photos from Tuesday's concert, visit www.wnypapers.com.
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