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THIS WEEK ISSUE NO. 29 | JUNE 3, 2015

Welcome to The Public, Partner.

ONE LESS DEATH PENALTY STATE: Bruce Jackson on Nebraska’s choice.

BOOKS: Peter Johnson explains black culture to white people.

LOOKING BACKWARD: The block that was where One M&T Plaza is now.

FILM: Love and Mercy, Saint Laurent, Entourage. Plus local cinema listings and capsules.

CENTERFOLD: Time by Stephanie Dubin, at Glow Gallery this Friday.

ON THE COVER

ART: Lilt: Kyle Butler at Nina Freudenheim Gallery.

STEVE ARDO, Rad-o-saurus Rex, is an illustrator and graphic designer for Buffalo’s DIY music community. He will be participating in Chroma, Glow Gallery’s LGBTQ art exhibition. See his work on Instagram: @grandtheftardo.

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LOCAL NEWS

THE PUBLIC RECORD:

SCHNEIDERMAN, SEDITA, PIGEON

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BY GEOFF KELLY SCHNEIDERMAN ON SEDITA: “I DON’T KNOW WHERE FRANK IS TODAY”: On Tuesday afternoon, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman came to Buffalo to drum up support for the ethics reform legislation he has proposed, which would prohibit outside income for legislators, increase legislators’ terms from two to four years, lower contribution limits, close the loophole that allows LLCs to flood campaign with donations, and permit public funding of campaigns, among other provisions. Alongside the usual media types covering the press conference on the steps of old County Hall were a handful of good-government advocates, as well as passersby. One of these was attorney Mark Sacha, the former deputy district attorney who was fired in 2009 by his boss, Frank A. Sedita III, after he publicly accused Sedita of protecting political operative Steve Pigeon from investigation because of Pigeon’s political ties to the Sedita family. Schneiderman’s office, of course, took part in last Thursday’s raids of the residences of three local political operatives: Pigeon, former Buffalo deputy mayor Steve Casey, and Chris Grant, who is chief of staff to Congressman Chris Collins. “Where is Frank Sedita today?” Sacha asked Schneiderman during the question-and-answer period. That is, why was the county’s top law enforcement official—a former member of the governor’s Moreland Commission on public corruption—absent from a press conference about putting an end to public corruption? Could it be, Sacha was suggesting, that he is laying low because his crony Pigeon is in Schneiderman’s crosshairs? Because the state attorney general had made the county district attorney look lousy by daring to investigate where Sedita refused to? Schneiderman had already rebuffed one question about Thursday’s raid, calling it an ongoing investigation. But he smiled at Sacha’s question, paused, then said, “I don’t know where Frank is today.” Indeed, no one knows where Frank Sedita has been in the last week. The region’s other premier law enforcement official, US Attorney Bill Hochul, had the good sense to recuse himself from the investigation: His wife, Kathy, is lieutenant governor, and Pigeon frequently touts his close relationship with Governor Andrew Cuomo; plus, his wife lost her seat in Congress to Collins in 2012. Sedita, on the other hand, is acting as if the whole thing isn’t happening. THE LATEST NOTES AND RUMORS: GOP political operative Mike Caputo reports on his blog, PoliticsNY.net, that Kristy Mazurek is cooperating with investigators in Pigeon/Casey/Grant investigation and has been granted immunity by prosecutors. Mazurek—erstwhile TV talk-show host, scion of a Cheektowaga political family—is the treasurer for Western New York Progressive Caucus, the campaign committee whose screwy activities and campaign finance disclosure filings in 2012 led to the investigation that resulted in Thursday’s raids. The fact that Mazurek’s house was not raided suggested to many that she might be cooperating. She has retained veteran defense attorney Joel Daniels, which is as sure a signal as exists around here that she has done something wrong. It’s not unlike Pigeon hiring attorney Paul Cambria, or… 1) Also lawyering up is State Senator Tim Kennedy, who has retained Terry Connors—every bit has high-profile a hire as Mazurek’s bringing in Daniels or Pigeon bringing in Cambria. (Casey is represented by Rodney Personius, Grant by Thomas Eoannou—also big names.) Kennedy donated $85,000 to Western New York Progressive Caucus, $40,000 of which was supposed to have come from a committee that Kennedy made inactive two years earlier. But his house wasn’t raided and, just like the three whose houses were searched, he has not yet been accused of any wrongdoing. I suppose he’s thinking: Better safe than sorry. 2) We are told there are five targets of the probe. We know three of their names; the other two remain a mystery, but one of them is supposedly a big donor to local campaigns. 3) Western New York Progressive Caucus spent

Wed. Night Everyday Lunch Special a fair chunk of money with Buying Time, a DCVegan Special based political consulting firm. Buying Time has + 1 ITEM PIZZA TWO SLICES + A 20OZ. DRINK LARGE CHEESE ANY LARGE VEGAN PIZZA been popular with Democrats statewide in the last only $5.65 only $11.95 only An$16.25 few election cycles, including with Governor

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drew Cuomo and his allies. When the Moreland Commission subpoenaed Buying Time’s financial 94 ELMWOOD AVEexamination / Delivery 716.885.0529 / ALLENTOWNPIZZABUFFALO.COM records as part of its of corruption 94 ELMWOOD AVE / Delivery 716.885.0529 in New York State politics, the governor’s office Hours SUNDAY-THURSDAY: 11AM-12AM / FRIDAY-SATURDAY: 11AM-4:30AM pressured the commission to withdraw the subALLENTOWNPIZZABUFFALO.COM poena—which it dutifully did. This was the beginning of the end of the Moreland Commission. 4) Grant’s involvement likely has to do with a political consulting and printing company called Herd Solutions, of which he was CEO until he joined Collins as chief of staff. Rumor has it that Casey was a silent partner in Herd Solutions, and that the company may have been serving kickbacks to its principals and allies in a number of ways—overbilling, billing for services that were never delivered, etc. (Though Grant is a Republican and Casey and Pigeon are Democrats, the three have connived politically before; when Collins was Erie County executive, he worked with SILO CITY: SILO CITY: Pigeon and Casey to create a Collins-friendly IFmajority YOU APPROVE ERRORS WHICH ARE ON THIS PROOF, THE PUBLIC CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE EXAMINE THE AD GROUNDED VERTICAL in the county legislature, allying dissident Democratic legislators Republicans. THOROUGHLY EVEN IF THE AD ISwith A PICK-UP. TUESDAYS • 6PM THURSDAYS • 6PM Grant also pitched in on Brown’s last re-election Advertisers Signature campaign.) Herd Solutions serviced local GOP Head to the top of � CHECK COPY CONTENT MESSAGE TO ADVERTISER At ground level, candidates, mostly, as well as the state GOP, the complexes to Thank you for advertising with experience the and independent Assemblyman Mickey Kearns, experience the history THE PUBLIC. Please review your ____________________________ monumental scale of a Buffalo Democrat who won his seat in 2012 and mechanics. ad and check any errors. � CHECK IMPORTANT DATES running on the for Republican and The Independence the grain elevators. *Dinner Included original layout instructions have lines. The company also did business with Matt Reservations Required* been followed as closely as possible. Date _______________________ Doheny’s unsuccessful 2014 bid for New York’s � CHECK NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE #, THE PUBLIC offersDistrict designseat. services 21st Congressional In two years the with two did proofs no charge. THE in New & WEBSITE company aboutat$850,000 in business PUBLIC is according not responsible forSome any observers Y15W22 York State, to filings. Issue: ______________________ FOR A FULL SCHEDULE, RESERVATIONS, + MORE INFORMATION error if not notified 24 hours have noted that one within of Herd’s clients,ofstate Senator MikeThe Ranzenhofer, sent his $74,000 payment receipt. production department PROOF OK (NO CHANGES) to an office NorthinCarolina. must have in a Asheville, signed proof order If�Herd is suspected of fraud, then, the fax fraudthis crossed state to print. Please sign and lines and became a federal matter. THIS PROOF MAY ONLY BE USED FOR back or approve by responding to 5) Pigeon PUBLICATION IN THE PUBLIC. �SenPROOF OK (WITH CHANGES) this email. has been fired as a lobbyist for the eca Nation of Indians. The investigation seems to center on the source of donations to Western New York Progressive Caucus, and there is Seneca money in that mix.

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THE MCCARTHY/PIGEON NEXUS: If ever you doubt that Steve Pigeon’s career is anything less than a rocketship, forever ascendant behind an awe-inspiring plume of fire, the columns of Buffalo News reporter Bob McCarthy exist to set you right. Two Sundays ago, for example, McCarthy offered the latest in his regular series of single-sourced columns celebrating Pigeon’s putative influence in Albany and afield. (The single source was, of course, Pigeon.) In the column, McCarthy allowed the political apparatchik an opportunity to spin his recent departure from his Rochester based law firm, Underberg & Kessler, ostensibly to expand the lobbying firm he runs with longtime acolyte Gary Parenti. “I do so much consulting and lobbying now that it just made sense,” Pigeon told McCarthy. Why does that make sense? Pigeon was “of counsel” to Underberg & Kessler. His job was to use his political contacts to steer business to the firm. He did little, if any, actual lawyering. How could his lobbying activity take time away from a job whose objectives were accomplished simultaneous to that lobbying activity? The decision, Pigeon told McCarthy, was “mutual.” So it’s fair to say that the firm was pleased to see him go. Let’s consider some other possible explanations for his departure: 1) Pigeon was not producing as much work for the firm as it would like. 2) The firm was worried (or knew) that Pigeon would be swept up by the investigation that led to his home being searched on Thursday by state and federal agents. 3) A combination of #1 and #2: The firm worried about Pigeon’s exposure, and the business he produced was not enough to justify the risk to the firm’s reputation and clients. These explanations all make much more sense than “I just want to spend more time with Gary Parenti.” But the Buffalo News’s politics reporter either didn’t challenge Pigeon’s explanation for his deparP ture or decided not to share his defense of it.

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NEWS COMMENTARY

NEBRASKA SENATE KILLS ITS DEATH PENALTY And the Unites States takes one more step toward an ethical, civilized society BY BRUCE JACKSON THE UNITED STATES IS the only industrialized western nation that still permits the death penalty. It has been dwindling in the past two decades: 315 people were executed in 1996, 72 in 2014. That same year, according to Death Penalty Information Center, “death sentences reached their lowest level in 40 years, with only 73 people sentenced to death.” In the past eight years, seven states have abolished capital punishment: Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and, last week, Nebraska. Last Wednesday, the Nebraska legislature, in a 30-to-19 bipartisan vote, overrode Governor Pete Ricketts’s veto of an abolition bill the legislature had passed three times. That made Nebraska the first conservative state to abandon executions since North Dakota 42 years ago. The arguments were fierce: Some senators argued that it is simply wrong to kill, some that some criminals were so nasty the only proper response was death, some that it was just too damned expensive, some that an execution done in error cannot be fixed with a “We’re sorry” and a compensation check. Perhaps the lamest remark in the debate came from Senator Tyson Larson, who said, “Today I will sustain the governor’s veto because I campaigned on it. This might be the last time I give the state the right to take a life because I don’t think that they necessarily should.” Which is to say, “I’ll vote what my mouth once said rather than what my brain now thinks.” Or maybe it was just his way to suck up to both sides: To the abolitionists, he says, “I’m with you,” and to the governor he says, “Don’t forget that I stood by you, big guy.” Larson’s statement is typical of many death penalty advocates: full of syllogism, tortured logic, and inconsistent ethics. The Nebraska bill was introduced by Senator Ernie Chambers, who had previously tried to repeal the death penalty 36 times. Several times the bill passed, then unraveled on the senate floor. “Ironically,” reported Ted Genoways in Mother Jones, “what made [the] successful override possible was not Chambers himself but rather a new class of 18 first-year senators, who arrived all at once because of term limits originally passed in an effort to ouster Chambers.” Which is to say, the senior conservatives in the Nebraska legislature passed a law to get rid of this troublesome guy and accidentally brought in a bunch of younger people who thought for themselves.

LOOKING BACKWARD: MAIN & EAGLE, 1964 “We at M&T are delighted to be a part of the redevelopment of downtown Buffalo. There is an awareness on the part of all citizens of the Niagara Frontier that Buffalo is indeed meeting the challenge of these changing times.” –Charles W. Millard Jr., Chairman, M&T Bank, 1966 This view of Main Street, looking south from Eagle Street, indicates the start of one of downtown Buffalo’s most dramatic transformations. The year is 1964, and clearance of the entire block between Main, Eagle, North Division, and Washington streets is slated for what would become One M&T Plaza. A billboard announces, “This block is the site of the new building, Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company.” In the background, demolition is underway on the old Bank of Buffalo, an Indiana limestone structure built in 1916 and designed by McKim, Mead & White. In the foreground, Bond Clothes, Thom McAn shoes, and Flagg Bros. shoes are still in operation, in spite of having been purchased with plans for demolition in 1961. The start of construction on One M&T Plaza was the first step in the Downtown Urban Renewal Project, which would, by 1968, include the destruction of dozens of buildings making up the heart of the downtown shopping district. The result in this one block—One M&T Plaza—is arguably the city’s best example of the International Style, designed by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates to be warmer and friendlier than the off-the-shelf glass box. The project was also part of the systematic replacement of downtown’s complexity with a monoculture of office buildings and parking facilities, a process that would extend well into the 1990s. Before construction began, the Buffalo Division of Planning found that the corner of Main and Eagle streets had the highest pedestrian count of any single location in Western New York. After construction was completed, the building blocks of this vitality—the many small-scale buildings with groundP floor commercial frontage—were dismantled..-THE PUBLIC STAFF

THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

COMMENTARY NEWS

P E T C

IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THE STATES THAT WANT TO EXECUTE PEOPLE TO DO SO. EXTORTION Governor Ricketts speechified widely about the utility of the death penalty. After the vote overriding his veto, he said, according to his web page, “My words cannot express how appalled I am that we have lost a critical tool to protect law enforcement and Nebraska families.” It is indeed a critical tool in law enforcement, but not in the way Ricketts suggests. Nebraska hasn’t executed anyone since 1997 and it currently has only 10 people on death row. If the act of putting people to death by lethal injection is of itself a major law enforcement tool, it’s a tool that, in Nebraska, hardly ever comes out of the box. It is an important tool because it gives prosecutors in death penalty states a way to extort guilty pleas from people who might otherwise go to trial: “Plead guilty to this charge and you’ll get life; force us to go to trial, and we’ll charge you with capital murder. Are you willing to gamble?” When Diane Christian and I did research on death row in Texas in 1979, we met several men who said they’d been offered such a deal and had turned it down. One was Kerry Max Cook, who spent 20 years on death row, then was exonerated. I knew several men in general population in Texas prisons who said they’d taken a plea bargain rather than risk a capital trial with a court-appointed lawyer they’d never met.

PROBLEMS WITH STATE-SPONSORED KILLING

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According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 153 people have been exonerated from death row since 1973. Six of the exonerations in 2014 came 30 years or more after conviction. Three states account for a third of the exonerations: Florida (25), Illinois (20), and Texas (12). Nobody knows how many executed prisoners would have been exonerated if DNA evidence had been available or if they had better lawyering. Diane and I met only one death row prisoner in Texas in 1979 who had retained counsel; not long after we met him, he was a free man. All the others had court-appointed lawyers. Many were executed; one is still there, 36 years later. One said to us, “I met my lawyer one day, was tried the next, and was down here on death row the day after that.” It has become increasingly difficult for the states that want to execute people to do so. Even though the Supreme Court has restricted appeal options, particularly for poor prisoners filing on their own behalf, death penalty opponents have been often successful sniping at the edges. A court that won’t stop the execution of a prisoner convicted in his teens, will stop an execution if the state doing the killing cannot demonstrate that the drugs used in the executions meet FDA approval. That is, they can only kill you if they use drugs the FDA says are fit for human consumption. If that sounds crazy, it is. That was one of Nebraska’s problems: Even if they managed to go ahead and strap one of those 10 death row prisoners to the gurney, they didn’t have anything to pump through the tubes into his veins. In the final back and forth about overriding the veto, Governor Ricketts said he had a source for lethal drugs. So far as I know, he never revealed that source and I’ve heard of no one who believed him. In recent years, most of the European suppliers

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EXPERT PUNDITS DISCUSS THE RAID ON THE HOMES OF LOCAL POLITICAL OPERATIVES.

of the drugs used in American executions have stopped exporting them for that purpose: The lawsuits and publicity weren’t worth it. According to the New York Times, “Texas, which executes more inmates than any other state, has only enough drugs to carry out one more lethal injection.” In response to the shortage of approved killing drugs, Utah has reintroduced firing squads. Some other death penalty states are trying to reintroduce a spectrum of killing techniques. But, more and more, the public is turning against capital punishment: It is expensive (it costs more to execute someone than to keep him in prison for life), it is inefficient (capital trials and appeals consume enormous amounts of legal resources), it is prone to error, and most important, it accomplishes nothing but revenge.

WHY KILL?

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Bruce Jackson is SUNY Distinguished Professor and James Agee Professor of American Culture at UB. With Diane Christian, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor at UB, he wrote Death Row (Beacon, 1980), and In This Timeless Time: Living and Dying on Death Row in America (University of North Carolina Press, 2012). The two also made a documentary film about men waiting to be executed in Texas, Death Row (1979). P

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A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS THIS WEEK, TRAGEDY STRIKES OUR BELOVED HOST PAT! LISTEN AS HE RISES ABOVE ADVERSITY.

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The most common justification for the death penalty is that it a deterrent to criminals considering violent crime. There has never been any evidence to prove that capital punishment has any more deterrent effect than a long prison term. In a widely-discredited study, a UB economics professor some years ago “proved” that every execution prevented perhaps 15 murders. People who understood the field and the numbers shredded his theory. (Nonetheless, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia now and then cites it.) Another justification is that it is only used for the most vicious and deadly criminals, people likely to kill again. But every maximum prison I’ve ever done research in has had prisoners in general population no different in any discernable regard from those on Death Row. None. That’s not just my opinion as a researcher: The wardens have said it to me time and again. It comes down to things like race of the victim (when Diane and I worked in Texas, only one condemned man was there for killing a black person), the quality of lawyering, the county in which the trial was held (Harris County in Texas has sent more people to Death Row than any other; many have never sent anybody), and money: Can you pay for a good defense team? If you can, you might wind up in prison, but you won’t wind up with the death penalty. “The rich man don’t never get the death penalty,” one Texas lifer said to us. He’s right. The only thing capital punishment accomplishes is it forces ordinary people to be complicit in the same kind of act capital punishment advocates want to punish: the killing of another human being. Only people taking part in the death penalty process are doing it rationally and calmly. The moral and practical problems with that kind of rational killing are what 30 Nebraska state senators acknowledged last week in that 30-19 vote overriding Governor Pete Ricketts’s veto. The lobbying was strong and the pressure was heavy. That vote took political courage and a willingness to put ethical values above immediate political consideration. Good for them.

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PRIDE PROFILE

THE QUEER CODE UB’s Jonathan Katz discusses queer art, the homogenization of culture, and the joy of Pride BY CHRISTOPHER JOHN TREACY

“QUEER PEOPLE KNOW THERE ARE NO SINGULAR VIEWERS BUT, RATHER, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES OF VIEWERS—PLURAL.”

PHOTO BY SHAWNA STANLEY

THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

PROFILE PRIDE IN CONTRAST TO the loud, out, and proud spirit that fuels the season of gay pride, Dr. Jonathan David Katz has spent most of his career looking at the ways in which homosexuals used to silently communicate with one another through art. Now the director of the Visual Studies doctorate program at UB, Katz has amassed an impressive body of work and credentials dating back to the early 1990s, when he became the first full-time, tenured faculty in gay and lesbian studies in the United States as the chair of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Studies department at San Francisco’s City College. From the get-go, he’s always been pretty clear about what makes him tick. “As an art historian, what I’ve always wanted to do is bring to bear my theoretical skills toward understanding forms of camouflaged queer,” Katz explained during a recent phone call. “An important part of my job is bringing those hidden queer intonations forward.” One of the most important distinctions Katz makes in his work is the historical need for queers to shape-shift—to be different things for different people in a way that also informs their interpretative understanding of art. He cited a line from queer poet and one-time MoMA curator Frank O’Hara’s “In Memory of My Feelings,” wherein O’Hara writes about “the scene of my selves,” underscoring this idea that his understanding of self comprises multiples. “Straight culture talks about the viewer—singular—in art,” Katz said. “Queer people know there are no singular viewers but, rather, there are communities of viewers—plural. It’s a very queer ideal, because we know the experience of being different people to different audiences… especially before Stonewall, it was a basic, very necessary safety consideration. As a result, we have the capacity to mean differently in front of different contexts. The same things are at work in other minority populations—it gets more complicated when you have one foot in dominant culture and one foot out. What I find interesting are those moments when gay white men simultaneously signify in multiple ways, nodding to other queers while at the same time trying not to give the game way.” Many of Katz’s essays and his ongoing, career-spanning book project entitled The Homosexualization of American Art: Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and the Collective Closet, revolve around this idea that, coming through the aural silence of visual art made by gay men, there are subtle cues that speak specifically to other gay men—a visual language that only some can decipher. Seen through Katz’s lens, this covert exchange could even be interpreted as a quiet protest. Johns and Rauschenberg make for a particularly sinewy pair as queer mid-century artists involved in the neo-Dadaist movement that later spurred what we now call “pop art.” The two were also lovers. Katz points out the way that Rauschenberg’s early work received criticism he refers to as “indulgently homophobic.” (And he’s not kidding: In 1961, Art News critic Jack Kroll referred to the artist’s Leo Castelli Gallery exhibit as ”corroding gracefully with a lavender rust.”) As Rauschenberg grew more famous, the queerness fell off. “This is the case, repeatedly, for artists that come to represent America to itself,” Katz said. “Their queer voices get lost.” This process is mirrored in the development of queer culture on the whole. In the ongoing LGBTQ quest for equality and acceptance, the community has become divided over an increasingly less radical identity while simultaneously growing loud and unapologetic in its demands. An odd dichotomy. As an art historian who is also very much a queer activist, Katz understands the need for volume while also seeing the loss of queer identity as a necessary sacrifice—a tradeoff. “It makes perfect sense because we were members of a club—exclusive and subtle,” he said. “Now that club has thrown its doors wide open, and we have to admit something was lost, but something was also gained. The crap that so many queer kids have to go through—it’s far from a solved problem, but it’s much better now relative to when I was a kid. And I’m willing to give up my club membership for that. “But what we’re talking about is hardly new,” he

continued. “Right after I completed my graduate degree, I did an oral history with a gay couple in their 80s in San Francisco, who told me they didn’t like being gay anymore, that it was so much more fun back in the ’40s. They’d worked together and lived together for years, and they’d gone to great lengths to conceal the reality of their relationship from the outside world…and that clandestine dynamic was preferable to them.” As queer voices have gotten louder, however, Katz doesn’t believe that volume necessarily benefits queer art. He says the best queer art that wrestles with sexuality does so in an indirect way—otherwise, it’s really just agitprop and spends itself quickly. Artists who address sexuality as a problem, he says, and play with the concept without declaring it, make much more of a lasting impression and provoke worthwhile thought. He cites the work of Joey Terrill, which sometimes features HIV medications woven into the scheme of breakfast table and countertop still-life scenes, as a clear example. “I like those because of the way he subtly queers the images,” Katz said. “It suggests the delineations that we claim to distinguish us from one another are actually quite permeable—we all have the same breakfast, some of us just also take HIV medication. So, to me, the best newer queer work is ‘queer and…’—it has other investments as well. “With art, I’m interested in the subtle strategies, but as an activist, I’m out there with the loudest voice I can muster,” he continued. “In many ways, I think loudness does work very well and there is a point at which, fundamentally, the more we discuss our differences, the less they signify. Ultimately we come to understand the really important, deeper issues—love, support, happiness. When we’re out and loud and talking about our issues, for a while people only hear us as queers, but in time that fades and we become more human to them.” When we spoke on the phone, Katz had just returned from Berlin and was gearing up for a trip to California, where he’ll launch a pioneering new exhibit called Art, AIDS, America, opening with a talk at West Hollywood’s City Hall and preview at the One Archives Gallery & Museum. The exhibit is part of an ongoing arts festival tied into LA Pride and compiles some 30 years of art that’s somehow AIDS-related. He said the exhibit deals with the conceptual repositioning of AIDS from its usual role as a tragic tangent in American culture—a literal dead end—to being the catalyst that’s driven many cultural innovations over the last few decades. Katz co-curated the exhibit and co-authored the accompanying book of the same title. Despite frequent travel and the constant juggling of multiple out-of-town projects, Katz has made Buffalo his home base for more than four years now. In 2011, he launched a Queer Art Lecture Series at UB, which he continues programming currently. The series ties in directly to his position as president of the Leslie + Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art on Wooster Street in Lower Manhattan. By bringing to Buffalo the same speakers who are scheduled to speak at the museum in Manhattan, Katz continues to gain exposure for what he deems as important art with a queer bent while helping Buffalo attain even more of a cultural edge. On the eve of Pride, he expressed enthusiasm for Buffalo’s LGBTQ community. This might be one of those instances where being considered a little bit behind some of our major metropolitan cities is actually working in our favor. Being so well travelled, his take on our local Pride Week comes across as high praise. “In San Francisco and New York City, Pride felt redundant, irrelevant, corporate-sponsored, and I hated it,” he said. “Having marched as far back as 1979, I’ve watched this movement through many of its phases. But in Buffalo, I felt a real rush to be at Pride. Because here, I think we have some way to go yet in terms of visibility, so there’s a tangible sense of excitement—I think it’s absolutely scintillating, especially for people that come here from other places. Last year I watched it through the eyes of a rural kid who came to UB and hadn’t experienced it before. To see him light up as this queerness manifested down the center of Buffalo brought me back to the affirmation that it once stood for and, P potentially, still does.”

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This Ted’s Hot Dogs in Williamsville offers footlongs, fries, and The Public. Ted’s locations throughout the area have agreed to host the paper every Wednesday.

Michelle Wolf, co-chair of Spectrum Transgender Group of WNY.

TRANS 101 A conversation with Michelle Wolf of Spectrum BY CORY PERLA SINCE 2002, SPECTRUM HAS existed to pro-

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vide support for the transgender community of Western New York. This week we talked to Michelle Wolf, co-chair at Spectrum, about how Spectrum provides resources to transgender individuals and the community, and some of the main issues facing transgender people today. What is Spectrum’s mission? Our main missions are devoted to supporting transgender people, particularly people who are first starting off in their transitions or struggling with their identity. We also deal a lot in education. A couple of us, myself included, teach Trans 101 classes to businesses, universities, or anyone who asks in order to increase advocacy. We do some lobbying, working for the passage of our agenda, which is basically to give transgender people equal protection under the law. What kind of protection do you mean? Basically, it’s to ensure that we have equal protection in the areas of employment discrimination, housing, medical care, and items such as that. Most people don’t realize this, but right now it’s perfectly legal to take a well-performing transgender employee and fire them specifically for being transgender. This actually happens all of the time and it’s why we consider this to be important. Employment is a huge issue in our community—those of us who have jobs hope we keep them because it’s hellishly difficult to try and find another one once you transition. Tell me more about your Trans 101 classes. They’re mainly for local businesses, educational institutions. We’re doing a couple for the state. One for the department of labor. Everybody has their own way of teaching it, but the way I do it is I give an overview of what transgender means. I explain the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation, I go through the transition process, and I tell a lot of my own personal story just to kind of make it more real for people. It’s a lot of dialogue and question and answer. Generally speaking, when people bring me in it’s because they have a transgender person who suddenly appeared and they realize that they’re not educated in it and need to be. How would you describe the atmosphere in Buffalo for a transgendered person? Overall, surprisingly good. I get asked this question a lot and people are always surprised by the answer. My personal experience and the experiences of most of the people I interact with has been very positive. I personally have not faced any significant discrimination myself, although others have. But overall I am very proud of my city.

SPECTRUM TRANSGENDER GROUP OF WNY SPECTRUMWNY.ORG FACEBOOK.COM/SPECTRUMWNY

Tell me about some support groups for transgendered individuals. There are a few groups. Spectrum is a main group. There is also a group affiliated with the Pride Center called Transgeneration, and then for cross dressing individuals there is a group called Buffalo Belles. Cross dressers are people who identify as men but like to dress as women, as opposed to transgender, where we feel that we must go through a gender transition in order to feel at home in our bodies. Are there any health resources you’d like to recommend for transgendered people in Buffalo? In terms of medical care, there are a few options. For mental health care, the two best options out there are Dr. Thomas Mazur and Dr. Lisa Anllo. For physical health, there are a lot of options. Most of the medical community here is at least somewhat up to speed on transgender issues, but the Evergreen center, which is right next to the Pride Center, is a good resource. Evergreen was set up to specifically meet the healthcare needs of LGBT people. They are a little behind when it comes to transgender, but they’re getting there. What are some other resources that people might overlook, such as beauty salons or other non-essential services? That’s a good question. I’ll be honest, there is a term bandied around a lot in the transgender community, that a business is or isn’t “trans-friendly.” In my personal experience I haven’t encountered a trans-unfriendly business in a really long time. Honestly, my recommendation to people is be yourself and go anywhere. If you have a problem, let me know, but so far I haven’t gotten any reports back that any particular place has been discriminatory. Spectrum meetings are held on the second Friday of each month, 7-9:30pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 695 Elmwood Avenue. P

NEWS PRIDE

2014 Dyke March and Allen Street Festival. PHOTO BY J. CAROCCI / PRIDE CENTER OF WNY

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS Reconfigured and revitalized, Buffalo’s Dyke March prepares to step off this weekend BY CELIA WHITE

“YOUR PURPOSE HAS TO BE PURE, SO IT GETS TO BE FEARLESS.”

2015 BUFFALO DYKE MARCH

—Margaret Smith

SAT, JUN 6 / 4PM / GATHERING @ POTOMAC AVENUE & GRANT STREET, STEP-OFF @ 5PM

BUFFALO’S DYKE MARCH IS CHANGING. Since its first outing in 2001, the march has changed route, size, and leadership. 2015 brings a revitalized organizing committee of both “legacy dykes” and younger queer leaders re-envisioning an important event in Buffalo’s LGBT community. The mission, as ever, is visibility. “The Dyke March is a chance for the dykes in our community to be seen—as mothers, as teachers, as employees, and as family,” the Dyke March Committee states. At its peak, 950 women came out to be seen and celebrated. In the past few years, organization of the march has been under the umbrella of the Pride Center of WNY, but attendance had dwindled due in part to the complexity of trying to offer a family-friendly event in an arena emphasizing bar culture and drinking. Many of the march’s organizers—original organizers Margaret Smith, Julie Carter, Robbie Butler, and Brenda Smith, plus recent organizers Phoenix Hawelu-Hills, Michelle Olandese, Harper SE Bishop, and new music coordinator Dana McKnight—had become very aware that the march needed changing if it were to remain sustainable. A new plan was welcomed by Matthew Crehan Higgins, who became senior director of the Pride Center last fall. “Matthew coming on board opened a window and we were able to work out something mutually beneficial to both groups. So far, it

has been great,” says Margaret Smith, longtime community activist and founder of Buffalo’s HAG Theatre. A new route and a return to Bidwell Parkway as the place for the after-march celebration were immediately implemented. Increased inclusiveness of children and elders, especially women with mobility issues, led to the decision to make the Dyke March an alcohol-free event. This year, efforts are being made to bring Buffalo Dyke March back to its roots and re-embrace the Dyke March-as-protest march. The organizing committee states, “We all want Dyke March to be an educational, re-energizing, accessible, and safe space for queer women of all backgrounds, ages, and bodies. In keeping with this goal, the Dyke March Organizing Committee is concerned with the ongoing marginalization of transgender women of color [TWOC] and queer women of color [QWOC] within LGBTQ communities, both locally and across the country. Workshops and ongoing conversations led by TWOC and QWOC communities are happening, so that these women will feel safe and honored in the Dyke March and year-round events, and through which they will be able to claim their rightful place in the realization of Dyke March as an all-inclusive space. Buffalo Dyke March would not be faithful to its herstory if its spaces, programs, and attendant conversations did not center TWOC and QWOC concerns.”

The new route begins at Grant and Potomac, then takes Lafayette to Bidwell Parkway, where the music begins. Margaret Smith explains, “Robbie Butler noted that Grant Street and the West Side was where the majority of women-owned businesses were happening—Rust Belt Books, Paradise Wine, plus women immigrant businesses like those in the West Side Bazaar—were becoming economically empowered. There’s a renaissance in the neighborhood which most people also think of as the most culturally diverse neighborhood in the city. “Plus, Elmwood and Allentown, where we’d marched for years, had already gotten our message. Marching in a new place which hadn’t seen hundreds of dykes being visible—spotlighted! highlighted!—and loud, and taking over the streets, seemed like the next thing to try.” While the Pride Festival is a series of nine events over seven days, the June 6 march is the only one which has women as its focus. The Dyke March has always been different from the Pride Parade, though many people participate in both. Margaret Smith explains, “We called it a Dyke March because we wanted to claim the charged word for lesbian, and it’s a march because it is as much a protest as a form of liberation. It’s a day when all parts of our culture come together. It’s energizing. Both lesbians and gay men have to fight to be seen, but we’re different from gay men. They’re our brothers, and we love them, but we’re not the same. We have different political issues, and ours need to be visible.” This year’s march also aims to include more spirituality and a direct reach to younger and ever more diverse definitions of queer women. “I’m excited about the fact that the Dyke March is a bit more radicalized this year,” says music coordinator Dana McKnight, co-curator of Dreamland, who is inspired by the change of route and the excitement of the older dykes to build new alliances in terms of social justice. “There are no major lesbian or activist circles here outside the party, fun-time scenes. Lesbian culture was more separatist in the past, for reasons of safety. That’s changing. Still, the Dyke March is the only Pride event specifically encompassing most bodies, meaning pretty much anyone besides cis men, who still dominate the bars and most events. I see a need for the intersectionality which is happening in bars, on Tumblr, on Facebook, to get into the streets.” The Bidwell Parkway stage will feature four local queer acts, and will have specific viewing areas for persons needing accessibility accommodation. “All the bands are really multicultural, but I was struggling to find women of color and trans women of color who are performers and whose style would appeal to a younger generation who are radically inclined,” McKnight says. Opening the music will be West Side Bike Ride, “adorably tender, twee pop” featuring ukulele, guitar, drums and harmony. The Other Guys is an indie-style transdude group providing acoustic covers of punk and riotgrrl songwriters. Shevy and the Pulse bring fusion-folk, “Adirondack realness” with vocals by Shevy who, warns McKnight, is better than Ani. “They’re the folk band you didn’t think you’d like because you’re jaded.” Finally, “resident city swamp witch” Lara Buckley, “power-anger songwriter,” will play loops and guitar, singing dirges to nature and the feminine divine, integrating birdsong into her riveting performance. Between sets, short open mic slots will be available for queer women to recite poetry or speak. A memorial tent will be a place for people to bring places photos, mementos, art, poems and other items to honor those who have gone on. “Be it a dear friend, a mentor, an author/poet/artist/activist/public person who meant something to you, this is the place to honor that person,” says organizer Karin Lowenthal, who will be remembering Frank Goldberg, Buffalo LGBT activist who went missing in 2014, and there will be tribute to Leslie Feinberg, transgender, butch lesbian activist and author, who passed last November. Another new feature of 2015 is workshops for children and adults preceding the march will be offered at The Evergreen Commons, located at 242 Georgia Street: a drum workshop for all comers, a children’s workshop to make shakers and bracelets for the march, and a teen workshop for art making and writing. Accessibility requests and other questions: bflodykemarch2015@gmail.com.

DAILYPUBLIC.COM / JUNE 3, 2015 / THE PUBLIC

PRIDE SPOTLIGHT

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE (DRAG) QUEEN CITY Bebe Bvlgari dishes on everything from the importance of Pride to the state of gay culture in Buffalo BY PAT SANDORA-NASTYN

SURROUNDED BY COUNTLESS COMPACTS and several electrical sockets with one-

too-many cords plugged into them, 32-year-old Mike Blasdell was midway through the transformation into his drag persona Bebe Bvlgari when I sat down with him to spill the tea at Club Marcella. While he and the other queens of the long-running Life’s a Drag revue (among them Veronica Lace and Sabrina Williams, who joined the conversation) were busy contouring, applying glitter, and pinning their wigs in place, Ms. Bvlgari dished on everything from the importance of Pride to the state of gay culture in Buffalo and the potential jeopardy the gayborhood faces as the Queen City continues its rapid renaissance. So, Bebe, how the heck did you get started with drag in the first place? Bebe: I’m a natural, honey! I’ve been involved in theater for 22 years. In 2007 my friend turned his martini lounge into a gay bar and needed a dancing queen. He asked me to perform and I was like “No! Never!” But then he gave me some shots of Crown Royal and hour and half later Bebe was born! What’s the drag community like in Buffalo? Bebe: In Buffalo, all the queens take care of each other. We’re like any dysfunctional family, but we’re always there for each other. I love these girls. I learned to do my makeup from Miss Understood before she passed away. Veronica Lace [who is getting ready next to Bebe] helps me with my makeup. I teach her how to dance. That’s true sisterhood! Veronica: Buffalo is really blessed with its entertainment factor. We have some of the best queens in the Northeast. Bebe: Rochester is like a free-for-all. It has more of the pageant girls. They don’t really dance like we do in Buffalo. Drag is super serious here compared to Rochester. It’s just a whole different level here. Do you think the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race has changed the business at all? Bebe: We’re in our 20th year now doing “Life’s a Drag” and there are literally hundreds of new girls coming out of the woodwork! It’s not competitive for me because I’ve been in the scene for so long. I earned my spot. My goal now is to build the confidence of the new girls. What good sportsqueenship! Bebe: It just feels good to help someone else. Sometimes it can get tedious when every single day someone’s like “Help me! Help me!” I only can stretch so far! But in the end I’m always going to be there for the girls. 10 THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

Bebe Bvlgari takes form. PHOTOS BY BILLY SANDORA-NASTYN

So you’d encourage a drag-curious person to give it a try? Bebe: Honey, what’s the worst that’s going to happen? You won’t like it? Screw what everyone else says, as long as you feel good! Why do you think Club Marcella has continued to be such a mainstay in the community? Bebe: I think Joey Marcella knew what he was doing when he started the club. He’s kept up its reputation and made sure that all of his staff and entertainers keep Club Marcella as a place of acceptance. We don’t care—gay, straight, bi, trans—65 percent of the clientele usually are straight. Something about Marcella’s makes it feel like Cheers; like it’s a home. It’s a very safe place for a lot people. I’m guessing Pride week is a busy time of year for a drag queen, right? Bebe: Pride season is absolutely ridiculously busy. I’m booked five out of seven days this week. Pride in Buffalo is one of the biggest in the area. Just like St. Patrick’s Day and Dyngus Day, Buffalonians love a good parade and reason to day-drink! Veronica: Buffalo draws so many people to our Pride! The only places that have topped Buffalo Pride would maybe be New York City or Toronto. Bebe: But Pride is more than just a reason to drink. It helps people come out and be who they really, truly are. I really love the fact that nowadays high schools are involved. My favorite part is seeing Hamburg or Frontier High School kids being like, “I’m gay!” It’s so refreshing to see kids not be afraid to be who they are in public. It wasn’t like that five or six years ago. Would you say the gay community in Buffalo is supportive of itself? Bebe: [Groans.] When it comes to Pride, everyone is unified as a whole, but every group, every human

SPOTLIGHT PRIDE

Veronica Lace prepares to go on stage.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRIDE EVERYONE IS UNIFIED AS A WHOLE, BUT EVERY GROUP, EVERY HUMAN BEING CAN BE SHADY AS HELL.

PUBLIC SCHOOL LUAU! m p 1 1 * 5 June

ARDWAFARLEO H T E E R T S N ALLE LLEN STREET BUF 245 A

being can be shady as hell. Everyone puts their differences aside for a day for Pride, but you have your groups and it gets pretty segregated. I think the biggest separation would be between the bears and the non-bears, and the lesbian community and…everyone else. Now that Roxy’s is gone lesbians don’t really have a home bar to go to, and that’s a shame because I think that’s very important. That’s a good point. With Roxy’s closing and the medical campus expanding, do you think the gayborhood is in jeopardy of getting displaced? Bebe: I really think with all of the housing going in they’re probably going to change noise ordinances for things like that. That’s what happened when we were at Taboo. It was in the Sidway building and people upstairs started complaining about the music after 2am and we left.

FRONT ROOM DJ LAW

I don’t know if the gay bars will get pushed out, but I think there will be restrictions put in place. We’re not going anywhere. We will fight to have our home. The bars will never close. It’s signature gayborhood! Sabrina Williams: Amen, gay men!

YAS QUEEN!

BACK ROOM

Some of Buffalo’s biggest drag queens from Club Marcella pick the songs that get them moving on the dance floor!

VERONICA LACE “Work Me Down” BY LAURA HUNTER

BEBE BVLGARI “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” BY WHITNEY HOUSTON

CARMELLA MONET MONROE

SHOWING

“River Deep Mountain High”

ENDLESS SUMMER FORGE TTING SARAH MARSHALL HORROR AT PART Y BEACH

BY CELINE DION

SABRINA WILLIAMS “Rhythm Nation” BY JANET JACKSON

ROBOTIKA 2KAY “G.U.Y.” BY LADY GAGA

JAYME COXX “People LIke Us” BY KELLY CLARKSON

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEOS ON DAILYPUBLIC.COM >>

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12 THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

TIME / STEPHANIE DUBINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work will be part of the Chroma show at Glow Gallery on Allen Street, opening Friday, June 5 as part of Pride Weekend and the Allentown First Friday Gallery Walk. DAILYPUBLIC.COM / JUNE 3, 2015 / THE PUBLIC 13

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IN PRINT

DARKSLEEP Obviate (LP)

Recommended If You Like: Oneohtrix Point Never, Ford & Lopatin

The vaporwave artist’s latest album was recently released through the electronic tape label, Business Casual. Obviate finds Andrew Sobotka distancing himself from his previous Miike Snow, electropop leanings to develop a darker and more experimental sound.

MINK

After Hours (EP)

RIYL: Bleached, Best Coast, Inquiring Mind

The posthumous final (and best) release from the Steak & Cake trio was dropped this past Memorial Day. The three-piece had featured members of Mallwalkers, Tony Rocky Horror, and RED HEAT.

DEAN CHATHAM

“Enrollment” (Video)

PRIDE WEEK WEDNESDAY JUNE 3 - SUNDAY JUNE 7 VARIOUS TIMES & LOCATIONS [PRIDE] On June 24, President Obama will host a reception at the White House in observation of Pride Month, the annual LGBTQ celebration. If you can’t make it to the White House, don’t worry, there are plenty of Pride Week events happening right here in Buffalo, with the theme this year being “Show & Tell”. (“Storytelling. Celebrating. Advocating. Being seen and heard!” proclaims the Pride website.) On June 1, Mayor Brown oversaw a flag-raising ceremony in Niagara Square, officially kicking off Pride Week. Below you’ll find a complete list of official Pride Week events that will culminate in the Pride Parade and Pride Festival on Sunday, June 7.

RIYL: Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli

Dean Chatham, member of the Black Sol hip hop collective, premiered the music video to his encouraging track “Enrollment.” Chatham delivers motivational verses while backed by Saint Opal, [ez amädi] and the rest of the budding unit throughout the clip.

VWLS

Soft Block (EP) RIYL: Logan Locking, Eluvium, Kevin Cain

Multi-platform artist, Bobby Griffiths self-released the latest collection of ambient drone under his VWLS moniker last week through record/media label, Bad Drone Media.

BIG GAY SING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 / 8PM Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus leads a loud and proud sing-along to hit songs at Evergreen Commons (262 Georgia Street), hosted by Jimmy Janowski.

GAY 5K RUN THURSDAY, JUNE 4 / 6:30PM This is exactly what it sounds like. All are welcome to compete in a 5K run which begins at 6:30pm at Soho Burger Bar. Registration happens 4:30-6:30pm, or you can register now at buffalopridefestival.com/Events/Run.

QUEEN CITY MUSIC LOTTERY #2 SUGAR CITY / 1239 NIAGARA ST SAT, JUNE 6 / 5PM / $5 14 THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 / 10PM DJs MikeQ, Pumpdabeat, and VJ the DJ fuel this hip hop and queer culture dance party at the Waiting Room, which begins at 10pm.

DYKE MARCH SATURDAY, JUNE 6 / 4PM The annual Dyke March will proceed down Grant Street beginning at 4pm. For more information, see our article on page 9.

CHROMA

MOMENTUM

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 / 6PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 6 / 7PM

The party continues at Glow Gallery for the opening of Chroma, an annual art exhibition curated by LGBTQ artists from all over Western New York. The reception begins at 6pm and the exhibit will be on view through June 28.

LOCAL SHOW PICK OF THE WEEK

FLEX

A nightclub at Canalside? There’s a first for everything. Momentum will transform Canalside into “Buffalo’s biggest queer nightclub.” Presented by Barefoot Wine, this one is for adults only—adults who are ready to dance, that is.

PRIDE PARADE SUNDAY, JUNE 7 / NOON The most popular event of Pride Week is the annual Pride Parade, which takes off at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Forest Avenue with a convoy of vibrant floats and performers led by dozens of local organizations. If you haven’t registered to be in the parade, it’s not too late, just visit buffalopridefestival.com. If you’re content as a spectator, crowds line Elmwood Avenue down to Allentown to watch and support.

PRIDE FESTIVAL SUNDAY, JUNE 7 / 1PM This is the main event, folks. The Buffalo and WNY Pride Festival has been running strong for 24 years, and this year it will once again be at Canalside. Country singer Steve Grand and Canadian pop singer Mia Martina host headline the festival which also includes main stage acts DJ XOTEC, Tynomi Banks, and Wild Things, hosted by Ed Drantch. Expect family activities, food, beer, and gift vendors, a “Retro Dance Tent,” and more. -THE PUBLIC STAFF

AMBUSH PRIDE PARTY [PARTY] The third annual Ambush Pride Party takes place Friday, June 5, 7pm-1am, at Handlebar, 149 Swan Street. Ambush began its very popular guerilla movement to “surprise attack” straight bars a few years ago. Organizers expect over a thousand people at this inclusive event, which has an outdoor stage. Swaydar Entertainment brings headliner band Girl in a Coma from San Antonio, Texas and opening band Bitch from LA. The event will be emceed by Mistress J Kiss from the the Stripteasers, and DJ Milk and DJ Yama will spin records throughout the night. -CELIA WHITE

CALENDAR EVENTS PUBLIC APPROVED F E AT U R E D E V E N T S

THU 6/4 @ 9PM

RANDOM ABSTRACT

& INTREPID TRAVELERS LIVEMUSICEVERYNIGHTFOROVER30YEARS! WEDNESDAY

JUNE 3

Erin Sydney Welsh

» FREE » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

FRI 6/5 @ 9PM

WILL HOGE

9PM FREE

W. ASHTON HOLLOW

» $12 ADV / $15 DOS » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm THURSDAY

The Demos / The Soft Love The Naturalists

JUNE 4

SAT 6/6 @ 9PM

TIGER CHUNG LEE & SLIP MADIGAN

9PM $3

Happy Hour: A Band Named Sue 6PM FREE

FRIDAY

JUNE 5

» $5 » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

TUE 6/9 @ 8PM

SELWYN BIRCHWOOD BAND W. GRACE LOUGEN & THE LEFTOVER PANCAKES

Gang Of Thieves / Blue Rootz Shubbaluliuma

» $7 ADV / $10 GA / $15 RES » Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm

WED 6/10 @ 10PM

10PM $7

SATURDAY

BRAVADO - A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF RUSH

JUNE 6

MATT & KIM THURSDAY JUNE 4

» FREE » 21+ » Doors: 9pm Show: 10pm

Buffalive Presents:

DrFameus!

THU 6/11 @ 9PM

9PM 10ADV/$12 DOORS

6PM / CANALSIDE, 44 PRIME ST. / FREE [INDIE] On Thursday, June 4, Brooklyn-based indie dance duo Matt & Kim—along with Bearstronaut and Made Violent—kick off Canalside’s Free Thursday Concert Series. Lovebirds since their days at the Pratt Institute, Kim Schifino plays the drums while Matt Johnson plays keyboards and shoulders the lion’s share of vocals. Avid fun-enthusiasts, and unabashedly willing to get down, dirty, and sometimes buck-naked, they exude creativity in their live shows and music videos, which notoriously explode with vim and vigor. Confetti, balloons, crowd-surfing, and stage-climbing are commonalities when Matt & Kim bring their upbeat party-jams to the live stage. The three-year gap between their 2012 album, Lightning, and their most recent, New Glow, wasn’t for a lack of inspiration but rather because they were surfing the concert and festival circuit, stealing the spotlight with their electrified stage presence. New Glow finds their compositions expanding from their modest formula of employing nothing more than two small keyboards and three drums with brassy, jazzy cuts like “Hey Now” and “Not Alone.” However, infectious electro-beats on songs like “Get It” reveal Matt & Kim as they’ve always been—a pop band with a penchant for indie, churning out modern party tunes injected with a shot of punk and a splash of EDM. -KELLIE POWELL

WEDNESDAY JUNE 3 Hurray for the Riff Raff 8pm Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave. $15

[FOLK] Head down to Babeville this Wednesday evening to experience the dynamic folk prowess of Hurray for the Riff Raff, a nationally renowned roots outfit headed by Alynda Lee Segarra. Growing up in the Bronx of Puerto Rican descent, Segarra began attending hardcore punk shows as an early teenager and eventually left home with a guitar on her back in pursuit of the beatnik dream: train hopping and discovering the frontiers of the nation on her own terms. Eventually Segarra settled down in New Orleans, where she befriended similar-minded musicians and formed the collective Hurray for the Riff Raff. In that hurricane-ravaged city, Segarra gained the perspective that would deepen her artistry. Through her lyrics and evocative voice, Segarra spins tales of her personal experience and combines them with her penchant for folklore and advocacy for human rights—creating modern, yet timeless folk songs. Hurray for the Riff Raff will be gracing Babevile's stage as part of their East Coast tour alongside South Carolina native, indie folk-rocker Mechanical River. -JC

THURSDAY JUNE 4 Rich Vos 7pm Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St. $15-$30

[COMEDY] Best known from NBC’s hit reality show Last Comic Standing, comedian Rich Vos’s hilarity comes from his unique, brazen perspective on relationships, divorce, and parenthood. He’s quick off-the-cuff, and aside from his hilarious one-liners and witty

banter, his likability stems from his what-yousee-is-what-you-get persona. Now 30 years sober, he openly discusses his rough childhood, former drug use, and recovery. Catch Rich Vos at Helium Comedy Club from Thursday, June 4 through Saturday, June 6. -KP

WEDNESDAY

JUNE 10

Canalside Battle of The Bands 5pm Canalside, 44 Prime St.

[BATTLE] On Friday, June 5 the Canalside Battle of the Bands, presented by The Public continues. This time, four local jam bands will have the chance to compete for an opening slot for Spoon, who will headline the Canalside Free Thursday Concert Series on June 25. Not only will these bands be battling for that coveted opening slot, but this is a paying gig too. It’s not too late to sign up for the next battle: a battle of ska and punk bands, which happens on Friday, June 12. The winners will open for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. To apply, go to canalsidebuffalo. com/get-involved. -TPS

Gang of Thieves 9pm Nietzsche's, 248 Allen St.

[FUNK] Funk has a wide range of style: It can be smooth and sexy, but also heavy and powerful. Gang of Thieves hails from Vermont and their brand of funk mixes in rock and comes at you hard with a lot of energy. Their latest album, Mantra, was just released in April and showcases the band’s evolution. Gang of Thieves is coming to Nietzsche’s this Friday, June 5, with openers Blue Rootz and Shubbalulumia. -JEREMIAH SHEA

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

» $15 ADV / $20 DOS » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

9PM FREE

THURSDAY

FRI 6/12 @ 9PM

JUNE 11

DREAMING TREE (TRIBUTE TO DAVE MATTHEWS BAND) » $10 ADV / $15 DOS » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

Presents:

blue stone groove the mustn’ts / tiny rhymes 10PM $5

WED 6/17 @ 9PM

THE SOUL REBELS

Happy Hour: The Neville Francis Band FRIDAY

» $10 ADV / $15 DOS » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

6PM FREE

JUNE 12

THU 6/18 @ 8PM

DEAR ROUGE

The Good Neighborhood Presents:

The 4th Annual Neil Young Tribute Night Bearhunter / Ten Cent Howl Sonny Baker +& more

» $10 ADV / $13 DOS » 16+ » Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm

FRI 6/19 @ 5PM

10PM $5

SATURDAY

JUNE

FRIDAY JUNE 5

OZRIC TENTACLES W. BROCCOLI SAMURAI

tba

Allentown Artfest Spectactular 2PM $2

BBQ + BLUES BASH 2015

SUNDAY

JUNE

» $20 ADV / $25 DOS » 21+ » Doors: 4pm Show: 5pm

UPCOMING EVENTS WED 6/3 @ 8PM

WEEKLY EVENTS EVERY SUNDAY FREE

6PM. ANN PHILLIPONE 8PM . DR JAZZ & THE JAZZ BUGS (EXCEPT FIRST SUNDAYS)

EVERY MONDAY FREE

8PM. SONGWRITER SHOWCASE 9PM. OPEN MIC W. JOSH GAGE

BLUE NIGHT W. RIVER DOGS

» FREE » 18+ » Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm SAT 6/20 @ 9PM

SAT 6/13 @ 9PM

IMPERIAL BROWN + HEADLESS ROBOT » $5 » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm TUE 6/23 @ 9PM

MARIACHI EL BRONX ZACH DEPUTY W. W. THE ABRUPTORS THE GOODS » $10 ADV / $15 DOS

EVERY TUESDAY

8PM. RUSTBELT COMEDY 10PM. JOE DONOHUE 11PM. THE STRIPTEASERS

EVERY WEDNESDAY FREE

» $25 VIP » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

EVERY THURSDAY FREE

IMAGINE DRAGONS

6PM. TYLER WESTCOTT

5PM. AFTERNOON TRIO w/ JOHN, PAUL, & BILL

EVERY SATURDAY FREE

4:30-7:30PM. CELTIC SEISIUNS (TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY)

248 ALLEN STREET 716.886.8539

NIETZSCHES.COM

» $10 ADV / $15 DOS » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

WED 6/24 @ 10PM

THU 6/25 @ 9PM

AFTER PARTY

GRACE STUMBERG BAND W. BLUE ROOTZ

W. DIRTY SMILE

» FREE » 21+ » Doors: 9pm Show: 10pm

» $5 » 18+ » Doors: 8pm Show: 9pm

TICKETS: BUFFALOIRONWORKS.COM OR TICKETFLY.COM CAN BE PURCHASED AT: BIW BOX OFFICE OR TERRAPIN STATION

49 ILLINOIS STREET • BUFFALO, NY

716.200.1893 • BUFFALOIRONWORKS.COM DAILYPUBLIC.COM / JUNE 3, 2015 / THE PUBLIC 15

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EVENTS CALENDAR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

PUBLIC APPROVED

Head North 6pm Studio at the Waiting Room, 334 Delaware Ave. $10-$12

[PUNK] Buffalo-based band Head North is just three years old, and while their first, pop-punkish EP was solid, their most recent, Bloodlines, demonstrates a band that’s rapidly maturing. On Bloodlines Head North showcases their range, from the spacey-guitar laden indie anthem, “The Planet,” to the gritty, hardcore track “The Path." Check out Bloodlines before Friday, June 5, when the band kicks off their summer tour at the Studio at the Waiting Room with Light Years, A Will Away, Casey Bolles, and Subtle Words. -KP

Armcannon

6pm Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St. $10-$12

[INDIE] Millennials grew up on video games. The soundtracks to many classic video games are the soundtracks to our youth; even hearing a segment of those classics can bring someone right back. Armcannon, one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, is a band that has played many of those video game classics all over the country, even sitting in with the BPO. This Saturday, June 6, Armcannon will be taking the stage at Mohawk Place with openers Kill The Clock, You Bred Raptors?, Aligns, and Village Psychic. -JS

Robbie Fulks 9pm Sportsmen's Tavern, 326 Amherst St. $15-$20

[AMERICANA] Robbie Fulks brought a neo-traditional country sound to the early 1980s New York City folk stable that was keeping Gerde's Folk City alive, but he left New York for Chicago to teach at the famed Old Town School of Folk Music. There he spent time in successful bluegrass outfits before releasing his first solo album in 1996. Since then, he's shifted between sparse acoustic recordings, edgier full-band projects and—lo and behold—a tribute to Michael Jackson. Somehow, it's still Americana at the base. Expect the unexpected on Friday, June 5 at Sportsmen's Tavern. -CHRISTOPHER JOHN TREACY

Chuck Negron

8pm Seneca Niagara Bear's Den, 310 4th St $35-$45

[ROCK] Chuck Negron had a rough ride following Three Dog Night's mid-1970s breakup, largely attributed to a nasty heroin habit he'd picked up during the group's intensely successful period. Now clean for some 25 years, he'll bring his signature TDN hits (Laura Nyro's "Eli's Coming," "One," "Joy to the World," etc.) along with some solo material to the Bear's Den in the Seneca Niagara Casino on the eve of his 73rd birthday, Friday, June 5. -CJT

finger-picking, elegiac vocals, and exquisite song-writing ability has earned him high praise from outlets such as NPR and Dusted magazine. Further featured on the lineup will be Obody, an experimental folk project based in Rochester and, the expressive and deconstructive cello playing of T. J. Borden. A perfect event for anyone seeking a Saturday night adventure alongside musical closure. -JC

DrFameus

8pm Nietzsche's, 248 Allen St. $10-$12

SEBADOH THURSDAY JUNE 4 8PM / MOHAWK PLACE, 47 E MOHAWK ST. / $15 [FOLK] Lou Barlow has probably influenced your musical tastes far more than you know. Of course he was (is) the bassist of one of alternative rock’s most prestigious bands, Dinosaur Jr. but he’s also the primary songwriter of the lesser known (though equally prestigious) lo-fi, folk rock monster, Sebadoh. If it weren’t for Sebadoh, acts like Elliot Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Iron & Wine might not exist. Barlow’s approach has been to match confessional style lyrics, which he says have been inspired by his hardcore punk roots, with stripped back garage rock guitars and muted drums, aided by longtime songwriting partners Jason Loewenstein and Bob D’Amico. The band was inactive for 14 years, between their 1999 release The Sebadoh, and 2013’s Defend Yourself, though Barlow insists that there was never a reunion, per se. “We were always reunited” he said in a recent interview. The lo-fi legends come to Mohawk Place on Thursday, June 4 with Cleveland pop-noise band, Total Babes. -CORY PERLA

PUBLIC APPROVED

Will Hoge

[ELECTRONICA] With a Roland e-drum/midi controller positioned in the center of his kit and a laptop to the side, Disco Biscuits drummer Allen Aucoin takes things into heady percussive territory with his one-man DrFameus project. Fans of the Biscuits don’t have too far to stretch to embrace what Aucoin is up to here, provided the electro-organic blend doesn’t offend their jamband sensibilities. DrFameus brews a groove-laden, poly-rhythmic storm of live drumming mixed with triggered samples that blend melody, vocals, fragments of rap and plenty of electronic blips and bleeps to create a seamless, dance-able journey. Not for the selfie-taking, talk through the show crowd, this is meant for real music fans: eyes closed, fluid movement, lost in the jazzy syncopation…or fixated on Aucoin, as his mad skills are mesmerizing. Locally-based psych-electro-funkateers Occular Panther make a perfect match in the opening slot with an early DJ set from Space Junk’s K-Rog, Saturday, June 6 at Nietzsche’s. -CJT

8pm Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. $15

Rich Robinson

[ROCK] It's taken many years, but Nashville singer-songwriter Will Hoge seems to finally be enjoying some success and exposure to a wider audience, something his major label contract with Atlantic couldn't seem to accomplish back in 2003. "Strong," from 2013's Never Give In, was showcased in a Chevy ad and landed on Billboard's country charts. Meanwhile, Lady Antebellum recorded his tune "Better Off Now," and the Eli Young Band took his song "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" to #1. Hoge brings his band to Buffalo Iron Works on Friday, June 5 in support of his new disc, Small Town Dream. Ashton Hollow opens. -CJT

8pm Seneca Niagara Bear's Den, 310 4th St $40

[ROCK] The Black Crowes are like a couple that broke up but can’t seem to stop having sex. They hook up periodically, even hang out for a few months here and there, then call it off again (likely remembering what drove ‘em apart to begin with). Back in January, Rich Robinson announced what many believe is the final Crowes breakup, but you can’t go wrong with him in any capacity: Songwriting chops, mad guitar skills and that signature throaty howl will carry him wherever he goes, including to the Bear’s Den in the Seneca Niagara Casino this Saturday, June 6 for an acoustic gig. -CJT

SATURDAY JUNE 6

Tiger Chung Lee 8pm Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. $5

Namastadium 9am Ralph Wilson Stadium, 1 Bills Dr. $30

[YOGA] Lululemon Walden Galleria and Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation are teaming up to raise money for the new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. They invite you to join in on an epic yoga event at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where six talented yoga teachers will lead an inspiring, invigorating, uplifting vinyasa flow. The event is open to yogis at all levels; however, early registration is a must. The group will be taking the field and sweating in the sunshine on Saturday, June 6. -GRACEANNE BROWN

Silo Sessions Presents Sam Moss, Obody, and T.J Borden 7pm Silo City, 120 Childs St. $7

[FOLK] Set out for the cylindrical expanse of Marine A this Saturday, June 6, to attend the final Public Picnic fundraiser. Set to play for this installment is Sam Moss, a Boston-based roots artist whose graceful

OPIUO THURSDAY JUNE 4 8PM / THE WAITING ROOM, 334 DELAWARE AVE. / $15-$20 [ELECTRONIC/DANCE] It’s party time at the Waiting Room this Thursday, June 4 as glitchhop luminary Opiuo takes the stage with his live band as one of the stops for his debut North American tour. The New Zealand native first showed up on international radar upon releasing the single “Robo Booty” from his 2010 debut album, “Slurp and Giggle,” an unfathomably catchy track, bursting with reggaeton snippets and sharp saw synths that merged into a highly articulated rhythmic blueprint. Definitely the release of an artist who was deft at translating eclectic influences into a summer festival hit. Since then, he’s released two further EPs, 2010’s Boganus Proteinius and 2011’’s The Squiggle, and an album, 2014’s Meraki, alongside countless remixes for artists as diverse as Gwen Stefani and Kimbra. His ability to breathe fresh life into his primary inspiration, funk, has lead to career highlights such as sharing the stage with EDM kings like Pretty Lights, Skrillex, Nero, Moby, Rusko, and the Glitch Mob. In 2013 he took home five titles at the 2013 UK Glitch Hop Awards. Experience the hype yourself on Thursday night as he triggers live synths and drum machines with the accompaniment of the highly talented cast of musicians that comprise his band. Local deep-bass production duo, Eyes Everywhere are set top open alongside Marrsick and Pulse Junkie. -JEANETTE CHIN

16 THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

[FUNK] We’re told that Lewiston-based Tiger Chung Lee is a force to be reckoned with: a new player in the regional fold that boasts five brass pieces and 11 members in total, named after a now-retired WWF Japanese wrestler. We haven’t heard 'em yet, but this is an ensemble of seasoned local musicians who intend to bring the funk, Saturday, June 6 at Buffalo Iron Works. Slip Madigan opens. -CJT

Queen City Music Lottery Showcase 6pm Sugar City, 1239 Niagara St. $5

[ROCK] The final showcase in Sugar City‘s band lottery will hash out the results of the collaborative project which randomly matched bandmates together back in March, forcing musicians and non-musicians alike out of their comfort zones and into the wild terrain of creative improvisation and social networking. If this were reality TV, the final showcase would be the series climax as per

CALENDAR EVENTS

PUBLIC SCHOOL LUAU FRIDAY JUNE 5

sonal and creative tensions reach a fever pitch: Come for the music and stay for the frayed emotions. Each of the ten bands performing Saturday, June 6 have 15 minutes of material and novel names, like: HOT medium mild, Womb Temp, and Karl Paladino and the School Bored. The double-stage, rapid-fire action starts at 6:30pm. -AARON LOWINGER

AGILITY • BALANCE • CONFIDENCE

11PM / ALLEN ST. HARDWARE CAFE, 245 ALLEN ST. / $5

SUNDAY JUNE 7 Scott Ellison Band 5pm Sportsmen's Tavern, 326 Amherst St. $10

[BLUES] Tulsa-based blues guitarist and songwriter Scott Ellison cut his teeth backing 1980s revival versions of groups like the Shirelles, the Marvelettes, the Drifters and the Coasters before forming his own band that went on to open for Leon Russell, Buddy Guy and the late Joe Cocker to name a few. In 2009 he had the privilege of opening for (and playing with) B. B. King. His most recent disc, the self-released Walkin Through the Fire, was produced by frequent Clapton-collaborator Walt Richmond. See him with his current lineup at Sportsmen's Tavern on Sunday, June 7, for an early 5pm gig. -CJT

LEARN TO FENCE

PUBLIC APPROVED

The Music of Ola Gjeilo

[PARTY] “While the beach set twists to the big beat sound of the Bel-Airs swinging out with six rocking hits; While the cycle gangs strong arm their way into the party; While teenagers prepare for a secluded slumber party, TERROR STRIKES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA: An invasion of ghoulish atomic beasts who live off human blood!” This is not the synopsis of The Horror of Party Beach, but instead a description of exactly what the Public School Luau will be like. Minus the atomic beasts… and replace the Bel-Airs with Biacco and DJ Law. But other than that, exactly, though Hardware probably won’t be letting any teenagers in, and it’s not exactly Merlin’s as far as biker gang hangouts go. We will, though, be showing the poorly reviewed, 1962 B-movie The Horror at Party Beach and other beach-flavored films while Law and Biacco bring the actual party to the dance floor. This should be a fun one, folks, so join us this Friday, June 5 at Hardware. Leis and Hawaiian shirts encouraged. - CORY PERLA

1/8V

4pm Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1080 Main St. $15 adults, $10 students

[CLASSICAL] Vocális Chamber Choir welcomes acclaimed Norwegian-born composer Ola Gjeilo (pronounced "Yay-lo") to their last performance of the season. The Music of Ola Gjeilo will feature performances by Vocális, students from the Hamburg High School Concert Chorale (directed by Norm Zogaib), and a string quartet led by violinist and SUNY Fredonia faculty member David Colwell. Gjeilo will join the "haunting" and "otherworldly" choir at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 4pm on Sunday, June 7. -GB

ENROLL NOW!

PUBLIC APPROVED

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR CLASS REGISTRATION, DATES & TIMES * GROUP RATES AVAILABLE * USFA CERTIFIED COACH • ALL EQUIPMENT PROVIDED

716.553.3448

WWW.FENCINGBUFFALO.COM

MONDAY JUNE 8 Buffalo Reading Invasion

SHARE YO U R EVENT

7pm Bidwell Park, Elmwood Ave at Bidwell Parkway

[FUN] Reading is almost exclusively a solitary activity, unless you’re in Bidwell Park this Monday, June 8, reading to yourself next to everyone else, reading to themselves. In that case, it’s a group solitary activity: the solidarity of those called by the movement of eyes over pages flipped casually in the summer night. It’s the season’s first reading invasion, so get rid of your screen for an hour and post up under a tree and have at it, everyone will be glad you did. -AL

RHINOCEROS W/ EXALT, SUNDAY JUNE 7 HOLY WAR, NEW VISION, & BURN BOOK 3PM / SUGAR CITY, 1239 NIAGARA ST. / $10

TUESDAY JUNE 9 Jooklo Duo with Bacz/Sack Duo 8pm The 9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave $6-$10

[EXPERIMENTAL] Next Tuesday, Italy's Jooklo Duo will be delivering a set of radical instrumental experimentation at the 9th Ward. Featuring the frenzied saxophone playing of Virginia Genta and the unrestrained percussion of Davic Vanzan, the duo has become renown for their brand of fierce and mesmerizing improvisation. Playing alongside will be Buffalo's own saxophone experimentalist, Steve Baczkowski, with electric guitarist Bill Sacks. A must attend for anyone who revels in free-jazz and uninhibited improvisation. -JC

Selwyn Birchwood 8pm Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St. $10

[BLUES] The blues is not dead. It may not get the radio play it once did, but new artists and innovators are keeping the music alive. Selwyn Birchwood is one of those artists. The 30-year-old Tampa-based guitarist/ singer has been winning many awards in his journey to making the genre relevant once again. This Tuesday, June 9, Selwyn will be taking the stage at Buffalo Iron Works with openers Grace Lougen & the Leftover Pancakes. -JS

[HARDCORE] The drums pound as the guitars chug and squeal, the vocalist pushes his voice to its

breaking point, and bodies in the crowd flail as they stomp their feet, swing their limbs, and slam into one another. Fans pile on top of each other singing along to every word. Sweat pours as the crowd works itself into a frenzy, and the singer beckons the crowd for more—you are at a Buffalo hardcore show. Hardcore punk music has a rich history in Buffalo. Bands like Zero Tolerance, Snapcase, and Buried Alive set traditions that are carried on today. Hardcore is a subgenre derived from punk rock but more abrasive in nature—with faster time signatures and an overall heavier sound. For generations, Buffalo natives have piled into basements, warehouses, VFW Halls, and bars—anywhere that’s been willing to host these underground concerts. Now fans of this extreme style finally have a place to call their own—Sugar City. On Sunday June 6, Buffalo hardcore heavyweights Rhinoceros return after a long hiatus to headline a regional hardcore punk showcase at newly opened Sugar City. The local hardcore legends have returned to headline this show fresh with a newly released EP recorded with Jay Zubricky at GCR studios right here in Buffalo. The new record has all of the intensity one would expect based on Rhinoceros’s previous releases, and then some. Boasting some of the fastest tempos and heaviest production to date, the EP shows that Rhinoceros is back and still a force to be reckoned with. The standout track is “Pressure,” featuring a guest vocal by Andy Williams of Every Time I Die. Rhinoceros has done several US and international tours always representing their hometown city in their lyrics or on their merchandise.But when asked, Rhinoceros frontman Joe Riverside insists that nothing tops playing in Buffalo. The bill also includes some great up-and -coming hardcore acts from Buffalo and surrounding areas, including fast-paced hardcore group New Vision, featuring members of Malfunction; Burn Book, who delivers a darker, more metallic-derived style of hardcore; Rochester’s self-described hate punk band, Holy War; and lastly, Ontario’s Exalt, who earned Every Time I Die’s stamp of approval when they opened their annual Christmas shows. Like Sugar City, the tight-knit Buffalo hardcore scene is always encouraging new people to get involved, so much so that this show has incentivized the cost of admission. Regular hardcore show attendees will be charged $10, but if they bring a friend who is new to scene each person will be P charged $5. See you in the pit! -DONNY ARTHUR

EVENTS@DAILYPUBLIC.COM

DAILYPUBLIC.COM / JUNE 3, 2015 / THE PUBLIC 17

ARTS REVIEW

LILT Kyle Butler at Nina Freudenheim Gallery BY JACK FORAN ARTIST KYLE BUTLER’S EXPLANATIONS of his work can be needlessly off-putting. In his artist’s statement about his new work on show at the Nina Freudenheim Gallery, he says the “visual language” of the work “begins from a base assumption that there are parallels between abstraction and amending forms of communication like posture, affect, tone of voice, gesture. These forms provide our words with subjectivity and convolution, much like how the way in which an image is formed can sway its export.”

The work itself—abstract, in layers of paint and imagery and tones of gray to black for the most part that seem to address ideas of entropy, disintegration, decomposition—is what you might call difficult art. But not that difficult. Not even the piece called Garble. (Garble is one of the more straightforward pieces.) The work is created via a complex process of initial or underlay painting, then pattern-making with masking tape or the equivalent on the underlay, then overpainting with spray paint, removal of the masking tape, and further paint embellishment as the artist deems appropriate. Butler goes on to say in his artist’s statement, “There is an array of topics that have persisted in my work over the years: complications in socialization and communication, the effects of dereliction on psyche, half-baked existentialism, physical structure paralleling cognitive structure…” To be honest, I don’t see (or much less understand) any of that. Except perhaps physical structure (whether or not paralleling cognitive structure). Butler has previously been obsessed with lath. Lath and clapboard. Horizontal physical components of the wood frame buildings we see all around us. As valid structural elements— holding up or helping hold up walls—and in terms of their disintegration—breaking down the structures—often in sudden and violent ways. The current work is about structure still, but more about surface. With tactile values ranging from glossy to gritty. And imagery with a dominant horizontal aspect, recalling the lath subject matter, but lath abstracted now, and the disintegration idea, but not sudden or violent disintegration now, but gradual, entropic, time now in the equation. Things fall apart. And frequently very beautiful imagery. Reminiscent of old lath, but also old maps. Or ancient manuscripts, found in fragments,

IN GALLERIES NOW BY TINA DILLMAN = ART OPENING 1045 Elmwood Gallery for the Arts (1045 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222, 716-228, photographics2.com/store/ welcome-to-our-studio-1045-gallerystore): Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society, Spring 2015 Members Show, on view through June 5. Thu & Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-4pm and by appointment. Albright-Knox Art Gallery (1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14222, 882-8700, albrightknox.org): Art’scool “Inspired” exhibition on view through Jun 21; Jeff Koons: Gazing Ball on view through Aug 16. TueSun 10am-5pm, Open First Fridays until 10pm. ¡Buen Vivir! (148 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201): Struggles for Justice: Forests, Land and Human Rights-Late 80s to Late 90s, Photos by Langelle, on view through Jun 19. Fri 3-8pm. Buffalo Artspace Gallery (1219 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209, 812-0696, buffaloartspace.org): Atavism, new work by Eric Evinczik, on view through June 30. opening reception Fri Jun 12, 7-10pm. Buffalo Arts Studio (Tri Main Building 5th Floor, 2496 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, 833-4450, buffaloartsstudio.org): William Koch, Works on Paper, on view through June 5; Alicia Marvan: Auxiliary Constructions & Barbara Buckman: New Works, both shows on view through Jul 1. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm, Fourth Fridays until 8pm. Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218, 827-1584, buffalogardens.

Detail from Ongoing joke by Kyle Butler.

KYLE BUTLER NINA FREUDENHEIM GALLERY 140 NORTH ST / NINAFREUDENHEIMGALLERY.COM

and partly decomposed, and painstakingly—as far as possible, given lacunae—placed and pasted back together again. Dead Sea Scrolls. Oxyrhynchus papyri. The basic aesthetic is musical, sonata form. Two contrasting themes or subjects occur and interplay. One dark and heavy and basically horizontally oriented. Stratigraphic matter. Subject to the law of gravity. The other light and airy, and oriented this way and that, ad lib. Negative light lines cutting across and cutting up the first theme dark matter. With no regard to gravity or for that matter much any other rule or law. The whim of the artist, perhaps.

com): David & Julius McCann, on view in the Arcangel Gallery through Aug 9; Natural Conditions, Public Art Installation by Shayne Dark, on view through Oct 4. Mon-Sun 10am-5pm. Burchfield Penney Art Center (1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222, 878-6011, burchfieldpenney.org): The Likeness of Being: Portraits by Philip Burke, on view through Sep 13; Robert Blair: Selections from a Soldiers Portfolio, on view through Sep 27; Patteran: A Living Force & A Moving Power, on view through Sep 27; Emil Schult: Portrait of a Media Artist Pioneer, on view through Sep 27; The Scrutiny of Objects: sculptures by Robert A. Booth on view through Aug 30; Body Norms: Selections from the Spong Collection, on view through Aug 30; Inquisitive Lens: Richard Kegler/P22 Type Foundry; Charles E. Burchfield: Audio Graphics, on view through Aug 23; Charles E. Burchfield: A Resounding Roar, on view through Aug 23. Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-5pm, Second Fridays until 8pm, Thu 10am9pm, Sun 1-5pm. Burchfield Nature and Art Center (2001 Union Road, West Seneca, NY 14224, 677-4843, burchfieldnac.org): An Alaskan Adventure, artworks by Tom Dalbo. Opening reception Fri Jun 5, 7-9pm. On view through Jun 28. MonFri 10-4pm, Sun 1-4pm, see site for upcoming classes. Castellani Art Museum (5795 Lewiston Road, Niagara University, NY 14109, 286-8200, castellaniartmuseum.org): Patrick Foran: Defacement, on view through Aug 9; Artists View the Falls: 300 Years of Niagara Falls Imagery, on view through Aug 16. Tue-Sat 11am5pm, Sun 1-5pm. The CG Jung Center (408 Franklin Street, Side Entrance, Buffalo, NY 14202, 854-7457, apswny.com): Common Maladies of Uncommon Souls, works on paper by Joshua Nickerson,

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opening reception Fri Jun 5, 7-10pm, on view through Jul 31. Dreamland (387 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, facebook.com/dreamlandarts.buffalo/timeline): New Paintings & Drawings by Leo Powell, see site for more details. Fargo House Gallery (287 Fargo Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213, thefargohouse. com ): Currently on view, Caitlin Cass: Benjamin Rathbun Builds Buffalo. Visit website for appointment. Enjoy the Journey Art Gallery (1168 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca, NY 14224, 675-0204, etjgallery.com): Through Our Eyes, work by Suzanne & Carl Borowicz. Opening reception Fri Jun 5, 7pm. Tue & Wed 11-6pm, Thu & Fri 2-6pm, Sat 11-4pm. Glow Gallery (224 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14201): Chroma 2015: Pride Buffalo Art Exhibition. Opening reception Fri Jun 5, 6-11pm. Thu & Fri 4-8pm, Sat & Sun 3-7pm. Hallwalls (341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, 854-1694, hallwalls.org): Amid/In WNY Part 3, survey of local and regional contemporary artists, on view through July 3. Tues-Fri 11am6pm, Sat 11am-2pm. Indigo Art Gallery (47 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, 984-9572. indigoartbuffalo.squarespace.com): lakelines, recent paintings by Dorothy Fitzgerald, opening reception Fri Jun 5, 6-9pm. Wed & Fri 12-6pm, Thu 12-7pm, Sat 12-3pm, and by appointment Sun and Mon. Kenan Center House Gallery (433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY 14094, 433-2617 kenancenter.org/arts/gallery.asp): Extraordinary Forms IV: The Ceramics Legacy of Robert Wood, on view through June 7. Mon-Fri 12-5pm & Sun 2-5pm. Lockside Art Center (21 Main Street, Lockport, NY 14094, 478-0239,. lock-

Different works display different kinds and degrees of interplay. The best of them more straightforward abstract. The more manuscript and map recollective—but not depictive—works. The superb Diseased, yet postured—the titles for the most part don’t help at all, hardly describe, mostly just bewilder—and excellent Curdled arcades and Diction despite nonsense. (Better they should have all been titled untitled, maybe with numbers.) Less compelling are several works edging toward depiction. Of licks of furnace flame in a blend medley of reddish and other hues, in a work called Don’t talk like that. Or icebergs in the ocean, it looks like, in a work called Cold arbitrator. Or one called Shriek, an homage version, it seems, of the famous Scream by Edvard Munch. (The titles, it seems, are more descriptive in the more representational works.) On the other hand, the piece called Garble looks a lot like literal lath and plaster. It’s one of the more compelling pieces. The Kyle Butler exhibit continues through June 24.

sideartcenter.com): A Brushing Impression, solo exhibition by Manning McCandlish, on view through Jun 6. Fri-Sun 12-4pm. Manuel Barreto Furniture (430 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, 867-8937, manuelbarreto.com): The Art of Harold L. Cohen, Meet the Artist June 9, 6-9pm, on view through June 26. TueSat 1-6pm. Market Street Art Studios (247 Market Street, Lockport, NY 14094, 4780248, marketstreetstudios.com): In the Whalen Gallery, Sue McKenna’s retrospective for her mom, on view through Jun 14. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm. Meibohm Fine Arts (478 Main Street, East Aurora, NY 14052, 652-0940, meibohmfinearts.com): The Ridge, benefit exhibition for the Chestnut Ridge Conservancy, on view through Sat Jul 18. Tue-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm. Native American Museum of Art at Smokin’ Joe’s (2293 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY 14123, 261-9251) Open year round and free. Exhibits Iroquois Artists work. 7am-9pm. Niagrara Arts and Cultural Center (1201 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14301, 282-7530, thenacc.org): Buffalo Niagara Art Association Spring Show, on view through Jun 14. Mon-Fri 9am5pm, Sat & Sun 12-4pm.

Queen City Gallery (617 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, 868-8183, queencitygallery.tripod.com): Rotating members work on view. Tues-Fri 11am-4pm and by appointment. Open late every First Friday from 6-10pm and every Thu Open Mic, 7-9pm. Squeaky Wheel (617 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, squeaky.org): Jillian McDonald, Valley of the Deer, on view in the gallery and storefront gallery through June 8. Tues-Sat 12-5pm. Starlight Studio and Art Gallery (340 Delaware Avenue, Bufflao, NY 14202, starlightstudio.org): Projected Portrait Series, work by Amanda Giczkowski, opening reception Fri Jun 5, 6-8pm, on view through Jul 10. Mon-Fri 9-4pm. Studio Hart (65 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14202, 536-8337, studiohart.com): Artists & Gardens, opening reception Fri Jun 5, 6-9pm, on view through Jun 27. Tues-Fri 11:30am-3:30pm, Sat 12-4pm, and open every First Friday 6-9pm. Sugar City (1239 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213, buffalosugarcity.org): From Your Collection, on view through Jun 16, see site for more details.

Nina Freudenheim Gallery (140 North Street, Buffalo, NY 14201, 882-5777, Lilt, ninafreudenheimgallery.com): New work by Kyle Butler, on view through Jun 24. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Mon by appointment only.

UB Anderson Gallery (1 Martha Jackson Place, Buffalo, NY 14214, 829-3754, Transmaterial, ubartgalleries.org): a group exhibition curated by Alicia Marvan; Martha Jackson Graphics: Prints from the UB Art Galleries permanent collection; These Fragile Truths, UB MFA Thesis by Tricia Butski; Our Own Devices: Exploring the Tools of Cravens World, on view through Jun 28. Wed-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm.

Pausa Art House (19 Wadsworth Street, Buffalo, NY 14201, 697-9069, pausaarthouse.com): Life’s a Beach, by Peter Caruso, on view through Jun 27. Live Music Thu-Sat. See website for more info.

Western New York Book Arts Collaborative (468 Washington Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, 438-1430, wnybookarts.org): Through A Dirty Window, work by Joseph Scheer, on view through Jun 26. P Wed-Sat 12-6pm.

EVENT BOOKS

ABOUT YOUR BLACK FRIENDS Peter Johnson explains it all for you BY MARIA SCRIVANI CALL PETER JOHNSON A BRIDGE-BUILDER.

Or you can call him an author and an actor, a producer, a documentary filmmaker, writer for The Public, playwright, screenwriter—the list goes on. The Buffalo native is all those things, but lately, and most passionately, someone who is trying to build bridges via humor. 15 Things That Your Black Friends Won’t Do is the title of his latest effort, a self-published book that lays out a series of “truisms” about black culture, followed by explanatory text that reads in part like stand-up comedy. Accompanying illustrations by Dean Vigyikan are charming and serve to defuse what might be considered some problematic statements. Johnson is quick to note that the whole project is “all in good humor.” “I come from such a mixed background,” he says. “I grew up on the East Side. My parents made some sacrifices to send me to better schools. I had to catch two buses to get to St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Kenmore, where I went for high school. It was tough at first. I had my neighborhood friends and my school friends. I had to really try to fit in at school, and then I had to educate others there about my background. I learned to bridge the gap, in a comedic way.” For some time Johnson, who is studying for an MFA from the Department of Media Studies at SUNY Buffalo (with plans to add teaching to his fat resume one day), had thought about writing a kind of primer on race relations. The White Person’s Manual was a working title. “The way I see it, a lot of people are scared to step out [of their comfort zones],” he says. “Today cultural tensions are higher than ever, with all the police brutality cases. Having Obama as President has highlighted racial issues even more. It has put a lot of our differences in the forefront. My book is meant to be both informative and comedic—I want to make people laugh, and learn something at the same time…I’ve had a lot of multicultural experiences, through my early years and school days, and now my professional life. I believe that people just don’t understand each other’s cultures, and if we understood each other a little better, it might make for a better world.” As a husband and father of a young son, Johnson says he has a vested interest in helping to build a brighter future. His book is dedicated to his own father, who died tragically in an accident last winter. “My father taught me a lot of things about how to handle myself as a man, despite being a minority member. He taught me values and principles, like honesty, morality, having a sense of humor and a great personality, and always following through—doing what you say you will do…This is what I am trying to teach my son. I am hoping he turns out okay!” According to Johnson, among the 15 things your black friends won’t do are swimming (urban black kids rarely have backyard swimming pools, municipal pools are often unhygienic, and black women don’t want to ruin expensive coiffures with a gratuitous water soak), and participating in winter sports (skiing and skating re-

15 THINGS THAT YOUR BLACK FRIENDS WON’T DO BY PETER JOHNSON / ILLUSTRATIONS BY DEAN VIGYIKAN

PETER JOHNSON BOOK SIGNING FRI, JUNE 5 / 6:30-10PM 464 GALLERY, 464 AMHERST ST quire expensive equipment, and blacks do not generally like going out in the cold). They won’t be on time, won’t ever pay bills early, and prefer sitting in booths at restaurants. All the anecdotes, while written humorously, could also be offensive to some, to which Johnson says, “There is room for that conversation to be held.” Though intended as humor, the book is also “self-reflective,” he says. “It’s my opinion, based on my experience, but it’s also a learning opportunity. When I write about blacks’ reluctance to go to the doctor, I include sobering statistics about high rates of heart disease and diabetes in this population…I hope blacks who read this take something away from it. But my real audience is other cultures, whites in particular who can learn about us. My biggest motivation is to bridge cultural differences here…And even though tensions around race in this country appear to be at an all-time high, I have hope. I love what my friend the esteemed actor Stephen McKinley Henderson said when he called himself ‘a revolutionary optimist’—he said in today’s society, you have to be a revolutionary to be optimistic.” Johnson will be signing books at a reception, open to the public, 6:30-10pm, Friday, June 5, at 464 Gallery, 464 Amherst P Street, Buffalo.

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FILM REVIEW haute couture in the 1960s and elevated the business of readyto-wear clothing.

Paul Dano in Love and Mercy.

Dispensing with the usual rise-to-fame stuff (as does Love & Mercy), we meet Saint Laurent (Gaspard Ulliel) in 1967, at the height of his early fame. Again, the film is leisurely at observing process: the seamstresses who labor to construct new designs, starting from scratch to suit his whims; a lengthy business meeting in which we learn some of the complexities of international marketing (as well as the difficulties of that task when everyone at the table doesn’t speak the same language). Even Saint Laurent’s Warholian nights in clubs and discos are treated this way, as if observing the milieu for which he designs were just another part of his job.

CREATION MYTHS LOVE & MERCY, SAINT LAURENT, ENTOURAGE BY M. FAUST TWO BIOGRAPHIES OF GENIUSES who flourished in the heady

days of the 1960s, a musician and a fashion designer, make for fully satisfying films opening at local theaters this week.

Love & Mercy is the story of Brian Wilson, the composer of some of the most sublime music ever to come out of a transistor radio. “Composer” doesn’t quite capture his talents: Like his contemporaries the Beatles on the other side of the world, he found new uses for the recording studio in creating intricate pastries of sound. As a young man, played by Paul Dano, we first see Wilson agonizing over incessant touring with the Beach Boys, the band he formed with his brothers and cousin. He begs off a tour of Japan so he can stay at home and take time to capture the intricate sounds he hears in his head. The musical world is agog over the Beatles’ Rubber Soul and its revolutionary recording advances. Wilson wants to go them one better. A sizeable amount of the film is spent watching him at work, with the studio musicians who later came to be lionized as “the Wrecking Crew,” perfecting the precise sounds he wants, for the album Pet Sounds. I would happily have watched an entire movie of this recreation, seeing the details of how songs like “God Only Knows” and “Caroline No” were assembled. (It’s the same delight in process that made an entirely different music film, Hustle & Flow, so absorbing.) These scenes are intercut with Wilson two decades later, an in-

IN CINEMAS NOW BY M. FAUST & GEORGE SAX

PREMIERES ENTOURAGE—Film adaptation of the HBO series about a movie star, his buds and his agent. Starring Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Connolly, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and about 487 thin blonde women in skimpy bikinis. Directed by Doug Ellin. Reviewed this issue. Area theaters INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3—Horror sequel. Starring Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, and Angus Sampson. The directing debut of Saw’s Leigh Whannell. Area theaters LOVE AND MERCY—Biography of Brian Wilson, played as a young man by Paul Dano and in middle age by John Cusack. With Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks. Directed by Bill Pohlad. Reviewed this issue. Amherst (Dipson)

secure middle-aged wreck played by John Cusack. Control of his life has been given over to Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti), a celebrity-chasing psychotherapist who practices a 24-hour-a-day therapy, micromanaging the lives of his patients. That he brought Wilson out of a seemingly bottomless spiral in the 1970s was enough for the family to give him guardianship rights over the musician, who is too mentally fragile to protest. But after years of this treatment, involving substantial amounts of prescription drugs, it seems the cure is no better than the illness. It falls to Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks), who will eventually become Wilson’s second wife, to pull him away from his manipulative savior. The story of Wilson’s journey through mental illness, exacerbated at first by street drugs in the 1960s and 1970s and overmedication from Landy, is a long and complicated one, dealing with involved family and legal issues. It’s inevitable that a movie will have to simplify it somewhat. But Love & Mercy captures the battered soul of the man, wounded first by an abusive father and later by the father figure he puts in his place. The two performances are equally strong, though Dano benefits from looking more like the real Wilson than does Cusack, who barely resembles Wilson in any way other than height. Mapping the rise and fall of an artist is standard structure for this kind of biopic, usually followed by an audience-pleasing revival. Saint Laurent follows a slower decline in the career of Yves Saint Laurent, the fashion designer who both revived international

SAINT LAURENT—Portrait of the life and times of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent during the peak of his career, from 1967 to 1976. Starring Gaspard Ulliel, Jérémie Renier, Léa Seydoux, Helmut Berger, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, and Dominique Sanda. Directed by Bertrand Bonello (The Pornographer). Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills (Dipson) SPY—Melissa McCarthy as a CIA desk jockey who gets to go undercover on a big case. Co-starring Jason Statham, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, and Miranda Hart. Directed by Paul Feig (The Heat). Area theaters

ALTERNATIVE CINEMA ERASERHEAD (1976)—Even by his outré standards, David Lynch’s first feature film is sui generis. For a description, you can’t beat his own phrase—“a dream of dark and troubling things.” Sat 9:30pm, Wed 8pm. Screening Room THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014)—The first in a free series of outdoor screenings featuring films directed by Wes Anderson. This one stars Ralph Fiennes as the legendary concierge of a middle

20 THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

If you’re like me, high fashion may not strike you as interesting artistic endeavor. I admit to being an ignoramus on all matters sartorial, and I trudged to the screening with no great anticipation. But director Bertrand Bonello, who has yet to have an international success despite 15 years of distinctive filmmaking in France (he was recently the subject of a retrospective at the Film Society of Lincoln Center), overrides that particular to weave a languorous but transfixing portrait of artistic life and the decadence that often comes with it. In the decade through which we follow him, Saint Laurent falls into the usual pattern of drink and drugs for inspiration and relaxation. But the world he brings us into is as fascinating as anything in Visconti (a comparison Bonello may be courting with the casting of Helmut Berger as the aged Saint Laurent). At two and one-half hours it’s a long film, probably too long. Yet when we come to the films climax, a 1976 fashion show edited in a multiframe grid that echoes the Mondrian paintings the designer collected, featuring elaborate, impractical dresses that seem designed only for this fleeting moment, the movie justifies itself. If you were a fan of the HBO series Entourage, you’re probably already planning to see the movie sequel. Or at the very least you don’t need me to help you make up your mind. But if you’re like me and never saw the series, you may be wondering if it’s worth seeing or if you’ll be hopelessly lost. (That’s the case with most recent movie sequels: If you haven’t seen the predecessor, the new one does nothing to bring you up to speed.) I can tell you that the movie of Entourage provides you with everything you need to know about the setup, which is pretty simple: the adventures in La-La Land of a movie star (Adrian Grenier), the three besties he brought with him from Queens to handle his needs (Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, and Kevin Connolly, who somehow gets top billing—guess they flipped a coin), and his deal-making agent ( Jeremy Piven). But I suspect that you would have to be a fan of the show and therefore invested in the characters to care about any of this. The plot—movie star Vince decides he wants to direct and gets the chance now that agent Ari is in charge of a studio—would be adequate on a sitcom where the plot is mostly there as a skeleton for the jokes and recurring character bits. (I don’t know how many episodes of the show you had to watch before Kevin Dillon stopped being excruciatingly annoying, and I don’t plan to find out). As a feature, though, it’s pretty thin stuff, with a sense of humor and attitude toward women that seems directed at audiences well shy of the legal drinking age. If you get dragged to see it by one of the show’s devotees, you can at least amuse yourself by trying to identify the endless stream of C, D, and Z-list celebrity cameos. A few are funny: Kelsey Grammer, Liam Neeson. But you know they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel with Andrew Dice Clay, and it limbos even lower: you can argue among yourselves afterward whether the true bottom was reached with David Spade, David Faustino, or P Chad Lowe.

European hotel in the early 20th century. With Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, and Harvey Keitel. Tue June 9 9pm. Canalside Buffalo, 44 Prime St. HOW TO SAVE US—A man battles an army of ghosts to find his missing brother in this independent post-apocalyptic thriller. Starring Coy Jandreau, Kate Avery, and Jason Trost, who also directed. A review will be posted at www.dailypublic.com. Fri 9:30pm, Wed 6pm. Screening Room NIAGARA (1953)—Marilyn Monroe’s last film before becoming a major star in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was this not-too-suspenseful thriller in which she plays a wife scheming to murder her husband (Joseph Cotton) while vacationing just a few miles north of Buffalo. With Jean Peters and Richard Allen. Directed by Henry Hathaway. Fri, Sat, Tue 7:30pm. Screening Room ROAR (1981)—Newly discovered cult classic about a family under siege from wild lions. Starring Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith, and Noel Marshall, who also directed. Tue June 2 & Thu June 4 7:30pm. Screening Room SOAKED IN BLEACH—Not to be confused with

HBO’s recent Montage of Heck, this Kurt Cobain docudrama is based on the investigation of LA County Sheriff’s detective Tom Grant, who concluded that Cobain may have been murdered. Directed by Benjamin Statler. A review will be posted at dailypublic.com. Thu June 11 7:30pm. Screening Room

IN BRIEF THEATER INFORMATION IS VALID THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 4

ALOHA—Billy Wilder died early in 2002. His acolyte Cameron Crowe hasn’t made a decent film since. Coincidence? I don’t know, but Aloha is almost unrecognizable as the work of the writer-director behind Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire. What’s on screen is such a jagged mess that it seems likely that the studio took it away from Crowe and recut it, though it’s hard to see where more of it would make it any better. There are some nice scenes of Hawaiian locales and a few scenes that play well, but you really have to dig to find anything to like about this

PLAYING NOW FILM

LOCAL THEATERS AMHERST THEATRE (DIPSON) 3500 Main St., Buffalo / 834-7655 amherst.dipsontheatres.com AURORA THEATRE 673 Main St., East Aurora / 652-1660 theauroratheatre.com EASTERN HILLS CINEMA (DIPSON) 4545 Transit Rd., / Eastern Hills Mall Williamsville / 632-1080 easternhills.dipsontheatres.com FLIX STADIUM 10 (DIPSON) 4901 Transit Rd., Lancaster / 668-FLIX flix10.dipsontheatres.com FOUR SEASONS CINEMA 6 2429 Military Rd. (behind Big Lots), Niagara Falls / 297-1951 fourseasonscinema.com HALLWALLS 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo / 854-1694 hallwalls.org HAMBURG PALACE 31 Buffalo St., Hamburg / 649-2295 hamburgpalace.com LOCKPORT PALACE 2 East Ave., Lockport / 438-1130 lockportpalacetheatre.org MAPLE RIDGE 8 (AMC) 4276 Maple Rd., Amherst / 833-9545 amctheatres.com MCKINLEY 6 THEATRES (DIPSON) 3701 McKinley Pkwy. / McKinley Mall Hamburg / 824-3479 mckinley.dipsontheatres.com NEW ANGOLA THEATER 72 North Main St., Angola / 549-4866 newangolatheater.com NORTH PARK THEATRE 1428 Hertel Ave., Buffalo / 836-7411 northparktheatre.org REGAL ELMWOOD CENTER 16 2001 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo / 871–0722 regmovies.com REGAL NIAGARA FALLS STADIUM 12 720 Builders Way, Niagara Falls 236–0146 regmovies.com REGAL QUAKER CROSSING 18 3450 Amelia Dr., Orchard Park / 827–1109 regmovies.com REGAL TRANSIT CENTER 18 Transit and Wehrle, Lancaster / 633–0859 regmovies.com REGAL WALDEN GALLERIA STADIUM 16 One Walden Galleria Dr., Cheektowaga 681-9414 regmovies.com RIVIERA THEATRE 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda 692-2413 rivieratheatre.org THE SCREENING ROOM 3131 Sheridan Dr., Amherst / 837-0376 screeningroom.net SQUEAKY WHEEL 712 Main St., / 884-7172 squeaky.org SUNSET DRIVE-IN 9950 Telegraph Rd., Middleport 735-7372 sunset-drivein.com TRANSIT DRIVE-IN 6655 South Transit Rd., Lockport 625-8535 transitdrivein.com

Eraserhead

one. Starring Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, John Krasinski, and Danny McBride. -MFAMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON—The latest and most elaborate special effects extravaganza from Disney-owned Marvel Studios is the weakest of that company’s interconnected crowd pleasers, neither as smart as Captain America: The Winter Soldier nor as fun as Guardians of the Galaxy. Of the overstuffed cast reprising their roles from other superhero movies, only Scarlett Johansen and Mark Ruffalo are called upon to do much more than provide action for green screen technicians and stunt doubles to enhance. So many characters and subplots have been crammed into this film that there is little opportunity for characterization or suspense. Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, James Spader, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L. Jackson. Directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). –Gregory Lamberson. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA—French drama starring Juliette Binoche as an actress asked to star in a revival of the play that launched her career, but with an ambitious young actress (Chloë Grace Moretz) in her original role. Binoche is impressive in a low-key diva role, giving a spirited performance with notes of reflection and rue. But as a study in the interpenetration of life and art, the film offers too little dramatic charge and human interest to arrive at any insight or tension. Co-starring Kristen Stewart, who was named Best Supporting Actress at the Cesar Awards. Directed by Olivier Assayas (Summer Hours). – GS Amherst (Dipson) ENDS THURS 6/4 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD—Handsome adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s 19th-century rural novel about an independent young woman (Carey Mulligan) who inherits her uncle’s farm and encounters three very different suitors (Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge, Michael Sheen). Like red wine, Hardy’s novels have to be allowed to breathe, and long-form television is probably the only real way to do him justice: compressed into the length of a film, the heroine’s behavior feels unduly arbitrary, and the climax feels both rushed and uncertain. But the production values are strong, which matters in a story about country life, and the leads are well-cast. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (The Celebration). -MF Amherst (Dipson), Eastern Hills (Dipson)

A WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED—An enormous hit in its native Sweden, part road movie, part comic crime caper, and an episodic Zelig-like history of the title character, who takes French leave from his retirement home to avoid his 100th birthday party. Taking the first bus to anywhere, he becomes involved in an adventure that is one more improbable event in a life that has been filled with them, as we see in flashbacks. (Among them: dancing with a drunken Stalin and helping Robert Oppenheimer solve his bomb problem.) This whimsical, genially mordant comedy is managed with impressive facility, and star Robert Gustafsson’s performance is an underplayed little tour de force, with touches of Buster Keaton and W. C. Fields. A very deftly engineered, muted screwball comedy. Directed by Felix Herngren. –GS North Park

POLTERGEIST—What’s different in this remake of the less-than-classic 1982 Steven Spielberg production? There’s less plot, and the special effects are better. But the characters—a family struggling with a haunted house—were what made the original a success, and movies with great CGI effects are nothing unusual these days. The best thing this has going for it is a good cast, including Sam Rockwell as the dad, Jane Adams as the head of the team of investigating parapsychologists, and Jared Harris as a TV ghostbuster (substituting for the “Magic Munchkin” of the original). Directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House). -MF AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER—Catherine Deneuve stars in this true story as a Nice casino owner who fought against being taken over by gangsters, only to be betrayed by her own daughter. Co-starring Guillaume Canet and Adèle Haenel. Directed by André Téchiné (The Girl on the Train). Dipson Amherst, Dipson Eastern Hills ENDS THURS 6/4

SAN ANDREAS—I admit to be a sucker for disaster movies, a genre that would seem to have peaked a few years back with 2012. This one steps back a bit, content to destroy only California instead of the whole world, and to do so with only one name-value box office star, Dwayne Johnson (though having an actor as able as Paul Giamatti on hand as the Science Guy who explains what’s happening helps a lot). If you’re of a mind to, you’ll have no trouble finding inconsistencies and improbabilities (no, a tsunami wave would never be that high). I won’t try to defend it (especially the last half-hour), but I enjoyed it. With Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, and Kylie Minogue. Directed by Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island). -MF AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

LAMBERT AND STAMP—Behind every great British invasion band, it seems, was a slumming aristocrat or two guiding their career. For the Who it was Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, who get their due in this prodigiously researched documentary. As aspiring filmmakers in the early 1960s, they wanted to make a movie that showed the reality of life for teenagers who grew up in the wake of World War II. They hit on the idea of visualizing it through the rise to fame of a rock and roll band, and found a group called the High Numbers who fit the bill. The rest, as they say, is history, but even the most ardent Who-heads will learn some new things here; Pete Townsend is open about given them huge amounts of credit for shaping and guiding the band. Those more interested in the music than the history will find lots of pristine archival footage, a bonus when your subjects filmed everything around them. Directed by James D. Cooper. -MF Amherst ENDS THURS 6/4 MAD MAX: FURY ROAD—It took 30 years for George Miller to get the fourth installment of his post-apocalyptic series fof the ground, but his persistence paid off with this spectacular, stunt driven road chase picture Tom Hardy takes over the title role (from Mel Gibson) of Max Rockatansky, former police officer turned lone highwayman trying to survive in a nightmarish wasteland. But the film is dominated by Charlize Theron as Furiosa, the most fully realized action heroine since Aliens’s Ellen Ripley. In a film that is almost one long chase sequence, the cars and stunts are as important as the people, and they are top of the line creations. Hopefully we won’t have to wait 30 years for the next installment. –Gregory Lamberson. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit DriveIn

HOT PURSUIT—Action comedy starring Reese Witherspoon as a straitlaced cop assigned to guard the widow (Sofía Vergara) of a drug cartel boss. Circumstances put them on the road across Texas, emotionally bonding as they try to stay alive. If it sounds awfully familiar, it is: it differs from a hundred other uses of this formula only in having two female protagonists, which isn’t enough to save it. The best thing about it is PITCH PERFECT 2—A capella sequel. Starring Anna that it runs less than 90 minutes, so it doesn’t Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Katey waste too much of your day. Directed by Anne Sagal, and Elizabeth Banks, who also directed. VISIT FOR (TheDAILYPUBLIC.COM Guilt Trip). –MF Four Seasons, Re-MORE FILM LISTINGS & REVIEWS >> Fletcher AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, gal Quaker, Regal Transit Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, THE HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT OF Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

CULTURE > FILM

TOMORROWLAND—I’d tell you what this new movie based on a Disneyland exhibit is about, but I’m damned if I can figure it out from the studio publicity materials. George Clooney is in it and it was directed by Brad Bird (Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol); from there, you’re on your own. AMC Maple Ridge, Aurora, Dipson Flix, Hamburg, New Angola, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit DriveIn WOMAN IN GOLD—Will the movies ever run out of ways to make us hate the Nazis? Helen Mirren stars in a fact-based story as an Austrian who fled to America after the Nazi invasion and now wants to reclaim a family heirloom, a valuable Gustav Klimt painting that is the pride of a Viennese museum. To help her fight the Austrian government she hires a green lawyer (Ryan Reynolds) who happens to be the grandson of another refugee, composer Arnold Schoenberg. The film doesn’t quite know what to do with that detail, or with a story that involves a lot of arcane legal wrangling that isn’t terribly cinematic. Mirren is the main point of interest here, but she’s asked to do too much with too little, while most of the memorable supporting players (Daniel Brühl, Charles Dance, Elizabeth McGovern, and Jonathan Pryce) are underused. Directed by Simon Curtis (My Week with MariP lyn). –MF Eastern Hills (Dipson)

CULTURE > FILM

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WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS JESSE KATSOPOLIS + REBECCA DONALDSON OCCUPATIONS Jesse: Owner of the Smash Club, host of the KFLH’s Renegades Rush Hour, and musician Rebecca: Co-host of Wake Up San Fransico

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LOTSA LETTUCE 1

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WEDDING DATE

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LOTSA LETTUCE

20 23

16 19

ANECDOTES The couple met a charity date auction in 2005.

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WEDDING PARTY Best Man: Joseph Gladstone Maid of Honor: Donna Jo Tanner

29 32

WEDDINGS & 40 ENGAGEMENTS 42 JESSE KATSOPOLIS + REBECCA DONALDSON

43 46

AUTOS FOR SALE 51 52 53 The bride is the daughter of Jerry and Kerry Donaldson of San Fran-

61Irene Katsopolis. He is a 1989 gradThe groom is the son of Nick and uate of the University of Buffalo with a bachelor degree in music history. In addition to his time spent as a touring musician, he is 64 of the KFLH radio program, Rush owner of The Smash Club and host Hour Renegades.

63. Bassoon cousin

17. Biblical judge

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3. “The X-Files” topic

Meet s Pebble

35. 1955 merger 38. Bank statements? 40. Tour de ___ (bicycle race)

45. Fourth-wall breakers 46. “It don’t ___ thing...” 47. Fish and chips, say

5. Major pro-choice org.

48. CIA’s big brother

6. Text ending

49. Color of caution

7. “Dracula” director Browning

50. Words for a toaster

8. “___ to me!”

52. Diagnostic tools

9. Shell alternative

53. Meet part

10. Numerals on novels

56. Final: abbr.

11. ‘30s dance

57. “Mamma ___!”

12. 1989 hurricane

59. Letters of introduction?

13. Put ___ (stop) 19. “Is that ___?”

42. Flying Bison offering

21. Fabric named for an Indian city

PLEASE EXAMINE THIS PROOF CAREFULLY

44. “Poetry Out Loud” org.

43. Von Kant and others

4. Swindler, in slang

41. Current events? 43. Alley org.

39. Poetry event

DOWN

22. Language that does not contain the verb “to be”

32. Boss’s address?

37. “Seinfeld” uncle Lesser

40. Pretty big

2. CIA quarry, at one time

30. Quite bright

36. Spirited

65. Celebrity’s salary?

20. ‘___ little teapot’

29. “The Gray Lady,” initially

35. “Kung Fu” actor Philip

64. Spanish 101 verb

18. Communist cash?

28. 9-digit ID issuer

60. “M*A*S*H” extra

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERSCrossword Puzzle b

ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE I

24. Depletes

25. Connective tissue

26. Equivalent of 20 fins

46. Subject of a recent political investigation and 27. “Incidentally,...” this puzzle’s theme IF YOU APPROVE ERRORS WHICH ON THIS PROOF, THE 30. ARE Dramatic beginning PUBLIC PLEASE EXAMINE THE AD 51. DaemenCANNOT locale BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. 31. Funnyman

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THOROUGHLY EVEN IFBTHE AD IS A PICK-UP. 54. Letters before 33. ___-80 (old computer)

� CHECK COPY CONTENT 55. Penny? TO ADVERTISER 34. MESSAGE Berlioz’s “Les nuits Thank you for advertising 58. Sale spot d’___” � CHECK IMPORTANT DATES

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22 THE PUBLIC / JUNE 3, 2015 / DAILYPUBLIC.COM

62. “I cannot tell ___”

1. Square sorts

23. Local tabs?

WORKSHOPS

16. 2015 Best of Buffalo Best Seafood winner

61. Former radio host Hansen

14. “Theater Talk” airer

The maid of honor Fast, was Donna Jo Tanner, best friend and daughter 2004 CHEVY IMPALA - SWEET! of the bride’s television co-host, Daniel Tanner. The best men were ACROSS clean , maintained, all records kept. Joseph Gladstone and Daniel Tanner, the groom’s respective radio and brother-in-law. was held at the Epcot CenEngine is fast co-host and powerful $2800. The1.reception Gold diggers? ter Theme park, where wedding band, The Beach Boys, performed. 833-4804 After a honeymoon trip to the9.Bermudas, couple is residing in Ballet the nickname their new home in Buffalo.

cisco. She is a 1990 graduate of the University of San Francisco with a bachelors degree in broadcast 55journalism. She is the well-known co-host of the popular morning television program, Wake Up San Francisco.

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THE GRUMPY GHEY PRIDE—IN THE NAME OF LOVE? I’ve had one great Pride experience—since then I’ve found my pride elsewhere

BY CHRISTOPHER JOHN TREACY COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

I’LL NEVER FORGET MY FIRST GAY PRIDE PARADE. We danced barefoot in the street. I’d never known such satisfying shenanigans.

I’d witness the messy aftermath as I walked to work later in the afternoon, having overslept the parade with a nasty hangover.

My friends and I positioned ourselves behind a float with a particularly skilled DJ and just threw down. I kicked my sandals off and stuffed them in my pockets. This was Boston, 1992. Having just emerged from a four-year liberal arts closet in New Hampshire, I was eager for a big-city celebration. Compared to the Animal House image of college life, my experience was more closely likened to a horny, inebriated monk’s diary. I was jazzed for Pride.

After work, the bars were usually overrun with irritable out-of-towners, creating a half-hour wait for drinks while whining about how our Pride paled when compared to Toronto’s, LA’s, Chicago’s or New York City’s.

A photograph of us captured in all our street-stomping glory appeared in the following day’s Boston Globe. Although I don’t have a clipping of the photo, it’s comforting to know that moment is preserved in time somewhere, as I’ve never truly enjoyed Pride since. Other gay men I know seem perplexed by my lack of enthusiasm. I could blame it on commercialization and corporate sponsorship, but that’s hardly what irks me. Really, it’s about a series of unfortunate interactions that cumulatively ruined it for me, all rooted in the plain fact that I don’t like the way we gays treat each other. And although this has kept me from feeling a communal sense of pride, it hasn’t prevented me from developing my own personal pride regarding who I am, what I am, and the face I show the world each day. My second year in Boston, my boyfriend and I fought about going to the parade. We fought about it repeatedly and viciously. He didn’t like crowds and was loath to deal with anything “big and gay.” Maybe he understood something I hadn’t yet wrapped my head around, but at the time it was an ugly, near-deal-breaking bone of contention between us. I felt strongly that it was something we should be able to do as a couple. By the actual day of the parade, I was so drained from arguing the topic I almost didn’t bother going. But I’d recently gotten a new camera and I wanted to try capturing some of the spirit I’d felt the previous year in photographs. A decade later, I hung some of the resulting images in coffee shops throughout the Boston-metro area. The 1990s progressed and that relationship ended, but Pride never regained its luster. More and more it just seemed like an excuse for sloppy queens to descend en masse and make a mess. Afterwards, the city looked like a twink’s brain had repeatedly exploded through the streets, striking a sharp contrast to Boston’s otherwise uber-tidy facade. Colorful flyers, drink cozies, promotional tchotchkes, makeup cases, mounds of beads, noisemakers, boa feathers, and rainbowcolored leis littered my neighborhood, mixed with a telling variety of individually wrapped condoms: Yup, the gays had come through. My then-blossoming dual love affair with booze and cocaine did nothing to make Pride seem more fun. I was usually resentful that I hadn’t been invited to any of the A-list, pre-parade cocktail events, which I couldn’t have enjoyed anyway since I could never afford to take the weekend off from whatever restaurant was employing me. Instead,

Irony of ironies, Pride seemed to bring out the worst in us. I’d hear stories about couples that came to Boston together for Pride only to end up running into trouble: One of them cheated, locking the other out of the hotel room; someone took a lot of Special K and went MIA; this one got arrested after passing out drunk in a ditch while that one wrapped a car around a pole on Storrow Drive; someone else got into a fist fight with so-and-so’s boyfriend over accidentally spilling his drink and needed to go to the ER. It was like a full-moon-Friday-night on steroids and it made me wonder: Who the hell were these people and why had they come? What, exactly, do we have to celebrate together? And do we really have to hear the nine-minute Thunderpuss remix of Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay” yet again? A couple years later, I got sober. It was a necessity, I wasn’t functioning very well. Even through my perpetually mindaltered haze in the 1990s, however, I had always associated the concept of pride with an inner sense of esteem— still do. And, in order to build esteem, one must perform “esteemable acts,” right? Otherwise, what we’re really talking about is false pride. But in my newly minted sobriety, I also hoped that maybe I’d be able to see the annual celebration of the same name with fresh eyes. No such luck. One year in, I marched with the Sober & Proud group in Boston, but all was not well. The guy I was seeing—also sober—was annoyingly tantalized by the influx of “fresh meat” that Pride had brought into the city and wanted to spend the evening on the prowl. Worse yet, he seemed not to understand why this was upsetting to me. Not only was I bummed out by this turn of events, it also reinforced the negative associations I was trying to move beyond. In this case, Pride became threatening—it was here to take something away from me. At the end of the parade, on the green at the Boston Commons, I ended up making a scene while all these hissing, bead-laden bitches looked on in judgment. “What’s got her all bent out of shape??” The next year, I skipped the parade and opted instead for a big drag show at a local bar with a bunch of other sober guys. I’d candidly photographed the headlining performer applying lipstick back in that 1993 parade, and I blew up a fresh 8x10 to present to her before the show. I’d gotten many compliments on how the shot captured a mix of beauty and attitude, and I genuinely thought she’d be happy to receive it as a gift. “You been hanging that up in public places?” she barked at

me. I could swear I heard something snap in her neck and saw dark steam erupting from those pointy ears. “Honey, you ain’t got the right!” She tore up the photo and threw the pieces into the air, and that nasty, trashy witch told me, “Get the fuck out my space.” When I think about it now I just get angry, but back then I was deeply hurt. I felt winded, like someone had punched me in the stomach. I left without saying goodbye to my friends. In the 11 years since then, the closest I’ve come to attending a Pride event is seeing Erasure. Most years I write about something going on at Pride and help promote it on some level, but I don’t show up. See, I didn’t get sober to stand around with a group of people harshly judging one another and pretend that we’re all happy together and unified in our big gay boat—because we’re not. We’re evil toward one another all too often, and I refuse to pretend about that. Pretending was part of my drinking. It has no place in my sobriety. Where is our compassion for each other, our collective empathy, and a sense of humility about the strides we’ve made? We’re so busy wanting more—righteously demanding more—that we never stop to appreciate the freedoms we’ve achieved. Perhaps not directly related to Pride but still relevant, I was repeatedly shocked by the nasty behavior between gay men during my two years down in Austin. The most startling example had to do with a guy who’d expressed an interest in dating me that I didn’t reciprocate. He became jealous of a friendship I’d struck up with another man who happened to be HIV-positive and began telling people that I was a “bug chaser.” (For those who don’t know, bug chasers are people looking to purposefully become infected with HIV, and yes, they really do exist.) He told anyone who’d listen that I’d repeatedly had unsafe sex with my HIV-positive friend in an effort to get myself “pozzed up.” This was a groundless fabrication—pure lies. But I was fairly new in town, the community was small, and the damage was done. Now, lots of people have HIV and are open about disclosing their status. I see no shame in that at all. But actively pursuing infection depicts rather serious self-destruction and mental illness, and that’s what really bothered me. When I say I don’t like the ways we treat one another, I’m not talking about surface cattiness and all-in-fun joking around. I’m talking about deeper humiliations that reveal serious flaws in character. Vicious personal assassinations and vindictive, vile betrayals. If we could stop waving our fingers and defiantly shifting our neck muscles from side to side for a few minutes, maybe we’d remember that a little kindness goes a long way. I’m thankful that I don’t need to look to Pride for validation of my sexual freedom or to celebrate my personal identity. What I really need are other homosexuals in my life that I can depend on and trust. No parades, no fireworks, no costumes or performances from aging house-music-hasbeens—I don’t need any of that. I just need good people who know how to treat other good people. Without that, the rest P is meaningless.

DAILYPUBLIC.COM / JUNE 3, 2015 / THE PUBLIC 23