Arts/entertainment

The Little River Band recently held a two night stand at the West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY on December 17 and 18, 2024. This review is for the December 17th performance.

During the ‘70’s and ‘80’s Little River Band were a force to be reckoned with on the music charts. With a string of multi platinum albums and chart topping hits they dominated the music scene with one hit after the other. The band has evolved from its original Australian roots nearly fifty years ago (2025 is the 50th anniversary of the band) to today’s line up and group. Lead vocalist and bassist Wayne Nelson is now the longest tenured member with over 41 years of continued service to LRB. The other members of the current lineup, guitarists Colin Whinnery and Bruce Wallace along with drummer Ryan Ricks and keyboard ace Chris Marion have all been with LRB for some time as well now. So if you want to quibble about whether they are now a tribute band or not go ahead but not at my party please. This band has a catalog of Top 40 hits and classic rock radio staples that other artists would kill to have and they still put on an entertaining live show. (I first saw LRB in 1979 at Shea’s Theatre in Downtown Buffalo.)

Tonight’s show would feature all the hits and a couple of new songs from their latest release during the seventy five minute performance. They kicked things off with “Man on Your Mind” before thanking everyone for coming and then got nostalgic with their hit “Happy Anniversary” and radio staples “Take It Easy on Me” and “The Other Guy”. Next up was the title cut from the new album “Window to the World” which meshed perfectly with the older material. They finished up with another string of their hits including “Reminiscing”, “Help Is on Its Way”, “Night Owls”, “Cool Change” and “Lady” before returning with an encore of “Lonesome Loser”. After the show band members hung out on the edge of the stage engaging with the fans and signing autographs and posing for photos.

Opening the show were Johnny Rogers and James Naro offering up a forty minute set of acoustic classic rock songs ranging from The Beatles, T-Rex, The Box Tops, Bruce Springsteen, Doobie Brothers and The Eagles to name but a few.

For more upcoming shows at the West Herr Riviera Theatre visit their website at www.rivieratheatre.org

You may remember her as the “cuchie, cuchie” girl from ‘60’s and ‘70’s late night and variety television shows but pop icon Charo is also a world renown Flamenco guitarist and she showed off those skills and more during a seventy five minute show at the West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY on November 27, 2024. She has twice won Guitar Magazine’s “Best Flamenco Guitarist” award, has appeared on the TV shows Jane The Virgin, Celebrity Wife Swap, MTV’s Cribs, Dancing With the Stars and in the show Sharknado 5. She has a huge following on social media where she is dubbed “The Queen of Instagram”. And she is back on the road performing live for her enduring fan base.

The show began with her three piece band (keyboards, bass and drums) performing “Mambo #5” followed by a video montage of her impressive career. Charo, a charismatic ball of energy, then strolled on stage waving and blowing kisses to the crowd before launching into “Bamboleo” her sparkling and fringe lined dress shimmering with her dance moves. “Carnival Nights” followed and then a show stopping ten minute version of “Hot, Hot, Hot” that had Charo dancing down the aisles of the Riviera Theatre with fans, posing for selfies and even cajoling one gentleman to strip off his shirt which she twirled over her head before launching it into the audience. She returned to the stage and finished up the first part of the evening with a mash up of “Fernando” and “Chiquitita”.

She changed into a long flowing and colorful skirt and sat on a stool to perform on the guitar. An amazing guitarist she serenaded the crowd with versions of “Caliente”, “Malaguena” and a stunning run through Ravel’s “Bolero”. She removed the skirt and stool and danced her way through the closing number “Samba” before taking her final bows. Throughout the show Charo told stories of her time in Hollywood, about her life, told lots of jokes and with a self depreciating humor and gave a heartfelt thanks to her fans for still supporting her and for coming to the show on Thanksgiving Eve.

Charo is a consummate performer who can give an outwardly casual show a seamlessly professional polish. Catch her show the next time she is in town. For more information about upcoming shows at the West Herr Riviera Theatre visit their web site at www.rivieratheatre.org

The Smithereens featuring Gin Blossoms vocalist Robin Wilson rocked the West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY on November 20, 2024 packing all the hits and more into their two hour set. The band picked Wilson to replace the late Pat DiNizio and he has proven to be the perfect choice to step into the big shoes of the beloved DiNizio. For this show founding members Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken were joined by longtime Joe Jackson bassist Graham Maby who was filling in for an under the weather Mike Mesaros.

Entering to the strains of “Tequila” the band opened with the one two sonic punch of “Behind the Wall of Sleep” and “Top of The Pops”. You could tell they were firing on all cylinders. They continued to impress with sparkling versions of “Green Thoughts”, “Only A Memory”, “Cut Flowers”, “Yesterday Girl”, “Drown in My Own Tears”, “Blues Before and After”, “House We Used to Live In” and a set closing “Blood and Roses”. They returned for a three song encore consisting of Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang”, a dazzling run through Badfinger’s “No Matter What” and their own “Girl Like You”.

Throughout the evening the band showed a genuine appreciation for their fans thanking them for their forty years of following the band. The audience responded in turn by serenading Babjak with a chorus of “Happy Birthday” which he had celebrated two days earlier. After the show Babjak and Diken came out to the merch table where they generously took the time to meet each fan, talk to them and take pictures and autograph memorabilia.

Opening the show was John Hampson from the band Nine Days who offered up a nice 45 minute set of his own. Highlights from his performance included “If I Am”, the debut of a new song “FM Ghosts” and his hit with his band Nine Days “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”.
For more information about upcoming shows at the West Herr Riviera Theatre visit www.rivieratheatre.org

Lucinda Williams kicked off her November Nor'easter Tour on Friday November 8, 2024 with a spectacular sold out show at Town Ballroom in Downtown Buffalo. It has been thirteen years since she last performed in Buffalo and the crowd was eagerly anticipating her arrival on stage with a palpable buzz amongst the attendees. The nearly two hour show featured songs from her latest album Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart, selections from her illustrious career and some well chosen cover tunes as well. Williams is still recovering from a stroke a few years ago that has rendered her unable to play the guitar and while she may have seemed physically frail her voice and spirits were powerful. Her ace band of musicians including guitarist Doug Pettibone who also handled pedal steel, harmonica and backing vocals, David Sutton on bass and backing vocals, ex-Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford and Brady Blade on drums were rock solid and a tour de force presence all night. She kicked off the show with “Let’s Get the Band Back Together” which seemed appropriate to get things going followed by “Can’t Let Go” and a jaw dropping run through “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road”. After just three songs you knew the night was going to be magic. “People Talkin’”, “Protection”, “Stolen Moments” and a stunning “Lake Charles” that brought the crowd to their feet for the first of many times during the show all followed next. The nerves seemed to calm and a relaxed Williams told stories to pre face the songs and the band settled into a nice rhythm. Up next came “Jukebox”, “Fruits of My Labor”, “Where the Song Will Find Me”, “Are You Down” and “Rock n Roll Heart”. By now Williams, the band and crowd were as one with her and the band feeding on the energy and delivering “Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings”, a smoking run through The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” from her forth coming December release of her all Beatles songs album, a tear the place down run through Memphis Minnie’s classic “You Can’t Rule Me”, “Out of Touch” and a set closing “Righteously”. They returned for an encore of Skip James’ “Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues” and a hard rocking version of “Joy” before calling it a night. A show for the ages from one of music’s all time greats. Let’s hope she doesn’t wait thirteen years to return to Buffalo. Fingers crossed.

Virtuoso and legendary guitarist Arlen Roth has released his twentieth solo and his fifth all acoustic album titled Playing Out the String an eleven song selection of roots styled music with the feeling of a living room concert. While Roth may not be a household name even non music folks have been exposed to his guitar work. He has played and toured with the likes of Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Bob Dylan (Roth appears in Martin Scorcese’s Rolling Thunder film), Levon Helm, Ry Cooder, Dusty Springfield and countless others. Roth was also a consultant and teacher to Ralph Macchio and created the guitar parts for the movie Crossroads. He is also an educator and author. For Playing Out the String Roth performs all acoustic guitars, slide guitar, mandolin and vocals and is assisted by Alex Salzman on bass and keyboards. Salzman also recorded, mixed and mastered the album and co produced with Roth. Tracks of note from Playing Out the String include covers of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou”, the Townes Van Zant classic “Pancho and Lefty”, Fred Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’” and Allen Toussaint’s “Java” all performed as instrumental tracks, a couple of Norman Blake tunes “Church Street Blues” and “Randall Collins”, a nice run through the Bo Diddley/Willie Dixon penned classic “Diddy Wah Diddy” and a fine cover of Louis Jordan’s “You Can’t Get That Stuff No More”. Two other tracks that stand out are the opening track a cover of the Gus Cannon written “Walk Right In” first done by Cannon in the 1920’s and latter updated in the 1960’s by The Rooftop Singers and the LP closer and title track “Playing Out the String” a Roth original instrumental. For more information about Arlen Roth and his latest album Playing Out the String you can visit www.arlenroth.com or go to www.facebook.com/arlenrothmusic

Award winning indie blues duo A.W. Cardinal and Jasmine Colette (aka Badlands Jass) have released a new album titled New Orleans Sessions a ten song mix of classic and original tunes. Recorded over two days one year apart at Bigtone Records in New Orleans the recording process was simple. Get everyone in the same room, run through each number a couple of times, hit the red button, do two or three takes and on to the next song. No overdubs, no tricks and the result are a live off the floor feel and music created in its purest form. Cardinal (guitar/vocals) and Colette (upright bass/vocals) are joined by some of the Crescent City’s finest musical collaborators including Jon Atkinson (harmonica/recording and engineer), B.C. Coogan (piano), Danny Abrams (Baritone sax) and Nicholas Solnick and Brett Gallo (drums). Highlights among the cover tunes include Charlie Patton’s “Shake it and Break It”, Bo Carter’s enticing offer of “Let’s Get Drunk Again”, the call and response vocals between Cardinal and Colette on Lead Belly’s “Ain’t Going Down”, Memphis Minnie’s “Black Rat Swing”, the classic “St. James Infirmary” and the Lonnie Johnson/ Victoria Spivey lament “Got the Blues So Bad”. Shining among the original tracks are the boozy and bluesy “Some Ol’ Day”, the swampy and funky country blues number “Trickster Coyote” and the blues moaner about being wildly in love “What I Wouldn’t Do”. You can find out more information about Blue Moon Marquee and their fine new record New Orleans Sessions by heading over to www.bluemoonmarquee.com or go to www.facebook.com/bluemoonmarquee

The latest album from blues legend Benny Turner titled BT is like a walk down memory lane with one of the last living direct link to Chicago’s electric blues and Gospel scene. Benny was the longtime bassist in his older brother Freddie King’s band and after Freddie’s death joined Mighty Joe Young’s band before venturing out on his own. Turner began recording BT in 2018 and was soon derailed by his pal Cash McCall’s terminal illness, the whole COVID thing, the destruction of his New Orleans home by Hurricane Ida and finally a move to the Northeast. But the endurance paid off and is being released in time to celebrate Turner’s eighty-fifth birthday. Some of the stellar cast of musicians helping Turner (vocals/bass/guitar/banjo) out on this one include Sax Gordon, guitarist Billy Davis the last original member of Hank Ballard’s band The Midnighters, Hammond B3 ace Joe Krown, renown New Orleans singer Tiffany Pollack and guitarist Will McFarlane and keyboardist Clayton Ivey both from the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Highlights off BT include a hot rocking run through Big Joe Turner’s “Bump Miss Susie”, a Gospel injection for the blues standard “Going Down Slow”, a sweet cover of Dee Clark’s “That’s When I Call On You”, “Finger Poppin’ Time” inspired by Ballard and Davis and featuring Davis on guitar and the high energy funky tribute to Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Bo Dollis “Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right)” featuring vocals from the late Warner Williams who’s distinct vocals being the result of his tracheostomy tube. Also of note are the three Turner originals “Drunk” and its in the pocket groove, the smooth instrumental “Sleepy Time in the Barnyard” and the soul blues ballad that closes the album “Who Sang It First” with sweet backing vocals from Pollack and Kassie Netherland Miele. Benny Turner is a blues legend and his latest album BT is a testament to his legacy. To find out more about Benny Turner visit www.bennyturner.com or head over to www.facebook.com/bennyturnerbass

The book release of The Spirit of Buffalo Women: Prominent Women who called WNY their Home will take place on November 15 at the Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, Buffalo NY. The event will begin at 6:00 pm and include a special 90-minute talk about the individuals included in the book. Copies of the Spirit of Buffalo Women will be available for purchase before, during and after the presentation. This book release is part of the weekly Buffalo History Museum Wednesday Happy Hour History series.

About the Book
The Spirit of Buffalo Women: Prominent Women who called WNY their Home profiles 60 women who contributed to the development of WNY as social benefactors, community leaders, politicians, educators, entertainers, authors, journalists, artists, philanthropists, business owners and management executives. Their contributions changed the Spirit of WNY and made it a diversified community where individuals of all races, nationalities and sexual orientation work together to make the Buffalo area one of the best places to live in the country.

The Women Profiled Include:
Baez, Ball, Baranski, Bellissimo, Berry, Bethune, Blake, Bozer, Butler, Caldwell, Cary, Cass, Chisholm, Clement, Cleveland, Clifton, Cornell, Davis, DiFranco, Falletta, Fillmore, De Forest, Ganson, Gillette, Goodyear, Green, Hinson, Holmes, Horton, Jemison, Johnson, Jones, Kleinhans, Knox, Lockwood, Lord, Love, Merriweather, Montgomery, Morgana, Mulligan, Nevergold, Oates, Price, Ransom, Reinstein, Reinstein, St. John, Shedd, Stevens, Talbert, Taylor, Thompson, Townsend, Tubman, Wendt, Wendt, Wincenc, Wolfgang and Ziemba. Included in the profiles is information on numerous other women who assisted in making WNY what it is today.
…..and over 200 photos and illustrations

About the Author
Rick Falkowski has been involved in all aspects of WNY entertainment during the past 60 years. He is the founder of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and Buffalo Music Awards, former publisher of Buffalo Backstage Magazine, entertainment coordinator of Tonawanda's Gateway Harbor Concerts, creator of Theatre Alongside the Canal, a UB graduate, USAF Veteran and Time Warner retiree. He presents classes on the History of Buffalo Music & Entertainment and Buffalo History at libraries, community centers, schools and for various organizations. In addition, Rick is the author of History of Buffalo Music & Entertainment (2017), Profiles Volume I: Historic & Influential People from Buffalo & WNY – the 1800s (2019) and Profiles Volume II: Historic & Influential People from Buffalo and WNY – the Early 1900s (2021).

Rick Falkowski – buffalomusichistory.com – rickfalkowski@aol.com – 716-583-0540