|
|
 |
 |
Week 8 Articles: |
| Artist - |
| Music - |
| Comments - |
| Places - |
| Ideas - |
| Pets - |
| Sports Spat - |
 |
 |
|
| Girls & Cars Go Together Like PBR & BBQ |
| 1/7 by laura |
 |
This Beatnik's Rockabilly babes come from all corners of the world to be photographed in true trash glamour fashion. Mark Miremont is one of only a few photographers able to strut the line between fine photography and photo erotica.
Focusing a majority of his time on buxom women, Mark relies heavily on the growing popularity of the underground rockabilly scene to provide him with the necessary models. He sets the background environment in a vibrant array of foliage and/or muscle cars. He has a gentle, comfortable approach, which allows the semi-erotic nature of the prints to retain their femininity while hinting at a bit of S&M. They are classy and whore-ish simultaneously - like hookers donning Minolo Blahniks. He has a knack for creating sinuous shapes with the model's bodies.
Mark donates 10% of his profits to charity, which makes him a good guy, right? Well, not necessarily, but he is pretty f'n lucky to spend his days surrounded by scantily clad chicks nuzzling up to his muscle cars. We also like that Mark devotes the remainder of his time to the restoration of these old muscle cars, the good old blue collar way - he gets his hands dirty. We hope to see some of that grease show up on the skin of a couple broads in the next shoot.
|
|
|
|
| 1/8 by laura |
 |
I cannot believe that you said that!
You really need to work on your titles.
How do you get into the magazine?
I wish there were more articles about music.
You guys suck!
Anybody will sit behind their desk and read our page because it passes the time, but we would rather create something that you, our readers can explore, interact with, ask questions about. We are out nearly every night meeting people, gathering info, peeping into lit windows and taking pictures of spooning couples. We love this sort of legwork, but only want to do it if you are interested in seeing pictures of a fat naked guy eating pudding.
We have been up and running for eight weeks now and while most of our close friends have had their brains racked, the rest of our readers have not. We have a press section and a comments/questions section so stop spanking off already and shoot us an email. Wishing that we would be a bit more unabashed with our articles? Write to and tell me how to get you excited!
You are the ones that make me tick, so let me return the favor and give you a real experience. We want to hang with you, grab a beer, scratch our asses and talk about the cool art you made, then write about it for everyone else. We also want to know about the cool art your girlfriend has tattooed across her back. It's out there and we'll find out, but we'd rather you took your girlfriend's shirt off for us.
|
|
|
|
| Lovin' On The Lower Town Trio |
| 1/9 by laura |
 |
Since, it has been a slightly off schedule week, and to follow suit with our Rockabilly-esque theme, we're currently taking a listen to The Lower Town Trio a band straight out of the Queen City that was formed in 2003 and has gained popularity amongst the underground masses. Ok, well how about popularity among the only crowd that matters - the cool kids drinking PBRs.
Jason Van Cleve, vocals, and Chris Van Cleve, originally come to the Queen City after sifting their way through the suburbs of Lockport. The two started out playing open mic night at local coffee shops and hipster hangouts. Once they realized that they were on to something, they set out in search of an upright bassist when they realized that longtime friend, Ryan Hurley, might fit the bill. Turns out that he was able to pick up the upright bassist style lickety-split and now all that was left was a band name
As with most band names, the title The Lower Town Trio sprung out of a joke between pals. Lower Town is the pet name, given by the natives to a portion of town located on the other side of the canal, geographically set lower than the main section of the city.
When the trio takes the stage they grab the audience by their balls. The sound carries a note of jam, easy to groove to, but the lyrics scream punk angst. You'll be easily duped into believing these nice boys have a Johnny Cash like stage presence, until they approach you dressed as zombies, spitting blood and sweat and singing about hot rods and cigarettes. "The kind of music that makes you drench yourself with PBR's after dancing on a worn wooden floor on a steamy Saturday night."
|
|
|
|
| Essex St. Pub - Punk Rock and PBR's |
| 1/10 by matt |
 |
I have been frequenting the Essex Street Pub for many years now and still get nostalgic about my first experience inside its doors. My Brother and I had long heard strange and exciting things about the tucked away tavern; it was time to explore for ourselves.
It was not at all what I had imagined - it was so much more. I walked up past the bike rack, which always seems to have at least one random bike parked on it, and opened the door of the somewhat awkward entrance. In the darkness, emerged a large, unattractive and boisterous barmaid to greet us. She had long been serving quite the crowd of derelicts, punks, greasers and an old man from the sea. I could not help but feel at home. With some old school punk rock playing in the background, she asked for our choice of drinks we ordered a PBR and requested some rockabilly. To our enjoyment, she obliged. Ah...Punk rock and Pabst, its like a sore dick; you just can't beat it.
Now I could tell of wondrous drinking excursions here at the faithful pub, but I will not drone on. I could tell you that they have PBR bottles for $2 and various imports on tap, including a great pouring Guinness. I could tell you that they make a stiff drink, and the revised bar staff is much better looking and personable. But what I will speak of is the characters and the feeling each time I sit on those giant wood and metal stools. Do not think of the Essex St. Pub as the Land of Forgotten Toys, think of it as a place to get a great drink, enjoy some great music and unwind in the company of a few people of a kind you may have never seen before.
What most attracts me to the pub is the music. At one time, I had been instructed to visit the pub, simply because it was awarded the "Best Jukebox in Buffalo" award, on more than one occasion. I could not help but be pessimistic - as I was being told this unbelievable tale, I was in middle of searching for a Rancid song on a touch-o-matic jukebox, but forced to rifle through an obscene amount of DMB and hip-hop shit to find it. Fortunately, at Essex, I was greeted with a more diverse and alternative selection. They have everything from the Dropkick Murphy's to Bob Marley and even some Morrissey thrown in there. Personally, Morrissey is not my choice, but it puts my Brother at ease. During my last few visits, Essex not only had on the Sabres game, but the satellite Punk station as well. Doesn't get much better than that, does it?
For those that have been to the Essex St. I hope it has tickled your fancy. For those whom have never been, I can only suggest that you visit it at least once. Play a game of pool, put $5 into the jukebox, and reminisce about the days when you did not have to give a shit about much except looking cool and rockin' out.
Essex St. Pub
530 Rhode Island
Buffalo, NY 14213
Get Directions
|
|
|
|
| Making Awesome! |
| 1/11 by laura |
 |
On Tuesday, we asked for some feedback on how we are doing. A few people submitted some good ideas. A few people submitted some lousy ones. But either way, we've emerged with one cool ass idea, thanks to Joel, to ask for a drawing a week from artists that wish to contribute to the site - regardless of location. This way, we can snobbishly still refuse to write about artists if they're unlucky enough to reside outside of Western New York, and still shamelessly use them to post neat-o stuff. I suppose we could even credit them.
The first step to doing this would be for Matt and I to sit down and make a list of content that we think readers want to see for the following week. The second step is to post that list of content and ask for artists to chose a day and draw a picture. We prefer that it be something irregular, charming and off the cuff. It has to be appropriate - we have our own idea about what that means, so send it all and we'll sort through it.
If you are interested in participating in this, be prepared that you will have deadlines. That's just life, Bub. If you can manage such a hefty task, shoot us an email with the content you'd like to draw to in the headline. Go now! Draw!
|
|
|
|
| Feeling Up Fluffy |
| 1/12 by diane |
 |
While I am not a journalist, I am an animal lover who spends her free time helping our furry friends. On Saturday mornings, I volunteer at the SPCA and so figured it would be a swell time to share with the readers a few myths and facts about the pets in our lives.
At the SPCA, I help to connect people with dogs and dogs with people. There is a chemistry that passes between dog and human when the fit is right - the bond is amazing, and I witness it over and over again.
There are some severe myths floating about the city and suburbs regarding the services and care tactics of the Erie County SPCA. Although Erie County is in the shelter's name, the pound is privately funded and receives no government aide. Community residents contribute through private donations and the volunteers continually fundraise.
Secondly, the shelter does not routinely put down animals. Most dogs are on the adoption line for a day or two, and the "hard to place dogs" can unfortunately linger there for a few weeks. The SPCA takes in as many animals as it physically can hold; there have even been kittens sleeping in the restrooms.
During the spring, a.k.a. "kitten season", the shelter takes in hundreds of unwanted cats and kittens that people unload onto them. We fill every nook and cranny and then call on our foster families to shelter what we cannot. Each year, the amount of kittens that are dropped off eventually becomes so overwhelming that we are forced to turn away the rest simply because of spacing. This is one of the many reasons we encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their cats. But let's face the music, we are a self-driven society that does not care that these felines are breeding at a neck-breaking pace as long as we do not have to see the inhumane situation that we are forcing them to be in.
Although the shelter does have some paid staff, volunteers help pick up the slack and therefore free up more time and money that can be spent towards the animal care. The volunteers do not only offer a day or two here and there, but many offer 3-4 days a week on a consistent basis. Pet seekers often time come to the shelter and claim that the volunteers and staff are unfriendly, but theses people see the worst side of the community residents. Walk a day in their shoes and we'll see who gets nasty.
They witness such unnecessary abuse, it would make the toes of any sane person curl. Many a day I have left there in tears over a mistreated cat or an eight year old dogs whose owners now claim "suddenly got too big" or "requires too much time". It is near impossible to gleefully take that dog from that owner and not smack him upside the head. Was it too big when it was 2 years old? Or were you mislead into believing that a Saint Bernard would only grow to forty pounds? Dogs can unfortunately not understand soothing words but can feel abandonment. Our volunteers are left with the responsibility to spend time with it and give it the love it obviously did not get in a home and wait for the right person to come along and be willing to open their hearts and homes to an older dog.
Drop in and see how we operate. Witness for yourself the animals waiting and wanting to be the loyal and loving friend to us human beings - even after they have been abused countless times. But please do not consider taking an animal home if you are not totally sure of your intentions. Do not be a person who drops off their family dog because they are "moving". I wonder if they would drop off their kids for the same reason if there were such a place for them. How about your landlord? Check with them first and consider the daunting task of finding another pet friendly home when you move. Allergies? A pet is probably not right for you. If you need a fix, simply drive to the SPCA and spend time with the animals with the disclaimer that you will not be taking one home. We understand if you need companionship for a few minutes each week.
|
|
|
|
| The Lights Are On But No One's Home |
| 1/13 by wax cupp |
 |
That is, in the front office at HSBC Arena. In the '06/'07 season, the Buffalo Sabres practically reached Camelot. They won their first President's Trophy for best record in the regular season. They played in front of a sell-out every night at the arena. Sports Illustrated voted them, the best franchise in pro sports. Within a few short months, those acheivments were sent to the glue factory; the three-headed monster, known as Tom Golisano, Larry Quinn, and Darcy Regier, let their co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere walk at the end of the season.
Briere and Drury arguably are responsible for Buffalo's turn-around and rise to the top. Once again, we saw team management rub their core veterans and captains the wrong way and send them down the route of Michael Peca, Jay Mckee and JP Dumont.
Most people in their position would learn from that mistake. One season later however, Brian Campbell remains unsigned, heading into unrestricted free agency this summer. The man does everything correct, everything that is asked of him, and he is home grown. He is not getting any cheaper - he was voted to the All-star game in Atlanta that takes place later this month. It has been rumored, that Campbell's agent approached the Sabres last summer with a 5-year, 25 million-dollar deal, and the league rejected. Apparently, the league was under the impression that he would get cheaper as the season went on. In reality, Campbell's open market value now approaches 6-7 million per year.
The Sabres need to lock him up now, long term and deem him the permanent captain and lose this amateur hour, rotating captain crap. It is time we reward him for being a loyal team player. Larry Quinn treated Danny Briere like garbage, and tried to muscle Drury into a low-ball contract. Neither tactics worked. In the end, they were forced to overpay Thomas Vanek to save face. Vanek will never live up to his 50 million dollar contract, but I am quite sure Campbell would be a bargain at half that.
One has to wonder, where is Tom Golisano and who is being held accountable for these decisions. Larry Quinn was run out of town once and should be treading lightly or he will be making a second trip. It is my hope that true Sabres fans will show their disgust for the Quinn and Regier business handlings, or I worry for the future of the team.
Ice time has not been pretty either. The Sabres have dropped eight straight games and have moved into 12th place in the Eastern Division. Rochester, once again, has been some help; Clark MacArthur has been one of the Sabres most productive forwards since his call-up. Hometown hero, Pat Kaleta is bringing the kitchen sink with him to the ice. Kaleta hits everything that crosses his path. I personally think that both deserve to stay, and both have brought more to the table then Mike Ryan and Andrew Peters. Let's hope for better news next week from Sabreland.
Kind Regards,
Wax Cupp.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
