Aimee Mann to Perform Feb. 2 in UB's CFA

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present Aimee Mann -- A Special Acoustic Performance at 8 p.m. on Feb. 2 in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

During the '80s, Aimee Mann led the popular post-New Wave pop group, 'Til Tuesday, best known for the hit song "Voices Carry."  After releasing three albums with the group, Mann broke up the band and embarked on a solo career. Her first solo album, "Whatever," was a more introspective, folk-tinged effort than 'Til Tuesday's albums, and received uniformly positive reviews upon its release in 1993. Early in 1995, Mann had a hit with "That's Just What You Are," a song included on the soundtrack to the television series, Melrose Place.

Mann's solo career took off in 2000, when she released her soundtrack for the critically acclaimed film Magnolia. The song "Save Me" was later nominated for an Academy Award. She released several more well-received albums during this decade, most recently "The Forgotten Arm" in May 2005.

The organic, earthy acoustic trills of Mann's solo sound are a world apart from the synthesized sound of 'Til Tuesday. Instead, her songs are quiet, minimalist folk tunes, free of embellishments and frills. Near-whispers and softly sung vocals float listlessly, giving a bittersweet edge to Mann's lyrics.

"Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs," says Time magazine.

Tickets for Aimee Mann -- A Special Acoustic Performance are $27 and $20 for students. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.