What’s Good 9/22-27

Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture

Thursday, 9/22

They Might Be Giants (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., doors 8pm
These beloved college radio staples have hardly lost a step since they debuted in 1985, charming a generation with catch, overly-wordy, philosophical oddball pop songs like “Don’t Let’s Start,” “Ana Ng,” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”. In the decades since they’ve branched out into children’s music and TV theme songs without ever slackening their pace of a new album every two years, and their live show remains a delight.

Subject Board of Directors Meeting (Google Meet, 9pm)
Subject is run by a non-profit, Subject Student-Run Media, and our biweekly board of directors meetings are open to the public. Join in and see how the sausage gets made, or voice your input about the site. 

Friday 9/16

The Get Up Kids (Sparta, 681 Main St., doors 7pm)
These 90s emo stalwarts reunited in 2019 with a new album and have been touring ever since.

Drag Kings & Juicy Jesters (Buffalo Distilling Co., 860 Seneca St., doors 8pm)
A “night of royal indulgence” featuring a parade of drag kings and burlesque performers.
Silent Disco Night (Canalside, 44 Prime St.)

Canalside Roller Rink’s theme night says “silent”, but there will be a DJ. So we’re a little confused, but still ready to put on some bell bottoms and wide lapels and boogie down. 

New Movies This Week:

On the Come Up (Regal Walden Galleria)
Actress Sanaa Lathan makes her directorial debut, turning The Hate You Give author Angie Thomas’ follow-up novel into a musical, as teenage Bri (newcomer Jamila C. Gray) wants to make it as a rapper, but gets more than she bargained for when her song blows up but causes controversy. Lathan co-stars, alongside Method Man, Mike Epps, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

Moonage Daydream (Regal Transit Center, Flix Stadium 10 – Lancaster, Regal Quaker Crossing – Orchard Park)
It may be worth traveling to the burbs to see this IMAX spectacle, which is less a documentary than a concert film spanning Bowie’s entire career and ever-changing personas, using unreleased footage from the singer’s personal archives, interspersed with interview clips and narration from Bowie himself.

Don’t Worry Darling (in wide release)
Director Olivia Wilde follows up Booksmart with this thriller better-known for off-screen drama between cast members Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, and Chris Pine than the film itself, which is getting middling reviews.

Saturday 9/24

The Goo Goo Dolls (KeyBank Center, One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza, $25-195, doors 7:30)
These hometown heroes formed in Buffalo in 1986, made it big a decade later with hits like “Name” and “Iris”, and 35 years in still put on a heck of a live show.

African American Veterans Monument Unveiling (Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, 1 Naval Cove)
Come down to the waterfront to see the dedicated of this monument to Black soldiers from every American conflict from the Revolutionary War on, the first memorial of its kind.

Sunday 9/25

Meatball Street Brawl (Osteria 166, 166 Franklin St., 11am-5pm, $25)

Come ready to eat, not fight, as food vendors fight it out metaphorically over who makes the best meatballs in town. Ticket includes tastings of meatballs, beer, and wine, and the Bills game will be playing on a big screen.

Tuesday 9/27

Five Finger Death Punch w/The HU and Fire From the Gods (Darien Lake Amphitheater, $29.50-$149.50, doors 6:30)
One of the 2010s’ biggest metal bands, 5FDP haven’t slowed down in the 20s, touring behind their 9th album, Afterlife, which released last month.