What’s Good 3/16-3/23
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 3/16
Journey (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour H Knox Plaza, 7:30pm, $44)
These classic rock stalwarts are celebrating their 50th anniversary, and as of press time have still not stopped believin’.
Kerwin Claiborne (Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $32)
Viral videos have brought internet stardom to Claiborne, but he’s a stand-up at heart, with a show that’s sold out clubs across the country.
Bury Your Dead (Mohawk Place, 47 East Mohawk St, 5pm, $25)
This Boston metalcore band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut, You Had Me At Hello, with a hard rocking lineup that includes Great American Ghost, Edict, Bungler, Allegiant, Dishonored, and Gretta Moire.
Michael Glabicki (Rec Room, 79 W. Chippewa St, 7pm, $20)
Glabicki once fronted roots-rock outfit (and former Springfest headliner) Rusted Root.
Friday, 3/17
JXDN (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm, $29)
This TikTok star has gone mainstream after Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker took him under his wing.
Mendelssohn’s Violin (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 10:30am, $44)
Violinist Sandy Cameron performs Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto. (Note the time is AM, not PM)
Agent Elvis (Netflix)
This animated spy spoof looks bananas, and not just because there’s a talking chimp in the cast. Matthew McConaughey plays the immortal rock and roll icon, who gets drafted into a secret spy organization. Think Archer in a gold lamé jumpsuit. Created by the real Elvis’ ex-wife Priscilla, and with a cast that includes Johnny Knoxville, Don Cheadle, and Tom Kenny as the monkey, plus a murderer’s row of guest stars. Look for a review on Subject this weekend.
New Movies This Week
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (in wide release)
The original DCU goes out with a bang before James Gunn revamps the franchise. Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is joined by foster siblings who can also transform into superheroes, and they must team up to fight the Daughters of Atlas, who aim to destroy the world.
Moving On (Regal Transit Center; Flix Stadium 10)
Grace and Frankie stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda re-team for this indie in which two estranged friends reconnect at a funeral, and plot revenge on the widower for a decades-old slight.
Boston Strangler (Hulu)
Keira Knightley stars as the reporter who first covered the story of this infamous real-life serial killer, who murdered 15 women in Boston in the 1960s. Also starring Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper, and Alessandro Nivola.
The Magician’s Elephant (Netflix)
A young boy is searching for his missing sister, and a fortune teller tells him to seek out a magician with an elephant, in this animated fable.
Saturday 3/18
ESW Heavyweight Championship (Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St, 7pm, $20)
Empire State Wrestling’s main event, as heavyweight champion Kevin “The Remix” Bennett takes on challenger Speedball Bailey.
Old Neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Valley Community Association, 93 Leddy St, 12pm, FREE)
The 28th Annual parade kicks off at noon, with more than 100 participants, including floats, bands, Irish dancers, and more, plus live music at the end of the parade route.
Wasted Space w/A Greater Danger, Pale Hell, Assault on 5th (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St., 7pm, $12)
We don’t know a lot about these hard rock bands, but four bands for $12 is a lot of rock for your buck.
City of Light Bus Tour (Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway, 1pm, $42)
Explore Buffalo’s history as a booming industrial hub, through the lens of Lauren Belfer’s 1901-set novel City of Light. This three-hour tour visits locales featured in the book, and explores the Queen City’s history in the process.
Sunday 3/19
Jerry Cantrell (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 8pm, $49.50)
The former Alice in Chains guitarist comes to town on his Brighten tour.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Delaware Ave., 2pm, FREE)
There are several parades around town this weekend, but this one’s the real deal. Starting with a 10:30 mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the parade begins near the McKinley Monument, and marches north on Delware to North St.
Lucky Hank (AMC)
Bob Odenkirk follows Better Call Saul with this dry comedy about a college professor who hates his students, his job, and most of all himself. Look for reviews here on Subject, if we can bring ourselves to add AMC+ to our already overstuffed list of streaming subscriptions.
Monday 3/20
Taste of Ethiopia (Jewish Community Center, 2640 N. Forest Rd, Getzville, 6pm, $20)
Offerings include a (shortened) traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, homemade injera bread, and guest speaker Maly Jackson telling her own story as a refugee fleeing from Ethiopia, to Sudan, to Israel, to the US, and the broader story of the emigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
Desmond Jones w/Squeaky Feet, Cypher (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $7)
Michigan jam band Desmond Jones brings its improv-heavy groove to Iron Works.
Tuesday 3/21
Beetlejuice (Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., 7:30pm Tue-Fri, 2pm & 8pm Sat, 1pm & 6:30pm Sun, $75-97)
Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy about a ghost who takes it upon himself to haunt the yuppies who buy a charming old house, and ends up befriending their teenage daughter, has been turned into a stage musical, touring through Shea’s this week only.
Buffalo State Philharmonic (Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State University, 7:30pm, FREE)
Buff State’s orchestra puts on its final performance of the season.
Wednesday 3/22
Clem Snide (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $17)
Alt-country outfit Clem Snide seemed headed for obscurity after breaking up in 2007. But they regrouped and found a new generation of fans, as their songs were featured on Californication, The Good Wife, and Love. They’re now touring behind critically acclaimed new album Forever Just Beyond.
Thursday 3/23
WNY Refugee Film Festival (wnyrff.org, 7pm, FREE)
This year’s festival includes free virtual screenings of six award-winning films chronicling the refugee experience. Visit the festival’s web site for more information.
