What’s Good – November 9-15, 2023
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 11/9
The Rocky Horror Show (Kavinoky Theater, 320 Porter Ave, 10pm, Sat midnight, $47)
The campy cult classic midnight movie started off as a stage production, which Kavinoky revives. Special midnight performance on Saturday, and continues Thu/Fri/Sat through November 18.
Joe Bellanti (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $20)
Organ Fairchild’s Bellanti plays a solo show to hang out and play some covers of Genesis, the Dead, Little Feat, and more, alongside his original songs.
Michelle Zauner (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 8pm, $20)
The Japanese Breakfast frontwoman and Crying in H Mart author reflects on her life.
The Runaway Grooms (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $12adv/$15, 18+)
This band is from Colorado, but they play Southern rock in the tradition of Skynyrd and the Allmans.
Comedic Cody (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $27)
Cody has 4 million followers on TikTok and is in year two of his Comedic Relief Tour.
Alex McArthur Quartet (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $10 bar/$15 rsvd)
Vocalist McArthur is a rising star in Buffalo’s jazz scene.
Husbands w/Plastic Picnic (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $15adv/$18)
True Crime Trivia Night (Hofbrauhaus, 190 Scott St, 6pm, $10)
Test your knowledge of murder and mayhem at the first-ever true crime trivia night.
Friday, 11/10
Screaming Females w/Dazy, Pink Droid (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $15adv/$20)
Mohawk Place still has this show listed, but Screaming Females recently announced they had to cancel their remaining 2023 shows for a family emergency, so double-check before you get tickets.
Squirrel Nut Zippers (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $40)
The Zippers’ quirky swing music predated the swing craze of the 2000s, and keeps going strong 25 years later.
Festival of Laughs (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 8pm)
A night of stand-up comedy with Bill Bellamy, Bruce Bruce, Lavell Crawford, and Sommore.
That Comedy Show (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $10adv/$15)
See some of Buffalo’s funniest stand-ups, including Annamarie DePalma, Chris Gullo, Dion Lewis, Dan Mahoney, Al Mehltretter, Josh Prygon, Jermaine Sneed, and Rachael Tshari.
Michael Colyar (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, Fri 7/9:30pm Sat 6/8:30pm, Sun 7pm, $26)
Colyar has appeared in Black-ish, House Party III, The Princess & the Frog, and Martin, and paid his dues performing 5 shows a day in Venice Beach for 9 years straight.
Octave Cat w/The Sideways (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 8pm, $18adv/$22, 18+)
This trio plays synth-oriented jazz.
Matt Michaud Quintet (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $10 bar/$14 rsvd)
The quintet plays tribute to the music of Grant Green.
Gary Smulyan f. Anais Reno (AKG Art Museum, 1285 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $40)
Saxophonist Smulyan and his quintent play homage to the music of jazz composer Tadd Daeron.
The Jagaloons w/Oongow, Lower Town Trio (Electric Avenue, 300 Ellicott St, 7pm, $10)
An instrumental combo from Albany, surf rockers from Cleveland, and a local rockabilly outfit.
Broadway Rave (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 9pm, $21, 21+)
A dance party powered entirely by theater kid energy.
New Movies This Week
Thehter (in wide release)
Dailler.
Saturday 11/11
Fall Ball (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 4:30pm, $25adv/$35, 16+)
Ten bands on two stages include Witty Tarbox, Farrow, Funktional Flow, Lazlo Hollyfield, David Jonathan, Johnny Hart, Grace Greenan, Aircraft, Diyené, and BEÜ.
Superhero Weekend (Ralph Wilson Children’s Museum, 130 Main St, Sat/Sun 11am-3pm, $13)
Come dressed in costume or make your own superhero mask, for an action-packed weekend at the museum!
Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
Finger-picking Reverend Peyton bills this as, “the greatest front-porch blues band in the world.”
Gina D’Soto (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $13 bar/$20 rsvd)
Cuban singer D’Soto jazz and soul music draws from her homeland’s traditions.
Rachmaninoff Festival (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Sat 7:30pm/Sun 2:30pm, $48-$101)
Italian pianist performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a life-affirming piece written during the composer’s recovery from depression and writers’ block.
Kirk Whalum (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $40)
BSU welcomes the 12-time Grammy nominated smooth jazz saxophonist.
Sunday 11/12
Drag Brunch (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 10:30am, $50, 18+)
The only thing that beats Sunday brunch is brunch with Buffalo’s favorite drag queens! An all-you-can-eat brunch buffet starts at 10:30, 11, or 11:30, leading up to a noon performance.
Charlie Parr (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $20adv/$25)
Newport Folk Festival regular Parr has 14 albums’ worth of novelistic songs to draw from.
Razor Braids w/Patchwork (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $12adv/$15, 18+)
This indie rock quartet is fresh from a show at SxSW and critical praise from Brooklyn Vegan.
Kopps (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 9pm, $21, 16+)
Rochester electroclash group Kopps are supported by Star Theory, Oscar’s Cash, and Blaised and Confused.
The Rock Orchestra (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 8pm)
An 11-piece ensemble plays symphonic versions of hard rock and metal favorites.
Monday 11/13
Valerie June, Rachael Dhavis, Thao & Yasmin Williams (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $40)
After a one-off collaboration at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival, these multi-instrumentalists from wildly different backgrounds decided to continue playing together. $165 VIP tickets include a meet & greet, Q&A, and a few extra songs.
Tuesday 11/14
Kool Keith (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $26, 12+)
The eccentric hip hop legend takes a victory lap with his Black Elvis 2 tour. With MC Homeless and DJ Halo.
Menopause the Musical (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, Tue-Fri 7:30pm, Sat 2/6pm, Sun 1pm, through 11/19)
This musical comedy is set to classic tunes from the ’60s ,’70s, and ’80s.
Ripe w/HOKO (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $25adv/$30, 18+)
This Boston quartet’s high-energy show has earned them 56 million plays on Spotify and spots at Bonnaroo and SweetWater.
Wednesday 11/15
Helium Comedy Academy (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $10)
Helium puts on comedy shows by night, but they also teach stand-up classes by day. See their latest graduating class each put on a tight five.
Apashe (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $29.50)
Belgian-born Canadian Apashe infuses electronic music with both symphonic and bass-heavy sounds.