What’s Good – January 11-17, 2023

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

Thursday, 1/11

Liam Cullagh (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $25)
This stand-up and actor is also part of the online sketch group Almost Friday TV.

Karaoke Night (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)

Friday, 1/12

Arnez J (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, Fri 7:30 & 10pm, Sat 7 & 10pm, Sun 7pm, $32)
The former host of BET’s Comic View is touring behind his new Netflix special, Racially Motivated.

Tchaikovsy & Mozart (Kleinhans, 3 Symphony Circle, Fri 10:30am/Sat 7:30pm, $12)
Pianist Ying Li performs Mozart’s brooding Piano Concerto No. 20, and Tchaiovsky’s immortal Romeo & Juliet. With guest conductor Laura Jackson, of the Reno Symphony Orchestra.

Inertia (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $12adv/$15)
An album release party for the local death metal veterans. With Wasted Space, Sully, and Pale Hell.

Izaak (Showplace Theater, 1065 Grant St, 7pm, $45)
The Puerto Rican trap and urbano star performs.

MassiveLAN (Erie County Fairgrounds, 5820 South Park Ave, Hamburg, Fri/Sat/Sun noon, $15adv/$20 pep person; $60/70 for 3-day half table)
This 3-day gaming event features space for eSports, board and tabletop games, and trivia. Bring your own computer/console; ethernet, wifi, power outlets provided. More details online.

Stay Gold (Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 4:30-10pm, FREE)
This community art party features visual and performance art, dance, music, and creativity of all kinds. Cash bar.

Johnny & the Man Kids (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $10)
With Good Monster and Ice Cream Social.

The Strictly Hip (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $25)
Night two of the Tragically Hip cover band’s month-long weekly residency. This week’s theme is “Hockey & Murder Ballads,” with guests Erin Hoyle & Ian Liedke.

Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Sing your favorite pop songs in front of a live band.

New Movies This Week

American Fiction (Amherst Theater, 3500 Main St.)
After having a book rejected for not being “black enough,” academic Jeffrey Wright spitefully submits a manuscript brimming over with stereotypes, and to his chagrin, it becomes a success.

The Book of Clarence (In wide release)
The twin brother of the Apostle Thomas (LaKeith Stanfield) tries to cash in on the newfound popularity of Jesus in A.D. 33. With Omar Sy, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, Caleb McLaughlin, James McAvoy, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Mean Girls (In wide release)
Tina Fey’s 2004 comedy got turned into a Broadway musical, which in turn got turned into this lifeless remake, which has nothing new to offer apart from some forgettable songs.

The Beekeeper (In wide release)
Yet another action thriller about a former assassain who comes out of retirement to seek revenge. But the former assassain is Jason Statham, so we know exactly what we’re getting. With Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Minnie Driver, and Phylicia Rashad.

Ayalaan (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
An alien lands on Earth, bonding with a group of humans (led by Sivakarthikeyan and Rakul Preet Singh) who protect it from hostile scientists. In Tamil w/English subtitles.

Hanu-Man (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
Prasanth Varma’s superhero film is the first entry in his new Cinematic Universe. In Telugu w/English subtitles.

Merry Christmas (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi star in Sriram Raghavan’s latest thriller. In Hindi w/English subtitles.

Captain Miller (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
Dhanush stars as a former British soldier who switches sides and protects his people from the British in this action adventure. In Tamil w/English subtitles.

Lift (Netflix)
Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Sam Worthington, and Jean Reno star in F. Gary Gray’s new airborne heist comedy.

Role Play (Amazon)
A suburbanite (David Oyelowo) discovers his wife (Kaley Cuoco) has a secret life as an assassain in this action comedy. With Bill Nighy and Connie Nielsen.

Princess Mononoke (North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Ave)
North Park is doing a revival screening of the Studio Ghibli classic, to celebrate Hayao Miyazaki’s latest, The Boy and the Heron, also showing.

Saturday 1/13

Tsuruda (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 8:30pm, $19.50)
With Great Dane, Antipode, and Clex.

Workingman’s Dead (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15)
Grateful Dead tribute act.

Sunday 1/14

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 6pm, FREE)
This free event featuring music, dance, and keynote speakers Buffalo Public School Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams and NYS Senator Tim Kennedy asks the question, “What would Dr. King say, 60 years after the March on Washington?”

Motion City Soundtrack (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $37.50, 12+)
The Minneapolis band performs for the 20th anniversary of I Am the Movie.

True Detective: Night Country (HBO 9pm)
The latest season of the anthology series is garnering rave advance reviews, with another cast of heavy hitters including Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Fiona Shaw, and Christopher Eccleston.

Monday 1/15

Genkin Philharmonic (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $10)
This ensemble led by trumpter and UB music profesor Jon Nelson will perform everything from Bartok to Zappa to Sly Stone to Stephin Merritt.

Tuesday 1/16

Girl From the North Country (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, Tue-Fri 7:30pm, Sat 2/8pm, Sun 1/6:30pm, through 1/21; $53-107, 12+)
This Tony Award-winning musical is built around 20 reimagined Bob Dylan songs.

Grateful Dub (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $20, 12+)
A reggae tribute to the Grateful Dead, w/Roots of Creation.

The Steam Donkeys (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8:30pm)

Rustbelt Comedy Showcase (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm, FREE)

Open Mic Night (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 6-9pm)

Dragula Viewing Party & Drag Show (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm; $10)

Wednesday 1/17

No Need For Apologies (Helium, 30 Mississippi St., 8pm, $20)
A live taping of the comedy podcast, starring Derek Gains (The King of Staten Island, The Last O.G., That Dam Michael Che) and Dave Emple (Laff Tracks, Broke Ass Gameshow, The Many Loves of Benjamin).

Spafford (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $25adv/$30)
This hard-touring jam band has played festivals including Firefly and Bonnaroo.

Beartooth (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 5:30pm, SOLD OUT, 16+)
with The Plot In You, Invent Animate, Sleep Theory

Tacoma Meltdown (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm)
with Hooked on Casiophonics.

Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)