What’s Good – March 7-13, 2024
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 3/7
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play (Black Box Theater, UB Center For the Arts, Thu/Fri/Sat 7:30pm, Sat/Sun 2pm, $22/$12 students/$7 UB students)
This dark comedy explores how pop culture might survive as myth in a post-apocalyptic society.
The Bowling Play (Shea’s Smith Theater, 658 Main St, Thu/Fri 7:30pm, Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm, $31-$53, through 3/10)
A man goes on a blind date in a bowling alley, in the world premiere of this comedy.
Peter Antoniou (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $30)
Antoniou’s act combines storytelling, improv comedy, and uncanny mind reading!
Alex McArthur Quartet (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $13)
Heirloom (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 6pm, $15adv/$20)
with Ashes, Crown Conscious
Chris Panfil (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Panfil writes Americana-influenced tunes, and plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and harmonica.
Karaoke Night (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)
Friday, 3/8
Buffalo Guitar Festival (UB North Campus, Fri/Sat/Sun, $40)
One registration gets you entry to performances around North Campus all weekend. See web site for schedules and more details.
Terre King (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $20/$35 couples, 18+)
King’s comedy career took off in Atlanta, but the Lackawanna native is coming home for a night of stand-up.
Becky Robinson (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9:30pm, Sat 6pm/8:30pm, $38)
Every performance of Robinson’s is a one-woman show, as she plays a cast of original characters, including “Entitled Housewife,” a viral hit online during the pandemic.
BurtFest (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 6pm, $12adv/$15)
We’re not sure who Burt is, but his lineup of admirers include The Nigh, When Legions Fall, Of Night and Light, Gumshoe, Creating a Sinner, Mother Nature’s Son, and Never Again.
Paula Wachowiak (Paul Robeson Theater, 350 Masten Ave, Fri/Sat 7:30pm, Sun 4pm through 3/24, $25/$10 students)
A one-woman show, based on the Buffalo-based writer’s book The Polish Cleaning Lady’s Daughter.
Eclipse & Sips (Science & Mathematics Complex Atrium, Buffalo State University, 6pm, $25-$100)
This planetarium show includes treats, activities, and a beer tasting with souvenir glass.
Modern Messengers (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $15)
Jon Lehning and some of Buffalo’s finest musicians pay tribute to Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers.
Kaivon (Town Ballroom, 681 S Main St, 8pm, $24.50, 18+)
with Drezo.
The Skiffle Minstrels (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
A Western Swing dance band plays an upbeat mix of country, blues, and jazz.
Dueling Pianos Band (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $5)
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W. Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Belt out the classics in front of a live band.
The Cure vs The Smiths (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 9pm, $10, 18+)
The 20th annual dance party built around the 1980s’ two most melancholy bands.
New Movies This Week
Love Lies Bleeding (in wide release)
A gym manager (Kristen Stewart) falls for a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian), but run afoul of a crime family in A24’s critically acclaimed violent love story.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (in wide release)
Jack Black’s charming kids action series returns. With Awkwafina, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Ke Huy Quan, and Ian McShane.
Cabrini (in wide release)
This biopic of Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini explores the sexism and anti-Italian sentiment she faced in 19th-century New York City.
Imaginary (in wide release)
A woman passes on her childhood stuffed bear to her daughter, only to discover it’s more sinister than she remembered.
Damsel (Netflix)
Millie Bobby Brown is a sheltered noblewoman who agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to discover she’s to be sacrificed to a dragon.
Premalu (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
Naslen Gafoor gets a second chance to pursue his unrequited love for former college classmate Mamitha Baiju in this romcom. In Telugu w/subtitles.
Shaitaan (Elmwood Center, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
Ajay Devgn stars in this Hindi remake of last year’s Gujarati horror movie Vash, in which a vacationing family find themselves trapped in a world of dark magic. In Hindi w/subtitles.
Saturday 3/9
ICCA Central Semifinal (Mainstage Theater, UB Center for the Arts, 7pm, $38/$30 students)
The winners of this a capella competition will move on to the finals in NYC.
Jason Vieaux (Lippes Concert Hall, UB Slee Hall, 7:30pm, $20/FREE to students)
Gramophone called this Buffalo native, “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists.” He performs pieces here by Bach, Leo Brouwer, and Pat Metheny.
A Tribute to Marvin Gaye, Al Green, & Ronnie Laws (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $50)
Carlton Wilcox, Will Holton, and backing band play tribute to three of the all-time greats. With free pizza and wings from Bozzy’s while supplies last, plus raffles, door prize, and a cash bar.
Buffalo’s Original Drag Brunch (Rec Room, 79 W. Chippewa St, 11am, $45)
Tickets include an appetizer, entree, drink, and a drag show! Pre-order food choices at recroombuffalo.com/dragbrunch.
Wordism (Rooted Lounge, 69 Allen St, 7pm, $5 cash only)
A noncompetitive spoken word open mic, for new and veteran artists.
Swing Street (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $15)
A celebration of swing music from Bob Wills to Benny Goodman.
MLT (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
Matias Homer (guitar), Lihuen Sirvent (flute), and Tyler Adamthwaite (violin) met as PhD music students at UB, and have continued to perform together.
Divi Romē Band (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 8-10pm)
All original afrobeats, reggae, and jazz.
Cheap Peach (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $10adv/$12)
with Greg Hill
Grub (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 9pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
This inventive band combines funk, electronica, hip-hop, metal, and reggae. With Brachtopus and Merangutang.
The 80s Hair Band Experience (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $36-47)
A tribute to Poison, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and 80s excess.
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4:40pm, FREE)
Sunday 3/10
Queen City Roller Derby (Riverworks, 359 Ganson St, 2pm, $22.50)
Devil Dollies @ Ally Kats.
Justin Whitehead (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $32)
Atlanta comic Whitehead is a fixture on the stand-up circuit, and has over 300k followers online.
Zach Bryan (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 7pm, doors 5:30, only $400+ tickets remain)
The Grammy-nominated country star brings his energetic live show to KeyBank as part of his Quittin’ Time Tour. With The Middle East, Levi Turner.
Junior Jerry Jam (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 11am, $10, kids FREE)
Mike & Dave from Aqueous perform acoustic Beatles covers at this family-friendly event that benefits Backline Care.
Susan Peters Jazz Band (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
Featuring Alfie Alessandra.
The Sounds of Sinatra (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 6pm, $46-67)
Patrick Lynch performs favorites from Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Zach Bryan Pre Party (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 5pm, FREE, 18+)
WYRK is sponsoring a party to pregame the country star’s appearance at KeyBank.
Monday 3/11
Fuming Mouth (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 6pm, $15)
with Anthropic, Pale Hell, Bastardbastardbastard
Tuesday 3/12
Peter Case (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $25)
Case was central to the original punk scene as part of The Nerves, touring with the Ramones, Pere Ubu, and Devo, and writing “Hanging on the Telephone” for Blondie. Since then, he’s had a Grammy-nominated solo career, and is touring behind his 16th album, Doctor Moan.
Les Misérables (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, $107)
Tickets are nearly sold out for the classic musical set in post-revolutionary France.
Circles Around the Sun (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $26adv/$31)
This instrumental group formed to back up the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, and continued to jam after the reunion concerts ended.
The Illustrated Mark Twain and the Buffalo Express (Fitz Books & Waffles, 433 Ellicott St, 6pm)
A book launch for Tom Reigstad’s new book, which collects ten feature stories published by Twain during his year spent working for the Express. (That newspaper eventually became the Courier-Express, which older Buffalonians will remember as the Buffalo News‘ chief competitor)
Open Mic (Cucina @ Hotel Richardson, 444 Forest Ave, 6-8pm)
This weekly open mic features music, poetry, and comedy. Register at jkonze@douglasdev.com.
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 3/13
The Golden Ass (Lippes Concert Hall, UB Slee Hall, 7:30pm, $10/FREE to students)
This “chamber opera” exploring the Cupid/Psyche myth features actors, musicians, and a chorus and dance troupe of UB student performers.
Urban Bush Women (Mainstage Theater, UB Center For the Arts, 7:30pm, $30/$25 UB students)
This troupe burst onto the dance scene, with innovative performances that blended modern dance with the traditions of the African diaspora. Their performance, Legacy + Lineage + Liberation celebrates the group’s 40th anniversary.
Comics Against Humanity (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $25)
Local comics improvise based on cards from the popular game. Including Greg Bauch, Ryan Fay, Jameel Key, Anthony Morelli, Chris Plumer, Liz Reeves, Katie Scanlon, Kyle Turner, Kai von Doom, Nikki Wagner, and Clayton Williams.
Advance Base (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 6pm, $15adv/$18)
with Young Moon, Asalone, JKuch
Birds on a Wire (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Bernard Kunz and Jeremy Spindler perform long improvized pieces together.
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)
