What’s Good – April 4-10, 2024
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 4/4
The Music of James Taylor (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm, $12.50-17.50)
Doug Yeomans and Ed Croft pay tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter.
Geoff Tate (Town Ballroom, 681 S Main St, 7pm, $34.50, 12+)
Chris Panfil (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6pm)
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Panfil performs original Americana and country chestnuts.
Saranaide (Albright-Knox Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, 5:30pm, FREE)
This jazz and soul singer performs a mix of covers and originals in front of a trio of Buffalo jazz musicians.
Poetry Open Mic & Game Night (26 Allen St, 6pm)
Co-hosted by Sara Ali and Meg Specksgoor
Karaoke Night (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)
Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+)
The crew embarks on a galactic treasure hunt, in the final season of the show that brought Star Trek into the streaming era. Look for episode reviews here on Subject.
Friday, 4/5
Henry VI Part 2 (Rehearsal Workshop, UB Center for the Arts, 7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
UB’s Department of Theater and Dance tries to hew to original production conditions from Shakespeare’s time, with a short rehearsal period, and actors playing multiple roles. In this historical play, King Henry marries Margaret of Anjou, the court begins to question his leadership, and Margaret’s lover the Duke of York leads a rebellion that becomes the War of the Roses.
Matteo Lane (Mainstage Theater, UB Center for the Arts, 8pm, $39-79)
Lane was an oil panter and an opera singer before becoming a stand-up comic.
Start Making Sense & the Ocean Ave. Stompers (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $28adv/$33, 16+)
This Talking Heads tribute features a full horn section and a few songs the real band never performed live.
Teachers Gone Bad (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $33)
Real-life teachers-turned-comics mine school misadventures for comedy, alongside other topics.
The Exhibition Slam (Albright-Knox Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, 6-8pm, FREE)
Poets perform and compete for a spot in the Slam for 10k series.
The Irving Klaws (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 8pm, $10)
with Soul Butchers.
A New World: Music from Final Fantasy (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 8pm)
An orchestral performance of music from Final Fantasy I through XV.
Mike Prince (Albright-Knox Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, 5:30pm, FREE)
Prince performs on the Scupture Terrace, as part of M&T First Fridays.
Sunshine & Co (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 7pm)
A tribute to 60s Americana, including the Grateful Dead, Los Lobos, Bonnie Raitt, and The Band.
Incontro In Concert (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $12.50-16.25)
Dueling Pianos Band (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6:30pm, $10)
Silent Disco (Albright-Knox Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, 5-8pm, FREE)
Listen to one of three DJs through headphones as you dance along with your friends.
Cruel Summer (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25)
Taylor Swift tribute band.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W. Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Belt out the classics in front of a live band.
New Movies This Week
Monkey Man (in wide release)
Dev Patel stars in his directorial debut, as a man who seeks revenge for his mother’s death and becomes a folk hero.
The People’s Joker (not screening in Buffalo)
In advance of Joaquin Phoenix’s second go-around as the Man Who Laughs comes Vera Drew’s controversial parody (screenings at TIFF were cancelled due to copyright issues), in which the writer/director/star plays a transwoman who enters Gotham City’s improv comedy scene, becomes the Joker, and spars with a retired Batman.
The First Omen (in wide release)
Actually the sixth Omen movie, it’s a prequel to the 1976 original and/or the 2006 remake.
Música (Amazon Prime)
Writer/director/star Rudy Mancuso also co-wrote the sountrack to this musical romcom. With Camilia Mendes and J.B. Smoove.
The Greatest Hits (Hulu)
Lucy Boynton discovers that certain songs can send her back in time, but worries that changing history could screw things up with new love interest Justin H. Min.
Aadujeevitham (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
This film adaptation of the 2008 bestseller tells the true story of an Indian migrant worker forced into slavery in Saudi Arabia. In Malayalam with subtitles.
Family Star (Elmwood Center, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
A working-class man resorts to violence to protect his family. In Telugu with subtitles.
Irah (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
Hari Singh invents a new AI app, and has to fend off kidnappers, police, and hackers who all want it for themselves. In Hindi with subtitles.
Jatt Nuu Chudail Takri (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
A man convinces his friend to leave his wife, then falls for her himself, only to learn she might be supernatural. In Punjabi with subtitles.
Saturday 4/6
UB Guitar Studio (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
The student ensemble performs as part of Silo City’s Mimosas & Minuets brunch series.
Kane Brown (KeyBank Arena, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 7pm, $55-218)
Country superstar Brown has been selling out arenas all over the country, so get tickets while you can. With Tyler Hubbard, Parmalee
Best of Buffalo (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $20)
Come out and support some of Buffalo’s best stand-ups.
Paw Patrol Live (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, Sat 10am/2/6pm, Sun 10am/2pm, $32-112)
The ubiquitous kids’ series comes to the stage.
Space Bacon & Mungion (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15)
These two jam bands team up to share the stage. with DJ Kimonofox, Zack Tilton of Grub.
For the Fallen Dreams (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 5pm, $16, 16+)
When Legions Fall (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 6pm, $15adv/$20)
with Alterist, Among the Outcast, The Queen Guillotined, Sunless Winter, Crown Conscious.
Divi Romē Band (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 7pm)
All original afrobeats, reggae, and jazz.
Edible Book Festial (WNY Book Arts Center, 468 Washington St, 11am-2pm, $5)
Participants are invited to create book-inspired meals. More information here.
Mitis (Town Ballroom, 681 S Main St, 7pm, $12.50-24.50, 18+)
Elliot Scozzaro Quintet (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm, $15-17.50)
Kane Brown Pre Party (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 5pm, FREE)
Pregame for Kane’s show right around the corner from KeyBank.
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4:40pm, FREE)
Sunday 4/7
Pavlo (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm, $40)
The Mediterranean guitarist returns from filming his 4th PBS concert special.
Drag Brunch (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, noon, $20, 18+)
Reserve a spot at the all-you-can-eat buffet at 10:30, 11, or 11:30, and then watch drag divas perform at noon.
Flummox (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $10)
with Goblin Hovel, Inertia.
Jay/Sharptet (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4pm)
Jacob Jay and Dalton Sharp’s quartet performs Miles Davis-inspired originals.
Lights Out (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7pm, $56-78)
A tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Jessie Murph (Town Ballroom, 681 S Main St, 7pm, SOLD OUT)
Pre-Eclipse Party (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, noon, FREE, All ages)
Brunch with live music from noon-2:30 (reservations recommended), then a ’90s/’00s dance party, and live music all day.
Monday 4/8
Total Eclipse Burlesque (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15adv/$20)
Celebrate the sun being blotted out from the sky with a glow-in-the-dark dance party, live band, and burlesque show from Velvet Stardust and Buffalo’s own The Glam Vamps.
Scream At the Sky (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $10adv/$15)
with The Mendenhall Experiment, Under the Black.
The Slackers (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $34, 16+)
with Some Ska Band
Tuesday 4/9
Mamma Mia! (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, Tue-Fri 7:30, Sat 2/8pm, Sun 1/6:30pm, $104-140)
The Abba-inspired musical comes to town for one week only.
Buffalo State Percussion Ensemble (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm, FREE)
The ensemble performs under the direction of Mark Hodges.
Danny Lopriore (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $33)
This comic also plays music, and co-hosts The Basement Yard podcast.
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 4/10
The Dirty Show (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $25)
Comics Greg Bauch, Claire Dee, Jacob Morrison, Chris Plumer, Katie Scanlon, and Clayton Williams work blue, in this evening of raunchy comedy.
The Mudlarks (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $10)
with Jeff Bagg, Spiria, Astronot Junkie.
Snuffed On Sight (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $20, 16+)
with Anthropic, Pale Hell
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)
Friday 4/12
Maria Bamford (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 8pm, $35-45)
Skipping ahead a few days, because Bamford is one of the best stand-up comics alive, so get your tickets early.
