What’s Good – May 2-8, 2024

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

Thursday, 5/2

Student Academic Excellence Ceremony (Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall, 4pm, FREE)
This showcase of student research and creative projects is free, but attendees must register in advance.

Yoonmi Nam: Among Other Things (UB Center For the Arts Gallery, first floor, through 6/21)
Nam deconstructs everyday objects and reconsiders them as scupture.

Wuon-Gean Ho: The Heart’s Sight (UB Center For the Arts Gallery, second floor, through 6/21)
A broad selection of Ho’s work from the past 15 years, including prints, books, and short films.

Moving Through Capillarity, Fact 22-24 (UB Center For the Arts, Room 155, 5-7pm, through 5/4)
The opening reception is tonight at the Department of Art’s Project Space, featuring trans-disciplinary and trans-national works by Diana Mordido Aires, André Araújo, Sérgio Eliseu, Cosima Herter, Anna Isaak-Ross, Marta de Menezes, and Andrea Polli.

Cloud Nothings (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7:30pm, $35, 16+)
The indie rock band are touring behind their new album, Final Summer. w/Hurry.

Merrily We Roll Along (Shea’s Smith Theater, 658 Main St, Thu/Fri 7:30pm/Sat 8pm/Sun 2pm, through 5/12, $40-53)
One of Stephen Sondheim’s most personal musicals, it’s based on the turbulent friendship between composer Franklin Shephard and the lyricist and playright who were his lifelong friends.

Matt Friend (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:15pm, $33)
The comedian/actor/impressionist has over a million followers on social media, won Kenan Thompson’s Ultimate Comedy Experience, and has voiced two characters on The Simpsons.

Boogie T (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 8pm, $24.50, 18+)
The 140 Warriors Tour. w/Saka b2b Fly, Chef Boyarbeatz, and more.

Moises Borges (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $18.30/$24.40)
Borges’ sweet voice and folk guitar playing performs the best of Brazilian music.

Joe Rozler’s Rockin’ Little Trio (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)

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)

Welcome to Wrexham (FX)
This docuseries, in which Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney try and run England’s 3rd-oldest soccer club returns for its third series.

Friday, 5/3

Hannibal Buress (Helium, 30 Mississippi, Fri/Sat 7/9:30, $51)
The laconic comedian was the sidekick on The Eric Andre Show, starred on Broad City and in The Secret Life of Pets, wrote for SNL and 30 Rock, and is one of the greats. Not to be missed.

9 to 5 the Musical (Drama Theater, UB Center For the Arts, Fri/Sat 7:30, Sun 2pm, $22/$7 UB Students)
Dolly Parton starred and wrote the title song for the 1980 film, and has now written a full musical around the story of three women who team up to kill their abusive boss.

Twilight Music (outside Slee Hall, 4pm, FREE)
Several UB student ensembles perform on the plaza in front of Slee. Attendees are encourage to bring lawn chairs and refreshments. Will be moved inside Lippes Concert Hall in case of rain.

Pure Heel (Area 54, 3234 Main St, 7pm)
Proceeds go to helping Anthony Muscato race in the BMX World Championship. w/K Hole, World on Fire.

Lotus (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, Fri/Sat 7pm, $32.50, 18+)
Two-night passes available for $60.

My Son the Hurricane (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
This Canadian 12-piece brass funk crew makes their Buffalo debut. w/Road Waves

Pat Labarbera (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $16.25/$18.75)
Labarbera was a member of The Buddy Rich Band, the Louis Bellson Big Band, and Elvin Jones’ ensemble. He makes his PAUSA debut tonight.

Bach & Brews (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 6:30pm, $15adv/$20)
The Buffalo Chamber Players perform the Brandenberg Concertos #3 & #6.

Sheer Mag (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $16adv/$18)
w/Del Paxton, Uniform Operator

Dueling Pianos Band (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm, $10)

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

Everybody’s In L.A. (10pm Netflix)
John Mulaney presents interviews and stand-up clips from the Netflix Is a Joke festival, over six nights.

New Movies This Week

The Fall Guy (in wide release)
Ryan Gosling is a retired stuntman who gets drawn into a mystery at the behest of ex-girlfriend Emily Blunt, in the latest from John Wick and Bullet Train director David Leitch.

Tarot (in wide release)
A tarot reading leads to a group of college friends dying one by one, in this supernatural horror film.

I Saw the TV Glow (not screening in Buffalo)
Two young friends bond over a Buffy-like TV show, but then the lines between fiction and reality start to blur in A24’s latest.

Wildcat (not screening in Buffalo)
Ethan Hawke directs daughter Maya and Laura Linney in this Flannery O’Connor biopic.

Unfrosted (Netflix)
Jerry Seinfeld has been loudly complaining that you can’t be funny any more because of woke, and this documentary about Pop Tarts seems to at least prove that Jerry Seinfeld can’t be funny any more.

Prom Dates (Hulu)
Two friends have to scramble to save prom night after breaking up with their dates right before the big night.

The Phantom Menace (in wide release)
The much-maligned Star Wars Episode I is back in theaters for its 25th anniversary.

Aa Okkati Adakku (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A revival screening of E.V.V. Satyanarayana’s 1992 comedy, in which Rajendra Prasad has to earn 100,000 rupees before fianceé Rambha will marry him. In Telugu w/subtitles.

Jeanne du Barry (Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
Jeanne uses her charms to climb the social ladder, eventually moving into the circle of Louis XV. In French w/subtitles.

Malayalee From India (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A slacker inadvertently forments Hindu-Muslim violence in his small town, in his political satire. In Malayalam w/subtitles.

Nadikar (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A biopic of David Padikkal (played here by Tovino Thomas), and his rise to stardom in the Malayalam film world. In Malayalam w/subtitles.

Saturday 5/4

Tim McGraw (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 7pm, $50-$250)
The country music legend comes through town on his Standing Room Only tour.

EXTC (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $25adv/$30)
XTC drummer Terry Chambers puts a new band together to play the old hits (with the approval, but not participation, of Andy Partridge).

Johnny & the Man Kids (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $10, 18+)
w/Wylie Something, Sedona

The Music of Hiatus Kaiyote (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $15/$19)
A tribute to fusion group Hiatus Kaiyote, featuring Blaise Mercedes, Harry Graser, Hony Henry, Griff Kazmierczak, Jon Lehning, and Joey Porth.

Fra/ctured (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
This flute & oboe duo perform as part of Duende’s Minuets & Mimoas series

Kentucky Derby (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-7pm)
Watch the Derby with food & drink specials and a Best Hat contest.

Divi Romē Band (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 7-9pm)
All original afrobeats, reggae, and jazz.

The Seven Wonders (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15adv/$20, 18+)
A tribute to Stevie Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac.

Cinco de Mayo Weekend Day Party (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, Sat/Sun noon-6pm, $10)
Tacos, beer, live music, and community at this 2-day outdoor festival. Saturday features Hunks of Funk, RNSM, and Vitamin D; Sunday includes Uncle Ben’s Remedy, The Zach Gerken Band, Nineties by Nature, and Crush, Crush, Crush.

Tim McGraw Pre-Party (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, 5pm, FREE, 18+)
WYRK sponsores this pre-party before McGraw plays at KeyBank.

Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4:40pm, FREE)

Sunday 5/5

Daikaiju (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $15adv/$20)
Sonic mayhem from a psycho surf band. w/Nervous Tick and the Zipper Lips, The Evil Things

The Strumbellas (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $25, 16+, 12+ w/guardian)

La Marimba (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 3-5pm)
This acoustic group performs authentic Mexican and Central American music

Asakivle (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
This guitar/accordion/percussion trio performs traitional Haitian songs.

BB’s Bingo (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, noon, $20)
Boozy Bingo for Cinco de Mayo, with tacos, margaritas, singing, dancing, and prizes for best dressed.

Monday 5/6

Jords (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6:30pm, $21, 16+, under 16 w/guardian)
w/Hoppy

Tuesday 5/7

UB Symphony Concert (Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall, 7:30pm, FREE)

NPR Tiny Desk Contest Concert (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 6:30pm, $5)
A litany of artists record their audition for Tiny Desk Concert, including Ryan Kaminski, MYQ Farrow, Goodbye Metro, Parade Chic, Diyené, David Jonathan & the Inner City Bedlam, Jay Aquarious, and akloh.

Microwave (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 6pm, $29.50, 16+, 12+ w/guardian)
w/Origami Angel, Heart Attack Man, Carpool Tunnel.

Willi Carlisle (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $20adv/$25)
Folksinger touring behind his new album, Critterland. w/Aaron Jonah Lewis

Kevin Hays Scholarship (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, 5:30pm, $25, 18+)
A gala to announce this scholarship, named for a community leader and activist who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 28, and became a cancer advocate before passing away at 36 in 2021.

Buff State Philharmonia Orchestra (Buff State Performing Arts Center, Rockwell Hall, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 7:30pm, FREE)
The Philharmonia’s final performance of the season.

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 5/8

Hot Water Music (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $35-$139, 16+, 12+ w/guardian)
The band’s 30th anniversary tour. VIP ticket includes 2-song preshow acoustic set, autographed set list, and limited edition swag. w/Quicksand, Off With Their Heads

Tombstoner (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $10)
w/Lord Loss, Crux Ov Torment

Chest Fever (Ironworks, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
A tribute to The Band.

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