What’s Good – May 16-22, 2024

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

Thursday, 5/16

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.

Once (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, Thu/Fri 7:30pm, Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm, through 5/19, $40-50)
A stage version of the 2007 film about a love affair between two musicians in Dublin.

Leah & Andrew Rudick (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $13-$44)
Brother & sister team of Leah, who co-created acclaimed web series Made to Order and indie film Sweet Parents, and Andrew, and absurdist stand-up.

Mia Borders (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $10adv/$15)
New-Orleans singer songwriter Borders performs as part of the Big Easy in Buffalo series. w/Grace Stumberg

Stay Sweet: The Sugar City Story (Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave, 6:30, FREE)
A screening of the new documentary about Sugar City, a local organization that gives arts grants, as well as a discussion of the organization and its goals, and live music from Welks Mice.

Susan Dworski Nusbaum (Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 6:30pm, FREE)
The poet reads from her new collection, This Uncertain Voyage.

Another Michael (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 7pm, $15adv/$18)
w/Tenci, Matthew Corrigan (of Tough Old Bird)

The Dave Hill Group (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $15-17.50)
An evening of west coast jazz from this quintet.

Doug Yeomans, Sue Kincaid, & Grace Stumberg (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)

WNY Dead (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $12)
Somehow, there’s a different local Grateful Dead tribute band performing every week. This is this week’s.

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)

Bridgerton (Netflix)
The first half of Season 3 of the Regency drama drops tonight.

Friday, 5/17

Muhammad School of Music 25th Anniversary (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 6:30pm, $150 VIP Pass)
This VIP-only reception kicks off a weekend-long celebration of the music school Henri Star Muhammad has led for the past 25 years. The VIP pass covers the entire weekend; prices for individual nights listed under Sat/Sun.

Bruce Bruce (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, Fri/Sat 7:30/10pm, Sun 7pm, $44)
The Atlanta stand-up has appeared in Think Like a Man, Top Five, Maron, Def Comedy Jam, and Wild ‘N Out.

Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton (WNY Book Art Center, 468 Washington St, 5-8pm, FREE)
The opening reception for an exhibition featuring the spoken word performer’s visual art.

Fourth Friday Reading Series (Dog Ears Bookstore, 688 Abbott Rd, 2nd floor, 6pm, $5)
Donna Grace headlines the readings, with slots still available.

Well Worn Boot (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25)
This band features hard rocking Americana, and puppets.

Counterpunch (Electric Avenue, 300 Ellicott St, 7pm, $10)
Skate punk from Chicago. w/The Filthy Lowdown, Spit Sisters, Still Alive

Mark Winsick (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 7-9pm)
This rock/blues/Americana guitarist is in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame

In Flames (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 6pm, $35)
w/Gatecreepers.

BBQ Jazz (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6pm, $48)
Music by Thomas Mariano and Kevin Urso, along with a BBQ dinner and wine. 10 slots available every half hour from 6:30-8pm.

Adelaide (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $10adv/$12)
w/Jenn DeSantis, 3DSPACECADET, The Water Dogs

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

New Movies This Week

IF (in wide release)
Imaginary friends come to life in this family comedy from director John Krazinski.

Back to Black (in wide release)
Amy Winehouse gets the biopic treatment.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 (in wide release)
Confusingly, the third entry in the Strangers series, in which a young couple in an isolated Airbnb are menaced by masked strangers. First in a trilogy, which act as prequels to the original film.

Babes (not screening in Buffalo)
Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau’s friendship is tested when the former announces she’s pregnant in Pamela Aldon’s directorial debut.

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A man has a run of bad luck, including marrying a woman who despises him, in this comedy. In Malayalam with subtitles.

Thelma the Unicorn (Netflix)
A pony pretends to be a unicorn to find fame as a singer, in this animated kids’ comedy.

Saturday 5/18

Muhammad School of Music Youth Recital (Hallwalls Cinema, 341 Delaware Ave, 3pm, $40)
The latest among the 10,000 students the Muhammad School has taught give a performance.

Boom Days (Silo City, 85 Silo City Row, 2:30-8:30pm, $40 adults/$5 under 16)
Silo City welcomes springtime with a tour, a fireboat show, kids’ crafts, and live music from The Steam Donkeys, and Tyler Westcott & Friends.

National Lacrosse League Finals (KeyBank Arena, 1 Seymour H. Knox Plaza, 7:30pm, $55-$283)
The Bandits try for a second-straight title against the Albany FireWolves.

Empire State Wrestling Brawlfest (RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St, 6pm, $25)
Elijah (formerly WWE’s Elias) headlines a card that includes the first EWS Women’s Championship Scramble Match, the return of GCW star Jordan Oliver, Heavyweight Champ Bill Collier vs Channing “The White Bronco” Decker, and “Red Hot” Vinnie Moon & Will Calrissian vs. “His Royal Freshness” Frank Feathers & Randy P.

Gene Farris (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $30)
Chicago house music legend. w/Prince.L, Snack Factory

somesurprises (Electric Avenue, 300 Ellicott St, 7pm, $10)
w/Johnny & the Man Kids, Adelaide

On the Cinder (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $15)
Album release show. w/Speed Dial, Starjuice, Spud

Shannon Reilly (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
The violinist performs as part of Silo City’s Mimosas & Minuets brunch series.

Cheryl Ferris (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm, SOLD OUT)
The singer celebrates the music of Cole Porter.

Dwayne Gretzky (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 7pm, $20, 12+)
Dwayne does the 90s.

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

Sunday 5/19

Muhammad School of Music Gala Orchestra Concert (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 3pm, $40)
Featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Fifth Symphony.

The Heavy Heavy (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25)
Not to be confused with The Heavy, who had a hit with “How You Like Me Now,” this UK group plays reverb-drenched psychedelia.

Spaced (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm, $15, under 16 w/guardian)
Album release show for their new This Is All We Ever Get. w/Mile End, Fatal Visions, Monomaniac, Seconds Left

The Wazmopolitans (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
A guitar/keyboard/drums jazz trio

Monday 5/20

Furgos (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20)
Frnd.

Tuesday 5/21

Tommy Emmanuel (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $50adv/$55)
Australian folksinger and guitar virtuoso. w/Cris Jacobs.

Fury in Few (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $15adv/$18)
w/Cobraz, Oscar’s Cash, Pink Droid

Smile Empty Soul (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm, $27, under 16 w/guardian)
w/Hearts & Grenades, Kamenar, Daisy Chain

Ben Bankas (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $13-44)
This Canadian comic hosts podcast The Bankas Show, and is performing all-new material.

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 5/22

Mama’s Broke (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $15adv/$18)
This Canadian folk duo sings close harmony duets over guitar and mandolin.

Abbath (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 6pm, $27.50adv/$33)
The Immortal frontman is considered one of black metal’s most prominent voices. w/Black Anvil, Imperial Triumphant, Final Gasp.

Darius McCrary (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $33-$44)
The actor, who got his start as the older brother on Family Matters and has since appeared in everything from Transformers to Committed to The Young & the Restless turns his attention to stand-up.

Speculative Football Players (Squeaky Wheel, 2495 Main St, 6-8pm)
Part performance lecture, part interactive, participants will be given prompts to write and craft new players for artist Kristin McWharter’s Football Practice simulation software.

In the Sun’s Absence (Squeaky Wheel, 2495 Main St, 6pm)
A multimedia installation themed around the eclipse, including haiku, video, print work, and scupture. Through 6/14.

Machine Dream (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Lush dueling accordions

Will Bollinger (Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St, 7pm, $10)
w/Managerial, f-f-f-f-Faulty Tower

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