
What’s Good: January 23-29, 2025
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of sports and pop culture.
Thursday, 1/23
Kevin Hart (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, SOLD OUT)
America’s biggest stand-up comic has sold out four nights at Shea’s.
Buffalo Sabres @ Calgary Flames
A sad state of affairs when the Sabres’ season is over before the Bills, but they’re in last place without much reason for optimism.
The Medicinals (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 7pm, $15)
Rochester reggae group. w/Olmstead Dub System
Masterclass with Clayton Stephenson (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7pm, FREE)
Pianist Stephenson was a 2017 Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and presents a free master class. Tickets must be reserved at bpo.org.
TAUK (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
Long Island jam band. w/Chalk Dinosaur
Son Henry (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 7pm, FREE)
Singer/songwriter and lap steel guitarist.
Elliot Scozzaro (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm-mid, FREE)
Jazz, with a rotating cast of backing musicians.
Chris Jones (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Lunch Bunch (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, noon, FREE)
Ron LoCurto (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 6pm, $10)
Mr Conrad Rock & Roll Dance Party (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, FREE)
Improv Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7:30pm, $5 suggested)
Join in some low-stakes improv comedy, or just sit back and enjoy the show!
Poetry Open Mic & Game Night (Twentysixallen, 26 Allen St, 6pm)
Co-hosted by Sara Ali and Meg Specksgoor
Friday, 1/24
Kevin Hart (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, SOLD OUT)
America’s biggest stand-up comic has sold out four nights at Shea’s.
Farrow (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 7pm, $10)
Local neo-classic rock group.
Lotus (Town Ballroom, 681 S Main St, 7pm, $44, 16+, 12+ w/parent)
The How to Dream In Color tour. w/DJ U-LOCK
Get A Clue (Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy, 6-9pm, $39)
An adults-only Science After Hours night, in which someone has committed an unspeakable crime in the Museum, and patrons team up to solve the mystery.
Buffalo Golden Gloves (RiverWorks, 659 Ganson St, 6:30-11pm, $25adv/$30)
Boxers from across Western New York compete.
Funktional Flow (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15adv/$20, 18+)
This Buffalo-based band has been touring the Northeast. w/Johnny Hart & the Mess
Paul Hage & Mirage (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $16-$19)
Mediterranean-inspired jazz.
Hair Nation (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $15-38, 18+)
A tribute to the 80s’ best heavy metal.
Albert Lee (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 8pm, $30)
The Kensingtons (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 6pm, $10)
Beave’s Damn Good Band (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-9pm, FREE)
Jungle Steve Band (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm-mid, $10)
w/Hartwell Hospice House Band
The Panfil Brothers (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
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
Presence (in wide release)
Lucy Liu moves her family into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone, as director Steven Soderbergh takes on the supernatural thriller.
Inheritance (in wide release)
A young woman discovers her father is a spy, and is drawn into a conspiracy, in the latest from writer-director Neil Burger (Limitless, Divergent).
Flight Risk (in wide release)
You’re going to have to work extra hard separating the art from the artist, as Mel Gibson directs Mark Wahlberg in this thriller in which a US Marshall has to escort a witness (Topher Grace) by plane, only to find there’s a hit man on board.
Brave the Dark (in wide release)
Jared Harris stars as a small-town teacher in this indie drama.
The Colors Within (Elmwood Center, Walden Galleria)
A girl who sees people’s emotions as colors forms a band with two friends in this animated film. In Japanese with subtitles
Sky Force (Elmwood Center)
India’s first ever air strike, in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, gets the Top Gun treatment. In Hindi with subtitles
Star Trek: Section 31 (Paramount+)
Michelle Yeoh’s Discovery character gets a spinoff, in which she joins Starfleet’s black ops division.
Saturday 1/25
OOP v2 (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm-mid, $10adv/$15)
Only Odd Performances, including a drag show from Fawn Deux, Freddie Hercury, Ptrish Uwish, and Vageena George, plus DJ Little Mx. Bunny spinning tunes.
Miller & the Other Sinners (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 7pm, $29-$35)
Buffalo-based Southern soul.
Penguins of Antartica (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7pm, $21.50-$43.50)
Ecologist Dr. Heather Lynch presents a look at the many species of penguins who make the harshest environment on Earth his home.
Grand Canon Suite (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7:30pm, $16.50-$116.50)
Pianist Clayton Stephenson joins the Buffalo Philharmonic for a performance of Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, as well as Talleferre’s Overture and Petite Suite, and Ravel’s Concerto in G Major for Piano and Orchestra.
UB Women’s Basketball @ Akron
An astonishing season continues, as the women won two games at home last week to improve to 16-2, and have two on the road to play this week.
UB Men’s Basketball @ Eastern Michigan
The men’s squad finally broke their losing streak on the road in Western Michigan last week. Here’s hoping their dominance in the Mitten State continues.
UB Track & Field @ SPIRE Midwest Invite (Geneva, OH)
The track team continues to bring home the hardware, as last week, Allison Newton took home gold in the women’s mile in Akron, while Collin Stafford and Kevin Sherry came in 1st and 2nd in the men’s mile; Uma Bhattacharjett and Micah Blair each won gold in the long jump, and Blair also finished first in the triple jump; Ryan Cardichon came in first in the high jump; Tal Hamel won gold in the 200m and silver in the 60m dash; Akuot Kuany and Zahra Amos came in first and second in the high jump.
The women’s 4x400m relay teams came in 3rd and 4th and the men’s group came in 3rd; Aidan Norris won bronze in the 800m run; Luke Stoeffler got 3rd in the 3000m; Brian Murphy came in 3rd in the pole vault; and the Bulls came in first, and second (Michael Parks and Kevin Gabalski) in the 60m hurdles. Two meets into the season and the trophy case is already full! The team’s road trip to Ohio continues in Geneva.
Buffalo Sabres @ Edmonton Oilers
Community Night (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $10/$5 students)
Local improv groups Cheese & Slackers and Partners in Crime perform.
The Musical Improv Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $5)
An improvised musical comedy that anyone can join in. No experience necessary!
The Griff Kaz Quartet (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $16-$19)
Originals and reimagined standards.
I Want My MTV Fest (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20, 18+ (13+ w/parent)
A celebration of the bygone era when MTV played music, featuring El Scorcho (Weezer), Kurt & the Loders, and plenty of nostalgia.
90s vs 2000s Dance Party (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $14-38)
The hottest party music from each decade, spun by DJ Mr. Illmatic.
The Rock & Roll Playhouse (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 11am, $15-18, All Ages)
Kid-friendly Beatles tribute. Children must be accompanied by adult.
The Bell Canto String Quintet (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
The Oatka Trio (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 3-5pm)
Gary Meixner on steel, standard, and dobro guitars; Chris Jones on guitar and ukelele; Paul Tobro on upright bass.
Tom Stahl and the Dangerfield (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
F.L.U.I.D. (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 8-11pm)
DJs Brian Buttlett, LydVicious, Elmwood Opera, and Orocué.
The Informers (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 3pm, $10)
Tsavo Highway Record Release Show (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 8pm)
Dee Adams Grand Isle Opry (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7pm, $10)
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-7pm, FREE)
Sunday 1/26
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs
Once again, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are standing between the Bills and another Super Bowl. Kansas City has only lost one game this season… but they lost it to Buffalo. Can we do it again? We’re not going to jinx it by answering that.
UB Wrestling vs Glenville State, Bloomsburg (Alumni Arena, 1pm/3pm)
A rough season on the road has left wrestling at 2-9, but they’re on their home turf when they host the Buffalo Duals on Sunday.
Kevin Hart (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, SOLD OUT)
America’s biggest stand-up comic has sold out four nights at Shea’s.
Grand Canon Suite (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7:30pm, $16.50-$116.50)
Pianist Clayton Stephenson joins the Buffalo Philharmonic for a performance of Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, as well as Talleferre’s Overture and Petite Suite, and Ravel’s Concerto in G Major for Piano and Orchestra.
Fulton Lee (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $25adv/$30)
Bubblegum funk.
John Bacon Jazz (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
Anne Philippone (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Barrelhouse blues and boogie piano.
Jazz Cache (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm-mid, FREE)
Live music from a rotating cast of Buffalo jazz musicians.
Monday 1/27
Tom Robert (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Songwriter Showcase (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm-mid, FREE)
Singer-songwriters from 8-9, and then an open mic for the rest of the evening.
Tuesday 1/28
Drive-By Truckers (Town Ballroom, 681 S Main St, 7pm, $54, 16+, 12+ w/parent)
The venerable Americana group come through on their Southern Rock Opera Revisited tour.
UB Men’s Basketball vs Central Michigan (Alumni Arena, 7pm, $12)
We’re playing every compass direction in Michigan before the month is out.
Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins (Keybank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 7pm, $44-$195)
The Azures (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 9pm, 18+)
Psychedelic rock.
The Frizz (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, noon, FREE)
Twang Gang (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 6pm, $10)
Steam Donkeys (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8:30pm, FREE)
Long-serving “cosmic Americana” group.
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9-10pm, FREE)
A rotating cast of local stand-ups.
The Stripteasers (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 10pm-mid, $4)
Weekly burlesque show.
Open Mic (Cucina @ Hotel Richardson, 444 Forest Ave, 6-8pm)
This weekly open mic features music, poetry, and comedy. Register at jkonze@douglasdev.com.
Karaoke (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm)
Wednesday 1/29
Natalie Jane (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $25-150)
20-year-old pop sensation.
Destroy Lonely (RiverWorks, 659 Ganson St, 7pm, $61-$174, 16+, 12+ w/parent)
This rapper and singer started releasing albums as a teenager, and is now on Atlanta’s Opium label.
UB Women’s Basketball vs Ohio (Alumni Arena, 6pm, $12)
Buffalo Chamber Players (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm, $28adv/$32)
From Sea to Sky, a program of chamber music from Britain, including work by Elizabeth Aitken, Arnold Bax, John Dowland, and Ruth Gipps.
Djug Flutie & the Flakes (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 7-9pm, FREE)
Jug band shenanigans.
The Gripers (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm-mid, FREE)
Yacht rock.
akloh. (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Baudo Jazz Quintet (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, noon, FREE)
Essence (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 6pm, $10)
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)