What’s Good: February 20-26, 2025
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
We’ve expanded our sports listings and given them their own space: check out The Sports Page for records, recent scores, and upcoming games from the UB Bulls and every Buffalo pro and semi-pro team.
Thursday, 2/20
Cleopatra Jones (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 6pm, FREE)
A free screening of the 1973 blaxploitation classic, in which Tamara Dobson stars as a model who leads a double life as a secret agent taking down a powerful drug lord (Shelley Winters).
John Clayton Benefit (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $16-$19)
A bass-heavy jazz performance to enefit bassist John Clayton, who lost his home in the Los Angeles wildfires.
Electric City One Year Anniversary (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 6pm, FREE)
The venue celebrates its birthday with a DJ set from Crespobeats (tickets free but must be booked in advance).
Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6pm, $30)
Acclaimed local Latin jazz percussionist, with his band.
Marcin Zdunik (Clement House, 786 Delaware Ave, 6pm, SOLD OUT)
A solo recital by the cellist, featuring work by several Polish composers, and improvisations inspired by their work.
Tyler Westcott (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Blue Grass All Star Lunch (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, noon, FREE)
Eberwine & Friends (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 7pm, $10)
John Lombardo & Joe Rozler (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7pm, 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
Zero Day (Netflix)
Robert De Niro leads a stacked cast in this political thriller about a devastating cyberattack. Also starring Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Matthew Modine, and Angela Bassett.
Friday, 2/21
Chamber Music (Katharine Cornell Theatre, Ellicott Complex, 7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
Women believing themselves to be Joan of Arc, Amelia Earhart and more plot to invade the men’s ward of their asylum, in this play directed by UB student Jo Yanko.
The Niceties (Shea’s Smith, 658 Main St, 7:30pm, $19-$50)
An Ivy League professor and her ambitious student debate their clashing worldviews in Eleanor Burgess’ play. Through 3/2
Cody Johnson (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 7:30pm, $68-$370)
The platinum-selling country singer comes to town on the heels of his new album, Leather Deluxe Edition. w/Ashley McBryde, Lanie Gardner
Lavell Crawford (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/10pm, $39)
Crawford is best known as Huell from Breaking Bad and Better Caul Saul, but he’s been a stand-up longer than he’s been an actor, and is in town to perform six sets.
Steak & Cake: 14th Anniversary (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 7-11pm, $15)
Featuring Donut Slinger, Huemaniiii, LeChe, Soyfruit, Kelli Bobbi, Matches Laces, Harry Graser
Tchaikovsky Festival: Pathétique (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 10:30am, $16.50-$74.50)
The festival reaches its emotioal peak with a performance of Suite from Sleeping Beauty, and Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, with guest cellist Marcin Zdunik.
Honey X (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 11pm-3am, $6.49 adv/$10)
A 360º house music set, including DJs GABRL, Jack Gunning, and Ryan Dils.
Mersiv & Inzo (Riverworks, 359 Ganson St, 7pm, $39.50, 16+)
Two electronica artists team up. w/OPIUO, Zen Selekta, Daggz, Seth David
Jacobo Vega-Albela Quartet (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $16-$19)
Ten Cent Howl (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 5pm, $10)
Rod Nixon Project (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 9pm, $10)
The Echoes, Sally Schaefer, & Tyler Bagwell (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 8pm, $10)
Mr. Brightside (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm, $15)
Tribute to The Killers.
Bingo Loco (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 5pm, $12)
Electric City has updated bingo into a 3-hour interactive stage show with dance-offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, and prizees.
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
The Monkey (in wide release)
Two brothers inherit a cursed toy monkey, which causes a series of mysterious deaths. Based on the Stephen King story.
The Unbreakable Boy (Maple Ridge, Transit Center)
Zachary Levi raises his autistic son with brittle bone disease, in this inspiring true story.
Bromance (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A young man gets sucked into adventures with his brother’s friends in this comedy. In Malayalam with subtitles.
Dragon (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
After a devastating breakup, a student abandons his studies in favor of a world of financial fraud. In Tamil or Telugu with subtitles, check listings.
Mere Husband Ki Biwi (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A Delhi professional gets stuck in a love triangle when his ex resurfaces just as he meets someone new. In Hindi with subtitles.
The Real Sister (Walden Galleria)
A woman gathers her four younger sisters for a reunion, not telling them she has a serious illness. In Vietnamese with subtitles.
Saturday 2/22
Chamber Music (Katharine Cornell Theatre, Ellicott Complex, 7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
Women believing themselves to be Joan of Arc, Amelia Earhart and more plot to invade the men’s ward of their asylum, in this play directed by UB student Jo Yanko.
First Annual Winter Improv Marathon (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 11am, $20/blocks, $65 all access)
A full day of improv comedy, in six blocks, each with multiple performance. (See buffaloimprovhouse.com for schedule)
Lavell Crawford (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/10pm, $39)
Crawford is best known as Huell from Breaking Bad and Better Caul Saul, but he’s been a stand-up longer than he’s been an actor, and is in town to perform six sets.
Faith to Fear (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm)
A showcase of WNY bands. w/HitGirl, PGSU, Black Moss
Snow Jam Music Festival (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 4pm, $12-$24)
Featuring Johnny Hart and the Mess, Letter to Elise, PA Line, The Tradesmen, and The Rifts.
Tchaikovsky Festival: Pathétique (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7:30pm, $16.50-$74.50)
The festival reaches its emotioal peak with a performance of Suite from Sleeping Beauty, and Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, with guest cellist Marcin Zdunik.
Buffalo Golden Gloves (Riverworks, 359 Ganson St, 3-7pm, $25-35adv/$30-40, All Ages)
Local boxing semifinals.
Tango Night (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6pm, $17-$23)
Dominguero Tango Trio (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7:30pm, $16.50)
Music and dancing from the world-renowned ensemble.
The Informers (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 3pm, $10)
The John Lehning Saxophone Quartet (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
Tom Stahl and the Dangerfields (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
The Smiths etc (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 8pm, $23)
Smiths tribute act.
Rock & Roll Playhouse (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 11am, $15-$18)
The kid-friendly concert series performs the music of the Grateful Dead.
Acrobat (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm)
U2 tribute act
Dreamville6 (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15adv/$20, 18+)
The Leroy Townes Band performs a tribute to Tom Petty.
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-7pm, FREE)
Sunday 2/23
Lavell Crawford (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/10pm, $39)
Crawford is best known as Huell from Breaking Bad and Better Caul Saul, but he’s been a stand-up longer than he’s been an actor, and is in town to perform six sets.
PWHL Takeover (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 4pm, $29-69)
The Professional Women’s Hockey League brings a Boston vs. New York neutral site game to Buffalo.
Central Groove (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 4pm, $25)
Fundraiser for The Eighth District Foundation
John Bacon Jazz (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
Monday 2/24
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.
Vinyl Happy Hour (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 7pm, $15)
Jeff Miers spins Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks.
Tuesday 2/25
National Geographic Live: Penguins of Antarctica (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7pm, $21.50-$73.50)
Ecologist Dr. Heather Lynch brings her decade of Antarctic field experience to bear on this presentation showcasing the many species of penguins who thrive in one of Earth’s harshest environments.
Buffalo State Jazz Ensemble (Buff State Performing Arts Cente, 1300 Elmwood Ave, 7:30pm, FREE)
The Frizz (Sportsmens Tavern, 226 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 2/26
A Mid Winter’s Draw (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $10/$5 members)
The contemporary art gallery’s twice-annual live drawings. Watch over the shoulder of 36 artists as they draw whatever inspiration drives them to, with an auction to follow.
Charleston White (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $39)
White’s comedy is based around his journey from criminal to motivational speaker.
Joe Baudo Jazz Quintet (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, noon, FREE)
Jamie Holka & Friends (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 6pm, $10)
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
Thursday 2/27
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 7pm, $38.50, 16+)
We’re sneaking an extra day into the listings so you have time to get tickets to see hardcore-turned-pop-punk icon Leo reunite with his backing band to perform Shake the Sheets for the album’s 20th anniversary. w/Shonali
