What’s Good: April 10-16, 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, 4/10
Kevin Nealon (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $31)
The ex-SNL legend comes to town with his conversational, deadpan stand-up.
Dial M For Murder (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $54.75)
A stage adaptation of Hitchcock’s classic murder mystery.
A Beautiful Noise (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, $55-$127)
A jukebox musical following Neil Diamond’s path from Brookyn kid to hardworking songwriter to international pop star.
BossMan Dlow (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, SOLD OUT)
Florida rapper who blew up with last year’s “Get In With Me.”
The Music of Ákos Rózmann (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $25/$20 students)
Members of the Buffalo Philharmonic, alongside guest cellist Betsy Rettig, pay tribute to the musique concrète composer, performing De Osynliga Trådarna (The Invisible Threads) and KULOR. Nagra Studier Framfor Helvetes Portar och Sorgetoner. (Balls. Some Studies in front of the Gates of Hell, and Mournful Tones).
Comedy at the Caz (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6pm doors/7:30pm, $20-$25)
Stand up from Bret Raybould (NYC), Rachel Daze (Syracuse), and Mike Shanks (Rochester).
Moon Hooch (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $22adv/$25, 18+)
The trio plays two saxophones and drums, but also found objects. w/Future Joy
Aweful Kanawful (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $12)
Side project of Rochester’s Televisionaires. w/Evil Things
Traitors (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm doors/7pm, $27, 16+)
w/Crown Magnetar, Yosemite in Black, Wasted Space, Amatera
Alex McArthur Quartet (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, $19-$25)
The group performs a tribute to Sarah Vaughn.
Bryan Martin (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $27.50, 12+)
Postponed from an earlier date; previous tickets will be honored.
Mikee Strongmen (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Lauren Clifford (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Vinyl Night (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm-mid, FREE)
Vinyl trading, and a live DJ on the turntables.
Crespobeats (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 6pm, FREE)
The WBFO DJ spins in the club every Thursday from 7-9 and then live to air from 9-11.
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
Black Mirror (Netflix)
The techno-dystopia show returns for Season 7 with the impossible task of staying ahead of our real-life techno-dystopia.
Hacks (Max)
The terrific Jean Smart-led show about stand-up comics returns for season 4.
Friday, 4/11
Bright Eyes (Riverworks, 359 Gansom St, 7pm doors/7:45pm, $45adv/$55, 16+)
Conor Oberst’s beloved indie-folk group broke up in 2011 but has reunited for the 2020s. w/Cursive
Kevin Nealon (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9pm, $31)
The ex-SNL legend comes to town with his conversational, deadpan stand-up.
The Secretaries (Rehearsal Workshop, UB Center for the Arts, 7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
The newest member of the secretarial pool at Cooney Lumber Mill starts to notice the lumberjacks keep disappearing, in this play, called an “unfliching look at the warping cultural expectations of femininity.”
Killers of Kill Tony (Mainstage Theater, UB Center for the Arts, 7pm, $40-$60)
Four stand-up comics who made their name on the Kill Tony podcast: Kam Patterson, David Lucas, Martin Phillips, and David Jolly.
Kelsea Ballerini (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 6pm doors/7pm, $45-$225)
Rescheduled from 2/6/25, previous tickets honored.
Dial M For Murder (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $54.75)
A stage adaptation of Hitchcock’s classic murder mystery.
A Beautiful Noise (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, $55-$127)
A jukebox musical following Neil Diamond’s path from Brookyn kid to hardworking songwriter to international pop star.
Castles and Creatures (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $14)
An improv comedy show inspired by tabletop role-playing games.
Confessions (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $14)
Improv comedy based on the audience’s (anonymous) secrets.
Headbanging the Milkie Way (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm doors/9pm, $12)
Local metal showcase featuring One Way Terror, Fane, Bitchin’ Hour, Tar Bucket, Blind Tyrant
Benefit and Celebration of Jack Bonafede (Amvets Post 13, 25 Review Place, 6pm doors, $10)
Hardcore show featuring Selfish Act, Monomaniac, Slam Dunk, and Cleanthrough.
Sibelius Symphony No. 1 (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 10:30am, $16.50-$74.50)
JoAnn Falletta conducts the BPO through this symphony, that evokes the beauty and solitude of the composer’s home country of Finland. The BPO also performs Glinka’s overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, and Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.
Meet the Residents (Squeaky Wheel, 2495 Main St, 7-9pm, FREE)
Squeaky Wheel’s resident artists — Sue Ding, Kyla Kegler, Kaija Siirala, and G. Anthony Svatek — discuss their new work.
Marion Meadows, Brian Simpson, and Althea Rene (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1200 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $40-$45)
Saxophonist Meadows, keyboardist Simpson, and flautist Rene appear together as part of Buff State’s Great Performers Series.
DJ Self (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 9pm, $45.25)
The self-proclaimed “Prince of New York.” w/DJ Spin
The Tallest Man on Earth (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $35adv-$40, 16+)
Swedish farmer turned NYC singer-songwriter.
Annie in the Water (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $15adv/$20, 18+)
Acoustic-guitars-and-synthesizers indie rock. w/Tand
Twin Affairs (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8-11pm, $10)
w/Space Cowboys, Asteroid Day
Source (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7:30pm, $15)
w/Feverhawk
The Azures (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Blues-rock happy hour.
Railroad Earth (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $42, 12+)
Charlie Ballantine Trio (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, $17-$29
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 Amateur (in wide release)
Rami Malek is a CIA agent who sets out to avenge his wife’s death at the hands of terrorists, over the objections of boss Laurence Fishburne.
Drop (in wide release)
A widower is on a date when she recieves a series of threatening texts telling her to carry out increasingly evil tasks, or her son will die.
Warfare (in wide release)
Annihilation and Civil War director Alex Garland co-wrote and -directed this one with Ray Mendoza, based on the latter’s experience as a Navy SEAL fighting in the Iraq War.
The King of Kings (in wide release)
Charles Dickens narrates the life of Jesus Christ, in this animated feature.
Akaal: The Unconquered (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
Punjabi warriors defend themselves against a vengeful army in the 1840s. In Punjabi with subtitles.
Good Bad Ugly (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A retired gangster relapses into violence when his son is wrongly arrested. (No relation to the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western). In Tamil with subtitles.
Jaat (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A travelling stranger takes on a criminal who’s been terrorizing a coastal town in Andhra Pradesh, in the first Hindi film from Telugu director Gopichand Malineni. In Hindi with subtitles.
Jack (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
Siddhu Jonnalagadda stars in this spy action comedy. In Telugu with subtitles.
Saturday 4/12
Kevin Nealon (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 6pm/8:30pm, $31)
The ex-SNL legend comes to town with his conversational, deadpan stand-up.
The Secretaries (Rehearsal Workshop, UB Center for the Arts, 7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
The newest member of the secretarial pool at Cooney Lumber Mill starts to notice the lumberjacks keep disappearing, in this play, called an “unfliching look at the warping cultural expectations of femininity.”
Tina Friml (UB Center for the Arts, 7:30pm, FREE but tickets must be reserved)
This comedian was named Vermont’s Funniest Comedian in 2018, and won a New Face award at the 2019 Just For Laughs festival. CFA doesn’t list which theater she’s performing in.
Premiere (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $20)
NYC’s longest continually-running musical improv comedy show. The cast’s credits include Second City, Comedy Central, HBO, and Baby Wants Candy.
A Beautiful Noise (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 2pm/8pm, $55-$127)
A jukebox musical following Neil Diamond’s path from Brookyn kid to hardworking songwriter to international pop star.
That Comedy Show (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv-$25, 18+)
Stand-up comedy from Kyle Turner, Katie Lang, Terre King, and hosts Jameel Key & Tyrone Maclin.
Buffalo Infringement Festival Fundraiser (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $7)
Featuring Blissen, Bad Ronald, Bobby Angel, Different Planets, Like Panther, Hayati Dance, Mini Marching Machine, Goodbye Metro
Dial M For Murder (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 8pm, $54.75)
A stage adaptation of Hitchcock’s classic murder mystery.
Max Muscato (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6pm doors/7:30pm, $24-$29)
Benefit for Rock Austism. w/Halfstride, Billy Nic
Musical Improv Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $6)
Audience participation is welcome at this musical improv comedy jam.
The Big Happy (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm-mid, $10)
NYC funk group, w/local group Hunks of Funk.
Michael McNeill (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
Local pianist, composer, and improviser.
Elliot Scozzaro Trio (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 3-5pm)
GK Special (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Vanessa Vacanti (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, $16-$19)
The singer performs a tribute to jazz singer Anita O’Day.
Rock & Roll Playhouse (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 11am, $45.25)
Kid-friendly Dave Matthews Band tribute. w/Tim Britt Band
The Ten Band (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $27)
Pearl Jam tribute
Jimkata (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 8pm doors/9pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
Rock-electronica fusion. w/Space Junk
Goo Grief (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7:30pm, $12.40adv/$10)
w/The Urban Achievers
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-7pm, FREE)
Sunday 4/13
Buckethead (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $30adv-$35, 16+)
The enigmatic guitarist has somehow released 31 studio albums and over 600 EPs.
Dial M For Murder (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 2pm, $54.75)
A stage adaptation of Hitchcock’s classic murder mystery.
A Beautiful Noise (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 1pm/6:30pm, $55-$127)
A jukebox musical following Neil Diamond’s path from Brookyn kid to hardworking songwriter to international pop star.
The Weak Ender (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 6pm doors/6:30pm, $15, 18+)
A metal showcase featuring Dread Engine, An Easy Death, Murder!, Sedai, and Among the Outcast.
Sibelius Symphony No. 1 (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 2:30pm, $16.50-$74.50)
JoAnn Falletta conducts the BPO through this symphony, that evokes the beauty and solitude of the composer’s home country of Finland. The BPO also performs Glinka’s overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, and Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.
Big Big Train (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $27)
Prog rock
USO Swing Dance (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 4:30pm doors/6pm, $20-$25)
Featuring Cool Club & the Lipker Sisters.
Matt Kowalski Trio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Susan Peters Jazz Band (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
Jazz Cache (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm-mid, FREE)
A rotating cast of Buffalo’s best jazz musicians.
The Last Of Us (9pm HBO)
The most critically-acclaimed video game adaptation ever returns for season 2.
Monday 4/14
Singers Only Performance Showcase (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 6:30pm doors/7:30pm, $30)
Competition open to singers of any genre. One winner gets $1000, a 1-song distribution deal, and two live performance bookings. Check D’Mott/Facebook or @theofficialdmott/Instagram for more info.
Audrey Mang & Bill Nowak (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, FREE)
Talking Leaves presents a conversation between these two local activists about Mang’s recent memoir, Nothing’s Easy, Audrey and Jim Mang: Faithful Peacemakers, about the importance of community and social justice.
Elder (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm doors/7pm, $27, 16+)
The band celebrates the 10th anniversary of their album Lore. w/Sacri Monti, Moon Destroys
Jungle Steve (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 4/15
Ripe (Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $28adv-$33, 18+)
This Boston band’s latest album is called Bright Blues, to give you some idea of what they sound like. w/Dylan Chambers
Slow Joy (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6:30pm doors/7:30pm, $21 16+)
Grunge/emo/shoegaze.
Buffalo State Chamber Choir and Chorale (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1200 Elmwood Ave, 7:30pm, FREE)
Dancing with the Stars Live! (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, $68-$308)
The competition show takes to the stage. Rescheduled from an earlier date; all previous tickets honored.
Martin Barre (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $45-$51)
Intimate evening of acoustic songs and stories.
Mason Ramsey (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25)
Country/roots singer whose songs have streamed 460 million times. w/Halle Kearns
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 4/16
The Slackers (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $25adv/$30, 16+)
w/The Operators, The Abruptors
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, FREE)
Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenso’s documentary about poet and activist Giovanni won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
Found Footage and Archival Experimental Filmmaking (Squeaky Wheel, 2495 Main St, 6-8pm, $10 suggested)
A workshop hosted by artists-in-residence G. Anthony Svatek and Kaija Siirala.
Buffalo State Wind Ensemble (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1200 Elmwood Ave, 7:30pm, FREE)
Wednesday 13 (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm doors/7pm, $35 16+)
Do they only play shows on Wednesdays, or did we just get lucky? w/Stitched Up Heart, Dead Rabbits, I Ya Toyah
Matt Lopes (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $27)
Cohost of the podcasts You Should Be Worried and Boy Friends, with a million followers on TikTok.
Ed & Tina Duo (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 7-9pm, FREE)
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
