What’s Good: April 24-30, 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, 4/24
Elderbrook (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $37.25, 18+)
English electronica DJ. w/Jerro
Nightly (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $32-$49)
Indie-pop trio. w/MICO, Brooke Alexx
Brothers of Invention (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 6:30pm doors/7:30pm, $25adv/$30)
Bruce Wojick and Jamie Holka celebrate 25 years of making music together.
Bandit Queen of Sorrows (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 5-6pm, FREE)
Dark folk music.
Sean McNamara & Jungle Steve (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Head North album release (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm, $12.51)
The band celebrates their new album, Winner!. w/Precious Love, Michael Heubusch
The Ramblin’ Lou Family Band (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6pm doors/7:30pm, $40-$50)
Buffalo’s First Family of Country Music.
Guabaza (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, SOLD OUT)
A night of Latin jazz, fusing jazz, afro-Carribean rhythms, and blues.
Ellen Pieroni & Sean McNamara (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Fistful of Rage (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7:30pm doors/8pm, $10)
Rochester Rage Against the Machine tribute. With Brittle Minds, Space Cowboys
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, 4/25
Mercury Rev (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors, $42.25, 16+)
The psychedelic indie rock legends formed at UB in 1989 and were a staple of 90s alt-rock. Not to be missed. w/Wild Pink
NLL Quarterfinals: Bandits vs Seals (KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour Knox Plaza, 7:30pm, $20adv/$25)
The Bandits try for a third consecutive title in the National Lacrosse League.
The Pajama Game (Drama Theatre, UB Center For the Arts, 10am/7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
The classic musical about a strike at a pajama factory. Through 5/4.
The Passion of Bach and Coltrane (Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall, 7pm, $20/FREE for UB students)
An 8-movement suite for wind quintet, string quartet, jazz trio, and a reading from the works of poet A.B. Spellman. Pre-concert talk at 7, performance at 7:30.
Olive Klug (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25)
Nashville-based folk-punk singer. w/Wasp Eater
Loren Pilcher (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 4pm, FREE)
The UB cultural studies professor gives a talk on Gender, Race, and Rural Development in the Films of the Southern Educational Film Production Service, as part of the Scholars@Hallwalls series.
Honey Group (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $6.50-$12.68)
Local house DJs Ryan Dils, B2B, and Angelo Petrucci.
Dvorák Symphony No. 6 (Kleinhans, 3 Symphony Circle, 10:30am, $16.50-$74.50)
The BPO performs the piece, as well as Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin Suite and Glazunov’s Violin Concerto, with featured violinist Andrea Cicalese.
Masterclass w/Andrea Cicalese (Clement House, 768 Delaware Ae, 7pm, FREE w/reservation)
The Philharmonic hosts an intimate event in which visiting soloist Cicalese works one-on-one with local students in front of a live audience. Free, but reservations required.
Uncle Ben’s Remedy (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm doors/8pm, $20)
Country, rock, and Americana. w/The Tradesmen
Improv Collider! (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $10)
An hour of long-form improv.
College Night (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8pm, $10 suggested)
The Battle for Buffalo! Improv teams from UB and Buff State face off.
The New Friday Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 9:30pm, $10 suggested)
Anyone is welcome to watch, or join in and perform opposite experienced improv comedians.
Sunsquabi (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, doors 8pm/9pm, $22, 18+)
Live electronic funk. w/Motifv
Hot Club of Buffalo (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, $16-$19)
Evan Anstey Trio (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
David Wasik Soul Trio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Joseph Arthur (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm)
Folksinger.
New Movies This Week
The Accountant 2 (in wide release)
Ben Affleck’s autistic money launderer returns to balance the books.
On Swift Horses (Elmwood Center, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
Daisy Edgar-Jones tries to keep secrets from her Korean War vet husband (Will Poulter), while his brother (Jacob Elordi) tries to keep a gay relationship private in this romantic drama.
Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie (Amherst Theatre, Transit Center)
The original stoner comedy duo toke up one last time.
Until Dawn (in wide release)
A group of friends are trapped in a time loop in which they’re all brutally murdered. Based on the video game of the same name.
Revenge of the Sith (in wide release)
The least-bad of the Star Wars prequels gets a 20th anniversary re-release.
Havoc (Netflix)
Tom Hardy fights his way through the criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s son, in the latest from writer/director Gareth Edwards.
Jongli (Transit Center, 6707 Transit Rd, Williamsville)
This father-daughter drama balances action and social commentary. in Bengali with subtitles.
Sarangapani Jathakam (Elmwood Center, Walden Galleria)
Sarangapani looks to horoscopes and palm reading to try and see his future. in Telugu with subtitles.
Thudarum (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave.)
A taxi driver hunts down his beloved car after it gets stolen. in Malayalam with subtitles.
Saturday 4/26
Karen Finley (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 4pm, FREE)
The legendary performance artist reads from and signs her new book, Covid Vortex Anxiety Opera Kitty Kaleidoscope Disco.
Terror Tease Cabaret (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 4pm, $20, 18+)
An evening of spooky seduction, with a curated marketplace of vendors from 4-7, and then a horror-themed burlesque performance by the Glam Vamps from 8:30-10:30.
The Pajama Game (Drama Theatre, UB Center For the Arts, 7:30pm, $22/$7 UB students)
The classic musical about a strike at a pajama factory. Through 5/4.
UB Chorus (Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall, 7:30pm)
The Funeral Portrait (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 5pm doors/6pm, $34, 16+)
Georgia emo/post-hardcore group. w/The Rasmus, Archers, Glasswaves.
Dvorák Symphony No. 6 (Kleinhans, 3 Symphony Circle, 7:30pm, $16.50-$74.50)
The BPO performs the piece, as well as Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin Suite and Glazunov’s Violin Concerto, with featured violinist Andrea Cicalese.
Community Night (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $6.50)
Teams from the local improv scene perform.
John Troy Quartet (Pausa Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, $16-$18)
Jazz interpretations of soul and R&B classics.
Tumiel & Merritt (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
Michael Tumiel & Alan Craft (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 2:30-4:30pm)
Tom Stahl & the Dangerfields (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6-8pm)
Bad Sneakers (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 6:30pm doors/8pm, $25)
13-piece Steely Dan tribute performs Aja.
The Clapton Band (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7pm, $17.60)
Eric Clapton tribute.
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-7pm, FREE)
Sunday 4/27
Bullsapalooza (UB North Campus, 3pm, free)
A campus-wide fair event along UB North Campus’s academic spine throughout the day. The event is free to attend and open to all UB students, staff and the general public (guest must complete a waiver available on the UB SA website prior to participating in ride and activities).
Flow Jam Fundraiser (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, doors 5:30pm/6pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
A fundraiser to keep the free weekly Flow Jam at Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park going this summer. Live music, local artist and vendors, a 50/50 raffle, and more.
The Pajama Game (Drama Theatre, UB Center For the Arts, 2pm, $22/$7 UB students)
The classic musical about a strike at a pajama factory. Through 5/4.
Neon Trees (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $33-$93)
Indiepop group from Utah. w/The Tisburys
Jennifer Knapp (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7pm, $22.80)
Grammy-nominated Christian singer-songwriter.
The Lorax (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 1pm, FREE)
Shea’s Free Family Film Series presents the 2012 animated film based on the Dr. Seuss classic.
Adam Ezra Group (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25)
Americana songwriter and backing band.
Cathy’s Dance Showcase (Mainstage Theatre, UB Center For the Arts, 2pm, $19)
Dance studios from around WNY join forces to perform. Proceeds support the Cathleen Wendel Lista Memorial Scholarship for UB dance majors.
Autonomous Vehicles (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-3pm)
John Bacon Jazz (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm)
Exile on Seneca Street (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 4:30pm doors/6pm, FREE)
Rolling Stones tribute.
Susan Peters Jazz Band (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-5:30pm, FREE)
Anne Philippone’s Piano Party (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, FREE)
Barrelhouse and boogie piano.
Jazz Cache (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm-mid, FREE)
A rotating cast of Buffalo’s best jazz musicians.
Monday 4/28
Richard Shindell (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $25adv/$30)
This Buenos Aires-based singer-songwriter has busked on the streets of Paris and lived in a Buddhist monastery.
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 4/29
Doug Stanhope (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $52-$69)
The caustic stand-up is touring behind his new comedy special, Discount Meat.
Spring Into Art (UB Center For the Arts, 5-7pm, FREE)
A showcase of artists and creators across the UB community. Performances, installations, interactive activities, printmaking, student art sale, and more. More info at ubcfa.org.
The Bouncing Souls (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 6pm doors, $41.25, 16+)
Long-running New Jersey punk band. w/School Drugs, Dave Hause & the Mermaid, H20
DoFlame (AmVets Post 13, 25 Review Place, 6pm doors, $15)
Hardcore show. w/Pilot Field, Spooky Visions, Slam Dunk
Dan Rodriguez (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$22)
“Hippie sympathizing” singer-songwriter. w/Stephen Babcock
Friends of the Riverline (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 5:30-7:30pm, $25)
Fundraising event for the planned greenway trail linking downtown with the waterfront. Appetizers, cash bar, and silent auction.
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 4/30
James McBride (Kleinhans, 3 Symphony Circle, 7pm doors/8pm, $16.50-$106.50)
The screenwriter, musician, and author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong speaks as part of Just Buffalo Literary Center’s BABEL series.
Doug Stanhope (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $52-$69)
The caustic stand-up is touring behind his new comedy special, Discount Meat.
Rabbit Jaw (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 5-6:30pm)
w/Hot Stuff, Fooled by Ever, Eye Opener
Aaron Jonah Lewis (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 7-9pm, FREE)
Traditional fiddler who’s won blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival.
Sarah Gross & the Belle Curves (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm)
w/Wild Honey Collective
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
