What’s Good: April 16-22, 2026
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 4/16
Water for Elephants (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, $51-$113)
A musical based on the film based on the bestselling book.
Jesus Christ Superstar (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $30-$68)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical about the Son of God.
George Birge (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors/8pm, $35, 16+)
Country singer, formerly of Waterloo Revival. w/Highway Home
Sweet Petunia (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $15adv/$20)
Queer alt-folk from Boston. w/Ian McCuen
The Broken View (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6:30pm doors/7pm, $21, 16+)
w/Execution Day, Cobraz, Blissen
Zero 9:36 (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm doors/8pm, $15-$52)
Adam Bronstein & ABTrio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8pm, $20 suggested)
Monthly jazz residency.
Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm)
RQ (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 7pm)
w/Life Best, Left & Carl
The Hip Experience (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20, 18+)
Tragically Hip tribute.
MTV Unplugged Tribute Band (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20-$35)
Just what the name says.
The Improv Mixer (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7pm, $5 suggested)
Newcomers and experienced performers are all welcome to participate in improv sketch comedy or just watch.
Friday, 4/17
Tony Rock (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9:15pm, $34-$46)
Chris Rock’s younger brother is also a prolific stand-up, as well as the star of Living Biblically on CBS.
Arkells Album Release (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors/8pm, SOLD OUT)
Juno-award winning rockers’ album release weekend, night 1.
Water for Elephants (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 7:30pm, $51-$113)
A musical based on the film based on the bestselling book.
That Comedy Show (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $15adv/$20)
Stand-up from Connor Mink, Dario Joseph, Andy Ticco, Kai Von Doom, Brody Walsh, and host Jacob Morrison.
Scholars@Hallwalls (Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave, 4pm)
UB Humanities presents Trina Hyun, who will speak about her upcoming book Media Theologies, which explores how post-Reformation poets reimagined spirituality as a process of media and communication. Livestream available on hallwalls.org.
Headbutt Album Release (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm doors/9pm, $15)
w/Hundred Plus Club, Goat Farm, Elemantra
Jesus Christ Superstar (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 7:30pm, $30-$68)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical about the Son of God.
The Vinny Barbarino Experience (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8:30pm, FREE)
Funky-ass happy hour.
Jansten (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm doors/8pm, $32)
w/Canvas, Floret Loret, Big Basha
Keller Williams (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $29adv/$32, 18+)
Jam band-ish “acoustic dance music.”
Evergreen Echoes (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $5adv/$10)
w/After the World, Astronot Junkie
Improv Jam (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 6:30pm, $5-$10 suggested)
Newcomers and experienced performers are all welcome to participate in improv sketch comedy or just watch.
Improv Collider (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 7:30pm, $5 suggested)
An hour of long-form improv comedy.
The Faculty (Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave #207, 8:30pm, $15adv/$20/$12 students)
An hour of long-form improv comedy from BIH’s teaching faculty.
Rechouse (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 11pm, $10)
Honey Group presents a night of house music.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Saturday 4/18
Tony Rock (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm/9:30pm, $34-$46)
Chris Rock’s younger brother is also a prolific stand-up, as well as the star of Living Biblically on CBS.
Sleaze Ball: Sleazechella (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm doors/9pm, $15 adv/$20)
Indie sleaze/electroclash dance party. With drag performances by Alley Gorey, Electra Lightz, Gendro1d, Marjorie Logan Price, Pinwheel Pinwheel, and Ruby George. DJ sets by William Paul, DJ Rag Bag, Opalite.
Arkells Album Release (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm doors/8pm, SOLD OUT)
Juno-award winning rockers’ album release weekend, night 2.
Water for Elephants (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 2pm/7:30pm, $51-$113)
A musical based on the film based on the bestselling book.
Jesus Christ Superstar (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 3pm/8pm, $30-$68)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical about the Son of God.
Moon Walker’s Wasteland (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 5:30pm doors/6:30pm, $28, 16+)
w/Demi the Daredevil, Sarah and the Safe Word
Happy Hour (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 4:30-7:30pm, $5)
Jazz and pop. w/Solar Pyramid
Run That Back (Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, $10 adv/$15)
Live looping w/Myq Farrow, Curtis Lovell, and Danielle A
Fotocrime (Milkies, 522 Elmwood Ave, 8pm, $12)
w/Bad Bloom, Dolly Sods
The Surfrajettes (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 8pm, $20+fee)
All-girl surf music quartet. w/Bethlehem Shalom
Rock and Roll Playhouse (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, noon, $15adv/$20, All Ages)
Kid-friendly group performing the music of the Grateful Dead.
Workingman’s Dead (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20, 18+)
Adult-friendly group performing the music of the Grateful Dead.
Big Dog Daddy (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $20-$30)
Toby Keith tribute.
Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4-7pm, FREE)
Traditional Irish music.
Black Rock Arts (Black Rock Arts, 43 Hamilton St, 11am-3pm, FREE)
The new artist-run gallery is open to the public every Saturday.
Sunday 4/19
Tony Rock (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7pm, $34-$46)
Chris Rock’s younger brother is also a prolific stand-up, as well as the star of Living Biblically on CBS.
Band of Horses (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm doors/8pm, SOLD OUT)
The dreamy folk-rock band celebrates the 20th anniversary of Everything All the Time.
One8Fifty (Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St, 2-8pm, $20+fee)
Tenth annual benefit for organ donation. Featuring The Kensingtons, The FM Band, The Thurman Brothers Band, The Informers, The Twang Gang w/special guests.
Water for Elephants (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 1pm/6:30pm, $51-$113)
A musical based on the film based on the bestselling book.
Jesus Christ, Superstar (Shea’s 710, 710 Main St, 2pm, $30-$68)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical about the Son of God.
Hail the Sun (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 6pm doors/7pm, $33adv/$38, 16+)
w/Foxy Shazam, Makari, Resilia
Erin Hoyle & Steve Padin (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $10-$15)
The Caz’s supper club.
Dr. Jazz & the Jazzbugs (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 3:30-5:30, FREE)
We’re not sure, but we think they might play jazz.
Ann Philippone (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8, FREE)
Solo barrelhouse piano.
Jazz Cache (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8:30pm-mid, FREE)
A rotating cast of Buffalo’s best jazz musicians.
Karaoke Night (Twentysixallen, 26 Allen St, 9:30pm)
Monday 4/20
Will Blanda’s World Largest Trio (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 5-7, FREE)
4/20 Fest (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6:30, $10)
Future-funk disco party band Pocketship, w/Strange Standard, and FREE SAMPLES of Buffalo-made cannabis products.
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.
Monday Night Foosball (Riverworks, 359 Gansom St, 6pm warmups/7-9pm, $10)
Weekly foosball tournament; free trial week for newcomers, $80 15-week season pass. buffalofoosball.com
Tuesday 4/21
Field Medic (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25)
Dreamy lo-fi bedroom folk. w/Euphoria Again
Carl Palmer (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, FREE)
Iconic prog-rock drummer presents an art and photography showcase, with discussion.
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 4/22
John Legend (Shea’s, 650 Main St, 8pm, $47-$281)
The EGOT-winning singer performs his hits and tells stories from his life and career.
Kevin James Thornton (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, $39-49)
Not to be confused with Kevin James, this comic is known for hilarious and heartfelt self-reflection, much of it about growing up gay in a strict religious community in the 90s.
King Falcon (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm doors/8pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
NYC high-energy alt-rock trio. w/Little Liar, Blissen
Snarky Puppy (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm doors/8pm, $69)
Grammy winning funk/R&B collective.
Mark Hummel (The Caz, 2221 Seneca St, 5:30pm doors/7pm, $25-$35)
Grammy nominated blues harmonica player. w/Anson Funderburgh
Tyler Westcott’s Jugbang Gathering (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8, FREE)
SHEBAD (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 8pm)
Open Mic Night (Helium, 30 Mississippi St, 7:30pm, FREE w/reservation)
Over 20 comedians perform.
Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, sign up 7pm, show 9:30pm)
