End of Year Bash! WBNY Celebrates the Buffalo Scene with Area 54 Show

Art by @likanlan

The local punk community and Buff State’s WBNY 91.3 FM have enjoyed a storied relationship, dating back more than 40 years to the college radio station’s founding in 1982.

WBNY’s willingness to perpetually shine a light upon the Buffalo scene has long been valued by area musicians, and the station’s tradition of supporting the city’s punk and DIY artists continues to this day with programs such as The Local Show, which hosts bands in-studio for live performances and interviews.

And now, with classes wrapping up for the year, the station will be throwing one last celebration of the Buffalo scene with a special show presented by WBNY at Area 54 this Friday.

“Myself and other DJs at WBNY have gone to shows in the Area 54 venue at Amy’s Place,” said Sol Verma, host of WBNY’s ‘Mosh Mayhem’ and co-host of ‘The Local Show.’ “I appreciate how intimate the space is, with the bands and showgoers being at the same level. There are also many students at Buffalo State that enjoy going there as well.”

Friday’s bill includes Spud, Power Creep, Velvet Bethany and Pretty Good State University.

Dubbed ‘Ready! Set! Bloom!,’ doors to Friday’s show will open at 7 p.m. with music starting at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 or PWYC. Buff State students can attend for free.

“We’ve been very lucky to be featured on WBNY programming a few times now, between their radio show and some pop-up interviews, and it’s always been a pleasure,’’ said Tobias Prey, frontman for Pretty Good State University. “We’re super grateful to have a station that’s featuring local bands and putting a spotlight on the scene. Things may be a little different today with all the streaming services and stuff, but being on the radio is a dream come true for us, and it’s a dream that WBNY makes come true for a lot of local bands. So yeah, super grateful for everything they do, and have been doing since 1982.” 

Verma said Friday’s show is the station’s way of paying tribute to Area 54 and the artists who make up Buffalo’s scene.

“In a way, this feels like we are doing ‘the super Local Show’ with the four bands and WBNY coming together,” Verma said. “It’s an honor and privilege to be working with the Area 54 team and the bands. We are able to do this because of Buffalo’s great local music community.”