(EDITOR’S NOTE — Niagara Falls pop-punk band Call Me Disaster is the embodiment of punk’s DIY spirit. Together since 2024, the band has organized its own festival called ‘Broken World,’ for suicide prevention. When one of its favorite bands came to town, the group took it upon itself to pull out every stop to successfully work its way onto the bill, despite not even having released any music at that point. And when it came time to release its first record, they took the unorthodox step of...

Calling all musicians in Western New York! The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops has announced its first ever Battle of the Bands competition, with the winning artist securing a spot performing on the Main Stage at this year’s festival in Niagara Square on Saturday, July 11.   Prospective artists of all genres – based in Western New York – are encouraged to apply. Five performers will be chosen to compete by a panel of judges from the Taste of Buffalo Entertainment Committee.  The Battle of...

There’s that moment so many of us have experienced in our own individual discovery of punk rock, that moment in which you realized exultantly that you’ve found your place, that moment you believed you were saved . After all, the power of punk is transcendent. It propels you to rise above and push through. It is a world without pretense, built upon the foundations of truth, passion and community. Yes, it’s the music that grabs you. But it’s the spirit that holds you captive. In listening to...