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Must See Shows (5/28/25-6/3/25)

May 27, 2025

Thursday, May 29th @ 7pm Keep Flying @ Rec Room   Since 2015, high energy pop punk/ska hybrid act Keep Flying has been consistently pumping out Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater adjacent singalong anthems that have been hooking listeners throughout their tenure. The outfit may already be in your periphery as they have been regularly touring Western NY between Buffalo and Fredonia for close to a decade. If you are fan of Less Than Jake, Four Year Strong, or Millington, this one is for you.   This gig has a great undercard as well, featuring Buffalo post-hardcore act Gatto Black (who also released one of our favorite albums in 2024). Joining the lineup is local indiemos We Were Blank and alt-rockers Star Theory. $20.55 landed.   To save the bartender from repeating the same phrase over and over again, yes, Rec Room has mozzarella sticks.   Daylight by Keep Flying Saturday,[...]

Gatto Black – (Not) Ready to Die

December 13, 2024

The cat’s out of the bag with (Not) Ready to Die, the bombastic new sophomore EP from feline-friendly Buffalo post-hardcore project, Gatto Black.   Featuring singer-songwriter, Sal Mastrocola (EXNATIONS, No Net), this 7-song collection is a powder keg of emotions triggered by screamo vocals, chaotic drum beats, and third-rail riffs that will shock your system.   “But the thing about cats… they’re never afraid of their shadows,” and neither is Mastrocola, as he wails introspectively on the opening track, “Bitch I’m a Cat.” The singer-songwriter wears his heart on his sleeve and spills his guts via snotty emo-punk vocals that shake with anger and sadness. Each song is impressively unique, robust and layered, and runs a gamut of feelings that wallow in angst and insecurities.   You can feel these difficult, dizzying emotions on tracks like “No One Can Ruin Me.” This absolute tornado of a tune lashes out with[...]

Gatto Black – “Escape You”

May 6, 2024

A recent poster for a show at Amy’s Place in Buffalo described Gatto Black as SSRI post-hardcore and it’s pretty spot on. Sal Mastrocola, the group’s main songwriter, has an anxious and very emo take on hardcore. Mastrocola popped onto the scene a few years back with two 2021 singles and the 2022 EP, 2 Stressed 2 B Blessed, released through local label, Triple Hammer Records. The group’s sound is nostalgic for the emo side of 2000s skramz, but takes it to the next level by moshing it with modern sounds of hardcore, post-hardcore, and even alt-metal. The group’s latest release “Escape You,” explores the apathy of enduring toxic relationships, especially those that find pleasure in the pain of overstaying their welcome. In the song’s opening verse, Mastrocola demands the listener’s attention with an emotionally charged vocal delivery that trembles with palpable rage. Listening to Mastrocola stutter, yell and cry his way[...]