6 Years Of Blogging: New Beginning In Buffalo Music Scene
Photo by Jeffrey Masters.
Six years ago this month, the world was quarantined, isolated, and locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, Funk Punk Lives was born out of a desperate need for connection — my personal lifeline to a music community that made me who I am.
What started as a hobby in Reno, Nevada, grew into four years of pure, unfiltered joy. I got to spotlight over three dozen incredible artists, shoot concerts, swap tales, and embed myself in a local scene that I will always carry in my heart. But by October 2024, the tank was empty. I made the tough choice to go on a hiatus, leaving the site behind as a time capsule.
Then came an unexpected layoff, a cross-country move, and a new horizon. In January of this year with a renewed sense of inspiration, I plugged the amps back in from my new home: Buffalo, New York.
The Reality Of Starting Over
I’m going to be entirely honest with you all: jumping back into the ring hasn't been seamless.
Rebuilding a music blog in a new city — especially after taking a year off — is a lesson in humility. Lately, my prospects for leads have felt a bit like a ghost town. When you’re an independent writer doing this strictly for the love of the culture, getting industry officials, managers, or bands to reply to pitches can feel like shouting into a void. It’s discouraging. There have been moments over the last few weeks where I've wondered if I should have just left the archive in the vault.
But if Funk Punk Lives taught me anything during its first four years, it’s that the best music communities aren't built on institutional gatekeeping or perfectly polished PR emails. They’re built from feet on the ground: In the dive bars, at the venues, under the strobe lights, and in the heat of the front row.
To The City Of Good Neighbors: Let’s Connect!
Photo by Jeffrey Masters.
This project is six years older today than when this journey started. The geography has changed, the challenge is different, but the mission remains the same.
To the musicians, songwriters, dancers, weirdos, and music lovers of Western New York: I’m here, my camera is ready, and I want to hear your stories. If the corporate bouncers won't let us in through the front door, we'll do what grassroots efforts have always done — find the side door, or build our own.
Thank you to everyone who read an article, watched a video, or shared a post during the Reno days. And to Buffalo: thank you for welcoming me. Let's see what the next chapter sounds like!
Let’s Keep On Jammin’!
Want to collaborate, talk music, or let me know about an upcoming gig? Drop a comment or hit me up on our Buffalo music blog Instagram page. Let’s create something rad!
Photo by Jeffrey Masters.
