Events

[PUNK] What we need right now are more bands like Downtown Boys. “A wall is a wall and nothing more at all!” lead vocalist Victoria Ruiz sings on the band’s latest album, Cost of Living, released this month on Sub Pop records. That statement, and most of the rage that permeates the record are clearly pointed directly at the President. But it’s not all rage, there’s existential and reflective statements as well. “Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas),” translates to I’m intelligent, I’m not dumb,” which seems like it should go without saying by Ruiz, having come only three songs into the record, though it makes sense that she’d seek validation while living under a president who has continually marginalized brown folks. The Rhode Island band’s artist statement regarding the record is several paragraphs long, but one paragraph in particular seems to sum up their philosophy pretty well. “Downtown Boys are keenly aware of the increased visibility and credibility that comes with signing to a corporate-media conglomerate such as Sub Pop. They’re using this platform as a megaphone for their protest music, amplifying and centering Chicana, queer, and Latino voices in the far-too-whitewashed world of rock.” If you’re looking for a place to safely vent some of your frustrations after last weekend’s horrible series of events, this might be a good place to do it. Or maybe you just want to rock out, and that’s ok too. Downtown Boys will be joined by three of Buffalo’s most socially conscious punk bands, Mallwalkers, Alpha Hopper and Social Divorce at Sugar City this Wednesday, August 16.