BIFF BIFARO’s TOP TEN PUNK EXPERIENCES MAKING 2024 A YEAR WORTH REMEMBERING

With 2024 coming to a close and with a vast majority of my overwhelmingly positive punk experiences of this past year having a strong Canadian connection, it seemed to me that there would be no better time to write my inaugural column for The Counterforce, seeing that the zine originated in Canada. And so, with no further adieu, join me as I turn back the calendar and fondly remember….

10 - SCIENCE MAN ‘U.S. and Canada Tour 2024’

Two weeks in April spanning the midwest, northeast, and a fair amount of STOMPIN’ TOM's Stomping Grounds from Ontario to New Brunswick. Killer shows, top notch bands, tons of Canadian tourism, and toss in playing a grip of shows with both PAL and PSYCH BIKE, and the unforgettable night in Montreal possibly being my most memorable night of the year? What a near perfect experience.

9 - U3 Fest

A single day / single venue festival in Philadelphia, PA, booked by sweet buds, filled with solid acts, and a surprise all vegan catered meal which was hands down the best I ate on that whole tour. Seeing Aussie buds R.M.F.C. and GEE TEE play and kick it with them at the weird Airbnb after party was the highlight for me. Other killer acts I cared about included SPLIT SYSTEN, KNOWSO, THE DRIN, and (keeping with the Canadian tie-in) PUFFER, who I happen to be driving on their tour.

8 - Guerrilla Showfare gig series

Buffalo, NY has been my home for my entire life and this past summer two younger punks started a series of outdoor generator gigs. I went to the first one and ended up joining forces with them after they expressed their biggest issue was not having connects with out of town bands. The few Guerrilla Showfare gigs we ended up booking together were some of the most fun gigs I’ve ever had a hand in. Hardcore-punk is alive and well in Buffalo, NY! If you’re still looking for Canada tie-ins, one of such events featured Montreal heavy-hitters DUREX.

7 - THE VIPERS recording weekend

A long-time friend, and DC Hardcore heavy-hitter, Nicktape, called me in the spring. With his main band COKE BUST on something of a hiatus he had written a grip of hardcore-punk stompers but had no way to make them a reality. A five day trip to Buffalo was planned, a backing band formed, and we got to work. Deciphering his ideas, learning the songs, and immediately recording them. The trip ended with us playing one of the aforementioned Guerrilla Showfare generator gigs. Watch out world, THE VIPERS are here to stay! 7” coming soon.

6 - LEAKING HEAD ‘New England Weekend Tour 2024’

Middle of October, Rochester, NY hardcore-punk band LEAKING HEAD took advantage of my driving services. A weekend trip with NO big cities. Rural drives, small town gigs, a wide array of bands from hardcore to bluegrass to robot ska, breaking and entering for a place to stay, and so much more! Intrigued? As well you should be. Keep your eyes peeled for ‘LEAKING HEAD: The Movie’ shot by Canadian videographer Hobbes who joined us on this bonkers excursion documenting all the nitty gritty moments with my out of date VHS camcorder.

5 - Palestine Solidarity Compilation Vol. 2

The initial Palestine Solidarity Compilation was released early this year and it was absolutely jam-packed with killer tracks from 27 different underground punk acts. At the tail end of the year lightning struck a second time releasing the second volume and another 27 songs by 27 equally awesome bands. I considered it an absolute honor to be asked to provide a track with my solo project NERVOUS TICK AND THE ZIPPER LIPS. Both comps worth a listen and a cause very worth supporting.

4 - SPOOKY VISIONS ‘ill-advised Halloween tour’

A solo synth-punk project I did as a way to stave off some Covid based insanity. Never did I think it would ever be a live act, let alone an act sought after around Halloween time. I guess being the spookiest act in Western New York, I need to start expecting such things! Four shows across New York State and three Canadian gigs, most all of them Halloween themed. A truly wild tour with incredible gigs, horrible parties threatened with a storm of piss and shit, and a sugar high I am still weaning myself off of. Seven Halloween parties in a week and a half and as much candy as you can eat at almost all of them? How the hell did we survive?! AND do I do it again next year??

3 - S.O.T.O. VI

Surely all Canadian punks reading The Counterforce must be familiar with Ottawa’s long-running Sitting On The Outside Festival. This year I was honored to be included by hard-working booker Hobbes and fest counterpart Ska-Jeff with helping out with the festival. I drove my backline of equipment up the night before and helped provide gear for just about all the bands playing the weekend. Both SCIENCE MAN and NERVOUS TICK were asked to play different days of the festival and every single aspect was a damn dream. Even getting COVID and being stuck in Canada for another week couldn’t possibly spoil the killer time I had.

2 - Upstate NY Hardcore Punk Showcase

When asked to book a gig for the best band from Albany, NY, I decided to swing for the fences and booked my favorite bands from the other big cities between their hometown and mine. WET SPECIMENS from Albany joined with URBAN CAMOUFLAGE from Syracuse, LEAKING HEAD from Rochester, and all sandwiched with two buffalo bands; brand new hardcore-punk band LOWEST FORM and long-running force to be reckoned with SCIENCE MAN. An all around perfect gig. Who needs the big city, Upstate NY hardcore-punk supremacy! This will become a reoccurring event, for sure.

1 - Releasing ‘The Monochromatic Mind of NERVOUS TICK’ LP

A bit of a scary yet satisfying situation for me ends my top ten experiences this year. A long running solo project of mine, NERVOUS TICK AND THE ZIPPER LIPS, released its first LP and it was the first time I did a vinyl release where I truly had a hand in every single aspect of the process. From song writing to tracking to mixing to artwork to release, ‘The Monochromatic Mind of NERVOUS TICK’, recorded during height of covid isolation, finally came into existence. Putting that much of myself into something was admittedly a bit of a scary thing, but already I have done a follow up 7” EP, and even recorded the follow-up LP. Beware!

And that’s a wrap! Next stop, 2025! What realm of idiocy shall we get into next? Stay tuned to find out!

See you at the fucking gig!
-Biff Bifaro