(EDITOR’S NOTE — When Buffalo’s On the Cinder plays Saturday night at Amy’s Place, it will mark the melodic hardcore band’s first return to the UB Heights area in almost a decade. The neighborhood, which has played an integral part in the history of Buffalo’s punk and hardcore scene, is where OTC got its start. We recently caught up with the group, which was nice enough to talk with 1120 Press about its memories of the Heights and the role the neighborhood played in shaping the band. We thank OTC for its time. Saturday’s bill also includes Buffalo’s Do it with Malice, Among Legends (Ontario) and Girth Control (Albany.) Doors at 6 p.m. Music at 7 p.m. — Photos of the first-ever On The Cinder show provided by the band.)
1120 PRESS: You guys started in the Heights, and now you are playing it for the first time in nine years on Saturday. You’ve been a band for more than a decade now, and we’re wondering: When you think of the Heights, what does it represent to you? Houses like Flower (OTC’s home), and others throughout the neighborhood, have played an important role in the city’s punk scene.
ON THE CINDER: We got our start in the Heights, first as roommates, then as a band. We managed to carve out our own little slice of heaven on Flower Street. It was sort of the perfect storm for us. You could call it a clique, or a scene, but for us, the word 'family' feels a lot more accurate. If we couldn't host, we'd call The Turnaround or Northrup (houses), and the show would go off without a hitch, and vice versa. The pool of bands, booze and energy seemed endless (irresponsibly handling student loan money helped a lot). There's something magical about house venues. There were no strict rules or policies except "take care of each other" and nobody was there for any other reason than to go to a show. We’re not even sure it mattered who was playing after a while — people showed up. DIY spaces like these are one of the cornerstones of any punk scene. They give new bands a spot to play, they provide a (semi-)safe and supportive atmosphere, and for us, it allowed us to create stronger and longer lasting friendships than we ever figured were possible.
1120: Do you remember your first show?
OTC: The first ‘On The Cinder’ show was March 2013. Different iterations of our bands played in the basement, though the first official "Flower House" show was in June 2013. At this time, The Turnaround and Northrup houses were still in operation, so a lot of the time we would alternate shows and communicate with each other to be sure dates weren't double booked. We all went to each other's shows and had our own little community across Main Street. It took a while to find the right name, but looking out the window at the street sign is what we ended up going with.
1120: Looking back on those early days in the Heights, did you ever think the band would still be together now? What do you tie your longevity to?
OTC: When we first started On the Cinder we were all coming out of other bands that had recently broken up, but we all still had a lot of fire left in us to keep making music, keep playing shows, and stay on the road. The experiences in those bands gave us enough seasoning to say that we had tried to put in some work, but a much better understanding of how difficult that work can actually be in the long run. With that bit of knowledge and experience under our belt we had a long conversation while starting the band, really outlining the commitment we were looking to make to trying to be a band. So, we’re not surprised we're still out here doing what we love to do, but that's certainly not to say that there haven't been hard times that we've pushed through together. We're all great friends outside of when we're grinding with the band and have always felt the key to our longevity has been a product of strong and honest communication. We're always speaking our mind and actively listening whether it's about real-life situations, tour plans, or writing music. We're all committed to pushing ourselves and the band, but the only way to do that without causing a ton of conflict and to balance the band and regular life is to be flexible, be understanding, and genuinely communicate. We celebrate the good times together, and work through the hard times together.
1120: Is there anything you want to say about the upcoming show?
OTC: The cover charge is $14 which is a cheeky nod to 14 Flower Street where we lived, though it's ‘Pay What You Can.’ We want anyone who wants to come to get in. Among Legends are coming down from Kitchener, Ontario, coming to experience the new America for the first time. Girth Control were a staple at Noiseland Arcade and various other iterations of the house and we're excited to have them open the show. Do it with Malice have been our friends since the very beginning and we're so excited to hear their new songs. Amy's does ALL AGES so bring the whole fam!
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