Gatto Black’s latest single “You Can’t Make Me Dance” hits hard with a message rooted in personal experience. The melodic hardcore band, formed by Sal Mastrocola after relocating from New York City to Buffalo, channels a history of queer Catholic upbringing into a track that cuts through shame with defiant energy.
“It’s fast, dramatic, rooted in my experience of growing up queer and Catholic, and shedding the shame that came with it,” Mastrocola explains. The song is the first single from Gatto Black’s upcoming album Sky Is Blue, produced by Gary Cioni (Hot Mulligan, Crime in Stereo) and Michael Hansen (Pentimento, Hotel Etiquette). It was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Cioni at Sound Acres in New Jersey.
Lyrically, “You Can’t Make Me Dance” is about confronting internalized guilt imposed by religious doctrine. Inspired by Mastrocola’s childhood in the Bronx as a bisexual Irish Italian Catholic, it’s a statement of personal liberation. “The pain and confusion of trying to reconcile that your true self, in the eyes of the Church, is a one-way-ticket to eternal suffering,” he says. “And the catharsis that comes with being brave enough to shed the guilt and shame that was thrust upon you and step out of the closet and into the light.”
Gatto Black blends melodic urgency with lyrical precision, echoing influences like Comeback Kid, early AFI, and Touche Amore. The cover artwork was designed by Joey Goergen. The single was released on May 14, 2025, and its lyric video is now streaming.
View this post on Instagram
While the band has its roots in Mastrocola’s NYC past, Gatto Black is fully immersed in Buffalo’s scene. “There’s a lot I can say about the Buffalo scene,” Mastrocola writes. “I’m originally from New York City. No doubt there is an incredible music culture there… But [Buffalo] offers a sense of community, openness, and support that I found much harder to come by in New York.”
This connection to local music culture didn’t happen overnight. “When I got here, I started trying to make friends in the scene almost immediately. It was at the tail end of COVID, so shows weren’t really happening yet. I started a Spotify playlist called Stressed in the 716, adding bands that I thought were cool, messaging folks on Instagram and letting them know I dropped their song on.”
The playlist opened a door into the community. Through it, Mastrocola discovered a wave of local talent that now defines Buffalo’s identity.
Here are the artists he highlights as central to that creative energy:
Jeweltone
Pound for pound, this band is making the most interesting, groovy, catchy hardcore music I’ve heard in a minute. The riffs written by Christian Adams are hella groovy and mean.
View this post on Instagram
Vocalist Neftali brings a buttery smooth flow influenced by his tenure in the hip hop scene. And their drummer Jordan is not only one of the most technical and finessed drummers out there, he also adds layers of dreamy electronic beats and samples that round out the sound. (see his other electronic project Dreamhouse.)
Jeweltone is a fusion of many different things done with impeccable taste and care – that people still wanna go absolutely nuts in the pit for.
gas station.
I go absolutely gaga for weird noodly riffs, but the lion’s share of modern “midwest emo” or whatever you wanna call it leaves me wanting in the vocal department.
View this post on Instagram
This band brings the riffs, tight drumming, and pop hooks by the dozen. John and Joe from this project also play in one of Buffalo’s finest current bands, Spaced.
Overgrowth
FFO Converge, Trap Them, crusty blackened hardcore / metal. The riffs are punishing, the vocals are in your face, the sludge is murky and ready to consume you.
View this post on Instagram
Recorded by local swiss army knife John Angelo, who also recorded Gatto Black’s second EP “(Not) Ready to Die”.
I haven’t seen these guys live yet, but I’m stoked to say that we’re playing a show with them on August 1st, opening for Long Island legends On the Might of Princes.
Tyler Bagwell
Tyler’s my brother in law, and also Buffalo’s preeminent folk historian. Channeling Tom Waits’ gravely vocal style with lyrics that are part Rust Belt legend and part post-modern working class, you can’t leave one of his shows without learning something new about the city of Buffalo and its people.
View this post on Instagram
He released an album of Irish songs with his partner and incredibly talented violinist Sally Schaefer that will make you feel like you’re on a boat to the new world.
Hotel Etiquette
Lots of bands sing about sex and drugs – usually about how awesome it is to do them. But what if a band sang about how having sex and doing drugs all the time actually just kinda ends up making you feel sad and empty? But it’s not a bummer, because they do it in a sexy R&B inspired mixed with emo power pop kinda way? Hotel Etiquette is one of the first bands I found when I moved up here, and still continues to be one of the most genre pushing, artistically progressing bands I know. I’ve had the privilege of playing guitar in the live band, which is also a ton of fun.
View this post on Instagram
Mastrocola’s involvement in the scene goes beyond Gatto Black. As a graphic designer for Triple Hammer Records, he contributes visually to the local culture, supporting artists like Selfish Act, Seconds Left, and Cerebellum. “It’s a unique and special way I’ve found to contribute back to this community that I love – especially since having 2 young kids makes it hard to get to every show.”
His final note is both a call to action and a grounded reflection on what keeps the Buffalo scene alive: “Your local scene is nothing without the people who show up and put in the work. Best part? You can be one of them. Figure out what you’re good at, and do it. Your scene will thank you.”
