GrimeTime | Punk/Metal DJ
04.15.25
Dawn Cochran: Hello. Alright. So... who are you and give us a little introduction into what you do.
GrimeTime: Hey, I'm Grime Time, I DJ at a lot of local bars and venues.
DC: Alright. How did you get into that?
GT: I started DJing about five years ago when I was asked to DJ at Music Is Art by some of the people in the Western New York Vinyl Collective Facebook group.
DC: That's pretty cool. So, you did it once, and then you just decided that this is what you want to do?
GT: So yeah, I started doing it. That was my first time. It turned out it was pretty fun. I got my own set up and started doing it ever since on my own.
DC: And what do you play?
GT: I do metal nights, punk nights, or mix of both. Mostly. Some places want me to do rock'n'roll, which is fine too.
DC: I did hear a rumor that you have done Taylor Swift nights.
GT: I have done a couple Taylor Swift nights and they were pretty successful.
DC: And what is your favorite thing to do?
GT: I would prefer to do metal nights if the places will allow it.
DC: And what are you listening to right now? Like what are your what are your preferences on music?
GT: I listen to mostly metal right now. Like especially Midnight, Wraith, Hellripper, The Good, The Bad, The Zugly, Hellacopters, some punk bands, I'm always with the Dead Boys.
DC: Mm-hmm.
GT: Johnny Thunders. The New York Dolls. GG Allin, shout out GG.
DC: Oh, the one guy from the New York Dolls just died. RIP. Let's see. I got a good one. What are your favorite things about Buffalo?
GT: Um, that's a good question. The bars, the karaoke, lots of familiar faces, and the people are probably the best part.
DC: The people?
GT: Yeah, just the same people go to the same things and you get to know of everybody and...
DC: So it's a community.
GT: It's yeah, community. It's a small town.
DC: It is a small town. It's way too small. Everybody knows everybody.
GT: Yeah, that's the best part.
DC: That's the best part. I think it's the worst part. What is your biggest achievement this far?
GT: The biggest events for me I got to open with a DJ set for Midnight, when they came to Rochester, which one of my favorite bands. I also then became friends with their guitar player or ex-guitar player, Vanek and he had me DJ one of his side projects in Ohio., Vandalist, which was a lot of fun. And I've done a couple of people's weddings, which is an honor. Oh yeah, I was also in a Revolver Records commercial, DJing in the background, which was pretty cool.
DC: That's always fun. Weddings are always fun.
GT: Yeah, that's my answer. Fun.
DC: Do you play like, do you just play metal and punk at these weddings or are you going all out?
GT: The one wedding they helped make the playlist. Another wedding, I got to kind of do my thing.
DC: That's pretty sweet. Do you have anything coming up?
GT: I don't really have anything on the books right now.
DC: Oh shit, really?
GT: No.
DC: Uh, sorry. Didn’t you just recently DJ at the Revolution Art Gallery, right?
GT: Yeah. Revolution Art Gallery, I DJ every so often. Once a month or every other month.
DC: What is the most rewarding part of this?
GT: Getting paid is the best part, but also...
DC: Hell yeah.
GT: I like to introduce people to new music, make people listen to what I listen to.
DC: And they ask you, like, who's this artist? Who's this band?
GT: Yeah, all the time. All the time people ask about who I was just playing and I'm happy to spread the word.
DC: So what you're saying is you're not a gatekeeper?
GT: No, I'm a gate opener.
DC: That's right. Do you have a favorite location in Western New York to DJ or just anywhere you can go?
GT: Yeah, I have DJ’d... I'll just list the places I've done. Mohawk Place, Hot Mamas Canteen. Milkies. Misuta chows, uh. OSB cider works. The soup.
DC: Oh, the soup. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
GT: I did the Boys and Girls Club. Uhh.. Big Ditch Gallery. Timeless Babez!
DC: What are you see in your future? Is this what you... do you want to stay local?
GT: Yeah, like I'm content with what I'm doing now. Just a small gigs around the city and a few private events here or there.
DC: Wait, wait, wait. Where did you get the name Grime Time from?
GT; It's been around since before I started DJing. Something that me and my friend used to jokingly call each other and it's stuck. Stuck with me.
DC: So, are you grimey???
GT: A little grimey sometimes.
DC: What do you think about the social media self promotion culture?
GT: It's pretty important for people like me to advertise because I'm not doing such big events where required to make flyers for all around the city. It's mostly just happy hours and ‘stop by and have some drinks while I play some cool music.’ So social media events really help get the word out.
DC: I honestly hate that you have to self promote these days, but no one does anything other than use Facebook and Instagram.
GT: Yes, unfortunately you have to use it.
DC: Any shout outs?
GT: Shout out Pure Heel. They've allowed me to open up some of their sets. Governess/Death Trip Idols, who also let me open some of their shows.
DC: Oh shit, that's cool.
GT: Ah. All the venues that I've done. Thank you for letting me do that, and people that hired me for weddings; it was an honor. Shout out to Bob the record guy. Western New York Vinyl Collective. Timeless Babez.
DC: Oh, what are your social media accounts? So people can find you.
GT: On Instagram, I’ll be under Grimesgoodies and on Facebook, just Grime Time. Go give me a follow, and you can see the stuff I play. Also check me out on spotify to hear some of my playlists. I’m grimetime666 on spotify. I’m also on discogs. Go find me on the internet.
DC: Do you have any last words, rants or questions that you wanted me to ask you?
GT: Go Bills.
DC: Go Bills. OK, that's it. Alright. Thank you so much.
GrimeTime: Hey, I'm Grime Time, I DJ at a lot of local bars and venues.
DC: Alright. How did you get into that?
GT: I started DJing about five years ago when I was asked to DJ at Music Is Art by some of the people in the Western New York Vinyl Collective Facebook group.
DC: That's pretty cool. So, you did it once, and then you just decided that this is what you want to do?
GT: So yeah, I started doing it. That was my first time. It turned out it was pretty fun. I got my own set up and started doing it ever since on my own.
DC: And what do you play?
GT: I do metal nights, punk nights, or mix of both. Mostly. Some places want me to do rock'n'roll, which is fine too.
DC: I did hear a rumor that you have done Taylor Swift nights.
GT: I have done a couple Taylor Swift nights and they were pretty successful.
DC: And what is your favorite thing to do?
GT: I would prefer to do metal nights if the places will allow it.
DC: And what are you listening to right now? Like what are your what are your preferences on music?
GT: I listen to mostly metal right now. Like especially Midnight, Wraith, Hellripper, The Good, The Bad, The Zugly, Hellacopters, some punk bands, I'm always with the Dead Boys.
DC: Mm-hmm.
GT: Johnny Thunders. The New York Dolls. GG Allin, shout out GG.
DC: Oh, the one guy from the New York Dolls just died. RIP. Let's see. I got a good one. What are your favorite things about Buffalo?
GT: Um, that's a good question. The bars, the karaoke, lots of familiar faces, and the people are probably the best part.
DC: The people?
GT: Yeah, just the same people go to the same things and you get to know of everybody and...
DC: So it's a community.
GT: It's yeah, community. It's a small town.
DC: It is a small town. It's way too small. Everybody knows everybody.
GT: Yeah, that's the best part.
DC: That's the best part. I think it's the worst part. What is your biggest achievement this far?
GT: The biggest events for me I got to open with a DJ set for Midnight, when they came to Rochester, which one of my favorite bands. I also then became friends with their guitar player or ex-guitar player, Vanek and he had me DJ one of his side projects in Ohio., Vandalist, which was a lot of fun. And I've done a couple of people's weddings, which is an honor. Oh yeah, I was also in a Revolver Records commercial, DJing in the background, which was pretty cool.
DC: That's always fun. Weddings are always fun.
GT: Yeah, that's my answer. Fun.
DC: Do you play like, do you just play metal and punk at these weddings or are you going all out?
GT: The one wedding they helped make the playlist. Another wedding, I got to kind of do my thing.
DC: That's pretty sweet. Do you have anything coming up?
GT: I don't really have anything on the books right now.
DC: Oh shit, really?
GT: No.
DC: Uh, sorry. Didn’t you just recently DJ at the Revolution Art Gallery, right?
GT: Yeah. Revolution Art Gallery, I DJ every so often. Once a month or every other month.
DC: What is the most rewarding part of this?
GT: Getting paid is the best part, but also...
DC: Hell yeah.
GT: I like to introduce people to new music, make people listen to what I listen to.
DC: And they ask you, like, who's this artist? Who's this band?
GT: Yeah, all the time. All the time people ask about who I was just playing and I'm happy to spread the word.
DC: So what you're saying is you're not a gatekeeper?
GT: No, I'm a gate opener.
DC: That's right. Do you have a favorite location in Western New York to DJ or just anywhere you can go?
GT: Yeah, I have DJ’d... I'll just list the places I've done. Mohawk Place, Hot Mamas Canteen. Milkies. Misuta chows, uh. OSB cider works. The soup.
DC: Oh, the soup. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
GT: I did the Boys and Girls Club. Uhh.. Big Ditch Gallery. Timeless Babez!
DC: What are you see in your future? Is this what you... do you want to stay local?
GT: Yeah, like I'm content with what I'm doing now. Just a small gigs around the city and a few private events here or there.
DC: Wait, wait, wait. Where did you get the name Grime Time from?
GT; It's been around since before I started DJing. Something that me and my friend used to jokingly call each other and it's stuck. Stuck with me.
DC: So, are you grimey???
GT: A little grimey sometimes.
DC: What do you think about the social media self promotion culture?
GT: It's pretty important for people like me to advertise because I'm not doing such big events where required to make flyers for all around the city. It's mostly just happy hours and ‘stop by and have some drinks while I play some cool music.’ So social media events really help get the word out.
DC: I honestly hate that you have to self promote these days, but no one does anything other than use Facebook and Instagram.
GT: Yes, unfortunately you have to use it.
DC: Any shout outs?
GT: Shout out Pure Heel. They've allowed me to open up some of their sets. Governess/Death Trip Idols, who also let me open some of their shows.
DC: Oh shit, that's cool.
GT: Ah. All the venues that I've done. Thank you for letting me do that, and people that hired me for weddings; it was an honor. Shout out to Bob the record guy. Western New York Vinyl Collective. Timeless Babez.
DC: Oh, what are your social media accounts? So people can find you.
GT: On Instagram, I’ll be under Grimesgoodies and on Facebook, just Grime Time. Go give me a follow, and you can see the stuff I play. Also check me out on spotify to hear some of my playlists. I’m grimetime666 on spotify. I’m also on discogs. Go find me on the internet.
DC: Do you have any last words, rants or questions that you wanted me to ask you?
GT: Go Bills.
DC: Go Bills. OK, that's it. Alright. Thank you so much.