

ANNIVERSARY TOURS ARE REDEFINING LIVE MUSIC'S FUTURE
By: Arielle Johnson Why classic albums from the emo, post-hardcore, and metalcore boom are drawing some of the biggest crowds in rock. For decades, anniversary tours were largely reserved for classic rock legends revisiting landmark records. Today, the format has become one of the most powerful forces in alternative music. Across the country, bands from the emo, post-hardcore, punk, and metalcore worlds are finding enormous success by celebrating beloved albums in their entir
Jun 11


HARDCORE'S MAINSTREAM MOMENT IS NO LONGER A FUTURE POSSIBILITY—IT'S HAPPENING NOW
By Arielle Johnson Festival bookings, viral exposure, and crossover appeal are reshaping one of underground music's most resilient communities. For decades, hardcore existed as one of music's most fiercely independent subcultures. Built on DIY ethics, intimate venues, and community-driven values, the genre rarely sought mainstream validation. Today, however, hardcore finds itself in an unfamiliar position: at the center of one of heavy music's most significant cultural shifts
Jun 6


UNDEROATH'S ANNIVERSARY TOUR HIGHLIGHTS METALCORE'S NOSTALGIA BOOM
By: Arielle Johnson Nostalgia remains one of the most powerful forces in live music, and few genres have embraced it more enthusiastically than metalcore. The latest example comes from Underoath, who recently announced a major anniversary tour celebrating one of the defining eras of their career. Joined by August Burns Red and Atreyu on select dates, the run promises to deliver a concentrated dose of early-2000s heavy music history. For fans who came of age during the height
Jun 2


NORTH CAROLINA'S ALTERNATIVE MUSIC BOOM IS TURNING THE STATE INTO A MUSIC DESTINATION
By: Arielle Johnson From thriving independent venues to major festival draws, North Carolina's music ecosystem is attracting attention far beyond its borders. For years, North Carolina has occupied a unique space in American music culture. The state has long produced influential artists across folk, indie rock, bluegrass, punk, and hip-hop, yet it often existed just outside the national spotlight reserved for music hubs like Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles, and New York. That
May 28


TOP RELEASES (ALBUMS/EPS): January - April 2026
If you are so stuck on your same emo playlist from 2008 that you can't shake out of it, here's some recommendations to bring new, and familiar, sounds to your ears. We're going by GENERAL GENRES here folks. There's so many words to describe the music that these artists make but around here, we're sticking to the basics (mostly because I can't keep up with all of the subgenres properly). If you are offended by how I categorized your favorite band, correction will be accepted i
Apr 14


Music Festival Lineups - 2026
Picture this: you're tying up your converse, loading your arms with bracelets, packing your backpack... don't forget sunscreen. Your youthful body is gearing up for several days of wear and tear. You show up, and it's all worth it. Consecutive days of sweat, tears, yelling at the top of your lungs, spending way too much money on merch, trying to catch sets that overlap. In the end you saw bands you've never heard of, those you have been listening to since the beginning, and
Apr 11


Newly Released - April 2026
New releases just dropped and we can't wait for you to hear them! Here's a recap of what's new in the alternative music scene through April 11, 2026. Check out our playlist below and then tell us which one you've had on repeat!
Apr 10


NEW TOUR ANNOUNCED: The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta have announced select shows that will see them playing material from throughout their 25 year career. Are they coming to your city? Grab your tickets here: https://www.themarsvoltaofficial.com/live Sept 8 @ Ventura Theater Ventura, CA Sept 9 @ La Rosa Tucson, AZ Sept 10 @ Abraham Chavez Theatre El Paso, TX Sept 12 @ Alamodome San Antonio, TX (special guest at My Chemical Romance) Sept 15 @ Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC Sept 16 @ Charleston Music Hall Charl
Apr 7


Top 25 Turning 25 (in 2026)
Burned CDs, cryptic AIM away messages, and the emotional damage of a perfectly screamed chorus. Somehow, songs, bands, and albums that taught us how to feel everything all at once—are turning 25. Here's a look back into the beautifully chaotic, eyeliner-smudged world where alternative music wasn’t just something you listened to—it was who you were. So lace up your worn-out Vans, queue up that angst, and let’s revisit the top 25 moments in music from 2001. Newly Formed Bands S
Apr 1