Rock

These are 10 incredibly talented breakout artists to keep your eye on and start listening to next to add to your roster of new artists/bands to follow. These are SoundCheck's top 10 biggest breakouts of 2026.

On the anniversary tour, Train celebrated the album that defined a generation while reminding fans why its songs still resonate today.

Article and Photos Contributed By Ernesto Raul Aguilar A Tuesday night at The Salt Shed began with a room that appeared as though it might take its time filling in. Before Dawes took the stage, the crowd was surprisingly sparse, but within minutes the venue transformed into a packed house. What started as a scattered audience quickly became a sea of eager concertgoers, ready for an evening that would blend thoughtful songwriting and blues-infused rock. Dawes may have opened t

The Issaquah rock icons celebrated their Pacific Northwest roots with deep cuts, new music, and a heartfelt hometown performance at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Article & Photos by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Modest Mouse performing at 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA. Photography by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff (@vanezasnaps on IG). There’s always something almost tangibly different about a homecoming show. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Modest Mouse proved exactly why during the

Analog Antics fill the screen in the new music video Photo: Max Christiansen Devon Again Introduces Herself to the World Devon Again, the stage name of the rising country-pop artist Devon Johanningmeier, has hit the world stage after a 2020 TikTok video in which she freestyled over a polka beat and went viral. From there, label meetings became routine, and she eventually met with Cameron Hale, who helped produce Johanningmeier’s first hit, Suburbia. Now, four years later, Joh

The Legacy of East Coast Pop-Punk and Emo Lives On Turn Two band photographed | Photography by Steph Cincinnatti (IG: @ohiosteph3) Article Contributed by Konstantina Buhalis Turn Two, one of New Jersey’s latest bands, has been taking the Pop-Punk world by storm with their sound, melding the classic 2000s sound with modern touches. SoundCheck sat down with Shane Maziekien to talk about the formation of Turn Two, Third-Wave Emo, and how they developed their sound. Turn Two’s En

Still Blank's Still Blank (Deluxe) Is a Genre-Swirling Journey Between Awake and Asleep.

Single Review: The Tampa alternative pop-rock band, Pretty Pity, delivers a hook-filled ode to chemistry, temptation, and living for the night.

More than a decade after stepping away, The Cab returned to Philadelphia with a night full of unforgettable songs, surprising covers, and a crowd that never forgot a single lyric. Article & Photos Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt The Cab performing at the TLA in Philadelphia, PA | Photography by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @rebeccajeanlimitedphotography) Since forming in Las Vegas in 2004, The Cab built a loyal following in the pop rock scene, blending infectious hooks with heartfel

The Swedish doom metal trio and Portland's Mizmor transformed Substation into a space for reflection, immersion, and overwhelming sound. Article & Photos by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Monolord performing at Substation in Seattle, WA. Photography by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff (@vanezasnaps on IG). Heavy music is often misunderstood. For those unfamiliar with doom metal and its many neighboring subgenres, the expectation might be one of chaos: constant movement, shouted lyrics, and

Dexter and the Moonrocks Turn Cleveland into a Grunge Rock Oasis Article and Photos Contributed by Madison Cozzens Dexter and the Moonrocks is reaching further than they ever thought possible. With a #1 song on the alternative charts and sold-out shows, anyone can see they are gaining traction. The group came to Cleveland on the tail end of their “The Donkey Flats” tour. The show sold out weeks before the performance, and fans lined up outside Globe Iron in hopes of getting c

Article and Photos Contributed by Ernesto Raul Aguilar Lords of Acid performing at 191 Toole in Tucson, AZ on the Cheeky Freaky Tour. Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (IG: @blacksheepimagery) The walls of 191 Toole pulsed with industrial beats, electro chaos, and unapologetic theatrics as The Cheeky Freaky Tour stormed through Tucson. Headlined by legendary provocateurs Lords of Acid and backed by an eclectic lineup that ranged from glam-pop spectacle to dark wave intensity, the

Photos and Article Contributed By Ernesto Raul Aguilar On the second night at a packed House of Blues in Chicago, opening artist Sundots took the stage. From the outset, the room was shoulder-to-shoulder and fully engaged, less a passive early crowd and more a group that had arrived with intent. Sundots performing at House of Blues in Chicago, IL. Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (@blacksheepimagery on IG.) That connection made itself clear almost immediately. Between songs, sho

Article and Photos Contributed by Ernesto Raul Aguilar The Afterglow Tour with Bob Moses, joined by Cannons and opening act Oxis, arrived at The Salt Shed in Chicago on April 22 and delivered a night defined by atmosphere, pacing, and cohesion. The show unfolded with intention, each set flowing seamlessly into the next and shaping a larger emotional arc. It was a lineup that fully embraced mood and immersion, drawing the crowd in from the very beginning. Bob Moses performing

Article and Photos Contributed by Hannah Hampton The Philadelphia stop of Age of Madness’ “Mount Olympus Tour” felt less like a typical rock show and more like a carefully staged collision between theater and live music. This performance carried an energy that was both intimate and charged, with a dedicated fan base that arrived ready to participate! Age of Madness performing at The Foundry in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Hannah Hampton (IG: @hannahmaryhampton) Age of Madness

It was a cold Monday night in Cleveland, but that didn’t stop fans from turning out for The Last Dinner Party. The Agora Theater was packed to the brim with people ready for a magical and joyful evening. The venue looked like a Renaissance fair filled with lace, long skirts, corsets, and flowing sleeves. The stage design matched the Renaissance aura with large arches, a bell tower, and flowing curtains. The mood was set, the crowd was excited, and it was time for the show to

In an era of genre blending and algorithm driven listening, a new artist is stepping confidently into the glow of Tumblr era pop and its cultural revival. Sdoku creates music for the whimsical moments in this chaotic life. Through shimmering synth lines, jangle guitars, and punchy drum machines, he builds soundscapes that reflect both the accessibility and emotional immediacy of music in the digital age.

From Warped Tour memories to a crowd-immersed finale, the band bridges past and present in Seattle. Article & Photos by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff On that typical drizzly Tuesday night in Seattle, El Corazon was packed with a crowd nearly going out the door. Emo fans spanning generations gathered, filling every corner of the darkly lit venue, shouting lyrics, hands held high in the air, singing their hearts out to songs rushing back as if it were still 2006, the album spinning

The trio discuss friendship, folk influences, and the collaboration behind their new album. Article contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Photos contributed by UMG 1824 Nathan Evans and the Glasgow brother duo SAINT PHNX — Stevie and Alan Jukes — have joined forces for Angels’ Share, a collaborative album that blends Scottish folk tradition with modern, hook-driven energy. When we spoke with the trio, their chemistry was unmistakable — the kind that comes from deep friendsh

Article Contributed by Konstantina Buhalis Michigan metalcore heroes, Of Virtue, hit the ground running with their latest single, “Death Of The Altar”, an intense and emotional look at their innerworlds, and their battles with their demons. Midwestern politeness is nowhere to be found on this track, but Michiganian truth flows through the track. Photo: Alexander Bemis Power in Collaboration “Death Of The Altar” was written in partnership with Lee Albrecht (Bilmuri, The Devil