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Alternative Music


Charlotte Sands: “one eye open” - The Bold Single Leading The Way For Her New Album
Charlotte Sands expresses her personal feelings through her latest single, “one eye open.”
The single “one eye open,” by Charlotte Sands, is a gloomy escape to freedom in which she paints a clear picture of her feelings through her lyricism. The song sounds almost dreamlike with somber undertones and a release of emotions through Charlotte's vocals. It is a direct focus on the anxiety experienced in an unhealthy relationship, being told directly from Charlotte’s perspectiv

Monica Soriano
Jan 12


From Counterculture to Charts: How Alternative Music Became Mainstream
What is popular today in 2025 wasn’t always favored in the 80s. In fact, what is considered popular today is something that was created as a counter to mainstream music back then. That’s right, alternative music has in fact made its way into the everyday listening experience. Alternative music is not just an umbrella term for eccentric genres, but it is also a form of rebellion that was expressed through music in the beginning of its conception.

Monica Soriano
Jan 2


Cassadee Pope Live at The Loft: An Acoustic Night of Nostalgia, Humor, and Honesty
Cassadee Pope’s acoustic set at The Loft at City Winery in Philadelphia proved that a stripped-down show can sometimes hit the hardest. With just her guitar, her voice, and a room full of fans, she created a night that felt intimate, warm, and disarmingly honest. Cassadee Pope performing at City Winery in Philadelphia, PA - Photo by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @rebeccajeanlimitedphotography ) She wasted no time diving into nostalgia, pulling out Hey Monday classics like “Homecoming

Rebecca McDevitt
Dec 8, 2025


Young Culture Turned Ukie Club Into a Full-Blown Fever Dream on Their Farewell Tour
There’s a different kind of energy when a band is playing their last run of shows. It’s louder. Softer. Heavier. Lighter. Everything all at once. And Young Culture’s stop in Philly carried that exact emotional whiplash in the most beautiful way. Young Culture performing at Ukie Club in Philadelphia, PA on their farewell tour. Photo by Kayleena Ayusa (IG: @ayusa_media ) Ukie Club was already hyped before the first note of the first band. The openers Bike Routes & Wakelee had t

SoundCheck Team
Dec 4, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: Set It Off - Set it Off
Article Contributed by Konstantina Buhalis Set It Off has been a major player in the rock and alternative scene since 2008, when they gained notoriety through their YouTube channel, eventually signing to Equal Vision Records and then Fearless Records. In the last year, Set It Off went independent and released their latest self-titled album on November 7, featuring Rock and Nu-Metal influences. Dopamine Era In 2023, Set It Off left Fearless Records and began what they called t
Konstantina Buhalis
Nov 29, 2025


EP REVIEW: Blissed Out - Broadside
Broadside has been teasing us with pieces of Blissed Out for months and now that the full EP is here, it feels like the complete picture finally arrived. It is emotional. It is catchy. It is honest in that way Broadside fans love. They kicked things off back in April with “I Think They Know,” a song that puts every overthinker right in their feelings.

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 22, 2025


First Listen: Leyla Ebrahimi Expands the Edges of Indie Alt-Pop with “i don’t like being left behind”
“i don’t like being left behind” opens in swirls and spirals, an ambient wash of synths that feel almost video game–esque. It is dreamy and atmospheric, yet it carries a pulse that instantly catches your attention. Leyla Ebrahimi’s voice enters with a softness that glows against the production. Even in these early moments, the track makes its intentions clear. This is indie alternative at its core, but it welcomes pop influences with open arms.

LJ Portnoy
Nov 20, 2025


Twenty Years Later and Still Here: Mayday Parade & All Time Low Live in Detroit
Some bands have been here for most of your life. Others have been here longer than you have even been alive. Mayday Parade has been a band for twenty years. All Time Low has been a band for twenty two. The crowd reflected that timeline in full. Some people first heard these songs on burned CDs and shared iPods. Others found them on streaming years later. Different ages, different entry points, but everyone already knew the words.
This wasn’t nostalgia. This was continuity.

LJ Portnoy
Nov 5, 2025


Arcy Drive Brings ‘Attic Rock’ to the Main Stage
On October 28th, anyone driving through the Waterloo Arts District of Cleveland would see a line of people waiting to get into the Beachland Ballroom. The crowd was there for the self-proclaimed “attic rock” band, Arcy Drive. The venue was covered in stickers and flyers, with graffiti all over the bathroom and neon signs at the bar – It was the perfect setting to rock the night away.
Madison Cozzens
Nov 3, 2025


Calliope Wren: The Craft is in the Muse
Photo by Fernando Flores (IG: @fernandofloresphotography ) Article & Photos Contributed by Fernando Flores When Calliope Wren walks on stage, the atmosphere changes. There’s an energy that's magnetic, untamed, and beautifully deliberate. Her performances aren’t just performances, they have an otherworldly pull that takes you into orbit. Long Island-based singer Calliope Wren has set herself up to carve out her own lane in a music world that often tries to define women before

Fernando Flores
Oct 28, 2025


Why Your Favorite Artists Need You to Buy, Not Just Stream
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Streaming has made music feel endless. Millions of songs at your fingertips, playlists that update overnight, and the ability to dive into a new artist’s world in seconds. It’s convenient, sure. But here’s the truth: streaming is more like renting than owning. And if we really want to support the artists we love, buying their music still matters, maybe more than ever. Buying Gives Artists What Streaming Can’t When you hit play on Spoti

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 21, 2025


Alex Ray Gets Real on Messy
Alex Ray’s Messy is a short, sharp burst of pop-alt emotion, five songs, twelve minutes, and zero filler. It’s a snapshot of chaos polished just enough to shine, but not so much that it loses its edge. Every track feels like an intentional contradiction: raw yet refined, vulnerable yet self-possessed.

LJ Portnoy
Oct 18, 2025


Twenty One Pilots: The Legends That Live On
Photo by Fernando Flores (IG: @fernandofloresphotography ) Review & Photos Contributed by Fernando Flores October 4, 2025 Wantagh, NY The Global Reach Twenty One Pilots has thrived on blending narrative, symbolism, and emotional transparency. Through their music, they’ve built a cinematic world that has opened the eyes of fans all around the globe. Fans that still hold their early cult classics close to heart such as one of my close favorites, “Jumpsuit” which was part of the

Fernando Flores
Oct 16, 2025


Calliope Wren Channels Goddess Energy on Debut EP Fade and Wither
The Long Island alt-rock siren celebrates with a ritual-themed release show at Amityville Music Hall. Press materials courtesy of Jocelyn...

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 6, 2025


From Chaos to Command: Starcrawler and Garbage Deliver a Night to Remember
Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (IG: @blacksheepimagery ) Review & Photos Contributed by Ernesto Raul Aguilar Revisions by Rebecca McDevitt...

Ernesto Raul Aguilar
Oct 4, 2025


MARINA, The Queen has Returned!
Four years after releasing her fifth album, “Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land” MARINA creates a strong comeback with the release of “Princess of Power.” After the announcement of the U.S. tour, longtime fans swell with excitement, eager to welcome MARINA back to the stage after years of not touring.

Fernando Flores
Sep 30, 2025


Free at Last: Kid Cudi’s Leap Into Pop
Kid Cudi’s legacy extends to the 2010s, when his hit track “Day n’ Night” first premiered in 2009 (we all remember the DirecTV commercial that used the song on the Help channel). Since then, Kid Cudi has become a household name, releasing music and starring in films like X and Happy Gilmore 2.
Konstantina Buhalis
Sep 28, 2025


Cartel’s Chroma Turns 20: Detroit Sings Every Word
Marking the 20th anniversary of their seminal debut Chroma, Cartel took Detroit back to 2005 with a front-to-back play through that had fans hanging on every note.

LJ Portnoy
Sep 25, 2025


Peach Pit Bring Surf-Rock Sunshine to Cleveland
Peach Pit wasted no time in making their entrance unforgettable. They launched with a tongue-in-cheek cover of “War Pigs” before blending seamlessly into “Magpie,” the title track from their latest album.
Madison Cozzens
Sep 24, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: Twenty One Pilots - Breach
Twenty One Pilots have never just released albums, but they’ve ALWAYS built worlds. With Breach, the duo officially closes the book on the Blurryface saga, giving fans a powerful final chapter that feels both nostalgic and brand new.

Rebecca McDevitt
Sep 21, 2025
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