Indie

Mt. Joy brings their memorable and joyous 10 year celebration to the shores of Cleveland. People stretched across the parking lot, waiting in line for Jacob’s Pavillion. The line buzzed with excitement for Mt.Joy’s show that evening. Clevelander’s couldn’t have asked for better weather, the sun beginning to set against the city skyline. The Pavillion was already packed with people inside and out. Being situated on the edge of the river, people showed up in boats, paddleboard

On May 27, the Music Hall of Williamsburg was full of energy from the second the night started, and honestly, the entire performance was carried so well by Em Beihold herself. The crowd was clearly excited to see her, and you could feel it throughout the entire venue. Everybody was singing along, cheering loudly after every song, and matching Em’s energy the entire night. It never felt dull for even a second.

The soulful songstress Bailey Hyneman shared with us the songwriting process for “Better Days”, musical collaborations she would love and more. Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Bailey Hyneman photographed by Lulu Shing It is not often that one can stumble across a song that states “not all bad days have silver linings” but feel a sense of joy while listening to it. “Better Days” by Bailey Hyneman portrays life perfectly, allowing a bad day to be a bad day but knowing tha

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano It seems that artists don’t always have the monthly listeners that are equivalent to their talent. This is the case for Josceppi. ‘Chämeleon’ is a wonderful piece of storytelling that has the potential to grab the attention of many new listeners. While starting the listening journey it was clear that this was intentionally crafted and Josceppi as an artist has a clear direction. The alternative pop rock meets classic rockstar feel is a de

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

West 22nd made a stop at Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland on the tail end of their ‘to be or not to be” tour. The group was originally going to play at the 148-capacity Beachland Tavern, but due to high demand, they moved to the larger stage. Despite the cold and rainy spring weather in Cleveland, Beachland was warm and inviting. The crowd was buzzing with excitement and was ready to make some memories.

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 Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt & Ilana Bornstein Some bands come together through industry connections. Others start because a group of friends simply never stopped playing music together. For Chicago-based alternative pop band Flwers, it’s the second story. SoundCheck first discovered Flwers the same way a lot of fans did lately… scrolling through TikTok. Between honest lyrics, hook-heavy melodies, and videos that felt more like friends sharing music than a careful

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.

There's a phrase Lily Forte stumbled across while researching lily flowers, a deep dive that started, she'll tell you, because she couldn't decide whether to self-title her debut album. Don't gild the lily. It means, roughly, that beauty isn't found in excess. That adding to something already whole only diminishes it. The moment she found it, the album had a name. And more than that, it had a through line.

Released today, High & Sad is the kind of song that doesn't announce itself; it just finds you. Franklin Jonas and The Byzantines have crafted something that exists in the in-between: not quite a ballad, not quite a confessional, but somewhere more honest than either.

Article Contributed By Monica Soriano Photos Provided by UMG / Nick Walker Recently, SoundCheck had the opportunity to attend Iris Copperman’s showcase in which sang a few of her songs live. We were pleasantly surprised by her ability to convey strong emotion while telling a story. With the release of “Struggle Bus” earlier this year and at just 14 years old, Iris became one of our artists to watch. Today, we are so happy to follow her as she embarks on this journey. We had t

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 Rebecca McDevitt Photo Provided by Spotify Die To Fall is The Maine’s first release off their upcoming record Joy Next Door, and it already feels like a song made to be shared. It has that indie alternative glow to it, but with a beat you can still move to. The kind of song that turns into a group scream at a summer show, arms thrown over each other’s shoulders, yelling “I feel alive” like you mean it. There’s something really freeing about it. It feels

The Wishbone Tour transformed Prudential Center into a haven for Sad Internet Teens and the stories that shaped them. Article & Photography Contributed by Miranda Wyman On February 27, Conan Gray brought the Wishbone Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark and from the moment the doors opened, it was clear this would not be just another pop concert. Before the show even started, the “Conehead” community inside the arena was impossible to ignore. Fans gathered in front of the

On the first warm night in months, Philadelphia showed up loud for a lineup that proved the local scene is thriving. Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt & Devin McDevitt Moonroof performing at Underground Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Rebecca McDevitt. IG: @ rebeccajeanlimitedphotography There is something about the first warm night in Philadelphia that feels like permission to breathe again. The snow was melting into the sidewalks. People lingered outside instead of

Photo by Sasha Camacho Article Contributed by Fernando Flores Lexa Gates’s “I Am” unfolds like a conversation you don’t rush through. It’s an album that takes its time not because it’s unsure of itself but because it understands that self-definition isn’t something you arrive at all at once. This project moves with patience and purpose; tracing the quiet evolution of someone learning how to live inside their own truth. It doesn’t posture or over-explain. It simply exists con

On asking the hard questions, embracing chaos, and writing in real time. Article Contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Asha Banks shot by Louise Browne For Asha Banks, reflection isn’t something that happens neatly after the fact — it’s an active, ongoing state. That instinct sits at the heart of How Real Was It?, her debut EP released last November via Island Records, shaping both the emotional arc of the project and the way she speaks about her creative life overall. Rath

Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Fourteen years ago, Mike Schiavo was performing in a small pizza shop in New Jersey, the kind of venue where the stage feels temporary but the ambition does not. Backed by members of Aaron Carter’s former touring band, the show carried an odd duality: hyper-local grit paired with a glimpse of something bigger. Even then, Schiavo sang like someone already imagining Los Angeles. Mike Schiavo performing at Luna's pizza in 2012 with a local