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Pop Punk


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
1 day ago


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
6 days ago


Plain White T’s vs. We The Kings: The Battle of Delilah and Juliet
Photo by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @rebeccajeanlimitedphotography ) Article & Photos Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt If you grew up blasting pop punk on your iPod Nano, this tour was basically therapy. The Delilah vs. Juliet Tour brought two fan-favorite names, Plain White T’s and We The Kings, together for a night that felt like Warped Tour 2010 all over again. And with Emo Nite setting the tone, the nostalgia levels were off the charts. We The Kings hit the stage first and hone

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 6


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


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


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


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


Marianas Trench at the Wellmont Theater: A Theatrical Storm of Sound and Emotion
Photo by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @rebeccajeanlimitedphotography ) Montclair, NJ — October 5, 2025 Photos and Show Review by Rebecca...

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 7


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


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


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


Motherfolk’s Eternal Joy Lights Up Mahall’s
Going to a show at Mahall’s in Lakewood, OH, feels like stepping back into a basement gig in the best possible way. The neon lights, exposed ceilings, patterned paint, and low-lit stage created a nostalgic backdrop for a night where fans stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the artists. Motherfolk turned the cozy room into something bigger—raw emotion, pure joy, and plenty of dancing.
Madison Cozzens
Sep 16


Quinn XCII Crowned Hometown Hero in Sterling Heights
On September 12, 2025, Quinn XCII turned the Michigan Lottery Amphitheater into a hometown celebration, with a crowd that felt less like strangers and more like family invited to the biggest backyard party in Sterling Heights.

LJ Portnoy
Sep 13
Long Live The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance’s Long Live the Black Parade was the anniversary tour of the summer. The band embarked on a brief run, playing The Black Parade in its entirety, following their full album performance at last year's When We Were Young Festival.
Konstantina Buhalis
Sep 11


Philly Was Just a Kid Again with Simple Plan
On a late-summer Saturday night, the Skyline Stage at The Mann transformed into a time machine. Thousands of fans gathered under the Philly sky, ready to scream, laugh, and maybe even cry with Simple Plan. By the end of the night, one thing was clear: Philly was just a kid again.

Rebecca McDevitt
Sep 3


JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown Tour
Article by Rebecca McDevitt, Contributions by Annie Gallo Photos by Annie Gallo & Rebecca McDevitt Bristow, Virginia • Virginia Beach,...

SoundCheck Team
Aug 23


Philly’s Modern Culture Makes MilkBoy Feel Like Home
If you’ve been paying attention to Philly’s alternative scene, you’ve probably heard the name Modern Culture floating around. The...

Rebecca McDevitt
Aug 13


SoundCheck Session: Livingston - July/August Featured Artist Interview
Livingston opened up about everything from navigating grief and identity to the wildest moments on tour—and let’s just say, you’re going to want to watch this one all the way through.
Check out our exclusive video interview below, and keep scrolling for the full conversation.

LJ Portnoy
Aug 7


The Break Plans Bring the Poptimism to Philly
MilkBoy – July 25, 2025 Photos & Review by Rebecca McDevitt You know that feeling when a band you just discovered ends up blowing you...

Rebecca McDevitt
Jul 27


BILMURI CRANKS HARD AT THE FILLMORE PHILLY
Review and Photos by Rebecca McDevitt The Fillmore, Philadelphia – July 18, 2025 Sweat, Sax, and Shoeys: A Night of Pure Chaos If The...

Rebecca McDevitt
Jul 21
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