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Pop Punk


Welcome to Hyrule Castle: The Drive Home's Backyard EP Release Show
The Drive Home — Where Do You Belong? EP Release Party — May 30, 2026

LJ Portnoy
3 days ago


Boys Like Girls Brought the Soundtrack of a Generation Back to Life in Anaheim
With booming sing-alongs, flickering box TVs, and emotional callbacks to their earliest records, Boys Like Girls delivered the ultimate pop-rock time machine.
Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff
May 11


The Academy Is… A Time Capsule in Motion
Almost Here’s 20th anniversary tour shone as a living, breathing love letter to the 2000s. Article & Photos by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff There are shows that feel like concerts, and then there are shows that feel like stepping through a wormhole in time. The Academy Is…’s Almost Here 20th Anniversary tour landed firmly in the latter, pulling the crowd headfirst into the glittering, angst-laced heartbeat of the mid-2000s and refusing to let go. The Academy Is… performing at Em
Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff
Apr 28


Philly Chose The Maine and Showed Up to Prove It
Article & Photos contributed by Rebecca McDevitt If you have never seen The Maine live, Friday night at Franklin Music Hall would have been the perfect introduction. The five-piece rock band out of Tempe, Arizona have been at this since 2007, eighteen years and ten studio albums deep, and they perform like a band that genuinely cannot believe they still get to do this. Their latest record, Joy Next Door, dropped just last week and they brought it straight to the road with the

Rebecca McDevitt
Apr 18


Dead Wrong Lay It All Out on Debut Full-Length Album “The Extent”
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Dead Wrong photographed in Philadelphia, PA - Photo by Chris Lopez (IG: @ chrislopezest89 ) Philadelphia has never had a shortage of bands willing to wear their hearts on their sleeves. It's practically a city requirement. But Dead Wrong, the four-piece pop-punk outfit made up of Matt McKay, Stephen Morrell, Roberto Marcial, and Dan Fedele, do something a little more specific than just feeling things loudly. On their debut full-length T

Rebecca McDevitt
Apr 4


Kira Lise - The TikTok Star’s Latest Single “Ignorance Is Bliss” and Managing Anxiety
Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Photos Provided by Perk Agency The world of music is ever changing, no one would imagine 30 years ago that artists would become easily accessible through a hand held device. That is where we are today, we live in a time where artists can open doors for themselves and engage with potential fans on social media. The internet is powerful, we have seen labels and performers shift their marketing to become more appealing to their target audien

Monica Soriano
Mar 15


Landon Conrath Brings the First Sold-Out Stop of His Tour to MilkBoy In Philly
Philadelphia hosted the first sold-out show of Landon Conrath’s current tour Friday night at MilkBoy, and the city absolutely showed up for it.
The second you walked into the room, you could tell it was going to be one of those nights. MilkBoy was packed. No photo pit, photographers wedged into the crowd with everyone else, and within minutes the whole place felt warm and shoulder-to-shoulder.

Rebecca McDevitt
Mar 7


HOT TAKE: Nostalgia Isn’t the Problem, Staying There Is
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Let’s say the quiet part out loud. The reason so many artists are living off nostalgia instead of putting out new music isn’t just an industry problem. Fans play a role too. Across the industry, nostalgia has become the safest option. Anniversary tours sell out instantly. Full album playthroughs move merch. Entire festivals are built around who we listened to in high school. It works because nostalgia is powerful and comforting, especia

Rebecca McDevitt
Mar 6


Cold Outside, Chaos Inside: Bryce Vine Ignites El Club in a Detroit Blizzard
There is always something in the air when we find ourselves at El Club. Maybe it is the intimacy of the space. Maybe it is the way Detroit weather insists on being theatrical. On Saturday, February 28, 2026, winter decided to put on a show of its own, whipping up a full blizzard with icy rain slicing through the city. It did not matter. Bryce Vine brought his Let’s Do Something Stupid Tour to town, and Detroit showed up hungry.

LJ Portnoy
Mar 3


Momentum Meets Hometown: Moonroof at Underground Arts
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

Rebecca McDevitt
Mar 1


MGK Times of My Life Release: The Release of a Fan Favorite
Article Contributed by Konstantina Buhalis MGK has been a poster boy of the alternative and rap scene for the last decade, with 2020 making him a household name after the release of Tickets to My Downfall. Six years later, MGK is back with a single and music video for “Times of My Life,” off the album lost americana, to fan excitement. Photo: Sam Cahill Times of My Life Lore Fans have been patiently waiting for the official release of Times of My Life, which had been locked
Konstantina Buhalis
Feb 27


Small Stage, Loud Dreams: Why Showing Up For Your Local Bands Matters
Article & Photos Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt On February 21st at MilkBoy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about fifty people gathered to watch Modern Culture, Sleep Cycles, and June Divided share a stage. Fifty people. Not sold out. Not empty. Just enough to feel real. Sleep Cycles performing at Milkboy in Philadelphia, PA. Photo Provided by Rebecca McDevitt IG: (@ rebeccajealimitedphotography ) The room was warm, loud, relaxed, and there was not a single phone in sight. Y

Rebecca McDevitt
Feb 22


Producer Highlight: How Blackbear Built His Own Sound
Blackbear has created his space within the music industry through diving into different genres, collaborating with diverse artists, and musically expressing his journey through life.
He started releasing projects under this name and creating a buzz through his alternative sound. He later transitioned into the artist he is today - Blackbear.

Monica Soriano
Feb 20


Motion City Soundtrack & Say Anything Bring Nostalgia Roaring Back to Life
The Fillmore Detroit has a way of making every show feel larger than itself, and on February 10, it became the gathering place for fans of Motion City Soundtrack, many of whom had carried these songs with them for years. Its towering ceilings and ornate gold detailing framed the room with a sense of permanence, a reminder that countless performances had lived and ended within those same walls.

LJ Portnoy
Feb 13


Why 2026 Is Shaping Up to Be a Landmark Festival Year
Music festivals have become some of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. They create moments that launch careers, define summers and bring fans together in unforgettable ways. Heading into 2026, the continuation of these iconic festivals promises even bigger lineups, louder crowds and more moments that will be talked about for years after the fact. If the past few years are any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be nothing short of legendary.

Fernando Flores
Jan 30


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


ALBUM REVIEW: EVERYONE’S A STAR - 5 Seconds of Summer
Article Contributed by Monica Soriano The Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer recently released their album ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR’ which is filled with expressive commentary, reflective tracks and an almost theatrical-esque feel for a few songs. Album Artwork by Brian Ziff If you’ve ever needed a recommendation for an album to play while you’re out on a late night drive - this is it. ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR’ by 5 Seconds of Summer is the perfect mix of melancholy, vibey tunes and lyr

Monica Soriano
Dec 10, 2025


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
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