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

Going to a Lewis Capaldi show comes with one explicit warning: Expect to cry. Expect to laugh. And expect to try not to pee yourself, because apparently he was attempting the same after drinking enough fluid to keep a fading voice alive through a full arena set. Lewis Capaldi performing at Liacouras Center at Temple University in Philadelphia PA. Photo by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @ rebeccajeanlimitedphotography ) Philadelphia got Lewis Capaldi in full comeback mode. After stepp

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

Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt There's a specific kind of music that doesn't just sound like your teenage years, it feels like them. The kind that puts you right back in your parents' living room, watching local bands play basements and VFW halls, wondering if feeling everything this loudly and this openly was something you'd eventually grow out of. Listening to Homebase's debut EP Close To Something , the answer, at least for this reviewer, is a hard no. Press photo

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

There are shows you go to for fun, and then there are shows that remind you exactly why live music matters. Across two back-to-back nights, Philadelphia at MilkBoy and New York City at Berlin, Enrose created something you could feel long after the last note. Some of the SoundCheck Mag team was there, cameras in hand, shooting side by side. Two perspectives on the same magic. And yeah, we're glad it happened.

A night that celebrated both his journey as an artist and the fans who’ve been there since the very beginning, all in one unforgettable show. Article and Photos Contributed by Miranda Wyman Corbyn Besson’s return to the stage felt less like a typical concert and more like a long-awaited reunion. On Monday, March 23, 2026, at the intimate 650-capacity Gramercy Theatre in New York City, fans packed into the historic venue for the first of two (Head) First Shows, celebrating the

The producer blends cinematic ambition with trance energy on his most intentional project yet. Article Contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Photos contributed by UMG 1824 For Aaron Hibell, releasing Synchronicity isn’t simply about putting out another album. It’s about revealing a body of work that has been quietly forming for years — one shaped by patience, instinct, and a creative philosophy rooted in timing and trust. Across its 11 tracks, Synchronicity blends orchestra

Article Contributed by Fernando Flores Photo Contributed by 1824 / UMG During a press conference with Em Beihold, she opens up about her upcoming debut album, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter, set for release on February 27, 2026. Throughout the conversation, Beihold offered an honest look into her creative process, the themes behind the album, and the personal growth that shaped the project. Who is Em Beihold? Em Beihold is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who has built h

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 Fernando Flores Photo: Spotify Charlie’s Natural Gift Charlie Puth has a way of drawing listeners in without relying on big moments and “Beat Yourself Up” is an example of that confidence. As the second single from his upcoming album Whatever’s Clever, the track doesn’t rush to make an impression. Instead, it eases in self-assured allowing the mood to settle before the message fully lands. The song rides a smooth, steady groove that feels almost convers

Article & Photos by Rachel Catherine SZN4 performing at El Club in Detroit. Photos by Rachel Catherine (@ rachsgalleryy on IG) A Valentine’s Day Evening to Remember February 14th, I spent my Valentine’s Day evening on a Saturday night with SZN4 and it was quite the spirit lifter. On a “holiday” that’s particularly not my favorite, you could feel the love emulating off of the group from the love they have for each other as well as the people supporting them in the crowd. A Ho

A reflection on impermanence, cinematic pop, and the new chapter ahead. Article Contributed by Vaneza Gutiérrez Wyckoff Sarah Kinsley shot by Florence Sullivan Sarah Kinsley has built a career around capturing fleeting moments — and with nearly one million monthly Spotify listeners, she’s clearly not the only one listening closely. During our recent chat, she spoke about time the way some people speak about weather: ever-present, uncontrollable, and quietly shaping everything

Nick Jonas did not ease us into 2026. He went straight for the feelings. “Gut Punch”, released January 1, 2026, is the first single off his upcoming album Sunday Best, out February 6, 2026, and it feels like a song you accidentally put on and then suddenly you’re staring at the wall thinking about your entire inner dialogue. Artwork by Steven R. Gilmore The song starts immediately with a soft piano and Nick’s voice sounding almost fragile. Like he’s letting a thought slip bef

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano There’s something in the air lately. Girl groups are popping up and it appears they are growing in popularity. This phenomenon hasn’t been seen since the Fifth Harmony and Little Mix days, at least for non-KPop girl groups. The rise of K-pop in recent years has opened doors to many girl groups internationally. Blackpink held the title of the biggest female K-pop group and NewJeans was following closely with their rise in stardom until th

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano It is widely known that T-Pain carried the early 2000’s through his auto-tuned club music. The prominence of auto-tune in his music became his signature sound and in part what propelled him to fame. He blended different genres and influences which led him to carve his own path in the music industry. His use of auto-tune was used as an enhancer rather than a necessary tool for his vocals. He laid a strong groundwork with his storytelling,

Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt The music industry runs on hustle. It runs on nonstop promo cycles, back to back tours, brand partnerships, soundtrack placements, movie cameos, clothing lines, skincare lines, energy drinks, and whatever the next big viral thing is. Fans watch their favorite artists jump from one opportunity to another and it starts to blur into this giant machine where the artist feels more like a product than a person. We see it happen every year. Someone b

Article By Ernesto Raul Aguilar Q101 kicked off its week-long Twisted Xmas 2025 series at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom with a high-voltage opening night that blended indie cool, alt-rock energy, and full-on pop spectacle. Three bands, each with a distinct voice and presence, took the stage and delivered a night that felt as festive as it was electric, setting the tone for the rest of the holiday concerts ahead. The evening opened with Los Angeles band Out in Front, who wasted no

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano Lately, it can feel as though all artists do more than just music. The blending of professions is common since they can be fully established within different creative or business ventures. Being multi-hyphenate can be a way to stay relevant, have various sources of income, or pursue other dreams. Artists now easily launch companies in beauty or fashion as well as reach high levels of success as actors, podcast hosts, or entrepreneurs. Ima