Article and Photos Contributed by Ernesto Raul Aguilar Lords of Acid performing at 191 Toole in Tucson, AZ on the Cheeky Freaky Tour. Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (IG: @blacksheepimagery) The walls of 191 Toole pulsed with industrial beats, electro chaos, and unapologetic theatrics as The Cheeky Freaky Tour stormed through Tucson. Headlined by legendary provocateurs Lords of Acid and backed by an eclectic lineup that ranged from glam-pop spectacle to dark wave intensity, the

With booming sing-alongs, flickering box TVs, and emotional callbacks to their earliest records, Boys Like Girls delivered the ultimate pop-rock time machine.

Twenty-four North American dates kicked off in a sold-out Sterling Heights amphitheater on a Friday night in May, where the temperature dropped from fifty to the thirties before YUNGBLUD ever hit the stage. By the time the lights went down, the amphitheater was speckled with snow.

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

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 and Photos Contributed by Hannah Hampton The Philadelphia stop of Age of Madness’ “Mount Olympus Tour” felt less like a typical rock show and more like a carefully staged collision between theater and live music. This performance carried an energy that was both intimate and charged, with a dedicated fan base that arrived ready to participate! Age of Madness performing at The Foundry in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Hannah Hampton (IG: @hannahmaryhampton) Age of Madness

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

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.

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

The Riviera Theatre was electric long before the night’s headliners took the stage, it was the kind of restless buzz that signals a crowd ready to fully commit to the night. Photos and Article Contributed by Ernesto Raul Aguilar Fans waiting in anticipation for the Runarounds and The Back Alley at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago, IL. Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar ( @blacksheepimagery ) By the end of the evening, both The Back Alley and The Runarounds had justified that anticip

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

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

Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (IG: @blacksheepimagery ) Article & Photos Contributed by Ernesto Raul Aguilar Few artists blur the lines between virtuosity and eccentricity like Thundercat. On November 7th, 2025, the Los Angeles bassist, singer, and producer brought his signature blend of jazz, funk, and soul to Chicago’s historic Aragon Ballroom, delivering a performance that was both musically dazzling and emotionally charged. Touring in support of his catalog that’s redefin

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

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

Photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar (IG: @blacksheepimagery ) Review and Photos by Ernesto Raul Aguilar The Milwaukee legends turn nostalgia into a shared celebration with a timeless, crowd-sung set. Few bands can make a room full of people sing together the way Violent Femmes can. At Chicago’s Salt Shed on October 17, the Milwaukee legends delivered a night of spirited connection and timeless songs that bridged decades of fans. The band made a dramatic entrance through the crowd

Photo by Rebecca McDevitt (IG: @rebeccajeanlimitedphotography ) Article & Photos contributed by Rebecca McDevitt The former American Idol favorite continues to bloom, personally, vocally, and unapologetically. If you don’t know David Archuleta from his American Idol days, you definitely know his timeless hits like “ Crush ” and “ A Little Too Not Over You .” Since his debut, Archuleta has transformed from pop prodigy to fully realized artist - embracing his authentic self an

Photo by Getty Images Article Contributed by Fernando Flores Edited by Rebecca McDevitt, Managing Editor Images provided by Getty Images SoundCheck Mag was lucky enough to be invited to Sam Smith’s To Be Free residency in NYC. Let’s just say, it was one of those nights that’ll stay with you. To witness raw talent is to watch Sam perform live. The residency was a full experience, and SoundCheck Mag is proud to have been there for it. An Intimate Venue & Experience Located at

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