It’s officially Halloween weekend, and you know what that means: scary movies, last-minute trips to the costume shop, and eating your way through all of the trick-or-treat candy. Lucky for us, this weekend also means new music from Magnolia Park, who just released their sophomore record, Halloween Mixtape II. Taking inspiration from the season’s spooky imagery, the alt-rock powerhouse explores the heavier aspects of their sound while weaving in pop, hip-hop, and theatre-emo musical stylings through Halloween Mixtape II. Yet, the diversity of Magnolia Park’s sound never feels disjointed or disingenuous. It’s heavy and dark while maintaining the band’s signature… Read more »
Panic! At The Disco‘s lead guitarist Mike Naran is officially a married man and shared snapshots of the beautiful day with his Instagram followers. Best known for his work alongside Brendon Urie, Naran has deep roots in the scene, including playing with Sparks The Rescue, The Ready Set, and The Spill Canvas. He also performs under NARAN, with singles “Pity Party” and “Money“, and also released a 2014 solo EP entitled Here, Now. On October 19, Naran married his longtime partner Lia Pettineo in Silverado, California with a blissful, leafy green backdrop. Rancho Las Lomas offered the perfect venue for… Read more »
Everyone has that one song they hope to hear from their favorite band at a live show. Sometimes we get lucky and our favorite track is one of their hits, other times our favorite track isn’t as popular. Perhaps a b-side that rarely gets any love on the stage or a tune from an older album that hasn’t seen a spot in the setlist in years. A festival with a line-up as stacked as When We Were Young, there is potential for a load of surprises. Bands and artists tend to get a little weird as festivals. We crafted a… Read more »
What a time to be an emo kid. With nostalgia in vogue, scene kids like ourselves are begging for another chance to live out our Warped Tour fantasies. The days of thick rubber bracelets with “I Love Boobies” imprinted into them, free meet-and-greets at the merch tent, and a day chock-full of heavy-hitting acts in the alternative space. Luckily, When We Were Young Fest is filling this void for the second year in a row with another incredibly stacked lineup. From legacy headliners like Green Day and blink-182 to next-generation acts like Magnolia Park and Games We Play, the second-annual… Read more »
God is real, and her name is Taylor Swift. Whether or not you’re on board with Swiftie mania, it’s impossible to deny that the record-breaking artist is an industry-changing champion. From country to pop and rock to indie, she defies genre and definitely has a streak of emo running through her veins, as she’s noted Pete Wentz as a major songwriting inspiration in the past. After all, her vault tracks from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) include collaborations with Fall Out Boy and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. You also can’t forget “Two Is Better Than One” with Boys Like Girls or… Read more »
There’s finally a chill in the air, and we all know what that means: Halloween is on its way. Whether you enjoy dressing up for parties or hosting a horror movie night from the comfort of your couch, there’s something for everyone to take part in. Better yet, there are plenty of alternative bands and artists that find their inspiration in the spooky season. This doesn’t mean that they are carving pumpkins or telling ghost stories. Many bands in our scene incorporate paranormal or horror imagery and themes into their releases. This can take the form of voodoo dolls (The… Read more »
iDKHOW is back and in a new era. Two weeks following the announcement of drummer Ryan Seaman’s departure and new music incoming, vocalist Dallon Weekes has posted four cryptic videos on Instagram. From a blue telephone to Weekes’ silhouette, the indie-pop project gives fans a taste of what to expect from their upcoming single, “WHAT LOVE?” The first three videos all focus on bright objects that you could find in someone’s home: a blue wired telephone, a bright pink book, and a yellow china set. However, what’s more interesting are the audio snippets behind the videos and some of the… Read more »
Your favorite touring artists and bands have a lot of expenses on the road. From merch cuts to van expenses, gas, and food—it can be challenging for up-and-coming acts to sustain themselves on longer treks due to financial strains. Now, Live Nation hopes to mitigate these struggles with its “On The Road Again” program. Named after the iconic Willie Nelson song, Live Nation’s new program aims to support bands and their crews by eliminating merch cuts, offering travel stipends to bands playing Live Nation venues, and bonuses to local tour promoters and behind-the-scenes staff who make the show happen. The… Read more »
After releasing her stunning covers for Sheryl Crow’s “Soak Up The Sun” and Taylor Swift’s “I’m Only Me When I’m With You,” Soccer Mommy is back with the full Karaoke Night EP. Comprised of cover tracks, the EP is a culmination of the artist’s, aka Sophie Allison’s, favorite songs from her most personal influences. Now, you can also hear her relaxing indie covers of “Here” by Pavement, “Dagger” by Slowdive, and “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. Check out the full EP below. The artist says, “All the covers on Karaoke Night are from artists that have inspired me throughout my… Read more »
