From rock n’ roll godmother Sister Rosetta Tharpe to grunge singer Tina Bell, there have always been Black rock music artists. Pop-punk and alternative rock are no different. To celebrate Black History Month and the kickass contributions of Black rock artists, here are 10 Black pop-punk and alt-rock artists you should listen to year-round. Fefe Dobson The Canadian pop-punk singer Fefe Dobson released her self-titled debut album in 2003, which spawned hits that included “Take Me Away,” “Bye Bye Boyfriend,” and “Everything.” She would follow that album with 2006’s Sunday Love and 2010’s Joy. The latter was especially notable for… Read more »
Today at noon, the popular modern rock station WHFS 99.1, founded in the 1960s and owned by Infinity Broadcasting, was reformatted to become “El Zol.” The new station features salsa, merengue, bacchata, Caribbean and Central American dance music in a Spanish-language format. “This is the first top 10 market that we’ve done this in,” said Karen Mateo, director of communications at Infinity. “We’re looking to expand into this marketplace and this is the first station that we’ve done this with.” El Zol is targeted at the growing population of Spanish-speaking residents in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, almost 10 percent… Read more »
As the music world mourns the death of Johnny Cash-who passed away on the morning of Friday (September 12), at the age of 71-artists from every genre of music are paying their respects to the legendary Man In Black. Guitarist Danny Lohner, who has played with Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle, shared his thoughts with LAUNCH on Cash’s recent cover of the Nine Inch Nails tune “Hurt.” “Johnny Cash’s version blew me away,” Lohner said. “He has such a great character voice…that video is so moving and so well done, and with his wife watching him as he… Read more »
As the Vans Warped Tour barrels toward its monumental return to celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer, fans are buzzing with anticipation—not just for the stacked lineups in Washington D.C. and Long Beach, but for who hasn’t been revealed yet. In the debut episode of idobi Warped Radio, Warped Tour’s official podcast and radio, founder Kevin Lyman confirms that lineup additions will continue to roll out right up until show days. “We’ve still got a lot of bands to announce,” he shares. “We’ll be announcing right up until the week of the show!” With Scowl recently joining the D.C. bill,… Read more »
Listen up, people. The time for Warped Tour Washington DC is coming up on June 14-15 and the lineup is stacked. From iconic alternative veterans such as Avril Lavigne, Bowling For Soup, The Maine, and Boys Like Girls to rising stars such as Rain City Drive and Oxymorrons, there are endless acts to add to your perfect fest. And you may be overwhelmed by the amount of sick artists, and no shame, because same. So, we’ve let the stars pick who you absolutely need to see at Warped Tour based on your Zodiac sign. Get ready to head to the… Read more »
For United States-based Bob Vylan fans, it’s time to mark your calendars and get your debit cards ready, because the iconic duo is hopping across the pond this spring. The UK punks are bringing their 2024 Humble As The Sun vibes to an array of major cities with support from alt-rocker DoFlame. The dates kick off on April 12 in Indio, California, and wrap up on May 3 in New York City at TV Eye. You will not want to miss the band’s high-energy show in a venue near you. Plus, you can catch Bob Vylan at a handful of… Read more »
It’s Friday and love is in the air! 2025 has already proved to be one of the strongest years for new music evident in our weekly Fresh 5 spotlight. With so many incredible new releases this week, it was next to impossible to narrow down five of the best in alternative, indie, and metal. This week, listen to new hits from The Wonder Years, Cydeways, and more. Tune in to idobi Radio to catch these must-hear tracks and more. Download the FREE idobi App to discover new music every.single.day. The Wonder Years — “Junebug” For those who want to cry… Read more »
After sharing their Hopeless Records debut single “Self Sabotage,” Comastatic is back with their first release of 2025, “ZORRO.” Hailing from Zurich, Switzerland, vocalist Mattia Di Paolo and guitarist Jules began their Comastatic journey back in 2022. Melding raw, soaring choruses with electronic-tinged urgent rock melodies, Comastatic crafts an unforgettable modern alt-rock experience. Read more: DE’WAYNE Ushers In New Era With “highway robbery” Music Video Of the new track, Comastatic says, “‘ZORRO’ is a story of inner struggles and breaking free from the masks we wear. It’s about feeling stuck in a hollow life, battling mistakes, and facing the pressure to conform,… Read more »
It’s always a bittersweet moment to know you’ve watched your favorite band perform their last show. Everyone deserves a break, and performing is no easy task, but there’s something so special in the air when a band like Sum 41 takes to the stage. Notably, the iconic pop-punk band took their final bow on their international tour. They concluded their whirlwind route in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena on January 30. The band played 29 tracks, a mix of old hits and new favorites. Of course, the quintet had to document their sold-out final show. They Tweeted a video sharing their… Read more »
TGIF and Happy New Year! Kicking off 2025 on a strong note with a brand new Fresh 5, we have the latest and greatest in alternative, metal, indie, and more to soundtrack your day, week, month, and maybe even your year. (Did I watch too much Friends over the holidays?) We’ve got a handful of fresh new picks, including tracks from L.S. Dunes, Mayday Parade, and phem. Tune in to idobi Radio to catch these must-hear tracks and more. Plus, you can download the FREE idobi App to discover new music every.single.day. L.S. Dunes — “Violet” For fans who find… Read more »
