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 »
Alt-rock act senses is back with a new song that you are going to be “obsessed” with on your summer playlist. The Los Angeles-based duo shared this moody pop-rock track, fueled by dazzling riffs and delightfully chaotic lyrics including, “You could lay me down/Leave me suffocating/I’ll still think you’re heaven sent.” Duo Maddie Taylor and Nick Sampson share, “We are obsessed with this song so much! It’s the ultimate anthem for when a crush goes from casual to can’t stop thinking about you real fast. It’s catchy, flirty and a little unhinged in the best way. It will absolutely make you want… Read more »
Summer is officially in full swing this weekend, and we’ve got the new songs to match the heat! From a brand-new Sophie Powers to a full-throttle ripper from I Prevail, idobi Radio is kicking things off with 5 fresh new songs you need to blast. And plenty more where that came from. Looking for even more new music? idobi Radio is the soundtrack of your summer. Download the free idobi App for new music every minute, every hour, every day. Did we mention it’s totally, 100%, always free. Sophie Powers — “head empty no thoughts” After sharing the song live… Read more »
Warped Tour kicked off their massive 30 year anniversary return run this weekend in Washington, DC, bringing the iconic punk and alt-rock festival back in full force. With a large lineup that spanned across Saturday and Sunday at RFK Stadium, headlining sets included MGK and Avril Lavigne. MGK made his headlining set one to remember. Ahead of his performance, he posted a video reflecting on how surreal it felt to return to Warped Tour as a headlining act. That sentiment carried through to his performance, where he brought longtime collaborator and friend MOD SUN onstage for a surprise rendition of… Read more »
If you’re hitting the road to Warped Tour like we are at idobi Radio, queue up these 10 new songs—built for the open highway and perfect for turning up loud in celebration of pride and punk. Looking for even more new music? idobi Radio is the soundtrack of your summer. Download the free idobi App for new music every minute, every hour, every day. Did we mention it’s totally, 100%, always free? Nova Twins — “Anxiety” (Doechii Cover) Ahead of the release of Parasites & Butterflies, due out on August 29, Nova Twins performed a Spotify Singles Series set. Here, they offered… Read more »
Alt-rock fans have a lot to celebrate with the new collab between Halsey and Evanescence‘s Amy Lee. The two joined forces to craft a truly dazzling track for the upcoming From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina film, “Hand That Feeds,” ahead of their May 14 concert. Halsey says, “I’ve been a fan of Amy Lee since I was 11 years old. Her and Evanescence created a window for me that allowed my feelings to seem important. They were the place I ran to when I couldn’t stand the outside world. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without… 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 »
