What does ‘KAABOO’ stand for?

With August coming to a close, residents of San Diego are readying themselves for yet another temperate-weathered autumn: planning Labor Day get-togethers, hopping on boats and living the high life in true endless summer fashion. Football might be exciting for some, while others are happy to head back to school as pumpkin spice-flavored items wait […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Teez “Buggy”

Rising Tongan hip hop artist out of Reno, Teez, premieres his third single off his impending debut album R.E.N.O (Real Everything No Ops), out September 27th via Mensch House Records. Following two successful rap tracks, “Lit Bae” and “Murda”, Top Shelf Music is proud to release “Buggy”, a self-inflicted battle of the senses following a […]

Death Cab for Cutie at the Hollywood Bowl

Sunday might be a sleepy day to some, but for Los Angeles alternative music lovers, staying home the night of August 11th, 2019 was simply out of the question. Two major alt bands collided for one evening of wining and dining at the Hollywood Bowl, a venue that actually encourages you to bring your own […]

KROQ presents two weekends of Hermosa Beach Summer Series

There’s not a lot that beats free summer fun. The season is entertaining enough, let alone when your local community comes together in a block party, combining music with comedy with film with art with exercise. How could all of this fit into one weekend you ask? And, free of charge? Turn’s out, Los Angeles […]

Jah Mex & The Translators in Laguna Beach

As the July crimson and amber summer sun dipped down behind the lush green hills of the Laguna Canyon skyline, the smooth, mellow sounds of Jah Mex and The Translators wafted ever so sweetly through the historic, eclectic and unique Sawdust Festival grounds in Laguna Beach, CA. Nestled back into the hills, amongst the whimsical […]

Desert Daze dazzles with 2019 final artist transmission

Few festivals encompass it all and even less do so with authenticity. Sure, we can gallop off on a weekend excursion to Coachella for hundreds of dollars, witnessing mainstream alt bands from afar, all sweaty and dirty alongside strung out strangers. Let the self-indulgence and vanity consume you, hopefully heading home STD-free (#fakenews???). Big name […]

Boca 45 shares his greatest hits playlist

What to say about the established Bristolian deejay Boca 45? After escalating to a world-renowned name for his unbeatable dance soundtracks, featuring everything from hip hop to grunge rock to trippy psychedelia, Boca 45 (née, Scott Hendy) is celebrating his 45th year with the launch of a life-encompassing album, fittingly entitled Forty Five, on his […]

Footsteps drops sizzling new video for “Take Time”

Reggae artist Footsteps returns with a flashy new video to accompany his latest single that sizzles like none other, especially when backed by the talents of UK artist Doktor. A dancehall-centric track, “Take Time” is about exactly that — taking your sweet time during the art of seduction. Footsteps’ video opens on exotic, scantily-clad women […]

Pepper pleases with ‘Local Motion’ album

What to say about those crazy Pepper boys… well, a lot more than before with their latest Local Motion album skyrocketing to #1 on the Billboard Reggae charts. You heard us right, after 20+ years touring and making music, Pepper is back with their 8th full-length album that is so unforgiving, so mischievous, so manically-addictive […]

Xiuhtezcatl interviews at Cali Roots 10

Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose sits down with hip hop-reggae socially-conscious artist Xiuhtezcatl at California Roots 10, following his morning performance. With an EP on the way, a summer tour and a book published (with props from mega-actor Leonardo DiCaprio), the young protégé shares what drives him forward, his thoughts on planet sustainability and […]

Chilling On The Illinois Fest coming to Cave Junction, Oregon

The essence of summertime is encapsulated in various ways. Family barbecues. Beach excursions. Exploring the great outdoors. What would the season be without bringing people together, out of their previously hibernated states into the world around them? Leave your gadgets at home; it’s summertime and the livin’s easy. Two archetypes of summertime combine into one […]

Nightmares on Wax at San Diego’s Music Box

It might’ve been a sleepy Wednesday night elsewhere, but The Music Box in San Diego had alternative plans on July 10th, 2019. Going past their usual midnight sound cap, the venue opened its doors to three deejays who spun trancy, funky tracks until the wee hours of the morning. The starting deejay played remixed bangers […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Among Criminals “60,000 Messages”

The punky, dubby Philly-based band Among Criminals is back with new music! Blending turn-of-millennia alternative with Jamaican rhythms, Among Criminals gained a fast following with their debut self-titled album in 2012, which spurred anticipation for their sophomore album to drop the following year entitled The Break, leading to their latest Kill The Precedent in 2017 […]