Two full weeks of SXSW 2022

SXSW is known for many things… whether it’s throngs of happy music lovers, rediscovering their love of seeking the best new bands, or the pack of tech guys in networking nirvana. Or, the film geeks and geek-ettes, gawking in gritty discourse over the merits (or lack thereof) of their latest screening. For me, though, SX […]

A night of classic rock with Foghat in North Tonawanda

It was a royal classic rock night, with Head East opening up for Foghat in North Tonawanda, New York at the Riviera Theatre on April 16th! Both classic bands performed very well and energized the crowd, spanning all different age groups. It was evident that Foghat has been worshipped for generations — and will continue […]

Reverend Horton Heat at OC’s Garden Amp

On April 8th, Reverend Horton Heat headlined a show at the Garden Amp. They were supported by the Delta Bombers and 40 Acre Mule. 40 Acre Mule out of Texas started the night out, getting everyone moving with their mix of country, soul and rock sound. It was my first time seeing them and I was really […]

The Darkness rocks Nashville like never before

I walked into my favorite Nashville venue — the Brooklyn Bowl — on a recent Friday evening, not truly knowing what to expect from the upcoming night of music. I was there to see The Darkness and local favorites, The Dead Deads. The latter all-girl grunge rock group is widely considered to be one of […]

Fan-curated Blue Ridge Rock Festival resurfaces for 2022

The 5th Annual fan-driven Blue Ridge Rock Festival returns this September 8th through 11th! After the mishaps of last year, I was really scared the fest wasn’t going to return… I’ve heard a lot of people left the fest unhappy and there were a lot of negative things to said about it. I can understand […]

Papa Roach returns with ‘Ego Trip’ album

Papa Roach fans — it is now time to fill those eardrums with new tunes! The rap metal band’s astounding eleventh album has just been released, so let’s dive into these amazing fresh tracks from a longtime genre heavyweight. The first song off the album, “Kill The Noise”, is completely different from anything Papa Roach […]

Testament’s Bay Strikes Back Tour hits San Luis Obispo

After two long years, the Bay Strikes Back Tour was finally back in action, starting off in San Luis Obispo on April 9th, 2022. With 80s thrash metal legends Death Angel, Exodus and Testament, it was a night of head-banging hard rock, well overdue! This was my first official metal show, so it was cool to […]

Bad Religion packs punk rockers inside Majestic Ventura Theater

What a night celebrating a sold-out show with Slaughterhouse and punk rock legends Bad Religion at the Majestic Ventura Theater! One of my favorite things about going to concerts is knowing that, sometimes, I might not know who the opener is and I get to experience someone new. It was cool to see a young […]

Sad Summer Fest to hit the road once more for 2022

Hey emo kids! We might be in a post-Warped Tour era, but that doesn’t mean all our emo rock punk summer vibes are lost! Sad Summer Fest is back for its third installment and have yet another STUDDED lineup across 8,177 miles of the United States. In fact, they’re even bringing Waterparks(s)! Thats right, Waterparks […]

Anastasia Elliot emotes pure love in “London” single

Enigmatic artist Anastasia Elliot returns with the third offering off her forthcoming LP, A Petite Mort — a concept album on life, love, loss and rebirth. Known for her colorfully curated style and appearance, Elliot pairs music with visual artistry, creating immersive experiences for her listeners both on and off the stage. Now, with the […]

SXSW 2022: Best Bands

SXSW made its cautious, yet triumphant return earlier in March after its abrupt cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The city of Austin took a safe approach to this year’s festival by opening many onsite testing facilities, as well as administering a digital pass for all vaccinated festival-goers. Even with safeguards in place, the […]

Beartooth brings hard rock royalty to West Des Moines

Iowans welcomed hard rock band Beartooth to the Val Air Ballroom with enthusiasm for the second leg of The Below Tour! Supporting Beartooth for the West Des Moines stop were metalcore favorites Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada and Erra. As staples in the metalcore scene, all of the bands on the bill have an established […]

Napa ready to uncork the next BottleRock for 2022

Wine meets music at the 8th Annual BottleRock Fest in Napa, California this May 27th through 29th! The three-day fest will include headliners Metallica, P!nk and Twenty One Pilots, with support from Luke Combs, The Black Crowes, Kygo, Pitbull, Greta Van Fleet, Mount Westmore, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, CHVRCHES, Banks, Bleachers, Alessia Cara, Vance Joy, Silversun […]

A Trainwreck with Kyle Gass hootenanny in San Diego

It was a rainy Monday night in San Diego on March 28th — the kind that scares SoCalians into little balls on the couch with sweatpants and Thai food. Yet, before this epic storm, I had heard that one half of the majestic comedic rock band, Tenacious D, was to be performing in my town […]

A night with Kingfish Ingram in St. Louis

On March 25th, it was one of those famous, midwestern, super windy evenings out in the suburbs of St. Louis, when a night of delta blues and topnotch guitar playing was enjoyed by a wonderfully diverse packed house of fans at The Factory. This group of music lovers had gathered together to see the one […]