Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with indie pop band, The Strike, to discuss their new album called A Dream Through Open Eyes. In this interview, the band discussed their big opportunity of opening for The Fray, provided some insight into their songwriting process, as well as previewed their single called “The Getaway” featuring Mitchell Tenpenny out today.
Read More “The Strike”
“College sucks, but you’re also not trying.”
That quote comes from the 2020 film Shithouse, the directorial debut of indie filmmaker Cooper Raiff, and my favorite movie of the decade so far. The movie is about Alex’s struggles to find a place and make friends at college, and about the nagging homesickness that prevents him from fully throwing himself into his new environment. Along the way, he strikes up a romance with his RA, a girl named Maggie, and it breaks him out of his shell.
I didn’t see Shithouse until 2022, two years after it came out and more than 12 years after my own college freshman year. When I did, though, it absolutely leveled me. I cannot recall any movie I’ve ever seen that I related to more strongly. My journey wasn’t exactly like Alex’s, but I saw so much of myself and my own first-year-of-college loneliness in that character. It felt like Cooper Raiff had made a movie about my life.
For some people, freshman year of college is an awakening. It’s when they cut loose, let their guard down, shed their former self, make a ton of new friends, chase down a few romances, and have some of their life’s most unforgettable adventures.
I was not one of those people.
My first year of college was, bar none, the loneliest period of my life. Growing up, I always struggled with being shy and reserved, which made it hard, sometimes, to make friends. By the end of high school, I thought I’d successfully eliminated that side of myself. I’d become more outgoing, more approachable, more open to meeting new people, and the outcome had been a wonderful group of friends that made my senior year feel like one big, long party.
Read More “My Life In 35 Songs, Track 17: “Ride” by Cary Brothers”
On their Fearless Records debut, World’s First Cinema expand upon their starry-eyed vision for the movies and theater that they first tinkered with on their EP (2023’s Palm Reader) with the newly-released Something Of Wonder. The band’s first taste of the new direction they took on this record came with the lead single of “Hold My Own,” a sprawling, riff-heavy track that is in the same realm as bands like American Authors and Panic! At the Disco. World’s First Cinema is the duo of John Sinclair (piano/violin/arrangements) and Fil Thorpe (former vocalist of Neck Deep). On the “Hold My Own,” the band shared, “This song came together after a stretch of touring, where we found ourselves drawn to the high-energy moments in our set. We wanted to capture that feeling in a fresh way, and this track was the result. It felt like the perfect opener for the album—almost like a red herring for what’s to come. It makes a bold statement: we can make music that sounds like this, but we choose to take the album in a direction that’s less expected and, for us, way more exciting.” By adding that dramatic flair to their music, Something Of Wonder lives up to its name in more ways than one.
Read More “World’s First Cinema – Something Of Wonder”
There’s so much to love when a talented young band quickly figures out their sound and takes their music in the directions you were hoping they would. There is no “sophomore slump” to be found on moisturizer, the second LP by indie rockers, Wet Leg. After an astounding self-titled debut record garnered the band some Grammy wins and a moment of, “Holy shit, we’ve arrived” in the chart-topping singles of “Chaise Longue” and “Wet Dream”, Wet Leg appeared to solidify their status as much more than a one-trick pony on moisturizer. The set was once-again produced by Dan Carey (Civil Twilight, Foals) and this continued relationship truly pays off here. Wet Leg was founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, and the two songwriters are joined here by Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes, and Joshua Mobaraki to round out their attack found on this blistering record that is filled with brash guitars, hooks for days, and improved songwriting.
Read More “Wet Leg – moisturizer”
Recently, I was able to schedule some Zoom calls with Idobi Radio Summer School Tour artists Taylor Acorn, Charlotte Sands, and Arrows In Action to ask them about what they’re most looking forward to once the trek kicks off today (July 11th). In these full interviews with each artist, I asked each of them about their own “summer school” experiences as kids, the music they have been working on, and what to look forward to from each of them once the tour wraps up. Idobi Radio’s Summer School starts now, and there are still a few tickets available here.
Read More “Idobi Radio Summer School Tour Preview” I’m 30 miles from home and I’m crying my eyes out. For some reason, I didn’t expect to feel this way about leaving home and heading off to college for the first time. I’ve already said all my goodbyes to friends, and I know I’ll see most of them in just a few months when we all come home for Thanksgiving. My mom is in the car ahead of mine, accompanying me to Western Michigan University with a car load of stuff for my dorm room. The “family caravan” nature of this drive has kept the “leaving home” moment from feeling like too much of a clean break, at least for the next few hours. Plus, I know I’ll be back home in just a couple of days for a holiday weekend with family, before school starts. But I’m crying anyway, and it has everything to do with the song that’s coming through my speakers.
In case it hasn’t become abundantly clear, I am the type to obsessively soundtrack moments of my life that feel significant. The fact that I took pains to make sure a specific song got played at my eighth-grade graduation ceremony might be the most signature “me” moment of my entire life. I have very rarely left a milestone moment of my existence up to chance when it came to the music that was playing in the background. But that morning heading off to school is something of an exception, because an album I’d been waiting for all summer long had leaked on the internet literal minutes before I started packing my car. I’d downloaded it quickly before shutting down my computer and stowing it in my backpack for the drive, and the album in question is now playing at full volume through the stereo of my Honda Civic, courtesy of my iPod and an FM transmitter.
The album is Love Drunk, the sophomore LP from Massachusetts-hailing pop-punk band Boys Like Girls. If you’ll recall, I’ve already mentioned Boys Like Girls once in this series, as one of the two opening acts that warmed up the stage for Butch Walker when I first saw him in 2006. The band’s self-titled debut album came out a few months after that show and blew them up to mainstream success, courtesy of big, beating-heart anthems like “The Great Escape” and “Thunder,” both of which sound like youthful summer idealism. Boys Like Girls were such a big deal by the time 2009 rolled around that they had a certain pop-country sensation named Taylor Swift crossing over and duetting on their new album’s track-four acoustic ballad, called “Two Is Better Than One.” At the time, though, I didn’t care much about Taylor Swift (blasphemy, I know); I just cared that the title track lead single from Love Drunk was one of the most massive-sounding pop-rock songs I’d ever heard.
Read More “My Life In 35 Songs, Track 16: “Go” by Boys Like Girls”
I am starting to feel like these “time to rank things” lists pop back up on me quicker and quicker each year. We are once again halfway through the year, and that means it’s time to reflect on the best albums of the year (so far). Below, you will find both our combined staff top 30, as well as individual lists from our contributors and moderators. We hope you’ll find something new to love.
Note: You can share your own list in our music forum.
Read More “The Best Albums of 2025 (So Far)”
Recently I was able to catch up with New Jersey-based indie rock band, The Spins, to discuss everything that went into their latest single and music video for “One More.” In this interview, I asked the band about their style of music, their upcoming touring plans and more. If you’re enjoying the interview and music video, you can pre-save their forthcoming album, Left Behind, that releases on July 25th, here.
Read More “The Spins”
There’s something great that happens to your brain when you wrap your ears around a fun, summer pop-punk album. Is it that feeling of endless possibilities as you cruise in your car with the AC on full blast to the beach? Maybe. Is it the burst of nostalgia that reminds of the early Vans Warped Tour routing that we all looked forward to. Could be that too. West Friends have offered a nice reminder of these feelings on their debut album called Junk Drawer. West Friends are the duo of vocalists/songwriters Jordan Renshaw and Isaiah Dominguez, while Jordan shared, “Junk Drawer represents the accumulation of life experiences, eras, and memories that shape who I am today. It’s also how I can best visualize and process growth and maturity—by carrying all these experiences with me, I’m able to integrate them into my current self while also making room for new ones to be added along the way.” By putting out the shimmering vibes as we all begin planning out our vacations, Junk Drawer offers to be the soundtrack to your summer.
Read More “West Friends – Junk Drawer”
Recently I was able to connect with the band called NAMAZU to discuss their latest music. Their new single, called “ICE 800” is a slick mix of big rock hooks paired with tight musicianship. In this interview, I asked the band about where they got their name from, the bands they’ve shared billings with, and what is coming next for NAMAZU. If you’re enjoying the new music video, please consider supporting the band here.
Read More “NAMAZU” Saturday, May 30, 2009: that was the last night I ever performed on my high school stage. By that point, I’d set foot on that stage countless times: for musicals and choir concerts, for performances in front of school district administrators, for so many hours of rehearsals and practices. It got to be the kind of thing that you experience so many times you start to take it for granted. And then, suddenly, that story was over, and I was trying to wrap my head around how the place that had made me into a musician was about to be in my rearview.
“It’s a town full of losers, I’m pulling out of here to win.”
Those were the last words I ever sang on that stage by myself. There were other words that I shared, singing in harmony with fellow classmates. But that line, the iconic sign-off of Bruce Springsteen’s greatest song, became my sign-off, at least for my musical journey at that school and, really, for my entire high school experience.
On paper, it’s an appropriate line for a big coming-of-age moment. Sequenced at the very top of 1975’s Born to Run, “Thunder Road” is the Boss’s bold, brash invitation for a girl to run away with him. “My car’s out back if you’re ready to take that long walk/From your front porch to my front seat,” he sings at one point. Later, as the song barrels into its final verse, Springsteen ups the stakes: this town is crawling with ghosts, and if you stay here, the promise of your youth will be spent; “Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet.” So get in the car, baby, and let’s drive. Let’s drive so fast and so far that they can’t possibly follow us. Let’s get out of this town and never, ever look back.
Read More “My Life In 35 Songs, Track 15: “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen”
The music world can always use another metalcore band, right? Deadlands are from Long Island, New York and are comprised of Kasey Karlsen (vocals) and CJ Arey (guitarist/producer). Their sound is a blend of rock bands like From Ashes To New and Poison the Well, paired with Karlsen’s vocal range similar to Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox, all put on blend with a style that feels fresh and exciting. Seven is their latest EP/effort via Spinefarm Records and it’s a hard-hitting collection of seven songs that are filled with great production, slick guitar work, and visceral vocals that have enough melody throughout for others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Kasey Karlsen shared, “Our goal is to really bring listeners out of the present world. With all of the crazy crap going on in our everyday lives, we try to take you to different realms. Subconsciously, the music might help you reflect on yourself.” By taking the listener on quite the thrilling ride, Seven marks a new standout moment for not only metalcore, but Deadlands as well.
Read More “Deadlands – Seven”
Recently I was able to connect with rock band Cody Parks and the Dirty South that is self-described as “Country Metal.” The band has toured extensively, and is ready for their moment in the spotlight. In this interview with lead vocalist Cody Parks, I asked him about where the band draws their influence from, five records he couldn’t live without, and the best parts of playing in a band. If you’re curious about this band, please consider checking out their merch store here.
Read More “Cody Parks and the Dirty South”
I have to admit that I rolled my eyes a bit at the thought of remixing/remastering what I consider to be one of the most sonically dynamic records this scene has ever had the privilege of calling our own: My Chemical Romance’s Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. How exactly do you make any improvements to a classic recording? The answer was found out quickly when I first put my ears around the 2025 remix/remaster of Three Cheers. Instead of just making it louder, the original mixer of the record (Rich Costey) used the original source files that were carefully stored away by veteran producer Howard Benson to fully revamp the overall sound that comes out of the speakers when you hit “play.” This article will not be so much of a review per se of the Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge record, as I originally did the retrospective review a few years back, as much as it is a deep dive into the overall package that is presented here in 2025.
Read More “Thank You For The (New) Venom: An Analysis of My Chemical Romance’s 2025 ‘Three Cheers’ Remix” It was the only time in my life that I wanted summer to end.
As a kid, you wish summers could last forever. You survey the horizon from the vantage point of mid-June and it feels like you’ve got an entire lifetime’s worth of school-free days ahead of you. Days to be lazy. Days to hang out with friends. Days to spend at the beach, or cruising around your neighborhood on bikes, refusing to waste even a second of daylight. And frankly, as a kid, summers kind of do last forever, simply because two and a half months is still such a significant amount of time in the grand scheme of how long you’ve been alive. Relative to everything else, summer is endless.
As a teenager, you still wish summers could last forever, but you also have enough perspective on time to know that they’ll end up passing you by so much faster than you think. You’ll blink twice and suddenly it will be mid-August, and you’ll be left wondering where all those weeks went. As the onslaught of September and the first day of school approaches, you cling to the remaining 80-degree days and the dwindling summer sunsets like they’re oxygen, because the thought of losing that freedom again and going back to the cloistered halls of your high school feels all wrong.
Growing up, I certainly never thought I’d find myself wishing for summer to hasten its demise, but that’s exactly where I found myself in late August of 2008. For one thing, I didn’t think I could stand one more second working my shitty summer job. But the bigger factor at play was her, the girl I’d spent the summer chasing. At so many moments throughout that season, amidst so many flirtations and longing glances and intoxicated evenings where we got a bit closer than we should have, I thought we were only a matter of time. She’d break up with her boyfriend and choose me, and we’d spend the summer together, making every moment count. But she didn’t break up with her boyfriend, and she didn’t choose me, and before I knew it, we’d run out of time.
Read More “My Life In 35 Songs, Track 14: “Crashin” by Jack’s Mannequin”