There are shows that function as performances, and then there are shows that feel like gatherings. "Bando & Friends" at Dragonfly Hollywood leaned firmly toward the latter - a curated night built around community, collaboration, and shared history. The event brought together a lineup of artists closely connected to Blimes…

On March 7, 2026, at XL Live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I caught up with the members of Ballyhoo! before their show for a candid conversation about the band's evolution, their fiercely independent approach to music, and the loyal fan base that has followed them for nearly three decades. Known for…

This was my first time seeing Zakk Wylde since the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, and when you think about Ozzy's solo career you immediately hear the guitar voices that defined it - Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and the epic Zakk Wylde. What I've always loved most about a Zakk…

After a successful comeback in 2025, the legendary Vans Warped Tour is officially returning in 2026, marking a major moment for fans of punk, alternative, emo, and rock music. Originally launched in 1995, the festival became one of the longest-running and most influential touring music events in North America before…

There are always those legendary bands that were the catalyst and inspiration that came first and inspired some of the biggest bands in the world. That’s the case when the legends The Descendents came to the House of Blues in Anaheim. The Descendents have been cited by almost every pop…

With Romantic Monsta, NHance makes a deliberate pivot from the rigid, hyper-aggressive archetypes that often define dancehall masculinity. The seven-track Valentine's-timed EP is not a softening of his brand, but an expansion of it. By pairing the words "Romantic" and "Monsta," he reframes strength - arguing that affection, loyalty, and…

Released on February 13, 2026, New Religion marks a bold yet calculated evolution in Jada Kingdom’s artistry. Arriving just weeks after her January project, Just A Girl In A Money Man’s World, the four-track EP feels less like a continuation and more like a refinement. Where the earlier release asserted…

The Fall-Off is a dense, high-stakes double album that plays like a self-reflective victory lap - and maybe a final chapter. It's also an overstuffed one. Across 24 tracks and more than 100 minutes, Cole delivers some of the sharpest rapping and most ambitious concept-writing of his career, but the…

Released on Valentine's Day 2026, Gyalentines II finds Popcaan doubling down on the melodic, loverman lane he's carved out over the last few years. The four-track project is a focused, romance-driven offering tailored specifically for his female fanbase, continuing his tradition of Valentine's-themed "gyal tunes" while refining the formula. The…

Jahmiel's True Luv EP is a romantic-themed dancehall project that highlights his versatility and emotional depth. As the title suggests, the project leans into intimate, soulful themes, stepping away from his more combative or strictly conscious work while still maintaining his grounded, thoughtful storytelling. The EP blends hard-hitting riddims with…

On a recent night in Lincoln Heights, KCRW and Make Out Music’s weekly showcase School Night returned to The Airliner, bringing together a lineup that captured three very different corners of the indie spectrum. With roughly 150 people packed into the room, the evening moved from high-energy crowd interaction to…

I always love getting introduced to new music, even when that music may not actually be new. A friend recently introduced me to The Summer Set, a pop rock band who have been around since the mid-’00s. Apologies to long-time fans, but this was my first time hearing them, and…