Before their performance at Shabang Festival, I sat down and talked with the members of Almost Monday, an indie pop band from San Diego, CA. The three members, Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar), and Luke Fabry (bass), recently finished their first full international headline tour this past March. At the beginning of the year, they released the deluxe version of their debut album, DIVE, with their hit “can’t slow down” hitting #1 on Alternative Radio.

With the resurgence marked by last year's "Childhood Eyes" EP and a massive U.S. tour, Yellowcard has proven they are far from fading into the annals of pop-punk history. Their latest collaboration, "A Hopeful Sign," with neoclassical/post-rock ambient artist Hammock, further cements their innovative spirit. As they prepare for an even bigger tour this summer with Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard's momentum is undeniable. We had the chance to sit down with frontman Ryan Key to discuss their latest projects and the band's enduring legacy.

In his latest album, "Garde-fou," Julien Barbagallo delivers a masterful showcase of art pop that transcends language barriers and captivates listeners with its timeless charm. Released on March 15th, 2024, this home-made production, recorded solo from his Australian residence and beyond, reflects Barbagallo's unwavering dedication to crafting elegant melodies and poetic lyricism.

In his fourth album, "Embrace," Marius Lauber, better known as Roosevelt, takes us on a musical journey of rediscovery, breaking free from the confines of his studio in Cologne to reconnect with the essence of why he embarked on his artistic voyage over a decade ago. This album not only expands Roosevelt's sonic universe but also lays bare his most personal lyrics to date, making it a compelling chapter in his evolving career.

San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival has always been more than just a music event — it’s a celebration of the city’s cultural heartbeat. And nowhere is that pulse felt more viscerally than at Dolores’, the beloved open-air dance space dedicated to uplifting the Bay Area’s queer and trans communities. Returning to Golden Gate Park this year, Dolores’ is poised once again to be one of the festival’s most joyous, unapologetic, and electrifying spaces.

Wonderfront Festival kicked off last Friday in sunny San Diego, California; situated on Embarcadero Marina Park North, it offered views of the bay, the city landscape, and the Rady Shell. The lineup served a mix of artists, ranging from groovy hip-hop acts to dreamy alt-pop sensations to iconic indie-rockers. 

As I have attended more concerts in SLC, there is no doubt that people shout “Take your shirt off!” very early in anyone’s set, it is genuinely disturbing sometimes. Montell Fish, an American singer, himself said “You guys are supposed to be religious, I don’t know about this ‘take your shirt off’, definitely not taking it off mindset”. It can be easy to tell if someone is from Utah at a show because some Utahns are definitely one to say “Take your shirt off” starting during one of the first few songs at any male show, and continuing the rest of the set. 

To start off the day, Cardinal Bloom, a local band consisting of Josh Thomas (guitar), Nathan Adair (drums), Joey St. John (lead singer), and Jacob Silvester (piano and keys) played one of the two bigger stages at the venue. Anyone who played at this stage immediately was taken back by the beautiful mountains that take up a majority of their gaze. I can honestly say that something that sets this band apart is that each of them have majestic hair that captivates anyone in their audience bringing about the rock within their indie-rock genre.