When the unmistakable opening riff of “Teenage Dirtbag” rang out across the Ocean City boardwalk, time stopped. The rain was coming down in sheets, but no one cared - not the teenagers who were once on their parents’ shoulders, not the grown-ups reliving their youth, not the little kids shouting every word as if they’d lived it themselves. It was one of those rare festival moments where generations collide in song, proof that some anthems never fade - they just evolve.

What inspired the creation of this single?   While waking up on a quiet winter’s morning, my mind drifted to the people I’ve encountered and the stories they’ve lived. I started thinking about all the unfortunate souls who have lost their lives to substance abuse, and how many more will lose their lives, loved ones, and everything they’ve built. 

Interview with Wave Break's vocalist Kelly Barber. What inspired the creation of this single? Our bassist Tom had initially demo'ed out a riff and then Will took it and expanded on it, changed it up and demo'ed it into a full song. Then we wrote the other instruments and lyrics!

I had the opportunity to get some inside intel from Days of Disaster.  They are a new, up and coming band from the Michigan/Ohio area.  They have rocked at Piere’s Entertainment Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana multiple times.  They have already had the amazing opportunity to open up the stage for many nationally touring artists, such as Scotty Austin from Saving Abel, Josey Scott, the original voice of Saliva, Ill Nino, Hed PE, Tantric, Trapt, Plush and many more.

For any music fan, there’s something undeniably powerful about artists who channel their life experiences into their work. One band that exemplifies this is Florida's own The Haunt. This dynamic duo, composed of siblings Maxamillion  and Anastasia has taken the essence of their struggles and transformed it into a raw, emotive sound that resonates with listeners across the globe. Their latest album, born from hard times, showcases their personal growth and artistic evolution.

What inspired the creation of this single? “Freedom” was born out of a deep internal conflict — a feeling of being trapped in a world that demands so much conformity, while your soul is screaming for truth and liberation. I was reflecting on the systems we live in — political, social, economic — and how they often strip us of authenticity. But more than anything, it was inspired by the need to break free from those inner walls we build ourselves. It’s a cry for spiritual a

What first got you into music?   My soul connected with music from a very young age. I sang, danced, and played; it was in my blood (maybe “bones” instead?) from day 1. Okay, maybe day 2.

What inspired the theme or concept behind this album?   Rise is an album forged in angst and frustration with the world system as it stands, where the weak and needy are pushed aside and wealth is worshipped. Each song tackles an aspect of our dissatisfaction. It's time to change the world. It's time to rise. We chose rising smoke for the artwork for its ambiguity and connotation.   

On the eve of their much-anticipated support slot with Iron Maiden at the London Arena, Halestorm lit up The Gibson Garage in London, UK, with an exclusive meet and greet event for 60 lucky fans. Surrounded by an impressive collection of Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer guitars, the band connected with attendees in an intimate setting that celebrated both music and community.

How did you guys come together to form Downshift? Myself (Jordan Payne) and Aaron Parrett (a previous member) had written the songs on the album “one in the chamber” and we were looking to build the right group of guys around it. A mutual friend of ours was playing bass at the time, and introduced us to Jordan McAdams (drummer). The night before his tryout, another mutual friend of Aaron and I’s (Clayton barber), had reached out to me asking if I knew of any bands looking

What inspired the creation of this single?   Well, this song has been kicking around since the start of the band, it was one of the original early songs in our original line up. I really liked the lyrics, and they showed up really easily. I had the harmonies, and the structure pretty much dialed immediately. If memory serves, this song showed up with the riff and the title for some reason, so I wrote it based on the title.

What inspired the theme or concept behind this album?   The idea behind The Imperfectionist grew out of a kind of joyful rebellion — a refusal to chase perfection in a world obsessed with it. As a band, we’re more interested in honesty, in character, in the stories that come out of the cracks.   The album explores themes like tolerance, solidarity, absurdity, ageing, and the awkward beauty of being human. Musically, it jumps between genres — swing, Afrobeat, folk, cumbia,

What first got you into music? I remember being about five or six years old when my family took a trip to Daytona Beach, Florida. One evening, while we were having dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, my grandpa got up to sing karaoke. He chose What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. Watching him perform was unforgettable — he looked so joyful, and his energy lit up the entire room. In that moment, I realized I wanted to do the same: bring happiness to others through music

What first got you into music? Being born?   Seriously, as far back as I can remember, I was just absolutely obsessed with music. And by the look of the old family movies my parents still have, I was into music before my memories even began.   There’s a video of me runnin’ circles around a little inflatable kiddie pool in the back yard when I was about two with a little white plastic guitar, and I was making up songs. I guess you could say my first original song lyric

What inspired the creation of this single? "Hide Away" for some reason has a power to orient us as a band. We usually start our rehearsals with it. It’s a rock for us. What story or message does the song convey? Too often the art of living is traded away for a smaller personal narrative of sadness and disappointments. It sounds dreary when you say it like that. But that’s the idea behind it. It’s probably better if you just listen to the song.