Articles

The Sh-Booms “This Is a Test…” EP Review + Al Ruiz Interview

Orlando soul‑psych‑funk collective The Sh-Booms return with first new music since 2019. This Is a Test… EP review + Al Ruiz interview + limited 12" vinyl.

Max Marginal — "Never Enough"

Max Marginal’s upcoming single “Never Enough” uses restraint, repetition, and atmosphere to capture the modern loop of desire, comparison, and quiet dissatisfaction.

Inside Nadya Tolokonnikova’s POLICE STATE: A Performance of Confinement, Resistance, and Radical Imagination at MCA Chicago

the Midwest premiere of Nadya Tolokonnikova’s newest performance installation—an uncompromising, visceral encounter with authoritarianism and the human will to create under pressure. Best known as a founding member of Pussy Riot, Tolokonnikova has spent more than a decade turning political resistance into art.

Warped Tour Turns 30: A Full-Circle Summer for a Scene That Never Died

By Cecilia Feliciano (@shotswithceci) — additional context and editor’s note by Music Coast. Editor’s note (Music Coast): This year marks Cecilia’s first time covering Warped Tour for us—she’s on the ground with camera in hand. Music Coast has deep roots with Warped: I (Shay) have covered it since the early days, even as a kid alongside my parents at Bohemia Afterdark. I can’t make it this year, but I plan to be at every stop next year if possible. In the meantime, we’re thrilled to have Cecilia representing Music Coast to the fullest.

COUCH release Big Talk: retro-soul pop with bigger stakes—and a live show scaled for rooms like Roadrunner & Brooklyn Steel

Boston’s seven-piece levels up with lush horns, mostly live instrumentation, and a candid, queer-affirming centerpiece in “Middle Man.” Plus: how they road-tested arrangements and rebuilt their show for bigger stages.

Music Coast at Reggae on the River 2025

The Music Coast crew, alongside artist Jubba White, arrived Thursday to a warm atmosphere filled with familiar faces and new energy. Despite a later-than-planned arrival, the team quickly settled in, setting up camp and preparing for the days ahead.

Music Coast at Riot Fest 2025: Community, Nostalgia, and Weather‑Proof Sets

For its second consecutive year at Chicago’s Riot Fest, Music Coast witnessed a milestone weekend defined by tighter operations, eclectic performances, and a fan community that feels as integral as the lineup itself.

BeachLife Festival 2024

Held May 3–5 at scenic Redondo Beach, California, BeachLife Festival 2024 delivered another unforgettable weekend of music, ocean breeze, and good vibes. With a powerhouse lineup including Sting, Devo, Seal, ZZ Top, Incubus, and more, the festival blended legendary acts with beach culture and culinary creativity—cementing its status as a staple for Southern California music lovers.

Pluginz at 10: from a viral Jack Rack® to a full-blown rock-lifestyle universe

Official collabs with Oasis, Ghost, Slayer, Megadeth & more, a Marshall reissue, build-your-own Jack Rack®, and a retail footprint that now runs through Guitar Center, Sweetwater, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shop, and beyond.

The Saints ’73–’78 storm North America: Kuepper & Hay with Mark Arm, Mick Harvey, and Peter Oxley bring the classic era to U.S. stages

For the first time, the original-era Saints material is being performed in North America—pulling from (I’m) Stranded, Eternally Yours, and Prehistoric Sounds—with an eight-piece lineup built to hit like 1977 and breathe like 2025.

Dubbest pivot to soul on “Autumn Rain” — a fogged-glass daydream with classic Dubbest DNA

After 16+ years in roots reggae, San Diego’s Dubbest step into soul with a slow-burn single that keeps their harmonies, melodic bass, and melancholy storytelling intact—while borrowing texture from Motown and Philly soul.

Shudder to Think return to the road: first U.S. tour in 17 years + “X-French T-Shirt” (Live)