Read Music Coast articles—news, features, and commentary on independent music—plus updates as our streaming app launches on iOS/Android in May 2026.
Sticky Fingers brought their first North American tour since 2019 to Portland's Crystal Ballroom, with Ruby Waters opening and Claude Bailey handling vocals on a night that felt less like a comeback and more like unfinished business finally getting settled.
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Bryce Vine leans into guitars, instinct, and pop-punk chaos on LET'S DO SOMETHING STUPID!, a John Feldmann-produced album featuring Tony Hawk, Goldfinger, State Champs, The Home Team, and more. Photo by Micala Austin.
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Victory Kid's new single "You're Alright" previews Catalyst, their May 24 sophomore album via SBAM Records. In a Music Coast interview, Harrison Nida and Carlo Ribaux discuss anxiety, long-distance chemistry, horns, strings, and turning personal collapse into growth.
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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.
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After a 2022 Ohio home raid led to songs like "Lemon Pound Cake" and "Will You Help Me Repair My Door," Afroman beat the deputies' lawsuit. A Music Coast look at the verdict, the three-day trial, and why the case mattered for free speech and artistic expression.
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Masayoshi Takanaka turned his sold-out Aragon Ballroom stop in Chicago into a two-hour city pop masterclass, with soaring guitar leads, dual percussion, keytar theatrics, and the AMAZONS guiding the crowd through a mostly instrumental set that still felt like a singalong.
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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.
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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.
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Max Marginal’s upcoming single “Never Enough” uses restraint, repetition, and atmosphere to capture the modern loop of desire, comparison, and quiet dissatisfaction.
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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.
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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.
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The Scratch's new album Pull Like A Dog pushes past the easy "trad metal" label and into something more physical, communal, and alive. In a full Music Coast interview, Daniel Lang talks instinct, live energy, space, pressure, and why the band's music works best when it makes bodies move.
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