Grief Mop is an alternative rock/emo band from Portland, Maine, formed by songwriter Joseph Lacy. The band's debut EP, You Were Right Here But So Far Away, was released in 2024, featuring heavy, beautiful songs that blend emo and alternative rock influences. The music explores themes of grief and memory, dedicated in part to Lacy's late friend and musician, Tim Landers. Grief Mop is signed to Sunday Drive Records and includes members from bands like Transit and Infernal Diatribe. Their sound has evolved containing more shoegaze and post-rock elements with their debut LP for Sunday Drive Records set for release in October 2025.

RIYL: Hum, The Appleseed Cast, Mock Orange, Starflyer 59

Armor for Sleep is an American emo rock band from New Jersey founded by Ben Jorgensen in 2001. Nash Breen and Peter James "PJ" DeCicco later joined the band after leaving fellow New Jersey band Prevent Falls. Jorgensen stated the name of the band comes from his early experiences of writing music and not being able to sleep. As he recalls, "I guess when I started the band I was kind of, like, retreating in my room and I kind of couldn't really fall asleep, so I started playing music. I just thought of the name Armor for Sleep, because it was really, the music was keeping me from passing out! Which was something I was procrastinating on." Armor For Sleep originally signed to Equal Vision Records, where they released their first two albums, Dream to Make Believe in 2003 and What to Do When You Are Dead in 2005. The band signed to Warner Brothers/Sire Records in 2006, explaining it was "time for a change", and released their third full-length album Smile for Them on October 30, 2007. On August 20, 2008, the band announced an extended play (EP), entitled The Way Out Is Broken before ultimately disbanding. After a 15 year hiatus, the band returned with a new full length for Equal Vision Records called The Rain Musuem and are now gearing up for their 5th full length LP titled "There Is No Memory" set for release in November 2025. Their sound has that classic early 2000s emo/post hardcore sound, appealing to fans of bands like Thursday, Senses Fail, Hidden in Plain View, The Early November and the like.

Winter is the musical project of Samira Winter who plays a combination of alternative rock, shoegaze, dream pop and indie pop. The singer-songwriter and guitarist has been a mainstay in Los Angeles’ music scene for over a decade, carving out her own niche of gloriously detailed and eclectic dream pop under the name Winter. After growing up in Curitiba, Brazil and playing in her first bands in Boston, she relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 and fell in love with the city. She found a sense of belonging in its DIY rock community—the basement of her longtime Echo Park home was host to countless shows and even Winter’s first practices—and she grew attached to L.A.’s cosmic, inspiring aura. But at a certain point, Samira was craving a change of scenery to facilitate self-growth, a painful, but necessary realization that brought about a move to New York City. Leading up to her emotional coast-to-coast move, she spent roughly two years writing songs in a transitory state: often in between tours, in different cities, and in various sublets. The resulting 13 tracks became her new LP, Adult Romantix—her Winspear debut, the follow-up to 2022’s landmark What Kind of Blue Are You?, and a goodbye love letter to her time in L.A.

Tired Radio is a Brooklyn, NY-based melodic punk band known for their raspy emo-punk anthems. Initially a solo project by singer/songwriter Anthony Truzzolino, it evolved into a full band with the addition of drummer Kevin Daly, bassist Jason St. Angelo, and guitarist Chris Schmidt. They are known for their energetic, anthemic songs that blend gritty punk rock, big melodies, and hooks you can hang your heart on.

RIYL: Beach Slang, The Lawrence Arms, Samiam, Jawbreaker, Hot Water Music, Leatherface, Goo Goo Dolls

Garage Sale is an Australian indie rock band based in Melbourne. The band blends elements of fuzzy indie rock, dream pop, slowcore, alt-rock and shoegaze.

Shiner is a post-hardcore / space rock band formed in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1992. They are known for their intricate, melodic sound, with heavy guitars and spacey atmospherics, often compared to Failure, Swervedriver, and Hum. The band initially consisted of Allen Epley, Jeff Brown, and Shawn Sherrill, with Tim Dow later replacing Brown on drums. After several lineup changes and releases, Shiner disbanded in 2003. However, they reunited in 2012 for a series of reunion shows and eventually released a new album, Schadenfreude, in 2020. The band is currently signed to Spartan Records and will release a new LP in fall of 2025.

Saturdays At Your Place is an emo band from Kalamazoo, MI. Their intimate lyrics pair with heavy hitting instrumental hooks and cleverly placed twinkly guitar parts to create a uniquely personal sound that has come to define the band.

Bed Bug Guru is a sludgy alt-rock band formed in 2022 among college friends who came together bonding over bands like DIIV, Duster, and Modern Color. Wanting to sound like a “bad trip,” the band’s output and live show drives off pedal effects and glitched out visuals. With their debut LP Double Scoop being recorded live to tape, Bed Bug Guru wanted to create an immersive experience for the listener meant to scratch a certain itch in your brain. Think shoegaze meets noise rock/slacker rock vibes meets heavy and grungy slowcore, but also catchy.

Bed Bug Guru is Jake Knoechel - guitar and Shane Malone - bass, vocals. Drums on the record performed by Cleburne Wilson.

Banquets is a punk rock band from Jersey City, New Jersey. It was formed by members of local bands including Static Radio NJ and Let Me Run. Known for a melodic, anthemic rock-influenced sound combining elements of indie-punk / emo/ and post-punk, similar to bands like The Menzingers, The Gaslight Anthem, Loved Ones, Saves The Day and The Get Up Kids. The band was active from the early 2010s until breaking up in 2016, however the band reformed in 2021 and will release a new LP in fall 2025.

Forming in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the Fall of 2016, Flycatcher began crafting dynamic songs centered around crushing swells of jagged guitar-hooks, propulsive drumming, and deftly emotive lyrics. Following a period of extensive gigging and writing through 2018, the band teamed up with Kyle Pulley of Thin Lips to produce the high-energy, kaleidoscopic textures of their debut album, Other Things. Shortly after the release, the band joined Joe Webster at PonderRosa Studios to begin work on their follow-up record. Released in Summer 2019, the driving, angular melancholy of Songs for Strangers saw Flycatcher develop their song-craft through cohesive arrangements and vulnerable, immersive lyrics. The band is now gearing up to release a new full length LP titled "Wrench" produced by Will Yip in October 2025.

Formed in 2022, Brooklyn Comic, alternative emo band from Sydney, Australia, are known for their raw and emotional lyrics, and powerful music. With a mission to raise awareness about mental health, the band resonates with listeners who are navigating their own struggles and seeking connection. Through their honest songwriting and powerful live performances, Brooklyn Comic has quickly become a voice for those who feel unseen or unheard. The band’s music blends emo, hardcore, indie and alternative rock, tackling themes such as loss, self-doubt, heartache and personal growth. As proud allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, Brooklyn Comic is also committed to fostering inclusivity and acceptance, both in the music industry and in the wider world.

RIYL: Movements, Citizen, Basement

Sainthood Reps are an emo/indie/post-hardcore band from New York. They have been known for their unique blend of grunge, post-hardcore, shoegaze, and emo since the late 2000’s. After releasing Monoculture in 2011 on Tooth and Nail Records, Headswell in 2013 on No Sleep Records, and a couple of singles here and there, the band spent several years pursuing other projects before eventually regrouping during COVID. Since 2022, the band has been in and out of the studio compiling new music that marks a definitive step forward without straying too far from their signature sound. The band are now signed to Smartpunk Records and will release their 3rd LP titled "Dull Bliss" in September 2025.Sainthood Reps consists of Derrick Sherman, Cesco Montesanto, Bradley Cordaro, and Jani Zubkovs, with Chris Smith featuring in live performances.

RIYL: Balance and Composure, Common Sage, Stay Inside, Superheaven

Idlewild is a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Edinburgh in 1995. They are known for their evolution from early punk-influenced sound to more melodic and experimental art rock styles including influences from R.E.M, The Replacements, The Smiths, Fugazi and everything in between. The band's lineup has seen some changes, with Roddy Woomble (vocals), Rod Jones (guitar), Colin Newton (drums), and Bob Fairfoull (bass) being the core members. Idlewild's discography includes nine studio albums, showcasing their diverse sonic landscape and willingness to explore new sounds, with a 10th LP slated for fall of 2025.

Worlds Worst are a Salt Lake City alternative/indie/slacker rock band who play guitar heavy 90s inspired fuzzed out noise pop. The band is gearing up to release their sophomore LP, American Muscle, which showcases the band continuing to perfect their unique approach to the indie, noisy, slacker rock sound with loud punchy guitars and big hooks.

Acceptance is a Seattle-based alternative rock band formed in 1998, known for their cult-classic 2005 debut album Phantoms, two EPs, and a subsequent reunion that led to their 2017 follow-up Colliding By Design and other subsequent releases including the recently released 20th anniversary reimagined version of Phantoms, called Phantoms/Twenty featuring several guest artists from the scene. After disbanding in 2006, the original lineup reformed in 2015 and has been active since, touring and releasing new material.

RIYL: The Starting Line, The Academy Is, The Maine, The Early November, Something Corporate

House & Home is an alternative rock band from Richmond, Virginia, formed in 2017, consisting of Pat Williams (vocals, guitar), Joey Grammer (guitar, vocals), Cole Bennett (bass), and Matt Stumpf (drums) and signed to Open Your Ears Records. The band is known for high-energy hooks, big melodies, poignant lyrics, and a powerful sound with intricate vocal work reminiscent of bands like Citizen, Balance & Composure, Sunday Morning and the like. They have released multiple albums and EPs, including their debut full-length Find Sense. Feel Love. Make Light (2020) and an upcoming sophomore LP titled "I Won't Look For You" coming November 2025.

Eastern Bleeds is an indie rock band that channels the sound of bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Twilight Singers and Hot Snakes. The band was formed by drummer Bob Penn after his previous bands The Jealous Sound and Racquet Club went on hiatus. Penn enlisted the help of a few friends -- guitarist Joe Rivera (Coco B’s, Black Swan Runners), singer Bill Kielty (O Zorn!, Who Rides the Tiger) and bassist Trent Steinbrugge (The Kite Eating Tree) -- to bring the project to life.

TAPE TRASH is a Norwegian duo comprised of Anders Magnor Killerud and Kristofer Mathias Staxrud. Drawing inspiration from the music that first sparked their passion for playing instruments during their teenage years, they craft a sound that blends elements of shoegaze, alternative rock, emo, and punk. Their music has been described as "in your face shoegaze/emopunk/indierock", known for its raw, anthemic quality and a "more-is-more mentality" existing in the space between ecstasy and panic. Killerud handles lead vocals, guitar, and keys, while Staxrud plays guitar, bass, and drums. They previously worked together in the band Ludvig Moon.

RIYL: Mew, Bloc Party, Jimmy Eat World, Broken Social Scene, Japandroids

Slow Crush is a Belgian shoegaze band known for their contrasting sounds, blending ethereal dream pop with crushing walls of noise. Formed in 2017, they've gained global recognition for their immersive and swirling soundscapes. The band, fronted by vocalist and bassist Isa Holliday, has evolved through lineup changes and label shifts, ultimately landing at Pure Noise Records for their upcoming third album, "Thirst," set to release on August 29, 2025.

Spoils System is a New York-based band formed in 2021 by Dan Coutant (vocals, guitar, keys), Sean Hansen (guitar, background vocals), David Fateman (bass), and Mark Frankel (drums). They are known for their melodic and often discordant indie rock, drawing on influences from their past work in the emo band Joshua (Doghouse Records). The band is gearing up to release their sophomore LP on Sweet Cheatah Records in summer 2025.