ABC - Alternative Rock News

Pearl Jam, Jack White, make 'New York Times' readers’ choice list of the greatest living American songwriters

Posted today at 10:05am

The New York Times released a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters back in April, based on feedback from more than 250 music insiders and six Times critics. The list drew criticism from music fans, so the paper has now decided to give them their say.

The Times has now released a readers' choice list of the 100 greatest American songwriters, noting, "As soon as we decided to make a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, we could guess how readers would respond to the results: with a combination of enthusiasm and outrage, quickly letting us know which of their favorites we had unconscionably forgotten."

"We didn’t want all that passion to go undocumented. So we invited readers to assemble their own list — with a formal poll," they added.

The new list is the result of over 25,000 ballots cast, resulting in “nearly 12,000 distinct choices,” which were narrowed down to 100 artists.

Of those 100 artists, many of them did not make the original list, including R.E.M. at #25, Jack White at #49, Pearl Jam at #52, Beck at #56 and Trent Reznor at #83.

Other songwriters recognized only by readers include: Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, The National, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Noah Kahan, Phoebe Bridgers, Justin Vernon, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and Dave Matthews.

Evanescence offers fans 'Sanctuary' at live album listening party

Posted today at 5:00am

Amy Lee from Evanescence performs at Marvel Stadium on Nov. 8, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Sam Tabone/Getty Images)

Sanctuary, the new album from Evanescence, officially comes out on Friday, but you can hear it today if you want.

The band has teamed up with Volume.com to host an album listening party, which starts at 2 p.m. ET. All you need to do is create an account and claim your free ticket. You'll also be able to ask the band questions, which they'll answer during a live Q&A after the stream.

Sanctuary, the follow-up to 2021's The Bitter Truth, drops June 5. It includes Evanescence's hit Devil May Cry song, "Afterlife."

Amy Lee and company will launch a U.S. tour in June. Spiritbox and Nova Twins will also be on the bill.

Isaac Brock lets his subconscious tackle grief on new Modest Mouse album, 'An Eraser and a Maze'

Posted today at 5:00am

'An Eraser and a Maze' album artwork. (Glacial Pace Recordings)

Modest Mouse's new album, An Eraser and a Maze, includes several songs one might interpret as being about grieving death. The track "Third Side of the Moon," for example, finds frontman Isaac Brock struggling to remember the color of someone's eyes.

Indeed, Brock tells ABC Audio he's lost people in recent years, including original Modest Mouse drummer Jeremiah Green, who died in 2022. He also says he's been thinking more about his own mortality as he watches his children grow up.

"I think about, 'Oh ... what kind of message can I leave them that makes them feel OK about people passing on?'" Brock says. "At some point they're gonna have to deal with that ... rather than just lamenting the death of people, how can I actually make the people who remain feel better about people passing on?"

The song "Dogbed in Heaven / Give It a Skeleton," meanwhile, might be triggering for those who've had a furry friend cross the rainbow bridge, though Brock says it isn't specifically about a dog, rather a "main character passing on, or on their way out and out, thinking about the people they used to love."

While death may be a motif on An Eraser and a Maze, it wasn't something Brock purposefully tried to tackle with the record.

"I kinda get out of my own way and let me subconscious do the writing," Brock says. "So to act like I intentionally was trying to write a record that approached death or even life or anything in any specific way isn't what happened. What happened is I just kinda let the record happen."

An Eraser and a Maze drops Friday. Modest Mouse will launch a U.S. tour Thursday in New Haven, Connecticut.

The Afghan Whigs announce new album and tour, release new song

Posted today at 2:00am

The Afghan Whigs will release a new album in August.

The project, Soft Control is due Aug. 21. A new single from the project, "Jungle Roux," is available now on streaming services. Soft Control is the band's first album since 2022's How Do You Burn? and also includes the previously released tracks "House of I" and "Duvateen."

In addition to the new album, The Afghan Whigs announced new tour dates in Europe and North America for the fall, starting Sept. 19 in Leeds, England. The North American dates begin Nov. 4 in Orlando, Florida, and are set to wrap up Nov. 21 in Austin, Texas. Tickets go on sale Friday via the band's website.

In a statement about Soft Control, Whigs frontman Greg Dulli says he's "worked hard on my inner peace" and is no longer "an angry young man."

"Now, I know what I’m doing and there’s a quiet confidence that comes with being able to back it up," he adds.

Jack White reveals pieces from his debut gallery exhibit

Posted yesterday at 4:00pm

Jack White at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Disney/Cristian Lopez)

Jack White is giving fans a look at some of the pieces in his debut gallery exhibit, These Thoughts May Disappear, which opened Friday at the Newport Street Gallery in London.

The rocker shared a photo on Instagram of a construction pallet painted white with gold adornments on it; White appears to take a dig at President Donald Trump in the caption.

The caption notes that the piece is “The Presidential Model” from a fake company called The Pallet Cleanse Corp.

“I created this fake pallet company that thinks they need to make specific pallets for different institutions and businesses. All the way up to the ultimate 'Platinum Model' and of course this one is 'The Presidential Model,’” White explains. “I made this with the exact same ornamentation bought from Home Depot and the same gold craft paint that they used in the Oval Office atrocity.”

White also shared photos of an amplifier that was turned into an art piece. According to the Instagram post, White asked six artists to turn Pano Verb amplifiers into works of art, with the only rule being that it still needed to work. The one posted on Instagram is titled “Electric Lotus" from artist Shepard Fairey.

These Thoughts May Disappear runs through Sept. 13. According to the description it features "sculptures made with found objects including interactive works, installations and furniture design products."

Jack White is set to hit the road on a U.S. tour in July. A complete list of dates can be found at jackwhiteiii.com.

Slightly Stoopid announces details of 12th Closer to the Sun destination event

Posted yesterday at 3:00pm

Miles Doughty of Slightly Stoopid performs onstage during Concerts In Your Car's Slightly Stoopid's Drive-In Concert at Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center on October 09, 2020 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Slightly Stoopid has announced details of the 12th edition of their three-day Closer to the Sun destination music event.

The band is scheduled to play three shows at the festival, taking place Jan. 9-13, 2027, at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

The lineup also includes reggae artists Stick Figure and rapper Wiz Khalifa, along with Iration, SOJA, The Movement, Tribal Seeds, Little Stranger and The Hip.

In addition to music, the weekend includes curated activities like workshops, morning yoga and a basketball invitational.

Packages go on sale to returning Closer to the Sun guests June 9, with remaining rooms open to the general public starting June 10. More info and a complete lineup can be found at closertothesun.com.

Next up, Slightly Stoopid will headline their inaugural Field of Dreamz festival on June 13 in their hometown of San Diego. They will also kick off a summer tour on July 23 in Cleveland, wrapping up Aug. 23 in St. Augustine, Florida.

A complete list of dates can be found at SlightlyStoopid.com.

Björk previews new song ‘Never Bloom’ as part of new exhibition

Posted yesterday at 12:10pm

Björk performs on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Björk has given fans a preview of her new music.

A new song, "Never Bloom," is part of echolalia, a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Iceland that opened on Saturday.

Björk shared a clip of the song and visuals on Instagram, giving fans some insight into how the work came to be.

In the post, she writes that the visuals were done with painter Natalia Kleszczewska and computer graphics director Natalie Liu, noting Kleszczewska “painted the creatures and the backgrounds” and Liu “shaped the digital dimension of the work.”

In her role as creative director, Björk says she brought in the "singer-songwriter tradition" in which "emotionally precise things happen inside the structure of a song." She says she guided the color palettes, textures and the "environments the music happens in.”

Björk says creating the visuals for the song took seven months, although she adds that she doesn’t think of herself as a “visual artist,” noting, “because my heart is in music.”

echolalia runs until Sept. 9 at the National Gallery of Iceland. When the exhibition was announced in December it was revealed that the new song was from Björk's “forthcoming album, currently in development."

The most recent Björk album is 2022's Fossora.

Death Cab for Cutie releases ‘Stone Over Water’ from new album 'I Built You a Tower'

Posted yesterday at 10:27am

'I Built You a Tower' album artwork. (ANTI- Records)

Death Cab for Cutie is offering up another preview of their upcoming album, I Built You a Tower.

The band has just dropped the new track "Stone Over Water," noting the song is "about trying to convince everyone around you and most importantly, yourself, that you are okay when you definitely are not."

I Built You a Tower, dropping Friday, is the band's 11th studio album and the follow-up to 2022's Asphalt Meadows. The album also includes the single "Riptides,” which Death Cab for Cutie performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night.

Death Cab for Cutie is set to play a show in Pasadena, California, on Tuesday, and will then launch a North American tour on July 10 in Minneapolis. A complete list of dates can be found a DeathCabforCutie.com.

Little image aims to 'KILL THE GHOST' but retain the innocence on new album

Posted yesterday at 5:00am

'KILL THE GHOST' album artwork. (Hollywood Records; Credit: Erick Frost)

After breaking out in 2023 with the single "OUT OF MY MIND," little image is back with a new album, KILL THE GHOST.

Vocalist/guitarist Jackson Simmons tells ABC Audio that following up on the success of "OUT OF MY MIND," which hit #3 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, did put some pressure on the band.

"When something like that happens, it's kinda hard for it not to affect the process a little bit," Simmons says. "But I think we tried really hard to just focus in on what's next and, yeah, it feels like we made something fresh."

Certainly, the title KILL THE GHOST suggests that little image isn't interested in dwelling in the past. On the album's title track, Simmons sings, "Never gonna change if I don't/ Cut the cord and let it go."

"For us making the record, it felt like the perfect theme for our posture towards making the songs," Simmons says of the title KILL THE GHOST. "Trying to get out of the way of our own selves and trying to just focus in on the music and what we want to say."

However, KILL THE GHOST isn't all about cutting the past loose. The album's cover is an image of a rabbit, which is meant to reflect the innocence of youth.

"I feel like the rabbit just kind of represents the innocence and the magic of what we're trying to do as artists and as creatives," Simmons says. "It felt ... very centerpiece to just the world that we created on the album."

KILL THE GHOST is out now. Little image will resume a U.S. tour in support of the album Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sum 41 releasing 25th anniversary edition of 'All Killer No Filler'

Posted Monday afternoon

Sum 41's 'All Killer No Filler' (Island Def Jam)

Sum 41 is celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut album, All Killer No Filler, with a new reissue.

The Canadian rockers are set to release a special 25th anniversary edition of the album on limited-edition two-LP silver vinyl and CD, each featuring an alternate cover and five unreleased live tracks.

Originally released May 8, 2001, All Killer No Filler featured the hit single “Fat Lip,” which went to #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. Another single, “In Too Deep,” peaked at #10 on the same chart.

The album would go on to be certified double Platinum by the RIAA.

The 25th anniversary edition of All Killer No Filler will be released July 24. It is available for preorder now.

In April, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley shared a post reflecting on the 25th anniversary of “Fat Lip,” calling it "The song that changed our lives forever."

Sum 41 disbanded in 2025 after releasing a final album, 2024's Heaven :x: Hell, and completing a farewell tour.

Violent Femmes book four 45th anniversary shows

Posted Monday afternoon

Violent Femmes admat (Courtesy of Violent Femmes)

Violent Femmes will celebrate their 45th anniversary with four special shows in LA this summer.

The "Blister in the Sun" band will perform at LA's The Bellweather on July 28, 29, 30 and 31. Tickets are on sale at TheBellweatherLA.com.

On July 28 and 29, the band will play both their 1983 self-titled debut album — featuring "Blister in the Sun," "Add It Up," "Gone Daddy Gone" and "Kiss Off" — and their 1984 sophomore album, Hallowed Ground, in full.

On July 30 and 31, the band will play selections from 1986's The Blind Leading the Naked with special guest Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, who produced that record. Greatest hits and fan favorites will be performed on all four nights.

Violent Femmes formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1981. Their debut was RIAA-certified Gold and then Platinum. It finally made the Billboard 200 chart in 1991, peaking at 171.

Michael Stipe to perform on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

Posted Monday afternoon

Michael Stipe attends Apple TV's "Shrinking" special FYC event at Quality Italian on May 02, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)

Michael Stipe is headed to late-night TV.

The R.E.M. frontman is set to be the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday night, where he’ll be joined by producer Andrew Watt.

Stipe and Watt recently teamed up to record the song “I Played the Fool,” which served as the theme to Steve Carell’s HBO series The Rooster. The song featured blink-182's Travis Barker on drums and former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on guitar and piano.

Back in April, Stipe made an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he debuted an unreleased song, “The Rest of Ever,” from his upcoming debut solo album. During the appearance he revealed that the long-in-the-works album, which Stipe’s been teasing since at least 2022, will finally be released at the end of 2026.

L7 bassist Jennifer Finch to miss summer tour

Posted Monday afternoon

Jennifer Finch of music group L7 performs onstage at The Art Of Elysium Presents WE ARE HEAR'S HEAVEN 2020 at Hollywood Palladium on January 04, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium)

L7 is about to head out on a summer tour, but it will be without bassist Jennifer Finch.

In a post on Instagram, the "Pretend We’re Dead" rockers announced that Finch will not be part of the tour due "to a recent health concern requiring extended treatment." Filling in for Finch will be Tsuzumi Okai, who toured with Limp Bizkit in 2018.

"We send Jennifer our love and support and ask that everyone respect her privacy," L7 added.

The tour is set to launch Thursday in Toronto and includes a June 17 show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

L7 recently announced dates for The Last Hurrah farewell tour, kicking off Oct. 9 in Phoenix, with dates scheduled through Nov. 14 in Los Angeles. The Instagram post said Finch will be back for that trek, noting, “we’re looking forward to rocking with her in the fall on our Last Hurrah tour. She’s a tough cookie.”

A full list of L7 dates can be found at l7theband.com.

Dave Grohl joins Sepultura onstage in LA

Posted Monday morning

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs during 'Amazon Music Live' Season 4 at East End Studios on Oct. 30, 2025 in Glendale, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Amazon Music)

The final night of Sepultura's North American tour had a special guest on drums: Dave Grohl.

The Foo Fighters frontman joined the Brazilian metal legends at The Wiltern in LA to play drums on "Kaiowas," from their 1993 album, Chaos A.D. You can watch the fan-shot performance on YouTube.

The concert was not only the final show of the tour, it was the band's final show in North America. Their current tour is a farewell trek, and the last show of their career will take place Nov. 7 in São Paulo, Brazil. Also on the bill is Metal Allegiance, an all-star group made up of members of Dream Theater, Testament, Mastodon and others.

Sepultura was founded in 1984 by brothers Max Cavalera and Iggor Cavalera, though neither is currently in the band. Guitarist Andreas Kisser recently told Metal Hammer that he reached out to the Cavalera brothers to be part of the final Sepultura concert, but they declined the invitation. However, former members Jean Dolabella and Jairo Guedz will be performing.

Phoebe Bridgers announces Madison Square Garden show

Posted Monday morning

Phoebe Bridgers performs with boygenius at the Outdoor Theatre during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 22, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

Phoebe Bridgers is set to take the stage in New York City.

The singer will headline Madison Square Garden on Thursday, with registration for tickets open until 11:59 p.m. ET Monday.

The show will certainly be a bargain, with tickets ranging in price from $1 to $20. Proceeds will go to the Community Justice Exchange's Immigration Bond Freedom Fund, which works to release people from immigration detention while their cases are processed.

More information on the show and ticket registration can be found at PhoebeBridgers.com.

Bridgers made her solo return to the stage in early May with a show at The Liberty in Roswell, New Mexico. It was her first solo concert since finishing her tour in support of her latest album, 2020's Punisher, in 2023.

Following that tour, Bridgers toured with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus as boygenius in support of their debut full-length album, 2023's the record.

Alt-J's Joe Newman releases new JJerome87 song, 'Mr. Alligator'

Posted Monday morning

Joe Newman of alt-J performs onstage on February 18, 2023 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Netflix)

Alt-J frontman Joe Newman has released a new song called "Mr. Alligator" with his solo project, JJerome87.

"The path of a Preacher. The rise of a Predator," Newman says of the track. "'Mr Alligator' is the story of a grifter with a penchant for coercive control, violence and a soulless indifference towards their fellow man."

"Mr. Alligator" will appear on the debut JJerome87 album, The Canyon, which also includes the previously released songs "Brush Me Like a Horse" and "Track and Field." The record was previously released exclusively on Newman's website and will be available wide on June 26.

Newman will play a show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City on Oct. 3.

Alt-J's most recent album is 2022's The Dream.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Kaleo shares new version of 'No Good' off upcoming 10th anniversary 'A/B' reissue

Posted Friday evening

'A/B' reissue artwork. (Elektra/Atlantic)

Kaleo has released a new version of "No Good," a track originally off the band's 2016 album, A/B.

The reworked recording, dubbed "Still No Good," is one of several bonus tracks included on the upcoming 10th anniversary reissue of A/B.

"It's a grittier, swampier, bluesier version of the original that we've been playing around with for years," frontman JJ Julius Son says of "Still No Good." "I’m happy we finally had the chance to record it."

Along with "No Good," A/B included Kaleo's breakout hit, "Way Down We Go," and the single "All the Pretty Girls."

The A/B reissue is due out June 12. Kaleo will launch a 10th anniversary A/B U.S. tour in June.

Shinedown premieres video for 'EI8HT' song, 'Young Again'

Posted Friday afternoon

Shinedown's Brent Smith performs on 'American Idol.' (Disney/Eric McCandless)

Shinedown has premiered the video for "Young Again," a track off the band's just-released new album, EI8HT.

The clip cuts between the band performing in a field and footage of kids running around and playing with each other, which fits with the nostalgic, Breakfast Club-referencing lyrics.

You can watch the "Young Again" video on YouTube.

EI8HT, the aptly titled eighth Shinedown album and the follow-up to 2022's Planet Zero, dropped Friday. It also includes the singles "Dance, Kid, Dance," "Three Six Five," "Searchlight," "Killing Fields" and "Safe and Sound."

Shinedown is currently on a U.S. tour, which continues Saturday in Tampa, Florida.

Violet Grohl premieres 'Bug in the Cake' video alongside new 'Be Sweet to Me' album

Posted Friday afternoon

'Be Sweet to Me' album artwork. (Auroura Records/Republic Records; Art direction & design by Samuel Burgess-Johnson)

Violet Grohl has premiered the video for "Bug in the Cake," a track off her debut album, Be Sweet to Me.

The clip finds the daughter of Dave Grohl hanging out in a house while the homeowner lounges in the pool and vacuums. You can watch it on YouTube.

Be Sweet to Me dropped Friday and also includes the single "THUM."

Violet will launch her first-ever solo tour Friday in Los Angeles, and she's performing on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on June 3. While she's performed on TV before with her dad, the Fallon set will mark her official television debut as her own artist.

Speaking of Violet's dad, he'll launch a North American stadium tour with Foo Fighters in August in support of their new album, Your Favorite Toy.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Almost monday debuts new song, 'skinny dip'

Posted Friday afternoon

"Skinny dip" single artwork. (Hollywood Records)

Almost monday has premiered a new single called "skinny dip."

"Driven by bright melodies and steady forward motion, the song continues to highlight the band's ability to pair lightness with emotional resonance," a press release reads.

The "skinny dip" music video is available to watch on YouTube.

"Skinny dip" marks the third new almost monday single of 2026, following "no more regrets" and "leaving is easy." The band put out their debut album, DIVE, in 2024.

Almost monday is currently on tour with Young the Giant and Cold War Kids.