MUSIC JOURNALISM

Everyone’s an Idol: Yungblud at the Theater of the Clouds

"While on his IDOLS World Tour, Yungblud was welcomed to Portland, Oregon, with a sold-out show at the Theater of the Clouds. Fans waited across the barricade for the 28-year-old British punk artist, holding signs asking for hugs, blown kisses and even to come up on stage. Queue Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs / Luke’s Wall” from their 1970 album as the lights dimmed and smoke flooded the stage. Yungblud came onto the stage wearing a cheetah print vest, black sunglasses and leather chaps with crosses down the legs. Within the first minute of him being on stage, confetti cannons were blown and his vest was no longer, sporting an Iggy-Pop-like shirtless stage vibe. Halfway through his nine-minute opening song of “Hello Heaven, Hello”, he proceeded to pour beer over his head as well as the audience—those who were graced with his beer spillage and cup were overjoyed."

More: https://indiealt.com/2026/05/everyones-an-idol-yungblud-at-the-theater-of-the-clouds/

Indie/Alt's 2025 Albums of the year

The Indie/Alt team rewinds to look at some of the most influential albums to come out in 2025. With almost every mainstream and up-and-coming artist releasing an album in 2025, our picks were not without struggle! Our favorite albums range from Lady Gaga’s Mayhem to Turnstile’s NEVER ENOUGH, making for an eclectic look at the albums released in the past year.

More: https://indiealt.com/2025/12/indie-alts-2025-albums-of-the-year/

Its Djo time! Three sold-out nights at revolution hall

Djo, better known as Joe Keery, began his weekend-long stint in Portland, Oregon, at the PNC Live Studio. The singer kicked off his Back On You World Tour with three consecutive sold-out nights at Revolution Hall. Before the first night of tour, Djo greeted a group of 10 giveaway winners at the PNC Live Studio with an intimate meet-and-greet and interview. Interviewed by host Tamara Dhia, Djo answered questions about his newest album, wrapping Stranger Things, recording at the iconic Electric Lady Studios, and more. Afterwards, he met and chatted with fans in the studio before packing up and heading over to Revolution Hall for soundcheck.

More: https://indiealt.com/2025/04/its-djo-time-three-sold-out-nights-at-revolution-hall/

INhaler rocks portland's roseland theater

Alternative rock band Inhaler took to Portland’s Roseland Theater on Friday, October 8th, during their North American 2024 tour. The Dublin, Ireland-based band has been touring the U.S. for almost two years now as they transition to their Open Wide World Tour which was announced along with the release of their newest single “Your House” on October 29th. The single was followed by the announcement of their third studio album Open Wide which will be released on February 7th of 2025. The band of four, consisting of Elijah (Eli) Hewson on lead vocals and guitar, Robert (Bobby) Keating on the bass, Ryan McMahon on the drums, and Josh Jenkinson on lead guitar, sports a new logo on the Open Wide album cover of Inhale ®. 

More: https://indiealt.com/2024/11/inhaler-rocks-portlands-roseland-theater/

the great impersonator by halsey: album review

American singer-songwriter Ashley Frangipane, better known as Halsey, released their fifth studio album The Great Impersonator on October 25th, 2024. Halsey has been working on this album since her diagnosis of Lupus SLE and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in 2022, following the birth of her first son, Ender Aydin in 2021. As Halsey battled for her life against her chronic diseases, she found herself in a place between life and death, reflecting and relying on music as she went through treatment after treatment for her illnesses. Halsey took to X on October 26th to say: “underneath the costumes and the makeup, The Great Impersonator is an album about nakedness. I wrote each word with the confident terror of a person who might not see tomorrow. Nothing mattered and somehow everything did. It made me brave and it made me scared. I hope you love it.”



More: https://indiealt.com/2024/10/the-great-impersonator-by-halsey-album-review/

The resurgence of bob dylan

A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold, was released on Christmas Day just last month and has already created a prominent and demanding resurgence of Bob Dylan. With lead actor on the project Timothee Chalamet, the film brought in not only Bob Dylan, folk and music fans but also modern cinema, alternative and Chalamet fans alike. The casting of Chalamet was not only a great choice based on his looks alone, but it is clear that he brought in an even wider audience to see the movie. His character targets a market that a Bob Dylan biopic may not have reached otherwise.



More: https://indiealt.com/2025/01/the-resurgence-of-bob-dylan/

Clancy by twenty one pilots: album review

Clancy has been a long time coming from the band, Twenty One Pilots, one of which has been planned since the beginning of their 2015 album, Blurryface, by lead singer, Tyler Joseph. The evolution of the band’s music, albums and storyline has been such a joy to be a part of and I’m so lucky to have seen it all play out since 2015. Not only has the complex storyline progressed and come to an end, the band’s music has pushed all of their boundaries, somehow encapsulating sounds from each album before while creating something completely new, Clancy. The synthetic beat in “Midwest Indigo” is reminiscent of Vessel’s “Semi-Automatic” while “The Craving” is a continuation of Blurryface’s “Tear in My Heart.” While listening to “Lavish” and “Vignette” we find completely fresh beats and lyrics. The drumming is complex and simple with Josh Dun’s perfect pairing to Tyler’s vocals and lyrical genius (although I for one was disappointed to have been given another album without Josh’s vocals, but that’s personal). The album further follows Tyler’s struggle with depression: “Next Semester,” “Backslide,” “Vignette,” “Navigating” and “Snap Back” are the most direct to this approach. “Next Semester” and “Navigating” have a brand new bass and guitar pace that the band hasn’t quite picked up until now. Tyler seems to always pair his most intrusive thoughts into the most alternative fast-paced rhythms, much like in “Not Today.” While Blurryfacehas a special place in my heart, Clancy might very well be their best album. The band has truly outdone themselves and Clancy is both a beautiful continuation and conclusion to the Blurryface storyline.

More: https://indiealt.com/2024/05/clancy-by-twenty-one-pilots-album-review/