Not Nearly is a progressive-minded emo/post hardcore band with an affinity for odd phrasing and pushing boundaries within the confines of their niche. Birthed by Ben Alfich and Tanner Norquist in their inhumanely hot garages in the suburbs of North Phoenix, and after numerous lineup changes, the band would ultimately solidify their lineup with Coba Westerman (after candidly meeting him at a Flagstaff bus stop during a snowstorm) and his ex Gold Season bandmate Johnny Natoli. Recording most of their own songs and booking their own tours, Not Nearly takes pride in their DIY aesthetic. They display themes of existentialism, apathy, bitter lyricism, and unpredictable compositions in their LP "Future Damage", available on all streaming services now.

https://linktr.ee/notnearly

With a variety of influences from indie and emo, to progressive rock and metal, Hallways combines these elements with strong post-hardcore roots to create a genre they call Sonoran Post-Hardcore. Rising from the ashes of two previous bands (Les Saisons and Broken Homes) Hallways formed in mid 2022. Hallways consists of Cameron Clark (guitar and lead vocals), Tre McCracken (lead guitar and vocals), Kevin McChesney (drums and vocals), and Jacob Marion (bass). Through the years the members of Hallways have played with acts like Eidola, Norma Jean, A Lot Like Birds, Hail The Sun, and Stolas.

https://linktr.ee/hallwaysaz

A Continent Named Coma is a post-hardcore/screamo band hailing from the sprawling desert neighborhoods of Glendale, Arizona with a penchant for immersive soundscapes and frantic riffing. The trio consists of Ryan Peterson on guitar, Tristan Martinez on bass and vocals, and Paul Quinones on drums. After having completed a successful release of their “Cicadas” EP and touring the Western U.S. with local genre cohorts in Live Longer Burn Everything, ACNC plans on bookending the year with Desert Grey 2023 and another release in late 2023/early 2024.

Crafted in the burning deserts of Arizona during the inevitable demise of previous bands, An Awful Mess is an amalgamation of all things 2000s. From the days of MTV and Taste Of Chaos, drawing influence from bands like Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday, and My Chemical Romance, the band seamlessly strings together the raw ferocity of live performance with touches of electronic production to cover all sonic ground. The band is comprised of vocalists and guitarists Andrew James and Aaron Mitchell, lead guitarist Ruben Arellano, bassist Troy Sanchez, and are rounded out by drummer Kenneth Mustafa.  After two years of pandemic-induced shelving, the band released their self-produced debut full-length titled "Beautiful Things", which blends elements of pop punk, emo, post-hardcore, and pop. 

https://anawfulmess.com

Having  performed in several bands such as Boldly, We Rise and The Hustlerz over the years, Chris has also been performing solo acoustic shows for over seven years. Chris sings songs that make you feel, striving to put on an incredible experience for the audience.

Emerald Isle’s take on incorporating the energy and flavors of heavy metal and electronic dance has been a refreshing element to local lineups — and it seems people nationally are taking notice. The band’s music demonstrates a visceral shift between light and dark, morphing unexpectedly in rhythm, vocal timing, and melody. The dueling vocals range between growling screams and soaring choruses — one moment, there are guttural bursts and hardcore punk; the next, a heavy breakdown with electronic melodies; and the next, an alt-rock chorus against a neoclassical backdrop. 

https://www.officialemeraldisle.com/

I am Anything is a 5 piece act from the Phoenix valley attempting to be a refreshing change up to the metal scene. With inspirations coming from Post Hardcore to Hardcore/Metalcore and even Prog Metal, comes a variety of music for almost any type of listener. Forming in late 2021, I am Anything is able to easily mix crushing riffs with beautiful melodies and grooves that will get anyone energeized. After a year of finding every single piece to the perfect puzzle, I am Anything will be releasing their first music video for a new song titled Beanfeast.

INEPT HERO is a Mesa/Tempe based punk/metal band. A mix of fast, hard hitting punk rock and heavy breakdowns that will have you reconsider your whole existence. Come see and think for yourself.

LIVE LONGER BURN EVERYTHING is a new screamo band from Phoenix, AZ. Trapped in dystopia and dying for change, the band shares members with A Continent Named Coma, Not Nearly, and Kenipshun Pit, and is known for their intense, energetic live shows and eclectic blend of 2000s emo and skramz. Hyper/late stage capitalism continues to divide us further financially, physically and spiritually. In order to cope, we are stuck in self isolation and survival. LLBE aims to bring light to the reality in which we live. The reality that working class people die every day to prop up the lifestyles of the rich.

It won't stay this way forever. Everyone deserves to thrive.

BIGSCREAMOMONEY

https://linktr.ee/llbe

Malaise is a five piece atmospheric space rock band from Phoenix Arizona. Taking influence from effects laden shoegaze acts like that of Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver and late 90s/early 00s heavier atmospheric acts like that of Deftones, Failure, and Hum, Malaise intends to bridge gaps between different rock genres and make underground atmospheric music more accessible by maintaining radio friendly sonics/aesthetics to engage a variety of listeners.

She's Not Breathing is a Phoenix-based band with a haunting, melodic sound inspired by bands like Evanescence, In This Moment, and Motionless in White. They solidified their lineup in early 2020 with Frankie Jewel on vocals, Tim Munsil on drums, Drayke Charles on guitar, and Ryker Gillespie on bass and back up vocals. After taking a 2 year hiatus due to the pandemic, this group of ghouls returned to the scene with new music sure to please all ears of the alternative music community. They recently released their latest EP titled “Melancholy" which you can find on any of your favorite streaming services! 

https://linktr.ee/shesnotbreathingofficial

Heralded by Alternative Press in 2021 as a “solid and extremely talented” standout band, Turn Zero are breaking ground among the newest names in modern alternative rock. 

Founded in 2018 by Emily (vocals), the Phoenix-based outfit made their debut the following year with “Animal.” The charged, melody-driven anthem set a distinct foundation from which their signature sound has continued to grow—although that progression has not been without experimentation. Their 2020 singles, “Petty” (featuring Nick Barker) and “Drown” (featuring Sore Eyes), strayed into notably softer territory, demonstrating Turn Zero’s balladic and acoustic sensibilities before they turned the atmospheric aggression up to eleven with 2021’s aptly named “Burn It All Down.” 

Since their most recent release, Turn Zero marks a new, heavier era that was kicked off by their release of Gaslight in April, 2023. Long standing fans can rest assured, though—this is a transcendence, not a transformation.

Breathing dynamic depth into the band’s sonic profile, their new iteration showcases alt-rock eclecticism while remaining grounded in the crisp, cathartic energy that has already landed them on lineups alongside the likes of The Home Team, Glacier Veins, and Nick Wheeler of The All-American Rejects.

The Spacers are a Phoenix, AZ based rock band formed in 2022. The band's blend of upbeat rock energy, sing along choruses, and searing guitar solos rounds out their rock-and-roll take on the pop-punk genre. In May 2022 The Spacers self-produced/released their debut single, Dead to Me, and in October 2022 the band released their first EP, Severance Package, followed up by another single, Drain Circle, in 2023. In addition to their recorded releases the band has been bringing their music to live audiences throughout Arizona and beyond.

Meech of Yesterdayssoup is a 25 year old poet based in Arizona. They have been writing poetry since their early middle school days. Yesterdayssoup was created 3 years ago as a way for Meech to navigate and heal from her trauma. Being transparent with their words and sharing them with whoever to see, in hopes of others finding comfort in these pages of writing, has helped them heal too. Art has brought comfort and light into Meech’s life when they had none, and that is what drives them to keep writing and creating.