Music For The Misfits

May was filled with beautiful new tracks by a roster of talented alternative pop, rock, and indie artists that have all created sounds that I simply couldn't live without, I hope you enjoy this Round Up as much as I did!

Rising North East star Tom A. Smith has officially opened the doors to "Tommy's Dance Place", and honestly, you’re going to want an invite.

London quintet French Dogs have officially reached their definitive milestone, and I am completely hooked. Their 10-track debut album, 'Here’s to Pretending', is an instantly captivating body of work that reveals a beautifully expansive sonic identity from a band we already knew possessed serious grit.

Scarborough Open Air Theatre played host to one of the biggest names in rock music. Alanis Morissette who has dominated the alt-rock scene since her 1995 debut ‘Jagged Little Pill’ put on a show to remember in the sold-out arena with a greatest-hits setlist adorned with political messaging and breath-taking musicianship.

Two decades after their monumental debut changed the alternative rock forever, Evanescence are proving that their reign is nowhere near over. The gothic rock icons have officially returned with their highly anticipated sixth studio album, 'Sanctuary', and it’s already making massive waves.

Aside from being completely taken by the brilliant imagery of a 'Naked Brunch', we are mesmerized by the actual music this London four-piece is putting into the world. 'Bitter Soul' is the softly spoken, stunning alternative dream release that served as our introduction to the band, and it has us completely hooked.

'Easy Times' is the latest release from Los Angels-based band seeTrees who are blending influences taken from classic rock, and Americana and bring in a hint of lyrical mastery. With the release of their latest feel-good track that celebrates the endo f trying times and anticipates easier days on the horizon we had to have a chat to get to know the band a bit better!

Some songs you can tell were written at 2am in a quiet room. David Raine's 'Ball of Light' is one of those. You can feel the smallness of where it started, and somehow that makes it sound enormous.

Noir Addiction is the dark industrial rock band that landed on our radar through recently released single and the music video for 'How She's Got It'. Raspy vocals cut through the mix with mantra-like lyrics, supporting the foundation for this rambling heavy rock release.

To step into Zoe Konez’s latest album, 'Everything’s Fine', is to willingly enter a dreamlike state. It is a rare kind of sonic sanctuary, and gently pulled me out of a negative mind spiral and dropped me into a world where I could simply float. Written, recorded, and entirely self-produced by Konez between the contrasting energies of Brixton and Brighton, this 11-track collection is her most open-hearted release yet; an intimate, self-produced realization that the life you once chased no longer fits.

Paul Louis Villani isn't politically motivated, does not proclaim to have any answers, nor pretend to know how to fix any of what is going wrong, however he's got feelings and perceptions, which he turns into music. Lately they've been telling him that something feels off, so he's decided to share those feelings, 'Who Do You Belong to Know? (Great Southern Land)' is the result of that, and it gave us some questions for him to answer. Get to know Paul Louis Villani on musicforthemisfits.com.

Not all opening acts complement their headliner, but Ry-Guy proved to be the perfect match. Blending gently spoken verses with a mesmerizing display of vocal range, their frontman commanded the stage from the moment he stepped on it. Backed by a tight setup of drums, guitars, samples, and keys, the band delivered a wildly streamlined musical chaos that perfectly bridged the worlds of alt-rock and shoegaze and brilliantly opened the evening for Deadletter!

Last week we spent our weekend at Vestrock in Hulst, a beautiful little town in the south of The Netherlands. Vestrock is a three day festival for music lovers of indie pop, rock, rap, hip hop, shoegaze and everything in-between. Aside from the festival's main stage, it features several smaller stages, tents, a wooden chapel, and a very nice food area! We enjoyed music from Captain, Paceshifters, The Wombats and Chloe Slater to name a few.

For the misfits who wear their hearts on their sleeves, Basciville's 'Love In The Time Of The State' is a beautifully devastating sanctuary. This soothing alternative pop release instantly pulls on your heartstrings, gently drawing you in with delicate guitar shimmers and floating, wandering vocals that make a careful entry into the mix.

If your brain is fried from a brutal stretch of work, Maudlin Strangers has delivered the perfect sonic reset button. Their single "Spaghetti Western" is a brilliant breath of fresh air that practically begs you to lean back, let go, and allow the music to wash over your senses. It’s a beautifully unhurried slice of alternative pop-rock, driven by a softly swaying rhythm and velvety vocals that gently carry you through a mesmerizing musical journey. The track effortlessly showcases the refined vision of Los Angeles native Jake Hays, who first launched Maudlin Strangers as a solo indie project back in 2010. After making waves independently and expanding into a full band made up of close friends, the project caught the attention of BMG/Vagrant Records. That partnership led to their acclaimed 2015 label-debut Overdose EP and a major North American tour alongside Bad Suns. With "Spaghetti Western," Hays and company prove they’ve mastered the art of the slow burn. It’s the kind of atmospheric, genre-blurring track that feels custom-made for the misfits who find comfort in the cinematic shadows of alt-rock. Stream it, unwind, and let it ride.

If you’re drowning in the mid-afternoon slump, watching the office clock tick backward, Tablefox brought us the ultimate antidote. Their electrifying new single 'Into Your Eyes' doesn't just wake you up, it shakes you alive with a fierce, enigmatic brand of rock that demands to be heard.

I rewrote the intro to this review multiple times but I'll just dive straight in; The Vices hit the mark, overdelivered, and captivated from the beginning until the end of their only Dutch headline show of 2026 at Amsterdam's Paradiso and I'm grateful I didn't miss it.