Bella White performing at Aisle 5 in Atlanta, GA on May 15, 2026. All photos taken by Emily Harman.
hemlocke springs | San Diego
hemlocke springs performing at Music Box in San Diego, CA on May 16, 2026. All photos taken by Jay Trinh.
Yves | Dallas
Yves performing at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX on May 15, 2026. All photos taken by Maia Tharp.
Happy Landing | St. Louis
Happy Landing (with support from Motherfolk) performing at The Sovereign in St. Louis, MO on May 14, 2026. All photos taken by Michelle Zigler.
CMAT | Brooklyn
CMAT performing at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn, NY on May 14, 2026. All photos taken by Julie Hubschman.
Claire Rosinkranz | New York City
Claire Rosinkranz (with support from Stevie Bill) performing at Webster Hall in New York City on May 14, 2026. All photos taken by JoAnn Snavely.
Iron & Wine | Brooklyn
Iron & Wine performing at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn, NY on May 13, 2026. All photos taken by Julie Hubschman.
Kilby Block Party | Salt Lake City
Kilby Block Party featuring Lorde, Hayley Williams, Blood Orange, The xx, Alex G, Lucy Dacus, Jane Remover, flipturn, Between Friends, Briston Maroney, Glom, This Is Lorelei, Freak Slug, and Ethan Regan in Salt Lake City, UT on May 15 - 17, 2026. All photos taken by Isaac Nunez.
Alpha Wolf | Buffalo
Alpha Wolf brought the US leg of their “Let It Rip” tour to Town Ballroom last Friday, May 15th, delivering a night filled with relentless intensity and an impressive lineup of some of the best metalcore in today’s scene.
Resolve kicked off the night right with their mix of heavy breakdowns and melodic hooks. With seamless harsh to clean vocals from vocalist Anthony Diliberto, this France-based band immediately captivated the room. Playing songs exclusively from their latest album, Human (Extended Cut), Resolve showed the crowd exactly what their current sound is. By the end of their set, they undoubtedly walked away with many new fans, myself included, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.
A small but enjoyable detail of the night was how you could tell that the tour package likely chose their own between-set playlist. Not only did this keep the energy flowing from set-to-set, but it also gave some insight into the bands themselves. From Edith Piaf’s “Non, je ne regrette rien” leading into Resolve, to Sleep Token’s “Chokehold” seamlessly transitioning into Mugshot’s opening track, and the mix of country, rap, and metal before Gideon hit the stage, these transitions created a wonderful polyjamorous blended soundtrack for the evening.
Next up was Mugshot. Brutal and heavy all the way through, this California group owned the stage for their whole 25 minutes. Opening with “Die in Fear” from their latest album All The Devils Are Here and never letting the intensity dip, their set was a nonstop barrage of punishing breakdowns, frantic energy, and cathartic release, keeping the pit in constant motion with waves of moshing and two-stepping from start to finish.
By the time Gideon took the stage, the crowd was fully amped up. Everyone went wild as vocalist Daniel McWhorter took the stage, donning his signature Stetson, effortlessly commanding attention as the band launched into one of their newest singles, “Wrong One.” Gideon’s raw and aggressive hardcore brought an intense atmosphere to the room, which was only amplified when they called for crowd surfers a few songs in. From the opening moments through the closing notes of “No Love/No One,” Gideon set the room ablaze with an unrelenting barrage of mosh-ready riffs that left the floor in complete disarray while perfectly setting the stage for the headliner.
After a night of nonstop energy from every band on the lineup, Alpha Wolf closed things out with the most explosive set of the evening, both sonically massive and visually striking. The production alone was a standout, driven by pulsing lights, an enormous boombox looming behind the band, and their large banner with a graffiti-style logo. Guitarist Sabian Lynch immediately ignited the room as the first member to storm the stage, sending the packed Buffalo crowd into a frenzy before the rest of the band joined him for a crushing opening run of tracks.
Opening with “Sub-Zero,” Alpha Wolf wasted no time throwing the venue into chaos before tearing through fan favorites, including “Sucks 2 Suck,” and “Pretty Boy.” The band maintained an overwhelming level of intensity throughout the entire set, keeping the pit in near-constant motion. Every breakdown felt heavier live, amplified by the band’s chaotic stage presence and the crowd’s nonstop energy.
One of the night’s highlights came during “60cm of Steel,” one of my personal favorite Alpha Wolf tracks and originally a collaboration with Holding Absence. Live, the clean vocal sections were handled by bassist John Arnold, whose delivery captured the emotional contrast of the song perfectly while still fitting seamlessly into the band’s crushing sound.
Another memorable moment came during “Bleed 4 You,” when Alpha Wolf’s photographer, Olivia, joined the band onstage, adding an extra layer of excitement and personality to an already unforgettable set. From there, the band launched directly into “Bring Back the Noise” before closing the night with the unmistakable opening of “Akudama,” sending the packed Town Ballroom crowd into one final eruption of chaos.
Each band brought something distinct to the lineup, but together they created one of the strongest heavy tours currently making its way across the US.This is a show you do not want to miss. Check out the remaining dates here!
Words and photos by Kayla Kreller
Cobrah | Brooklyn
Cobrah performing at Brooklyn Paramount in Brooklyn, NY on May 8, 2026. All photos taken by Julie Hubschman.
Palomosa Festival | Montreal
Palomosa Festival featuring Xaviersobased, Thaiboy Digital, Lucy Bedroque, femtanyl, Sophia Stel, and Kinji in Montreal, QC on May 14 - 16, 2026. All photos taken by Ely Diaz.
Snail Mail | Portland
Snail Mail performing at Wonder Ballroom in Portland, OR on May 7, 2026. All photos taken by Maddie Stellingwerf.
Danny Brown | St. Louis
Danny Brown performing at The Sovereign in St. Louis, MO on May 7, 2026. All photos taken by Michelle Zigler.
Searows | New York City
Searows performing at Webster Hall in New York City on May 6, 2026. All photos taken by JoAnn Snavely.
Chet Faker | Ventura
Chet Faker (with support from aLex vs aLex) performing at Ventura Music Hall in Ventura, CA on May 4, 2026. All photos taken by Anthony Hughes.
Unprocessed | New York City
Unprocessed performing at Gramercy Theatre in New York City on May 3, 2026. All photos taken by Janae Stewart.
Jawdropped | Los Angeles
Jawdropped performing at The Echo in Los Angeles, CA on May 3, 2026. All photos taken by Valerie Loeblich.
Rolling Loud | Orlando
Rolling Loud is back! Rolling Loud, the world’s largest hip-hop music festival, is back for the year 2026 and was no short of an amazing experience. This year marks a stark change in Rolling Loud’s usual repertoire, as it is the second time the festival will only appear in the United States. Nonetheless, this year’s festival features a star-studded lineup of the rap game’s biggest names, along with today’s rising stars within the genre, Don Toliver headlining Rolling Loud for the first time. The May 2026 weekend in Orlando is something old fans and newcomers alike will not forget.
Most notably, the headlining act Don Toliver delivered one of the festival’s most anticipated performances of the weekend, tearing through fan-favorite tracks from across his catalog as fans moshed about the Under Armour Stage. Accompanied by intense pyrotechnics, immersive visuals, and relentless crowd energy, the festival reached another level, switching gears each night, sending the audience into maximum overdrive.
Throughout the weekend, many of the other artists felt that Rolling Loud was a return to basics! Featuring many underground/rising artists, like Esdeekid, SoSoCamo, and Snow Strippers, this festival marks a stark contrast to the usual star-studded lineup many fans have been accustomed to over the years. However, the energy and vibe remain, and in this writer’s opinion, the change is much welcomed.
Beyond the performances, Rolling Loud offered a fully immersive fan experience through an energizing lineup of interactive activations from fashion, lifestyle, and culture. Festivalgoers explored The Loud Theater, where fans got a chance to preview a trailer for the upcoming film Rolling Loud the Movie ahead of its nationwide theatrical release later this year. Some may remember that during Rolling Loud’s 10-year anniversary in 2024, Travis Scott, in a now-viral moment, brought out Owen Wilson during his set. This will be featured in the film, alongside appearances by major figures in modern hip-hop. Fans also gathered at Under Armour’s experience, which featured workout areas, cooling pods, hydration stations, and fan giveaways that definitely helped attendees avoid passing out and stay festival-ready. Elsewhere, a skatepark delivered a personal skate destination for fans, while the Hennessy Social Club provided amazing views overlooking the main stage from its huge second-story level. Rolling Loud never fails to bring the vibe beyond the stage, further expanding the festival atmosphere beyond the music itself.
Rolling Loud 2026 was such a successful transition into a new wave of hip-hop that, at the time of writing, the festival has already confirmed it will run it back next year, 2027, in Orlando. Rolling Loud, yet again, cements itself as a premier music festival that all music lovers, particularly hip-hop, should not miss, and Unclear Magazine cannot wait for what they have in store for us next.
Words and photos by Ryan-Samuel Borromeo
Arkells | New York City
Arkells performing at Racket in New York City on May 2, 2026. All photos taken by Julie Hubschman.
Maya Hawke | New York City
Maya Hawke performing at Bowery Ballroom in New York City on May 2, 2026. All photos taken by JoAnn Snavely.