WMSC 90.3 FM • December 23 2024

NIGHTMARE BEFORE SPINSMAS SPREADS MUSICAL CHEER ON DEBONAIR MUSIC HALL - 12/20/24 - WMSC 90.3 FM

It was like The Spins knew exactly what I needed to celebrate the end of the fall semester… 
New Jersey band The Spins celebrated the holiday season with their debut Nightmare Before Spinsmas at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck, NJ. The WMSC Unplugged alum explained that they typically have an annual Halloween show, but missed out on the chance this year – And thus, the Halloween Holiday Bash in the middle of December was born! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The lineup was New Jersey through and through, beginn...

WMSC 90.3 FM • October 16 2024

Cage The Elephant and Young The Giant – in Holmdel, NJ, 8/24/24 - WMSC 90.3 FM

I would see this lineup a thousand times over again if I could!
 
I listen to a lot of music (like… a lot). A question that is often asked of music enthusiasts is “what is your favorite song?” What a daunting question that is! Luckily, I have landed on an answer years ago that remains true to this day: “Cold Cold Cold” by Cage the Elephant. 
The moment the “Neon Pill” tour was announced, I knew I had to be there. If Cage the Elephant alone wasn’t enough to convince me, seeing that Young the Gian...

WMSC 90.3 FM • August 15 2024

Totally Tubular Festival Takes On The Rooftop at Pier 17, NYC, 7/18/24 - WMSC 90.3 FM

I was repeatedly asked “Wait, how old are you? Do you really like this music?”
Of course, I like this music! Where do you think our 2020s alternative songs would be if it wasn’t for the bands that came before them?
A few months ago my mom asked me if I wanted to see the “Totally Tubular” Festival in the summer. My answer was “Duh!” Without looking at the lineup, I knew that I was in for an epic night of 80s music.
I was even more excited to find out that the show was at the Rooftop at Pier 17 wh...

WMSC 90.3 FM • March 21 2024

TBT: Fall Out Boy performs So Much For (Tour) Dust Leg One in Holmdel, NJ - 8/5/23 - WMSC 90.3 FM

Let’s start with a confession: When this tour was announced, I fell to the floor outside of our general manager’s office and hyperventilated. I was immediately brought back to middle school – the good part: the music. 
Now that we got that embarrassing moment out of the way… onto the show!

Fall Out Boy performed for the first leg of their So Much For (Tour) Dust at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, located just 45 minutes or so away from Montclair State’s campus.
The first act of...

WMSC 90.3 FM • March 19 2024

Kim Dracula: America’s Gradual Decline In Morale - Irving Plaza, NYC 3/10/24 - WMSC 90.3 FM

The genre-bending metal artist dominates the New York City stage as they perform in their first-ever headline tour in the U.S. 
Alternative-metal-trap-screaming-everything-in-between artist Kim Dracula has quickly developed a following after their debut album A Gradual Decline In Morale released in July 2023. Just before, they were the opener for Avenged Sevenfold’s Life Is But A Dream Tour that same summer. 
After becoming an instant fan of this album (Unfortunately, this was just after they pl...

WMSC 90.3 FM • March 14 2024

TALK: Lord Of The Flies & Birds & Bees Tour 2024 - Irving Plaza NYC 3/8/24 - WMSC 90.3 FM

The family-oriented talent dominates the stage in his return to the States for his North American headline tour.
Canadian singer-songwriter TALK rose to fame for his 2021 single “Run Away To Mars,” which topped rock-alternative charts over the years – landing a spot on Sirius XM’s Alt-36 of 2023. 
He returns to the States for his first-ever headlining tour for his debut album, The Lord Of The Flies & Birds & Bees, after his 2023 tour supporting rock icons Young The Giant and Milky Chance. 
Talk...

WMSC 90.3 FM • August 10 2023

Yungblud, The Regrettes, Games We Play - Pier 17, NYC 7/14/23 - WMSC 90.3 FM

Photos and Review by Emily McCormack
The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City– Yungblud’s album 21st Century Liability released just a week before Warped Tour made a stop in Holmdel, NJ in 2018. I knew the album well by then, and was so ecstatic to not only see him perform, but have the chance to meet him at his merch booth. I could tell very quickly that he is not only an incredibly talented and appreciative musician, he is, above all, a genuine human being.
Since then, I haven’t missed a local Yu...

WMSC 90.3 FM • June 30 2023

Declan McKenna & Oracle Sisters - Wellmont Theater 6/4/23 - WMSC 90.3 FM

I’ve been to a bunch of concerts, yet I still have an intense bucket list of artists that I love and have changed my life in some way or another. I believe Delcan McKenna’s album Zeros came out in 2020 for the purpose of saving alternative music-lovers like myself during the most isolating year the COVID-19 pandemic forced upon us. (Continue reading for my experience – and more photography from myself at Krizia Mae Templonuevo at the end!)
Review by Emily McCormack
The line outside for Declan Mc...

WMSC 90.3 FM • June 28 2023

Young The Giant, Milky Chance & TALK - Pier 17 NYC 6/3/23 - WMSC 90.3 FM

Review and photos by Emily McCormack
The first act was TALK, an up-and-coming solo artist best known for his 2022 hit “Run Away To Mars,” a single that often appeared on my rock/alternative countdown show in fall 2022. He performed his then unreleased single “A Little Bit Happy,” which is now here and is one of my favorite songs to play here at our station! He met with some of his fans and his family that came in support by the merchandise booth- He was such a sweet person to speak to, and this...

WMSC 90.3 FM • December 26 2022

The Happy Fits - Webster Hall 12/17/22 - WMSC 90.3 FM

A conversation between music director Jared Tauber and music librarian & web director Emily “Emol” McCormack who were both at Webster Hall on December 17, 2022 for The Happy Fit’s Under the Shade of Green Tour:
JARED: What did you like about the concert, Emol?
EMOL: I’m good, thanks for asking. And you?
JARED: Oh sorry. Yeah, I thought “Changes” was really awesome. Where did you go during the concert?
EMOL: I was actually in the photo pit taking pictures, like these:
 
EMOL (CONT’D): I really...

WMSC 90.3 FM • December 22 2022

The Death of an Optimist: Album and Movie Review - WMSC 90.3 FM

Two years ago I wrote this article. Two years later, my work will see the light of day. This is The Death of an Optimist: Album and Movie Review.
By Emily McCormack
Since he started his musical career in 2014, alternative singer and activist grandson finally released his debut album, “Death Of An Optimist” on December 4, 2020. While fans have enjoyed his previous singles and EPs, including his trilogy, “A Modern Tragedy,” DOAO has long been anticipated.
What fans didn’t expect was his announceme...

Indie Band Guru • April 19 2022

Indie Band GuruRoyal & The Serpent LIVE @ Mercury Lounge - Indie Band Guru

First let me say it has been way too long since we have been able to go to a great concert, especially in a small intimate venue. Tours are finally returning and restrictions are easing after a full 2 years of pandemic fueled shutdowns. Let’s just say we are VERY excited here at Indie Band Guru. 


On Sunday, March 27th we were able to attend what turned out to be an EPIC show on grandson’s Death of A Tour at Mercury Lounge in NYC. Accompanied by rising stars Royal & The Serpent and The Oxymorr...