Take a trip down memory lane with us, back to the year 1999, where a band was forming over AOL. This band would go on to redefine pop-punk forever, and shape the narrative of what the genre could be and who it was for - everyone.

This band would become the quintessence of the early 2000s, with a talent for saying what needs to be said and giving their listeners a place to be fully themselves. And now, this band is more relevant than ever, and everything we need right now. 

That band is The Starting Line.

We’ve been fans of these icons since the Say It Like You Mean It days, and we’re positive that it’s still impossible to get enough of The Starting Line. And right now - with their new album on its way - we get the joy of announcing The Wild Honey Pie Pizza Party, featuring a super special solo set from Ken.

And this is not just any Pizza Party. This one is extra special, because we will be celebrating the release of Eternal Youth, out on September 26. Ken will be playing the hits from their entire discography - including some of our next favorite songs.

Meet us in Woodstock, NY, on September 25 at Tinker Street Tavern for The Wild Honey Pie Pizza Party featuring The Starting Line. There will be Paulie Gee’s pizza with GF and vegan options, delicious ice cream inspired by Vacation® Inc. and created by Cherries Ice Cream for dessert, endless Spindrift® SODA, classy Maker’s Mark cocktails and Voodoo Ranger beer, Vacation® Inc. sunscreen and Vessel Life Science plant goodies, and so much more. It’ll be a night to remember forever. Presented by Spindrift®. 

Come early on September 25 for a meet-and-greet with the animals of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary hosted by Vacation® Inc. at 4pm. They will melt your emo heart! This is also the perfect opportunity to explore Woodstock before the doors open for the show at 7pm. All ticket sales will be donated to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, and this is a great chance to learn all about the amazing work they're doing. You can also learn more here about what they do.

And stay late for a special emo set by our friend, DJ Harlan, who will be taking over Tinker Street Tavern from 10pm-12am after the show! 

Tickets are now sold out but:

Book a room at The Herwood Inn in Woodstock for two free tickets. Or, enter our giveaway for the chance to win two free tickets, a year’s supply of Spindrift® SODA, and a signed record. You can also bid in our auction to win everything above, plus a 15 minute hang with Ken before the party, and a signed guitar! 

We get to throw these parties thanks to some incredible brands that care. We are so grateful to Spindrift®, Voodoo Ranger, Vacation® Inc., Vessel, Maker’s Mark, and Consequence, our exclusive media partner, for making these dreams come true.

Greek electronic-pop artist Σtella’s newest single “Monster” contemplates whether we should love or fight our inner demons. Despite its dark title, the track is light and airy with joyously rhythmic synths that pair perfectly with Σtella’s smooth vocals. The monster she sings about is not something to be feared, but rather something to be understood and possibly even accepted. Sometimes the hardest person to love and to forgive is yourself, but Σtella leans into this possibility as she sings, “love the monster inside / I’ll forgive you now cause you’re ready.” The introspective track is melancholic in its optimism, but it leans into a belief that perhaps the key to becoming the best version of ourselves is to accept the pieces we are not as proud of. “Monster” is the latest track off of Σtella’s upcoming album The Break, which comes out January 24th.

“Remember Pluto,” the latest single from emotional pop outfit, Clever Girls, feels the way The Breakfast Club ends: like summer turning into fall while David Bowie’s “Heroes” plays in the background as we hold a triumphant fist in the air. This isn’t just because of the dreamy, wailing guitar that has textures reminiscent of Robert Fripp’s celestial sound. It is also because the Vermont-based four-piece is releasing anxieties with this track and looking forward to new beginnings. They’ve created a song that sounds like the ending track of one movie and the beginning of another. It’s got this us-against-the-world attitude and the “us” is ultimately the self. “Tilt your head back / Wait for all of it to pass,” sings the band’s primary songwriter, Diane Jean (vocals, guitar), acknowledging that letting go of their faults and tensions can lead to major growth. Jean notices that finding ways to forgive yourself for some of the more reckless aspects of being alive can only make way for positivity, and with the help of the rhythm section made up of Toby Sullivan (bass) and Rob Slater (drums), it is possible to do this with an easy-going bop, a swing in your step, and a smile on your face.

The Birmingham-born quartet, The Brook & The Bluff, have released their first full-length record, which shifts from soft rock to soothing, melodic grooves seamlessly. One harrowing single from this long-awaited LP is "Hallways," a cold-weather cry to a long-lost love. Though lyrically a little ambiguous, the emotional poignancy of this track comes through its musicality and that classic layered harmony the band is known for. This is a soft, gorgeous song that nourishes a gentle, end-of-fall feeling but will still be listenable through the winter. Listen to "Hallways" on The Brook & The Bluff's debut album First Place.

Cue the melancholy horn section and prepare to fall even deeper in love—Andy Shauf is back with an irresistibly catchy new song. “Things I Do” is the first solo track Shauf has released since his The Party album in 2016, and it is the perfect taste of what’s to come from his fifth studio album, The Neon Skyline, out January 24. Combining his signature jazzy baroque-pop style with beautifully crafted lyrics, the Canadian musician tells the story of someone walking into their neighborhood dive bar, only to find their former significant other with another man. He sings, “Thought you'd be happy to see me / But you said, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ / Why do I do the things I do / When I know I am losing you?” Andy Shauf has revealed that although the stories contained in the songs are fictional, there is some glimmer of truth. They are all based on the same scenario—one guy going to a bar, which is what Shauf was doing during the time he was writing this album, and how we process lost love.

The latest single from Londoners, Oh Wonder is a lush alt-pop track. "Better Now" is a smooth, easy listen that quickly escalates from oceanic and cool to a stellar display of pop music prowess. Oh Wonder is the indie duo consisting of Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht, who garnered quick acclaim from critics and music lovers alike when they released a single every month for the year of 2014. This new single displays what the band does so well: complement each other both vocally and musically. Vander Gucht's vocalization in the last minute of the song is essential and gripping. Listen to "Better Now" wherever you stream!

Halloween may be over, but the spirit of ~spooky season~ continues with Drug Store Romeos' haunting new track, “Now You’re Moving.” The group has defined their sound as “dream pop trip-hop,” drawing influences from dub and “outsider” music, as well as 90s slowcore bands like Belly, Mojave 3, Slowdive and Cocteau Twins. Although these influences are apparent throughout the tune, Drug Store Romeos' approach is entirely unique. Lead singer Sarah Downey’s ethereal voice floats majestically above a prominent drum beat and bassline, creating a feeling that is simultaneously peaceful and hectic. The dreamy melody and trance-like ambiance are further accentuated by the song's masterful production—different sounds trick your ears by bouncing across audio channels. With just one recorded track released to date, all we can hope is that this trio from Fleet, Hampshire comes out with more.