Last week we took a break from our normal posting schedule as to not distract from the anti-racism movement and protests. This week we’re amplifying some of our favorite current Black artists that we think you should check out. Let’s go!
Fever 333
I checked out Fever 333 after hearing Jason Aalon Butler (ex-letlive.) talk on Emo Nite’s June 8th panel on Racism in the Punk/Alternative Scene. On June 3, the band did a livestream to benefit Black Lives Matter & Minnesota Freedom Fund and just last week, they dropped the single “Supremacy.” Despite only being around since 2017, Fever 333 have already released two albums (Made An America (2018) and Strength in Numb333rs (2019)).
They had many festival appearances scheduled across Europe this summer but all of them are unfortunately cancelled/postponed due to coronavirus. In the past, the band has played festivals in the US and abroad, and has toured with bands such as Bring Me the Horizon, Thrice, The Used, Korn, Alice in Chains, and Underoath. Once concerts safely return, I’m hoping to be able to catch them on a tour or at a festival!
Visit the band’s website, follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and listen on Spotify or Apple Music.
Meet Me @ the Altar
For fans of pop punk, add some Meet Me @ the Altar to your playlist! So far, the band has two EPs and two 2020 singles available for streaming.
The band has members from Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey, and has played shows up and down the East Coast, and some in the Midwest. I’ve yet to be able to catch one of their shows, but you can bet I’ll be at the next one near me!
Grab some merch, follow the band on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and listen on Spotify or Apple Music.
Kaonashi
For those interested in heavier music, check out Kaonashi! This self-described emo mathcore band has recently signed to Equal Vision Records, and has shared the stage with bands such as Between The Buried and Me, Code Orange, and Knocked Loose. While they’ve only just begun getting the attention they deserve with the release of their third EP “Why Did You Do It?,” I can confirm they’ve always been this good. I caught one of their shows back in 2015 when they played a show in my hometown, and am stoked that people are catching on to this amazing Philly band.
Grab some merch, follow the band on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, listen on Bandcamp or Spotify.
Radkey
The Radke brothers started their punk rock band, Radkey, in 2013, when they were just 13 , 15, and 17. They quickly released their first two EPs “Cat & Mouse” and “Devil Fruit,” and played a European tour and Riot Fest Chicago that same year.
In 2014, they opened for Rise Against on the US leg of their world tour. Their show in Philadelphia was one of the first concerts I ever went to (I was 15 at the time), and I was amazed by the talent of people who were my age! Since then, the band has released 3 albums (Dark Black Makeup (2015), Delicious Noise Rock (2016), and No Strange Cats (2019)), and gone on numerous awesome tours. Rumor has it they have another album coming soon, too!
Visit Radkey’s site, follow the band on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, and listen on Spotify or SoundCloud.
Proper.
Though I’ve yet to see this band live, their songs have slowly but surely invaded my Spotify playlists. Their latest album, “I Spent the Winter Writing Songs About Getting Better” is an instant classic.
The band has toured much of North America and was scheduled to tour Europe this May. They’ve shared the stage with artists such as Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties, Iron Chic, and Future Teens.
Their bassist Natasha will be taking part in tonight’s Home, Like NoPlace Is There: Quarantine Emo Night, which starts at 7pm.
Visit Proper.’s site, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and listen on Spotify.
Teamonade
Despite only having 7 songs released so far (1 EP and 3 singles), I can confidently say that Teamonade is a band to follow. They’ve toured with Mat Kerekes (of Citizen), and have played fests such as You’ve Got a Fest in Pennslyvania, Snowchella, and Minechella. Their newest song, “goin thru it,” was released on February 14, 2020, and is truly relatable (and all around great). Another personal favorite is “Do & Die” from their EP released last year!
Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and listen on Bandcamp or Spotify.
Skatune Network
If you’re a fan of ska (or of fun!), then check out Skatune Network! Multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Hunter does covers of various popular Rock/Emo/Pop Punk songs, but makes them ska. Their two releases currently available on Spotify are Ska Goes Emo, vol. 1 (on which the first track is “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” need we say more?) and Pick It The Fuck Up (which includes covers of various Counter Intuitive Records bands, such as Prince Daddy & the Hyena and Insignificant Other).
I had the opportunity to see Skatune Network not once but twice at last year’s Fest in their hometown. If you haven’t had the chance to see them live yet, you absolutely have to! Their set was one of the most energetic and fun sets I caught that weekend (and I caught 29 of them).
Grab some Skatune Network merch and subscribe on Patreon, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, and listen on Spotify or Apple Music.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of Black musicians and artists, but it’s a place to start! If you’re looking for more Black artists to support, check out blackbandcamp.info, which includes over 1800 (and counting) Black Producers, Artists, and Labels. These Twitter threads of heavy bands, rock/metal bands, and emo bands, as well as this Spotify playlist, are more great discovery tools.
For information about how you can support the anti-racism movement, visit this linktree. It includes advice and resources for protesters, bail funds and mutual aid funds to donate to, and anti-racist readings/podcasts.
Black Lives Matter. Support Black Artists.