by Shawn Alexander
shawn@happens.vip
Wednesday Alternative Artist Discovery #Happens
Happy Wednesday! This week’s #HAPPENS Alternative Artist Discovery is Ax And The Hatchetmen. The Chicago sextet has been buzzing at Alternative with their single “Blurry Lights,” which just debuted on the Alternative Chart. Lead singer/guitarist Axel Ellis says, “Blurry Lights” was about a strange experience at the Van Gogh exhibit in Chicago a few years ago, it’s about not exactly having the fun time you thought you might be in for.” Big thanks to Jonathan Jacobs at Arista for VIP Access. Get to know Ax And The Hatchetmen on Artist Discovery Of The Week.
Yellowcard “Better Days” is #1 Most Added this week on the Mediabase Alternative Add Board. Congrats to Karen Glauber, Ted Volk & the Better Noise! It was worth the wait. “Better Days” is the title track from the band’s first new album in 9 years, out October 10th. The album was produced by Travis Barker, who plays drums on every song on the new record. “I started the record as one version of myself and came out the other side changed, says frontman Ryan Key who credits Barker with a significant impact on his personal and creative studio breakthroughs. “I went in knowing I needed help. I came out of it writing songs like I was 19 again.”
Rise Against “I Want It All” is #2 Most Added. The long awaited new single arrived last week. The band’s new album, Ricochet, arrives August 15th.
almost monday “jupiter f/Jordana” had a breakthrough week and is #3 Most Added with big new adds including ALT 98.7, KROQ, and a lot of new Audacy partners.
Remember King Falcon from #HAPPENS Las Vegas 2025 in February? They have new single out now about a toxic relationship and a massive ABC Localish feature airing this weekend. The Starting Line just released a new single this morning. The Happy Fits are back with new music. Dropkick Murphys have a new song with a message. Coming tomorrow is The All-American Rejects brand new single, “Easy Come, Easy Go.” Let’s go! Listen/Download & get Song Info on the latest new singles at the format on #HAPPENS Alternative Downloads HERE.
Follow up singles out this week from The Black Keys, Lola Young, and The Lumineers. I have the add dates for you on Alternative Impacting Songs HERE.
New Music Friday Albums out this week from Caamp, Frankie And The Witch Fingers, Mother Mother, Pulp, Turnstile, and Volbeat.
Arrows In Action “Cheekbones” is featured below on this week’s #HAPPENS Alternative Video Spotlight. It sounds very familiar, right?
KKDO (ALT 94.7)/Sacramento had a hot moment with Phantogram last Friday. KIWR (89.7 The River)/Omaha had The Ramona Flowers stop by The Morning Fiasco yesterday. Check out the smiles on Alternative Photos.
WRIS (106.7 The Resistance)/Madison celebrates 608 Day this Sunday. Kiernan will be broadcasting live throughout the day from different locations around Madison and handing out limited edition station swag and concert tickets to upcoming local shows.
ALTERNATIVE ALBUMS
New Albums Out This Friday 6/6
Caamp – Cooper Changes Color (Mom+Pop)
Frankie And The Witch Fingers – Trash Classic (The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway)
Mother Mother – Nostalgia (Warner)
Pulp – More (Rough Trade)
Turnstile – Never Enough (Roadrunner/Atlantic)
Volbeat – God Of Angels Trust (Republic)
MORE ALBUMS HERE
ALTERNATIVE GOING FOR ADDS
Impacting June 10, 2025
Arrows In Action “Cheekbones” (Nettwerk)
Balu Brigada “Backseat” (Atlantic)
The Lumineers “A**hole (First We Ever Met)” (Dualtone)
Malcolm Todd “Bleed f/OMAR APOLLO” (Columbia)
| ARTIST | Arrows In Action |
|---|---|
| SONG | “Cheekbones” |
| LABEL | Nettwerk |
“Cheekbones” is about situationships. It’s from Arrows In Action’s third album, I Think I’ve Been Here Before (Side A) released on May 16th. The Gainesville trio are now-Nashville based. The bands says, “Side A focuses on the positives of these themes, with a brighter sound, upbeat lyrics, and a catchy blend of pop and rock that anyone can fall in love with.”
Arrows In Action will be playing on the Summer School Tour from July 11th in Detroit through August 10th in Philadelphia with a 2025 Vans Warped Tour date in Orlando on November 15th. Find the tour dates HERE.
ALTERNATIVE BIRTHDAYS
ALT Happy Birthday wishes this week to Music Choice PD Mike Popadines (6/2), former Republic VP/Promotion, Rock Formats Drew Hauser (6/3), KYSR (ALT 98.7)/Los Angeles Afternoon Co-Host Stryker (6/4), KPNT (105.7 The Point)/St. Louis PD Tommy Mattern (6/6), New West VP/Promotion Joel Habbeshaw (6/6), WMRQ (Radio 104.1)/Hartford APD/Morning Host Amy Grey (6/6), WEQX/Albany PD Jeff Morad (6/7).
