Marian Phillips

As legendary bands in the scene continued to mature musically and grow away from the genres that they became known for, newly established musicians were creating blends that sparked new categories for scene music. In 2008, Fall Out Boy released their last album before their hiatus, and I Set My Friends On Fire popularized crunkcore. […]

In 2007, the scene was rocking harder and louder than anyone could have imagined. Myspace favorites such as Fall Out Boy and Paramore were crafting their emo sounds into unforgettable albums that established them as legends. While staying true to their roots in emo and punk, scene music introduced synthesizers and screamo elements to create […]

Black musicians are at the heart of alternative music’s history. Whether it’s punk, emo, metal or pop punk, Black people have played an integral role in creating what the music scene is today. However, they’re consistently looked over in favor of white musicians, who have a long history of commodifying off the creativity of Black […]

By 2006, scene culture had grown roots in every mainstream area possible. Myspace took over as the primary mode of social media communication, and bands spread like wildfire once they uploaded music. It was a whirlwind year, as music became more accessible to a larger group of people, Hot Topic brightened its lights and studded […]

Since the inception of the alternative music scene, men have been at the forefront. Historically, they have determined who can participate and are allowed in their spaces, creating a “by men, for men” mentality. As a result, the “boys’ club” of the indie, punk and the alternative underground emerged. Since then, women have had to […]

In 2005, an unexpected but revolutionary wave of scene music hit the mainstream. It was the year Myspace rose in the online ranks social media and became the most popular of its kind. It gave bands new avenues to introduce their unique sounds to the masses and familiarize the world with the classic scenester selfie […]

Alternative music genres that are distinctly queer and LGBTQIA+-oriented aren’t easily discoverable without the help of word of mouth. As platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitter continue to showcase bands who promote individuality and unapologetic expressions of gender and sexuality, LGBTQIA+ musicians continue to grow at a rapid pace.  Typically, alternative genres such as […]

The 2004 alternative music community turned out to be a pivotal moment in time for scene bands. As the two previous years set the foundation for the genre, it quickly expanded. Musicians started to experiment more on albums with genres outside of emo, punk and pop. It was the year scene music established that it […]

In 2003, major scene bands were gaining popularity on the Warped Tour circuit. The musical mixture of emo, pop punk and punk was growing in both the mainstream and the underground. As some of the millennium’s biggest names in the alternative scene started changing their sound, younger musicians joined in with their own take on […]