justin pierre

Flashback to your 2000s scene phase. You’re a day out from a road trip and focused entirely on prepping. Does that mean double-checking your suitcase or gas tank, though? Of course not. You’re more concerned with loading up your iPod with alternative summer hits. Fortunately, even in the wake of widespread technological innovations, some basic […]

There’s nothing more devastating than a band breakup. If you’ve been invested in the alternative music scene for more than a day, you probably know that feeling all too well. If not, then it’s just a matter of time… We’ve been fortunate enough to follow a number of our favorite 2000s scene outfits through long-lasting […]

Side projects have the special ability to give artists the chance to express themselves in whatever manner they choose without snobby genre lords or the (sometimes self-imposed) shackles of their previous works confining their sonic decisions. Sometimes these new bands go in an intentionally more mainstream direction, while other times the word “commercial” is never […]

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 […]

The first decade of this century began in the wake of boy bands and nü metal, so no one truly knew which sounds and bands would break out this time around. Well, “the scene” became a widely used (and misused) phrase, and bands decided to become more egalitarian.  Read below for more on both points, […]

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 […]

Some music fans actively prefer artists to parse out singles instead of an entire album at one sitting. Which is cool, but it can get frustrating when a band leave you hungry for more. Like in the case of Anakin, the ’90s-tinged alternative-rock outfit from San Diego. Today AltPress is premiering “Starshine,” the third installment […]

Patrick Stump is the chameleon of the music world—his soulful tones fit in with pretty much every genre. Luckily for us, he’s spent his years alongside fronting Fall Out Boy proving just that, collaborating with artists across the spectrum and making some pretty unforgettable tracks in the process. In the spirit of celebration for Stump’s […]

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 […]

With the decade coming to an end, it’s hard to believe that 2010 was already 10 years ago. From post-hardcore to pop punk, the scene did not disappoint. We saw major releases (and some temporary final releases) from My Chemical Romance, A Day To Remember, Circa Survive and Underoath, just to name a few. Read […]

Right now, Josh Cain doesn’t seem really concerned. The Motion City Soundtrack guitarist doesn’t seem anxious or worried about the month-long series of dates his band have planned next month. He’s got more pressing affairs to address.  “I’m trying to figure out how I run my Roomba with a Christmas tree in the house,” Cain […]

Motion City Soundtrack announced a series of U.S. headlining dates for next year that begin on New Year’s Eve. The band announced the the January run on Monday on social media.   Read more: Is Ryan Reynolds giving Deadpool a nod in Taylor Swift’s video? In the official announcement, they had a simple message for […]

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK have finished work on their sixth album, recorded in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, at the venerable Pachyderm Studio, the facility where Nirvana crafted In Utero all those decades ago. The band teamed up with producer John Agnello (Jawbox, Manchester Orchestra) to create an album of songs frontman Justin Pierre describes as “fun to […]

Motion City Soundtrack Go This review originally ran in AP 288. On Go, Motion City Soundtrack have successfully navigated both personal and aesthetic maturity, making this a win-win situation for themselves and fans. Their brisk pop sensibilities, strident vocal melodies and rock-solid propulsion remain in top form. But while no one comes close to capturing […]

The Company We Keep (feat. Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack) will be releasing a new 7-inch on Apr. 24 via Drexel University's MAD Dragon Records (MDR) and MCS' own label, The Boombox Generation. Check out the cover art and the band's upcoming tour dates below. More info is here. 3/8         The Loving Touch                                           Ferndale, MI 3/10       […]

Motion City Soundtrack performed live at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota last November. You can check out some high-quality footage from the show–in which the band perform “Better Open The Door,” “Last Night” and “Everything Is Alright”–below. The band is wrapping up work on their fifth album, with a summer 2012 release […]

Check out an exclusive stream of Koo Koo Kanga Roo's song “Ninja Training,” featuring Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack. The song is from the band's self-released EP, Midnight Slushie, out Sept. 13.