Tag: Alternative music

Alternative Nation: Chicago Exhibition Captures the Raw Energy of ’90s Music

Behind The Gallery presents: Alternative Nation: A Retrospective. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Alternative Nation: A Retrospective

A Raw, Unfiltered Look at the Rise of Alternative Music

Behind The Gallery proudly presents its latest exhibition, Alternative Nation: A Retrospective—a visceral journey through the explosion of alternative music and culture from the 1990s to the early 2000s. (Magnum PR, 2025)

Debuting in Chicago and hosted by After, the cocktail bar from Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy, the exhibition features never-before-seen and classic images of Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Meat Puppets, and more.

The Photographers Who Shaped an Era

This unprecedented show brings together the iconic work of five visionary photographers—Joseph Cultice, Jonathan Rach, Chris Cuffaro, Kevin Westenberg, and Scarlet Page—whose lenses helped define the way we remember the era.

“This show isn’t just a trip down memory lane—it’s a time capsule of a moment when music felt dangerous, emotional, and deeply human,” says Behind The Gallery founder and curator Stephen Dallimore.

Each photographer was trusted by the bands, capturing the raw, unfiltered moments that defined a generation. Their work documents the cultural shift when grunge, industrial, and alt-rock went from the fringes to the forefront—changing not only the sound, but the very image of music.

A Time of Creative Rebellion

The 1990s alternative scene gave voice to a generation navigating alienation, identity, and emotional extremes.

  • Grunge acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam rejected polished mainstream aesthetics, embracing vulnerability and grit.
  • Industrial pioneers like Nine Inch Nails fused electronics with rock, exploring darker, confrontational themes.

These photographs are more than concert shots—they’re portraits of authenticity, rebellion, and the raw pulse of an era when music was deeply felt.

Not Just for Nostalgia

While many of these artists are now considered legacy acts, the exhibition is curated for both longtime fans and a new generation craving authenticity.

“In a digital age where connection can feel shallow, there’s something powerful about experiencing these raw, analog images,” says Dallimore. “It was a time when music felt fresh, exciting, and dangerous—an era that still carried a sense of mystery.”

Photographer Inclusions by Artist

Chris Cuffaro: Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden
Joseph Cultice: Aphex Twin, Björk, Danzig, Marilyn Manson, Meat Puppets, Smashing Pumpkins
Jonathan Rach: Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Melvins
Kevin Westenberg: Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, White Stripes
Scarlet Page: Björk, Chris Cornell, Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson, NIN, Placebo, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins

Event Details

📍 Location:
After – Curtis Duffy’s Cocktail Bar
1338 W Fulton Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607

🗓 Exhibition Hours:

  • Opening Night: Friday, August 15, 2025 | 6:30–10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 16 – Wednesday, August 20 | 4–10 p.m.

🎤 Artist Talk & Q&A:

  • Saturday, August 16 | 5:00 p.m.
    Curtis Duffy hosts a conversation with Jonathan Rach & Joseph Cultice

Raw, Real, and Relentless: De’Wayne Delivers with ‘highway robbery’

De’Wayne ushers in a new era with electric single ‘highway robbery,’ out now via Fearless Records. Photo: Shai Lev, used with permission.

Los Angeles, CA – Houston-born and Los Angeles-based rock star De’Wayne is ushering in a new era of music with the electric single “highway robbery.” Accompanied by a striking music video that brings the song’s rebellious spirit to life, De’Wayne is setting the stage for a bold new chapter. (Big Picture Media, 2025)

This song is a high-energy anthem that captures De’Wayne in his purest form, blending shimmery guitars, soulful funk-infused vocals, and irresistible, two-step-ready drums. Produced in collaboration with Dylan Bauld (flor) the track channels influence from Ohio Players to Nina Simone to Bruce Springsteen while remaining unapologetically modern and true to himself.

“The title was inspired by a heartfelt connection with my partner. She didn’t literally steal my heart—but I left the door wide open for it. I wrote this song as a poem first, and it evolved into this rock’n’roll soul influence. It feels good to be locked in!” – De’Wayne

Following the release of his 2024 EP I Want You More Than Anybody Wants You, De’Wayne has solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with. Constantly pushing boundaries, he is redefining Black rock music one song at a time.

With “highway robbery,” he establishes himself as a fearless trailblazer in rock, fusing genres with raw authenticity. De’Wayne is on a mission to show the world that neither people nor music should be confined to one box.

Shedding any and all creative inhibitions, De’Wayne plays rock ‘n’ roll spiked with funk, R&B, alternative, and magic. Accessing the duality of humanity, he harnesses the divine feminine through musicality manifested loud with no shortage of soul, sex, sweat, and style.

Emerging in 2017, the Houston-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer has amassed tens of millions of streams across Stains [2021], My Favorite Blue Jeans [2022], and I Want You More Than Anybody Wants You EP [2024].

In the wake of the latter, UPSET placed him on its cover and urged, “it’s time to sit up and pay attention” to De’Wayne. KERRANG! went as far as to christen him “one of the most electrifying new performers in the alt. world today.” He has established himself as the rare force of nature equally comfortable on a track with either Chase Atlantic and Masego, IDKHOW, Waterparks, grandson, WILLOW, Good Charlotte, and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine.

Beyond headlining packed shows on multiple continents, De’Wayne and his band have ignited festival stages at Gov Ball, Lollapalooza, Reading & Leeds, Bonnaroo, and BottleRock.

His music may have brought him close to the divine feminine in the past, but he finally learned how to open his eyes and gently embrace it—which is exactly what he does on his new music. Inspired by Lenny Kravitz, Parliament Funkadelic, Marvin Gaye, Ohio Players, Bill Withers, Nina Simone, Prince, Brandon Flowers, and Bruce Springsteen, he levels up as a proud black man, a son, a friend, a leader, an artist, and lover.

Molotov concert at The Espee in San Antonio

Mexican rock band Molotov will be playing at The Espee on December 6, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In concert news: Mexican rock band Molotov will be playing in San Antonio on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at The Espee (1174 E Commerce St. San Antonio, TX).

After more than three decades rocking stages worldwide, iconic alt-rock innovators, Molotov has earned the reputation as the most powerful band in Mexico, and international recognition as one of the pillars of rock-en-español. The band, who recently changed management teams and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the Latin Grammy’s ‘23, will be playing at San Antonio’s The Espee on December 6. Tickets are available HERE. The band is working on new music and a massive global tour for ’24. (CSW Publicity, 2023)

Founded in Mexico City in 1995, Molotov has built a career on striking at the heart of the corrupt political establishment and the ruling classes with, what the media have called, “poison-dart lyrics” and a unique sound that combines a potent mix of punk, rap, hip-hop, post-grunge alternative rock, and traditional Mexican music. Composed of multi-instrumentalist musicians Ismael “Tito” Fuentes de Garay, Miguel Ángel “Miky” Huidobro Preciado, Juan Francisco “Paco” Ayala González, and Randy Ebright, Molotov’s hard-hitting lyrics, sung by all four band members, resonate with millions of fans throughout the Americas and the world. Their singular, insurgent, biting, and powerful style has marked a before and after in the international alt-rock scene, catapulting Molotov to the top of the record charts in Latin America, Spain, and the US.

Molotov is a rock-en-español powerhouse: from playing to 55000 fans at Foro Sol earlier this year to sold-out shows throughout the Americas and Europe, the band continues marking a definitive presence in pop-culture. Their hit-single “Apocalypshit” served as soundtrack for the seminal scene of the pilot of the hit TV-series Breaking Bad and in 2023, the band released their newest studio album, Solo Delira and followed-up with an extensive tour which once again has kept Molotov at the forefront of alternative Latin music.

Upcoming new album release: Bring The Kids – Hamell on Trial

Bring The Kids will be released November 27 and is the anti-folk satirist’s most accessible album ever. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Hamell on Trial is the musical alias of folk punk hero Ed Hamell. A one-man explosion, he is loud-as-war one minute, stepping off the microphone to whisper to an enthralled audience the next. Hamell’s unique and dynamic performance style is informed by politics, passion, intelligence, and an irreverent sense of humor. Armed with a battered 1937 Gibson acoustic guitar that he amplifies mightily and strums like a machine gun, a politically astute mind that cannot stop moving, and a mouth that can be profane one minute and profound the next, Hamell sets his sights on the new America. He shoots straight with his audience, whether unraveling topical issues or sharing confessional tales from his own past. Hamell has shared countless stages with fellow anti-establishment icons such as Ani DiFranco, Kimya Dawson, Aesop Rock and The Pogues, as well as winning the coveted Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. (US/THEM Group, 2023)

Hamell’s 2023 full-length record, Bring The Kids, marks the seventeenth release in a discography overflowing with four star reviews and critical acclaim, ranging from major label releases (Mercury / Polygram) to top independents such as New West and Righteous Babe Records. Bring The Kids will mark Hamell’s third record on Texas indie Saustex Records, helmed by Hickoids’ lead singer Jeff Smith. Bring The Kids will be available on LP, CD and digital on November 27, 2023 via Saustex Records. Pre-orders are available HERE.

On the new record, Hamell teams up with NY-based producer Matt Labozza to meld his punk rock hooks into the most beat-driven and expansive production approach in the history of his catalogue. “This is definitely the most musically adventurous record so far,” Hamell explains. “I recorded my last two albums on my phone. I think some of my fans have been wondering what the songs would sound like if I were to open them up to every musical idea and tool that swirls around them in my brain. Here’s your answer.”

Hamell on Trial is the modern day voice of dissent and social commentary, fighting a one-man war armed with irrepressible energy and a seeker’s soul. His show is a 75-minute journey into true and authentic connection driven by the willingness to fight for the disenfranchised and celebrate the free thinkers of the world. Don’t we need that now more than ever?

Bring The Kids track list:

01: Hail My Rage (ft. Christine Oilman)
02: Tell You Why (ft. Ruth Theodore)
03: Pray
04: Drunk Dial Me
05: Robbery
06. Jelly
07: The Way She Says
08: To Get Thru
09: NKGG
10: Um, Actually No
11: Pepper Spray
12: Hippy Shake
13: Tucker Carlson
14: Trail Mix
15: Johnny Rydell
16: Jelly (Single edit)

“Bald, bold and super bad.” — Rolling Stone

“He has a real attachment to truth that makes him continually vital.” — Henry Rollins

“Bill Hicks, Hunter S. Thompson, and Joe Strummer all rolled into one” — Philadelphia Weekly

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New album release: Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions – Signal Omega

Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions is the new album by Signal Omega. Photo: Signal Omega, used with permission.

Signal Omega is an up and coming artist from New Port Richey, FL. For Signal, music is more than just a sonic combination of sound, it is a way to express the deepest stories through creativity and emotional individuality. Unlike many contemporary artists, Signal Omega takes immense pride and reassurance in his own style and musical expression, embracing his uniqueness and impressive qualities. Signal Omega is currently focused on expanding his music and brand this year with an acoustic rendition of his current and newer songs. His latest release is Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions. (Signal Omega, 2023)

Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions is now available for streaming.

Follow the artist: Facebook  Instagram  YouTube 

Steadily growing his listeners and fans with each and every release, things look to be even bigger and better in 2023 for this exciting and talented artist. In addition, Signal looks to start playing live shows and showcasing his live performance skills to a new set of audiences.

“This album is a recreation of my full production tracks I’ve released over the years. I like to be diverse in my writing style and felt an acoustic version of each would bring them all to a common sonic level.” – Signal Omega

A varied and versatile artist, Signal utilizes a number of genres including rap, metal, and alternative. His motivation is to create an abundance of genre offerings in his musical works. Impressively, the artist has a natural ability to take the listener on an emotional rollercoaster. From upbeat house infused drops to more reflective and intimate numbers, his vast and ever expanding catalogue of music offers listeners an array of styles and tones that is rare to see in todays musical landscape.

Signal Omega. Photo: Signal Omega, used with permission.

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