upcoming live events

1. Deep Sea Diver - 

   In the middle of July 2023 in a Los Angeles studio, Deep Sea Diver mastermind Jessica Dobson took a guitar solo but somehow felt nothing. Just days earlier, her Seattle band played a series of semi-secret shows for devotees at a hometown bar, de facto rehearsals for cutting a new record. The sets had gone well, but, almost immediately, the sessions didn’t. The songs’ essence seemed muddled, Dobson’s conviction lost somewhere in the 1,000 miles between Southern California and the home studio she shares with partner, drummer, and frequent cowriter Peter Mansen. On that first night in Los Angeles, she broke down, wondering what she was doing there, what her band could do to fix it. For the first time ever, Deep Sea Diver retreated, heading home without an album. Did they need to scrap it all, to begin again with new material? Not at all: Following a brief break, Dobson found a renewed sense of self, a trust in her vision for her band and songs and her ability to capture them. After that Los Angeles hiccup, longtime collaborator Andy Park asked Dobson how the new stuff was going over an early fall dinner. She admitted she needed help. In that humbling confession, she soon found ways of working that helped her reimagine and reinvigorate Deep Sea Diver and led directly to the power and brilliance of Billboard Heart, Deep Sea Diver’s fourth album and first for Sub Pop. It is a coup, a triumph over self-doubt in which what first felt like failure became an opportunity to find new freedom, belief, and strength. You can hear it in each of these 11 songs, the beating heart that makes everything here feel like a new anthem for finding your own way forward. The cocksure Bad Seeds swagger of “Shovel,” the tender mercies of “Loose Change,” the serpentine machinations of “Let Me Go,” where Dobson tangles with fellow guitar dynamo Madison Cunningham: Billboard Heart immediately puts Deep Sea Diver in the company of St. Vincent, TV on the Radio, and Flock of Dimes, bands that have found newly ornate and magnetic ways to make indie rock by discarding notions of how it must sound or what it must say. Dobson punches through her past here. As she howls during Billboard Heart’s rapturous title track, she is “welcoming the future by letting go of it.” Exactly three years before Dobson’s galvanizing dinner with Park, Deep Sea Diver issued its third album, 2020’s Impossible Weight, via ATO, the colossal indie imprint that has helped My Morning Jacket, Alabama Shakes, and King Gizzard build careers across the last quarter-century. It was a significant step up for a band that had self-released its first two LPs. The surge of resources resulted in a groundswell of exposure, even a spot on Billboard charts. That success, though, caused Dobson to doubt her impulses, to begin thinking about what an idea’s impact or reception might be as much the strength of the idea itself. During this period of second-guessing, she and Mansen sat near the wide windows of their Seattle living room, with her on piano as he hammered a guitar nearby. “See in the Dark”—a song about coveting your own notions, despite the occasional sense they’re slipping away—emerged in that single sitting, its gothic elegance and pop grandeur proffering a blueprint for what else could come. That moment of domestic creation proved essential for several reasons. Before Impossible Weight, Dobson and Mansen wrote many of Deep Sea Diver’s songs together; this was a return to that bond, which carried over to more than half of Billboard Heart. What’s more, the pair began recording more at home, too. They borrowed microphones and a small clutch of essential gear to capture guitars and vocals in their basement. When talks later began in earnest with Park following the Los Angeles debacle, Dobson began revisiting those earlier recordings, realizing that she had captured so much of that ineffable spark at home, where the atmosphere was of her own design. Mansen and Park helped convince her these weren’t just good enough to use but riveting in their realness. These early versions became templates and blueprints to build upon and frame, plus a way for Dobson to believe again in the material and, most important, herself. And from end to end, the material on Billboard Heart is astonishing. The title track is the one song Deep Sea Diver actually finished in Los Angeles. It’s a radiant and magnificent thing, the billowing synths of member Elliot Jackson and tunneling pedal steel of guest Greg Leisz pushing up an anthem for fearlessly advancing into the future, as best you can. “Emergency” links hardcore’s famous vim to electroclash’s instant allure, Dobson’s italicized voice racing like a gust of wind. Her brief guitar solo at the end is an all-timer, a few hiccupping notes suddenly moving like a sports car in terrifyingly tight corners. Tender and vulnerable, “Tiny Threads” is a sweeping anthem for anyone trying to hold anything together—life, love, themselves. “If it haunts me, let it haunt me,” Dobson sings softly over a stillness framed only by bass and noise. She lets her guitar careen into feedback, then steadily sculpts it into something tuneful. It’s a lifetime of anxiety and sublimation, crystallized into 10 seconds. Billboard Heart feels that way at large. For a minute there, Dobson let that mix of art and commerce we call the music industry cloud her judgment and interfere with her impulses, a common enough story for anyone whose decades of work suddenly yield success. She found her way out of that wormhole by embracing newness, whether that meant practicing songwriting as if it were collegiate homework, believing in her skills recording at home, or playing bass herself because the band had blown so much money during those aborted Los Angeles sessions. (N.B. The big but elastic bass lines are a consistent highlight here, so: good choice.) Mostly, she let go of the fear that comes when we think about our jobs, no matter what they are, and remembered that making music is less work than a way of reckoning and playing with the world, of healing and finding other ways forward. Billboard Heart emerged when Dobson trusted her instincts, a personal breakthrough that prompted an artistic one. It is, in turn, the best Deep Sea Diver album yet, a defiant and brilliant exclamation mark at the end of a long period of wandering.

    

   Morpho - 

   Morpho is the Chicago-based project of guitarist and songwriter Kristyn Chapman, whose debut EP Morpho Season arrived in late 2024 via Hit the North Records. The record quickly drew acclaim for its emotional depth and expressive guitar work, with The Alternative calling it “a warm and lively show for indie rock’s next best thing.”

    

   Since the EP’s release, Morpho has grown into a dynamic live band featuring drummer Tony Mest and bassist Dove Hollis. The set is constantly evolving — raw, expansive, and full of tension in all the right places. Kristyn also tours as a multi-instrumentalist with Deep Sea Diver, and that on-the-road energy has made its way into Morpho’s sound: louder, freer, and made to be felt in the room.

    

   Morpho is in flight this fall, with shows planned along the West Coast and Pacific Northwest.

    

Get ready for ROUND TWO, featuring 22 MORE NEW FILMS!

After two decades of bringing independent, genre-bending, jaw-dropping adult short films to the masses, these days the HUMP! Jury receives way too many incredible, festival-worthy submissions each year to narrow them all down into one feature-length presentation. That means we get to bring you not just one new annual lineup, but TWO all-new annual HUMP! lineups – each stuffed to the max with the hottest, kinkiest, funniest, and most creative adult short films from around the globe.

The second half of 2025's selections are coming (and coming hard), this fall with 22 brand new shorts that are simply too delicious to miss! The quality, the creativity, the completely no-holds-barred themes... no spoilers, but we're about to rock. your. world.

Come join the resistance by supporting fully inclusive, sex- and body-positive art that encourages conversation and asks audiences to embrace themselves, and each other, exactly as they are. Come have a great time doing it. Come get some more

1. Circle Jerks emerged from the punk underbelly of LA’s South Bay in 1979. After serving as a co-founder and lead vocalist of Black Flag during the recording of its essential Nervous Breakdown EP, Keith Morris joined forces with former Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson to form what would become Circle Jerks, along with bassist Roger Rogerson and jazz drummer Lucky Lehrer. Unlike much of the unapologetic hardcore that seeped through the cracks of American suburbia, the music of the Circle Jerks was thoughtfully steadfast, yet relentless and ferocious in nature. Bringing together a potent, articulate rhythm section with earnest yet oftentimes derisive lyrics and themes, the band was thereafter heralded as a leader of the pack - and a force to be reckoned with. Plowing forward with a relentless, tooth-cutting work ethic and a rousing stage presence, the band would soon find itself headlining shows at LA’s 5,000-capacity Olympic Auditorium and emblazoned in cult video classics like Decline of Western Civilization, Repo Man, New Wave Theatre, and The Slog Movie. Over the decades, Circle Jerks would release six studio albums, including the acclaimed Group Sex (1980) Wild in the Streets (1982), Golden Shower of Hits (1983), Wonderful (1985), and IV (1987), where they would become a major headliner during the alternative music explosion of the 80’s and 90’s. During hiatuses, Morris fronted bands like OFF! and FLAG, while Hetson played guitar in Bad Religion. Bassist Zander Schloss (The Weirdos, Joe Strummer) has been a member since the 1980’s and veteran drummer Joey Castillo (The Bronx, QOTSA, Danzig, BL’AST!, Wasted Youth) completes the lineup as its newest member.

1. Elton Dan Seeks to Carry the Candle for Experiencing the Live Concert Experience of Elton John

   From his teenage years learning classical music on piano, Elton Dan Gasser always held Elton John as his greatest influence.  Through decades of improvising and singing on thousands of stages from bars to cruises to amphitheaters – Dan thrives on playing live, and jumps at every gig offered him - Dan developed an ability to shine and to share that spotlight energy with the people who came to listen.  He always added Elton John songs when the band was strong enough to pull it off.  In 2015, with the popularity of tribute bands on the rise, Dan finally decided to do his destiny and lead a project paying homage to the greatest songbook in rock music. Thus Elton Dan and The Rocket Band was formed.  

   
   

    “Elton John is my all-time favorite artist and primary inspiration for playing music,” Elton Dan says. “There’s a lot to it.  It’s not a challenge to play and sing, but the diversity from album to album is a rich tapestry of influences including blues and especially country music.”  “I play his music every day, not only to get better also to be enriched and to learn more of his compositions.” 

   
   

   At an Elton Dan concert, you will be enveloped into the magic of Elton’s music through a multimedia production, over-the-top costume changes, the incredible musicianship of the Rocket Band and the high-energy performance that Elton Dan brings to the stage like Elton John of the days past.  “So much energy and pure joy!”, “Fantastic costumes and production!”, “Mesmerizing,” are a taste of the comments from their fans.  “I want our shows to be a true tribute to the greatest musical artist ever,” Dan says.  “When someone attends one of our shows, I don’t try to imitate Elton. Rather, I want the concertgoer to be immersed in the full experience.” 

   
   

   Maybe Dan’s greatest talent is his love of people and ability to share the spotlight such that the audience feels like they are the rock stars!  Fans now follow The Rocket Band around the country, flying or driving in and meeting up with Dan and the band.

   
   

   “I do love to interact with people before, during and after the shows, I feed on it,” Elton Dan says.  “Seeing people become empowered, validated, even healed through a live music event is transformative in my life.”  “We embrace ALL people to come and celebrate and be emboldened by the soundtrack of our lives that Elton and Bernie have left to us.  It’s a tremendous honor and brings me great passion.” 

   
   

   Dan’s philanthropic work extends beyond the stage, and he seeks to participate in humanitarian causes.  Elton Dan and his band have helped raise over $300,000 for the Dream

   Factory, which gives terminally or critically ill children their biggest wish. They also have raised over $170,000 for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, a facility dedicated to treating the medical needs of children. Elton Dan performed with Danny De Los Reyes of the Zac Brown Band for the children at Children’s Mercy Hospital. “I want to honor not only Elton but also his generous legacy and the culture he stands for,” says Elton Dan.

   
   

   Elton Dan has attended 17 Elton John concerts around the globe, including being front and center during Elton’s final live shows in North America at Dodger Stadium this past November.  Dan has interacted with David Furnish, Elton John’s partner.  As done last year, on Elton’s birthday, March 25, Dan will video the audience singing “Happy Birthday” to Elton and send it to David for Elton to enjoy.  It’s just another example how Elton Dan finds ways to make his concerts an even greater event to empower and celebrate people.

1. Mistress of Reality - is the World's 1st & Only All-Female Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne Tribute.

   Twenty years ago, when the world was a very different place, the original founding members of Mistress of Reality came together as the first women to celebrate The Godfathers of Heavy Metal, Black Sabbath. That was during the summer of 2003. 

   Known as the dark Goddesses of the tribute scene these 4 talented ladies toured both the US and Europe for more than 2 decades. They channel the music’s heavy rumble and back it with the pure rock solid leaded loudness that became Black Sabbath trademark sound. 

   In recent years the band has also taken on the name Madame Ozzy and released their 3 song EP on multiple platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. 

   Madame Ozzy was honored with an interview on the BBC News during Black Sabbath final farewell concert in Birmingham England. 

   The ladies pay tribute to both Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osborne’s solo career. They perform his classic hits such as Crazy Train, I Don’t Know and Mr. Crowley. A Mistress of Reality show promises to deliver a big Rock arena feel with the energy of true “Girl Power” that will have everyone on their feet! 

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3. Sweet Demon - is an all-girl rock trio with a taste for the strange and a sound rooted in deep grooves, gritty guitars, and just the right amount of attitude. Led by Brooke on guitar and vocals, with her wife Jen on bass and longtime friend Lindsey on drums, the band has been playing together for over a decade—crafting original songs that blend heavy riffs, moody textures, and a sly sense of humor.

   Drawing inspiration from classic icons like Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, L7, The Doors, and Alice Cooper, Sweet Demon leans into the darker, weirder corners of rock—pulling you in with layered tones, catchy hooks, and stories that feel both timeless and unmistakably now.

   Their music is fully original, unapologetically personal, and always a little off-center—in the best way.

1. Interstate jammers LaMP — featuring Vermont-based Russ Lawton (drums) and Ray Paczkowski (keys), alongside Brooklynite Scott Metzger (guitar) — distill singular, road-honed improv instincts into taut, instrumental epics.

    

   While each of the players has extensive experience with other gigs — Lawton and Paczkowski with the Trey Anastasio Band (TAB) and Soule Monde, and Metzger through projects such as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) and Medeski, Martin, Metzger & Cline (MMMC) — LaMP has hewed its own path.

    

   The trio is currently touring behind their second studio collection, One Of Us, that packs 10 tracks into 35-minutes of kaleidoscopic interplay and club-shifting grooves. It’s the cleanest distillation of the LaMP sound yet, a mission statement of improvisational group-think and compositional chops.

    

   Throughout its runtime, One Of Us acts as a showcase for the myriad of sonic flavors LaMP brings to the table, delivering a listen which works both as deep headphone immersion or a packable-party custom-tailored to deliver the jams to upcoming 2025 tour hangs.

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   As word has spread and crowds have grown with each subsequent tour, it’s become clear that LaMP ft. Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski will be a musical force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.

1. Born Of Osiris -

   The Chicago-based progressive metal outfit Born of Osiris are known as one of the first deathcore acts from the 2000s to leave that genre behind in favor of a brutal yet alluring meld of technical death metal and metalcore filled with flashy twin-guitar leads and near-psychedelic keyboard adventures that owe as much to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden as they do Helloween and Meshuggah. Though they began as a typical deathcore band with 2007's The New Reign EP, by 2009's Higher Place, they'd all but abandoned that sound to focus on a more technically advanced, melodically astute, and brutally forceful approach. Its appeal garnered an ever-growing cadre of admirers. They have placed four albums in the upper half of the U.S. album chart, including 2013's Tomorrow We Die Alive, which peaked at number 27. Subsequent titles like 2015's Soul Sphere went to number two on the hard rock charts. 2017's The Eternal Reign was a progressive, track-by-track re-recording of 2007's The New Reign; it met with both high praise and withering criticism. 2019's The Simulation was 28-minute EP that was reportedly the first of a two-part album, but it never materialized. An entirely different outing titled Angel or Alien appeared in July 2021.

   Before assuming their name, they cycled through monikers such as Diminished, Your Heart Engraved, and Rosecrance. Drummer Cameron Losch, guitarists Lee McKinney and Matt Pantelis, vocalist Ronnie Canizaro, keyboardist Joe Buras, and bassist David Da Rocha (who left in 2018 and was replaced by Nick Rossi) met while in high school and experimented with various sounds and genres before developing an early version of their signature blend; after a demo and a live gig, they came to the attention of Sumerian Records, which signed the band. The New Reign EP appeared in 2007. Pantelis left in 2008 before the recording of 2009's A Higher Place. That album sold well enough to land inside the Top 100. All Shall Perish guitarist Jason Richardson temporarily joined the band in 2009. He played on 2011's The Discovery (an album that was cut using seven-string guitars) before being fired later in the year. Produced by the band, it didn't place as high on the pop chart, but fared better than all previous outings on various indie and metal charts.

   Pared down to a quintet, Born of Osiris released Tomorrow We Die Alive in August of 2013. In another sonic shift, they opted for a more orchestrated sound, one that involved more vocal layers and programmed orchestration by co-producer Nick Sampson. Buras' keyboards were a central focus on the set, but the band's attack remained as aggressive as ever. The album placed inside the Top 30 during its release week and inside the Top Ten on various other charts.

   After aggressive touring, the band re-entered the studio. In the summer of 2015, Born of Osiris began leaking small bits and pieces of a forthcoming, somewhat conceptual album. Its 12 tracks were divided into three "levels": The Binding, The Fight, and The Release, with four cuts in each. Titled Soul Sphere, it was released while Born of Osiris were in the middle of a lengthy tour (which ended up being cut shortly after guitarist McKinney broke his foot in several places). Soul Sphere peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200. The band returned in 2017 with its second EP, The Eternal Reign, a re-recorded new vision of their debut produced by Nick Sampson. After a summer 2018 tour, Da Rocha left and was replaced by Rossi. BoO released the video and single "The Accursed" in November. It served as the opening track for The Simulation, a 25-minute mini-album issued in January.

   The Browning -

   The Browning has consistently pushed the boundaries of music, fusing genres and redefining heavysounds. The band’s new line-up sets the stage for an electrifying chapter in their journey.

   VCTMS - 

   VCTMS is a heavy-hitting nu-metalcore band from Chicago, Illinois, known for their crushing riffs,aggressive vocals, and emotionally raw lyrics. Formed in 2013, the band blends elements of metalcore,nu-metal, and industrial with darkatmospherics and hip-hop-inspired rhythms. VCTMS has earned afiercely loyal underground following through relentless DIY touring and a string of self-released projects,including standout albums likeVol. IV: Numb the AcheandVol. V: The Hurt Collection. With a soundthat’s both chaotic and cathartic, VCTMS continues to carve out a distinct identity in the modern heavymusic scene.

   AXTY - 

   Formed in 2020 amid the chaos of the pandemic, AXTY swiftly made its mark with over 7 million streams on Spotify, capturing the attention of the Brazilian metal scene and earning a global fanbase. Felipe Hervoso takes on vocals for AXTY, with Jonathas Peschiera on bass, Gabriel Vacari on drums, and Felipi Grivol on guitar. The São Paulo-based quartet delivers a modern metal sound that seamlessly blends drive control, powerful screams, and clean vocals, resulting in a visceral, emotionally charged experience without sacrificing the genre’s raw intensity. AXTY is entirely self-produced, with audio production by Jonathas Peschiera, video production by Felipe Hervoso, and digital media, promotion, and marketing expertly managed by Felipi Grivol. Their signature style is characterized by modernity, heavy sound, and a strong emphasis on audiovisual production, all crafted by the musicians. The group released their third studio album, Hannya, in July 2024 in collaboration with Outono Music, a label affiliated with Universal Music. This album marks a return to the raw sound that defined their debut album, Helpless, following the more pop-oriented experimentation of their second album, Unbreakable. Featuring five singles—"Six Feet Under," "Take Me Down," "Flowers & Butterflies Lullaby," "Fade Away," and "Fall Again"—Hannya has already attracted attention from specialized media and influencers worldwide, further solidifying the band’s presence in the global music scene. The band was invited to perform at the We Missed Ourselves Festival in Mexico City, sharing the stage with renowned names from their scene, such as Falling in Reverse, Fit for a King, Alesana, Thursday, and Escape the Fate. An exclusive side show with Escape the Fate the night before the festival allowed the band to connect more intimately with fans. The overwhelming energy and heartfelt reception they received from the Mexican audience left a lasting impression, marking a milestone in their international journey. As part of their commitment to global growth, AXTY joined the prestigious 33 & West roster, an independent booking agency based in Los Angeles. This partnership has been instrumental in solidifying their international presence and opening new growth opportunities. The band’s 2025 plans are already shaping up to be their most ambitious yet, kicking off with a USA tour in January alongside Born of Osiris, Within Destruction, ENTHEOS, and Lost in Separation. Beyond the tour, AXTY is diving into the creation of their next album.

2. Lost in Seperation -

3. Lost In Separation is a 4-piece Metalcore Band from Dallas, Tx. Cathartically combining aggression, melody, and emotional storytelling to try and find silver linings in a world that seems to be falling apart more and more each day. Their new LP SABERTOOTH is out now on all platforms.