These four acts, all based in the greater Phoenix area, represent all the best things the next wave of Phoenix’s music scene has to offer. 

The first to take the stage was Tempe-based art-rock project Saint Apollo, kicking the night off with their single “This Century,” a guitar-laden personal reflection on what it means to grow up in the world today. 

“There’s no such thing as a good job, no such thing as a heartthrob, we only live for our blessings, even if that’s depressing,” lead singer Apollo Brown-Cho sings in the song’s second verse, showing a clear awareness that can only really come from someone living through the topic itself. 

A quick look at their discography will tell you one thing about the band; they take an immense amount of pride in their work. From their poignant, cutting lyrics, to their merch being drawn entirely by their lead singer, it’s not hard to tell that Saint Apollo cares deeply about the art that they’re creating. 

Following Saint Apollo was Phoenix-based shoegaze band Right Rosemary, whose music showed a similar introspective tone. Formed by a few ASU alums coming out of the popular music program, Right Rosemary have been present in Phoenix’s indie scene since 2023, and are coming off of the recent release of their new EP, “bittersweet.” 

Between playing tracks from bittersweet., and their debut single “Shoes,” they played an unreleased song. Following its completion, Valerie got on the mic, and addressed the crowd. 

“That song was called Aspartame, and it’s about how much we hate AI,” she said. 

This served as yet another indicator that these artists not only care about their music, but also about the message they’re sending out into the world alongside it. 

After Right Rosemary was the night’s second-to-last act: All The Better. Arriving on the scene in 2023 with their single “Deadblind” and calling Cave Creek home, they’ve been lighting up local venues for years, opening for bands like Florida-based hard rock duo The Haunt. Of all things, their wardrobe was what stood out the most. The band is following the release of their single “Quick Fix,” and with it comes custom pit crew jumpsuits, and a whole new identity. Their new automotive theme seems to align perfectly with their unique, high-octane brand of hard rock. 

Watching them perform, it’s clear that All The Better are staying true to the reason they began making music in the first place: having fun. Between chasing each other around the stage, seeing guitarist Jacob Nupoff and bassist Gray Crabb enter the crowd to perform the bridge of their song “Dying For Ya,” while lead singer Melinda Graeff keeping the energy high between songs, the band never loses their sense of joy.

Capping off the night was indie group Millennial Summer coming in from Tempe, promoting their new album “In My Head.” This show was a later stop in their tour of the southwest, beginning on March 26 in Provo, Utah, and going as far as San Diego, California, on April 2. 

Millennial Summer’s sound is described as a unique brand of alternative with math rock influences throughout, which listeners of bands like American Football should feel right at home with. 

“We have such great music here in Phoenix, and tonight is a great display of it,” lead singer Kelvin Hames said to the crowd. 

This show was an incredible representation of what Phoenix’s indie scene has in store. From art rock to shoegaze to hard rock to indie rock, Phoenix is starting to cement itself as a formidable location within this country’s music culture. Bands like these, and so many more, are making Phoenix’s music scene one of diversity, innovation, and above all else, inclusion. As bands like these continue to pack venues like The Rebel Lounge, the Crescent Ballroom and Last Exit Live, one thing is for sure: they aren’t going anywhere, and they’re only going to get louder.