The Mayor of the Pittsburgh music scene, Jeff Betten, owner of Hellbender Vinyl, joins Style in an exclusive interview to discuss the story behind Hellbender, Jeff’s journey in running record labels and pressing vinyl, growth, and the local music scene! Check out the full interview below, be sure to check out Hellbender Vinyl for your next project, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (06/06/26)
To kick off February 2026, let’s get straight to the point in knowing and supporting local artists played here on WSRR. Let’s ROCK OUT!
To kick off their new EP “Talking To The Walls,” Ellis and the Warning Signs will tie you up, strip you naked, and play you some of that sweet 6/8 time that is impossible to stay still to. This seductive groove will get even the greasiest Reddit moderators confident enough to speak with a woman and touch grass for once. The lead singer’s “fuck what you say” lyricism, accompanied by this badass band, is a perfect way to start an EP. This is what the Rebel Radio is made for!
The title song of the album and the finisher of this EP, “Talking To The Walls” is like going 180mph down the interstate on a hot pursuit with the police: fast, electric, and adrenaline-pumping. If you have a 25-minute commute to work, this EP is perfect for starting your drive and sticking your middle finger to all the trials and temptations of the world.
The newest single of the band, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” was released on January 23, 2026. Imagine this: you’re John Wick in the famous club scene from the first movie, and you’re about to beat some Russian ass. This song is the soundtrack to said ass-kicking. The incredible vocals of the lead singer are the first thing you hear, roping you in and trapping you with the killer groove of the instrumental accompaniment by the band.
The newest release, as of when this blog was posted, “Cruel Hands,” takes you underground to the depths of the NYC tunnels. This track showcases the overall love and experience this band has playing together. Everything fits in with the other. The powerful drums lay the foundation of a mountain collapsing, the deep and rumbling bass emulating a storm, the guitar giving a glimpse into something chaotic and otherworldy sets the tone for an amazing ethereal vocal lead. The song will act as a storm on the sea with waves rising and lowering, calm melodic guitar switched in an instant to barreling overdrive, finishing with a long exhale of electricity. This band is a must for anyone into “Indie rock dark pop new wave whatever,” as stated in their Spotify about page.
For anyone into Midwest rock, Luke DePietro is the guy for you. His sound first emerged at Kent State University and depicts the vibe of the Midwest and East Coast better than any big hit billboard musician can dream of. “Ohio Weather” is like taking a longboard down the coast of any of the Great Lakes. A vibe known by few but loved by any those who experience it.
Take a deep breath, lie down on your bed, and relax. The final title song of Luke’s album will take you through the hazy skyline of your memory, imagined through a polaroid lense. The clean guitar tone and vocals seem simple to the naked eye, but as a guitarist myself, this song is a poetic and technical masterpiece.
Inspired by indie bands of the early 2000s and 2010s, this song is an immediate head-bobber. Upbeat instrumentals led by amazing vocal vibrato give the listener a sense of longing for nostalgia and adventure. This song also features an unexpected saxophone solo and tempo change mid-song. Applying the philosophy of Miles Davis, “Don’t play the butter notes.”
The newest single of the band, “I’d Like To Go Home Now,” takes you down memory lane and nostalgia of a life you never lived, taking the phrase “I was born in the wrong era” to heart. This song features an amazing groove and killer vocals with a very catchy chorus and tasty guitar fills.
Keeping the punk scene alive on WSRR, Dearest Friend’s “Blood On Your Hands” is explosive, melodic, witty, and exactly what we are looking for here on the station. It is not easy to be a 3-piece band and to release consistent, unique bangers. To those who have never really dived into the punk scene, you can easily distinguish this band from other local musicians. Not an easy feat, and I have the inkling that we are going to be seeing way more Dearest Friend in the future.
If anybody likes Green Day or Blink-182, I already know that you will like this song. fast strumming power chords, explosive bass, powerful drumming, and extremely high-energy catchy lyrics. “Dead Romance” will just spawn a skateboard in your hand and a Walkman at your hip. The punk scene is ALIVE BABY.
A technical masterpiece, bringing ska, punk, prog rock, emo fusion, and grog to Illinois, “Midwest” hooks you immediately with its almost “surf rock” guitar melody. It continues to take you through the clouds with its entrancing vocal lyricism and Midwest groove. Being in a world filled with constant gratification, one can easily pass up the technical difficulty and complexity this song gifts us with. Take a second and listen to the technicality of this piece, and you’re guaranteed to want to come back for more.
Not to be confused with Cormac McCarthy’s book of the same title, “The Road” by Spirit Oh Spirit offers quite a contrast to that book’s atmosphere. Where the book is about a suicidal man and his son after a devastating apocalypse, this song is more like cruising down the highway with a convertible and a fine babe as a passenger. The airy vocals and guitar allow the world around you to breathe as you escape this apocalyptic dystopia of the modern west.
While on that roadtrip, you enter the desert southwest, and the cosmic wonder of the desert sky entrances your soul. This song plays as a result. One of my favorite genres of music, “Son of an Outlaw,” is an amazing example of pinnacle Psychedelic Western. A steady drum beat, minor, clean guitar chords, and rhythmic lyrics capture the feeling of the Southwest better than any other style of music. It’s entrancing and immediately draws anybody in.
Opening for ZZ Top in August 2025, STIL RUNNIN offers everything hair metal wants you to have. Killer guitar riffs and amazing vocals. “Velvet” is keeping energy and showmanship alive. A must-see band live. You won’t be let down. So get out your old leather pants, your denim jacket, and rock that perm to STIL RUNNIN!
As another year at WSRR Radio is coming to a close, we want to thank all of the loyal listeners who helped spread local and independent music nationwide by playing, sharing, and posting about WSRR. This was a major year of growth for WSRR and local music alike, with a rise in listenership, artists, the launch of the WSRR Radio App, and going completely free from network advertising! WSRR has never been a business, Non-Profit, Corporation, 501c3, or any corporate entity. Music is an incredibly personal relationship we all share across the globe, regardless of race, sex, religion, political ideologies, or any boundary of the corporate world. Because of this, we have remained what we always have been, a group of friends and creatives working together under the WSRR branding. It’s because of our loyal listeners, our amazing sponsors who support the station, and, of course, the talented local artists across the globe that we are able to do what we do. With that said, it’s time to find out who has been the breakout artist this past 2025! Fan voting is now open below and will continue through December 31st, where we will name the WSRR Artist of the Year as voted on by YOU! Continue to share the love for your local music scene and your favorite independent artist by voting below and sharing the poll! Best of luck to ALL of our one-of-a-kind artists on WSRR!
From a remote set up in Nashville, TN, Echo Pilot’s Ryan and Aaron join Style and in an exclusive interview to discuss the story behind the band, New Music, growth, and the local music scene! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream Notion, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (09/19/25)
Live during the 12-hour WSRR Rebelthon, Ohio’s own Jet Star joins Style and Evan in an exclusive interview to discuss what she’s been up to since they last spoke, New Music, growth, and the Cleveland scene! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream one of her latest singles, Blackberry Brandy, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (07/26/25)
Live during the 12-hour WSRR Rebelthon, Ohio’s own deadly Confessionals join Style in an exclusive interview to discuss their journey in music, Band roles, lyricism, Local Music, and prison stories! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream their single, Pieces, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (07/26/25)
“Rock The Valley” is a two-day showcase of rock and metal in New Martinsville, WV. The event, which is set to take place October 4th and 5th 2025, is being held by Charles Morgan Entertainment LLC and is set to feature a collection of artists with a heavy influence of local and independent artists from surrounding areas. WSRR Radio first learned of this event in late 2024 on Facebook, where it has been heavily promoted. In a post looking for local artists who would like to join the two-day lineup, the official WSRR account commented, offering to put the organizers in touch with any local or independent artists we play, as our station covers much of the surrounding area and has worked with many talented artists.
While the initial reaction to this event was overwhelmingly positive, both by up-and-coming artists and residents of the WV area, things slowly began to snowball into a confusing web of unanswered questions. Many comments under the official event page began to shift from support and optimism about the success of the show to questions about full lineups not being announced prior to tickets going on sale, ticket pricing, and missing information about previously advertised bands. While initially advertised and promoted both via Facebook “Artists Announcements” and on official promotional images for the event, it would appear several independent artists are now being left off the bill without compensation, a reason, or even a response as to why they have been removed. In fact, as of the time of writing this article (June 8th, 2025), the headliner for the Sunday night show has yet to be announced despite tickets being sold and the official “Rock The Valley” website stating”Headliner coming on May 31st”. Notable bands that have been previously advertised but are no longer involved in this event include: The Daze, BADE, Black Hole Zion, and Appalachian Hustle.
WSRR Radio has reached out to several of the bands who have been unceremoniously removed from the bill either abruptly or without explanation. The identities of these individuals have been kept anonymous to protect their respective bands’ privacy.
*It should be noted that Wesley Morgan is listed as the “Founder” of Rock The Valley despite it being presented under the Charles Morgan Entertainment LLC*
“We have not gotten paid and we were recently removed from the lineup. No response to my emails or DM’s from the festival but I have not caused them any trouble to even warrant this kind of behavior.” … “Also, I will say that I gave him a range of what we had gotten paid for other events. Some were really well paid for us. Then I followed up with “Personally, we would rather help you make this a success and have you ask us back on a regular basis”. I gave him a range of numbers that I thought were fair for a new fest and a band at our level. He followed up with a higher number than what I asked for in the contract. We signed our contract on 12/1 and got communication until 12/23/24. We did not do or say anything negative to or about this guy and the fest. We also did not ask for anything additional.”
“I’ve been watching it like a hawk, they’ve been deleting comments on their Facebook page about the lineup and anything that’s remotely negative about it, I commented genuinely about ten times…and they deleted all of those comments” … “They won’t respond to alot of bands right now, it’s really fucked up what they are doing. If they’re going to kick us off the fuckin’ bill, they could at least tell us”.
Along with these quotes from some of those involved, others have reported not getting paid, contracts being ignored, and having comments removed.
WSRR Radio has also reached out to Charles Morgan Entertainment LLC via the official Rock The Valley Website about the removal of these bands, but as of this article, have received no response.
The purpose of this release is simply to share the accounts and experiences of the talented artists who have been removed from the Rock The Valley Event, had their contracts ignored, or have been unable to contact those in charge to gain clarification. WSRR Radio would also like to extend the offer to ANY artist who was removed from this event without explanation to have their music played on WSRR Radio. We hope this commentary has shed some light and understanding on the events surrounding Rock The Valley and will give the artists involved a louder voice to the injustice they have faced.
-Style
The Daze released their latest EP, Skies, on May 25th, 2025 on all major streaming services, and it immediately gained traction on social media stories across all of Ohio, showcasing the hard rock, rhythm-inspired grunge sound listeners have come to know and love from The Daze!
The Skies EP kicks off with the previously released single Time As It Stands, complete with a melodic intro that turns into a firm kick in the ass, The guitar/bass duo of Eddie Grier and Basil Johnsn are at it again with the absolute epitimy of an “Opening Track” that gets you amped up for the rest of the EP. Seriously, try not to bang your head while this is playing because, scientifically speaking It cannot be done! While this tune shows off the immense instrumental prowess of The Daze, it’s the subtle backing vocal overlay of me that steals the show and adds more depth to Time As It Stands than your average rock track. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself driving around subconsciously singing the chorus on loop for days after listening to this one!
Start Again highlights front man Eddie Grier’s vocal strengths, both in timing and versatility. Accompanied by backing vocals and harmonies, Start Again keeps listeners engaged and along for the ride with vocals that are anyhing but mundane! This track also showcases a strong presence on the drums that you can’t help but stomp your feet along to! The pièce de résistance, however, is the expertly timed guitar breakdowns that wrap themselves around the lead vocals so uniquely incredible!
The title track to the EP, Skies, showcases what I personally always look forward to on a Daze release, and that is the rhythmic ballad. It’s no secret the band loves to experiment with long melodic instrumentals, sounds, ambiance, and extended solos, and this track has it all. Perfect for a long drive, a rainy night, or just kicking back to relax, the melodic guitar and bass will catch you swaying in place before you’re swept away with an impeccable guitar solo. Skies showcases the versatility and creativity we have come to know The Daze for, and it’s no question why this is the title track to the EP!
Rounding out the Skies EP is Another Way. With a sound I can only verbalize as All American Rejects meets Bon Jovi, on a Soundgarden track, this is a track for multiple generations of rock fans to enjoy. With a steady train-like beat that will get you amped up in the gym or the windows down in your Trans AM, Another Way is a classic pump-up song. Akin to Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song or Motley Crue’s Kickstart My Heart, you’ll be reaching for the volume within seconds of this absolute banger.
The Daze have done it again, providing a collection of tracks that show the music scene is alive and well. When it comes to creativity and individuality in music, The Daze boys are second to none and show it time and time again! Make sure to check out the Skies EP for yourself on Spotify and catch it, as well as all your favorite Daze tracks, streaming on WSRR Radio DAILY!
-Style
Milkhouse Chillers frontman, Jesse Boggs, joins Style in an exclusive interview to discuss his journey in music, inspirations, lyricism, Local Music, and family! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream the Milkhouse Chillers album Snake Feeders in The Night Pasture, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (04/05/25)
Gavin Michaels joins Style in an exclusive interview to discuss his start in music, Travel, inspiration, Acting, comradery, and lyricism! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream Gavin’s latest single, Plastic Decays, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (01/18/25)
Original Article written April 28, 2022 WSRR Radio was established on a handful of extremely talented artists that gave us the confidence that we could sustain playing ONLY local and independent musicians. Gavin Michaels was one of the first names that came to mind. A talent unlike any other, voice, talent and stage presence that…
It Sounds Like if Pop Punk was invented inside the Vaporwave Laberynth of 1981. Full disclosure: I first heard about Gavin Michaels’s upcoming single Plastic Decays roughly a year ago at a private event. Upon hearing it again fully mixed and mastered, I am happy to report the psychosomatic, delusion-inducing, Mandela effect trip I found…
On January 8th, 2024 StylesRebelRadio.com announced their venture into Radio. The following is a release from Style on the matter. It has certainly been a hectic 24 hours, and more than that behind the scenes, so I decided I would offer this release to answer some of the questions I have received since the announcement…
