Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, you learned about new bands and music very differently than we do today. Listening to the radio and watching MTV was a way of life for those of us who grew up without the internet. Browsing the pages of music magazines like Rolling Stone, SPIN, and Billboard were the resources we used to see what new music was being released and when. I was lucky enough to work in a record store throughout high school, and every Tuesday was new music release day. We looked forward to that day the same way we anticipated Saturday morning cartoons. My days were filled with discovering new bands and listening to great music all day long while occasionally helping someone buy a CD or cassette tape. Yes, it really was that long ago. It was the coolest job a high school student could have, even if we didn’t get paid much.
Fast forward three decades, and everything has changed. Music magazines, while still around, now do most of their interaction online and through social media platforms like Instagram. MTV is practically nonexistent for music fans since everyone uses YouTube, and radio has largely been replaced by Spotify. Reluctantly, I adapted to the changes around me, and while scrolling through my phone one day, a post for a band called Culture Wars popped up in my feed. Needless to say, it caught my attention. I quickly launched Spotify, typed in the band’s name, and clicked the first song I saw. I was immediately taken back to those new music Tuesdays that I had almost forgotten about. The sound coming through my speakers was something I hadn’t heard in a long time. Melodic verses quickly exploded into power chords and primal screams during the chorus, while the drums and bass sat perfectly in the pocket, the ingredients of every great rock song.
When I saw that Culture Wars was making a stop in Atlanta in support of their album Don’t Speak, I quickly reached out to my editor to see if I could cover the show. She immediately gave me the thumbs up because she could tell how excited I was about this one. Terminal West is a great place to see a show. It’s intimate while still feeling spacious, and the acoustics are incredible. The room buzzed with excitement, and the late-’90s dance mix playing through the house speakers before the band took the stage only added to the atmosphere. The room began to dim, and the stage lights signaled that the night was about to truly take off. They immediately launched into “Bittersweet” with its heavy bass line and perfectly layered guitars. Singer Alex Dugan tore through the lyrics and unleashed a powerful voice that could cut through almost anything. Fan favorites like “Heaven,” “In The Morning,” “It Hurts,” and “Miley,” which was dedicated to Alex’s late grandmother from nearby Augusta, kept the energy surging throughout the night. Closing the show with hits “Typical Ways” and “Lies” felt like the perfect ending to an unforgettable performance.
Things have changed since I was a teenager in the ’90s. Sometimes for the better, and sometimes I wish I could go back to how things were. Those new music Tuesdays were special. They were a weekly ritual that, no matter what else was happening in life, you could always look forward to. One thing is certain, though: Culture Wars succeeded in taking me back to those memories and feelings from so long ago.
GALLERY: Culture Wars at Terminal West in Atlanta, Georgia (May 21, 2026)
