Happy Thanksgiving - Reflections from Smells Like Alt Rock

Thanksgiving has always been one of our favorite holidays. A day to pause, reflect on who and what we’re grateful for, and share a meal with friends and family—without the pressure of gift‑giving. Today, we’ll be enjoying time with family, watching our kids soak up cousin‑time, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers as they take on the Lions.

This year, we also want to share some musical gratitude—starting with you. Moving from Facebook posts to the Smells Like Alt Rock blog has been a big shift, and we’re thrilled to see 10–20 readers checking in daily. Thank you for reading, listening, and coming back for more.


Fuel

A huge thank you to Fuel and their crew. Your shows this year have been phenomenal—we should know, since we made it to nine of them (including three on the Creed Cruise). We appreciate you hitting the Midwest hard, making it easy for us to catch shows in Bowler, WI and Alpine Valley. You always go the extra mile: greeting fans after the set, interacting with the crowd mid‑show, and showing love both on and off stage. From everyone at Fuel Nation, thank you for the hospitality and heart you bring to your fans.

Frank Productions Incorporated

We’re grateful to Frank Productions for bringing so many incredible shows to the High Noon Saloon, Majestic, and Sylvee. Highlights included Lakeview, Dorothy, Garbage, Mayday Parade, and All Time Low. Each venue is a fantastic place to see a show—clean, great sightlines, and security that keeps things safe when needed. We’ll aim for the Orpheum next year. And we’re always pleasantly surprised when playlist favorites like Action/Adventure, L0L0, Cake, or Soul Coughing roll into town. Keep the shows coming—we’ll keep showing up.

Behind the Scenes

This year also gave us some amazing behind‑the‑scenes looks. Collective Soul’s Give Me a Word offered a glimpse of the band working together in Elvis’ Palm Springs home, telling their story in their own words. Netflix’s Hate to Love: Nickelback was a blast to watch, especially since we caught them live at Alpine. And Yungblud’s Idols, recorded at Hansa Studios in Berlin, mixed insight and commentary between songs—giving us a rare reason to head to the theater for a music film.

Rock in 2025

Finally, to all the bands: thank you for the music. 2025 has been a powerhouse year for rock, with countless great albums dropping and tours that keep the energy alive. We’re continually impressed by your ability to release new tracks while hitting the road. We’ve been lucky to interact with some of you this year, and we can’t wait to see what 2026 brings.


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