Here it is folks, the final Prenatt’s Picks list of 2018. So far, we’ve looked at 40 interesting bands ranging in multiple genres such as rap, metalcore, pop-punk, rock, and even pirate metal. As I said in my previous lists, much like I did last year on my weekly list for The Record, I’ll be looking at 50 bands that I think you should add to your playlists. You might know some of these guys, or some of them might be fresh faces. Here’s the final ten.
ASHES
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Out Now: TBA (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: Crown The Empire, For Today, Memphis May Fire
While most bands in the metalcore genre are busy trying to go the rock radio way, ASHES disregards that trend and does metalcore the way it should be: simply brutal. Originally known as A Rose Among Ashes, the Buffalo metalcore outfit went under multiple lineup changes before they settled on the unstoppable lineup of Jack Friend, Felix Cruz III, Bob Adams, Tyler Phipps, and Cody Boeve-McCormick. With a melody that sounds like early Issues meets later Attack Attack! and screams that rival former Of Mice & Men frontman Austin Carlile (listen to the 13 second scream on “Absence,”) ASHES are a force to be reckoned with in the metalcore scene. As frontman Jack Friend told me, “It’s definatley straight metalcore.” If you love early 2010s Rise Records bands like For The Fallen Dreams and Like Moths To Flames, you’ll love ASHES. The band will play a release show for their upcoming EP “Timelines” on April 8 at Stamps the Bar along with locals acts Winski, Livid Life, and Short Attention Span Theatre.
Song to Listen to: “Absence”
Super Whatevr
Hometown: Costa Mesa, CA
Out Now: Never Nothing (Hopeless)
For Fans Of: Catfish And The Bottlemen, Daisyhead, Have Mercy
It’s hard to call Super Whatevr a specific genre. They teether in between emo-pop and alt-rock and they do it so fine that it’s just fucking impressive for a band that’s only two years old. The Orange County band is formed up of vocalist/guitarist Skyler McKee (center, bottom) and his friends bassist Josiah Beason, guitarist Nate Wickander, and drummer Kenzo Cardenas and in their short amount of time have done some pretty impressive things. They signed to Hopeless Records (Bayside, Hands Like Houses, Moose Blood) in 2017 after releasing their EP “Good Luck” and are currently touring with Movements and Can’t Swim. The energy that Super Whatevr generates during their live shows is nothing but bubbly feelings and songs that will make you jump up and down. McKee’s vocals are nothing but expressive and theatrical. It’s only a matter of time until alternative radio stations play them. Their next show is Wednesday, March 21 at the Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT.
Song to Listen to: “Bloomfield”
Varials
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Out Now: Pain Again (Fearless)
For Fans Of: Code Orange, Jesus Piece, Knocked Loose
When Fearless Records (The Aquabats, Grayscale, The Word Alive) signs a heavy band, people pay attention. So why the hell are people ignoring Varials? The Philly based hardcore/metal band are one of the heaviest bands you’ll hear all year. Hell, they might rival Code Orange with how heavy and brutal they are. Varials’ newest album “Pain Again,” produced by Josh Schroeder (King 810, In Hearts Wake, For The Fallen Dreams,) legit brings the fucking pain. As soon as you hear the opening track “The New Damnation,” you know you’re in for a world of hurt once you see them live. They feel so out of place being on Fearless. I mean seriously, they would fit perfectly with Pure Noise, Victory, or even Roadrunner! What else can I say except “I’ll see you in the pit.” The band will come to Buffalo on Sunday, May 20 at the Town Ballroom with Emmure, King 810, and Counterparts.
Song to Listen to: “Anything To Numb”
Bearings
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Out Now: Nothing Here Is Permanent – EP (Pure Noise)
For Fans Of: Handguns, Knuckle Puck, Seaway
Our neighbors up north have graced us with another killer pop-punk band. From Ottawa comes this quartet (guitarist Tyler Nickel left the band back in February before their tour with Four Year Strong and Less Than Jake) that packs all the punches that we’ve grown to expect from Canadian pop-punk bands like Seaway and Like Pacific. Their melodies are nothing but sweet and bouncy. I can clearly see these guys growing in popularity as the year goes on. Expect their debut full-length to come out later this year on Pure Noise Records (Can’t Swim, Hawthorne Heights, Senses Fail.)
Song to Listen to: “Letters Home”
Cigarettes After Sex
Hometown: El Paso, TX and Brooklyn, NY
Out Now: Cigarettes After Sex (Partisan)
For Fans Of: Cocteau Twins, Julee Cruise, Red House Painters
Just look at that name and tell me that you’re not intrigued enough to look into them. Formed accidentally a decade ago, guitarist/vocalist Greg Gonzalez was trying to find the right spacious sound to record his songs for what would become their EP “I.” which came out in 2012. The EP was recorded in a four-story stairwell at the University of Texas where Gonzalez was attending along with his ever-changing lineup. Now in Brooklyn, the group consists of Gonzalez, keyboardist Phillip Tubbs, drummer Jacob Tomsky, and bassist Randy Miller. CAS is the kind of band what you would listen to while smoking a cigarette after a night of love making, so the name is a perfect fit to match their dream pop sound. Their songs have some pretty impressive view counts on YouTube with their song “Affection” reaching over 41 million views and “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You” having a whopping 67 million views! The band will be touring the U.S. starting March 23, Europe in May and will be playing several festivals such as Osheaga in Montreal on Friday, August 4 along with St. Vincent, Portugal. The Man, and James Blake, the In Bloom Music Festival in Houston, TX March 24 through the 25 with Beck, Lil Dicky, and T-Pain, and Pukkelpop in Hasselt, Belgium with Kendrick Lamar, La Dispute, and $uicideboy$.
Song to Listen to: “Apocalypse”
Hi, Mom!
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Out Now: Maybe It’s Too Much To Ask – Single (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: Alkaline Trio, Green Day, The Menzingers
Don’t confuse this trio for the Indonesian indie rock band of the same name. This Hi, Mom! band is from America, well, Sacramento, to be exact, and they’re even more catchier. Filled with riffs that scream old school indie and pop-punk like Weezer or Alkaline Trio, Hi, Mom! is a unique band that is just starting their blossoming career. They’ve released three songs in 2017 and have shot music videos for each one which aired on BVTV on YouTube. Guitarist/vocalist Bailey Zindel sounds like the 21st century’s Rivers Cuomo. Hopefully in 2018 we’ll hear more from Hi, Mom!
Song to Listen to: “Maybe It’s Too Much To Ask”
Superorganism
Hometown: Everywhere
Out Now: Superorganism (Domino)
For Fans Of: The Avalanches, Beck, The Go! Team
No, you’re not reading the wrong. This band has members that reach across the globe, from Maine to even the United Kingdom. The global septet started to make waves last year with their song “Something for Your M.I.N.D.” blowing up. The song currently has over two million views on YouTube. Superorganism mix in elements of art pop with synth pop and oh my god is it amazing! Filled with trippy imagery and songs that wreak of summer vibes, Superorgansim is the band that will lift your troubles away this year. The band is currently touring the U.S. on a mostly sold out tour with their next show being on Thursday, March 22 at the Doug Fur Lounge in Portland, OR and will play Lollapalooza this year along with Bruno Mars, All Time Low, and lovelytheband.
Song to Listen to: “Everybody Wants To Be Famous”
SYML
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Out Now: In My Body – EP (Nettwerk)
For Fans Of: Daughter, Kodaline, Oh Wonder
SYML is only one person. That’s what the band’s Facebook page states. To quote the rest of his about page, “Brian Fennell wrote and recorded a collection of songs under the name Syml, which means simple in Welsh. Adopted and not knowing his history or connection to his Welsh roots, many of these songs were influenced by the complex feelings that come from unknown lineage.” Mixing in his Welsh roots with his style of songwriting, Fennell is able to write such beautifully haunting melodies under his two EPs “Hurt For Me” and his newest one “In My Body.” His most well-known song is “Where’s My Love” which first appeared on “Hurt For Me” as a piano ballad but was re-recorded with extra instruments on “In My Body,” including claps and a haunting choir that fills the chorus’ atmosphere. Keep your ears open, SYML might be the next James Blunt.
Song to Listen to: “Where’s My Love”
Honey And Salt
Hometown: Austin, TX
Out Now: A Nihilist Takes Up Knitting – Single (Spartan)
For Fans Of: American Football, Braid, Tiny Moving Parts
Are you a fan of Tiny Moving Parts and are looking for more bands that sound like them? Well, why not listen to Honey And Salt? Freshly signed to Spartan Records (American Opera, Man Mountain, Schematic) is this Texan math rock trio formed up of Wade Allen (guitar/vocals), Austin Sears (bass/vocals), and Benjamin Sams (drums/vocals). Since their formation in 2009, Honey And Salt have mostly stayed local and have done shows not that far from the Lone Star State, doing shows with local acts Football, Etc., DEZORAH, and Opposite Day. To quote Spartan Records’ page about them, “Honey and Salt revel in their differences, seamlessly blending their disparate influences into a sound that manages to be complex without sacrificing immediacy.” With a new album dropping April 6 called “Honey And Salt,” you can expect more greatness to come from these mighty Texans. The band will do a short tour in April starting Friday, April 6 at The Sidewinder in Austin, TX with A.M. feelgood, DEZORAH, SMiiLE, Glassing, and Tremble Out.
Song to Listen to: “A Nihilist Takes Up Knitting”
Plum
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Out Now: Division – Single (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: Beach House, Phantogram, Sylvan Esso
Could you believe that this Canadian synth pop duo is formed up of one member of Counterparts? Yeah that’s right, the hardcore band. After leaving the band in 2016, Jesse Doreen decided to work with vocalist Rachael Kross, forming the pair in late 2017. The duo just played their first show back on March 8 at The Casbah with Crywank and chastity. Kross’ vocals just wreak of Lana Del Ray and POLIÇA and when it’s mixed with Doreen’s multi-instrumental abilities, it becomes the stuff that indie stations across the globe dream about. Combining the haunting talents of Lana Del Ray with the synth pop vibe of Sylvan Esso, the duo are out to make 2018 their year.
Song to Listen to: “Division”
Now before I finish this list, I have to say something. There was a band I put on the first list called Coldfront who unfortunately broke up this month after multiple issues. With that out of the way, I figured I should put a band that’s active on this list. I would hate to end this list only putting 49 active bands on here, so I’m gonna add one more. So here’s a little something extra for you guys.
Hobo Johnson & The LoveMakers
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Out Now: The Rise Of Hobo Johnson (Self-Released)
For Fans Of: The Front Bottoms, Hotel Books, twenty one pilots
Who the fuck is Hobo Johnson? This guy just literally came outta nowhere. Last week, no one knew about him and now this week, people are going nuts about this guy and his band! Well, with some research, Hobo Johnson is actually named Frank Lopes and his band is made up of Jordan Moore, David Baez-Lopez, Derek Lynch, and Ben Lerch. According to an article from the Sacramento Bee, “The legend of Hobo Johnson began when Lopes was about 19, following a spat with his dad and stepmom that left him kicked out of the house. He opted to turn his [1994 Toyota] Corolla into a kind of makeshift apartment, sleeping in the back seat when he wasn’t working at a Rocklin pizza parlor or using a Roseville 24 Hour Fitness as a place to shower…Broke, and grappling with cramped legs from sleeping in his car, Lopes embraced a new persona: ‘Hobo Johnson.’ This rapper would celebrate the scrappy and keep his subject matter sincere, even to the point of awkwardness.” The project started in 2015 and continued to gain some ground, eventually leading to his peak in March of this year. Their 2018 NPR Tiny Desk Contest video for their unreleased song “Peach Scone” blew up online, right now having 1.2 million views on YouTube. Hell, he’s so popular that there’s fucking memes made after him and a group on Facebook called I Will Destroy Hobo Johnson. I still can’t tell if this is a major joke or if this is 100% real. While his rhymes and lyrics sound generic, it is nothing but fun. Listen to “Romeo & Juliet”, “Sex In The City”, and “Mario & Link” and maybe you’ll be a fan of this homeless poet.
Song to Listen to: “Mario & Link”
Well there you have it, 50 fresh bands to add to your Spotify playlists, or whatever you use for music. I think I had more fun writing this year’s than last year’s. If you wanna read my old list, go to this link and look for “Prenatt’s Picks”. I talked about artists like Creeper, the late Lil Peep, blackbear, Sir Sly, and Microwave, just to name a few. Thanks for sticking with me for the past five weeks. Hope to see you all soon!
Punk Goes Prenatt 