It’s a brand new year and you know what that means right? New music! 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 some artists to check for in 2018.
Mt. Joy
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA and Los Angeles, CA
Out Now: Mt. Joy (Dualtone Music Group)
For Fans Of: Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, The New Basement Tapes
Influenced by folk heroes Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, vocalist and guitarist Matt Quinn and guitarist Sam Cooper, along with their merry band of men called Mt. Joy write songs that sound like their idols. On their debut self-titled record, the band write infectious songs that will get your toes tapping and your head bobbing to drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos’ beat, such as “Sheep,” “Dirty Love,” and their hit song “Silver Lining,” which Alternative Buffalo has been playing for a while now. Seems like these guys will make folk-rock great again.
Song to Listen to: “Sheep”
lil aaron
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Out Now: AARON JUDGE: ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Self-released)
For Fans Of: Lil Uzi Vert, Pouya, RiFF RAFF
This guy has worked with artists like Justin Bieber, blackbear, Travis Barker of Blink-182, and D.R.A.M., but now, it’s time for this Indiana born rapper to shine in the spotlight. Fusing rap with emo, the young rapper shows his scene cred by sampling emo legends Panic! at the Disco (“Hot Topic”) and Paramore (“Warped Tour”) and take a quick listen to “Drugs,” a rap song that glorifies drugs while he raps over a punk beat that’s just fucking killer. He might be one of the most oddest rappers I’ve ever heard in my life. He just wrapped up a quick tour with Warped Tour rapper Mod Sun back in January.
Song to Listen to: “SLEEPFLEX”
The Frights
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Out Now: Valentine’s Sux – Single (Epitaph)
For Fans Of: FIDLAR, Joyce Manor, SWMRS
What originally started off as a prank ended up turning into a real band for these friends. Hailing from San Diego is this trio turned quartet formed up of vocalist and guitarist Mikey Carnevale, bassist Richard Dotson, drummer Marc Finn, and guitarist Jordan Clark. Their one-time half hour gig back in the summer of 2012 turned into an incredible journey ending so far with the band signing with popular independent label Epitaph Records (Color Film, Falling In Reverse, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die) in early 2018. Their untitled third album will come out later this year produced by FIDLAR’s Zac Carper. The Frights are currently touring the US right now as part of their road to SXSW in which they’ll be playing on the StubHub Next Stage along with WAVVES, Action Bronson, and Mt. Joy.
Song to Listen to: “Valentine’s Sux”
Eat Your Heart Out
Hometown: Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Out Now: Mind Games – EP (Fearless)
For Fans Of: Paramore, Tonight Alive, We Are The In Crowd
Coming from the land down under is this fascinating female fronted pop-punk quintet. Freshly signed to American label Fearless Records (I Prevail, Movements, Pierce The Veil), the group are here to make their name well known throughout the scene. The group have toured with several well known acts in their country, touring with the likes of Four Year Strong and Knocked Loose. If you like catchy lyrics with a rhythm that matches, check out Eat Your Heart Out. EYHO will tour their home country as the opening act on Simple Plan’s Australian part of their “No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls” 15th anniversary tour.
Song to Listen to: “Conscience”
Sharptooth
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Out Now: Clever Girl (Pure Noise)
For Fans Of: Every Time I Die, Trapped Under Ice, War On Women
Named after the antagonist from The Land Before Time comes this aggressive hardcore act from Muderland. On their Pure Noise Records debut “Clever Girl” the band fronted by Lauren Kashan shreds throughout all 11 tracks with pure fierceness. With songs like “Fuck You Donald Trump” and the title track, it’s clear to see that these folks aren’t here to fuck around. Touring with heavy hitters like Stray From the Path and Anti-Flag, the group is here to shred until you’re dead. To quote Shockwave Magazine, “Sharptooth does all this unapologetically, taking hardcore into brave and dangerous new territory while never letting up on the ragged from-the-heart maliciousness fans demand from the genre.” Sharptooth will appear this whole summer on this year’s Vans Warped Tour.
Song to Listen to: “Clever Girl”
I Don’t Know How But They Found Me
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Out Now: Choke – Single (None You Jerk)
For Fans Of: Atlas Genius, DREAMCAR, Night Riots
Dallon Weekes (ex-Panic! at the Disco) and Ryan Seaman (ex-Falling in Reverse) are no strangers to the scene, but who would’ve guessed that the two could make such beautiful music together? Known as the unnecessarily long named duo I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, Seaman and Weekes combine elements of new wave acts like Duran Duran and the Buggles with elements of Night Riots and Panic! at the Disco. These two make songs that’ll make you wanna bust out your best moves on the dance floor. Hopefully these two make it big in the scene.
Song to Listen to: “Modern Day Cain”
The Wrecks
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Out Now: Panic Vertigo (Another Century)
For Fans Of: Jet, New Politics, The 1975
I’ve talked about these guys before. Forgive me for repeating myself. “Formed in 2015, the band composed of vocalist Nick Anderson, guitarists Western Weiss and Nick Schmidt, bassist Aaron Kelley, and drummer Billy Nally, have been treated kindly by the gods of rock n’ roll,” I wrote in an article about their show in Buffalo months prior. Since that show, the band has released a new EP titled “Panic Vertigo” and just wrapped up a tour with New Politics. You probably know them from their song “Favorite Liar” which got tons of radio play on alternative rock stations across the states. The band will appear on tour with The Maine later this spring. If you like good old rock ‘n’ roll, jam The Wrecks.
Song to Listen to: “James Dean”
We Were Sharks
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Out Now: Lost Touch (Victory)
For Fans Of: Carousel Kings, New Found Glory, State Champs
I hope you all read my review of “Lost Touch” on this blog. Let me repeat myself: “With their deep lyrics and bouncy riffs that sound like New Found Glory and Carousel Kings, We Were Sharks might be the scene’s next big thing.” You should all stop oversleeping on these fine Canucks. Straight outta Ottawa comes this sextet with songs that will resonate with you. We Were Sharks are made up of vocalist Randy Frobel, bassist Steve Creaturo, guitarists Jason Mooney, Josh King and Colin Jacques, and drummer Will Plummer. If you like pop-punk in general, then listen to We Were Sharks. Trust me, these sharks are friendly.
Song to Listen to: “Stay”
Diet Cig
Hometown: New Paltz, NY
Out Now: Swear I’m Good At This (Frenchkiss)
For Fans Of: Bleached, Lemuria, Tacocat
Do you like Best Coast but wish they were punk? Well congrats, I found that band. Insert Diet Cig: a punk duo formed up of best friends Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman. The group have gained some success, touring with The Front Bottoms and doing a show with Passion Pit. They released their debut album “Swear I’m Good At This” last year on Frenchkiss Records (The Hold Steady, ISLAND, Strange Names). It’s just simple millennial pop-punk music that’ll make you feel giddy.
Song to Listen to: “Maid of the Mist”
Rumahoy
Hometown: Ocracoke, North Carolina
Out Now: The Triumph of Piracy (Napalm)
For Fans Of: Alestorm, Korpiklaani, Sabaton
Pirate metal. Need I say more? These scalawags sail across the globe blasting to land lovers their piracy tales with the help of metal. Created in 2011, these four pirates were brought together by their ringleader Captain Yarrface who, according to their Facebook, “was experimenting with the musical heritage of his ancestors. He quickly assembled a full lineup for the band drawn from diverse parts of the country, with hand-picked members chosen for their seafaring abilities and their thirst for rum and treasure.” Joining Yarrface is his merry crew, guitarist Bootsman Walktheplank, bassist Cabinboy Treasurequest, and Swashbuckling Pete, the nastiest pirate drummer who dared to sail the seven seas. They sail the seas, playing songs off of their new album “The Triumph of Piracy” on Napalm Records (Alestorm, Hoobastank, Valient Thorr). Watch out for when these pirates come to your town, cause they’ll steal your gold and booze. But if you’re fortunate enough, they’ll just turn you into one of their many fans.
Song to Listen to: “Forest Party”
Check out next week for more artists!
Punk Goes Prenatt 