The Best Bands You've Never Heard Of

Here’s a growing list of bands/artist I think deserve a special shout out for the hard work and ingenuity. In additon, they all excell at covering great songs too (each video is a cover of a song they do). Enjoy!

Best Live Band: Dawes

Unfortunately their studio album does them little justice. They’re a classic example of a band you listen to live and go “wow,” then buy their CD and go “ohh.” I’m confident their next project will correct the lack of energy on their first. In the meantime, if you get a chance to check out their live show, you won’t be sorry. Explosive americana southern rock is their specialty backed by four part “eagles-like” harmonies that catapult you back to the 70’s with the aid of tasteful tele licks and hammond drones. They’re playing South by South West March 19th & 20th.

Best Hipster Band: Glare of Rockets

Emerging from LA’s underground hipster music scene is Glare of Rockets fronted by high school senior, Mariah McManus with her brother Aaron and friend Matt Mugford. There’s a big voice coming from this little lady… not your standard American Idol kind, but a unique, confident one that folks who listen to the likes of Tegan & Sara and Paramore might thoroughly enjoy. Whether acoustic or with a full blown band, Glare of Rockets is young, talented and extremely marketable with a glowing, bright future ahead.

Best “Christian” Band: The Fragrance

The Fragrance is the future of the Christian music industry. Where else can you get the hymn-like magnitude of Sufjan Stevens with the post-rock of Future Forestry? Leeland almost had it, then crossed over to the more comfortable waters of contemporary pop. The Fragrance, a collection of college music majors making their mark at kid’s camps and youth groups are anything but juvenial. No video but check out their undiscovered page.

Best Singer/Songwriter: Amy Kuney

Don’t let Amy’s mysteriously, sometimes hauntingly melodic stories fool you. The fact that you’ve probably heard her before is no mystery. Her songs have been played everywhere from Gilmore Girls to One Tree Hill, to Holiday ommercials for Macy’s, and of course, Undiscovered. Quoted by People Magazine as “an amazing lyricist,” listening to Amy perform is like catching a glimpse of honesty and vulnerability often found in people only without an audience present. Sometimes sarcastic, always soulful, and never mediocre, her words, compositions, and presence will leave you both entertained and intrigued at what she’ll do next.

Best “Christian” Band: The Fragrance

The Fragrance is the future of the Christian music industry. Where else can you get the hymn-like magnitude of Sufjan Stevens with the post-rock of Future Forestry? Leeland almost had it, then crossed over to the more comfortable waters of contemporary pop. The Fragrance, a collection of college music majors making their mark at kid’s camps and youth groups are anything but juvenial. No video but check out their undiscovered page.

Who am I missing???