20 New Bands To Watch Out For

Getting attention as a new band isn't an easy task in 2012. The evolution of the online music community has made it more possible than ever to put your music out there and give people all over the world a chance to listen. But that also means more competition than ever as more and more aspiring musicians flood the market.

It's not just new bands popping up—entire sub-genres, scenes, and movements are taking shape and starting to explode before most people even know they exist. It's exciting to have access to more music than ever before, but the shit can get overwhelming too. It's becoming harder and harder to know who to pay attention to. But don't worry, the Plex has got your back.

We put this list together to highlight some of the bands that we're most excited about and hopefully introduce you to a couple of your new favorite acts. From garage rock to synth pop and a little bit of everything in between, here are the 20 New Bands To Watch Out For (listed in alphabetical order).

RELATED: Pigeons and Planes - The 50 Greatest New York Rock Bands
RELATED: Green Label - Artists to Watch For In 2014
RELATED: Green Label - The 15 Indie Artists with Big Label Potential
RELATED: Pigeons & Planes - Bands from the Bay that You Should Know

Written by Jacob Moore (@PigsAndPlans) & Brendan Klinkenberg (@kingmidasIV)

Twitter: @Alabama_Shakes
From: Athens, Alabama
Pros: A timeless sound with nothing gimmicky about it.
Cons: The live performance outdoes any recorded material.

Alabama Shakes have buzz, but they're not your typical buzz band. While the scene is dominated by a lot of—for lack of a better word—wimpy music with a lot of emotion and not enough soul, this Alabama four-piece is bringing back Southern rock a la Janis Joplin and The Allman Brothers.

Their debut album, Boys & Girls, is a very good one, but this is a band made for the stage, and seeing Brittany Howard belt these songs out live at festivals this summer is what's really going to win people over.

Twitter: @bassdrumofdeath
From: Mississippi
Pros: With so much music going soft, these guys really rock.
Cons: Lacks diversity.

Bass Drum Of Death "I Wanna Be Forgotten"


Most bands in 2012 cite a diverse set of influences, which can be cool, but the music can get overcomplicated. If you're tired of hearing pop/rock/rap/electronic with a bit of blues and R&B all thrown into the mix, listen to Bass Drum of Death. The duo's debut album was written entirely by frontman John Barrett, who also recorded it himself and then taught Colin Sneed how to drum so he could join in. It's filled with raw, unfiltered, and blown-out tracks with all the drugs, girls, and rock & roll you could want.

Twitter: @Grimezsz
From: Montreal, Quebec
Pros: Major buzz, and music that's getting progressively better.
Cons: Her tendency to get weird could lead her off the path.

Grimes isn't actually "new" if you consider that she's on her third album, but she's only been putting out music for a couple of years. With her latest album Visions, she's established her position as one of the most praised artists in the indie world—and with good reason, too.

The former goth girl maintains her dark, off-kilter edge, which she balances with a soft, sweet voice and melodies that will stick in your head for days. You might not even realize how dark and weird some of what you're listening to really is, because you'll be too busy humming along.

RELATED: WHO IS GRIMES?

Twitter: @HAIMtheband
From: Los Angeles, California
Pros: The "three sisters in a band" thing will grab people's attention, and the music will hold it.
Cons: Some guys might find it hard to get into dance-y pop made by three sisters.

Haim "Forever"


When you see pictures of the three sisters Haim, they look too cool to care, like they're already famous. And they've got reason to be confident. The young siblings could pass for a '60s folk band, which makes it even more surprising when you press play. It all starts to make a little more sense when the retro pop act explains that one of their major influences is '90s R&B, and the result is evident in tracks like "Forever."

The emphasis always stays on the charismatic vocals, but you'll find it hard not to move along with the bouncy guitar work and disco-like groove. If you saw the Haims and were hoping for some Joni Mitchell, you're going to be in for a surprise—but not a disappointment.

Twitter: @KidsTheseDays
From: Chicago, Illinois
Pros: With the incorporation of hip-hop, funk, jazz, and soul, there's a little something for everyone.
Cons: When's the last time a live hip-hop band made it big?

When there's a rapper in a group, the group usually gets called hip-hop. Kids These Days is challenging that notion. The Chicago 7-piece raps, but they also sing, play instruments, and write songs that are more jazz and funk than rap. Still, they are going to get called a live hip-hop band, and that's not an easy role to play.

The Roots pulled it off, but everyone else gets trapped in a weird niche somewhere between a band and a rap group. In 2012, with genres melting away faster than ever, maybe it's finally time for a band like Kids These Days to create their own lane.

Twitter: @PURITY_RING
From: Canada
Pros: An established sound, complex instrumentals and very original appeal.
Cons: Could be too dark to gain mainstream traction.

Purity Ring "Obedear"


Purity Ring is not your average buzzing indie band. The duo has only released four songs, but it already feels like an event when a new one drops. The Canadian duo combines dark synths and ethereal sampling with hip-hop percussion worthy of the best beatmakers in the game. Throw singer Megan James' hauntingly infectious melodies and inscrutably personal lyrics into the mix and it's not just an indie band with a following, it's the next big thing.

Twitter: @shadowsonstars
From: Portland, Oregon
Pros: Pop appeal and an eclectic mix of influences.
Cons: New influences could change their sound.

This Portland duo didn't reinvent anything with their self-titled debut album, but they still managed to make a record that sounded unlike anything else. They grab pieces from new wave, hip-hop, indie pop, and punk rock for a blend that sounds incredibly fresh.

The strength of the songwriting alone makes this album good, but even more exciting is the fact that it couldn't have been made by anyone other than a couple of young people in 2012 who grew up on Outkast, Blondie, Fiona Apple, and 2Pac.

Twitter: @stlucianewyork
From: New York, NY
Pros: It might be a one-man band, but that man has more than one trick.
Cons: Certain songs are so good that it has us skipping others just to hear them.

St. Lucia "All Eyes On You"


One-man band St. Lucia takes his name from the small Caribbean island and the moniker fits in that the only kind of place you can imagine this music coming from is sunny and remote. The songs debuted thus far are all pop cuts, plain and simple. What St. Lucia brings to the table is immediacy tempered with texture, depth and variety. That artistry only adds to the appeal of these catchy songs.

Twitter: @swisslipstweet
From: Manchester, England
Pros: No doubt that this sound could be popular, already on a major label.
Cons: Tough to gauge how good a band is after two songs.

Swiss Lips "Grow"


Synth-pop is not a genre that's lacking in entries. It seems like every day more bands with drums, a guitar or two and a Korg synthesizer are materializing out of thin air. That being said, when synth-pop is good, it's really good and immediately rises above the crowd.

Swiss Lips released two songs without furnishing the world with much information, then they proceeded to sign a four album deal with Sony, without the label ever seeing a live performance. Since then, the band has retreated to work on a full-length debut. While catalogs this sparse are never really enough to judge a band, you can certainly consider our interest piqued.

Twitter: @tanlines
From: Brooklyn, NY
Pros: Effortlessly immediate and danceable music.
Cons: Might be dismissed as dance-pop without depth.

When Tanlines first started to gain recognition as a Brooklyn duo releasing EP's in 2010, their calling card was recycling tropical influences into danceable indie pop. It was a new, welcome take on an established sound that never goes out of style.

Since then, the band's output has diversified and deepened, and while the steel drums and carefree melodies are still there, their debut album this year proved that Tanlines isn't a one-trick pony. "Mixed Emotions" pushes the boundaries, bringing deeper content to music that's hard not to love.

Twitter: @thenbhd
From: California
Pros: The first couple songs prove that these guys have mass appeal potential.
Cons: Not enough material.

When we call the Neighbourhood a new band, we really mean that "new" part. The Cali group only has two songs out so far, but with "Sweater Weather" and "Female Robbery," they've already made it clear that they aren't just a bunch of amateur trend-followers.

They've got a catchy, summery, crisp indie rock/pop sound, and even with only a couple tracks to their name, they're already on our short list of acts to look out for. When they drop their EP on May 7, we expect it will be in heavy rotation all summer.

Twitter: @NUHULA
From: Brooklyn, NY
Pros: Immediately gratifying.
Cons: It might not work so well during the winter months.

Vacationer "Trip"


Vacationer sounds like what their name implies. Their music is the perfect soundtrack to a long, windows-down summer drive. Wherever you're headed, the music of this new NYC-based group is going to make your trip a lot more enjoyable.

It's bright, colorful, but not so in-your-face that you can't sit back and get some relaxation while you listen. Their debut LP, Gone is one you can put on, sit back, and play through without worrying about anything—not even getting up to skip a song.

Twitter: @WillisEarlBeal
From: Chicago
Pros: An amazing voice, a story and outlook unlike anyone else, and a deal with XL Recordings that could put him on the path to major success.
Cons: He was once quoted as saying that he only wants to do music until he makes enough money to disappear, so there's the possibility that his career will be a short one.

Willis Earl Beal "Evening's Kiss"


Willis Earl Beal is not a band. Conceptually, he may be the furthest thing from a band. The music he's made so far is undeniably that of an individual. If you have heard about Willis Earl Beal so far, then you've most likely heard pieces of his saga.

With a life story as unique as his (he's been in the army, been homeless, never performed live before last year, and promoted his music mostly via personal phone calls and hand-drawn pictures scattered around Chicago), it's impossible not to talk about it. But when the allure of an intriguing outsider starts to fade, the focus is going to be on the music.

So far, Willis' music is lo-fi, self-made, and conceived with no intention of sharing on a large scale. With his signing to XL Recordings, his situation has changed drastically, but his live performances are proof that he's more than an interesting guy with a captivating story. He's got stage presence, he's got passion, and that voice of his is timeless.

Twitter: @YouthLagoon
From: Boise, Idaho
Pros: Quiet, affecting songs that have already gained traction in the indie world.
Cons: The "bedroom pop" genre tag.

Youth Lagoon "Seventeen"


Youth Lagoon is the stage name of Trevor Powers from Boise, Idaho, and he's made a debut album that very much sounds like its title: The Year Of Hibernation. The introspective music he makes is mostly stuck with the "bedroom pop" label, but there's more to it than that.

Most of his songs start off quiet and meek, but if you stick with them, they almost always pop at some point, and it's this breaking point that seems to perfectly represent what's happening in Trevor's career right now. He went from a kid making lo-fi music in Boise to an indie darling, and if he keeps creating melodies as adored as the ones on his debut, it's going to be hard for him to go back into hibernation.