It's been a pretty crappy year for the American music industry. With a
handful of exceptions, the radio waves provided a pretty lackluster presentation of Top 40 artists and singles which were fairly forgettable after first listen. Despite this, Indianapolis has managed to carry on and put forth some of the best bands and music the city has ever seen, creating a shining beacon of hope in the Midwest for quality music that hopefully the rest of the country can get on board with. The best thing about this particular list is that all of these bands just recently got their footing in the last couple years, especially in 2011. And what's amazing is many of these bands consist of people who are considerably younger than the average pop artist, but already offer up something better and more refreshing. Here is a list of the best local bands the Circle City has to offer.
It's All Happening - Band Voted Most Likely To Succeed In Their High School Yearbook
If there's one band likely to come out of Indianapolis and establish themselves as the country's next big rock band, it'll be It's All Happening. From the start, it's easy to tell these gentlemen have had nothing but stars in their eyes, with music that could easily take its place on radio waves alongside the top rock artists in the country. Even the band's name, a reference to the movie Almost Famous, is a hint at their desire to go further than any band in Indianapolis. They know what they want, and they have it down to a science.With a punk and rock & roll style borrowing influence from bands like The Clash and Samiam, making it big shouldn't be a problem for It's All Happening.
Facebook page here.
Website here.
Subatomic - Most Punx Up'd in a Single Calendar Year
Subatomic is one of the best and most hard-working punk bands in Indianapolis. The band recorded and released their first full-length album, expanded their reach across Indiana, and went on a five-day tour known as the MidWest Fuck The Rest tour. On top of all that, front man Kenneth Keener put together the first all-ages, all-punk fest in Indianapolis, Punks Don't Give A Fest, featuring over a dozen young, eager punk bands. Their sound, which weaves back and forth between blistering street punk, catchy pop punk, and brutal hardcore, has fans going wild as they scream along and mosh with the most manic of energy, a sign that Subatomic's hard work is definitely paying off.
Facebook page here.
Bandcamp page here.
Earthbound - Best New Band To Look Out For In 2012
Finally, ska has returned to Indianapolis in the form of this young and enthusiastic ska-punk band! Earthbound broke into the Indianapolis music scene after winning Piradical Productions' annual High School Battle Of The Bands, and have been making waves ever since. All of the members are still in high school, and during their first year of shows, they have shown incredible improvement in their musicianship and song-writing. With some more time and some more shows, they'll accomplish what few have managed to do: be a solid ska band Indianapolis can be proud to call its own.
Facebook page here.
Bandcamp page here.
Scumbelina - Best New Band In A Stale Genre
Also getting a boost from participating in Piradical Productions' High School Battle Of The Bands, Scumbelina is a breath of fresh air in the psychobilly punk subgenre, which is an impressive feat considering many of the best psychobilly bands are still in the middle of their own midlife crisis. The young trio feel right at home in their rockabilliy roots and have the musicianship to show it, displaying an energy that some bands of their genre just don't have anymore. Thanks to Scumbelina, rockabilly could have a bright future in Indianapolis.
Facebook page here.
Comfort - Most Underrated Band in Indy
If
there's one band that hasn't yet received enough recognition in the
Indianapolis music scene, it's Comfort. If Blink-182 drank more than
they already do and got much more depressed because of it, Comfort would
be the result. But for where they lack in optimism, they make up for in
sheer power. For a pop punk band, Comfort is loud. So loud, Nigel
Tuffman would shed a tear of joy. Their first full-length, "Hoover," is
one of the best local albums to come out this year, and with it, they're
starting to gain a better following. 2012 will very likely be their
year.
Facebook page here.
Bandcamp page here.
Chaotic Neutral - The New Kings of Indianapolis Hardcore
The Indianapolis hardcore music scene took a hit this year with local hardcore legends The Dream Is Dead, In The Face Of War, and Bolth all calling it quits and playing their final shows in the last year alone. But Indy hardcore is far from dead, and Chaotic Neutral is a testament to this fact. A super group of sorts, Chaotic Neutral's members have all been in bands that have seen their demise, and eventually came together this year to form the band, whose hardcore punk blend features panicked and pissed-off vocals over thrashing guitars and fast, pounding drums. Chaotic Neutral is a force to be reckoned with, as they could very likely be Indy's next great hardcore band.
Facebook page here.
Bandcamp page here.
Pessoa - Best Drunken Cry Mosh
Pessoa is one of the many bands riding high on
the revival of early 90's emo music, but what helps them stand out in
the genre is how incredibly accessible they are when compared to their
peers. The vocals are clear, the lyrics easily relatable, and their
music is full of infectious punk and indie melodies and just enough of
that noodly twinkle to keep emo veterans and newbies alike singing along
to every song, and that's not an exaggeration. Pessoa has one of the
most enthusiastic fan-bases in Indianapolis, hanging onto every word
while shoving and climbing over each other to prove it, especially
during fan-favorite "The Coming Up Right," which is easily one of the
best songs to come out of Indianapolis this year.
Facebook page.
Bandcamp page here.
Indian City Weather - Best Local Band of The Year
The pick for the year's band is pretty much a no-brainer. Indian City Weather (exclusive interview
here)
is one of the Circle City's most original bands, combining indie rock
with hip-hop beats to make music so connectable and infectious it's hard
to find a better band. Riding on the success of their "Leather Lungs"
EP, the band has been all over the all-ages circuit and beyond, making
it almost impossible to find a show they
weren't playing on while
making appearances on local news and opening for Machine Gun Kelly at
the Egyptian Room. But for these fine, young gentlemen, the hard work
has definitely paid off. Indian City Weather is in the middle of
recording their first full-length album, which is expected to be out
next year, so expect to see them continue ahead full-steam in 2012.
Facebook page here.
Bandcamp page here.
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