Hold onto your gumbo, we’ve got quite a list of bands for you to check out!

Rogue (Progressive Metal)

The last metal album I bought was The Chariot’s One Wing, so needless to say I’ve been out of the metal scene for a few years. But even so, Rogue’s music manages to stand out. There’s somewhat of a djent influence here, though perhaps not the most prominent ingredient in these tracks. I’m reminded of Periphery, Protest the Hero, and The Human Abstract. The band balances complex songwriting with commercial elements, so it never feels like they’re showing off. The clean vocals are gossamer, and the screamed vocals are even fairly clear for the most part.

Water Seed (Soul / Jazz)

In the comments for one video of this ensemble bringing the heat to a Big Easy venue, one guy left this sentiment: “I felt the Holy Ghost!!” A bit unexpected for the venue of choice, but I say, why not?! Music in dark, sweaty bars ought to be one of the most spiritual experiences out there. Water Seed understands this—no doubt.

People Museum (Indie Pop)

Smooth beats and brass. What more could you want? I mean, really? It’s currently 11:22 PM at the time of my typing this—so I’m going to let the music speak for itself here rather than try to pull random platitudes out of the air. We agree with NPR’s assessment of this band, though.

Seratones (Female-Fronted Gritty Funk)

On first listen you’ll immediately see that Seratones are not your standard female-fronted act. This is a band full of punch and grit, one with attitude and confidence. There’s plenty of southern rock influence here that keeps things feeling classy and vintage. It’s an interesting combination, but it’s definitely a welcome one.

Tare (Instrumental / Math Rock)

When it comes to math rock, Tare is on the quieter, sparser side. Think of bands like Cuzco—there’s a certain dreaminess here to the large part, though things do get a bit more bombastic at times. Still, the arrangements never approach the sheer audacity of TTNG with rapid-fire tapping. Tare focus more on building ambience, and they do so pretty well.

Butte (Indie Rock)

Butte is a tightly-crafted indie band with a new EP out this year. Stylistically, they remind me of Ethnographers or Slow Bird. Dreamy, female-fronted rock is surprisingly hard to come by, and Bones more than satisfies my craving. As to be expected, the crew consists of masters of dynamics, and their work is built on subtlety and precision.

Little Death (Surf Rock)

Little Death feels like what Weezer might have sounded like if they formed in the south—there’s a bit of southern rock and even doo-wop influence mixed into a core of surfy indie. Add in plentiful harmonies and vintage-sounding grooves, and the result has a bit of a timeless feeling to it. Their self-titled album dropped in the middle of last year, so you could be one of the first to catch these songs live soon.

Bad Operation (Ska)

What can I say? This is fast-paced, modern ska that is fun and upbeat. Ska has a reputation of being a niche genre or a type of novelty music, but in an age where everyone feels the pressure to make a statement, taking a step back and just having fun is pretty refreshing.

Paper Bison (Math Rock)

Origami-themed bands never seem to disappoint. This is yet another math-rock entry to our list, but it’s evident just how diverse the genre is. Most bands of this nature are instrumental, so vocals are always welcome and help give the band an extra edge. And rather than stay in one vein, Paper Bison oscillate between twinkly segments and darker passages easily. This might not be the ideal band for the math-rock purist, but if you’re looking for some interesting progressive rock, you’ll want to keep an eye on this group.

Sweet Crude (Indie Pop Ensemble)

This band has been at it longer than you think. The pop act has a sound so rich and full you’ll feel more refined after listening. They are also known for incorporating Louisiana French into their lyricism, and go to great length to explain this part of their heritage on their website. Catch them at Bonnaroo and many other places as the world opens back up.

LeTrainiump (Pop)

Come on, if you don’t know why LeTrainiump is one to watch, are you even a reader of this blog? What can be said that I haven’t said hundreds of times already? “So Alive” needs to be the song of the summer. Collaborations galore are on the horizon for this promising, charismatic, and nostalgic-in-the-present pop artist.

Lily in the Weeds (Blues Rock)

I first became familiar with the swagger of frontwoman Alex Burnsides in Columbus, OH when she made appearances with party-rockers Zoo Trippin’. Later, as Michael Furman and Burnsides fleshed out their own vision of a blues rock act, in Lily in the Weeds, they packed their bags for the good ol’ Big Easy to bring their attitude to a different but arguably bigger music pond. Following a killer appearance at Steadfast & Friends’ virtual festival, they are sure to bring the heat to NoLA. If you have a keen eye, you may spot them hanging out at one of their fav music joints, Gasa Gasa.

Alfred Banks (Hip Hop)

Alfred Banks is very competent when it comes to making thoughtful hip hop that makes you feel good. Ever since I began following the NoLa music scene more intentionally, his name has been hard to escape. His most recent single “The Waive” is creative and infectious and honestly is more satisfying to me than many of the lauded mainstream releases I’ve heard recently. You can find this guy getting down to the classics or geeking out over nerdcore artists like Mega Ran. His new album One Guy Standing By Himself is one you can count on being a dark horse hit this year.

Ventruss (Metalcore)

The Baton Rouge–based metalcore band screams FUN in your face. And probably a little rage too. If you want a little glitter with your anger, this is the band for you. “Talladega” isn’t a single that’s known to Will Ferrell or the Talladega Nights crew to my knowledge, but maybe it should be.

Grand Nathaniel (soul / alt pop)

Grand Nathaniel mixes new-school synthpop with old school swagger. I reckon that if the Rat Pack were around today and worked with Jack Antonnoff, the realm of sound might be somewhere in this realm. The artist has his origins in the Lafayette scene, one that is unassuming and overshadowed by NoLA but not to be discounted.

Alabaster Stag (Soul / Alternative)

The Baton Rouge–based soul/alt act is emerging from a bit of a hiatus, appearing on a recent Presonus Session (we first heard of this band via LeTrainiump, who’s performance of the then unreleased “Control” went viral). It’s been a while since the band has updated their Instagram, but 1) they say they have a new album on the way, and 2) it isn’t too often one runs into a frontwoman who’s also into puppeteering.

Transient (Metalcore)

We first got wind of this act via fellow Ohio music journalist and enthusiast Tiffany Frybarger. It wasn’t until after yours truly got hooked on the nu-metal meets modern rock stylings of the band that we realized that Jody Lindell of Smile Empty Soul and 12 Stones fame was involved as their guitarist. 15 year old Ryan Getz is thrilled (he’s recalling buying a 12 Stones CD in a Christian bookstore as he’s typing this). Joking aside, Transient have some serious chops with writing radio ready hard rock, and we’re here for it.

Indii G. (LoFi Hip Hop)

The Epitaph Records signee draws from a myriad of influences, from LoFi to Chillwave. The result is a smooth concoction full of heart that serves to entice more indie minded listeners. This is emo-rap for people who don’t like emo-rap.

Pony Hunt (Indie Rock)

Jessie Antonick’s band is set to release a new album in July, and this guarantee alone gives good reason to keep them on your radar. The group describes themselves as a ghostly jukebox, and it’s not far from the truth. There’s a certain nostalgia here to eras long gone. This is summery music, likely best enjoyed while drinking a root beer float at a diner.

Tuba Skinny (Traditional Jazz)

Surprise: the band has tuba in it. This is the kind of traditional bayou music you might expect from the region, and it’s certainly something that’s likely to fly over many younger listeners. But with The Caretaker finding its way into the mainstream, there’s been more exposure to these types of sounds than would usually be possible normally. Many tracks are instrumental, letting the brass and wind instruments fill out most of the space.

Esther Rose (Americana)

Esther Rose’s relaxed Americana arrangements are of rare quality. They’re earthy, ethereal, and full of conviction. With an expert supporting cast behind her, her latest LP (released in March) is full and emotive. If you’re looking for a good alternative to vain pop country, this has enough shared DNA to be a great choice.

MJ Guider (Experimental Pop)

Borrowing influences from ambient and shoegaze acts, MJ Guider offers hazy, hard-to-classify tracks with a bit of pop flair. Angelic vocals juxtapose a chaotic undercurrent of noisy electronics.

Riley Downing (Classic Country)

Bayou and gospel influence are rife on Riley Downing’s songs. There’s plenty of energy and character here, and Downing’s smooth baritone keeps things feeling authentic. Country is certainly a more diverse genre than many might peg it for, and if you’re looking for a new angle on things, this is a good place to start.

Quintron + Miss Pussycat (Comedy / Garage Rock)

While the band’s gimmick might raise some eyebrows, rest assured the duo knows how to write songs that don’t suck. Now, there’s certainly a comedic element here—but the songs themselves are far from cringy. There’s a certain DIY ethos here, which is welcome. The band crafts some pretty cool songs, but they’re not driven by vanity.

MowMowMow (Indie Pop)

MowMowMow’s latest LP is over two hour longs, an ambitious feat in its own right. Add in the fact that Sous un Chêne is the tenth installment in the MowMowMow catalog, and you’re left with one of the busiest artists in the indie scene. If you’re looking for engaging, immersive songs, you’ve come to the right place.

Cha Wa (Funk / Soul)

This Native American Mardi Gras-meets-funk project has all the flair of classic big band music mixed with the cultural and ethnic tendencies of the overlooked and overworked underdogs. Featuring a cast of over twenty professional musicians, My People is an album of meteoric proportions.

Radiant Knife (Sludge Rock)

Radiant Knife released twin EPs this past year, showcasing their sludge and doom influences. These songs are slow, dark, and brooding. This is one of the more psychedelic entries to our list by far.

Silver Synthetic (Rock N Roll)

This act have been a consistent on Ryan’s personal list of “bands that could” on his 2021 albums playlist on Spotify. The band’s most recent LP was released via Third Man Records, which ought be self-explanatory on why that’s noteworthy at this point. The band isn’t seeking to reinvent the wheel but rather take the listener on an easygoing journey back to the basics.

Okay, you have some homework now. Look: we organized a handy-dandy playlist for you to check out just about all of these artists. Aren’t we nice?