I pride myself on my eclectic taste in music. Putting my music library on shuffle is quite the journey. From show tunes, to blues, to rock, to pop, my musical interests are pretty spread out. Because of this, I feel like it is my duty to expose others to good music. I will always be the friend sending you links to songs I think you should listen to. So, here is a list of bands that you should probably be listening to.
1. Here Come The Mummies
This is definitely one of my favorite bands. Since discovering them two summers ago, I've seen them live four times, and I'm already lining up a trip to see them again soon. Here Come The Mummies are an incredible funk band, complete with a killer horn section and even a keytar. The band performs in full mummy attire, and no one knows the true identity of the musicians under the costumes. Their songs are jam packed with innuendos if that's the kind of thing you're into, and they are one of the most technically proficient bands I've seen play. A few of my personal favorites include Pants, Freak Flag, and Fenk Shui. You can't fight the funk, my friend.
2. Bowling For Soup
Bowling For Soup is actually my all time favorite band. Probably everyone has heard of them; they had a few hits that got radio play in the early 2000s, like 1985 and Girl All The Bad Guys Want. Despite the familiarity with the band, most people fail to realize that this band is still around, and still putting out albums. That's right, a band that formed in 1994 is still regularly producing music and touring. That alone deserves a round of applause in my opinion. The band is probably best described as pop punk with some rock mixed in. They have their fair share of silly songs, such as My Wena, but also dabble with more serious subjects matter, as in When We Die and Goodbye Friend. The band members are really genuine and down to earth, and so BFS has a relatively small but devoted fan base. I challenge you to explore their music beyond what you may have heard on the radio. With 22 years of music, you're bound to find your jam.
3. Marc Broussard
I am currently on a pretty big Marc Broussard kick. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform at The Waiting Room a few weeks ago, and I was beyond blown away. Marc Broussard and his band have the kind of raw talent that seems to be absent from a lot of mainstream music. Marc Broussard represents soul on this list, although rock and a bit of a pop sound make it into his setlist. His powerful vocals are the biggest draw for me. Plus, he's got a really rad beard. A few of my favorites include A Lonely Night In Georgia, Gavin's Song and Rocksteady. I think that Soul is such an under-appreciated genre, so go give Marc a little love.
4. 4 Door Theatre
You know how waiting in line for doors to open at a concert is basically terrible? I would tend to agree, but were it not for the long line leading into a venue, I may never have discovered 4 Door Theatre. This band, based out of Nashville, follows different bands on tour and promotes their music to the concert goers waiting in line. First of all, you gotta respect that dedication. Furthermore, they are actually really good! I bought their EP after they serenaded me prior to a Mayday Parade concert. They just have the one EP out, so you could easily immerse yourself in their music in less than an hour. My personal favorite is Porcelain Face.
5. Watsky
I will be the first to admit that I'm not very into rap. There is so much amazing music out there that interests me, and so rap is not really on my radar. That said, George Watsky deserves a listen. What I like about Watsky is although he spits lyrics mad fast (is that how the kids are saying it?), his songs have less of a traditional rap feel. He really takes the art of the spoken word and transforms it into something beautiful. It feels almost to me like slam poetry read aloud and set to music. If you appreciate the skill behind rap, but aren't into the genre itself, definitely check Watsky out. I would recommend Sloppy Seconds, Ghost Party,and Mrs. Robinson.
6. Boy
Among one of my favorite indie bands is Boy. This European duo is who I turn to when I just need to relax. The vocals are pleasant and soothing, and the lyrics are really solid, which is a big deal for me. I could love the beat of a song but if I don't love the lyrics, it generally won't make it onto my playlist. I honestly can't believe this band hasn't had more exposure, but they have les than 10,000 Twitter followers and less than 250,000 likes on Facebook. If you have heard them, potentially without realizing it, you've likely heard Little Numbers. Other songs I'd recommend in particular are Army, Drive Darling, and No Sleep for the Dreamer.
I could honestly keep going forever with this, but I feel like this is a decent stopping point. I've thrown out bands and artists from diverse genres. I think a lot of us fall into an unfortunate pattern of listening to the same songs from the same bands over and over again. I challenge you to go on a musical adventure. Hopefully at least one of the above bands floats your boat. Go forth and jam, my friends.
