The Drums
For fans of: The Smiths, Soft Cell
This Brooklyn indie-pop four-piece is the most hyped New York band since The Strokes.
The band released its debut EP, Summertime!, last October and will be quick to silence those who say they have a Beach Boys vibe. The Drums sound more like Joy Division if Ian Curtis was replaced with The Cure’s Robert Smith.
J. Cole
For fans of: Kanye West, Jay-Z
As an aspiring rapper, J. Cole waited hours in the rain one day to hand Jay-Z a demo, only to get the cold shoulder. But he went on to be featured on The Blueprint 3’s “A Star is Born.” And when Jay-Z started his label last year, Cole was the first to be signed.
Free Energy
For fans of: Cheap Trick, Tom Petty
When you’re packed in a car with friends on a Saturday night, dazed and ready whatever mischief is next, you should blast Free Energy. They’re bringing the hefty guitar riffs and hooks of ‘70s bands like Thin Lizzy to a new generation. And who doesn’t like Thin Lizzy?
