Christopher Reed

Sara Robinson and Midnight Special

As 2012 draws to a close, we couldn't be more optimistic about the state of music in the Valley of the Sun. With new bands emerging from various scenes and subgenres, it can be hard to keep up with the latest in Phoenix music.

What follows are our picks for 13 acts that will make an impact on the Southwest in the coming year.

See also:
- Top 10 Phoenix Albums of 2012
- Top 10 Reissues and Compilations of 2012
- Jason Woodbury's 10 Best Things I Heard in 2012
- 12 Favorite Local EDM Mixes of 2012
- Top 12 Biggest Musical Letdowns of 2012

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Grant McCord

Samuel L and the Cool J's

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. This blog entry from Jason P. Woodbury turns up the retro soul sound of Samuel L and The Cool J's.

Joel Marquard already plays in one of the coolest bands in Phoenix, the much-adored Gospel Claws, but he can't seem to figure out what to do with his downtime. In 2011, he released a solo album of scratchy agnostic gospel music called The Through and Through Gospel Review. In 2012, he went another direction, with his mod-R&B combo Samuel L and the Cool J's.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

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Esther Martinez

Of the Painted Choir

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. We wrote a bit about Of the Painted Choir's Lula in 2012, and felt the mini-review of the mini-EP deserved a little more shine, because the songs presented by the band have serious staying power.

There's a rustic sense of familiarity listening to Lula, the three-song debut EP by Phoenix indie folk combo Of the Painted Choir.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Today Anthony Sandoval pops in and checks out the rambunctious rock 'n' roll of Francophiles French Girls.

The Phoenix foursome, French Girls, follow a familiar formula in their punky approach to rocking out: Stripped down chords played at a vivacious pace.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

Meggie Burr

The Senators

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Jason P. Woodbury brings this update regarding Americana outfit The Senators, whose rustic sound is picking up steam.

In case you haven't noticed, the "Americana Revival" thing is big right now. Rootsy, mostly acoustic acts like Mumford and Sons and the Lumineers didn't just break out of the "No Depression" ghetto; they actually topped the charts.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

8/20 Records

PALMS

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Today, Christina Caldwell brings us a look at PALMS (all caps, babies), the fast-rising indie/surf outfit that recently signed to the Valley's own 80/20 Records.

If you haven't been to one of their live shows, you'd think PALMS was a bit of a secret.

With only two songs available on its Bandcamp page, Tempe's mellow indie surf rock band -- which finds its home back from any natural body of water -- has remained mostly quiet online, with the exception of their ever-rambunctious Facebook posts. PALMS is just another reason why local music fans actually need to get out of their house to enjoy local music, well, locally.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Lauren Wise brings us this look at I Was Told There'd Be Whiskey, a rootsy rock 'n' roll outfit that incorporates elements of punk, country, and blues into its addicting sound.

I Was Told There'd Be Whiskey didn't start out as a serious act, but it didn't take long for the band's mix of punk and country to clean up its act.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

Jason P. Woodbury

Body of Light performing at the Sonoran Pop Festival, 12/18/12.

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. This entry concerns Body of Light, the mutating synth pop outfit fronted by Alexander Jarson, one of the members of the shadowy Ascetic House collective.

"Putting on a record is very much a ritual for me," Alexander Jarson, the man behind the synth-pop/goth rock/romantic industrial unit Body of Light explains. "You sit down, put the needle on the record...it's like worship, really."

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. Prog rockers The Oxford Coma just so happen to be featured in this week's issue, in a story written by Mr. Glenn BurnSilver that outlines exactly what makes this band stand out.

If ever there was a break out band in the making, it's The Oxford Coma. A little more than a year old, the band recently released its debut album, Adonis, and it's sure to get noticed. An amalgam of modern rock, prog, nu-metal, grunge, garage and funk punk, The Oxford Coma -- guitarist/vocalist Billy Tegethoff, bassist James Williams and drummer Casey Dillon -- amazingly harnesses the best of these disparate styles into massive soundscapes that don't sound like any other band out there.

See also:

-The Oxford Coma Wouldn't Mind Taking Over Rock Radio
-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »

Eryn Wise

Sundressed

As 2012 draws to a close, we'll be looking forward to the 2013 and spotlighting 13 Phoenix bands that will be making a mark on the Southwest throughout the new year. This entry comes from Anthony Sandoval, and he's scoping out the bummer pop glory of Sundressed.

Indie folk band Sundressed is a sad bunch, and that's good. Lead by singer/songwriter Trevor Hedges, the quintet thrives on all of those things that make pop music so endearing; you know, things like heartbreak, rejection, and misery.

See also:

-13 Bands You Need to Hear in 2013
-[Archive] That Was 2012

More »