Keep your ears open to these crucial local groups:
Spoon Dogs
Seemingly out of nowhere, this young group of garage rock freaks have elbowed their way to the front of the local pack. Their recent tour kick-off show at Will’s was pure hysteria from start to finish.
The Nightmare
The Nightmare serve as a sort of fulcrum for the younger end of the underground punk scene here, hosting national bands touring through, and also crafting an exhilarating, raw explosion of punk riffs and d-beat chaos.
Timothy Eerie
Nomadic young psych-rocker Eerie has returned to Orlando, though who can say for how long – so you’d do well to take in his sundazed anthems on local stages while you can.
OhTwo
Mod local hip-hop trio OhTwo are revelatory live, all restless, explosive energy and smart attire. Their recordings – two cassettes on Illuminated Paths and a CD on their own – evince keen pop instinct and an eye toward the future.
Mother Juno
Minimal-synth/EBM berserker Mother Juno came into his own in a big way this year. He’s hit his stride musically with raw, energetic and angular dancefloor fillers, and turned heads supporting national industrial and electronic acts.
Channel 83
The art-damaged, Devo-cannibalizing punk of Channel 83 started off as a solo endeavor, but is now a full band. The live results are stunning, inspiring a sweaty mix of moshing, dancing and even (gasp) pogoing??
Tidepools
Very new shoegaze and dream-pop band Tidepools are a late entrant to this list, but this project from Laura Reyes is already impressing with that ethereal goodness.
Cathedral Bells
Speaking of shoegaze, Cathedral Bells, the musical dreamweapon of Matt Messore, is on a high right now with the critical plaudits given to their recent eponymous EP and a successful West Coast tour completed.
ACP PRO
Relentless and restless local synthwave duo are the go-to support for likeminded touring acts, and with their increasingly cinematic beatscapes and pulpy VHS obsession, it’s not hard to see why.
430 Steps
Local hardcore ensemble’s music mainlines the best of 1980s punk and HC, keeping it lean and (very) mean. And though they gig relentlessly on the regional circuit supporting the likes of Iron Reagan, the band made big moves with an East Coast tour earlier this year.
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This story is from the Aug. 8, 2019, print issue of Orlando Weekly’s Newcomers Guide 2019. Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly Headlines newsletter.
This article appears in Newcomers Guide 2019 and Newcomers Guide (2019).