The Best New Indie Rock Bands with a Psychedelic Twist
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Looking for something new to listen to? Check out our list of the best new indie rock bands with a psychedelic twist. From reverb-drenched guitar licks to hypnotic vocal melodies, these artists are sure to get you hooked.
The Growlers
The Growlers are a band from Costa Mesa, California, United States, who formed in 2006. The band currently consists of singer Brooks Nielsen, lead guitarist Matt Taylor, rhythm guitarist Kyle Straka, bassist Scott Montoya, and drummer Nick Murray. The Growlers’ music has been classified under the genres of “beach goth”, “psychobilly”, and “garage rock”.
The Growlers have released seven studio albums: Are You In or Out? (2009), Hung at Heart (2013), Chinese Fountain (2014), City Club (2016), Casual Acquaintances (2017), Natural Affair (2019) and late-night in the Tropics (2021).
Allah-Las
Allah-Las are an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The group’s music is influenced by 1960s garage rock and psychedelic pop. They have released three albums on respective independent record labels, 2012’s self-titled Allah-Las, 2014’s Worship the Sun, and 2016’s Calico Review.
Thee Oh Sees
Drawing equally from garage rock, punk, and psychedelia, Thee Oh Sees sit atop the current crop of San Francisco-based bands reinterpreting (and reinvigorating) ’60s-era sounds for the 21st century. John Dwyer’s Combo-Organ-Drums setup (later augmented by a bass player) lends the music a garagey minimalism recalling both early Velvet Underground and The Stooges — with a hefty dose of early Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd thrown in for good measure — but Thee Oh Sees are also unafraid to let things get weird, as evidenced by Dwyer’s liberal use of effects pedals and his songs’ often mercurial mood swings.
The Fresh & Onlys
The Fresh & Onlys are a garage rock band from San Francisco, California, United States, formed in 2008. The band’s sound has been likened to that of 1960s and 1970s garage rock and psychedelic rock bands.
The Fresh & Onlys were formed in 2008 by Tim Cohen (guitar, vocals) and Shayde Sartin (bass, vocals), who had previously played together in the band Black Fiction. The two were later joined by Wymond Miles (guitar, keyboards) and Kyle Gibson (drums). The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2009 on Cohen’s label, Fancy Records.
The band’s second album, Play It Strange, was released in 2010 on In the Red Records. The album was recorded in analog by liaison Vance Powell (Jack White, Seasick Steve) and featured guest appearances from Fred Frith (Henry Cow) and Matt Sweeney (Chavez). It was voted one of the best albums of 2010 by publications such as Slant Magazine and Magnet Magazine.
The band’s third album, Long Slow Dance, was released in 2012 on Mexican Summer Records. The album was recorded entirely on tape by John Dieterich (Deerhoof) and featured guest appearances from Chuck Prophet and Kelley Stoltz.
The Fresh & Onlys have been described as “one of the best new indie rock bands” by Pitchfork Media and “a psychedelic twist on classic pop” by NME.
Thee Commons
Thee Commons are a 3 piece band from Los Angeles, CA. Their sound has been described as “a garage-psychTake on traditional cumbia music.” The band is made up of David Pacheco (vocals, guitar), Olivia Flores (bass, vocals), and Jose Bonilla (drums). Thee Commons have been making music together since 2015 and have released one album, ‘Loteria Tribal’, in 2016. Thee Commons will be touring the US in 2017 in support of their upcoming album, ‘Paleta Sonora’, which is set to be released in April of 2017.
The Lamps
The Lamps are a new indie rock band with a psychedelic twist. Their sound is influenced by classic rock and roll bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, as well as modern psych-rock bands like Tame Impala and The Flaming Lips. The Lamps have a fresh take on the genre, and their music is both energetic and introspective.
The Intelligence
Hailing from Seattle, The Intelligence is a four-piece band that’s been making waves in the indie rock scene with their blend of psychedelic and garage rock. Formed in 2003, the band has released six studio albums, with their most recent, Vintage Future, garnering critical acclaim. The Intelligence is perfect for fans of classic garage rock who are looking for something a little bit different.
Thee Oh Sees
Thee Oh Sees are a psychedelic garage rock band from San Francisco, California, United States, formed in 1997. Thee Oh Sees have released seventeen albums, the most recent being Carrion Crawler / The Dream in 2012. The band currently consists of principal songwriter and core member John Dwyer (vocals, guitar), Brigid Dawson (vocals, keyboard), Lars Bilunin (bass), PeteyDammit! (drums) and Tomas Dolas (keyboards).
The group’s music is often referred to as “psychedelic garage rock”, drawing on diverse influences such as 1960s garage rock and punk rock, as well as acid house, krautrock and West Coast punk. Thee Oh Sees’ sound has been compared to traditional psychedelia, noise pop and lo-fi styles.
The Fresh & Onlys
The Fresh & Onlys are a San Francisco-based band, who have been active since 2008. The band’s music has been described as “garage rock, psychedelia, and pop”. The band’s lineup consists of Tim Cohen (vocals, guitar), Shayde Sartin (bass), Wymond Miles (guitar), and Kyle Gibson (drums).
The Fresh & Onlys’ debut album, Play It Strange, was released in 2010. The album was well-received by critics, and was included on several year-end lists. In 2011, the band released their second album, Long Slow Dance. The album continued the band’s trend of critical acclaim, and was included on several year-end lists. In 2012, the band released their third album, House of Spirits. The album was once again well-received by critics, and was included on several year-end lists.
The Fresh & Onlys are currently signed to Innovative Leisure Records.
Thee Commons
originating from East LA, Thee Commons are a three-piece band that describes their sound as “psychedelic cumbia punk.” They’ve been together since 2013 and have released two albums, both of which received critical acclaim. Thee Commons have a high-energy live show and are known for their Latin-infused punk rock anthems.
The Lamps
The Lamps are a new psychedelic indie rock band out of Los Angeles, and their sound is a perfect blend of the best things about the 60s and today. With influences ranging from The Kinks and The Zombies to Tame Impala and Radiohead, The Lamps have created a sound that is both fresh and familiar. Their debut album, Electric Children, was released in March of this year to critical acclaim, and it’s easy to see why.
The album opener, “All I Really Need”, is a catchy pop song with a vintage feel, thanks to the use of vintage keyboards and guitars. The song sets the stage for the rest of the album, which is full of equally catchy and well-crafted songs. “Paralyzed” is a stand-out track, with its thumping bass line and soaring vocal melodies. And “She’s A Worm” is a perfect example of The Lamps’ ability to craft a psychedelic experience without getting lost in self-indulgence – the song is trippy but still grounded in reality.
If you’re looking for a new band to fall in love with, look no further than The Lamps. With their combination of pop sensibility and psychedelic exploration, they are sure to win over hearts and minds alike.
The Intelligence
The Intelligence is a new Indie Rock band with a psychedelic twist that has been taking the music world by storm. With their unique blend of60s garage rock and modern day psychedelia, they have crafted a sound that is both fresh and retro. Their debut album, “I listen to the intelligence”, was released to critical acclaim, and has since been followed up with two more equally impressive albums. If you’re a fan of Indie Rock, or just looking for something new and exciting, then be sure to check out The Intelligence.
