Psychedelic Rock Bands to Watch in 2019
Keep your eyes peeled for these up-and-coming psychedelic rock bands in 2019. From retro-influenced to modern takes on the genre, there’s something for everyone.
The Growlers
The Growlers should be at the top of every psychedelic rock fan’s list for bands to watch in 2019. The LA-based band has been making a name for themselves over the past few years with their unique blend of psychedelic rock and surf punk. Their live shows are high-energy and their music is catchy and sure to get stuck in your head.
Who They Are
Hailing from LA, The Growlers take heavy inspiration from 60s and 70s beach culture to craft their own brand of what they like to call “beach goth.” With a sound that falls somewhere between The Doors and The Stooges, The Growlers have built up a strong following in the underground scene and are ones to watch in 2019.
What They Sound Like
The Growlers sound like a beach-influenced take on The Velvet Underground, if The Velvet Underground were fronted by a tiki-obsessed Nicolás Cage. To get a sense of what that might entail, look no further than “beach goth”—a genre The Growlers have essentially cornered the market on.
The band has been around for over a decade now, but they continue to put out music that feels vital and fresh. Their new album, Natural Affair, is slated for release on October 4th, and it’s sure to be another batch of off-kilter earworms from one of the most unique bands operating today.
Why They’re Worth Checking Out
The Growlers released their fifth album, Casual Acquaintances, in 2017, and it’s one of those grower albums that gets better with each listen. The production values are high, the songwriting is on point, and the overall vibe of the album is both relaxed and energetic. It’s the perfect background music for a party or a road trip, and it’s also great for just hanging out at home.
The Growlers are a bit of an enigma in the modern music world. They’re not quite punk, they’re not quite indie rock, they’re not quite pop, but they manage to combine all of these genres into something that is uniquely their own. If you’re looking for something new and exciting to check out in 2019, be sure to give The Growlers a listen.
Allah-Las
Allah-Las are a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in 2008. The band consists of Miles Michaud (vocals, guitar), Pedrum Siadatian (guitar, backing vocals), Spencers Bartlett (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Matthew Correia (drums, percussion).
Who They Are
The Allah-Las are a quartet of LA based musicians who create 60’s and 70’s inspired psychedelic rock. Their music has been used in various films and TV shows, most notably the 2013 film “The Bling Ring”. The band’s name is derived from the 1960’s Egyptian cult leader/surf film actor/musician brothers Alan and duane Allah. The Allah-Las released their self-titled debut album in 2012, followed by “Worship the Sun” in 2014 and “Calico Review” in 2016. The band is currently working on their fourth album, which is scheduled for release in 2019.
What They Sound Like
The Allah-Las’ sound is sun-drenched and indebted to ’60s garage rock and psychedelic pop, with just a dash of country-western twang. The Los Angeles quartet have a knack for writing catchy, jangly tunes that are as infectious as they are effortlessly cool.While their music evokes the carefree attitude of summertime, the Allah-Las are equally adept at crafting introspective ballads and hazy soundscapes. No matter what mood you’re in, the Allah-Las have a song to fit the bill.
Why They’re Worth Checking Out
Allah-Las are an American garage rock band from Los Angeles, California. The group’s music has been noted for its “old-school” sound, as well as its modern take on classic psychedelic rock.
Having formed in 2008, the band has released three studio albums, the most recent of which, Worship the Sun, was released in 2014. The band has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and have performed at a number of high-profile festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.
With their catchy songwriting and vintage sound, Allah-Las are one of the most promising young psychedelic rock bands around. If you’re a fan of classic psych-rock bands like The 13th Floor Elevators or love more modern takes on the genre like Tame Impala, then you’ll definitely want to give Allah-Las a listen.
Thee Oh Sees
Thee Oh Sees are a psychedelic rock band from San Francisco, California. The band was started in 1997 by singer and guitarist John Dwyer. The band has released fourteen albums, four of which have been released on cassette tape. The band’s most recent album, Orc, was released in August 2019.
Who They Are
The Oh Sees, formerly known as Thee Oh Sees, are an American garage rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of primary songwriter and core member John Dwyer (vocals, guitar), Tim Hellman (bass), Dan Rincon (drums), and Paul Quattrone (drums). They have released 17 albums since their debut album The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In in 2006.
The Oh Sees sound has progressed from lo-fi home recordings to a tight, drum and cymbal-heavy garage rock sound to a more psychedelic direction. After signing to In the Red Records in 2007, the band rapidly gained popularity in the underground scene for their frantic live shows and prolific recording habits. Following a brief hiatus in 2013, Thee Oh Sees returned with an expanded lineup featuring two drummers and new keyboardist Tom Dolas.
What They Sound Like
One of the most exciting things about modern music is the expansive variety of genres and subgenres that artists are exploring. Thee Oh Sees are a perfect example of a band that doesn’t neatly fit into any one category, but could loosely be described as psychedelic rock. With heavy doses of garage rock, acid rock, and proto-punk, Thee Oh Sees create a sound that is both vintage and fresh.
If you’re a fan of classic psychedelic bands like The Doors or Pink Floyd, or more modern groups like Tame Impala or The Black Angels, you’ll definitely want to check out Thee Oh Sees. They have a unique sense of melody and rhythm that is sure to get your head nodding and your feet tapping. So turn on, tune in, and drop out with Thee Oh Sees!
Why They’re Worth Checking Out
Thee Oh Sees have been one of the most consistent and exciting garage rock bands of the past decade. Formed in San Francisco in 1997, the band is currently composed of singer and guitarist John Dwyer, bassist Tim Hellman, drummer Dan Rite and keyboardist Chris Woodhouse. Over the years, Thee Oh Sees have released seventeen albums, including their latest, Smote Reverser (2018), which was hailed by Pitchfork as “a return to form.”
Thee Oh Sees are known for their high-energy live shows, which often feature Dwyer crowd-surfing while playing his guitar. If you’re looking for a band that will get you moving, Thee Oh Sees are definitely worth checking out.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a psychedelic rock band that was formed in 1990 in San Francisco, California. The band’s music is heavily influenced by the 60s counterculture, garage rock, and psychedelia. They have released seventeen albums, and their most recent album, “Don’t Get Lost”, was released in 2016.
Who They Are
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a highly influential American psychedelic rock band formed in San Francisco in 1990 and led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Anton Newcombe. Since 1995, The Brian Jonestown Massacre has released 17 albums, 3 compilation albums, 5 live albums, 14 singles and 2 various-artist compilation albums. The group has been the subject of renewed interest since the release of the 2004 documentary film Dig!, which details their long-standing rivalry with fellow San Francisco band The Dandy Warhols.
What They Sound Like
The Brian Jonestown Massacre created a sound that was uniquely their own, blending elements of psychedelia, shoegaze, garage rock, and more into a heady brew that was as intoxicating as it was transportive. The band’s early work was characterized by whirling walls of sound, reverb-drenched guitars, and John Dymond’s driving drums, which laid the foundation for Anton Newcombe’s hazy vocal melodies and atmospheric lyrics.
Why They’re Worth Checking Out
The Brian Jonestown Massacre might be one of the most interesting, if not contradictory, projects in music. Their story is one of both tragedy and triumph, marked by rotating members and musical styles. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, they have managed to produce some great music over the years.
Their latest album, “Don’t Get Lost,” is a return to form of sorts. It’s a more polished and focused effort than some of their previous releases, but it still has the raw energy and spontaneity that has made them so popular. If you’re looking for a great psychedelic rock band to check out in 2019, The Brian Jonestown Massacre is definitely worth your time.
The Black Angels
One of the most influential psychedelic rock bands around, The Black Angels have been at the forefront of the genre since their formation in 2004. The band’s dark and atmospheric sound is propelled by singer Alex Maas’ ethereal vocals and backed by a tight, well-oiled machine of a rhythm section. With five albums under their belt, The Black Angels show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Who They Are
The Black Angels are an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas. The band was formed in 2004 by Alex Maas, Christian Bland, and Nate Ryan. Since their inception, the band has released five studio albums, one live album, and two compilations.
The Black Angels’ music has been described as garage rock, shoegaze, psychedelic rock, and neo-psychedelia. Their song “Young Men Dead” was used in the trailer for the film The Hangover and appeared in the season finale of Breaking Bad. In 2019, the band released their fifth studio album Death Song.
What They Sound Like
The Black Angels are an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas. The band was formed in 2004 by Alex Maas, Christian Bland, and Kyle Hunt. The Black Angels have released five studio albums and one live album. Their most recent studio album, Death Song, was released in 2017.
The Black Angels’ sound has been described as “psychedelic garage rock” and “stoner rock”. The band has cited influences including The Velvet Underground, The Doors, 13th Floor Elevators, and early Pink Floyd.
Why They’re Worth Checking Out
The Black Angels are an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2004, the group has released five studio albums and one live album. Their name is derived from the Velvet Underground song “The Black Angel’s Death Song”.
The Black Angels are known for their dark and intense music, which draws heavily from 1960s psychedelia and garage rock. The band has been acclaimed by critics for their hypnotic live shows and darkly atmospheric recordings. In 2019, they were named one of the “10 Psychedelic Rock Bands to Watch” by Rolling Stone.
If you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, then The Black Angels are definitely a band worth checking out. With their dark and heavy sound, they’re sure to take you on a trip that you won’t soon forget.
