1. Insignificant Other

Self-identifying as “queer pop-punk” from Gainesville, FL, Insignificant Other has been everything other than insignificant. They dropped their debut full-length last year and have hooked audiences with their rich, bombastic songs on all-nighters, awkward sex and bittersweet breakups. 

Recommended track: “i’m so glad i feel this way about you”

2. Taking Meds

No other t-shirt I own has started as many conversations as my Champion ringer tee emblazoned with Taking Meds on the front. People remember this band. They have a solid name, so it could just be that, or their deadpan humor or their awful use of memes to promote. But for the sake of this article, let’s just say it’s the music. Listen to Taking Meds for mathy-punk with Fugazi influences. 

Recommended track: “There’s No Way” 

Upcoming show: March 13 at the Valdosta DIY House (Find venue on all major social media) 

3. Pavlov’s Bell

Instrumental progressive rock from Miami, FL, creates futuristic and spacey soundscapes that envelop the listener in a trance. Much like the dogs of Pavlov, listeners can expect to have their stimulus hijacked while getting lost in their music. Also, the members have played in the band Zeta, another acclaimed underground act with rotating members much like a Venezuelan version of the Grateful Dead.

Recommended track: “Aphelion”

4. glass beach

Breaking the boundaries of what emo can sound like, glass beach pulls together a wide array of genres to capture their feeling of where music is going. To them, where that seems to be is in every direction and no direction all at once — like our social media feeds of cute animals and mass shootings where algorithms rule our daily perceptions. 

Recommended track: “classic j dies and goes to hell part 1”

5. Gouge Away

Just scoring a roughly three-month tour with emo legends Circa Survive, the hardcore band Gouge Away has been eviscerating their way upwards with an unapologetic political bent. Despite their sound being unrelentingly harsh, the band maintains strong melodies catchier than many pop bands out there. 

Recommended track: “Uproar”

6. Surrounder

Three-piece post-punk out from Pensacola, Fla., Surrounder captures a disillusioned youth seeking radical change in how society works. The male/female duet dynamic the band possesses oscillates their sound between quiet protest in the face of exhaustion and coming up for air with explosive defiance.

Recommended Track: “High in the Bath Again”

7. Portrayal of Guilt

The glory days of screamo have long come and gone but Austin, Texas, band Portrayal of Guilt have innovated the sound with fusion of black metal screeches into death metal gurgles over their emo-core sound. They maintain a melodic style of songwriting that’s lean, cut and catchy.

Recommended Track: “Scarcity”

8. Rickolus

Having performed in Valdosta many times as part of his rap group Hurricane Party, Rickolus’ solo persona takes a turn from the braggadocious yacht-rapper to sensitive singer-songwriter in his solo work. His brand of indie rock finds success in fusing elements of folk, rock, blues and hip-hop to convey songs of heartbreak, reminiscing on one’s youth and wanderlust.

Recommended Track: “Over U”

Off the Record VDT Podcast: Listen to offtherecordvdt on Spotify or YouTube to listen to an interview we did with Rickolus

9. Mickey Darling

Self-proclaimed “world’s sexiest boy-band,” Mickey Darling are masters of danceable, light-hearted bedroom-pop with ear-worm choruses. Starting a joke in 2018, the act has slowly descended into the madness that is their bubblegum absurdity that will get stuck in your head. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Recommended Track: “Big Sad”

10. The Sonder Bombs

Proving ukulele can rock just as hard as any guitar, The Sonder Bombs is in-your-face pop-punk with a clear gender politics bent. Lead singer Willow Hawks truly is a modern female rock star biting the ankles of the music industry with her corrosive wit unabashedly taking #metoo to the stage.

Recommended track: “Title” and “Twinkle Lights”

11. VIAL

Catchy and punchy girl band cunningly reveal the problems in modern music scenes like diversity and inclusion. They also turn that sharpness inward for witty takes on loneliness and growing up. Also, they use a keytar. Listen to VIAL if you think a Bikini Kill and Beach Bunny fusion is your style.

Recommended track: “Rough”

12. Shin Guard

Hardcore and screamo band from the Steel City have been streaking across the DIY scene like lightning over the past year. With the release of their LP, “2020,” and their split with For Your Health, the band’s talent flared brightly in 2019 demanding well-deserved attention. They blend elements of punk, black metal, thrash and their own serrated, shrieking edge.

Recommended tracks: “Kennedy”

13. Las Nubes

Iggy Pop’s adopted children, Las Nubes puff out fluffy lo-fi rock with catchy melodies. They’re a garage rock band from Miami who flaunt their bilingual songwriting and cultural background.

Recommended track: “QSQ”

Off the Record VDT Podcast: Listen to Las Nube’s episode on offtherecordvdt available at Spotify, Apple or YouTube.

14. Sleepy Dog

Sleepy Dog has been riding off the recent success of lo-fi, bedroom pop in recent years. The band is just one guy from his small town Boone, N.C., but he has found a growing audience who appreciate his take on the style. He brings raspy, off-kilter crooning over psychedelic, math rock to the lo-fi scene.

Recommended track: “Fallen Bees”

15. Niiice

Weed emo isn’t the most positive title to give a band thanks to emotionally abusive frat guys becoming the poster child of it. But Niiice creates their brand of mathy weed emo that feels more like it’s coming from nerdy potheads that watch way too many cartoons. Check out Niiice if you’re looking for modern pop-punk that’s genuine rather than predatory.

Recommended track: “Love Handlez”