LA, your unconditional, undying love for So Many Wizards has been made official. Winners of our Open Submissions and placing Second in the Reader’s Poll, it’s clear that if there was a prom king of the LA indie scene, So Many Wizards would be accepting the crown. Here’s to hoping the rest of the world catches on this year. Maybe they’ll be the first band to play on the moon! Until then, they will continue to rock our local socks off. So Many Wizards will be playing the Echoplex for Part Time Punks’ My Bloody Valentine Night on Feb. 9 along with Sisu, Tennis System, Heaven and Nightmare Air. An incredible line-up, that I’m sure will be a sweaty, noisy mess well-worth the Monday morning struggle. For now, continue streaming the band’s Lollipop Records released 7", which sounds delightfully more like Bradford Cox-style ramblings upon my third listen.

Third place in our Readers Poll goes to Alt-Rockers, The Cold and Lovely. Fronted by Megan Toohey and formed along with Nicole Fiorentino (who spends her spare time playing with The Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt), the female powered group shape every tone with intention and precision. As if calling forth the goddesses of earth and sky, they layer gritty, biting guitars, with hard-hitting electro-style drums, spacey synth lines, and the vocals of a dark angel. With the intensity ready to fill an arena or simply blow the PA at your local club, The Cold and Lovely are filling a musical space left vacant for far too long. Stream "Doll" from their ‘Ellis Bell’ EP released today and catch them at The Viper Room on Feb. 6 with Nightmare Air (who seem to be making the rounds with the best of the best in LA this winter).

Kevin Morby has been a quiet, yet prevalent presence in the Brooklyn local scene, making major contributions to psychedelic folk band Woods and noise pop duo The Babies. Morby is now a resident of Los Angeles, but the city of New York is still vividly alive in his creative endeavors. He most recently set his own course by releasing his first solo effort, Harlem River, presented as a homage to his temporary home for the past five years. The ruminative title track has now been turned into a music video, which displays randomized snapshots of Morby and presumably his partner (played by Jena Malone) making small gestures that depict their mundane eveyday experiences. It rumbles along leisurely akin to the steady rhythm of the track, spiritually entwined with the sensible wander of bustling folk. Morby will be performing at Carpenter House on Long Beach next Monday, February 3rd.  – Juan Rodríguez

Sympathetic Frequencies craft elegantly sculpted melodies with a touch of intricate detailing that’s simply alluring. "Only One" is the one track on their latest EP, Possible Oceans, that opens up with a clear, affective message, an instantly likable tune that shimmers with its churning guitar grind and soft, multihued radiance. It maintains a lush, crystal-clear tone without overcomplicating things, carried with a swiftness that’s fully commited to a sharp indie rock aesthetic. Which is always a necessity in one’s playlist when done right – this is joyfully assertive guitar-pop that’s straight-up accesible whilst creating a clever framework. The entirely of Possible Oceans can be heard on their bandcamp page. – Juan Rodríguez

The perfect music video to liven up the last hours of your Friday afternoon is brought to you by Hobart W Fink. The gritty indie rockers with dueling vocalists and bombastic energy are ready to melt your faces off with their latest single, "Final Fantasy 7." If you are into beautiful vistas, humping llamas and New Orleans street performers, you gotta watch this video. Filmed in Peru and Louisiana by frontman, Jayk Gallagher, the video clocks in at 5 minutes, but there is not a dull moment in sight. Gracefully managing the transition from lead singer Marie Bollinger to Lauren Lakis, the video features both blonde beauties, but don’t get too attached to Bollinger (who sings on the recording), for she has moved on to different pastures – perhaps ones filled with grazing llamas. The new line-up are continuing their jam-packed live show schedule in the new year, with upcoming performances at The Mint on January 27, and The Chinese New Year’s Festival on February 1. – Jacqueline Caruso

Vietnamese-American Hip Hop Artist, Michael Nhat, has been shocking audiences with his thought-provoking, socially conscious, tongue-in-cheek wit since before Miley Cyrus knew she had a tongue. Mixing eclectic samples with minimalist beats and monophonic synth lines, Nhat places his distorted rhymes front and center. His latest effort ‘Hyenas Because Hyenas’ is 9 tracks of upbeat angst guaranteed to make you think, while simultaneously shaking your booty. "I Remember When We Breathed Everyday" has some of the cleverest lines on album, ending in a cosmic freakout. Commenting on the internet age and concerns for future generations, Nhat manages to offer an in-your-face perspective without alienating the listener. Somehow his aggressive approach draws you in rather than putting up a wall to push you away. Perhaps it’s his unapologetic authenticity, or his sonic palette. Either way, ‘Hyenas Because Hyenas,’ is worth repeat listens. The entire album is Free on Bandcamp. At least buy a shirt while you’re streaming. – Jacqueline Caruso

No need to rub the sleep from your eyes, you read that right. Tomorrow morning, Saturday January 25, Jam in the Van will present a live taping session at the Bootleg. It’s apparently Free and open to the public. It’s as good a reason as any to work those day drinking muscles just in time to build up your stamina for SXSW and the rest of the festival season. Taping kicks off at 11am with The Silent Comedy, followed by performances from Great White Buffalo, Roses, Zig Zags, and Tara Fox. Our 2013 Emerging Band of the Year, Zig Zags, play at 3:30pm, which will surely give you enough time to shake off Friday night’s regrets. The band has been releasing singles, 7"s, covers (with Iggy Pop no less), cassettes, and re-issues over the past two years, but 2014 has come, and the wait for their full length release is anticipated to be over. Rumors, confirmed in interviews and from photos on their facebook page, of a Ty Segall-engineered album have been buzzing. From the looks of it, the as-yet un-named LP, set for release sometime in the spring, seem more real than ever before. Especially since they’ve been dubbed "One to Watch in 2014" by both LA Weekly and CMJ. Check out this live video of a brand new song, "Voice of the Paranoid," recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio to get a taste of what you’re in for. – Jacqueline Caruso

In the simplest terms, Kan Wakan can be described as Orchestral Pop, but that would diminish the true breadth of their inventiveness. Their debut ‘Forever Found’ EP is filled with lush arrangements, and a soulfulness that creeps in like a whisper on songs like "Midnight Moon Pt. 1" or with a more forceful blast on "Forever Found." Kristianne Bautista’s sultry vocals are the constant throughout the band’s instrumental swells, containing the power to seduce any crowd. For those of us lucky enough to live in LA, we have the honor and privilege of witnessing their musical prowess live on the Echoplex stage for free every Monday in February. Proudly, The Deli LA will be presenting their show on February 10 with performances by MyPet, J. Laser and Tien. Stream the upbeat, spacey funk jam "Moving On," which could easily be the next James Bond theme song, below and head to the Echoplex Monday, Feb. 10 for an unforgettable night. – Jacqueline Caruso

Post-hardcore quartet Silver Snakes are one of the most exciting recent signees to Bridge 9 Records, a band that combines a driving guitar sound with pummeling aggression and heartfelt yet fraught vocal dynamics. Though their beginnings had more of a metalcore slant, the songs featured in their just announced debut full-length, Year of the Snake (out of March 4th), promise to feature a darker, grittier approach. There still hasn’t been an official single released yet, but judging by a demo they shared on their soundcloud page just a week ago, Secare, it seems as if they’ll be embracing a furious, gruff tone with a slight modern rock tinge that finds a middle point between Unwound and A Perfect Circle. As they prepare for the release of the album, they’re heading out on tour for the next few months, including a stop at The Lyric Theater on January 25th. – Juan Rodríguez

The unexpected return of singer/songwriter Linda Perhacs can be genuinely described as a small miracle. The last we heard about the influencial singer/songwriter was in 1970, when she was considered an integral part of the West Coast psychedelic scene. That sole debut she recorded, Parallelograms, has become a valuable artifact for freak folk artists like Sufjan Stevens and Devendra Banhart, both of whom knew that Perhacs hadn’t sung her last farewell. "River of God" doesn’t stray too much from what made Perhacs such an enigmatic figure – the contemplative track ponders the existence of a higher power with a purity that’s far removed from the skepticism about faith that has increasingly grown in the last decade. That thought is inherently embedded in its delicate frame, one that becomes clearer as its gentle acoustic flourishes and haunting harmonies (backup vocals provided by Julia Holter) provide a funereal yet optimistic atmosphere. But the beauty of "God" matches with a simple, more potent message she shared recently on her facebook page: "Music can sooth the savage beast in everyone." No better words could describe this joyful emergence. – Juan Rodríguez

There is an undeniable buzz surrounding psych rockers Fever The Ghost. Bursting onto the scene in 2013, their momentum has only increased in the new year. Dazzling audiences with their impressive and engaging live shows has created an intense anticipation for their forthcoming EP, ‘Crab in Honey’, set for release January 21 on Complicated Game. The quartet mixes a healthy dose of absurdism with deliciously satisfying hooks wrapped inside an acid trip. They seem to have developed the perfect balance of self-awareness and a seriousness for their craft. Stream first single, "Rounder," below and catch them live January 16 at The Bootleg with Nightmare And The Cat, Carina Round and The Peach Kings.

Singer/songwriter Bart Davenport has always been a man of many faces. Having dabbled with different kinds of projects throughout the years, the Bay Area crooner finally decided to settle in LA under the command of his bass player Jessica Espeleta, and discovered a newfound reverence for West coast pop with a tinge of soulful exuberance. "Wearing the Changes", from his upcoming full-length Physical World, is a sleek, lurid jam with a ’60s pop fixation that highlights the uptempo feel of northern soul (jangle arrangements brought to you by Dream Boys member Wayne Faler), its lively chords beating at an unhurried, steady pace. This is tuneful pop of the highest order, handled with a sophistication and ease that, at least for three minutes, sets back the clock into the golden days of AM pop radio. Physical World is out on March 4 via Burger Records/Lovemonk. – Juan Rodríguez