Even though the forgetters like their name without capital letters (our editor has a serious prejudice against bands that do that) they placed 96th in our Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll. Their formula is simple: punk rock done well, i.e. energy, provocative lyrics and some memorable chords. Yet where so many bands have failed, burning their cookies, so to speak, The Forgetters have whipped up a pretty tasty batch. And they even made a baker’s dozen. Led by Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker, Jets to Brazil and a bunch of other bands, the band’s experience shines through in their tight performances. It’s loud, but not messy. This is punk rock with both a heart and a brain. While Schwarzenbach’s lyrics can sometimes be hard to understand (especially at a live show), they are earnest and intellectual, a good contrast to the somewhat aggressive instrumentals behind them. This is music with backbone, no bones about it. P.S. The band doesn’t have music online, but you can see some videos of their live shows here. – allison levin

Those of you who are into the sound of the early goth rock (like Nick Cave’s original band The Birthday Party) might be interested in knowing that San Francisco trio The Tunnel is celebrating the release of their new album "Fathoms Deep" with two hometown shows. The album was recorded at Studio SQ in San Francisco, produced by the group and engineered by Chris Crawford (drummer for French Miami, the Downer Party) and is being released by the Glorious Alchemial Co. label. The first show will be on Thursday, Apr 7 at Hemlock Tavern, the second on Sunday, Apr 24 at the Make-Out Room.

Sounding like a hybrid of early NIN and The The, NYC’s Hussle Club is one of those bands with a sound that doesn’t go unnoticed – you could actually say the same for their singer’s look. The band just released this video of the single "Quaranteenegers".

Arlington’s IOTA Club is about to get taken over by a swarm of DC’s rock’n’roll purists in Death by Sexy this Saturday. DxS (pictured above) have been on the DL for a bit, but thanks to a recent twitter update, it’s been brought to our attention that some good "rock squats" are in order! Hot tracks like "Neverending Love" and "BTO" inevitably do get you moving, and moved the Washington Post enough to say "one of the city’s sure-to-please acts."

Also on the bill are Nunchucks who recently had a CD release show at the Rock’n’Roll Hotel for their latest EP Eat Your Moneys, 6 songs full of classic raw guitars, bass, drums, and chant along lyrics. One of our fav standout tracks is "U.S.S. Cassin-Young", a high-energy tune ready to be on the next Jackass soundtrack as it’s Kinks meets Turbonegro essence can get your adrenaline pumping and ready to handle a shopping cart to the moon. Check it out below.

Completing the DC rock line-up: Cobra Collective, and Triggers (from Pittsburgh). $10, starts at 9 PM.

Radical Dads are a Brooklyn based trio of non-fathers (there is also a girl in the band) who play abrasive, guitar based, sans bass post punk that makes us think of how Janes Addiction might have sounded if Perry Farrel had formed the band in DC rather than LA. At least, that’s what the embedded song "Recklessness" from their debut 7 inch makes us think of. The guys are obviously fans of the sound of the 90s, as B side "I Am the Father of Myself", besides explaining what kind of fathers these dudes are, references Sonic Youth’s droney noise-rock aural attacks. The band has just announced the release of their debut full length, out in mid June on Inhabitable Mansions. See them live at The Rock Shop on April 9.

The Golden Filter, one of the 3 bands taking 99th place in our latest Best of NYC Emerging Artist Poll, puts a hazy layer – you may say, for lack of better wording, some kind of "golden filter" – over their music. The synth lines channel a bit of disco, although we’re not talking "The Hustle" territory. It’s a throwback, not an homage. Penelope Trappe, the vocalist, is stuck in permanent femme-fatale mode; she half-whispers half-sighs her words over the sleek backing tracks. "Solid Gold," their lead single (it even references their band name!) is probably THE example of what The Golden Filter is all about. Retro synth lines, Trappes’ voice, and the melding of the two into a golden-tinted outlook on the world. – allison levin

If, like me, you enjoyed Broken Social Scene’s virtuoso productions but found their music to be a little too rigorous and melody deprived, you should have a listen to this new Brooklyn based band Soft Spot. Their recording are still a little rough, but there’s definitely something interesting about their sound. The music is reminiscent of the aforementioned Canadian band, led though by a female singer that lends warmth and emotion to it with ethereal melodies and a voice that could be described as a mix of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. Soft Spot is playing Death By Audio on April 6 and then leaving for a rather extensive south east coast tour.

The Pioneers of Seduction sure have a sense of humor – but also some (truly) kick ass punky tunes played with flair (which is as important as the kick ass part…). Some songs make us think of a less compromising, MUCH dirtier version of The Strokes, with a guitar sound reminiscent of early Foo Fighters (without slipping in the neo-grunge trap), while others like "Kurash" come across more like exercises in reinventing punk-rock. We are particularly enjoying "I want to wake up beautiful" (another witty title!), with its tense verse in spoken word and even tenser one note chorus. Minimalistic, but effective, like all the best punk tunes. Their record (produced by Steve Albini) sounds just right. You may want to check these guys out at Fontana’s in the LES – they’ll have a residency there in April on Wednesdays, for dates see here.

P.S. I know Steve, I said you produced the record, and you hate that, because with false modesty you like to say that you are just an engineer… well, you produced this, liar!

“The Mini Jack White” is what the New York Post has termed Jack Skuller, which we find a little misleading, but improvable by adding the words "…playing Rock’n’Roll in his teens". Skuller’s EP, "Love Is A Drum," is a catchy, energetic and lively collection of old style rock’n’roll songs (also covers) that have the potential to charm pretty much everybody from babies to grampas (probably not NYC’s hipsters though). Skuller’s cover of “Get Rhythm” is fresh and vibrant and his original song “Love Is A Drum” (which could have been written in 1957) shows that the boy can write songs. To allow comparisons with Mr. White, though, we need some "evil" thrown in the mix – considering Skuller’s young age, there’s definitely time to develop it.- Leah Tribbett

We keep covering one by one all the artists that made our Best of NYC Emerging Artists 2010 Poll here.

Dense and heavy, Twin Stumps won’t make you think of tree stumps at all, but rather massive, moss-covered (evil) trees. The kind of trees that, were they to ever swing fists, would rule the forest – as if the Lord of the Rings’ Ents had joined Mordor instead. Drenched in fuzz, vocals scream over the grinding pulse. Gleefully dark and pounding, Twin Stumps channel hardcore and industrial with a post-punk sensibility — there is method to this madness, although we may not know what it is. We just have to take the chance and trust where the path leads us, even if it is into an seemingly sinister wood. – allison levin

On Monday 4/4/11 The Vandelles will play The Knitting Factory, promoting the just released EP "Summer Fling", one of the best shoegazer/noise rock records coming out of NYC as of late. We are looking forward to hearing live the single "Get Around", which comes at you with a "whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hooo" as super fuzz guitars are matched against thundering drums, and "Summer Fling" with its dark and deep tone, cascading vocals, and guitar atmospherics. Fans of Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine should be there! – Dave Cromwell

DC’s power-pop band Club Scout are taking the Black Cat stage this coming Wednesday April 6th to celebrate the release of their self titled 7" limited edition vinyl. On the record are two of their most popular songs "A Rotten Scoundrel", a classic punk track infused with Queens of the Stone Age-ish piano bursts, and "England for the English", a melodic power-pop tune full of scuzzy guitars and memorable lyrics which you can hear below.

Black Cat/ Doors @ 8:30/ $8